Chapter 423: Chapter 399, Using Backdoor Connections_1
“`
On the evening of the eighth day of the ninth month, Yan Wenkai and Wentao returned home, and there was quite a stir upon learning that relatives from their ancestral home had arrived.
Especially Wentao, upon seeing his childhood playmates, was so elated he forgot himself and insisted on chatting through the night with candles burning alongside Yan Wenyi.
After dinner, Old Madam Yan asked her two grandsons, “Why didn’t Yeyang and the others come with you this time?”
Xiao Yeyang and several others would usually accompany the two grandsons to the Yan Family, and their sudden absence made the old lady somewhat unaccustomed.
Yan Wenkai said loudly, “Grandmother, ever since the Glass Factory was established, the Little Prince has become extremely busy, frequently vanishing without a trace. These past few days, we haven’t seen him at all.”
Yan Zhigao spoke up, “The Glass Factory is under the Ministry of Works, so the Little Prince is essentially performing official duties. It’s only natural for someone on duty to be busy.”
Old Madam Yan then asked, “What about Yuanxuan and Hongxin?”
Wenkai smiled and replied, “Tomorrow is Double Ninth Festival, and they haven’t been home for a long time. After they left the military camp, they went straight home by boat.”
Old Madam Yan nodded and looked at Wentao and the others with a smile, “I had hoped Yeyang and the rest would come so that everyone could enjoy the festivities together. Now, it seems our family will have to make merry on our own.”
Zhigao laughed and said, “Mother, since arriving at Ningmen Prefecture, your son has been preoccupied with official duties and hasn’t been able to keep you company. How about this, tomorrow our whole family goes out to enjoy the sights from high places, what do you think?”
It was the perfect opportunity to take the younger relatives out for a diversion.
Upon hearing this, Old Madam Yan, along with everyone else in the room, lit up with joy.
Old Madam Yan’s eyes crinkled with a smile, “Very well, very well, the entire family shall go.”
The next day, every branch of the Yan Family was up early.
Daohua Pavilion.
Wang Manman stood under the eaves, looking anxiously at Daohua who was leisurely practicing with a whip in the courtyard. She couldn’t help but remind her, “Miss, Sister Ping Tong has already come to hurry us once. Shall we not freshen up?”
Daohua slowly stowed away her whip and wiped the sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief before heading toward the main house, “What’s the hurry? With so many people gathering, it’s bound to take a lot of time.”
Manman briskly took over the whip and signaled Guyu and Lixia to quickly bring water over.
While Daohua was freshening up, Xiao Yeyang had already set out with Defu, heading straight for the Yan Residence.
As Yeyang mounted his horse, he said, “Let Zhao Zhong keep an eye on them. After I explain things to Daohua, I’ll catch up with them immediately.”
Defu nodded, called over a bodyguard, issued a few instructions, and then hurriedly followed his master.
In no time, the master and servant pair had arrived on the back street of the Governor’s Office.
Seeing Yeyang linger in front of the Yan Residence’s main entrance for a moment before heading straight for the back door, Defu nearly fell off his horse.
What was the master thinking?
Not using the main entrance, but the back door?
Soon, a small side gate came into view.
Yeyang dismounted, then looked at the back door in silence.
Defu hesitantly approached, “Master, what are you…?”
Yeyang said, “I’m thinking about how to call Daohua out without drawing attention.”
The servants below had sent word that they spotted the Imperial Uncle’s whereabouts. He would need to go check soon and couldn’t linger long, thus, it was not appropriate to directly visit the Yan Residence.
Previously, he had stayed with Daohua a bit too long, leading Madam Li to guard against him like a thief. If she knew he had come specifically to explain things to Daohua, she would likely never let him enter the Yan Residence again.
Defu was speechless – not drawing attention? Their appearance at the back door was already quite conspicuous.
“Master, how did you upset Miss Yan again?”
At that, Yeyang turned and gave Defu a sideways glance.
Defu silently lowered his head.
