Chapter 283: Chapter 264, Birthday Gift_1
After their bath, Daohua and Dong Yuanyao shared a bed and went to sleep.
“I really want you to stay at my place for a few more days, but it’s a pity, you have to go home to see the elders.” Dong Yuanyao lay in the quilt and said with regret.
Daohua turned over to face Dong Yuanyao and smiled, “There will be plenty of chances in the future. If you’re free, you can come to Xingzhou to visit me; I’ll take you to my estate to have fun.”
Dong Yuanyao got excited, “I heard you have an estate that’s specially used for growing flowers?”
Daohua nodded, “That estate isn’t very big, but, it’s enough to keep my flower shop and rouge shop running smoothly.”
Dong Yuanyao, “It must be beautiful, right?”
Daohua, “Of course, I’ve collected all kinds of flowers, many of which I begged for from Grandpa Jingwan.”
Dong Yuanyao turned over, “If I have time, I must go see it. These past two years, my mother has also started teaching me how to manage our estate. If it’s not too difficult, I might plant some on our estate as well.”
“Are you usually busy at home?”
“Busy, especially these past two years. Apart from attending classes, I also follow my mother to deal with various affairs, leaving me little time to play. My mother said that I’d better learn well, or else I’d suffer when I get married.”
“I’m also very busy at home.”
“Why do we have to get married? Isn’t it good to just stay at home?”
“If I could choose, I wouldn’t want to get married.”
“Me too…”
The two chattered on and on, and as they talked, they slowly fell asleep.
The maidservant waiting outside heard the silence, tiptoed in, saw that the two were asleep, tucked them in, and then went out to sleep herself.
The next day, early in the morning, as the sky was just getting light and before the maidservant could wake them, Daohua awoke. Just as she moved, Dong Yuanyao also opened her eyes.
Dong Yuanyao yawned, covering her mouth, “I slept so well last night.”
Daohua nodded, “So did I.”
Dong Yuanyao swiftly got out of bed, “Come on, let’s go out and get moving. I didn’t bring a sword to Xingyun Prefecture last time; today, I’ll perform a dance for you.”
Daohua, leaning half off the bed, laughed, “Sure, let me see Dong the Warrior Maiden’s grace.”
Dong Yuanyao saw Daohua was still somewhat bleary-eyed, walked over smilingly, and lifted her chin, “Beauty, just wait for this young master to take you on adventures through the world.”
Daohua swatted away Dong Yuanyao’s hand and glared, “Where did you learn to flirt like this?”
Dong Yuanyao shrugged, “Self-taught! My mother said it’s lucky I’m a girl, or else I’d certainly be a rogue.”
Daohua also got out of bed, “Your mother is quite right in saying that.”
Afterward, the two dressed in loose workout clothes and went out to the courtyard. Daohua watched Dong Yuanyao perform a sword dance for a while and then practiced the whip herself. When it was fully light, they went back to their rooms to freshen up.
Just after freshening up, a maidservant came in with several sets of clothes.
“These are the autumn clothes Madam has just made for the young miss, she asked me to bring them over for Miss Yan to choose from.”
Daohua looked at the clothes, all different shades of red, from bright red to pink red to tender red, all were there, she exclaimed in surprise, “You really like red, huh?”
Dong Yuanyao picked up a bright red dress and compared it against Daohua, “Yeah, don’t you like it?”
Daohua, “…It’s not that I don’t like it, it’s just I feel like I can’t pull it off.”
Dong Yuanyao considered Daohua for a moment, “True, you’re still too young. How about this Xiangfei-colored one? It’s a lighter shade.”
Hearing this, Daohua was a bit speechless, as if she were very old.
Soon, with the maidservants’ help, both of them changed into new clothes.
“I’ve never worn such a tender color before.” Daohua said as she adjusted her clothes.
Dong Yuanyao turned around and took a look.
Daohua was dressed in an Xiangfei-colored top with scattered flowers and a moon-white plum blossom pleated skirt, looking youthful and pretty.
“Good-looking!”
Daohua also sized up Dong Yuanyao, her water-red jacket with printed lining and pleated skirt scattered with flowers made her look both radiant and luxurious: “You look beautiful too.”
