Chapter 538: Chapter 496, Alone and Forsaken_1
Watching Yan Wenkai taking Daohua away, Xiao Yeyang looked quite annoyed, and Daohua, being led away, was equally speechless, “Fourth Brother, you’re walking too fast, I can’t keep up.”
Hearing this, Yan Wenkai gave an embarrassed smile and immediately slowed his pace, “You should have said so earlier.”
Daohua huffed, “Did you even give me the chance?” As she said this, she glanced back at Xiao Yeyang, seeing him walking shoulder to shoulder with Third Brother before turning her head to continue walking forward.
Out of the courtyard, Defu led them towards the back door.
Clearly, Xiao Yeyang did not want others to know he was back.
By the back door, the carriage was already prepared.
Yan Wentao: “Little Prince, it’s cold out. You should head back inside. We are leaving now.”
Xiao Yeyang nodded, his gaze turning towards Daohua standing in front of the carriage.
Daohua was also looking at Xiao Yeyang. Seeing him standing alone at the entrance, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of sorrow. It was supposed to be a time of joyful family reunions for the New Year, yet he was all by himself. Overcome with emotion, she blurted out, “I’ll come again tomorrow.”
At these words, a warmth flashed in Xiao Yeyang’s eyes, and a smile formed on his lips, “Okay.”
Yan Wenkai moved his lips, wanting to say that tomorrow was New Year’s Eve and their mother wouldn’t let her out, but seeing the lonesome figure of Xiao Yeyang, he swallowed his words.
Daohua smiled, “The black chicken soup made by your cook isn’t bad. Make it again tomorrow, and I’ll come over for it.”
Xiao Yeyang nodded with a smile, “Sure.”
Daohua: “Then we’re off!” With that, she helped herself onto the carriage with Yan Wenkai’s hand, and once both brothers were aboard, the carriage started moving.
Watching the carriage move away, Defu approached and said, “Master, it’s still snowing. Let’s go back.”
Xiao Yeyang stood still until the carriage left the back alley, then he turned and entered the residence.
After the back door closed, the door of the house opposite opened.
Guo Ruomei looked at the tightly shut back door, her face filled with deep concern and longing.
Mei Shuang: “Master, now that the Little Master has returned to the residence, shall we…”
Guo Ruomei shook her head, reproaching herself, “Yangyang won’t want to see me now. If I hadn’t insisted on divorcing the Prince all those years ago, he wouldn’t have to face this awkward situation now.”
Mei Xue: “How can this be your fault, Master? If anyone is to blame, it should be the Prince. He was the one who wronged you at first, and now he has hurt the Little Master so deeply. He is neither fit to be a husband nor a father!”
A cold look flashed in Guo Ruomei’s eyes, and after a long silence, she sighed, “In the end, it is the tragedy of being a member of the Imperial Family. In the face of interests and schemes, everyone is but a pawn. Even though Yangyang left Beijing, he still couldn’t escape others’ maneuvers.”
Seeing the worry on her master’s face, Mei Shuang comforted her, “The Little Master looked quite well, so you needn’t worry too much.”
Guo Ruomei nodded, “The Yan siblings are indeed good.”
Mei Shuang smiled, “Yes, Little Master seemed much cheerier after playing with them this afternoon.”
Guo Ruomei took one more look at the back door across the way, stood there for a while, then turned around and went back inside.
Meanwhile, on the carriage, Yan Wenkai looked at Daohua, “Big Sister, why didn’t you invite the Little Prince to our house? It’s so desolate for him to spend the New Year alone.”
Daohua sighed, “Do you think he would come to our house?”
Yan Wenkai was silent for a bit before adding somberly, “But I also think Mother won’t let you out tomorrow.”
Daohua immediately sat up straight, her eyes blazing as she looked at her two brothers.
Yan Wenkai felt a bad premonition and quickly moved further away from Daohua, “Why are you looking at us like that?”
Daohua: “Tomorrow is New Year’s Eve, I must have a reason to go out.” As she spoke, she clasped her hands together, looking piteously at her two brothers, “So, I still need my brothers’ help.”
Yan Wenkai: “How are we supposed to help? Mother will definitely not agree, and even Grandmother might not consent.”
Daohua’s face fell: “You saw how Xiao Yeyang was today, he’s not in a good mood. In this time of family reunion over the New Year, not having a single relative by his side is just too pitiful. As his friends, shouldn’t you bring him some warmth?”
Yan Wenkai and Yan Wentao exchanged glances. Although the Little Prince’s behavior today did not seem much different from usual, they still sensed his low spirits.
Yan Wentao looked at Daohua: “What exactly happened to him?”
Daohua: “Ah, don’t ask about it, you’ll naturally find out when you need to. Anyway, just treat him as you usually do.”
Soon, they arrived at the Yan Residence, and as the three of them entered, they bumped into Yan Wenxiu.
“Big brother!”
Yan Wenxiu looked at Daohua: “This afternoon, when Grandmother and Mother asked about you, I said you were helping me tidy up the study. Make sure you don’t get it wrong later.”
Daohua nodded repeatedly, smiling: “Thank you, big brother.”
Yan Wenxiu: “Quickly go back to the backyard, it’s almost time for dinner.”
Daohua nodded and walked towards the backyard with Wang Manman.
Once she was out of sight, Yan Wenxiu turned to Yan Wentao and Yan Wenkai: “You went to see the Little Prince?”
Yan Wenkai looked surprised: “Big brother, how did you know about that?”
Yan Wenxiu gave him a displeased look: “Otherwise, why would you come back so late and bring your little sister along?” he said, pausing for a moment, “Is the Little Prince… doing okay?”
Yan Wenkai and Yan Wentao exchanged glances: “Big brother, you even know that the Little Prince is in a bad mood?”
Yan Wenxiu: “I received a letter from Yuan Xuan this afternoon, he asked us to take extra care of the Little Prince during this time.”
Yan Wentao furrowed his brows: “What exactly happened?”
Yan Wenxiu shook his head: “Yuan Xuan didn’t specify the details, but… I suspect it has to do with something in Beijing.”
Yan Wenkai’s eyes widened: “Beijing?” he said, starting to walk toward the backyard, “Our little sister must know something, I’ll go ask her.”
Yan Wenxiu quickly reached out to stop Yan Wenkai: “When is your impulsive nature going to become more stable?” he said with a sigh.
“In serious matters, our little sister always knows what’s important—what to say and what not to say. Since she and Yuan Xuan have not brought it up proactively, it shows that it concerns the Little Prince personally.”
Yan Wenkai: “That’s exactly why we need to know about it because it concerns the Little Prince.”
Yan Wenxiu was somewhat at a loss: “But what if the Little Prince doesn’t want us to know?”
At those words, Yan Wenkai was stunned.
Yan Wenxiu sighed: “These past days you haven’t been able to find the Little Prince, which shows he’s deliberately hiding. Stop trying to pry into the reasons.”
Yan Wentao, with a concerned expression, said: “For the Little Prince to hide away and not want to see anyone, it must be no small matter.”
Yan Wenxiu: “Alright, since the Little Prince has returned, make sure you visit him more during this period.”
Yan Wenkai nodded and, seeing Yan Wenxiu about to leave, quickly caught him: “Big brother, our little sister said she’s going to see the Little Prince tomorrow and asked for our help. How can we help her?”
Yan Wenxiu was silent for a moment: “Tomorrow, I’ll provide you cover.”
At that, Yan Wenkai breathed a sigh of relief, grinning broadly: “Thank you, big brother. With you stepping in, Mother and Grandmother are sure to agree.”