Chapter 140: Chapter 126, Pocket Watch_1
“What is this?”
After boarding their own carriage, Daohua pointed at the jewelry box in Madam Li’s arms and asked.
Madam Li looked at her daughter in surprise, “You don’t know?”
Daohua shook her head.
Madam Li placed the jewelry box on Daohua’s lap, “This was sent by the Little Prince through Young Master Zhou, saying it’s a gift for you.”
Daohua’s face lit up with joy, “Xiao Yeyang didn’t go back on his word!” she said, then opened the box eagerly, and immediately, a whole set of pearl hair ornaments caught her eye.
“So beautiful!” Yan Yihuan couldn’t help but exclaim.
Even Madam Li, who had seen many fine things, was dazzled by the sight.
The set of pearl hair ornaments was exquisitely delicate, just perfect for young girls around their teens to wear. To find this, De Fu had spent quite some time and effort.
Daohua picked up a butterfly hairpin made of pearls the size of rice grains and marveled, “The craftsmanship is so exquisite.” The butterfly seemed to come to life, ready to take flight with its wings spread.
Madam Li smiled and said, “From now on, you’ll have a piece of jewelry to wear when attending various gatherings.” Her daughter didn’t have many pieces of jewelry because there were many expenses at home, and she hadn’t been able to prepare much for her.
Daohua nodded and, catching the envious glance from Yan Yihuan out of the corner of her eye, she smiled and passed the jewelry box to her, “Second sister, choose one.”
Since the hair ornaments were designed for young girls, there were many styles to choose from. Daohua herself had four butterfly hairpins, and that wasn’t even counting the various floral ones.
Yan Yihuan kept shaking her hands, “These are for you from the Little Prince, how could I take them?”
Daohua, “It’s okay, there are plenty.”
Seeing that Yan Yihuan was still reluctant to choose, Daohua thought for a moment, then directly inserted the butterfly hairpin she was holding into her sister’s hair.
“There are exactly four butterflies, one for each of the four sisters in our family.”
Madam Li sat by without interfering in Daohua’s distribution. She was pleased to see her daughter’s generosity and even more satisfied with her final decision.
This time, she hadn’t brought Yishuang and Yile with her, and no matter how justified her reasons, there would still be those at home who were discontented. Now that her daughter had obtained an entire set of hair ornaments, had she not shared any with her three younger sisters, she’d likely be criticized for hoarding.
“Thank you, big sister.”
Yan Yihuan touched the butterfly hairpin on her head, her face beaming with joy.
“No need to be polite!”
Daohua closed the jewelry box and handed it to Madam Li to keep for her.
Madam Li took the box and then handed a purse to Daohua.
Daohua looked puzzled, “Mother, why are you giving me a purse?”
Madam Li, “Right before we set sail, your third brother came by and said it was for you. I haven’t opened it to see what’s inside.”
Daohua was intrigued, “A gift from third brother?”
Upon opening the purse, a golden pocket watch was revealed.
“Ah!”
If seeing the pearl hair ornaments made Daohua happy, then seeing the pocket watch could be called a surprise.
She had just been complaining about not being able to tell the time easily when outside, and she had not expected to receive a pocket watch so soon.
Yan Yihuan had never seen a pocket watch before and didn’t know what it was, but Madam Li’s expression changed instantly.
She hadn’t seen such a thing before, but she had heard about it. It was said to be a precious object presented by foreigners, only available to royal relatives favored by the Emperor.
This wasn’t something Wentao could afford to give!
Without a doubt, it must have been a gift from the Little Prince.
Daohua didn’t think too much about it, delightfully placing the pocket watch around her neck. She then opened the case to check the time and said with a smile to Madam Li, “Mother, it’s the third quarter of the hour of the Dog (7:45 PM).”
Madam Li’s cheeks stiffened a bit, “Would it be okay to accept such a thing?”
Daohua also knew the pocket watch couldn’t possibly belong to her third brother. Smiling, she nodded, “It’s all right. Hmm… but I need to think of something to give Xiao Yeyang in return.”
Sighing, she patted her head, “My chrysanthemum wine! I actually forgot about it, had I known, I would have given it to Xiao Yeyang.”
Upon hearing this, Madam Li’s cheeks twitched a few times.
