Chapter 379: Chapter 357: Deception_1
Yan Residence’s backyard, Chuihua Gate.
“Little Prince, why haven’t you gone to rest yet?”
After Yan Wenxiu and the others left the old lady’s room, they encountered Xiao Yeyang who was wandering in and out of the courtyard in front of Chuihua Gate.
Xiao Yeyang pointed at the moon in the sky, “Couldn’t sleep, and the moonlight is quite nice tonight, so I stopped to take a look.”
Yan Wenxiu nodded with a smile, “It’s almost August, and the moonlight is getting better.”
Xiao Yeyang replied with a smile, “You have to travel tomorrow, so you should get some rest. I’ll stay a little longer.”
Remembering that he still had some things to pack, Yan Wenxiu nodded and said to Yan Wenkai and Yan Wentao, “You two stay here and keep the Little Prince company.” After speaking, he left.
Afterward, Xiao Yeyang turned to Yan Wentao, “I’ve heard your younger brothers miss you dearly, you should head back as well.”
Yan Wentao hesitated, glancing at Yan Wenkai.
Yan Wenkai quickly patted him on the shoulder with a smile, “Third brother, go back to accompany Xiaoliu and Xiaoqi. I’ll keep the Little Prince company.”
Thinking of his younger brothers clinging to him at dinner, Yan Wentao apologetically looked at Xiao Yeyang, “Then, Little Prince, I’ll head back first.”
Xiao Yeyang smiled and nodded his head.
Once everyone had left, Yan Wenkai immediately made a face at Xiao Yeyang, “Little Prince, sending my older and third brothers away, are you up to some mischief?”
Having been around Xiao Yeyang for quite some time, he knew him fairly well.
Xiao Yeyang gave Yan Wenkai an annoyed look, “What mischief can I get up to in your house?”
Yan Wenkai thought about it and felt it made sense, “Then why did you keep me?”
Xiao Yeyang, fluttering his fan, said indifferently, “It’s been a long time since I drank, and your brother has to travel tomorrow; it wouldn’t be right to drink with him. Moreover, he’s one to stick to the rules; he definitely wouldn’t want us drinking late into the night.”
Upon hearing about drinking, Yan Wenkai’s eyes immediately lit up, “Since we’re drinking, why did you send third brother away? Wouldn’t it be more lively with him around?”
Xiao Yeyang, “…Though Wentao doesn’t talk much, he too is strict about rules.”
Yan Wenkai was stunned, it was true his older brother was strict, but since when did his third brother care about rules?
Xiao Yeyang thought to himself, Wentao was attentive; with him around, how could he later trick Yan Wenkai into going to Daohua?
“Wentao has two younger brothers to take care of; he barely gets to come home, and now you won’t let them get close? What kind of brother are you?”
Yan Wenkai scratched his head and uttered a silly laugh, “Right, right. Let’s not talk about them anymore; let’s go to my room to drink.”
Xiao Yeyang looked at him speechlessly, “You’re still so uninteresting after all these years. With such beautiful moonlight, you want to go inside to drink? Isn’t that a waste of such fine scenery?”
Yan Wenkai glanced at the moon above. Scenic beauty? He didn’t think there was anything special about the moon; didn’t it look the same as always?
But since the Little Prince wanted to stay outside, then fine, he’d stay outside. The Little Prince could admire the scenery while he enjoyed his drink, no need to miss out on either.
“Alright, let’s drink outside.”
As he spoke, he glanced at De Fu, who had empty hands, and immediately turned to Xiao Yeyang: “Little Prince, where’s the wine?”
Xiao Yeyang replied irritably, “You’re the host; are you asking me, a guest, for wine?”
Yan Wenkai was taken aback.
Wasn’t it you who suggested drinking?
Without the wine prepared, how can there be drinking?
“Little Prince, my mother doesn’t allow us to drink; I don’t have any wine.”
“Cough cough~”
Xiao Yeyang coughed twice, as if unintentionally suggesting, “Doesn’t your big sister have some?”
