Chapter 106: Chapter 93, The Gift l
Xiao Yeyang’s overnight stay at the Yan Family affected the hearts of many officials and prominent households in Xingzhou City.
The consultant’s residence.
Madam Qian said to Qian Tongzhi, “Do you think we should pay a visit to the noble guest tomorrow?”
Qian Tongzhi shook his head, “Unless Prefectural Governor Yan introduces us, it wouldn’t be appropriate for us to intrude. If we do anything wrong, we might even annoy the noble guest.”
Hearing this, Madam Qian felt deflated, “Lately, you’ve been openly complying while defying Prefectural Governor Yan at the Prefectural Governor’s Office. It would be good enough if he doesn’t hold a grudge against you; how could he possibly help by introducing us?”
Qian Tongzhi thought for a moment, “Our family’s relationship with the Yan Family cannot be severed.”
Madam Qian nodded, “Don’t worry; we women don’t interfere with men’s affairs. I’ve kept in touch with Madam Li all along, and even their family’s lady I helped introduce. Besides, Bi Lan can speak well with the eldest young lady of the Yan Family.”
The prefectural judge’s residence.
After learning about Xiao Yeyang’s stay at the Yan Family, Wang Tongpan buried himself in his study until midnight before coming out.
Madam Wang waited for him to return to their room before lying down, “You needn’t worry too much. We were just carrying out tasks for others. Even if the Yan Family has the Little Prince backing them, they can’t do anything to us.” Wang Tongpan kept shaking his head, “What do you know? They might not do anything openly, but what about behind the scenes? Now, we can only hope that Prefectural Governor Yan is magnanimous. He has only just arrived in Xingzhou recently, and there’s a lot I haven’t had the chance to do. We haven’t reached an irreconcilable situation yet.”
Madam Wang turned over, “If Prefectural Governor Yan wants to govern Xingzhou properly, he can’t do without the support of you and your subordinates.”
Wang Tongpan fell silent for a moment, “I’ve written to Consultant Du to inform him of the situation here. With the Little Prince involved, he won’t continue to withhold the dike funds. I can also use this to express my intentions towards Prefectural Governor Yan.”
“Right, you must also maintain good relations with the women of the Yan Family. I know you look down on the matriarch of the Yan Family for her merchant background, but times have changed. In their presence, you still need to put on a show.”
Madam Wang gave Wang Tongpan a sidelong glance, “There’s no need for the master to teach me that. Rest assured, as long as it can help the master, not to mention pleasing someone of merchant origin, I’m willing to do even harder tasks.”
Wang Tongpan was visibly relieved, “With a wife like you, what more could a husband ask for!”
The next day, in the backyard of the Yan Family, Daohua Pavilion was bustling early in the morning.
“Manman, remember the two-foot long wooden box I bought when we went shopping before? Find it for me quickly.”
After getting up and washing up, the first thing Daohua did was to instruct Wang Manman to find something.
Soon, Wang Manman came with the box, “Miss, what do you need this box for?”
Daohua took the box, “I don’t know when Xiao Yeyang will leave; I need to prepare some gifts for him in advance. He helped us at the post station before and even gave me a Jade Pendant. I didn’t get to thank him properly in the haste of things.”
Wang Manman asked, “What does Miss plan to give? With such a noble identity, what does that gentleman lack?”
Daohua fell silent for a moment, “No matter what it is, it’s the thought that counts. But, I do need to give it some thought.”
Clearly, Xiao Yeyang had done the Yan Family a great favor. It was very likely that her adoptive father’s promotion was due to him; this time, his willingness to stay with the Yan Family undoubtedly also raised the Yan Family’s status in Xingzhou City.
With his visit, her adoptive father should have a somewhat easier time at the Prefectural Governor’s Office, no longer facing the situation of having no one available and having to do everything himself.
With such a great favor owed, how could it be repaid?
And to put it pragmatically, their family also needed to maintain a certain relationship with this distinguished gentleman.
The maintenance of a relationship should never involve only one party giving.
For now, Xiao Yeyang, considering they had saved him in the past, might look after the Yan Family for a while. But as time goes on, if the Yan Family is unable to offer anything in return and only knows how to take, even the deepest relationship would eventually wear thin.
With Xiao Yeyang’s status, he certainly lacked nothing. The Yan Family’s resources couldn’t produce anything of great value either. Hence, it was best to give a gift that Xiao Yeyang might actually need.
After some thought, Daohua found some bamboo tubes and filled them with three tubes of jasmine tea; Xiao Yeyang did say it was delicious, so she decided to give him some more.
What about a ginseng?
The most valuable thing in her space was the ginseng, which was usually needed.
However, she seemed to have only newly harvested ginseng. How could she explain that?
Well… her manor was close to a large mountain; she could say it came from there.
Afterward, she took several bottles of the golden sore medicine she had made herself—the same kind that she had used to save Zhao Ergou before. The herbs used were all grown in the space, and the effects of stopping bleeding and reducing inflammation were extraordinarily good.
