Chapter 549: Chapter 504, Cutting Off _1
Inside the main courtyard, Mrs. Li saw Daohua returning and asked with a surprised smile, “Why haven’t you gone to rest yet?”
Daohua: “Mother, after the new year, cousin Hongrui will be reporting to the Wangyue Academy, won’t he?”
Mrs. Li: “Why are you bringing this up now?”
Daohua: “Just asking.”
Mrs. Li glanced at her daughter: “Your father believes that Hongrui’s studies are solid enough, but he is somewhat inept in the ways of the world. Since your elder brother is currently working with Master Xiao, he suggested that Hongrui should observe by his side to broaden his horizons.”
Daohua frowned: “Mother, let cousin go to the academy sooner. Father might mean well, but the Yang Family may not appreciate it. We shouldn’t delay someone else’s studies.”
Mrs. Li felt somewhat surprised by her daughter’s apparent dislike for Hongrui. She knew her daughter well; even if she didn’t quite like Xiujun’s melancholic nature, she would often involve her in activities out of respect for the elderly lady.
Now, whatever Hongrui had done to make her daughter seek her out directly must have been something that upset her greatly.
Mrs. Li was about to say something when Yan Zhigao returned.
Daohua stood up, paid her respects to Yan Zhigao, and then said, “Father, Mother, I won’t disturb your rest anymore, I will take my leave.”
Yan Zhigao nodded, and once she had left, he turned to Mrs. Li: “What did that girl come over for?”
While helping Yan Zhigao change his clothes, Mrs. Li replied with a laugh: “Nothing important, just talking about visiting Master Gu tomorrow.”
Yan Zhigao didn’t pursue the matter further upon hearing this.
While he went to freshen up, Mrs. Li summoned Ping Tong: “Go find out what happened between Daohua and Hongrui today.”
Ping Tong nodded and quickly left.
When Mrs. Li was tucking in Yan Zhigao for the night, Ping Tong returned.
Mrs. Li met Ping Tong in the outer room: “Tell me.”
Ping Tong immediately related the incident of Yang Hongrui blocking Daohua.
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Li’s expression darkened immediately. When she learned that Yang Hongrui had tried to entangle with her daughter, she slapped the table in anger, making such a noise that even Yan Zhigao in the inner room was startled: “What’s the matter?”
Mrs. Li calmed herself: “It’s nothing, I accidentally hit the table.”
Ping Tong was also clearly dissatisfied: “That young master, why doesn’t he have a shred of self-awareness? Considering the Yang Family’s situation, he still dares to aspire to court our eldest daughter.”
Mrs. Li raised her hand to stop Ping Tong: “We shall not speak of this matter again. The Yang Family may lack manners, but my Yiyi still needs to maintain her reputation.”
Ping Tong nodded: “Rest assured, Madam, the servants who know about this have been warned. It will not damage the eldest daughter’s reputation.”
Mrs. Li drank a cup of tea, and only once she had fully calmed down did she enter the inner room.
Yan Zhigao was leaning against the headboard reading a book. Seeing Mrs. Li come in, he moved over in the bed: “What happened just now?”
Mrs. Li lied down on the bed with a smile: “It’s nothing, just a few servants made mistakes, and it made me a bit angry.”
Yan Zhigao chuckled: “During the New Year festivities, why bother getting angry with the servants? You really have been working hard recently. For minor matters, just leave them to the butler and relax a bit yourself.”
Mrs. Li nodded: “I know.”
After that, Mrs. Li casually started chatting with Yan Zhigao about other topics, and eventually, the conversation turned to the Yang Family.
“My lord, after Lantern Festival, let’s send Hongrui off to register at the Wangyue Academy. I know you want him to learn some skills under Master Xiao, but the Yang Family went through a lot to secure a spot at the academy. We might mean well by keeping Hongrui home, but they may not see it that way; they might even suspect we have ulterior motives.”
Yan Zhigao glanced at his wife, knowing she wouldn’t bring this up for no reason, and recalling the earlier commotion in the outer room: “That’s fine. The academy is a microcosm of society; he can learn how to conduct himself there.”
He had a soft spot for his only sister but had no positive feelings toward the Yang Family. Hongrui had grown up in the Yang Family and had inevitably picked up some of their traits, which he didn’t like.
He was well aware of how his wife treated her sister, and now, by suggesting that Hongrui go to the academy earlier, even though she hadn’t stated the reason, he knew his wife well enough to understand that Hongrui must have done something wrong. She didn’t say it out loud, only out of consideration for the elderly lady and her sister’s feelings.
