Chapter 440: Chapter 415, Can’t Fool Me_1
Three days after the fifth master and his companions left, Xiao Yeyang arrived.
Seeing the travel-worn Xiao Yeyang, Granny Gu’s face filled with sympathy as she hurriedly asked him to sit down and rest.
Xiao Yeyang smiled and paid his respects to Granny Gu and Gu Jian before sitting next to Daohua.
Daohua poured him a cup of tea and asked, “Why did you only come now?”
At this, Xiao Yeyang paused in his tea-drinking, a smile in his eyes as he looked at Daohua, “Do you miss me that much?”
Daohua rolled her eyes, “The people you were looking for, I caught them a few days ago. Unfortunately, you never showed up, and now they’ve left.”
Xiao Yeyang’s expression turned serious as he set down the cup, “Who did you say you caught?”
Daohua, “The people from your portrait, that An steward, and what’s-their-names, fifth master, Wu master, and the like.”
Xiao Yeyang’s eyes widened in shock as he abruptly stood up, “Where are they now?”
Daohua, “They left, just three days ago.”
Upon hearing this, a hint of regret appeared on Xiao Yeyang’s face, but he slowly sat back down.
No wonder Uncle Rui Wang had sent a message telling him not to continue searching for his Imperial Uncle. It turned out he had gone back.
Only it’s a pity that he hadn’t had the chance to meet with his Imperial Uncle.
His eagerness in searching for his Imperial Uncle this time was not only because of Uncle Rui Wang’s orders but also because he wanted to see his Imperial Uncle, whom he hadn’t seen for several years.
He hadn’t expected to miss the opportunity like this.
But it was for the best that his Imperial Uncle had left; it is not as safe outside as it is in Beijing, and the sooner he returned, the sooner everyone would be at ease.
Xiao Yeyang looked at Daohua with curiosity, “How did you manage to catch them?”
Daohua immediately began to recount with enthusiasm, “They disguised themselves as farmers, and I know farmers well, so I saw through their disguise at a glance… I used sleeping powder to knock them out… and tied them up and shipped them to Taohua Village.”
Watching Daohua tell her story with such animation, Xiao Yeyang internally sweated for her. If she knew whom she had knocked out with sleeping powder, would she be scared?
He then couldn’t help but find the matter somewhat amusing. Not to mention his Imperial Uncle, Grand Secretary Yang, and Steward An, even Governor Wu and Leader Wei fell into Daohua’s hands. Those two would probably be unable to raise their heads with pride for a long while after this.
Daohua had been speaking with high spirits at first, but as she continued, the smile gradually faded from her face, “A palm struck the back of my neck, and I was instantly knocked unconscious.” As she spoke, she raised her hand to rub her neck, “It still hurts a bit even now.”
Xiao Yeyang’s expression instantly darkened, “Which damn fool laid hands on you? Is it serious?” he said, preparing to rise as if to examine Daohua’s injury.
“Ahem~”
As he made a move, Gu Jian’s cough sounded.
Xiao Yeyang’s body stiffened, and he awkwardly sat back down.
Gu Jian gave him a slight, cool sidelong glance and huffed.
Unaware of the silent battle between the two men, Daohua continued to question Xiao Yeyang, “Xiao Yeyang, they aren’t bad people, right?”
Xiao Yeyang shook his head, “No, they aren’t.”
Daohua let out a sigh of relief, “That’s good. My third brother and fourth brother haven’t come back yet; I don’t know where that group took them.” She said, glaring slightly at Xiao Yeyang, “Then why did you tell me before that An steward was not a good person?”
Xiao Yeyang replied without any burden, “That’s because he bullied me when I was a child.”
Daohua fell silent for a moment, “You should have told me earlier; then I could have helped you get revenge.”
Hearing this, Xiao Yeyang smiled knowingly.
Gu Jian, on the other hand, gave Daohua a glance, “What revenge are you planning to exact?”
