Chapter 460: Chapter 429, United Strength_1
During the wait, Xiao Yeyang led Daohua to a small mound of earth. As soon as Defu saw them, he quickly gathered some dry grass and leaves and prepared to take off his outer clothing to lay it down for them to sit on.
Daohua hastily stopped him, “Don’t. It’s already cold enough at night. If you take off your coat, you’ll catch a chill. Your master is already injured; you can’t afford to fall ill too.”
As she spoke, she pulled out a handkerchief and spread it over the dried grass.
Defu glanced at Xiao Yeyang and, seeing that he didn’t object, smiled and stepped aside.
Wang Manman also tactfully contributed her handkerchief, and after laying it out, she stood next to Defu.
Daohua looked at Xiao Yeyang, “We’ll just have to make do and sit here.”
...
Xiao Yeyang said nothing, pulled Daohua to sit down with him, and once seated, he took both of Daohua’s ice-cold hands into his, felt her struggle, and whispered, “Stop it. Your hands are so cold; let me warm them for you.”
Hearing this, Daohua’s efforts to withdraw her hands lessened a bit, and after a while, “Alright, my hands are warm now, you can let go.”
Although it was already dark and the bodyguards’ torches were not very bright, not illuminating their spot, having her hands held by Xiao Yeyang continually still made her feel somewhat uncomfortable.
Xiao Yeyang enveloped Daohua’s hands with his larger ones, paying no attention to her protest, and instead, he looked at her and said, “If you’re tired, lean on me and rest for a while.”
Daohua quickly shook her head, “I’m not tired.”
Xiao Yeyang smiled, glanced at the mouth of River Valley, “Then let’s wait a little longer. Lord Wu should be arriving soon.” As he spoke, he tightened the Crane Cloak around Daohua.
As time passed, the temperature in the air dropped further. Feeling the warmth from Xiao Yeyang’s hands, Daohua couldn’t help but ask, “You’re not wearing as many layers as I am, so why are your hands warmer than mine?”
Xiao Yeyang chuckled, “I’m a man, full of yang energy, of course, I’m warmer.”
Daohua let out a laugh and teasingly glanced at him, “Oh, you have yang energy, do you?”
Xiao Yeyang, “Of course. How can a real man not have yang energy.”
Daohua glimpsed his increasingly resolute face and smiled without saying a word.
Xiao Yeyang tilted his head to look at her, and under the dim and indistinct firelight, she appeared even more gentle, with a warm smile that sparked a smile on his own lips as well.
Soon after, a commotion arose in the distance, and the guards all stood up, watching with vigilant eyes.
Quickly, everyone saw Wu Jingyi approaching with a brisk stride.
“You really found a gold mine?”
As soon as Wu Jingyi arrived, he eagerly asked Xiao Yeyang.
Xiao Yeyang released Daohua and got up with a smile, “My men have already gone down to explore. Gold has been panned from around this entire river area. Lord Wu should send some men to look further into it.”
Wu Jingyi nodded, saw Daohua standing behind Xiao Yeyang, his face crossing with surprise, just about to ask when he was cut off by Xiao Yeyang’s cough.
Seeing Xiao Yeyang give him a discreet look, Wu Jingyi was first taken aback, then caught on, waved his hand to signal the trusted aides to step back a bit, and then asked in a low voice, “How come this girl is here too?”
Daohua naturally wouldn’t admit that she had come here on her own. After a brief consideration, she replied with a smile, “Xiao Yeyang is injured, isn’t he? My teacher and grandmother were worried, so they sent me here to check on him.”
Remembering the identities of those in Taohua Temple, Wu Jingyi relaxed and nodded with a smile, “I see.”
Xiao Yeyang glanced at Daohua, and when she looked back at him she gestured to him to keep quiet.
Xiao Yeyang shook his head with a smile and turned his head away.
Daohua looked at Wu Jingyi, thinking it would be best for the emperor’s own men to report the discovery of the gold mine, and so she said with a smile, “Lord Wu, do you remember what Little Prince said before? He mentioned that if I found a gold mine, the emperor would grant me a county princess title.”
Wu Jingyi showed a look of surprise and glanced at Xiao Yeyang.
Xiao Yeyang nodded and said with a smile, “It was Daohua who helped discover this place.”
Daohua interjected, “It’s not all my credit, though. Xiao Yeyang helped too. Without his analysis of the terrain around us, I wouldn’t have found it so quickly.”
