Chapter 548: Chapter 503, Roadblock _1
Taohua Village.
Watching Xiao Yeyang all alone, Granny Gu and Gu Jian both felt very uneasy, and couldn’t help but harbor some resentment towards Prince Qing.
At the dining table, Granny Gu kept adding dishes to Xiao Yeyang’s bowl, “Good child, today is the first day of the lunar new year, eat more. These were all brought over by Daohua earlier, and they all taste quite good.”
Looking at the bowl piled high with food, Xiao Yeyang felt a warmth in his heart and also smiled as he picked some dishes for Granny Gu: “Granny, don’t just look after me, you should eat too.”
Granny Gu laughed, “I enjoy watching you eat more than eating myself. You’re still growing, so eat up.” As she spoke, she began adding more to Xiao Yeyang’s bowl again.
Seeing this, Xiao Yeyang was somewhat helpless, but he couldn’t bear to decline the old lady’s kindness and could only eat with a smile.
Gu Jian didn’t say anything, silently watching the two, one with a face full of smiles showing her affection, and the other dutiful and sensible in response, his face involuntarily showing a smile of relief.
However, thinking about the affair in Beijing, he couldn’t help but feel distressed.
Thinking about how the Emperor had wronged the boy before him, Gu Jian reached out with his chopsticks and added a piece of braised pork knuckle to Xiao Yeyang’s bowl, “Eat more.”
Seeing the pork knuckle in his bowl, Xiao Yeyang felt pleasantly surprised. Given that Master Gu was usually quite stern with him, seeing him in a benevolent mood was a rare occurrence.
Seeing Xiao Yeyang staring at him in astonishment, Gu Jian felt slightly awkward, for he did tend to be harsh towards the lad. Still, he didn’t expect such a reaction, and he immediately snorted twice in response.
Seeing Gu Jian reverting to his usual stern demeanor, Xiao Yeyang felt at ease, and began to devour the pork knuckle.
Granny Gu watched them with a beaming smile. When Xiao Yeyang’s bowl had less food, she started adding more for him: “Today our place is a bit quiet, but it will be lively once Daohua comes over tomorrow.”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yeyang’s eyes immediately brightened with a smile, and he was so pleased that he started adding dishes to Granny Gu’s bowl—this time, Gu Jian was included too.
Watching his nephew’s face light up at the mention of his little apprentice, Gu Jian found himself unable to watch and started focusing on his food without engaging any further.
…
Yan Residence.
After dinner, Madam Li called Daohua aside, “How long are you planning to stay in Taohua Village this time?”
Daohua pondered for a moment, “A few days, perhaps. Granny and Master don’t have anyone to keep them company, it’s quite lonely there.”
Madam Li nodded, “That’s good. Your Cousin Zixuan is getting married on the twentieth day of the first lunar month, and before the Lantern Festival, you and Wenxiu have to go there; then in the early days of the second month, there’s another celebration at Zhou Family, which will take some more time; afterwards your elder brother will go to Beijing to present the betrothal gifts, which will likely keep him busy for a while. During this period, I’m afraid you won’t have time to visit the two elders.”
“Now that there’s nothing much going on, take this time to accompany them more. By the way, have you prepared all the gifts?”
Daohua smiled, “They’re all ready.”
After thinking for a moment, Madam Li said, “Your second uncle sent over a lot of southern delicacies and tonics before the new year. I’ll get some for you to take to your master and them.”
Daohua quickly agreed, “Great.”
Later, after picking up the items and exiting the main courtyard, Daohua went to find Yan Wenkai and Yan Wentao, “Third Brother, Fourth Brother, have you told Xiao Yeyang? I’ll be leaving at 7:00 a.m. tomorrow.”
Yan Wenkai, “Don’t mention it, we haven’t seen him.”
Daohua frowned, “What happened?”
Yan Wenkai, “The gatekeeper said the Little Prince was invited to spend the new year in someone’s home last night.”
Daohua was stunned for a moment, “Xiao Yeyang is spending the new year at someone else’s house? Whose house is it?”
Yan Wenkai shrugged, “The gatekeeper didn’t say.”
