Chapter 289: Chapter 270, Should Be_1
Wangyue Academy.
Looking at the food box Yan Wenkai placed on the table, Xiao Yeyang smiled and asked, “Daohua, what delicious pastries have you made again?” As he spoke, he was about to open the box.
Yan Wenkai shook his head, “It’s not pastries, it’s medicinal cuisine, specifically brought to nourish your body.”
Su Hongxin, who was nearby, heard this and immediately asked, “Don’t we have any?”
Dong Yuanxuan also looked over.
Yan Wenkai shrugged, “My eldest sister said that you all have family elders around, who will take good care of everything for you, so she doesn’t need to prepare these.”
Su Hongxin and Dong Yuanxuan were at a loss for words simultaneously.
What kind of reason was that?
Alright, it was a reason nonetheless.
But who said the Little Prince didn’t have elders around to look after him?
Isn’t that person in the other courtyard one?
When they were trapped in Xingyun Prefecture, that person almost forcibly abducted the Little Prince with an entourage.
Their families were not that fierce!
Grumbling, Su Hongxin said, “The food prepared by our families represents their affection, what Yan sister prepares represents her affection, you simply cannot lump the two together, okay? I see it now, Yan sister is biased, treating the Little Prince much better than us.”
Yan Wenkai couldn’t stand anyone speaking ill of Daohua and immediately retorted, “That’s nonsense. When did my eldest sister ever send us food without including something for you too?”
Su Hongxin promptly said, “But the Little Prince gets more than us.”
Yan Wenkai immediately stood his ground, “Isn’t that how it should be? First, the Little Prince knew my eldest sister before you did; second, the Little Prince has been nicer to my eldest sister than you; third…” He trailed off, running out of points.
“Anyway, my eldest sister and the Little Prince are closer friends, so it’s only natural for her to favor the Little Prince.”
Xiao Yeyang had never found Yan Wenkai as articulate as he was at that moment, the corners of his mouth kept rising, and he didn’t interrupt, letting him and Su Hongxin argue.
Seeing Xiao Yeyang in a great mood, Dong Yuanxuan’s eyes flashed, and he quickly lowered his gaze.
Not wanting the conversation to continue about his sister, Yan Wenxiu quickly changed the subject, “We’ve been gone for several months, I wonder if we can catch up with the master’s progress?”
Disinterested in discussing academics, Su Hongxin walked towards the food box, curiously saying, “Little Prince, you can’t eat all by yourself. The medicinal cuisine Yan sister has prepared must be delicious, you should share some with us. Next time, if my sister makes something tasty, I’ll bring some for you too.”
Yan Wenkai also came closer, looking at Xiao Yeyang with eager anticipation, “Little Prince, the medicinal cuisine my eldest sister makes is really delicious, open it up, let’s eat together.”
Xiao Yeyang refused, looking at the two with a defensive face, waving over De Fu, instructing him to take the food box down immediately. After everyone was gone, he then said, “That’s for nourishing my body, you two really have the nerve to eat it too.”
Looking at Xiao Yeyang’s radiant face, Su Hongxin and Yan Wenkai both wore speechless expressions.
Among these people, who had more good stuff than the Little Prince?
Xiao Yeyang couldn’t be bothered to argue with them and abruptly waved them away, “Alright, alright, that’s enough for today. You’ve just returned to the academy, go back to your rooms and get organized.”
Yan Wenxiu and the others exchanged helpless glances, then turned to leave with suppressed laughter.
Once everyone was gone, Xiao Yeyang promptly instructed De Fu to bring the medicinal cuisine.
De Fu said with a smile, “Master, the medicinal cuisine Miss Yan brought is raw. Shall I have the kitchen start cooking it now?”
Xiao Yeyang nodded, “Yes, I’ll eat that tonight.”
De Fu turned to give the instructions.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yeyang ran to the storage room to rummage through the chests and cabinets.
When De Fu returned, he found his master had left the storage room in a complete mess and hastily asked, “Master, what are you looking for?”
Without turning his head, Xiao Yeyang replied, “A whip!”
De Fu instantly understood, “I know where it is.”
Xiao Yeyang then stopped searching, “Well, why aren’t you getting it yet?”
Soon, De Fu placed several nanmu boxes in front of Xiao Yeyang.
Opening the boxes, Xiao Yeyang looked at the whips inside and said with dissatisfaction, “They can’t be too ostentatious!”
Wasn’t he shooting himself in the foot with this?
Previously he had said that the whip Yuanxuan gave was too luxurious to wear out, but now, the ones he had were much more so.
After a moment of thought, De Fu ran to the corner of the storage room, pulling out a jujube-red whip, “Master, how about this one gifted by the Western Regions?”
Xiao Yeyang’s eyes lit up as he picked up the whip and gave it a few swings, “This one is good, exquisite without being ostentatious, and matches the skin color of Daohua, she will definitely like it.”
Defu immediately said, “Then later, this servant will send someone to deliver it to Miss Yan.”
Xiao Yeyang nodded in satisfaction, “Don’t forget the Wuyi Rock Tea as well, she likes to drink it, she drank more than half a pot that day on the boat! Oh, and add two sets of Ru ware tea sets to send over with it.”
