Chapter 535: Chapter 493, A Walk in the Snow_1
Due to the cold weather of the twelfth lunar month, Yan Wenkai and Wentao followed Daohua in the carriage this time. On the way back to the Yan Residence, Yan Wenkai asked Daohua, “Big sister, why didn’t you look for anyone after climbing over the wall just now?”
Daohua replied, “Xiao Yeyang isn’t there, so who should I look for?”
The absence of both Advisor Jiang and Governor Guo indicated that Xiao Yeyang was truly avoiding them.
Yan Wenkai frowned, “Then why did you climb over the wall?”
Daohua gave Yan Wenkai a ‘are you stupid’ look, “Of course, to tell Xiao Yeyang that I’m looking for him.”
Yan Wenkai was a bit slow to catch on and looked blankly at Wentao, waiting for him to clear up the confusion.
Wentao was silent for a moment before he said, “There must be Hidden Guards left by the Little Prince over at the residence. If anything urgent comes up, the Hidden Guards would surely have a way to notify the Little Prince.” He glanced at Daohua, “So, the words you said to Manman in the end were for the Hidden Guard to hear?”
Daohua nodded, her brows furrowed with worry.
Since both Governor Guo and Advisor Jiang had personally come to find Xiao Yeyang, it seemed highly likely that the rumor about Prince Ping supporting the elevation of Lady Ma was true.
“Smack!”
Hearing Wentao’s explanation, Yan Wenkai slapped his own head hard, “Oh no, why didn’t I think of that? If I’d known, I would have had the Hidden Guard notify the Little Prince for me.”
Wentao glanced at him with a melancholic look, subtly implying that this tactic would only work for Daohua. Even if they were to fall and die from wall climbing, he reckoned the Hidden Guard wouldn’t spare them a second glance.
A short while later, Yan Wenkai asked again, “By telling the Little Prince that you’re looking for him, do you think he’ll come out to see you?” he mused, stroking his chin thoughtfully, “It’s clear to me now. The Little Prince is intentionally hiding, but why?”
Wentao also looked towards Daohua.
Daohua remained silent and did not speak.
Wentao and Yan Wenkai exchanged glances, feeling that Daohua must know something. But since this little sister had always been so principled, they really couldn’t do anything if she chose not to share.
Soon, the three of them returned to the Yan Residence.
That night, Daohua lay in bed tossing and turning, her mind filled with thoughts of Xiao Yeyang—where he might be, what he could be doing, and whether he was feeling very upset right now.
Wang Manman, who was on the night shift outside, heard the commotion, put on her coat and came in to add more coal to the brazier, “Miss, you should get some sleep. The Little Prince has De Fu to look after him; he’ll be fine. Aren’t you going to see the Little Prince tomorrow? You need to be well-rested.”
Just as Wang Manman finished tending to the coal basin and was about to leave, Daohua suddenly asked, “Do you think he will show up to meet me tomorrow?”
Wang Manman smiled, “Of course he will. The Little Prince misses you so much, how could he ignore you climbing the wall?”
Daohua wasn’t so sure, “Not necessarily, he knows I’m capable, a little wall climbing won’t worry him, would it?”
Wang Manman chuckled, “Even if you get a tiny scratch, the Little Prince would worry.”
Daohua sighed, “Maybe before, but this time… if Prince Ping really succeeds in promoting Lady Ma, it would hit Xiao Yeyang hard. He might not want to see anyone at this time.”
Now Wang Manman was not so sure either. If she were in his shoes, she guessed she might want to hide as well, “…Miss, you should get a good night’s sleep, and we’ll go over and see tomorrow, then we’ll know everything, right?”
Daohua didn’t say more and gestured Wang Manman to go to sleep, while she herself continued to stare at the canopy above, lost in thought…
The next morning, Daohua got out of bed not feeling very refreshed, had breakfast, and then stepped out again, accompanied by Yan Wenkai and Wentao.
The three of them first went to the main gate to inquire and found out that Xiao Yeyang was still not there. Then they headed to the spot where they had climbed over the wall the day before.
