Chapter 520: Chapter 479, United Front_1
During the birthday celebration of the Yan family matriarch, aside from the unpleasant incident caused by Madam Xu, everything else went smoothly. After dinner, the families sat for a short while before leaving with smiles.
The main courtyard.
After seeing off the guests whose status and positions were above that of the Yan Family, Madam Li entrusted the task of escorting the remaining guests to the Sun Family and the Wu Family, while she herself took Daohua back to their room.
“Quick, let me see your wound,” Madam Li said anxiously, looking at Daohua. Her daughter had returned late the previous night, and there were many things she hadn’t had the chance to ask about. It was only today that she had heard about her daughter getting injured from Manman.
Daohua replied with a smile, “Mother, I’m fine. It’s just a minor injury…”
Madam Li interjected, “Even if it’s minor, I want to see it.”
Seeing this, Daohua had no choice but to sit down with a helpless expression, “Alright then, mother, thank you for taking care of my wound today. But is it okay for you not to send off the guests?”
Madam Li carefully rolled up Daohua’s sleeves without looking up, “It’s fine, I’ve already sent off those I needed to. As for the rest, your second and third aunts can handle them.”
“Now I see,” Madam Li continued, “some people, you can’t be too kind to them. Be too kind, and they start to think they can bully you, not taking you seriously. Keep your distance, act coolly, and then they’ll respect and honor you.”
Daohua nodded, “Mother’s words are wise.”
Madam Li wanted to add more, but upon unwrapping the bandage and seeing the ferocious scar on her daughter’s arm, she couldn’t help but curse in a low voice:
“Damn the Jiang Family and the Chen Family. The villain was clearly after them. Miss Jiang and Miss Chen were unharmed, yet my daughter suffered on their behalf.”
Seeing Madam Li’s flushed face, Daohua quickly tried to calm her, “Mother, the wound looks more frightening than it is. It’s not serious.”
“Not serious?” Madam Li disagreed completely, “You can’t even hold chopsticks. How is that not serious?” She took the medicine passed by Wang Manman and carefully applied it to Daohua while grinding her teeth.
“We shouldn’t have let the Chen Family off so easily today. They caused the trouble, and not only did it implicate you and Yuanyao, but they also didn’t bother to clear up the rumors. Instead, they expected you to take the blame. Absolutely despicable. From now on, our family should avoid any dealings with the Chen Family.”
“And not just them, the Jiang Family as well. We should steer clear of them, too. The incident began because of them. It would be sensible for Miss Jiang to offer an explanation, but Madam Jiang looked at you and Yuanyao with such accusation… If the Jiang Family didn’t have the Empress Dowager and the Empress behind them, who would bother with such people?”
With every word Madam Li said, Daohua would nod in agreement and respond, “Mother is right.”
“You too are quite naive. They knew to run, why didn’t you?”
Daohua sighed, “Your daughter is just unlucky, that’s all!”
After a while, Madam Li finished applying the medicine to Daohua and re-bandaged the wound. At that moment, Yan Zhigao arrived with Yan Wenxiu.
Seeing the bandage on Daohua’s arm, both wore looks of concern, “How is it, is it serious?”
Madam Li nodded and said with a look of distress, “How is it not serious? Such a long wound, it must have been very painful at the time. Thankfully, it’s scabbed over now.”
Yan Zhigao took a seat at the head of the room and addressed Daohua, “During this time, stay home and take good care of yourself. Don’t knock or bump into anything; a young lady’s body should not bear scars.” Turning to Madam Li, he said, “She’s active; keep a close eye on her.”
Madam Li nodded earnestly, “My Lord, rest assured, I understand.”
Daohua felt a bit resigned; it was not a big deal to have a scar.
Yan Wenxiu saw Daohua’s dismissive glance and couldn’t help but chuckle and shake her head. Her older sister was indeed quite straightforward when it came to such matters. If it had been another young lady who knew she would be scarred, she would likely have been in a panic or crying by now. Yet here she was, utterly nonchalant.
