After dinner, Dong Yuanyao took Daohua back to her own courtyard.
By then, the maids had prepared all the washing necessities and a change of clothes.
âWeâre about the same size, so later you can wear my clothes. Donât worry, all of them are newly made.â
Daohua smiled, âI wouldnât mind at all.â
Dong Yuanyao huffed with pretend annoyance, but her face was smiling. She liked Yan Yiyiâs straightforwardness. Since she had already accepted Yan Yiyi as a sister, of course she wouldnât want formalities between them.
She had entertained many young ladies from other families, but they were all either overly restrained or affectedly coy. Every time she dealt with them, she ended up exhausted.
The way Yan Yiyi was, so direct and open, suited her just fine.
âMiss, the bathwater is ready, you can change and take a bath now.â
Dong Yuanyao glanced at the bathing chamber and then her eyes gleamed with mischief. She smiled at Daohua and raised an eyebrow, âTogether?â
Daohua let out a âhehâ: âWhy not, if we wash together, it saves the maids running back and forth.â
Watching Daohua head into the bathing chamber without a second thought made Dong Yuanyao pause in her tracks.
Could she say she was only joking?
She had never bathed with someone before!
This Yan Yiyi, how could she be so unembarrassed?
Daohua looked back into the bathing chamber, saw that the maids had prepared two tubs, and felt reassured. She turned to see Dong Yuanyao standing still, crossed her arms, and teased with a chuckle, âWhatâs the matter, getting cold feet?â
Dong Yuanyaoâs face stiffened. She loved to play and tease, but taking off her clothes in front of someone else made her uncomfortable. She wanted to back out, but seeing Yan Yiyiâs challenging gaze, she blurted out impulsively, âWhoâs scared?ân/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Daohua laughed, âThen hurry up.â With that, she walked into the bathing chamber.
Wang Manman immediately followed her inside and as she passed Dong Yuanyao, she bowed her head and covered her mouth to hide a laugh.
The Dong familyâs Miss must be stumped now, right?
Her Miss was not one to play by conventional rules.
The bathing chamber was spacious. After entering, Daohua had Wang Manman move a clothes rack between the two tubs. She looked over the clothes prepared by the Dong familyâs maids, then began to undress.
Wang Manman arranged all the washing items and placed her own personal clothes neatly before quickly stepping out of the bathing chamber, taking the Dong familyâs maids with her.
By the time Wang Manman and the others came out, Dong Yuanyao was still hesitating: âWhy did you all come out?â
Wang Manman chuckled, âMiss Dong, my Miss never needs someone to attend her while sheâs bathing.â
Dong Yuanyao lingered for a moment, but finally plucked up the courage and approached the bathing chamber: âYiyi, Iâm coming in.â
Daohua, already soaked in the tub, immediately responded, âCome on in. If you donât, Iâll be done bathing.â
It was only then that Dong Yuanyao stepped into the chamber and saw the clothes rack placed between the tubs, which made her smile.
She had almost really believed that Yan Yiyi had no sense of shame at all, but it turned out she was just all talk.
She then summoned a maid to help her change.
Daohua was playing with the water and said, âI tried your soap beans; theyâre not bad. However, I have a special body wash for bathing at my place. When I get back home, Iâll send some over to you. Itâs more moisturizing.â
Dong Yuanyao nodded repeatedly, âOh, yes please! The rouge and face powder you sent me before are much better than what is sold outside. How did you think to dabble in these things?â
Daohua replied casually, âIf thereâs a need, naturally you find a way to solve it.â
Dong Yuanyao, âYouâre really clever.â
Daohua just smiled without saying anything.
It wasnât that she was clever; she had simply borrowed the wisdom of modern people. In the modern era, these things were not extraordinary.
By now, Dong Yuanyao too had submerged herself in the tub and sent away the attending maids: âThis is really comfortable!â she exclaimed with a smile. âItâs good you all are here, otherwise I definitely wouldnât have been able to avoid punishment today. Didnât you see my mother still giving me dagger looks at dinner?â
Daohua, âBut once we leave, wonât your mother punish you anyway? You canât escape it.â
Dong Yuanyao boasted proudly, âMy grandmother will protect me. At most, my mother will make a big fuss but punish me lightly, nothing serious.â
Upon hearing this, Daohua immediately voiced her doubts, âWhy did the old Madam come here from Beijing by herself? Wouldnât your grandfather and uncle stop her? Arenât they worried something might happen on the road?â