Chapter 261: Commendation

 Chapter 261: Commendation

Daohua and Xiao Yeyang, one received a medical book, the other a martial arts manual, both in high spirits. When they returned to Xingyuan, everyone could feel their joy.

Yan Wenkai glanced at the two and smiled, "Found money?"

Daohua and Xiao Yeyang exchanged a look, smiling but saying nothing.

Yan Wenkai was about to ask more, but Xiao Yeyang interrupted, "You all pack up; we'll be heading back to Zhongzhou in a couple of days."

This shift in conversation caught everyone's attention.

Daohua took the opportunity to slip away, and Dong Yuanyao chased after her, grabbing her arm. "What were you and the young prince up to, so secretive?"

Daohua didn’t hide anything and laughed, "Do you remember the two old people I saved before?"

Dong Yuanyao nodded. "It would be hard for them not to remember. What happened with them?"

Daohua raised the medical book in her hand. "They gave me and Xiao Yeyang one book each."

Dong Yuanyao quickly asked, "What kind of book?"

Daohua smiled. "Mine is a medical book. If you want to know what Xiao Yeyang got, you'll have to ask him."

Dong Yuanyao didn’t press further but remarked, "There are still many grateful people in this world. Those old people were like that, and that young man who helped in the river was the same."

Daohua nodded, "You're right!"

Dong Yuanyao tilted her head, watching Daohua with a smile in her eyes.

Among the young ladies she knew, there were some who were flamboyant and arrogant, and others who were gentle and composed, but none lived as freely and naturally as Yan Yi.

This naturalness wasn’t careless; it came from her own abilities.

Seeing Daohua’s puzzled look, Dong Yuanyao laughed, "I was reminded of something my mother once told me. She said that only capable people can live according to their own wishes." Pausing, she looked at Daohua. "I think you’re quite capable."

With her own farm, shop, and the way she brought in boats of grain when distributing porridge, without needing to consult anyone; plus, she saved people and received gratitude and rewards.

Daohua immediately laughed, her eyes curved with delight. "Are you praising me?" She then touched her face and lowered her head, giggling. "You’re making me shy."

Dong Yuanyao’s mouth twitched. "Stop acting coy, it’s really irritating."

Daohua’s smile instantly faded, and she rolled her eyes. "Boring."

Dong Yuanyao chuckled. "I’m not a man, so I don’t appreciate it."

Daohua huffed, "If you were a man, you wouldn’t even notice."

Thinking of Daohua's attitude toward her brothers, Dong Yuanyao laughed, then said happily, "I’m so glad we’re heading home soon."

"Right?"

"This is the first time I’ve been away from home for so long."

"I heard you snuck out without telling your family. When you go back, aren’t you going to get scolded?"

"Yan Yi, you just have to ruin my mood, huh?"

"I’m not trying to upset you. I just want to remind you to think of a way now. Don’t let them lock you in the backyard when you get back."

Dong Yuanyao’s face immediately fell, and she sighed, "There’s nothing I can do. My parents are definitely frantic right now. Even my grandmother rushed here from the capital when she heard my brother and I were stuck in Xingyun Prefecture. When I get home, I’m definitely getting a beating."

Daohua looked sympathetic, though her mouth curled up with a grin. "Luckily, I informed my elders before I left."

Dong Yuanyao wasn’t happy about that. "Yan Yi, you’re enjoying my misfortune!"

As she spoke, she tried to grab Daohua.

But Daohua wasn’t waiting for that, quickly running toward the yard, saying as she ran, "Dong Yuanyao, I hope you’re still so tough when you get home."

Two days later, Daohua and the group finally boarded the boat back to Zhongzhou.

Onboard, Dong Yuanxuan, Yan Wenxiu, Zhou Chengye, and others couldn’t help but reflect on how close they had come to not returning.

Looking at Daohua and Dong Yuanyao on the deck, peering through telescopes, Su Hongxin spoke first, "This time, we really have to thank Sister Yan. If it weren’t for her, we might have..."

He trailed off, but everyone understood.

Except for Yan Wentao, who hadn’t been infected by the plague, everyone else had barely escaped death. Daohua was their savior.

