âWhy are you taking a food box with you when you go out? Whatâs in it?â
Zhou Jingwan spotted a food box inside the carriage and directly reached out to open it. As soon as she opened it, she saw the bright red lychees inside, and her eyes suddenly lit up: âI want to eat some.â
Daohua gave her a look: âYou and your appetite.â
At that moment, the voices of Madam Li and Madam Zhou came from outside the carriage. Daohua hurriedly snatched the food box lid from Zhou Jingwanâs hand and covered the food box.
âYouâre not going to let me eat?â
Zhou Jingwan looked at Daohua with a pitiable expression.
Seeing that Madam Zhou had already boarded the carriage, Daohua quickly leaned over to Zhou Jingwan and whispered, âIâll give you some when we get home.â
Zhou Jingwan glanced at her mother and Madam Li, then winked at Daohua: âWhy do I feel like youâre acting guilty of something?â
Daohua rolled her eyes in response, âHmmph,â and said nothing.
She just didnât want to make a fuss over nothing!
Later, when her mother and Madam Zhou asked her where the lychees came from, how was she supposed to answer?
Her friendly relations with Xiao Yeyang had already caused misunderstandings for Zhou Jingwan and Dong Yuanyao. If Madam Li and Madam Zhou found out that Xiao Yeyang had privately given her lychees, what would they think?
A joke among children was one thing, but a misunderstanding by adults could make a big fuss.
âWhat new tricks are you two playing now?â
Madam Zhou glanced at the food box without concern, and joked.
Madam Li looked at Daohua with a somewhat stern expression: âBehave properly when you visit others in the future, donât play around too much without a sense of propriety.â
Daohua knew Madam Li was referring to the cake incident, and she kept her head down without speaking.
Seeing this, Zhou Jingwan quickly spoke up: âAuntie, Daohua isnât to blame for this. If you must, blame the Little Prince for making a big deal out of nothing. Itâs just a pink pigâs head cake, itâs nothing worthy of his anger.â
On hearing this, Daohua looked up and explained, âHe didnât get angry, it was just⦠a bit of fun.â
Madam Liâs brows furrowed and her expression became displeased: âPlaying around like that in front of so many people?â
The pigâs head cake was her daughterâs thoughtful gift. The Little Prince did not even express his thanks, instead making her daughter eat a piece of cake she couldnât finish, and in front of so many people at that, wasnât he deliberately making her daughter lose face?
If it were another girl, sheâd surely already be crying by now. This Little Prince really didnât understand the concept of cherishing the fairer sex.
At the last banquet at the Zhou Familyâs, it was the same story: he left abruptly, without a second thought for whether or not the girl was frightened. This sort of temperamental disposition, she really should keep her daughter away from him.
Daohua lowered her head again, not speaking. She felt it, her mother was truly getting a bit angry.
Madam Zhou laughed, trying to smooth things over: âOkay now, itâs not such a big deal. The Little Prince is of the Imperial Family, his temperament is⦠somewhat carefree. And didnât everything turn out fine afterwards?â
Madam Li sighed: âThis is exactly why Iâm worried. My daughter is so stubborn and headstrong; she wonât back down when facing the Little Prince. Theyâre always butting heads. But what can a young girl like her do against the Little Prince? Now, sheâs the one who has suffered, right?â
Zhou Jingwan looked at Madam Li with a strange expression, feeling like she had misunderstood the relationship between Daohua and the Little Prince.
Daohua suffering a loss from the Little Prince?n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Whenever there was a conflict between the two, wasnât it the Little Prince who came to make amends?
Zhou Jingwan glanced at the food box in the corner, saying nothing; those lychees were surely meant as an apology.
Lychees⦠She had only eaten a few in the year her grandfather retired, and they werenât even that fresh.
Now that the Little Prince presented a whole dish of them, she felt his intentions were quite sincere.
Madam Zhou pointed at Zhou Jingwan with a smile: âMy daughter is just the sameâ¦â
Seeing that Madam Zhou had changed the subject, Daohua inwardly heaved a sigh of relief.
The carriage rolled on slowly, but after a short distance, it suddenly stopped; then they heard the Coachman say: âMadam, it seems that the carriage from the Jiang Family has broken down. Theyâre fixing it now. We might have to wait a while.â
Madam Li and Madam Zhou quickly exchanged a look.
âUnderstood, weâll wait if we have to.â
In front, Xiao Yeyang, utterly bored, sat on his horse. Seeing the Yan Family carriage right behind, he thought of going over to share a few words, but he just couldnât shake off the dream he had during his nap, and now he felt somewhat apprehensive about meeting Daohua.