“I’ll speak to Mother about this in a couple of days.”
Upon hearing this, Madam Li immediately smiled, “We’ll follow the master’s orders. If the master speaks to her, mother will certainly not disagree.”
Yan Zhigao put down his book, “Alright, go to sleep. I stayed up until dawn for the New Year’s vigil last night, and now I’m tired.”
Seeing the smile on the face of his wife beside him, Madam Li felt glad. Nowadays, the master also knew how to be considerate of her.
…
The next morning, Daohua ate bird’s nest porridge in her own courtyard, then first went to the Songhe Courtyard to greet the old Madame, and afterwards went to the main courtyard to say a word to Madam Li and Yan Zhigao before she took her maids and old maidservants out through the gate.
By the time the entire Yan Family came to the old Madame’s side for breakfast, Daohua had already left the city gate and headed straight for the docks.
The second day of the New Year was traditionally when daughters-in-law would visit their maternal homes, but the maternal families of Madam Li, the Sun Family, and the Wu Family were far away. After breakfast, everyone accompanied the old Madame to the Water Pavilion near Chuihua Gate.
Madam Li had arranged an opera troupe early in the morning. Today, there would be a performance at the Yan Family estate.
Yan Zhigao walked at the front with Yan Zhiyuan, Yan Zhiqiang, and the younger members of the family.
“I have invited a few colleagues over. You will meet them later. They are all scholars with imperial examination backgrounds, well-learned and talented. If you have any questions, you could seek their advice,” he told Yan Wenxiu and the others.
Yan Wenxiu nodded, “Your son understands.”
Seeing the flourishing younger generation in his family, with his eldest son being outstanding and his second legitimate son and nephew now both officials, Yan Zhigao felt extremely gratified within his heart. The Yan Family had truly risen since his time.
Yan Zhigao was in high spirits all the way to the front of the Water Pavilion; however, on the way there, when he saw Hongrui arguing with Wen Kai, and Wen Kai showing an impatient expression, his mood soured a bit.
Yan Zhigao slowed down, planning to scold the two when they got closer. But as they approached, he heard Hongrui inquiring about his eldest daughter from Wen Kai, and his expression suddenly became somewhat embarrassed.
Thinking of the significant anger his wife had shown the previous evening, he began to understand.
This young man, he really had the audacity, daring to covet his daughter!
“Hongrui!”
Yang Hongrui, hearing Yan Zhigao calling him, immediately trotted over, “Uncle, were you looking for me?”
Yan Zhigao said indifferently, “After the Lantern Festival, you should report to Wangyue Academy.”
Upon hearing this, Yang Hongrui’s face changed. He hadn’t yet had the chance to speak when Yan Siyu, walking with the old Madame, asked, “Big brother, why? Didn’t you say that you wanted Hongrui to study with Wenxiu and Master Xiao for a while?”
Yan Zhigao calmly replied, “I hadn’t thought things through before. Master Xiao is busy with public affairs and can’t take on so many people. Studying in the Academy is just as good.”
How could it possibly be the same?!
Yan Siyu, looking anxious, knew that in the Academy, one could only learn knowledge from books. But studying with Master Xiao was different — it involved learning how to handle governmental affairs and how to interact with officials, an opportunity much rarer than studying in the Academy.
Seeing her big brother with a decided and unchangeable demeanor, Yan Siyu could only look at her mother for help, pleadingly.
Old Madame Yan glanced at her son and then at her granddaughter-in-law, who was silent and sullen. She patted Yan Siyu’s hand, “Just listen to your big brother. He knows much more than us since he’s out handling affairs.” With that, she shifted the conversation with a smile.
Seeing this, Yan Siyu knew there was no turning back. She glanced at her son standing beside her, looking dejected, and furrowed her brows tightly.
Why did her capable big brother suddenly change his mind?
During the intermission, while waiting for the opera to start, Yan Siyu pulled Yang Hongrui aside, “Did you do something to upset your uncle?”
Yang Hongrui looked bewildered, “No, I didn’t!”
Yan Siyu sighed, “From now on, be more mindful in your actions. Don’t bring any of the Yang Family’s mannerisms to the Yan Family. Your uncle doesn’t like that.”
Yang Hongrui fell silent, thinking of last night’s events. Could it be that cousin Yiyi complained to his uncle?
Did she really dislike him that much?
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