Chapter 296: Chapter 277, Entering the Capital_1
“Miss Zhou has arrived!”
Upon seeing Zhou Jingwan, the maids and nannies inside Daohua Pavilion immediately approached with smiling faces to pay their respects.
Zhou Jingwan nodded, “Where is your young miss?”
Lixia laughed, “The young miss is still lounging in bed!”
Zhou Jingwan shook her head, “That lazy girl, watch me go and rouse her.” With that, she entered the room and headed straight for the bedroom.
Seeing Daohua leaning against the headboard in a little marten fur, lazily flipping through a storybook, Zhou Jingwan couldn’t help but smile, “Ever since Sister Li left, you’ve become increasingly lazy. It’s almost noon, and you’re still not out of bed.”
Daohua, upon seeing her, didn’t sit up but instead put down the storybook, patted the edge of the bed, gesturing for Zhou Jingwan to come sit, and then smiled, “Tomorrow’s New Year’s Eve, and here you are with time to run over to my place?”
Zhou Jingwan’s expression turned serious, “What, you despise my company now?”
Daohua picked up the storybook and covered her mouth with a laugh, “Miss Zhou graces us with her presence, brightening my humble abode.”
Hearing this, Zhou Jingwan finally smiled, then took off her boots herself and sat on the bed.
Seeing this, Daohua gave her a light punch, then quickly shifted further into the bed, moving while saying, “You just came in from outside, your body is still cold. You can’t climb into my quilt.”
Zhou Jingwan rolled her eyes at her, “Who’s going to climb into your quilt!” After speaking, she too leaned against the bolster like Daohua.
Daohua had someone bring over a blanket for Zhou Jingwan to cover herself with, before lying down again, “Did my father visit your home again?”
Zhou Jingwan nodded.
Daohua said, “Your Grandfather Zhou has been a great help during this time.”
In anticipation of his upcoming service in Beijing, my foster father took it very seriously. In recent days, whenever free, he would visit Grandfather Zhou at the Zhou Family, to hear him explain the relationships among the various families in Beijing, as well as what the Emperor disliked.
After three years of association, the Yan Family and the Zhou Family could be considered close allies.
Therefore, Grandfather Zhou did not hold back, meticulously analyzing the formidable connections present in Beijing with Yan Zhigao.
Zhou Jingwan offhandedly said, “Our families are close allies, isn’t that to be expected?”
Daohua smiled, “I’ve made a medicinal meal for grandmother. When you go back later, take some for Grandfather Zhou.”
Zhou Jingwan nodded, “Alright, my grandfather loves the dishes you make.” As she spoke, she turned over to face Daohua, “I heard from my mother that this time Uncle Yan will definitely be promoted. Whether it’s to Beijing or to another place, we will have to part ways in the future.”
Seeing the look of loss on Zhou Jingwan’s face, Daohua took her hand, “Don’t be like that. In the future, we can correspond often. If my father’s new post isn’t far from Xingzhou, we can still make plans to go out together.”
Zhou Jingwan sighed, “But it still won’t be as convenient as now.”
Daohua nodded, “Yes!”
After a silence, Zhou Jingwan suddenly said, “My brother’s marriage has been arranged. My mother said, once my brother’s affairs are settled, it will be my turn. Daohua, we won’t have many chances to meet in the future.”
Upon hearing this, Daohua too let out a sigh, “I really don’t want to grow up.”
Zhou Jingwan had a melancholic expression, “Indeed.”
That day, Zhou Jingwan had lunch at the Yan Family and played until the afternoon before returning home.
After sending Zhou Jingwan away, Daohua just returned to her own courtyard when she saw Wang Manman talking with Guyu and Lixia about something, “What are you all so engrossed in discussing?”
Wang Manman, upon seeing Daohua, immediately lifted the curtain for her. After letting her enter the room, Wang Manman followed and said as she walked, “The master just returned from outside and was cornered by the fifth young master and the third young miss.”
Daohua raised an eyebrow, “Are they pleading on behalf of Aunt Lin?”
Wang Manman poured Daohua a cup of tea, laughing, “There’s nothing the young miss doesn’t know.”
Daohua lifted the cup, “What did father say?”
Wang Manman, “The master commended the filial piety of the fifth young master and the third young miss and allowed them to accompany Aunt Lin for meals in Shuangxin Courtyard during the New Year period.”
Daohua, “So Aunt Lin’s confinement hasn’t been lifted?”
