Chapter 366: Chapter 344, An Unexpected Gap_1
The Jiang Family made way, and the carriages of various households began to slowly set off.
Yan Wentao rode his horse beside the Yan Family carriage, speaking softly with Daohua and Zhou Jingwan.
Ahead, Xiao Yeyang glanced at Jiang Wanying, who stood by his side, and thought of the childhood sweetheart rumor Daohua had mentioned before, he suddenly did not want to stand together with her anymore.
“Cousin Wanying, you are not well, it’s better for you to stay inside the carriage,” he said.
Jiang Wanying pursed her lips into a smile, “It’s just standing with you for a while, it’s no trouble.” As she spoke, seeing sweat on Xiao Yeyang’s forehead, she reached out her hand wanting to wipe it off.
Xiao Yeyang, upon seeing this, retreated hastily, looking over in some panic at the Yan Family carriage that was about to approach.
Relieved that Daohua was laughing and talking with Yan Wentao and hadn’t seen this, he let out a sigh of relief.
Seeing him dodge away, Jiang Wanying pouted, “Big brother Yang, I just wanted to help you wipe away your sweat.”
Xiao Yeyang said stiffly, “I don’t need you to wipe it, just take care of yourself.” Then he paused, and with a frown added, “Pay attention to your words and actions. It’s not good to be seen like this, and it’s bad for your reputation, too.”
Jiang Wanying didn’t care in the slightest, “What’s there to worry about? I couldn’t care less what others say. Big brother Yang, you used to not care about others’ opinions either, right? How come you’ve changed after a few years of not seeing each other?”
Xiao Yeyang didn’t respond.
He still didn’t care about others’ opinions, but he cared about Daohua’s.
The guy got upset just hearing a rumor about a childhood sweetheart. If he saw him being too intimate with cousin Wanying, he would certainly blow his top.
Jiang Wanying didn’t press on, but changed the subject, “Big brother Yang, I heard the Emperor bestowed some lychees on Governor Guo?”
Xiao Yeyang responded half-heartedly with a hum, “Not many, just a small basket.” While speaking, his gaze kept wandering toward the Yan Family carriage.
Jiang Wanying laughed, “The Emperor really values Governor Guo. The lychees from the south don’t often make it to Beijing because only a few princes and ministers get them each year.”
“When I was in Beijing, I could eat a few when I visited the Taihou Palace, but it’s hard to get them once you leave Beijing.”
Even though the Jiang Family was noble, being the Empress Dowager’s and the Empress’ maternal family, they didn’t receive royal gifts often, mostly from the Empress Dowager or the Empress.
This time, while the Emperor rewarded Governor Guo, he made no gesture towards their family.
Xiao Yeyang’s attention was on the Yan Family carriage approaching slowly; he wasn’t really listening to Jiang Wanying, just humming in response.
Jiang Wanying, seeing she had been so straightforward and yet Xiao Yeyang wouldn’t engage, felt somewhat embarrassed. Then she thought, big brother Yang has always been carefree and might not have understood her hint, so she said again.
“Big brother Yang, I heard Governor Guo gave all the lychees to you. I’ve been having a lot of medicine lately and kind of crave lychees.”
That was clear enough, wasn’t it?
If big brother Yang still didn’t understand, he must be feigning ignorance.
Xiao Yeyang heard and understood, but he said, “I’ve already finished the lychees. If you want some, you should have your parents find a way.”
Jiang Wanying was taken aback, “Weren’t the lychees just delivered yesterday?” How could they be gone so quickly?
“Yes, but there weren’t many, they were gone in a few bites.” Xiao Yeyang remembered the scene of feeding Daohua in the pavilion, and his lips couldn’t help but curve into a smile.
Ah, he hadn’t managed to spend much time with Daohua this time.
All because of his uncle, who insisted on having him entertain guests, wasting most of his day.
Luckily he was clever, managing to keep her in the pavilion by offering her cake. Otherwise, he feared he wouldn’t have had the chance to be alone with her at all.
At that moment, the Yan Family’s carriage passed by.
Xiao Yeyang, seeing Daohua looking in his direction, shifted his gaze away, feeling somewhat guilty.
“Hmph!”
Daohua, seeing their carriage pass by without Xiao Yeyang even bothering to come over and greet her, felt a hint of displeasure in her heart.
Just then, she overheard some people talking nearby.
“The Little Prince and Miss Jiang truly make a handsome couple; standing together they look just like a pair of matching ornaments!”
“Isn’t that the truth, Miss Jiang and the Little Prince are well-suited in family background and looks, and with the Empress Dowager as a connection, I’d say there’s a good chance they are already betrothed.”
“That’s exactly what I’m thinking. Otherwise, why would their behavior towards each other be so intimate? And besides, have you listened to what Madam Jiang says? Every word betrays their closeness.”
“Such a childhood friendship is a wonderful thing.”
Listening to this conversation, Daohua felt even more uncomfortable and retreated back into the carriage, closing her eyes and remaining silent, unaware when her Third Brother had even left.
…
An hour later, they arrived at the Yan Residence.
Madam Li, accompanied by Madam Zhou, entered the house, with Daohua and Zhou Jingwan following behind.
“What’s wrong? You seem to lack energy,” Zhou Jingwan asked, puzzled.
Daohua gestured towards the sky, “With the weather this hot, it would be strange to have any energy. Aren’t you feeling hot?”
Zhou Jingwan fanned herself with a hand-held fan, “Of course, it’s hot.”
Daohua suggested, “Let’s go back and take a nice bath, and then quench our thirst with some watermelon juice.”
Zhou Jingwan nodded with a smile.
Daohua Pavilion.
After taking a bath, Daohua came out to see Zhou Jingwan already seated on the cool bamboo bed mat. She asked with a smile, “How did you get so fast?”
Zhou Jingwan replied, “I’ve always been quick at bathing since I was young. You came just in time; bring out the lychees for me to eat.”
Daohua smiled helplessly and signaled Wang Manman to bring the lychees. She sat on the other side of the bed, drying her hair, and asked, “What about the ones from my Third Brother?”
Zhou Jingwan’s face fell as she pointed to a silk pouch on the tea table, “Don’t remind me. Third Brother Yan didn’t pack them with ice. I tried one, and it’s not fresh anymore.”
“Is that so?” Daohua took a look and found that the lychees were indeed not very fresh, some even bruised, “Well, you better not eat these then.”
“Why not?”
Zhou Jingwan snatched the silk pouch, “This is Third Brother Yan’s thoughtfulness. Even if they don’t taste that great, I should still eat them.” With that, she began to peel a lychee right out of the bag.
Watching her, Daohua was initially stunned, then fixated her gaze on her seriously.
As Zhou Jingwan put the lychee in her mouth and noticed Daohua’s stare, she asked, “Why are you looking at me?”
Daohua hesitated, “…Is something from my Third Brother really that good?”
Zhou Jingwan nodded, “Anything from Third Brother Yan is naturally good. If you find the lychees in the pouch not fresh enough, then don’t eat them.” Saying this, she moved the pouch a little closer to her side.
Daohua was somewhat speechless. Seeing how much Zhou Jingwan cared about the things her Third Brother had given her, she wanted to say something, but feared she might be overthinking it and continued drying her hair in silence.
Ah, when it came to the matter of love, she was still inexperienced—a wealth of theories, yet utterly clueless in practice.