Daohua was silent for a moment, “All right then, I’ll just head to Taohua Village by myself tomorrow.”
Wentao: “Shall we accompany you?”
Daohua smiled and shook her head, “No need. It’s rare for you to be at home, so better spend more time with grandmother. Besides, now that you’ve both taken up official duties, you’ll have even less time at home in the future. You should make the most of the present to be with your family.”
Yan Wenkai chuckled, “We don’t have fixed office hours; we still have quite a lot of free time.”
Daohua replied, “That’s only for now because you’ve just started your jobs and don’t have much to do. In time, you’ll definitely get busier.”
Seeing Daohua’s serious expression, as if she knew better than they did, Wenkai couldn’t help but laugh, “Alright, alright, no need for a little girl like you to worry about us. It’s getting late, head back to the yard and rest. Remember to pass our regards to grandma and Master Gu, alright?”
Daohua waved her hand, “Got it.” With that, she walked out of the yard.
After leaving, Daohua began to ponder, murmuring, “I wonder whose home Xiao Yeyang will go to for the New Year?” Preoccupied with her thoughts, she didn’t notice Yang Hongrui approaching from the side.
By the time she noticed someone, he was already in front of her.
“Cousin Yiyi!”
Yang Hongrui’s face showed an unmistakable delight upon seeing Daohua.
Daohua glanced at Wang Manman, feeling somewhat annoyed that she hadn’t alerted her.
Wang Manman hung her head low; it was her neglect. However, she hadn’t expected the young master to arrive silently, only realizing his presence when he was right in front of her.
Daohua smiled and asked, “Cousin, what brings you here?”
Yang Hongrui stepped towards Daohua, “I was just on my way to find Wenkai and Wentao. I didn’t expect to coincidentally run into cousin.”
Daohua remained composed as she stepped to the side, “Then please go ahead, cousin. I should be getting back as well.”
Yang Hongrui quickly said, “Let me escort cousin to Chuihua Gate. It’s already dark, and I can carry the lantern for you to prevent any falls. In this cold weather, a tumble can be quite painful.”
Hearing this, Daohua felt not a ripple of emotion in her heart, but rather a slight impatience. She forced a faint smile, “Thank you for the kind offer, cousin, but it’s not necessary.”
Without saying more, she walked straight ahead.
“Cousin…”
Yang Hongrui hurried after her, at one point even wanting to reach out and grab Daohua, but she avoided him.
Daohua frowned and looked at Yang Hongrui sternly, “Cousin, what are you doing?”
Yang Hongrui hurriedly apologized, “It was presumptuous of me, cousin. Please don’t take offense. I simply wanted to accompany you.”
Daohua took a deep breath, holding back her impatience as she said, “Cousin, this is my home, do you think I’m not more familiar with it than you? Moreover, I’m not some fragile girl; it’s just inside my own home, there’s really no need for anyone to accompany me. If cousin truly has nothing to do, you might as well go back and read some books. That way, you won’t let Aunt’s hopes down, right?”
“Also, as a scholar, please refrain from such actions in the future, cousin. I have a quick temper. If we make a fuss, it may harm our familial relationship.”
Watching Daohua’s aloof demeanor, Yang Hongrui was taken aback, his lips moved as if he wanted to explain something, but Daohua didn’t give him the chance and turned to leave.
“Miss, it’s all this servant’s fault!”
Wang Manman was uneasy as she watched Daohua’s stern face.
Daohua, with furrowed brows and silent, only spoke after entering Chuihua Gate, “I thought cousin Hongrui was a cultured and polite man. Why then, is he behaving so indecorously? Repeatedly approaching me, does he not understand propriety, or did I inadvertently give him the wrong impression?”
Wang Manman pouted, “Miss, you’ve already been distant enough from the young master. It’s just that he himself lacks perception.”
Aside from the Little Prince, even with gentlemen like Dong and Su, whom she had known for years, the miss always deliberately maintained her distance and rarely met with them alone. Yet this young master kept finding ways to encounter the miss alone, persistently closing in even when the miss avoided him, which was truly annoying.
Daohua remained silent for a moment. She had intended to return to her own courtyard but suddenly changed direction and headed towards the main compound.
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