Wang Manman shook her head with a smile, “Not yet.”
Daohua gave a smile, blew on the froth of the tea in her cup, and took a slow sip, “If only father could remain this clear-headed always.”
…
In the nineteenth year of Yongxing, because Yan Zhigao had to prepare for his duty report in Beijing, there was much to be busy with, so the Yan Family did not have much festivity during the Spring Festival.
Worrying about delays on the road, Yan Zhigao left with Yan Wenxiu, Teacher Xiao, and Qin Wu and a few others as soon as the third day of the lunar year had passed.
Once they had gone, the Yan Family felt somewhat deserted.
Daohua, however, seemed to be enjoying herself greatly. Perhaps because they were about to part, Zhou Jingwan almost visited her every day to play. The two either huddled in the courtyard to discuss business matters or went out together to ride horses, living quite leisurely.
…
Yan Zhigao and his company arrived in Beijing the day before Lantern Festival.
As soon as they arrived at the city gate, the Yan Family servants, who had been waiting there, came up to greet them, accompanied by the Yang Family servants.
Yan Zhigao glanced at the Yang Family servants with a somewhat cold expression.
During his time of misfortune, the actions of the Yang Family had been particularly unsightly. If it had not been for the thought of his sister being married into the Yang Family, he would not have wanted to associate with such relatives at all.
“We have been on the road for more than ten days, dusty and tired. We should first return home to wash and rest. We will pay a visit another day,” he said.
The Yang Family servants immediately bowed and agreed.
For the fourth Madam’s elder brother, the Yang Family would not dare to take offense, even though the head of their family held a higher official position.
Before leaving home, the head of their family had specifically instructed them to serve carefully and not to offend anyone.
“Lead the way!”
Yan Zhigao told his own servant, then settled back into the carriage.
The people of the Yan Family thought that their estate was rather remote, but when they stood in front of the mansion’s gate, they realized that it was only a few streets away from the Imperial Palace.
Yan Zhigao fell silent for a while before turning to look at Yan Wenxiu, “How much silver did your sister say this house cost?”
Yan Wenxiu said with a bitter smile, “Two thousand taels.”
Yan Zhigao was at a loss for words: “… After we return, have your mother make up the silver to the Little Prince.”
Yan Wenxiu shook his head, “The Little Prince will not accept it.” Seeing Yan Zhigao frown, he smiled, “The relationship between our family and the Little Prince is not of one or two days. We can slowly repay him in the future.”
Yan Zhigao nodded, and seeing that people nearby were taking notice, he did not say more and led his group through the gate.
The butler of the house led the way, while smiling and introducing the surroundings: “The majority of the residences around here are similar, inhabited by the newly privileged of recent years…”
Yan Wenxiu listened while inwardly sighing.
The Little Prince gave them a house perfectly suited to their preferences and current status, not too conspicuous.
Yang Residence.
Old Madam Yang’s face looked somewhat displeased when she saw that Yan Zhigao had not visited, glancing at her daughter-in-law who was looking down and not speaking, “Your elder brother seems to have cut ties with our family, coming to Beijing and not even staying at our place.”
Yan Siyu thought to herself, how the Yang Family had treated her natal family over the years, did the Old Madam not have any idea? Yet she had the nerve to say such things.
Seeing that her fourth sister-in-law was silent, the Madam of the Yang Family, recalling her husband’s instructions to foster good relations with the Yan Family, had no choice but to smile and smooth things over: “Mother, the Yan Family has a house in Beijing. They couldn’t impose on us, that’s all.”
“I know you’re anxious to meet your in-laws. Now that they’ve come to the capital, there’s no rush for a day or two,” she added.
Old Madam Yang’s face then improved somewhat, and she asked, “Where is the Yan Family’s house?”
Yan Siyu replied, “Easten Street.”
At these words, everyone in the room was shocked.
Easten Street was near the inner city, much closer to the Imperial Palace than their own house.
After a long silence, Old Madam Yang looked at Yan Siyu, “How did your natal family acquire a house there?”
The closer to the inner city, the more expensive the houses became, and they were also quite hard to purchase without connections.
Yan Siyu, too, had been surprised upon learning the location of the house. She said, “Having had little contact with my family in recent years, I didn’t know about it.”
Upon hearing this, Old Madam Yang and the other three daughters-in-law of the Yang Family could not press the matter further.
Indeed, over the years, their dealings with the Yan Family had been somewhat neglected.