Wu Jingyi’s gaze shifted back and forth between them, and he said with a smile, “I understand now, the two of you found it together.”
Daohua promptly nodded in agreement.
Wu Jingyi saw Daohua staring intently at him and chuckled, “Rest assured, if we confirm that the gold mine is indeed here, I will report it truthfully to His Majesty.”
Upon hearing this, Daohua beamed with a smile, “Then we will be troubling you, Lord Wu.”
Afterward, Wu Jingyi summoned his men and ordered them to quickly explore the river. Once everyone had gone down to the river, he turned to Xiao Yeyang, “Has the Little Prince’s injury improved?”
Xiao Yeyang glanced at Daohua, noticing her nose had turned red from the cold, and spoke, “I was tugged a bit when we were coming over, and it feels quite uncomfortable now. Since Lord Wu is here, I’ll leave this place to you while I go back to apply some medicine.”
Wu Jingyi quickly said, “Then the Little Prince should go back soon, I’ll take care of things here.” He then stepped aside.
Xiao Yeyang nodded, gestured for Daohua to follow, and then quickly walked out.
Daohua: “Lord Wu, we’ll be leaving then, take care of yourself, and go rest early.”
Wu Jingyi smiled and nodded, watching as Xiao Yeyang and his party departed.
Once they were out of Wu Jingyi’s line of sight, Xiao Yeyang turned and took Daohua’s hand, only to find that it had become ice-cold in no time. He frowned and said, “It’s my fault, we left in such a hurry today, and I didn’t have you put on more clothes.”
Daohua hunched her shoulders, “How can I blame you? I never expected it to be so cold in the mountains.”
Xiao Yeyang: “Hold on to me tightly, we’ll walk faster, and soon we’ll be back.”
Daohua nodded quietly and followed behind Xiao Yeyang, letting him lead the way.
…
It was not until 9:00 PM that Xiao Yeyang brought Daohua back to the northeast guard platform.
Upon their return, they were immediately stopped by Yan Wentao and Yan Wenkai.
Yan Wentao asked anxiously, “Where did you go?”
Daohua stamped her feet, “Third Brother, Fourth Brother, let’s discuss it inside, it’s too cold out here.”
Xiao Yeyang glared at the two displeased, skirted past them, and quickly pulled Daohua inside, “Defu, quickly light the charcoal brazier, several of them.”
Once inside, Daohua started pacing on the spot, rubbing her hands together, “I think it’s much colder here than at the manor city.”
Not until the charcoal brazier was lit did Daohua, warming herself by its heat, begin to feel her body warm up.
It was then that Yan Wenkai finally spoke, “Big Sister, where did you go with the Little Prince? Don’t you know, Third Brother and I have been worried about you not being here?”
Warm by the fire, Daohua cheerily said, “Third Brother, Fourth Brother, I found the gold mine.”
Hearing this, Yan Wentao and Yan Wenkai’s eyes widened in shock, and after a moment, they both turned to look at Xiao Yeyang.
Xiao Yeyang nodded and then moved another charcoal brazier next to Daohua, “It’s enough that you two know about this, don’t mention it to anyone else.”
Yan Wenkai and Yan Wentao’s expressions brightened, “Don’t worry, we promise not to tell.”
Seeing Daohua yawn, Xiao Yeyang addressed Yan Wentao and his brother, who still wanted to ask questions, “It’s so late already, go get some sleep, we can talk about anything else tomorrow.”
Yan Wenkai was somewhat reluctant, but considering Xiao Yeyang was still injured and had been out for most of the day, he didn’t want to disturb his rest and nodded hesitantly.
Yan Wentao asked, “Where is Daohua sleeping tonight?”
Defu took over, “Third Master, Miss Yan is sleeping in the next room, this afternoon Manman and I have already arranged the room.”
Knowing that Daohua’s room was next to theirs calmed Yan Wentao, “Daohua, you and Manman should also go to sleep quickly.”
Xiao Yeyang glanced at Yan Wentao, “The next room hasn’t had the charcoal fire lit yet. Wait until Defu lights it, so you don’t catch a cold.”
Yan Wentao almost blurted out that they would wait too, but then Xiao Yeyang’s sharp gaze pierced through, making his scalp tingle.
However, he did not compromise this time and insisted on waiting until Daohua left the room as well.
Stop it, it was okay during the day, but at night you can’t let my sister stay alone in the Little Prince’s room anymore.