Daohua, “He bullied Xiao Yeyang, didn’t he? I wouldn’t do much, just sprinkle some itching powder on him, let him itch for a few days, or… maybe slip some laxatives into his bowl, make him have diarrhea for a couple of days.”
“Bang!”
A peanut was flicked from Gu Jian’s fingertips, striking Daohua squarely on the forehead.
Unfortunately, just as the peanut was less than a palm’s distance from Daohua’s forehead, Xiao Yeyang caught it in his hand.
Xiao Yeyang smiled as he looked at Gu Jian, “Master Gu, let’s talk this out…”
Before he could finish his sentence, the second, third, fourth peanuts… flew at him in quick succession.
In an instant, Gu Jian and Xiao Yeyang had squared off.
Just as Daohua was about to rise and leave their battlefield, she heard her master say, “Sit down, stay seated, I want to see how many times this brat can block me?”
Daohua showed a bitter smile, “Master, if you’re going to duel, don’t use me as the target!”
Gu Jian paid her no mind, and the speed at which he was flicking peanuts became faster and faster.
Xiao Yeyang, worried that Daohua would get hit by the peanuts, stretched out his right leg and pushed her and the chair away, then smiled and said, “Master Gu is right, Daohua doesn’t need to be involved in our sparring.”
Gu Jian did not stop him. He glanced at his disciple hiding behind her sister and then observed his nephew, who was calmly exchanging moves with him, a smile emerging in his eyes.
“I’m going to speed up now!”
At these words, Daohua, standing to the side, felt she couldn’t even follow with her eyes, as peanut after peanut shot out from her master’s hand, “whoosh, whoosh, whoosh,” faster than a machine gun.
On Xiao Yeyang’s end, he started out rather composed, but gradually, he felt it becoming increasingly difficult to keep up.
“Bang, bang!”
Two peanuts flew out one after the other and nearly simultaneously struck Xiao Yeyang on the sensitive spots of his left and right elbows.
Xiao Yeyang felt his arms go numb and could no longer continue catching peanuts.
Looking at Master Gu, who was smiling with a touch of mockery, Xiao Yeyang felt somewhat disheartened, but he quickly straightened up again, “Next time, I definitely won’t get hit by you.”
Gu Jian raised an eyebrow, “Don’t just talk about it, practice. Protecting someone requires real ability.”
Xiao Yeyang’s expression became serious, “I’ll do as I say.”
Gu Jian did not continue. After glancing at his disciple, whose eyes were shining brightly as she intently watched her cousin, he felt somewhat embarrassed and promptly harrumphed, “Why are you still standing there, pick up the peanuts on the ground.”
Realizing her master was addressing her, Daohua, who had been unaware, pouted, “Why should I clean up after your mess?” Although reluctant, she still crouched down to pick up the peanuts, because she couldn’t really let her master do it.
“I’ll help you.”
Xiao Yeyang rubbed his elbows, and though his arms were still numb, he crouched down to help collect the peanuts.
Watching the two of them crouched on the ground, Grandmother Gu’s face was full of smiles, and even Gu Jian’s lips curved upward.
As she picked up peanuts, Daohua asked Xiao Yeyang, “Do you know the identity of that Fifth Master?”
Xiao Yeyang paused for a moment, thought about it, and said, “He works for the Emperor.”
Daohua glanced at him, “That’s an awfully standard answer. Isn’t every official under heaven working for the Emperor? What, his identity is a secret?”
Xiao Yeyang nodded, “I don’t want to deceive you. When we get to Beijing, you’ll naturally find out who he is.”
Daohua was quite satisfied with this answer and smiled, “Xiao Yeyang, you should always be like this in the future. I know you are from the Imperial Family, and there are things you can’t tell others. If I ask about any sensitive matters, you can choose not to answer, but you can’t just make up excuses or lie to me.”
Xiao Yeyang smiled silently, “Alright.”
Daohua asked another question, “Why are you looking for them?”
Xiao Yeyang replied, “It’s Prince Rui’s order.”
Daohua asked, “Do you know they are searching for a gold mine?”
Xiao Yeyang was taken aback, “Gold mine?”