Chapter 407: Chapter 383: A Lone Individual_1
In the carriage on the way back to Ningmen Prefecture City, Dong Yuanyao looked at Daohua with a funny face, then at Su Shiyu, and fell silent for a while before she couldn’t hold it in any longer.
“What’s with you two? One of you plays with lotus flowers, and the other with lotus seeds. What’s so fun about them that you can play with them for so long?”
No sooner had she spoken than she reached for the lotus flower in Daohua’s hand, but Daohua quickly dodged her grasp.
Dong Yuanyao was stunned, and redirected her hand towards the lotus seeds in front of Su Shiyu, but Su Shiyu quickly moved them aside as well.
That set Dong Yuanyao off.
“What are you two up to?”
Daohua hurriedly placed the lotus flower into a basket nearby, smiling at Dong Yuanyao, “The lotus is for arranging in a vase for my grandmother and mother, that’s why I was being careful with it.”
Su Shiyu also quickly added, “You know I love eating lotus seed porridge.”
Dong Yuanyao looked at the two of them with a puffed-up expression.
Daohua immediately sat down next to her, smiling, “Quick, tell us about you and Brother Su’s horse riding competition today. Who won?”
Su Shiyu also smiled with lively interest at Dong Yuanyao.
Seeing this, Dong Yuanyao let out a cold snort and glared at them both, crossing her arms and puffing out her cheeks, “You’re just trying to fob me off.”
Daohua and Su Shiyu both smiled sheepishly, knowing it wasn’t good to hide things from Dong Yuanyao, but there were certain things in their hearts they really did not wish to reveal at the moment.
So, the three of them sat in silence, not speaking.
Outside the carriage, Xiao Yeyang and the others, not hearing the girls’ laughter, were somewhat puzzled. Daohua and Dong Yuanyao were usually restless; if they were around, there was always laughter to be heard.
Yan Wenkai asked in a low voice, “What’s wrong with them? Are they having a disagreement?”
Xiao Yeyang glanced at him, “They are probably tired, having been out playing all day.”
Yan Wenkai nodded, “That’s true, then let’s not talk loudly either, lest we disturb their rest.”
In the carriage, Su Shiyu heard this and her expression softened, thinking to herself that despite Yan Wenkai’s usual carefree demeanor, he had this considerate side to him.
Thinking of how he had taken care of her attentively during the afternoon’s boating and lotus-picking, and how hard he had tried to make her happy, she couldn’t help but smile.
This scene was caught by both Daohua and Dong Yuanyao.
Daohua: Wenkai and Sister Su… although the Yan Family may not be as prominent as the Su Family for now, if the two really hit it off, it’s not impossible for them to be together.
Dong Yuanyao’s eyes widened, as if she had discovered something astonishing.
After a while, the group arrived back at the Yan Residence.
When it was time to disembark from the carriage, Dong Yuanyao’s eyes widened again. It was one thing for the Little Prince to help Daohua out of the carriage, but why was Wenkai also so eager to assist Shiyu?
As Daohua and Su Shiyu were about to enter the residence, they realized that Dong Yuanyao wasn’t following. Upon looking back, they saw her still standing atop the carriage, motionless.
“Yuanyao, what are you doing standing on the carriage? Come down quickly!”
Dong Yuanyao looked at Daohua and Su Shiyu with grievance, “Nobody helped me down from the carriage, how do you expect me to get down?”
The moment she said this, Daohua was taken aback, and Su Shiyu’s face stiffened, while the others turned their attention toward them.
Yan Wenkai burst into laughter, “Sister Dong, you can get down from a horseback, are you afraid of a carriage that’s just a little high?”
Dong Yuanyao was not pleased, “Then why does everyone else get help getting out of the carriage, but not me?”
Looking awkward, Daohua approached the carriage and reached out her hand, “Miss Dong, how about I help you down from the carriage?”
Dong Yuanyao slapped Daohua’s hand away and hopped down from the carriage on her own, snorting, “If it’s not offered sincerely and voluntarily, I don’t want it.”
