Chapter 251: Chapter 233, Thriving Towards the Sun_1
After the Dragon Boat Festival, the sky still rained from time to time, and the water level of the Dayuan River had visibly risen. Yan Zhigao worried about the possibility of flooding in his jurisdiction and almost sent people daily to check the conditions of the riverbanks.
Fortunately, he never took matters of people’s livelihood lightly or gambled with their luck. When building the levees, he either personally supervised the construction or sent trusted aides to watch over them. Thus, there were no signs of flooding in the governed areas.
In the blink of an eye, the end of May arrived.
“Daohua, why aren’t you going to the Little Prince’s birthday banquet at the palace tomorrow?” Zhou Jingwan looked at Daohua with a puzzled face.
Daohua glanced at Zhou Jingwan. “Didn’t you ask me before what I prepared as Xiao Yeyang’s birthday gift?”
Zhou Jingwan immediately nodded with curiosity, asking, “What is it?”
Daohua beckoned with her finger, and Zhou Jingwan promptly leaned in. Daohua then whispered a few words into her ear.
“What?!” Zhou Jingwan’s eyes widened in shock after hearing what Daohua said.
Daohua shrugged and spread her hands. “I can’t bring my birthday gift with me, so how can I go there empty-handed!”
Zhou Jingwan stared blankly for a while before shaking her head and saying, “You really… have some ideas!” She then looked sourly at Daohua, “And to think I am your good sister. The birthday gifts you give me are never this thoughtful.”
Daohua immediately became indignant. “That’s unfair to say. Every rouge, face powder, and perfume you’re using—didn’t I go to great lengths to procure them for you? The last time you had a birthday, I even made you a big cake. I spent over a month working on that cake.”
Zhou Jingwan broke into a smile and quickly scooted closer. “Okay, Daohua, my apologies. I misspoke. But next time it’s my birthday, I want a gift just like the Little Prince’s.”
Daohua was somewhat speechless. “The point of this gift is to be a surprise. Now that you know about it, what’s the point? It’s better to go with something tangible.”
Zhou Jingwan nodded. “You have a point; no wonder you wouldn’t reveal it before.”
Daohua immediately said, “When you go to the palace tomorrow, you mustn’t utter a word about it. No matter what, you have to wait until Xiao Yeyang has seen the gift before you can speak of it, otherwise there’s no sense of anticipation for my gift.”
Zhou Jingwan blinked. “You don’t trust me? I promise I won’t say a word.”
Daohua expressed doubt. “If you slip up, all my efforts will be wasted, and if Xiao Yeyang ends up asking me for another gift, I’ll have to come looking for you.”
Zhou Jingwan hastily covered her mouth and shook her head.
She was a poor girl who couldn’t afford a gift for the Little Prince, so she would definitely keep her mouth shut.
…
Wuhua Mountain palace.
On the first day of June, people started arriving at the palace early in the morning.
Governor Guo specially hurried back from Fenxi a few days ago to celebrate Xiao Yeyang’s birthday. Today, he was Xiao Yeyang’s elder in public.
Meilin Villa.
Guo Ruomei was also busy, checking on various matters to ensure nothing was amiss, worried that something might embarrass her son.
It had been ten years since she left the Prince’s Residence, and her son was only five years old at the time.
During all these years, she had never celebrated her son’s birthday with him. Now that she finally had the chance, she was determined to hold a grand birthday feast for him.
Outside the house, under the plum tree in the courtyard, a man in green attire, seemingly in his thirties, silently watched the busy Guo Ruomei. Observing the joy in her expression, a hint of melancholy colored his eyes.
Meanwhile, at the entrance to the palace.
As today’s birthday boy, Xiao Yeyang had to come out to welcome guests. Although he maintained a smile on his face, it was hard for him to feel truly enthusiastic. In his mind, he was constantly wondering what gift Daohua had prepared for him.
Daohua, knowing Xiao Yeyang’s character, had written to him early on, explaining the situation and informing him that she wouldn’t be able to come that day.
Although he was somewhat disappointed, he consoled himself with the thought that the absence was due to preparing a particularly special gift for him.
Xiao Yeyang was guessing, and so were Dong Yuanxuan and the others.
“Hey, what gift did Sister Wentao prepare anyway?” Zhou Chengye nudged Yan Wenxiu with his elbow.
2
Yan Wenxiu shook his head. “Don’t ask me—I haven’t heard anything.”
Then, Zhou Chengye turned his gaze towards Yan Wenkai and Yan Wentao.
Both shook their heads in unison.
“We don’t know either.”
Dong Yuanxuan gave Zhou Chengye a meaningful look. “Maybe you should ask your sister?”
Zhou Chengye replied irritably, “I’ve already asked her, but she just covers her mouth and refuses to say anything.”
Dong Yuanxuan sighed. “Alright, let’s just wait and see.”
Xiao Yeyang was preoccupied with thoughts of Daohua’s gift but realizing that his uncle and the lady from the villa had gone to great lengths to organize the birthday banquet, he didn’t want to seem ungrateful and cheerfully entertained the guests from all sides.
