Chapter 141: Chapter 127, Father_1
Because it was already very late and she had been out all day, Madam Li briefly recounted her time at Xiangxia Mountain and then showed signs of fatigue.
Even though others still wanted to listen, it was not appropriate to ask too many questions at this time.
The old lady spoke up, “Alright, the sky is already dark. Everyone go back and rest. We can talk more tomorrow.”
Soon, everyone left the old lady’s courtyard.
Yan Zhigao returned to the main courtyard with Madam Li.
Behind them, Yan Wenbin and Yan Yihuan were somewhat disappointed to see their father had not gone to Shuangxin Courtyard.
Yan Yishuang looked somewhat sullen, “Father now spends so much less time visiting mother!”
Upon hearing this, Yan Wenbin immediately looked around and, seeing everyone was some distance away and hadn’t heard his sister’s words, he sighed with relief, then spoke somewhat reproachfully, “Sister, pay attention to how you refer to people in the future.”
Yan Yihuan was startled, then looked angrily at Yan Wenbin, “What, are you going to be like everyone else now? What’s wrong with calling my own mother ‘mother’?”
Yan Wenbin was both anxious and frustrated, “Acting like this will only cause misfortune for Auntie. Don’t you remember, last time because we misspoke, grandmother scolded Auntie and father didn’t even speak up for her?”
“Obviously, in father’s eyes, the way we address people is also improper.”
Yan Yishuang’s anger flared up, “Rules, rules, it’s all about rules. During lessons, Master Shen goes on and on about rules, and now you’re talking about rules too.”
“When did we ever care about rules before? Didn’t father still love us just the same? How come everything has changed since we arrived in Xingzhou City?”
Yan Wenbin was silent for a long while, “Sister, we have to recognize the reality. Uncle was right; now that our older brother and older sister are more accomplished than us, father’s heart has gradually been drawn to them. If you keep making a fuss like this, father will only grow to dislike us more and more.”
Yan Yishuang was stunned, murmuring, “Could it be? But father clearly said that his most beloved daughter was me!”
Yan Wenbin felt somewhat exhausted, “Father still loves us, it’s just… he has also shared his love with our older brother and older sister. So, sister, we need to work hard, not just for Auntie’s sake, but for ourselves too. We must show our worth.”
Yan Yishuang sniffled, her lips pressed together in silence. After a while, she spoke with a crying tone, “I will make an effort.”
…
After Madam Li and Yan Zhigao returned to the main courtyard, the couple washed up before lying down on the bed.
In bed, Madam Li told Yan Zhigao in detail about the day’s outing.
Hearing that the Little Prince had given the eldest daughter a pocket watch, Yan Zhigao, who had been leaning against his pillow, sat straight up in surprise, “Isn’t the Little Prince being too generous to our Daohua?”
A pocket watch was something he had only heard about but never seen. When he went to the provincial capital to report for his duties, he didn’t see any high-ranking officials wearing one.
Such precious western items, seldom given as tribute by foreign states, were only owned by royal family members or ministers held in special favor by the Emperor.
Yan Zhigao thought sourly that despite all his running around, he had never seen such a thing, yet his eldest daughter had gotten hold of one first.
Madam Li was silent for a moment before musing, “Perhaps the Little Prince thinks Daohua has a pleasant personality, easy to get along with?”
Hearing this, Yan Zhigao was skeptical.
Of the four young ladies in the house, he would believe that Yihuan and Yishuang had good temperaments.
The eldest daughter was both forthright and stubborn, even daring to argue with him, her father; how was that considered having a good temperament?
Seeing that Yan Zhigao was unconvinced, Madam Li hastily added, “The beginning of people getting along hinges on first impressions; continuing the relationship depends on character.”
“Our Daohua, without boasting on my part, compared not just to the three girls at home, but even Miss Zhou, I believe she’s incomparable.”
If it weren’t for your daughter, could Miss Zhou have received an entire set of pearl headdresses?
Yan Zhigao did not entirely agree, “Daohua has yet to fully grasp the rules; she even dared to act wilfully towards the Little Prince. It’s only because the Little Prince didn’t take it to heart, otherwise, how awkward would it have been? It might even negatively impact Wenbin and the others’ image in the Little Prince’s mind.”
“You need to talk to her more about these things. Don’t be so headstrong outside, especially in front of the Little Prince, someone who is pampered by everyone. Others are vying to please him; she must bow her head when it’s time to do so, and not become complacent just because she has the merit of having saved a life.”
“You should know that even this favor could one day be exhausted.”
Seeing that Madam Li did not respond, Yan Zhigao looked over and saw Madam Li yawning, her face unconcerned.
“Hey, are you listening to what I’m saying?”
Madam Li yawned and nodded as she spoke: “I heard you, my lord. I think you’re worrying too much. Don’t judge children’s interactions by adult standards.”
“But is the Little Prince an ordinary child?” Yan Zhigao was somewhat dissatisfied with Madam Li’s attitude and decided to talk to his eldest son later, asking him to keep an eye on the eldest daughter.
Seeing Madam Li was too sleepy to continue, he did not prolong the conversation and called for the maids to extinguish the light, and the couple went to bed.
…
The second house.
Yan Yihuan had just finished narrating her outing when Sun Family immediately knocked on her head.
“You girl, didn’t I instruct you to stay close to your elder sister when you went out? But at the crucial moment, you failed to do so. If you hadn’t gone out with the other misses and had instead gone to see the Little Prince with your elder sister, perhaps you could have received a full set of pearl headdresses!”
Sun Family looked at Yan Yihuan with a heart full of distress.
Normally, when faced with her parents’ chiding, Yan Yihuan would silently bear it. But this time, perhaps because the experiences from her outing had enlightened her, she found the courage to look straight at Sun Family.
“Mother, even if I had stayed with the elder sister the whole time, I wouldn’t have received the headdress, because I simply couldn’t climb to the top of Xiangxia Mountain. Besides, going out for fun, if I had just followed elder sister all the time, what difference would there be between me and her shadow?”
“I don’t regret not going to see the Little Prince with elder sister. I had a lot of fun during the trip and made a few friends. I feel like I gained a lot from talking and chatting with them.”
“…”
Sun Family was stunned; she did not expect her obedient eldest daughter to retort.
Yan Zhiyuan also looked over.
After a while, Sun Family, frustrated that her daughter wasn’t living up to her expectations, said, “Making a few young lady friends, can that be compared to getting close to the Little Prince?”
Yan Yihuan replied, “But even if I were in front of the Little Prince, I’d still be nothing, wouldn’t I? Last time the Little Prince came to our house, aside from elder sister, did you see him glance at anyone else?”
“You…” Sun Family realized her daughter had quite a gift for words, leaving her without a comeback: “Even so, couldn’t you find an opportunity to talk to the Little Prince?”
Yan Yihuan frowned: “Why bother doing something that is known to be impossible, making both oneself and others uncomfortable?” She thought her elder sister was right; making friends should be about feeling happy and comfortable.
With that, Sun Family was left speechless, looking at her daughter with annoyance.
On the side, Yan Zhiyuan, however, was smiling. He preferred his daughter like this, assertive and speaking out for herself, compared to how she was before—silent and never fighting for her own interests.
“Enough, Yihuan is right. How she interacts with other misses outside is her own business. Why are you needlessly interfering?”
With the affirmation of her father, Yan Yihuan’s eyes brightened, and her brows and eyes could not help but curve into a smile.
This was the first time her father had openly acknowledged her!
Sun Family glared at Yan Zhiyuan: “Who am I doing this for?” Eventually, when the old lady is gone, the house will inevitably be divided, and she must think long-term for the second house.