Chapter 398: Chapter 374, Plan Change_1
The servant brought back eighteen sets of glassware to the Yan Family, and Madam Li was agape with amazement, looking at the three Daohua sisters trailing behind: “How did you buy so many?”
Dong Yuanyao laughed, “Auntie, we didn’t spend a single silver. All these were won in the raffle. Oh, Uncle Yan also won a prize—a set of snuff bottles with twelve pieces in total.”
Madam Li was momentarily stunned: “Is glassware really so easy to come by these days?”
Dong Yuanyao spoke with a smile, “Who could we thank but our luck!”
Looking at the three jubilant girls, Madam Li couldn’t help but smile wryly, instructing the staff to carry the glassware directly to Daohua Courtyard: “There’s too much foot traffic in my courtyard—be careful you don’t break them. Go enjoy yourselves at the Daohua Pavilion.”
Daohua nodded and left with Dong Yuanyao and Su Shiyu.
Once the glassware had been moved to Daohua Courtyard, Dong Yuanyao and Su Shiyu just couldn’t keep their hands off it, eagerly picking it up to admire.
Daohua, on the other hand, directly had the maids arrange the glassware displays in the room.
Initially, Dong Yuanyao was quite engaged, but upon seeing Guyu and Lixia lifting a glass screen onto the kang bed, she felt something was off: “Yiyi, why do I have the feeling that our pieces are not only smaller than yours, but also not as exquisite?”
Daohua, who was busy placing flowers in a glass vase, hesitated for a moment: “…Well, I got the first prize, so it should be a bit better.”
Dong Yuanyao furrowed her brows and pondered: “That’s not right. So many people entered the raffle, how could all the prizes end up with us?”
Su Shiyu looked up at Daohua and smiled subtly, “Aren’t you happy that you won?”
She had figured it out; today’s prizes must have been prearranged by the Little Prince, and allocated based on the closeness of their relationships.
There was no need to mention the Yan Family; Dong Yuanxuan got to the Little Prince before her brother, so Yuanyao won the second prize, and she got the third.
Their glassware might not compare to Yiyi’s, but any single piece taken alone was highly valuable. The Little Prince probably thought the gift too hefty to be given outright and used the lottery as a pretext to hand it over to them.
But… Yiyi’s share was, indeed, a little too much.
With this in mind, Su Shiyu couldn’t help but glance at Daohua, the thirteen-year-old Miss Yan, who was already showing signs of grace and charm. It wasn’t impossible that the Little Prince had developed a fondness for her.
Dong Yuanyao had already stood up, no longer focusing on her own glassware but observing Daohua’s. As she looked, she realized that almost every piece fit Daohua’s tastes.
Now she was certain; the lottery was merely a ruse – those pieces of glassware were specifically meant for them.
Seeing Dong Yuanyao inspecting her prize so closely, Daohua felt a twinge of guilt and didn’t want to dwell on the topic. She quickly changed the subject: “What do you think we should do for Mid-Autumn this year?”
Not wanting to delve into the matter of the glassware either, Su Shiyu immediately responded with a cheerful tone, “Drinking under the moon, composing poetry, such are life’s pleasurable pursuits. On Mid-Autumn Day, we shall surely enjoy mooncakes, drink osmanthus wine, and admire the moon while composing poems.”
At these words, Daohua and Dong Yuanyao exchanged glances.
As for composing and reciting poetry, they didn’t have the slightest inclination.
Dong Yuanyao: “Then I’ll handle the drinking.”
Daohua quickly added, “I’ll take care of eating the mooncakes.”
After they spoke, both of them looked at Su Shiyu: “You handle admiring the moon and composing poems.”
Su Shiyu gave them an exasperated smile, “There’s no fun in doing it all alone.”
Daohua shrugged her shoulders and spread her hands, “But we don’t know how to compose poetry!”
Su Shiyu was silent for a moment: “Then what can you do?”
Dong Yuanyao: “Sword dancing!”
Daohua: “Whip playing!”
Hearing these answers, Su Shiyu’s mouth twitched: “Is there anything more elegant?”
Daohua thought for a while, “Burning incense? Flower arranging? Playing the zither…”
Su Shiyu’s eyes lit up, “Playing the zither is good; we can do that.”
Daohua smiled, “Alright, then I’ll play a piece for you on Mid-Autumn.” She then turned to Dong Yuanyao with a smile, “And you?”
Dong Yuanyao: “Since you’ll play the zither, then I’ll accompany with a dance. A sword dance is still a dance.”