Xiao Yeyang watched Daohua, his eyes flickering.

This person had saved him twice.

It’s said that he’s a lucky person, but he believed Daohua was his true benefactor.

He didn’t even mention saving his life; the grain seeds she gathered, and the remedy for the plague she provided, each time they solved his urgent problems.

Compared to what she had done for him, he felt like he hadn’t done anything in return.

Dong Yuanxuan also looked at the two young ladies on the deck and then smiled at Yan Wenxiu. "When we return to Zhongzhou, please do visit my home. I’ve always gone to yours for food and drink; now let me play the host."

Su Hongxin joined in. "And my home too. No offense, but Sister Yan’s cooking is good, but if we’re talking about delicate and beautiful presentation, my sister is even better."

Yan Wenkai immediately responded, "What’s the point of making food look good? It’s all going to end up in our stomachs, isn’t that just a waste of effort?"

Su Hongxin wasn’t happy. "You brute, that’s called elegance, do you understand? If it weren’t for Sister Yan, Brother Yan, and Wentao, I wouldn’t even want to invite you. You think you can eat? Not a chance."

Yan Wenkai snorted, "As if I want to eat! Let me tell you, I haven’t even finished eating the stuff my big sister made, so I don’t have time to try your sister’s food."

Su Hongxin fumed. "Yan Wenkai, you said it. If I find out you ate my sister’s food in the future, I’ll make sure you regret it!"

Yan Wenkai stared. "Stop shouting, we’ll see who ends up on the losing side!"

Seeing the two of them arguing, everyone shook their heads helplessly.

Yan Wenxiu smiled and said to Dong Yuanxuan, "We’ll definitely visit you when we have the chance, but my grandmother is probably really anxious, so we should go home and report back first."

Dong Yuanxuan thought about it and agreed, so he didn’t try to persuade them further.

Meanwhile, in Xingzhou City, the Yan residence.

The Yan family was in a state of excitement, astonishment, and disbelief, staring blankly at the gold, silver, pearls, and silk that the emperor personally bestowed upon them.

One thousand taels of gold, ten thousand taels of silver, several boxes of jewels and silks.

For the Yan family, the visual impact was overwhelming.

When Yan Zhigao returned after seeing off the eunuch who had delivered the imperial decree, he found his family still in a daze.

Seeing this, Yan Zhigao said nothing, his heart also stirred with excitement. Compared to these rewards, what mattered more was that he would personally go to the capital next year to report on his work.

Having experienced so much, it was Old Madam Yan who came to her senses first. She instructed Madam Li to put the items away, then turned to Yan Zhigao, asking, "Daohua and Wenxiu should be back soon, right?"

Daohua had submitted the remedy for the plague in the name of the Yan family, and her eldest son had told her about it. Even now, she still found it hard to believe.

Her granddaughter had casually flipped through a few medical books and just happened to come across the remedy for the plague?

When she returns, she’ll have to ask her how she came by it.

Yan Zhigao stepped forward and helped his mother, smiling. "Wenxiu sent word earlier; they should be back in a few days."

Old Madam Yan was finally reassured. "That’s good!"

Yan Zhiyuan quickly approached, smiling, "Big Brother, how did the emperor decide to reward you?"

Yan Zhigao glanced at him, pondered for a moment, and didn’t hide it. "High-yield grain seeds. The emperor has decided to promote them nationwide. And with Daohua submitting the remedy for the plague, we received these rewards."

He smiled again.

"By the way, Wenxiu and the others also contributed to the disaster relief in Jiguan. I heard the emperor even praised them personally."

Old Madam Yan smiled. "Wenxiu, Wentao, and Wenkai are all good."

Yan Zhigao nodded and helped his mother back to the courtyard. Madam Li personally oversaw the servants moving the rewards to the main hall, leaving the rest of the family standing in the hall, their expressions changing.

Among them, the ones feeling the most complicated were Yan Wenbin and Yan Yi.

They exchanged a look and saw the disappointment in each other’s eyes.

Their concubine mother was likely going to be confined for three years.

(End of Chapter)