Chapter 346: Chapter 324: Annoyance_1
As the sun completely disappeared over the horizon, Daohua had entirely given up hope.
Xiao Yeyang really did break his promise!
“It seems that these festival gifts won’t be sent out after all!”
Daohua waved to Wang Manman, signaling her to take the gifts away, her heart feeling extremely congested.
Wang Manman glanced at her young lady’s disheartened face, didn’t dare to say more, and called out to Guyu and Lixia to start packing up.
At that moment, Ping Tong walked over.
Seeing Ping Tong, Daohua’s eyes suddenly lit up, “Sister Ping Tong, have my brother and Xiao Yeyang come back?” Her voice carried an unmistakable joy and anticipation.
Ping Tong smiled and said, “Are you so eager to see the Dragon Boat Race, Miss?”
Daohua: “Of course, I’ve heard Jingwan talk about how spectacular and lively the provincial Dragon Boat Race is; I have always regretted not being able to see it personally.” With that, she waved at Wang Manman and the others.
“Quick, move the gifts to the carriage. My brothers, really, coming back so late; by the time we get to the provincial city, it will be so late.”
She picked up her pace, heading towards the main courtyard.
Seeing her misunderstanding, Ping Tong hastily explained, “Miss, it’s not the elders.”
Daohua paused mid-step, and the smile on her face faded: “Not my brothers returning?” Then why are you here?
Seeing Daohua visibly disappointed, Ping Tong quickly said, “It’s your second uncle, sir, he came to Ningmen Prefecture for business, and took the opportunity to visit our home.”
Daohua responded with a faint “oh.”
Ping Tong continued with a smile, “Miss, don’t you want to go to the provincial city to see the Dragon Boat Race? You can go with your second uncle.”
Daohua again responded with an “oh.”
Ping Tong was slightly surprised, sensing that the Miss suddenly seemed less interested in watching the Dragon Boat Race.
Is it just because the elders haven’t come back?
But the result is the same.
Standing in the courtyard, Daohua plucked a rose and absent-mindedly stripped its petals, fell silent for a moment, then suddenly “hmphed,” tossed the rose aside, and turned to head to the main courtyard.
If Xiao Yeyang wouldn’t come for her, she would go on her own!
…
By the time Daohua arrived at the Li Family’s home with Li Xingnian, it was the second period of the hour of zi (11:30 PM).
By then, most of the Li Family were asleep, and not wishing to disturb Li Zixuan and Li Zixin, Daohua went to rest in the guest room.
Maybe it was because she had been overly expectant before and then deeply disappointed, but Daohua no longer felt as keen to see the Dragon Boat Race. After lying down, she told Wang Manman not to wake her too early the next day.
On the day of the Dragon Boat Festival, Li Zixuan and Li Zixin learned that Daohua had arrived, and they came looking for her early in the morning, only to be stopped by Wang Manman at the guests’ courtyard.
“The Miss went to sleep late last night, she hasn’t gotten up yet!”
Li Zixuan nodded, smiled, and said, “I heard from my father that you didn’t arrive until zi hour last night, so let her sleep a little longer. But don’t let her sleep too late; it would be bad if she missed the Dragon Boat Race.”
Wang Manman nodded and smiled as she saw the two off, then peeked at the Miss who was still sound asleep, feeling a bit resentful towards Xiao Yeyang in her heart.
The Little Prince really, the Miss trusted him so much, yet he stood her up.
And now, he’d made the Miss angry.
Main Courtyard.
All the members of the Li Family had come to the dining hall, and they were somewhat surprised to see that Daohua hadn’t gotten up yet.
Fan Family smiled, “That girl is not a lazy one; why is she getting up so late today?”
Li Xingnian: “Last night she was on a boat for two or three hours, she must be tired.”
Jian Family looked at the sky and remarked, “Shall I send someone to call her? If she doesn’t get up now, she’ll miss the Dragon Boat Race.”
As she was speaking, a servant came to report that the young lady from the Dong Family had arrived.