Guo Ruomei knew from early on that Daohua wasn’t coming and understood the reason for her absence. Seeing her son’s restless behavior, she shook her head but kindly gestured for the maid, Mei Shuang.
“Tell Yangyang after lunch he can take his friends and have fun out there; his uncle is here to tend to the guests at the palace.”
Xiao Yeyang’s eyes lit up upon receiving the message from Mei Shuang, and although he wanted to say a few words of thanks, he found it hard to express them.
Seeing this, Mei Shuang immediately smiled and said, “Little Master, if you have fun on your outing, remember to bring back a gift for the Master.”
Xiao Yeyang nodded in agreement right away.
At lunch, Xiao Yeyang, with impeccable manners, followed Governor Guo, toasted the guests, and gave everyone face, making the banquet quite enjoyable for all.
However, as soon as lunch was over, he slipped away.
…
“Let’s go, to Xingzhou City!”
Xiao Yeyang called over Yan Wenkai and Yan Wentao, and with De Fu and the bodyguards, boarded the pleasure boat. As for the other companions, he left them to Dong Yuanxuan and Su Hongxin to entertain.
He would have preferred to visit Daohua alone, worried that going by himself might affect her reputation.
The gift Daohua had prepared for him was something he should see alone.
Yan Residence.
When Daohua heard from a maid that Xiao Yeyang had come over, she was stunned for several seconds. She had thought that he would come tomorrow or wait a few more days.
Today, Yan Zhigao and Madam Li had also gone to the palace, so after informing Old Madam Yan, Daohua left the residence with Wang Manman and Qin Xiaoliu.
“How did you come so quickly?”
Looking at Xiao Yeyang and his Third and Fourth Brothers behind him, Daohua asked with a smile.
Xiao Yeyang lifted his chin slightly: “I’m here to collect my gift.”
Daohua smiled: “You’re quite eager, which is good. Birthday gifts should indeed be given on the day to be meaningful, and today’s weather also happens to be good. Follow me!”
On the way, Xiao Yeyang and the others noticed that Daohua seemed to be leading them towards a villa and wondered to themselves whether her gift was there.
As they were nearing their destination, Wang Manman came over with a handkerchief and said to Xiao Yeyang with a smile, “Little Prince, the young lady asks that you blindfold yourself.”
Xiao Yeyang was taken aback: “Do I need to do this? I’m riding a horse.”
Wang Manman smiled and said, “You can take a seat in the carriage for a bit.”
Xiao Yeyang looked at Daohua, who was sitting at the front of the carriage swinging her legs, and after thinking it over, dismounted, glanced at the handkerchief in Wang Manman’s hand, brushed past it, headed towards the carriage, and then hopped to sit on the other side.
Daohua turned to look at him: “We’re about to arrive, you’ll need to blindfold yourself or the surprise will be ruined.”
Xiao Yeyang glanced at Wang Manman, who was offering the handkerchief again, and said with disdain, “I don’t just use other people’s things casually.”
Wang Manman’s smile froze, and she looked at Daohua with a hurt expression.
Did the Little Prince just imply her handkerchief was dirty?
Daohua was also speechless, and casually tossed her handkerchief to him.
Seeing the sheaf of rice embroidered on the handkerchief, Xiao Yeyang then took it in his hands and stopped moving.
“Hurry up and blindfold yourself!”
Xiao Yeyang, holding the handkerchief, looked at Daohua: “How do I blindfold myself?”
Out of exasperation, Daohua grabbed the handkerchief: “You really are spoiled.” While saying this, she blindfolded Xiao Yeyang herself.
Not long after being blindfolded, Xiao Yeyang heard Yan Wenkai’s loud voice behind him: “What, have we arrived?” And then he felt someone take hold of his wrist.
“We’re here, just follow me,” said a voice that Xiao Yeyang knew was Daohua’s, and he cooperated.
After walking for a while, he sensed a faint scent of flowers and immediately thought to himself that Daohua’s gift to him might be flowers.
1
That’s troublesome. How should he handle this?
To him, flowers were fine for an occasional appreciation, but to say he really liked them was not quite true.
What kind of expression should he show later?
Well… regardless, Daohua must have put thought into it, and although he might not like it, he should at least show some surprise.
Otherwise, he might discourage her enthusiasm, and next year she may just give up on giving him anything.
While Xiao Yeyang was mulling these thoughts, Daohua stopped.
“All right, you can take off the handkerchief now!”
Although Xiao Yeyang had his suspicions, he was still curious and quickly pulled down the handkerchief blindfolding his eyes.
In a fraction of a second, a golden sea of flowers burst into view, with the words “Happy Birthday Xiao Yeyang” conspicuous and prominent in the middle of the flower field.
“Sunflowers, also known as sun blooms, Xiao Yeyang, I wish you to live like these sunflowers, always turning towards the sun.”
2