Boys tend to be more boisterous, their everyday bumps and scrapes are bound to be more frequent, and this medicine would be just the thing for them.
Once the wooden box was filled to the brim, Daohua finally felt satisfied. “Let’s go; we’re off to Grandmother’s courtyard.”
Breakfast was laid out in the old lady’s courtyard. By the time Daohua got there, the Yan Family had all arrived, including Xiao Yeyang, Dong Yuanxuan, and Zhou Chengye, who had stayed overnight.
Daohua paid her respects to her elders, then sat down next to Xiao Yeyang and asked, “How come you all got up so early?”
Xiao Yeyang gave her a sidelong glance. “Who do you think is as lazy as you? I get up every day at the hour of mao, practice martial arts for an hour, and after breakfast, it’s time to start classes.”
Upon hearing this, Daohua thought to herself that the life of a royal offspring was not that easy after all, what with so much to learn.
After breakfast, Xiao Yeyang took the initiative to say goodbye to Old Madam Yan, “Old Madam, we will be leaving soon. Please take care of your health.” “What?!” Daohua looked surprised. “You’re leaving today? Can’t you stay a few more days? I haven’t even treated you to hot pot yet.”
Seeing Daohua’s reluctant face, Xiao Yeyang patiently explained, “I am currently studying at Wangyue Academy. I took leave to come here, and it’s not good to delay too long outside.”
Daohua quickly asked, “Is Wangyue Academy far from here? Will you come back again?”
Xiao Yeyang glanced at Daohua, paused for a moment, then said, “I’ll come, to have the so-called hot pot you mentioned.”
Upon hearing this, Daohua broke into a smile. “Since you’ll be coming back, then I won’t keep you any longer.”
Watching Daohua’s swift change, Xiao Yeyang was speechless.
Suddenly, Daohua turned her head to look at Xiao Yeyang, “Wangyue Academy, why does that name sound so familiar?”
Yan Wenxiu, who was sitting by, then spoke up, “Among the four great academies in the north, Wangyue Academy ranks the highest.” It hadn’t been long since he had wanted to enroll there, but unfortunately, he was out of luck, as the academy’s quota for this year was already full.
It was said that there were actually a few spots left, but those were reserved for the children of influential aristocratic families. Though his father was already a Fifth-rank Prefectural Governor, compared to the top elites, the difference was more than slight.
Once Yan Wenxiu mentioned it, Daohua remembered that Madam Li had sighed about this very topic to her, lamenting that it interfered with Yan Wenxiu’s education.
Thinking this over, Daohua glanced at Xiao Yeyang with an expression of holding back words, then quickly averted her eyes, silently reminding herself not to be too greedy, for he had already helped their family more than enough. “Snap!”
Xiao Yeyang tapped Daohua on the head with the handle of his fan. “If you have something to say, say it. Don’t dawdle.”
To the side, De Fu looked up at the sky, speechless—his master might as well have spelled out the words “just come and ask me” directly.
The eldest son of the Yan Family wanted to enroll at Wangyue Academy, and De Fu didn’t believe the Little Prince was oblivious to this. It appeared he was deliberately waiting for the eldest daughter of the Yan Family to ask him.
Daohua glanced at Xiao Yeyang’s expression, worried about putting him in a difficult position in front of everyone. After thinking it over, she tugged at his sleeve and pulled him to the side. Once he approached, she said in a low voice, deliberating, “My eldest brother is extremely learned, my third brother is a man of noble character, and my fourth brother is even a martial arts prodigy…”
The usually composed Xiao Yeyang interrupted, annoyed, “How can you even say that? ‘Extremely learned’ and ‘martial arts prodigy,’ I wouldn’t dare to say that about myself, and you have the cheek to?”
Daohua gave an embarrassed smile—it was just an attempt to fight for any advantage, so she might have exaggerated a bit.
By this time, the carriage and horses were ready, and the bodyguards came to report. Xiao Yeyang snorted coldly at Daohua without a word and turned to leave.
“Wait!”
Daohua hurriedly called out to him.
Xiao Yeyang raised an eyebrow and turned back. Just when he thought Daohua would continue to plead for her family, she took a wooden box from her maid’s hand and thrust it into his, “A gift, for you.”
Xiao Yeyang looked at the wooden box in his hand, not even fancy enough to be called exquisite, and kept silent.
Seeing that he seemed unimpressed, Daohua immediately said, “What’s inside is really good stuff; consider it a thank you for giving me the Jade Pendant.”
Speaking of it, Xiao Yeyang glanced at Daohua’s waist, “Why aren’t you wearing the Jade Pendant I gave to you?”
Daohua said with a smile, “The Jade Pendant is too precious; I’ve put it away safe and sound for my mother to keep.”
Xiao Yeyang peered at her for a moment, “You might as well wear it, to avoid being bullied again.” After saying this, he went to bid farewell to Old Madam Yan and then left the Yan family..