Chapter 135: Chapter 121, Mountain Climbing Race_1
After tasting the barbecued meat seasoned with spices grown in Daohua’s space, everyone found that the barbecue that followed seemed not as delicious. They ate a bit perfunctorily and soon lost interest.
“Next time we have this barbecue, remember to bring more of the seasoning you used before.” Xiao Yeyang and Daohua sat side by side on the grass, whispering back and forth.
Daohua nodded, “Sure! But do you have the time? I’ve heard that the Academy has a lot of classes. With studies in both literature and martial arts like you have, do you really have time to come out and play?”
Xiao Yeyang’s expression fell, and he let out a deep sigh.
Although a member of the Imperial Family, even someone like him had his troubles. Not to mention the rest, their academic load was far heavier than that of ordinary families!
It was a blessing that he wasn’t a Prince, just the son of a Prince, otherwise, he would have had even more to learn.
The reason he didn’t want to return to Beijing, apart from not wanting to see some people, was an important one: once he returned, he would have to attend classes and study with the Princes.
Although life at Wangyue Academy was somewhat more relaxed, this was only because there was less supervision. He still had to do the necessary coursework. From time to time, the teacher guiding him had to report his progress to his imperial uncle.
If his grades slipped, then he would face the fate of being sent back to Beijing.
Alas, better not think about it. The thought was filled with nothing but sorrowful tears.
“I can’t play during normal days, but I still can during holidays!”
Daohua tilted her head, “But after the Double Ninth Festival, until the New Year, it seems there aren’t many holidays left.”
Xiao Yeyang countered, “How can there not be? What about Winter Solstice and Laba Festival?”
“…” Daohua fell silent, “Fine then!”
Xiao Yeyang squinted at Daohua, “What’s with that attitude? Don’t you want to hang out with me?”
Daohua raised her paw, making a swearing gesture, “I swear, absolutely not.” Her family was still not close enough to Xiao Yeyang, how could they possibly push him away?
To flatter…
Thinking of this word, Daohua turned to look at Xiao Yeyang. This guy, it seemed he had never asserted his status in front of her.
Well… owing a life-saving debt did have its uses.
Daohua cheerfully swung her legs. Her family’s relationship with Xiao Yeyang was quite good now.
All being children, they gathered to play during holidays without involving the adults, meaning there were no complicated interests at play. This way, she didn’t have to bend over backwards to please him, or eagerly flatter him. They could just play and have fun with ease.
After sitting for a while, Xiao Yeyang grew bored again. He looked at the sky and felt it was still early, so he turned to Daohua and said, “The view from the peak of Xiangxia Mountain is second to none. Don’t you want to go up and see?”
Daohua glanced at the mountain peak and estimated the distance, hesitating, “It would take quite some time to climb up, wouldn’t it?”
Xiao Yeyang: “If we climb fast, half an hour is enough, and it takes even less time to come down.”
Knowing that Daohua was worried about Madam Zhou’s schedule, it was now the fourth quarter of the afternoon (2:00 PM). It would take until the end of the 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM period to get back from the mountain top.
After thinking it over, Xiao Yeyang called Zhou Chengye over and asked him to inquire with Madam Zhou about when they planned to leave.
Zhou Chengye quickly found out the information: “Little Prince, we can go to the mountain top to have a look. Mother said since it’s rare for them to come out and have fun, they won’t leave until 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM.”
Xiao Yeyang immediately looked at Daohua with a smile, “Let’s go then. You have no excuse this time. Just now I heard your elder brother say that since you were little, you’ve been used to running around in the fields. You even run faster than him. Let’s see, was he lying?”
Daohua stood up with them, “Alright then, let’s have a competition to see who’s faster?”
Xiao Yeyang raised an eyebrow, “Are you sure?”
Zhou Jingwan hurried over, tugging at her sleeve.
Daohua signaled her not to worry, this competition was just for fun, meant to involve everyone; who could take it seriously?
First, they were girls, and didn’t have the physical strength of boys; second, the boys present were all a couple of years older than them, it would be really foolish to take them on seriously.
“Of course, we have to agree on something, there must be a prize, whoever wins gets the prize!”
The crowd nodded, with a prize at stake, everyone’s enthusiasm would be higher.
Daohua continued, “Moreover, Jingwan and I are girls, and younger than you guys, so you have to let us climb… fifty stone steps ahead.”
Xiao Yeyang smiled and nodded in agreement, “Alright, we’ll let you climb first, but I have to remind you, in the end, we will definitely be the winners!”
Daohua pouted, “That’s not necessarily true; haven’t you heard of the tortoise and the hare? In the end, the tortoise won, not the hare.”
“Then let’s go!”
Watching Xiao Yeyang and Yan Wenkai, among others, heading enthusiastically to the mountain stairs, from the back of the crowd, Zhou Chengye laughed and patted Yan Wenxiu on the shoulder.
“Your big sister is really the life of the party, just look, the Little Prince’s face has been smiling non-stop because of her.”
Yan Wenxiu didn’t dare agree with that outright but said with a smile, “My big sister grew up in the countryside and is quite naive and cheerful, she’s not too knowledgeable about rules and etiquette. So when she’s with the Little Prince, there’s less restraint, which might be a novel and relaxing change for him.”
Zhou Chengye smiled, noticing Yan Wenxiu’s cautiousness, and did not continue.
Indeed, they had only just become acquainted; it really wasn’t appropriate to delve into topics that were too profound, especially those involving the Little Prince.
However, he decided then and there that when he left, he would speak to his mother, urging Jingwan to spend more time with the Yan Family’s eldest daughter in the future.
He could tell that the relationship between the Yan Family and the Little Prince was mostly tied to the eldest daughter of the Yan Family.
Of course, Yan Wenkai and Wentao were indeed valued in the heart of the Little Prince, but the Little Prince’s side was never short of companions; although the brothers had good temperaments, they were replaceable.
But this eldest daughter of the Yan Family…
He thought it over and couldn’t find anyone among the young ladies he knew who was quite like her, daring to joke and mess around so naturally with the Little Prince.
In her interactions with the Little Prince, if you said she was fawning for favor, on several occasions, he saw her daring to turn a cold shoulder to the Little Prince. Some things they would never dare to say, she would just blurt out, seemingly fearless of offending the Little Prince.
What was most surprising was that the Little Prince’s tolerance for her was indeed very high.
Of course, he also observed carefully, and the eldest daughter of the Yan Family knew her boundaries very well. This sense of boundaries was different from what was cultivated by aristocratic families.
The restraint shown by the children of aristocratic families was a result of weighing all the pros and cons before making a decision.
But with the eldest daughter of the Yan Family, her understanding of restraint felt devoid of any ulterior motives or utilitarianism, as if her actions were entirely sincere, prompted by her heart. She did it because she felt it should be done that way.
Many times, her actions were just right.
Combined with her radiant smile, she was truly hard not to like.