Yan Zhigao spoke again, “I have heard about what happened in the back yard today.” Looking at Daohua, he continued, “Although our family may not be as distinguished as the Jiang Family or have the backing of the Chen Family, we are a family with integrity, serving the Emperor with honesty and righteousness. If trouble finds us, we should defend our position just as we did today, without compromising or staying silent.”
Upon hearing this, Daohua raised an eyebrow and then replied cheerily, “Yes, Father.” Looks like stepdad still maintains some pride.
Yan Zhigao tapped his fingers on the table and said with narrowed eyes, “I will deal with Xu Tongzhi. As for the womenfolk, if Madam hears any more rumors being spread, feel free to fight back.”
Madam Li nodded, “Miss Jiang has come forward to clarify today, so I reckon no one would be foolish enough to pick a fight with the Jiang Family.”
Yan Zhigao hummed in acknowledgment, “Still, be extra vigilant during this period, the children’s reputation must remain untarnished.”
Madam Li huffed angrily, “If it weren’t for Madam Chen’s panic and blunder, this would not have happened. Just the thought of the Chen Family upsets me terribly.”
Yan Zhigao fell silent for a moment, “Keep a distance from the Chen Family in the future. Although the Chen women are incompetent, Minister Chen must have some capability to be assigned by the Emperor to manage the gold mine.”
Madam Li pursed her lips and said no more.
Yan Wenxiu fiddled with his teacup, his head bowed in thought about Chen Jiayou. His grandmother and mother had caused trouble for his mother and sister, it seemed he would have to find some way to give Chen a bit of trouble in return.
Yan Zhigao then looked towards Daohua, “By the way, why didn’t your third and fourth brothers come back with you?”
Daohua hesitated a moment. The matter in Sishan Village involved the Prince, and their family had become entangled in it. Though it was unlikely that the news would leak out, there was always a possibility. Thus, it was still necessary to inform her stepdad, mother, and elder brother so they could be prepared.
After sending out the maid from the room, Daohua proceeded to explain the events in Sishan Village.
Yan Zhigao and Yan Wenxiu were so shocked upon hearing the news that they couldn’t recover for a long while.
Knowing the severity of the matter, Madam Li kept silent.
Daohua spoke earnestly, “Father, Mother, Elder Brother, we mustn’t speak of this to anyone else, I suspect the Emperor will very likely keep the events in Sishan Village undisclosed.”
Yan Wenxiu took over the conversation, “He definitely won’t disclose it.”
Hearing his certainty, Daohua quickly asked, “Elder Brother, why are you so sure of that?”
Yan Wenxiu looked at the close family members in the room and didn’t conceal his thoughts, revealing what was on his mind, “To consolidate his power! Despite the Emperor having ascended the throne many years ago, he still faces quite a bit of restriction.”
“In the court, there is the Jiang Family, the most powerful external relatives of the current dynasty; outside the court, the Prince is also coveting power.”
“How can the Emperor tolerate others snoring beside his couch? It is impossible for him to allow their existence to persist. Under such circumstances, secretly building up his forces and then waiting for the right moment to eliminate them becomes inevitable.”
Yan Zhigao nodded, looking at his eldest son with approval, “Wenxiu is right.” Then, with a serious expression, he looked at Daohua and Madam Li, “Apart from the four of us, no one else should know about this, including Grandmother, understand?”
Madam Li hurriedly nodded.
Daohua: “I will definitely keep my mouth shut.” If it weren’t potentially involving her own family, she wouldn’t even tell them.
Then, with a twinkle in her eye and a playful smile towards Yan Zhigao and Yan Wenxiu, she probed, “Father, Elder Brother, why don’t you ever stop third brother and fourth brother who are always running around with Xiao Yeyang?”
Yan Zhigao glanced at his eldest daughter and replied indifferently, “Letting them learn from the Little Prince is quite beneficial.”
Yan Wenxiu picked up his teacup and smiled, saying nothing, and simply started to enjoy his tea.
Daohua pouted, they were pretending rather well. If it wasn’t for Xiao Yeyang telling her, she would have really thought they were unaware that third brother and fourth brother had become Jinling Guards.
Indeed, she still had much to learn.