The three of them chattered on about how to spend the Mid-Autumn Festival, but plans cannot keep up with changes. The day before Mid-Autumn, Yan Wenkai and Yan Wentao returned. As soon as they arrived, Yan Wenkai said to Daohua.
“Big sister, there’s a lotus pond by Ningmen Pass so vast you can’t see across it. Do you want to join us boating and admiring the lotuses tomorrow?”
“Yes!”
“Yes!”
Daohua and Dong Yuanyao chorused, both being lovers of fun, they, of course, couldn’t miss out on this opportunity.
Su Shiyu gave the two a woeful glance. Weren’t they supposed to recite poems under the moon together? However, boating and admiring the lotus was not a bad alternative.
Madam Li initially did not want to let her daughter go out, but seeing Dong miss and Su miss both looking at her with anticipation, and considering that both of their brothers were over there, she ultimately nodded in agreement.
“Don’t indulge in too much play, and make sure to be safe.”
Yan Wenkai immediately said, “Mother, rest assured, I will take good care of my three sisters. Moreover, the Little Prince and Brother Dong are there too, nothing will go wrong.”
Madam Li cast a sidelong glance at her youngest son; it was precisely because they would be there that she was worried. Thinking it over, she turned to her daughter, “Don’t get too wild when you’re out. If you don’t show restraint, you won’t be allowed to go out next time.”
Daohua was not pleased. “Mother, when have I ever been unruly?”
Madam Li glanced at her and, in the presence of everyone, didn’t say much. “Anyway, you need to come back early tomorrow.”
Daohua smiled. “Understood.”
On the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival, after having breakfast, Daohua and her group set off in a carriage towards Ningmen Pass.
Yan Yihuan and the other two wanted to follow, but Madam Li refused them. Yan Zhigao sat to the side in silence; he knew about the incident last time when Yihuan was sent back to the mansion early.
Because he knew, he felt somewhat disappointed.
Now, he no longer wished to meddle in the upbringing of Yihuan.
His doting, might possibly become the foundation of Yihuan’s arrogance.
…
At the fork in the road outside Ningmen Pass, Xiao Yeyang, Dong Yuanxuan, and Su Hongxin were chatting intermittently. Upon hearing the sound of approaching hooves, they all quickly turned their heads.
Seeing Yan Wenkai and Yan Wentao riding on horseback, followed by the carriage, smiles appeared on their faces.
Su Hongxin said loudly, “That must be my sister and her friends.”
Watching Daohua peek out of the carriage curtain with interest towards them, Xiao Yeyang’s mouth curved slightly, his eyes filled with intense joy.
The last time he went to Taohua Temple, he had only spent half a day with Daohua before he had to leave, which had left him with regrets for several days.
Fortunately, the Mid-Autumn Festival arrived not many days after.
Soon, the carriage reached them.
Dong Yuanyao opened the carriage door to get out, but Dong Yuanxuan stopped her, “Don’t get off yet, we still have to ride for a while before we reach the lotus pond.”
At that, Dong Yuanyao reluctantly sat back down.
Daohua and Su Shiyu leaned out of the carriage window to greet everyone, then the carriage moved off again, with Xiao Yeyang and the others mounting their horses and heading forward.
Watching the men ride ahead, Dong Yuanyao’s face showed eagerness, “I want to ride a horse.”
Daohua said, “Me too; I should have ridden Hongzao here.”
From outside the carriage, Yan Wenkai heard their conversation and immediately laughed, “Big sister, if you want to ride a horse, come down. I’ll take you riding.”
Daohua shook her head, “I don’t want to share a horse with anyone.”
That’s when Xiao Yeyang spoke up, “You come down, and I’ll let you ride my horse.” Seeing Daohua hesitate, he added with a smile, “We’re almost there, it won’t take long if we go by foot.”
“Really?”
Yan Wenkai said, “Really, we’ve been to that lotus pond before, it’s not far.”
At that, Daohua was tempted and turned to look at Dong Yuanyao and Su Shiyu, “Together?”
Dong Yuanyao nodded repeatedly and called out to Dong Yuanxuan outside the carriage, “Big brother, I want to ride a horse too.”
Dong Yuanxuan laughed, “Come down, and I’ll let you ride.”
Seeing Daohua and Dong Yuanyao both looking at her, Su Shiyu said with a smile, “You two go ahead, I prefer the carriage.”
Knowing she preferred the quiet, the two did not persuade her further and swiftly disembarked.
Once Daohua was down, Xiao Yeyang led his horse over and extended his hand to help her up.
“Is this horse gentle? Don’t let me fall off.”
Xiao Yeyang chuckled, “What’s there to fear when I’m leading it?”