Wang Manman and the Dong Family maid stood by, watching and laughing: “The two young ladies standing together are just like a pair of sisters.”
Dong Yuanyao immediately linked arms with Daohua: “Aren’t we just like sisters? Come on, let’s go to the main courtyard so my mother can have a look at us.”
Daohua nodded, then was pulled out of the room by Dong Yuanyao.
Just as they stepped out of the courtyard, Dong Yuanyao stopped: “Wait for me, I need to grab something.” With that, she turned and ran off.
“Take your time, no rush!”
Daohua called out after her, then began to take in the scenery of the Dong Residence’s back courtyard.
Though it was now the end of September, the flowers in the yard were still in full bloom.
Daohua: “These flowers are really blooming well.”
The Dong Family maid said with a smile: “The master loves flowers, so we have planted many in the residence. Every time he returns, he personally tends to the flowers in the courtyard.”
Daohua touched the golden chrysanthemums in the courtyard and said with a smile: “I never expected Brother Dong to be so fond of flowers.”
At the other end of the courtyard, Dong Yuanxuan, followed by a manservant, was walking briskly toward his sister’s courtyard. As he approached the entrance, he saw a charming pink figure enjoying the flowers and immediately stopped in his tracks.
Although the flowers were bright, they paled in comparison to a beautiful lady’s smile.
Watching Daohua with her eyes closed, smelling the fragrance of the flowers, a smile inadvertently appeared on Dong Yuanxuan’s lips.
After taking in the scent of the flowers, Daohua put them down, turned her gaze, and spotted Dong Yuanxuan not far away, immediately smiling: “Brother Dong.”
Looking at her bright and cheerful smile, Dong Yuanxuan’s eyes flickered, and after a brief moment of surprise, he walked over with a laugh: “What are you doing here alone?”
Daohua said with a smile: “Yuanyao went back to the room to get something, and I’m waiting for her here. Are you looking for her? I can call her.”
“No!”
Dong Yuanxuan quickly called out to stop Daohua: “I’m not looking for Yuanyao.”
Daohua: “…Are you just passing by here?”
Dong Yuanxuan shook his head, took a long box from his manservant, and as he opened it, he said: “I was in Xingyun Prefecture for your birthday in August and didn’t have time to prepare a gift for you. Now that we’re back home, it’s just the right time to make it up to you.” As he spoke, he handed her the box.
He had specifically come over early in the morning to give her the gift.
Looking at the whip in the box, Daohua showed surprise and touched it: “This is too valuable!” She had been practicing with the whip for some time now and could fully discern the quality of a whip.
Dong Yuanxuan put the box in Daohua’s hands: “This is your birthday gift, don’t be a stranger about it.”
Daohua, holding the box and looking somewhat hesitant, saw the resolute look on Dong Yuanxuan’s face and relented with thanks: “Thank you, Brother Dong.”
Seeing her accept it, Dong Yuanxuan smiled: “As long as you like it.”
Daohua immediately responded with a smile: “I really like it.”
Dong Yuanxuan looked into the courtyard: “You wait for Yuanyao, I’m off to find Little Prince and the others.”
Daohua nodded, and after Dong Yuanxuan left, she looked at the whip in the box, closed the lid, and handed it to Wang Manman to hold.
At that moment, Dong Yuanyao came out: “I just heard you talking to someone. Who was it?”
Daohua: “Your brother.”
Dong Yuanyao paused: “What does he want from me?”
Daohua smiled: “He wasn’t looking for you. He came to give me a birthday present.” Saying so, she pointed to the box in Wang Manman’s hands.
“What is it?” Dong Yuanyao, curious, opened the box and saw the whip inside. She paused for a moment and then laughed: “This whip was given to my brother by our grandfather. It was said to have been seized from the northern nomadic nobility.”
Daohua quickly said: “Since it was given to your brother by your grandfather, I cannot accept it. Please help me return it.”
Dong Yuanyao pressed on Daohua urgently, laughing: “A gift once given cannot be taken back. If it was given to you, then just keep it. My brother surely saw that you were practicing with a whip and happened to have a good one at hand, so he gave it to you as a gift. Don’t be shy, just take it.”
Seeing Dong Yuanyao speak so casually, Daohua did not insist on returning it any longer.
“Come on, let’s go see my mother.”