Chapter 540: Chapter 498, Embrace_1
At the back door of the Xiao Mansion, Daohua alighted from the carriage with Yan Wenkai’s support and immediately saw Xiao Yeyang standing at the doorway, whereupon she smiled and asked, “How did you know we were coming?”
Gazing at Daohua, clad in a red jacket and skirt and dressed in festive cheer, Xiao Yeyang couldn’t help but smile and approached her, “I had overeaten at lunch and was taking a stroll to digest, when I heard the noise of the carriage and came to take a look.”
After saying this, he couldn’t help wanting to reach out and lead her by the hand.
However, Yan Wenkai casually stood between him and Daohua.
Xiao Yeyang took a deep breath to suppress the urge to punch Yan Wenkai away.
Daohua laughed, “Did you finish all the food I sent?”
Xiao Yeyang nodded.
Immediately, Daohua smiled, “I’ve brought some snacks for you too, so you can have them as nibbles during the New Year’s Eve vigil tonight.”
Xiao Yeyang smiled and patted Wentao’s shoulder, “Let’s go inside; it’s quite cold out here.”
The four of them entered the mansion.
Along the way, Wenkai noticed that there were no New Year decorations in the mansion and couldn’t help but say, “Little Prince, it’s the New Year; why haven’t you prepared any decorations? Compared to other homes with their bright lights and festive adornments, your place seems too desolate.”
Xiao Yeyang replied indifferently, “There’s no need for such fuss when I’m alone.”
Daohua disagreed whole-heartedly, “Even alone, one should celebrate the New Year. I’ve brought couplets, paper-cuts for window decorations and peach talismans. Later, you have to put them up.”
Xiao Yeyang looked at her but did not oppose.
Yan Wenkai also said, “Right, right, later we’ll help you set them up. During the New Year, how can one not add a bit of festive joy?”
Daohua then said, “Xiao Yeyang, aren’t you good at painting? Later, paint a few New Year pictures for us; we’ll hang them in our rooms.”
Xiao Yeyang looked over and smiled, “What kind of New Year pictures would you like?”
Daohua said, “You can decide; as long as they’re festive, joyful, and have good meanings, anything will do.”
Yan Wenkai immediately said, “Little Prince, I want one of carp leaping through the dragon’s gate.”
Wentao said, “Then, I want one depicting a bountiful harvest.”
Xiao Yeyang gave the two a sideways glance, “You’re certainly not shy about that.”
The two laughed ‘heh heh’ in response.
Yan Wenkai said, “Little Prince, you paint New Year pictures for us, and we’ll help you decorate the house—it’s a fair exchange.”
Xiao Yeyang fell silent for a moment, “From now on don’t call me Little Prince anymore, just use my name.”
Upon these words, Yan Wenkai and Wentao both paused in astonishment, even Daohua turned to look.
Seeing the reaction of the three, a trace of a smile appeared on Xiao Yeyang’s lips, yet his eyes held some sorrow, he said nothing more, and continued walking forward.
Yan Wenkai and Wentao exchanged glances, spotting the confusion and surprise in each other’s eyes.
Daohua felt a slight pang of heartache, now that the Governor had elevated his consort to official status, Xiao Yeyang was no longer the sole legitimate son, and the future title of the Prince Residence might not be his. The title ‘Little Prince’ must sound somewhat harsh to him now.
Soon, they arrived at the courtyard where Xiao Yeyang lived.
“Forget the other courtyards, I don’t stay in them. Just decorate this one,” he said.
Daohua responded enthusiastically, “Okay!” Saying this, she signaled Wang Manman to bring over the decorations they had brought.
“Did you cut these window decorations yourself?”
Xiao Yeyang picked up a ‘Peace and Good Fortune’ paper-cut window decoration and looked at Daohua with a smile.
Daohua nodded, “All the decorations I brought were cut by me, so we have to stick all of them on later. Can’t let them go to waste.”
With a smile in his eyes, Xiao Yeyang replied, “Good, we’ll stick them all up.”
Because Xiao Yeyang wanted to be called by his name, Wenkai and Wentao were both unsure how to address him now, only managing to say, “that, that.”
Wenkai held the couplets, “That… where should I stick these couplets?”
Xiao Yeyang pointed to Dexi, “Ask Dexi.” With that, he continued helping Daohua with the window decorations.
Wenkai approached Dexi and drew him aside to a corner, “What’s going on with the Little Prince?”
Dexi glanced at his master, did not answer but instead shifted the subject with a smile, “Third Master, Fourth Master, the stable has just acquired two Ferghana horses, do you want to take a look?”
