Chapter 452: Chapter 423, Wounded_1
“What are you looking at?”
Xiao Yeyang walked out of the house and saw Daohua stretching her neck, looking around.
Daohua, “I was wondering where the Hidden Guard had hidden.”
Hearing this, Xiao Yeyang immediately laughed, “If the Hidden Guard could be easily found by you, then he would not qualify as a Hidden Guard.”
Daohua thought about it and felt it made sense. She smiled at Xiao Yeyang and said, “I’ve given that Hidden Guard a name; from now on, he will be called Yan Ying.”
Xiao Yeyang didn’t care much, “He’s your man now, you can let him be called whatever you want.”
Daohua glanced at Wu Jingyi sitting in the house, and after thinking, she said, “Xiao Yeyang, is that Mr. Wu here by the Emperor’s command to search for the gold mines?”
Xiao Yeyang nodded.
Daohua, “Since the Emperor has sent someone to search for the gold mines, you and my third brother and fourth brother shouldn’t muddy the waters anymore.”
Seeing the worry in Daohua’s eyes, Xiao Yeyang smiled and said, “Two days ago, I learned that Uncle Duke’s men were also looking for the gold mines, so I sent your two brothers back to the military camp and stopped them from continuing.”
Daohua heaved a sigh of relief. Just now, listening to Mr. Wu’s words, the gold mine involved the interests of the Jiang Family and Duke, and if the Yan Family got involved and were discovered, she feared they would face trouble.
“What about you, then? Are you going to continue the search?”
Xiao Yeyang nodded, “Uncle Emperor is governing Beijing and cannot attend to this matter, so as his nephew, I should take on some of his worries.”
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Daohua expressed her concern, “The Duke’s men even dared to assassinate Mr. Wu, then you…”
Xiao Yeyang interrupted with a smile, “Don’t worry, after all, I am a Prince’s son; Uncle Duke’s men wouldn’t dare.”
Daohua, “You shouldn’t be careless, it’s better to be cautious. It would be best not to search for it yourself.”
Xiao Yeyang laughed, “If I don’t search for it myself, what will happen to your position as a county princess?”
Daohua shook her head, “Forget it, I dare not think about any position as a county princess right now.” As she spoke, her face fell into a sigh, “Whenever Imperial Family matters are involved, things become complicated.”
“Searching for gold mines, whoever finds them achieves great merit and rewards. Such a straightforward matter becomes dangerous and bloody when it comes to the Imperial Family. How could I dare to join in?”
Xiao Yeyang’s expression also became somber, “That’s because the interests involved with the Imperial Family are too great.”
With the Duke’s involvement, the search for the gold mines became more urgent.
That same afternoon, Wu Jingyi, despite his injuries, left with Xiao Yeyang.
Daohua saw them off and stayed at Taohua Temple for a few days until Granny Gu’s cough eased, then returned to the Yan Residence.
…
In mid-October, the first snow of the season fell over Ningmen Prefecture.
The snow fell heavily. That afternoon, on Yan Yile’s suggestion, the young ladies in the house started building snowmen in the old lady’s courtyard.
Daohua, dressed in a sky-blue feather gauze with a white fox fur lining and a Crane Cloak, stood under the eaves of the corridor, stretching out her hand and letting the snowflakes fall into her palm. She didn’t join in the playful antics in the courtyard due to concerns weighing on her mind.
“It’s so cold today, Xiao Yeyang shouldn’t still be traveling outside searching for the gold mines, right?”
“What are you muttering to yourself, girl?” Hearing the laughter from the courtyard, the old lady Yan came out of the house, draped in a thick cloak. Seeing Daohua standing alone under the eaves, her lips moving up and down, she couldn’t help but smile and ask.
Daohua smiled and walked over, supporting the old lady, “I was just saying how heavy the snow is this year.”
Old lady Yan looked at the snow outside and nodded with a smile, “A timely snow promises a good harvest; I hope the weather will be favorable next year.” She said, and then looked at the young ladies in the courtyard, “You’re unusually quiet today, why not go play?”
