Chapter 430: Chapter 405, Offering Incense_1
The day after the Double Ninth Festival, Daohua got up early.
“Manman, go to the front courtyard and find Brother Xiaoliu, ask him if Uncle Qin and the others have returned yet?”
A whole night had passed, and both Yan Wentao and Yan Wenkai had not yet returned, which made Daohua extremely worried.
Wang Manman immediately turned around and left. Soon, she came running back in a hurry.
Seeing her return, Daohua said to Guyu, who was combing her hair, “Guyu, go busy yourself with something else and let Manman comb my hair.”
Guyu nodded, handed the wooden comb to Wang Manman, and quickly left the room.
Once she was gone, Daohua immediately asked, “How is it?”
Wang Manman shook her head, “They haven’t returned yet.”
Daohua’s brows immediately furrowed.
Wang Manman continued, “Miss, don’t worry too much. Early this morning, the master himself took some government officials and followed the same direction they went last time to search. I think we should hear news soon.”
Daohua, “… I hope so.”
After that, Daohua anxiously waited another day.
When night fell, Yan Wenxiu returned with two Yan Family bodyguards.
Hearing the news, Daohua went directly to the front courtyard.
Seeing his younger sister appear in the courtyard, Yan Wenxiu quickly dismissed the people, “Why have you come to the front yard? This is full of men, it’s not appropriate for a young lady like you.”
Anxious, Daohua said, “Big brother, at a time like this, forget about etiquette and rules, just tell me how third brother and fourth brother are doing?”
Yan Wenxiu’s face showed helplessness, “Seems like you didn’t listen to what father and we said yesterday, did you?”
Daohua, “I did take it in, but nothing is absolute. If it were any other matter, I naturally wouldn’t be disconcerted, but this concerns the safety of third brother and fourth brother, of course, I’m anxious.”
Yan Wenxiu, “… I asked the bodyguards, and it seems Wentao and Wenkai are not in any danger.”
Daohua, “Then why haven’t they come back?”
Yan Wenxiu, “It’s those two who are too keen on showing off. They figured since they learned a thing or two in the military camp, they tried following some ambiguous trails to chase after someone, and they ended up getting themselves lost.”
Daohua looked puzzled, “What do you mean?”
Yan Wenxiu, “They went to follow someone and must have been discovered. Then, those people deliberately lured them into the mountains. Uncle Qin, worrying we might be anxious, sent two bodyguards back first, and then he led the rest into the mountains to search.”
Daohua’s expression eased slightly, “So, third brother and fourth brother are alright?”
Yan Wenxiu, “As long as they don’t get lost in the mountains or run into tigers or black bears, they should be fine.”
Daohua gave her eldest brother a look, “Big brother, from the sound of your voice, you seem almost disappointed.”
Yan Wenxiu huffed, “Those two brats should suffer a bit so they learn their lesson. Otherwise, they’ll keep thinking they’re invincible. Look at them, played like monkeys and they have no clue.”
Daohua fell silent, pondered for a while, and then said, “If those people didn’t harm third brother and fourth brother, it seems they’re not bad people.”
Yan Wenxiu looked at Daohua, “Don’t jump to conclusions so easily. Even if they’re not extremely vile criminals, appearing in disguise definitely means they have ulterior motives. Perhaps… they didn’t make a move just to avoid drawing attention.”
Daohua suddenly thought of Xiao Yeyang who had also been searching for someone lately, and immediately mumbled while stroking her chin, “I wonder if it’s the same group of people?”
Yan Wenxiu didn’t hear clearly, “What did you say?”
Daohua shook her head, “Nothing.” Xiao Yeyang had said not to make a fuss, and she couldn’t say much either, she could only remind him, “We’ll have to remind father to be more cautious.”
Yan Wenxiu nodded, “Alright, stop worrying about this. You should go back. There’s nothing to do here. Uncle Qin is very familiar with the mountains, he will soon find those two rascals, and I will also lead people to provide support in the next couple of days.”
Daohua nodded, “You should also take care of yourself, big brother. I’ll be leaving.”
In the following two days, although Daohua was still worried about Yan Wentao and company, she wasn’t as anxious as before and took some time to entertain the guests, Yan Yunxi and Yan Yunyan.
When the three of them were together, they mostly talked about their hometown.
“Wait, you’re saying Uncle Tu’s hunting dog just had a litter of puppies?”