As soon as they heard ‘Ferghana horses’, Wenkai and Wentao’s eyes lit up in unison.
Wenkai asked excitedly, “When did they arrive?”
Dexi replied with a smile, “Just a few days ago, sent by the Governor.”
Wenkai quickly nodded, “Great, great, lead the way to see them.”
Wentao glanced at Daohua and Xiao Yeyang, who were sticking up window decorations together, his expression hesitant.
Dexi saw this and immediately said, “We’ll just take a look; we’ll be back very soon.” Of course, these words were just for show. He didn’t believe that upon seeing the Ferghana horses, the two Masters could resist the urge to ride them for a couple of rounds.
Wenkai looked at Wentao, “Shall we go take a look?”
Seeing that Wentao was still undecided, Dexi thought for a moment and sighed, “Ah, didn’t Fourth Master just ask me what’s wrong with my master? There’s been a bit of trouble in Beijing…”
As he spoke, he led the way outside.
Yan Wenkai and Wentao’s curiosity was piqued, and they followed.
Xiao Yeyang glanced at the two being led away by fortune, the corners of his mouth curled slightly, but he said nothing and continued sticking window decorations with Daohua.
“The left side of the window decoration should go up a bit, the right side down.”
“Is it okay now?”
“No, it’s still crooked.”
“How about now?”
“Better than before, but the left side still needs to go up a bit.”
“…”
After having put up all the decorations, Daohua clapped her hands contentedly: “Now it finally looks like New Year’s.” She then looked around and said, “Eh? Where did Third Brother and Fourth Brother go?”
Xiao Yeyang shook his head: “I don’t know.”
Daohua waved her hand, not fussing over it, and picked up another couplet: “Let’s go, time to put up the couplets.”
Watching Daohua step onto the stool, Xiao Yeyang quickly walked over: “Let me do it instead.”
Daohua shook her head: “No, you had a hard time with the window decorations, I’ll stick the couplet.”
Xiao Yeyang could only help her steady the stool and be ready to catch her at any moment.
“Quick, check for me if it’s crooked?”
“It’s not.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“Alright, then I’m sticking it like this.”
After finishing one side, Daohua turned to Xiao Yeyang, who was steadying the stool, waved her hand and said, “Move aside so I can get down.”
“Then, be careful!” Xiao Yeyang stepped back.
The stool was somewhat high, and Xiao Yeyang wasn’t fully reassured. He had just reached out his hand to help steady Daohua, when he saw her jump straight down from the stool, which startled him. He hurriedly ran to catch her.
And so…
Daohua landed right in Xiao Yeyang’s arms.
Looking at herself hugging Xiao Yeyang’s neck, hanging on his body, Daohua froze completely.
Xiao Yeyang was also tense, his eyes wide open as he looked at Daohua clinging to him.
The two looked at each other, forgetting to speak.
After a while, Daohua was the first to avert her eyes, and in a low voice said, “You can put me down now.”
“Oh!”
Xiao Yeyang came back to his senses and quickly set Daohua down.
Both were somewhat embarrassed, their gazes evasive, not daring to look at each other.
“Well… I’ll go stick the other side.”
Daohhua picked up the other couplet, and Xiao Yeyang immediately helped move the stool.
This time, after sticking it, Daohua didn’t dare to jump down directly, and Xiao Yeyang helped her down slowly.
“It’s cold outside, let’s go back inside.”
With that, Xiao Yeyang pulled Daohua back into the house, “You wanted a New Year painting, right? I’ll draw one for you now.”
The two headed to the study. Since Fortune wasn’t there, Xiao Yeyang had to prepare the drawing paper and paints himself.
Daohua asked, “Is there anything I can help you with?”
Xiao Yeyang, picking up the paints, pointed at the bookshelf: “You can help me get some rice paper.”
“Okay.”
Daohua walked to the bookshelf, casually grabbed a few rolls of rice paper, then spread them on the table. When she opened one of the rolls, she discovered there was a portrait on it.
“Who is this?”
“Clang~”
As soon as Daohua spoke, Xiao Yeyang accidentally dropped all the paints on the floor.
Daohua turned around and saw Xiao Yeyang with a gloomy face, trying hard to contain himself.
Daohua quickly went over, concerned: “Xiao Yeyang, what’s wrong with you, don’t scare me, okay?”
Looking at the worry and astonishment in Daohua’s eyes, Xiao Yeyang’s oppressive aura slowly receded, then he couldn’t help but reach out and embrace her.