Daohua tightened her Crane Cloak, “It’s bitterly cold.”
Seeing her granddaughter looking uninterested, old lady Yan did not press further.
At that moment, a maid came to report, “Old lady, the third master and fourth master have returned.”
Old lady Yan’s eyes lit up, and she instructed the housekeeper, “Quick, tell the kitchen to prepare mutton soup for dinner.” Then, tugging at Daohua’s hand, “Your two brothers haven’t been home in over ten days, they need a good meal to replenish themselves.”
Daohua smiled and nodded vigorously.
Soon, Yan Wenxiu arrived at Songhe Courtyard with Wentao, Yan Wenkai, and Yan Wenqi.
The old lady enjoyed lively scenes, and it wasn’t long before the room was filled with laughter and cheerful voices.
Seeing Yan Wenkai sharing jokes with his grandmother, Daohua gave Wentao a meaningful glance and then stepped out of the room, waiting outside.
When Wentao came out, Daohua immediately pulled him aside, “Third Brother, do you know how the search for the gold mine is going with Xiao Yeyang and the rest?”
Wentao hesitated, his expression doubtful, unsure whether or not to speak.
Noticing this, Daohua knitted her brows, “Third Brother, what’s wrong?”
Wentao hesitated again, “The Little Prince…he’s been injured!”
Daohua’s eyes widened in alarm, “How did he get injured?”
Wentao quickly hushed her, “Keep your voice down.”
Daohua pressed on anxiously, “Where is he hurt? Is it serious?”
Wentao lowered his voice, “He was cut on the back, but he’s been treated promptly, it’s not serious.”
Daohua’s eyebrows were tightly furrowed, “How can a cut with a knife not be serious? I must see him. Where is he now, is he at his residence in the city?”
Wentao quickly grabbed hold of Daohua, “Don’t worry, the Little Prince is really alright. When we left the military camp this morning, we even saw him taking people out with him.”
Hearing this only made Daohua more anxious, “This guy, with a wound on his body, what is he doing going out? Does he think he’s made of iron?”
She said, looking at Wentao.
“Third Brother, what exactly happened? With so many people around Xiao Yeyang, how could he get hurt?”
Wentao shook his head, “I don’t know the details, but I noticed that the bodyguards of the Little Prince seem to be injured as well,” he said with a sigh.
“No wonder the Little Prince didn’t want me and Wenkai involved. Searching for this gold mine is so dangerous.”
Daohua’s expression suddenly shifted, “Third Brother, you’re saying Xiao Yeyang has been staying at the military camp lately?”
Wentao nodded.
Daohua pondered, “If they’re in such a rush to find the gold mine, why would they stay at the military camp? Could it be that the gold mine is at Ningmen Pass?”
Wentao nodded again, “That’s what I was thinking. It seems the Little Prince and his men have found something, narrowing down an area, but the gold mine hasn’t been located yet.”
Daohua fell into contemplation, “Ningmen Pass…”
If the area had been narrowed down, she could make a trip.
After thinking for a while, Daohua tugged at Wentao, “Third Brother, I want to see Xiao Yeyang.”
Wentao immediately grew a headache, “Daohua, I know you’re worried about the Little Prince, but you can’t go to the military camp. How about this, I’ll send a message to the Little Prince to meet you.”
Daohua shook her head, “No, he’s so busy now, how can I bother him like that.”
Wentao became frustrated, feeling it was unfair to add to the Little Prince’s troubles but not theirs?
Wasn’t this turning of the elbow out a bit too much?
Wentao had always been at a loss when it came to Daohua since they were young. After being pestered by her for a while, he couldn’t stand it anymore and quickly suggested, “What if I call Wenkai over to discuss it?”
Yan Wenkai was called out by the maid, and as soon as he saw Daohua, he immediately knew what was going on, and complained, “The Little Prince has repeatedly cautioned me not to let the news of his injury leak out. I didn’t expect to not have said anything, yet you, Third Brother, spoke first.”
Wentao scratched the back of his head.
There was no help for it; faced with Daohua, he was never one to keep secrets.