Might 2
Hearing this, Daohua could no longer heed her older brotherâs warning and once again approached Xiao Yeyang, pointing at the Prefectural Governorâs son with rising anger, âHe stole my potted plant, smashed it, and also hit my three brothers.â
As she spoke, she turned to pull Yan Wentao over, âDo you remember my third brother?â
Xiao Yeyang nodded at Yan Wentao, âOf course I remember!â
Yan Wentao smiled at Xiao Yeyang, though he appeared somewhat nervous.
He had limited experience and could tell Xiao Yeyang was no ordinary individual, and didnât dare to be as casual with him as Daohua was.
Xiao Yeyang glanced at the bruise near Yan Wentaoâs eye, then at the shattered potted plant on the ground, and after a moment, looked at Daohua and asked, âWhat do you want to do?â
Daohua touched her chin, her eyes darting around, âI can do whatever I want?â
If it were someone else, she might have let it go, but the Prefectural Governorâs son had gone too far. If they hadnât run into Xiao Yeyang, their family would definitely have been at a disadvantage.
âWellâ¦â
Before Daohua could say anything, Tutor Xiao hurried over, out of breath, and quickly intervened, âGreat lady⦠young master, this is but a trifle!â After speaking, he shook his head at Daohua.
Seeing this, Daohua frowned, but she didnât say anything more.
Xiao Yeyang glanced at Tutor Xiao, seemingly displeased with his interruption âWho is he?â
Tutor Xiao seemed nervous, and Daohua quickly tried to reassure him with a look, âHeâs my fatherâs tutor. Oh right, I donât think Iâve told you, my father is the County Magistrate of Linyi County, have I?â
Xiao Yeyang shook his head, âYou havenât mentioned it.â
âNow you know!â Daohua said with pride, looking at Xiao Yeyang, âlam the daughter of an official.â
Hearing this, the corners of Dong Yuanxuanâs mouth twitched uncontrollably, and Xiao Yeyang also wore a complicated expression.
A County Magistrate⦠is a seventh-rank official, isnât that very low on the totem pole!
Daohua, catching sight of the nervous postmaster in the crowd, suddenly looked dejected, and turning to Xiao Yeyang, sighed, âYou have no idea, this trip out has been a disaster! The people at this post station look down on my fatherâs low rank, and gave us a rundown courtyard. I didnât sleep well at all last night. Can you smell it? I still reek of mildew.â
With that, Daohua lifted her sleeve to let Xiao Yeyang smell it.
Seeing this, Yan Wenxiu was startled and quickly pulled Daohua back, refusing to let her get any closer to Xiao Yeyang, and decided in his heart that once they were home, he must have his mother instruct his eldest sister in decorum.
Daohua was unaware of Yan Wenxiuâs thoughts. In her eyes, she was only 9 years old, and Xiao Yeyang was just a twelve or thirteen-year-old teenager, and the prohibitions between men and women did not yet apply to them.
âBig brother, why are you holding me back?â Didnât she see that she was just bluffing?
It might be a disadvantage that their father held a low official rank, and although the Prefectural Governorâs son started the altercation, they hadnât held back either during the scuffle, and their third brother was quite strong. Who knew if theyâd left any marks on the Prefectural Governorâs son?
Now, with Xiao Yeyang present, they had to resolve the matter quickly!
Xiao Yeyang found Yan Wenxiuâs repeated interference extremely irksome.
Were it not for knowing this person was Daohuaâs brother, he would have lost his temper.
At that moment, a delicately featured young servant with a shrill voice came running over. Upon seeing Xiao Yeyang, he immediately called out, âYoung master, why arenât we leaving? Theyâre still waiting over there!â
Xiao Yeyang paused, his expression turning grave, âLet them wait!â
The young servant sensed Xiao Yeyangâs foul mood, glanced at the surrounding people, and scolded, âDid these people upset you, my lord? Iâll have them thrown into jail at once!â
Upon hearing this, the Prefectural Governorâs son was so frightened that he fell down onto the ground, as cold sweat dripped down his cheeks like a fine drizzle.
Even Yan Wenxiu and the others felt uneasy in their hearts.
Xiao Yeyang gave the eunuch by his side a cold glance, âDid I ask for your opinion?â
The eunuch, De Fu, immediately offered a flattering smile, âThis one was too presumptuous, my lord. Letâs go, we are almost there!â
At this moment, Daohua also refrained from speaking further. Seeing the pale young manâs demeanor, Xiao Yeyang must have had urgent business, so she could only stare straight at him, hoping he would settle the Prefectural Governorâs sonâs matter before leaving.
In Xiao Yeyangâs eyes, her expression was full of pity.
Thinking of her previous mention of being bullied, Xiao Yeyang frowned, patted himself down, and finally took a jade pendant off his waist, walked over to Daohua, and tied it onto her waist.
Seeing this, De Fu shivered in fright and quickly intervened, âMy lord, you canât give that jade pendant away!â saying this, he darted in front of Daohua and pleaded with Xiao Yeyang.
âMy lord, if you wish to bestow something upon this young master, anything else would be fine, but that jade pendant must not be given away. This servant has silver, wouldnât silver be good enough?â
Xiao Yeyang had already secured the jade pendant on Daohua and glared at De Fu, âWhat belongs to me, I give to whomever I wish!â Then, looking at Daohua, he said, âIf someone bullies you again in the future, just show them this jade pendant.â
Daohua, holding the jade pendant at her waist, looked hesitant and troubled.
Should she accept it?
The pendant seemed quite valuable!
Noticing Daohuaâs indecisive expression, Xiao Yeyang sensed that she was reluctant to return the pendant to him. His lips curled into a smile, but it quickly faded as he said, âI have urgent affairs and must leave now.â âYou⦠donât just pick fights with anyone. Youâre not tall, and youâll definitely be at a disadvantage fighting. If someone who doesnât know any better bullies you, just hit them with the jade pendant I gave you!â
Daohua shook her head, declining, âThis pendant seems very expensive, what if it breaks?â
De Fu eagerly nodded his agreement, âIndeed, the jade pendant must not be smashed, never smashed!â
Seeing that Daohua was still grappling with whether to return the pendant to him, Xiao Yeyang couldnât help but laugh, tapped her on the head, and sighed, âI really wish I could take you home with me!â
Daohua recoiled in horror, taking several steps back, âI donât want to!â She knew well that this fellow wanted to take her home to make her a servant!
Please, she was the daughter of an official family; only if her mind were addled would she go be a servant for someone else.
Xiao Yeyang took another look at Daohua, then turned to Yan Wentao, âGive my regards to the old lady. I canât go and see her in person now.â
Yan Wentao immediately nodded, âI will.â
Xiao Yeyang said nothing more and turned to walk out of the station.
Dong Yuanxuan and the others hastily followed.
âXiao Yeyang, what about Zhao Ergou, is he alright?â Daohua ran a few steps after them.
Xiao Yeyang didnât even turn his head, waving his hand dismissively âHeâs fine!â
Daohua, âWill we see each other again?â
Xiao Yeyang paused for a moment, then turned back with a smile, âIf itâs meant to be, weâll meet again!â