Yan Wenkai looked at Daohua, “Climbing again?”
Daohua nodded.
Yan Wenkai quickly walked to the corner of the wall and crouched down, “Come on, today your fourth brother will give you a boost up.”
This time, Daohua wandered around the residence for a while.
Most of the houses in the residence were empty and eerily quiet, with almost no one in sight. They didn’t even need to hide as they climbed into the compound.
Daohua couldn’t help but think while looking around that Xiao Yeyang must feel very lonely when he returns here, right?
After taking a full tour, Yan Wentao and Yan Wenkai accompanied Daohua out again.
Seeing Daohua’s listless expression, Yan Wentao comforted her, “Maybe the Little Prince is still on his way. How about we wait in the carriage?”
Daohua glanced at the residence and nodded.
Inside the carriage, Daohua remained silent. Neither Yan Wenkai nor Yan Wentao knew what to say, so the three of them just sat there in silence.
Time slipped away bit by bit, and before they knew it, noon had arrived.
Yan Wenkai took a look at Daohua’s complexion and, despite feeling hungry, didn’t say a word until the beginning of the Shen hours (3:00 PM), when he really couldn’t bear the hunger any longer and finally said, “How about we go have something to eat and then come back?”
Daohua replied in a muffled voice, “I’m not hungry.”
Yan Wenkai wanted to say more, but Yan Wentao stopped him, “How about this, Daohua—you wait in the carriage, and I’ll go out with my fourth brother to buy some food to bring back.”
Daohua: “I really am not hungry. You guys go eat.”
Yan Wentao: “Alright, we’ll go out for a quick meal and then bring back some pastries for you.” With that, he pulled Yan Wenkai out of the carriage.
After the two left, Daohua also got out of the carriage.
Wang Manman: “Miss, please stay in the carriage. It’s quite cold outside.”
Daohua shook her head, raising her eyes to the wall and murmuring, “Why do I feel that Xiao Yeyang will appear as long as I look for him?”
It was probably because of his usual eagerness and attentiveness that she had been led to such a delusion.
Actually, she was not that important.
Why should he appear just because she’s looking for him?
Just then, snow began to fall from the sky.
“Miss, it’s snowing. Let’s get back into the carriage quickly.”
Daohua ignored Wang Manman’s words, stretching out her hand to let the snowflakes fall into her palm. The cold snowflakes melted in her hand, and the chill seeped through her palm into her heart.
Suddenly, a paper umbrella appeared above her head.
Daohua’s face lit up with joy, and she quickly turned her head, but, seeing that the person holding the umbrella was Wang Manman, the smile disappeared from her face in an instant, and her eyes filled with deep disappointment.
Wang Manman: “Miss, the snow is getting heavier. We should really go back now. If you are worried about the Little Prince, we can ask Brother Xiaoliu to come and keep watch. As soon as the Little Prince returns, he will inform you immediately.”
Just a short while later, the ground was covered with a layer of white snow, and she worried that soon the road would become impassable.
“My third and fourth brothers haven’t come back yet.” Daohua stared up at the large snowflakes drifting from the sky, the disappointment in her eyes growing stronger. In such weather, it really seemed that Xiao Yeyang would not appear.
Wang Manman: “Then let’s go wait for them at the street corner.”
Daohua fell silent for a moment, then nodded, “It’s been a long time since I’ve walked in the snow. I’ll walk there.” Saying so, she started walking along the wall.
Wang Manman wanted to go forward to hold the umbrella for her, but she was refused.
Daohua walked listlessly, squatting down to grab handfuls of snow by the wall corner, playing with it in her hands. After a while, she fiercely threw it against the wall, as if venting her frustrations.
“Playing with snow in such cold weather and not afraid of freezing,” came a voice.
As Daohua squatted down again to gather more snow, a warm and deep male voice suddenly sounded from behind her.
Upon hearing the voice, the corners of Daohua’s mouth couldn’t help but curve up.