On hearing this, Yan Wenkai’s eyes instantly brightened.
Thinking about his elder sister’s homemade grape wine, the glutton in his belly was immediately tempted.
Seeing him like this, Xiao Yeyang’s mouth curved in a slight smile. Yan Wenkai loved to eat and drink; he knew this guy all too well. Alcohol wasn’t allowed in the military camp, and he had been restrained for over a month— enduring such a dry spell must have been difficult.
Yan Wenkai thought that now that he was in his own home, having a drink wouldn’t be a problem. So he said, “Then I’ll go find my eldest sister right now.” With that, he turned to leave.
“Wait!”
Xiao Yeyang quickly called him to stop.
Yan Wenkai turned back, “What’s the matter?”
Xiao Yeyang, “Go and tell your eldest sister that we want to drink and admire the moon on the rooftop. Ask her to bring two more jars of wine.”
Yan Wenkai, “Eldest sister definitely won’t let us drink too much, but I’ll try.”
Watching Yan Wentao scamper off toward the back courtyard, Defu shook his head in admiration.
This master is indeed easy to persuade!
…
In Daohua Pavilion, Wang Manman was just about to have someone lock the courtyard gates when she saw Yan Wenkai run in, immediately asking in surprise, “Fourth Master, what brings you here?”
Yan Wenkai stood in the courtyard, not entering the room.
Even though it was his sister’s house, it wasn’t proper for him to enter at such a late hour.
“Where’s eldest sister? I have something to discuss with her.”
Daohua had just finished bathing, and hearing her Fourth Brother’s voice, she hurriedly dressed and came out, thinking something was amiss, “Fourth Brother, what happened?”
Yan Wenkai gestured to the maidservants attracted by his presence, “Go on with your tasks. I have some matters to discuss with your mistress.”
After the maidservants and old women had left, Yan Wenkai pulled Daohua aside and whispered, “The Little Prince wants to drink, and he sent me to fetch a few jars of grape wine.”
Daohua glanced at him skeptically, “Fourth Brother, I think it’s you who wants to drink, right?”
Yan Wenkai was indignant, “It’s truly the Little Prince who wants to. He says the moon is beautiful tonight and wants to drink under it on the rooftop.”
Daohua’s expression flickered, “Drinking on the rooftop?”
Yan Wenkai grimaced, “That’s how the Little Prince is, always so particular. It doesn’t matter where he drinks, but he just has to climb up to the rooftop.”
Yan Wenkai wasn’t sure if his sister would agree to give him the wine, so he quickly changed tactics, “The Little Prince hasn’t been in good spirits these past few days. He wants to drink to vent his feelings. You can’t refuse to provide the wine, eldest sister!”
Daohua looked up at the moon in the sky; she had to admit, the moonlight was indeed clear and bright tonight.
“Drinking on the rooftop…”
It did seem like a rather nice idea!
Considering Xiao Yeyang’s unusual behavior during this visit home, Daohua decided she wanted to ask him about it and thus said, “I want to go too.”
Upon hearing this, Yan Wenkai’s eyes widened, and he frantically waved his hands, “No, that won’t do. If you drink with us late into the night and our parents find out, they’re going to kill me.”
Daohua huffed, “If you don’t let me go, then you won’t get any wine.”
Yan Wenkai became anxious, “Come on, eldest sister, don’t be like that.”
Daohua remained unmoved, insisting on going with them.
In the end, Yan Wenkai had no choice but to nod in agreement.
Seeing that he had agreed, Daohua told him to wait for her outside the courtyard and then quietly called over Wang Manman, instructing her in a low voice, “I’ll be stepping out for a while. Keep watch over the door for me and don’t let anyone else know.”
After speaking, she ran inside to change her clothes, and when she came out, she was holding three jars of grape wine.
Chuihua Gate.
Seeing Daohua sneaking behind Yan Wenkai, Xiao Yeyang’s face lit up with joy, while Defu once again couldn’t help but admire his master’s cunning.
Master had played well on Miss Yan’s playful nature and Yan Wentao’s love for food.