Fan Family looked puzzled, “Why has Miss Dong come here? Does she know Daohua is at our home?”
Li Chenyi said, “My cousin Wenxiu is also in town, and I sent someone to inform them early this morning that cousin had arrived.”
Fan Family nodded her head, “That’s right, it’s good to let them know. We’ll all have more fun watching the Dragon Boat Race together.”
Dong Yuanyao was brought in and upon learning that Daohua had still not risen from bed, she was rendered speechless, then smilingly said to the Fan Family and others, “Uncle, aunt, wait here, I’ll go rouse that lazy girl.”
…
“Yan Yiyi, time to get up!”
Daohua was sleeping soundly, feeling someone tugging at her blanket, she kicked out.
“Ow!”
Awakened by the cry of pain, Daohua sat up abruptly and then saw Dong Yuanyao sitting on the ground, giving her an accusing look, her expression one of surprise.
“Yuanyao, what are you doing here?”
Dong Yuanyao, helped up by Wang Manman, rubbed her backside while glaring at Daohua, “Yan Yiyi, you’ve got quite some strength there. That kick of yours nearly sent me flying.”
Daohua quickly got out of bed, walked over to Dong Yuanyao and looked behind her, “Did you hurt yourself?”
Dong Yuanyao ‘hmphed’, “Luckily, I dodged quickly, so your kick didn’t land fully on me.”
Douhua breathed a sigh of relief and sheepishly asked, “Why were you pulling on my blanket anyway?”
Dong Yuanyao pointed outside the window, “Look for yourself what time it is now. Don’t you want to see the Dragon Boat Race anymore? It’d be a shame to miss it after coming all this way.”
Daohua pouted, “If I miss it, then so be it. What’s there to be sorry about?”
Dong Yuanyao scrutinized Daohua, noting her lack of enthusiasm, then tugged at her sleeve and ventured, “You aren’t, by any chance, angry with the Little Prince, are you?”
“Hm?”
Daohua turned around, looking puzzledly at Dong Yuanyao, “You know?”
Dong Yuanyao said irritably, “Why do you think I showed up at the Li Family’s place?”
Daohua, “Why?”
Dong Yuanyao made a face, “It was early in the morning when my brother sent someone back home to ask me to take you to the Dragon Boat Race, and he made a special point of having me explain to you that Little Prince has been a bit busy lately, which is why he forgot about the matter of picking you up.”
Upon hearing this, the frustration Daohua had felt in her chest dissipated a bit and her brow smoothed out, as she offhandedly remarked, “He…what’s he busy with?”
Dong Yuanyao, seeing that only Wang Manman and her two maids were in the room, with no reservations, snorted, “Busy accompanying the Jiang Family.”
Daohua was taken aback, “The Jiang Family? The Empress Dowager’s maternal family?”
Dong Yuanyao nodded, “The newly-arrived Advisor Jiang is Little Prince’s maternal uncle. Little Prince had to entertain him for a couple of days no matter what.”
“Those people from the Jiang Family are used to being revered. Lately, my brother has been following Little Prince around, and they’ve given him quite the runaround. Now they’re missing this, now they’re short of that; it’s quite annoying.”
Daohua expressed surprise, “Xiao Yeyang has a good relationship with the Jiang Family?”
Dong Yuanyao shrugged, “I’m not sure about that, but out of respect for the Empress Dowager, Little Prince has to afford the Jiang Family some courtesy.”
Daohua shook her head, “Seems like such a hassle.”
Dong Yuanyao agreed wholeheartedly, “Isn’t that the truth? Take my dad for instance; on the surface, he’s Advisor Jiang’s superior, but can he really show any authority to Advisor Jiang? My mom says it’s not a subordinate who’s arrived, but an ancestor.”
Daohua laughed gleefully, glanced at Dong Yuanyao, and lowered her voice, “Why do I get the feeling that you don’t quite like the Jiang Family?”
Dong Yuanyao, “You’ll know once you meet the Jiangs.”