So, the Little Prince gifts you a valuable pocket watch, and all your daughter gives back is a few bottles of chrysanthemum wine?
Yan Yihuan curiously asked, “Big Sister, what is this?”
Daohua, “It’s for telling the time.”
Just then, the voice of Madam Qian could be heard from outside the carriage.
“Sister Li, our carriage has encountered a little issue. May Bi Lan and I ride with you back to Xingzhou City?”
Madam Li hurriedly lifted the carriage curtain and smiled, “Of course, you can. Get on quickly.”
Madam Qian immediately boarded the carriage with Qian Bi Lan.
Daohua quickly took a seat next to Madam Li, leaving the seat on the left for Madam Qian and her daughter.
After climbing the mountain all day, she was actually very tired. She had planned to rest in the carriage, but now with visitors, she had to muster her energy again.
“Big Sister Yan, Second Sister Yan!” Qian Bi Lan greeted Daohua and Yan Yihuan as soon as she sat down.
Madam Qian had already started chatting with Madam Li.
Both mother and daughter’s gazes fell on the butterfly hairpin atop Yan Yihuan’s head, as for the pocket watch around Daohua’s neck, sorry, they hadn’t seen one before and thought it was a gold locket.
“That must be the prize Little Prince gave to the younger sister, right?” Qian Bi Lan looked at Yan Yihuan enviously, “It’s truly beautiful.”
Madam Qian followed with compliments, weaving Xiao Yeyang in and out of the conversation.
Daohua actually found such socializing quite tiresome, but she had to smile and be cordial, otherwise, by the next day, her reputation for being aloof and arrogant would spread throughout Xingzhou City.
Seeing her daughter’s eyelids fighting to stay open, Madam Li tried her best to fend off the questions from Madam Qian and her daughter.
By the time they returned to the back courtyard of the Prefectural Governor’s Office, it was pitch dark, and Daohua was extremely sleepy.
“Alright, I’ll speak to your grandmother; you go back to your quarters to sleep!” Madam Li called Wang Manman over to help Daohua back to Daohua Pavilion.
Daohua shook her head, yawning as she said, “No need, I’ve been out all day. Grandmother will surely worry if she hasn’t seen me; I won’t be much longer.”
In the old lady’s courtyard, after having dinner, the Yan Family hadn’t left yet; they were all waiting for the three from Madam Li’s group to return.
Yan Zhigao sighed with relief upon seeing Madam Li return with Daohua and Yan Yihuan, “Why did you come back so late?”
Madam Li couldn’t mention that Mrs. Zhou had been accommodating the Little Prince’s schedule, so she only smiled, “There were quite a few people who went, and everyone got a bit carried away, so we came back late.” After speaking, she pushed Daohua and Yan Yihuan forward.
“These two girls have been playing all day. They’re now extremely sleepy. Go and see your grandmother quickly, so you can go to bed.”
The old lady had long noticed the tiredness on Daohua’s face, while Yan Yihuan seemed very energetic, “Alright, alright, go back now. There’s no need for formalities!”
Daohua didn’t linger, “Grandmother, I’ll go rest now. I’ll come over and chat with you tomorrow.”
At that moment, Yan Yile spotted the butterfly hairpin on Yan Yihuan’s head and exclaimed, “Second Sister, where did you get that hairpin?”
Ignoring Yan Yile’s question, Daohua paid her respects to the elders of the household and left.
Only after Daohua had departed did Yan Yihuan smile and say, “It was Big Sister who gave it to me.”
Yan Yile immediately moved closer, “I want one too, I want one.”
Yan Yishuang, sitting next to Yan Zhigao, also looked on with desire.
Madam Li smiled, “Alright, you won’t miss out. There’s one for everyone.”
Yan Zhiyuan took over the conversation, “This hairpin is made of pearls; it looks quite valuable. How did it come about?”
Madam Li, “At Xiangxia Mountain, we encountered the Little Prince. Daohua and the young Miss from the Zhou Family had a mountain climbing race with the Little Prince, and this was the prize for winning.”
Yan Zhigao’s expression brightened, “You met the Little Prince too?”
Madam Li smiled, “Not just the Little Prince; our three boys, Wen Kai and Wentao, are now in the same class with the Little Prince.”