Yan Yunyan nodded, “Yeah, before we came here, my second brother even said he wanted to bring you one, but our parents refused.”
Daohua looked disappointed, “Why did they refuse?”
Yan Yunyan: “My parents were worried you wouldn’t like it. They said, ‘What kind of noble young ladies raise dogs?’”
Daohua: “Raise them? Many madams and young ladies like to raise dogs. Some even like to keep cats. It’s just… the breeds might be different from the ones back home.”
Yan Yunyan looked at Daohua: “Yiyi, do you really want to keep a dog?”
Daohua nodded, “I remember Uncle Tu’s hunting dogs were incredibly impressive. They could hunt and find things.”
Yan Yunxi took over, laughing, “I know about this too. I remember one time, Auntie Qiu’s kid disappeared, and it was Uncle Tu’s hunting dog that helped find him.”
After hearing this, Daohua felt even more inclined. The pursuit by her third and fourth brothers made her realize how difficult it was to find someone in ancient times.
Hunting dogs were famously known for their keen sense of smell. It wasn’t necessary for her family to hunt, but they could still be used as watchdogs and protectors.
Yan Yunyan: “Yiyi, if you really want one, I’ll write home right away. Right after the autumn harvest, Uncle Zhixin is supposed to come with the account books, isn’t he? He could bring it with him.”
Daohua nodded repeatedly, “Yes, yes. Um… how much for the puppy?”
Yan Yunyan immediately smiled, “Yiyi, you shouldn’t mention money. That puppy was actually meant to be a gift from my second brother for you.”
Daohua didn’t stand on ceremony. Back home, when families’ dogs had puppies, they would give them to friends and acquaintances without charging money: “Then, I am very grateful.”
Two days later, Qin Wu and the Yan Family bodyguard brought back a ragged Yan Wentao and Yan Wenkai.
The moment Daohua received the news, she hurried to her two brothers’ courtyard.
Seeing the two men lying unconscious on the bed, Daohua asked anxiously, “What happened to them?”
Qin Wu: “Miss, don’t worry. The young masters are all right. They were just knocked out.”
Daohua: “Knocked out?”
Qin Wu nodded, “Of course, they were also starved and exhausted. I have checked them, and there are no injuries on their bodies.”
Daohua, not reassured, personally took their pulses and found them steady and strong. Only then did she feel at ease, “Thank you for your hard work, Uncle Qin Wu. These past few days have been taxing for you. Please go and rest.”
Qin Wu did not refuse. In their search for the two young masters, they had scarcely slept.
Yan Wentao and Yan Wenkai were carried back by Qin Wu and the Protector. Naturally, the incident couldn’t be kept a secret. Before Daohua left the courtyard of the two, the Old Madame Yan and Madam Li hurried over with the help of maids and nannies.
Shortly after, people from the second and third branch of the family arrived as well.
Seeing everyone gathered, Daohua thought that when her two brothers woke up, they might get a beating.
This time, indeed, Yan Wentao and Yan Wenkai suffered some hardships and took three days to recover.
Once they recovered, Yan Zhigao punished them with ten strikes of the plank.
Initially, it was supposed to be twenty. However, Old Madame Yan absolutely disagreed, in the end, ten were given to teach them a lesson.
Watching her two grandsons grimacing as they were helped up, Old Madame Yan pondered, “It was thanks to the blessings from our ancestors and the bodhisattva that Wentao and Wenkai were able to return safely.”
“We should find a time to go to the temple and burn incense to thank the bodhisattva for the blessings and also light a few everlasting lanterns for the ancestors of the Yan Family, asking them to continue their protection.”
To this, Madam Li wholeheartedly agreed.
She had only two sons, each of them precious to her. Even though she usually favored her eldest son, she cherished her youngest just as much.
Thinking about her younger son and nephew missing for several days and nights, she felt a chill of fear.
Daohua felt that the ancestors and bodhisattvas probably had little to do with the matter, but she was still pleased at the prospect of going out.
…
Three days later, the wounds on Yan Wentao and Yan Wenkai’s buttocks had mostly healed, and they were ready to return to Ningmen Pass. Coincidentally, the Yan Family ladies were going to the temple to offer prayers that day, so the two escorted them part of the way.
Because they left late in the morning, by the time they arrived at the temple, it was already noon. Old Madame Yan said to her two grandsons, “After you have the temple’s vegetarian meal, then return. It will also be a good opportunity to offer incense to the bodhisattva.”