Defu smiled, “The master has prepared everything for Miss Yan.”
Xiao Yeyang’s mouth curved up slightly, “That girl has always been careless, if I don’t prepare everything for her, she might end up using a bowl to brew tea.”
As he spoke, he couldn’t help but laugh.
After a moment, he added, “Besides, she misses me so much that she even prepared a medicinal meal for me. Isn’t it right for me to be more thoughtful in return?”
Thinking of how Miss Yan had sent not only vegetables and fruits but also a good amount of rice and noodles, Defu nodded in agreement, for Miss Yan truly spared no effort for the Little Prince.
“Then this servant will go and handle it.”
…
Yan Residence.
After Li Xingnian and others left, sisters Li Zixuan and Li Zixin followed Daohua, attending classes and learning etiquette. Occasionally, Madam Li would give them pointers on how to manage household affairs.
Although they would sometimes hear Yan Yile’s sarcastic comments or see Yan Yishuang’s arrogant expressions when Daohua wasn’t around, overall, they were fairly happy.
One day at noon, Zhou Jingwan came over to seek Daohua’s help.
She had convinced Madam Zhou to give her a shop, and following Daohua’s example, she started her own business. As she wasn’t very good at bookkeeping, she came to Daohua for advice.
When Daohua saw it would take a while, she asked Li Zixuan and Li Zixin to go to the academy first, saying she would follow shortly.
In less than half an hour, when Daohua arrived at the classroom, she found that Yan Yishuang was berating the Li sisters, with Yan Yile watching gleefully, occasionally stoking the fire, while Yan Yihuan sat with her head down, neither speaking out nor intervening.
Yan Yishuang looked at the Li sisters with scorn, “Some people really have no shame. They say they’ve come visit for just a few days, but it’s been almost half a month, and there’s no talk of leaving. Do they really think this as their home?”
She was filled with resentment at the thought that because of their eldest sister, their uncle, aunt, and grandmother couldn’t come to visit them at their house anymore.
If her uncle’s family couldn’t visit, why should the Li family be allowed to stay in their home?
With this thought, Yan Yishuang’s words became even less polite, “This is the back courtyard of the Prefectural Governor’s Office, where the families of officials reside. Have you considered your own social standing, whether you’re worthy to live here?”
Hearing this, Daohua couldn’t hold back any longer, and with a stern face, she walked in.
Upon seeing Daohua, everyone in the room was slightly taken aback.
The Li sisters’ faces had turned beet red from Yan Yishuang’s remarks. Li Zixin had initially countered a few sentences, but worried that making a big fuss would trouble Madam Li, she was mostly forbearing.
Recognizing Daohua, Li Zixuan was somewhat relieved, but Li Zixin showed a hint of grievance.
Daohua didn’t look at the three Yan siblings; she turned to the Li sisters with a smile and said, “Dear cousins, the flowers and plants in the courtyard are growing beautifully, why don’t you go enjoy them.”
Li Zixuan glanced at Daohua’s expression, saw her light smile, and uncertain of her intent, wanted to say something but didn’t know what to say. Remembering her father’s earlier instructions, she nodded, taking Li Zixin with her out of the classroom.
Once they left, Daohua’s smile faded, and she gave Yan Yishuang a cold look, “Little Sister, you seem to be getting more and more overbearing. It seems that the more you read, the more backwards you go, even forgetting the basic courtesy of treating guests!”
After the Li sisters were called out, Yan Yishuang felt a bit anxious, but remembering her mother once said that the Li family was of low status, and even their father looked down on them, she regained some confidence.
“Big Sister, I know you don’t like me, but you don’t have to always pick on my faults, do you?” Yan Yishuang retorted, looking at Daohua with defiance.
Yan Yishuang challenged Daohua, “Big Sister, you really don’t need to lecture me. I just want to ask you, if my uncle’s daughter also came to study in our home, would you treat her courteously?”
“Of course!” Daohua replied adamantly, “As a hostess of the Yan family, I would treat every guest with courtesy! It’s a matter of etiquette and also the face of the Yan family. However…”
Daohua paused and looked at Yan Yishuang indifferently, “The children of Teacher Lin will never come to study in our home.”
Yan Yishuang immediately countered, “Why not?”
Daohua laughed, her face filled with mockery, “Simply because Aunt Lin is just a concubine. Who have you ever heard of treating a concubine’s relatives like immediate family?”
Yan Yishuang’s face turned instantly pale, she bit her lip, tears welling up, a look of anger but dare not speak on her face.
Seeing her like this, Daohua snorted coldly, too lazy to argue further, “Little Sister, you are rude to guests. When you get rid of that unfounded arrogance of yours, then you may come back to class!”
Yan Yishuang was shocked and immediately said, “I don’t agree!”
Daohua scoffed, “Who asked for your agreement? I’m just informing you of the decision.”
Yan Yishuang glared fiercely at Daohua, “I’m going to ask Father to make a judgment.”
Daohua, with an unconcerned face, retorted, “Feel free, if you dare to tell Father everything that happened in the classroom today exactly as it occurred, I’ll actually think higher of you.”