Chapter 180: Chapter 162, Viewing Lanterns at Chong Building_1
“Xiao Yeyang is in the provincial mansion?” Daohua looked at Zhao Ergou in surprise.
Zhao Ergou nodded, “Miss Yan, the flower parade is about to start. How about we head over to Chong Building first? If you have any questions, you can ask them after we get there.”
There were simply too many people on the streets, and the Little Prince had only mentioned that Miss Yan and the Yan gentlemen might be on Zheng Street watching the lanterns. He did not know the exact location, so he led his men from shop to shop, and it took them the better part of the day to find the group.
“This…”
Daohua was very tempted; to stand atop a tall building and overlook the parade of floats would undoubtedly offer an amazing view.
But if she and her two brothers just left like that, it wouldn’t be right to leave their uncle’s family behind, would it?
Li Xingchang seemed to know what Daohua was thinking. Suppressing the excitement in his heart, he smiled and said, “Daohua, you should go quickly, don’t keep others waiting.”
Daohua looked at her uncle and aunt, then at the Li Family’s cousins, and asked Zhao Ergou, “Can I bring my cousins with me?”
Zhao Ergou glanced at Li Chenyi and the others and nodded, “Of course.”
Upon hearing this, Li Xingchang and the others all showed delighted expressions. Li Chenyi and the youngsters were also excited.
Watching the parade from Chong Building was something they had never even dreamed of.
Li Xingchang smiled and said, “Go on then. Wenxiu, your cousins haven’t seen much of the world. Help take care of them, alright?”
Yan Wenxiu immediately assured, “Uncle, don’t worry.”
Then, Daohua, holding one cousin’s hand, followed Zhao Ergou and his men towards Chong Building.
It wasn’t until they left the restaurant that Li Zixin came back to her senses. Clutching Daohua’s hand, she excitedly said, “Cousin, are we really going to Chong Building to watch the parade of floats?”
Daohua nodded, “Yeah.”
Li Zixuan was also excited but her brows were knit with nervousness, “The ones allowed in Chong Building are all nobility. Is it really okay for us to go?”
Daohua squeezed Li Zixuan’s hand, “It’ll be fine. Just follow me when we’re there. Do as I do.”
Li Zixin immediately nodded, “Then you must take good care of us.”
Back in the restaurant, Li’s uncles and aunts finally relaxed when they saw Daohua and the others well-protected in the center of the bodyguards, preventing anyone from accidentally bumping into them.
Fan Family’s Madam, seeing her daughter tightly holding onto Daohua’s hand and her youngest son with his neck encircled by Wenkai’s arm, said with a smile, “Daohua and the others have not been cared for in vain. Even with good fortunes, they did not forget about their cousins.”
The Jian Family’s Madam also followed with a smile, “Yes, little sister always mentioned in her letters how warm-hearted Daohua is. Now I’ve finally experienced it for myself.”
She had seen everything clearly. When that bodyguard came to call them over, Wenxiu and Wenkai seemed to want to include Chenyi and the others, but they seemed hesitant and didn’t speak up.
Only Daohua, the young girl, had taken the initiative to speak.
From the look of things, she seemed to want them all to follow along at that moment.
Seeing both his elder sister and daughter-in-law looking happy, Li Xingnian smiled and said, “Alright, you’re both so excited. They are close cousins after all; of course, we should look after them. Haven’t our children been playing happily with the three from Daohua’s family these past days? Affection is mutual; if we’re good to them, naturally, they will be good to us too.”
The Jian Family’s Madam gave Li Xingnian a playful glare, “You always know what to say.”
After Daohua and her party left, the restaurant began to stir. People on the first and second floors were all eyeing the private room where Li Xingnian and his family were seated.
The bodyguards brought by Zhao Ergou had a different bearing and dress compared to the usual protector or bodyguard of common families. Merchants, having honed a keen eye for detail, immediately recognized that these men were extraordinary.
Sun, the head of the merchant association, even came down from the second floor and shamelessly took a seat in Li Xingchang’s private room, “Brother Li, I just saw your esteemed family’s young masters and misses leaving. Where might they be going?”
Li Xingchang raised an eyebrow—just a moment ago he was addressed as ‘Manager Li,’ and now he was ‘Brother Li’!
He glanced at everyone eyeing their private room, knowing that today’s events could not be kept secret, so he smiled and said, “My two nephews are studying at Wangyue Academy, aren’t they? It just happens that their classmates are watching the lanterns from Chong Building. When they found out my nephews were here too, they came to invite them over to enjoy the lanterns together.”
Sun, the merchant association head, felt a jolt in his heart.
Chong Building was a place open only to the relatives of high officials of the provincial mansion.
“Please forgive my ignorance, Brother Li, but your nephews are…?”
Li Xingchang smiled, “The sons of Prefectural Governor of Xingzhou.”
Sun immediately responded with a smile, “I thought so. How come those two young masters looked so distinguished? It turns out they are sons of the Prefectural Governor.”