Inside the carriage, Daohua and Zhou Jingwan were also bored, so they lifted the carriage curtain to look at the scenery outside.
Suddenly, Zhou Jingwan nudged Daohuaâs arm with her hand and nodded her chin towards the front, âQuick, look ahead.â
Daohuaâs gaze shifted, and soon, she saw Xiao Yeyang and Jiang Wanying standing together.
Jiang Wanying first passed a cup of tea to Xiao Yeyang, then stood by his side, fanning him with the round fan in her hand.
Watching this scene, Daohua furrowed her brows and pursed her lips, âTheyâre not being discreet at all.â So many people are watching!
Zhou Jingwan leaned close to Daohuaâs ear, âWhy do I feel youâre a bit jealous?â
Daohua immediately shot her a sidelong glance, âWhoâs jealous? I just think itâs an eyesore.â After saying that, she huffily withdrew into the carriage and stopped looking outside.
Zhou Jingwan stayed at the window without moving, watching intently.
As she watched, she saw Wentao riding over on a big horse, instantly breaking into a smile, âWentao, brother.â
âSister Zhou!â
Wentao also looked up smilingly at Zhou Jingwan by the window, heard Madam Liâs voice, and only then did he come back to his senses and dismounted.
Madam Li opened the carriage door, looked at Yan Wentao outside, and asked with a smile, âWentao, is there something you need?â
Yan Wentao quickly stepped forward and replied, âGreat-aunt, the Jiang Familyâs carriage has broken down, and it will take some time to repair. In a moment, the Jiang Family will move their carriage to the side of the road, and the Little Prince has asked everyone to go ahead.â
Madam Li nodded with a smile, âThatâs it? Youâre such a straightforward child. You could have just sent someone to tell us, why bother coming yourself? Alright, Iâve got it. Go on with your business.â
Yan Wentao scratchend his head with a smile, âGreat-aunt, Iâm not too busy; Iâll just wait here until your carriage has passed, then it wonât be late for me to leave.â
Madam Li shook her head smilingly, âAs you wish.â After saying that, she closed the carriage door and said to Madam Zhou, âThis nephew of mine, always too sincere.â
Madam Zhou smiled, âWhatâs wrong with being sincere? I like people like that. Itâs much better than those slick talkers who can never get anything serious done.â
Zhou Jingwan suddenly joined the conversation, âMother, you like Wentao brother, too?â
Madam Zhou gave her daughter a sidelong smile, âNot only do I like your Wentao brother, I also like your Eldest Yan brother, and your Fourth Yan brother.â After finishing, she looked at Madam Li, âAll your kids are good ones.â
Madam Li chuckled non-stop, âThey canât compare to Chengye, who is going to get married before long.â
Madam Zhou nodded, and then the two women started chatting about the childrenâs matrimonial matters.
Outside the carriage, Yan Wentao walked up to the window and handed Zhou Jingwan a silk pouch from his bosom.
Zhou Jingwan took it, âWhatâs this?â Upon opening it, she was startled to see several lychees inside.
âWentao, what did you give Jingwan?â
Daohua came over and saw that it was lychees.
Zhou Jingwan quickly put away the silk pouch, looking warily at Daohua, âThis is mine, yours is over there.â She said, pointing to the food box.
Ignoring her, Daohua turned to Yan Wentao, âWentao, brother, you seem to be favoring others over your own sister. You didnât give anything to your own sister, but you gave it to an outsider.â
Zhou Jingwan wouldnât have it, âWhoâs an outsider? Arenât I a sister, too?â
Seeing Daohua glaring at him, Yan Wentao immediately explained, âItâs for both of you to share. Eat it together,â he said with an embarrassed smile, âItâs just I didnât have much.â
Zhou Jingwan quickly asked, âWentao brother, where did these lychees come from?â
Yan Wentao, âThe Emperor bestowed them upon Governor Guo, just a small basketful.â
Daohua asked with a smile, âHow did you get them?â
Yan Wentao blushed and scratched his head, âYesterday in the military camp, I beat his trusted aide. The Governor said my martial skills werenât bad and rewarded me with a few lychees.â
âWow, Wentao brother, youâre so amazing. You even beat Governor Guoâs trusted aide. Iâve heard my brother say, the people by Governor Guoâs side are all battle-hardened.â
Zhou Jingwan looked at Yan Wentao with unabashed admiration, and Yan Wentao could only smile foolishly in response.
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