Yeyang went on, “I spoke out of turn first during the Dragon Boat Festival, and Daohua was angry for quite a few days. I had planned to take her to climb the stairways of Ningmen Pass today, but then this happened. She was unhappy yesterday, and if I don’t explain in person today, she might start ignoring me altogether.”
Defu nodded in understanding. Knowing Miss Yan’s temperament, she was indeed capable of such a response.
Watching his master brooding over the Yan Residence’s back door, Defu suddenly felt a pang of sympathy for him.
Ah, whom else could the master fall for if not for Miss Yan.
“`
“`
He assured that if the master favored another girl, he surely wouldn’t be as troubled as he was now, for any other girl would certainly cater to his every whim.
Even Miss Jiang would be almost completely obedient in front of the master.
Miss Yan…
Well, it’s better left unsaid.
Even if Miss Yan gave the master no face, the master was still willing to indulge her.
What can he, a mere servant, do?
“Master, shall I go and find Master Yan Wentao and ask him to help bring out Miss Yan?”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yeyang’s eyes lit up, and he stretched out his hand to pat Defu’s forehead, “You servant, why didn’t you mention this earlier?”
Defu gave a sheepish smile, “This servant just thought of it.”
Xiao Yeyang said, “Then what are you still standing around for? Go now.” When he saw Defu turn and leave, he called him back, “Remember, avoid Uncle Yan and the others.”
Defu nodded, “Rest assured, master, this servant knows what to do.”
Defu knocked on the door, and Xiao Yeyang quickly led his horse to a corner to avoid being seen by the Yan Family servants.
…
Daohua Pavilion.
As Daohua was eating breakfast, she saw Yan Wenkai approaching quickly.
“Fourth brother, what brings you here? Have you had breakfast? Do you want to eat something with me?”
To save time, breakfast was being eaten in each respective room and courtyard today.
Yan Wenkai glanced at Daohua’s table, spotted a plate of crystal shrimp dumplings, immediately picked one up with the communal chopsticks and put it into his mouth. After finishing it, he then asked, “Big sister, have you finished eating?”
Daohua, sipping black rice porridge slowly, “Nearly there.”
Yan Wenkai sat down next to Daohua and asked in a low voice, “Did you and the Little Prince have a disagreement again?”
Daohua paused, giving him a sidelong glance, “Who told you that?”
Yan Wenkai, “Defu, and he’s at our back door right now.”
Daohua showed a look of surprise, “The back door?”
Yan Wenkai nodded, “Hurry up with your food. Once you’re done, go to the back door. The Little Prince is waiting for you there.”
Daohua put down her chopsticks, “Why not use the front door?”
Yan Wenkai looked at the sky, “It’s so early, it wouldn’t be good to use the front door, and besides, it looks like they have other business to attend to as well.”
Daohua fell silent for a moment, then picked up her chopsticks again to continue eating.
Seeing her calm pace, Yan Wenkai couldn’t help but urge, “Big sister, could you possibly hurry? The Little Prince came so early, he seems quite sincere.”
After a moment’s thought, Daohua picked up her bowl and quickly finished the porridge. She stood up and headed out. After a few steps, she spoke to Wang Manman, “Bring me that glass lantern.”
Wang Manman was puzzled, “Miss, why do you want a lantern during the day?”
Daohua, “Just fetch it for me, no need to ask so many questions.”
With no choice, Wang Manman turned to fetch the item.
Daohua then looked at Yan Wenkai, “Fourth brother, you haven’t told anyone about Xiao Yeyang’s visit to our house, have you?”
While eating crystal shrimp dumplings, Yan Wenkai gave Daohua a look that said ‘I understand’, “Don’t worry. Fourth brother won’t tell anyone. I know our family – if they found out you’ve annoyed the Little Prince again, they would surely scold you.”
Daohua breathed a sigh of relief. By then, Wang Manman had already come over with the glass lantern, “Let’s go.”
…
Defu was squatting by the back door when he heard it open. He quickly turned his head and saw Daohua and Wang Manman, immediately smiling as he stood up.
“Miss Yan, you’ve finally come out. The master has been waiting for you for quite a while.”
Following Defu’s pointing finger, Daohua saw Xiao Yeyang in the corner holding his horse.
“`