Mrs. Sun also came downstairs, and without any ado clasped Madam Fan’s arm with a smile, “The first floor view is somewhat lacking after all. I’ve made room in a private box on the second floor. You must grant me this favor and go up to watch the lanterns.”
Madam Fan and Jian Family’s Madam exchanged glances. With Mrs. Sun personally extending the invitation, it would be difficult to refuse, so she said with a smile, “Then we shall bask in madam’s favor.”
Madam Sun immediately smiled and said, “What are you talking about? It’s rare for everyone to gather together like this, and it’s usually hard to get an invitation to meet with you all.”
Madams Fan and Jian glanced at the Li Xingchang brothers, who were chatting idly with the head of the Sun family, and followed Madam Sun upstairs.
…
Chong Building.
With Zhao Ergou and the others escorting them, it didn’t take long for Daohua and her companions to arrive smoothly at the base of the building.
De Fu was already waiting downstairs at Chong Building and, seeing Daohua, immediately broke into a small jog with a smile, “Miss, you’ve finally come. The master was afraid that you wouldn’t come to see the lanterns.”
Daohua smiled and said, “I’ve come all the way to the provincial capital, how could I not see them?” Saying so, she tugged at her cousins Li Zixin and Li Zixuan, “These are my cousins; they’ve come along with me.”
De Fu sized up the group briefly, didn’t pay much mind, and then said with a smile, “Since you’re here, let’s hurry up and go upstairs.”
Daohua nodded and led her cousins upstairs.
As they ascended, Li Zixuan leaned toward Daohua and whispered, “Why does that young man’s voice sound so odd?”
Daohua glanced at De Fu, who was walking in front, and whispered back, “He is a eunuch.”
Upon hearing this, the sisters Li Zixuan and Li Zixin both inhaled sharply.
Eunuchs, who are specially appointed to serve the imperial family.
Soon, under De Fu’s lead, Daohua and her group arrived at the top floor of Chong Building.
Seeing that there weren’t many people on the top floor, and that they were mostly acquaintances, Daohua instantly breathed a sigh of relief.
Although being invited by Xiao Yeyang to watch the lanterns was a matter of great honor, she did not want to attract too much attention.
“Have you arrived?”
Xiao Yeyang glanced at Daohua before coolly shifting his gaze back to the street below the building.
Daohua smiled and didn’t mind, turning toward Dong Yuanxuan, Zhou Chengye, and the others: “Brother Dong, Brother Zhou, Brother Su, you’re all here?”
Zhou Chengye replied with a smile, “The Lantern Festival in the provincial capital is always lively. Just couldn’t resist joining the fun.”
Daohua looked around: “Where is Jingwan? Didn’t she come with you?”
Zhou Chengye said, “There’s a family elder’s birthday celebration back at the clan, so she had to stay home and accompany them.”
Daohua felt a bit disappointed, but soon her face lit up with a smile again, and she began introducing Li Chenyi and the others, “These are my cousins; please take good care of them for me.”
Dong Yuanxuan smiled, “When it comes to giving orders, you certainly don’t hold back.”
Daohua immediately returned the smile, “That’s because I know Brother Dong and the rest of you are refined gentlemen, you’ll definitely take good care of others.”
On the side, Li Zixuan and Li Zixin were utterly astonished to see Daohua so familiarly chatting and joking with the sons of provincial officials.
Among these people, some were known to them. For instance, that Brother Dong they just met was the son of the highest official of Zhongzhou Province, the Provincial Governor Dong. The others, though unseen before, likely had fathers in high positions.
Under normal circumstances, such people were beyond their reach, unseen. Yet now, they found themselves standing with them, admiring the lanterns.
Led by Yan Wenxiu and Yan Wenkai, the three cousins all got acquainted with Dong Yuanxuan and the others.
There were other young women from different families on the top floor, but unfortunately, Daohua didn’t recognize any of them and thus did not go over to greet them. She brought her two cousins to the railing, gazing out at the lights below.
“So beautiful!”
Daohua couldn’t help but exclaim, “The view really is different from up high.” The revelry was merely a blur from within a restaurant, but from atop Chong Building, the spectacle of the streets could all be taken in at a glance.
“Cousin, I’ll step away for a second, you two keep watching by yourselves, okay?”
Li Zixuan, glancing at Xiao Yeyang who was standing alone and paying no mind to anyone else, quickly nodded, “Go attend to your matters, we’ll take good care of ourselves.”
Only then did Daohua smile and approach Xiao Yeyang.
“Sister, who is that person? He seems so proud!” whispered Li Zixin, unable to hold back her curiosity.
Li Zixuan immediately gestured for silence, “Don’t speak recklessly.” Everyone present had almost been introduced by their cousin, except for that gentleman.
Considering the eunuch they met earlier, the gentleman’s identity was apparent.
This must be the Little Prince mentioned by our uncle!