With that, she strode toward the main entrance, shooting Yan Wenkai an angry glare as she passed him. She wanted to glare at Xiao Yeyang too, but the thought of his stern face made her hesitate to really do so, though she still pursed her lips in a pout.
Watching Dong Yuanyao hold her head high, walking into the main gate like a proud peacock, Daohua was torn between laughter and tears. She jogged up to Su Shiyu and pulled her along to catch up.
“Yuanyao, wait for us.”
…
After returning to the residence, the group first visited the Songhe Courtyard to pay their respects to the old Madam Yan.
Madam Li and others were there as well.
After Xiao Yeyang and the others had greeted them, they followed Yan Wenkai and Yan Wentao to the outer courtyard.
It was only after they had left that Madam Li turned with a smile to the three Daohuas, “You’ve been obedient, returning home not too late today. Go freshen up; we will be eating soon.”
Daohua nodded and, taking Dong Yuanyao and Su Shiyu with her, went back to her courtyard.
Watching the three leave hand in hand, Madam Sun couldn’t help the sour tone in her voice, “Daohua, Miss Dong, and Miss Su are truly close friends, just like real sisters.”
Madam Li glanced dispassionately at Madam Sun. She knew that Sun was unhappy because she hadn’t allowed Yihuan and Yile to go out today, but she didn’t say much and just slowly drank her tea.
Seeing that Madam Li wouldn’t engage, Madam Sun felt stifled. Noticing that the old Madam had given her a look, she dared not continue.
Yan Yishuang sat quietly below, fiddling with a handkerchief and ignoring the resentful glances from Yan Yile.
“Hmph, if it hadn’t been for Elder Sister losing face in public last time, we could have gone out too,” Yan Yile couldn’t help complaining quietly to Yan Yihuan.
Yan Yihuan glared at her sister, signaling her not to talk.
No matter what, their third sister was the daughter of the first wife, and even if their aunt didn’t favor her, she wouldn’t want to hear someone criticise her in her presence.
…
Back in her courtyard, Daohua instructed Guyu and Lixia to take Dong Yuanyao and Su Shiyu to wash up, and then Bi Shi brought a jade-green glass vase. Daohua poured some water into it and inserted the lotuses Xiao Yeyang had picked.
“These lotuses are so beautiful, and they smell so good,” Bi Shi said with a smile.
Daohua smiled, “I think so too.”
With every lotus Xiao Yeyang picked, he asked for her opinion. She intended to keep the lotuses blooming as long as possible before they wilted.
After sprinkling the lotuses with water, Daohua turned to go to her chamber to dress and wash.
After changing her clothes, Dong Yuanyao went to Daohua’s room looking for her and immediately noticed the lotuses in the glass vase as she entered. “Who picked these lotuses? They’re really lovely,” she asked upon seeing Manman.
Wang Manman laughed, “The Little Prince picked them.”
“Oh,” Dong Yuanyao uttered, stepping forward to look for Daohua. Then she remembered what Su Shiyu had told her earlier and, after a moment’s thought, turned around to look for Su Shiyu instead.
“Has your young lady finished washing up?” Dong Yuanyao asked Wenfu, the maid standing outside.
“She finished washing up a while ago, and is in her room,” replied Wenfu.
Hearing this, Dong Yuanyao headed straight into the room.
Inside, she saw Su Shiyu sitting by the window, idly playing with the lotus seeds they had picked today, her eyes downcast in a silly smile, oblivious even to Yuanyao’s arrival.
Seeing this, Dong Yuanyao felt a bit annoyed, turned around, and left the room. She asked Wenfu, “Why did your young lady pick so many lotus seeds?”
Wenfu chuckled, “It’s because Yan Siye rowed the boat too far out.”
Yuanyao’s expression shifted slightly, suddenly understanding why Su Shiyu had been acting strangely all day.
Then, a wave of frustration hit her.
With the Little Prince showing attentiveness to Daohua and now Yan Siye to Shiyu, she felt utterly alone, without even someone to assist her down from the carriage.