Chapter 279: The Beauty Scheme

 Chapter 279: The Beauty Scheme

"Zixuan is getting engaged on the 22nd of February. Your mother needs to prepare the dowry and the arrangements for traveling to Ningmen Prefecture, so I won’t have time to go. You’ll have to visit your uncle’s house for me instead."

Upon hearing Madam Li, Daohua nodded. "Mother, when should I head to the provincial capital? Will I be going alone?"

Madam Li paused for a moment. She didn’t feel comfortable with Daohua going alone, so after some thought, she said, "Let your fourth brother take a few days off from the academy and go with you."

"Today is already the 8th, and there’s not much time left. You should pack your things and leave for the provincial capital in a couple of days."

Daohua had no objections. Madam Li had already discussed this with Old Madam Yan, and she didn’t oppose the plan.

Thus, Daohua began to prepare her dowry.

Looking at the courtyard she had lived in for three years, Daohua felt a bit reluctant. "Once I leave this time, I probably won’t be able to return."

Since Zixuan cousin was getting engaged, the Yan family had likely already gone to Ningmen Prefecture.

Looking at the blooming flowers in the yard, Daohua called Wang Man’er over. "Go to the Zhou family and tell Jingwan to come here."

Soon, Zhou Jingwan arrived. As soon as she stepped into the yard, she saw the servants packing up and immediately asked Daohua, who was standing under the eaves, "You’re leaving already?"

Daohua shook her head. "My mother and the others will probably leave a few days later, but I’ll be leaving in a day or two."

Zhou Jingwan was surprised. "Why so soon?"

Daohua explained, "My cousin Zixuan is getting engaged, and my mother can’t go, so it’ll be just me and my fourth brother."

Zhou Jingwan walked over to Daohua, linking arms with her. "Does this mean we’re going to be separated soon?"

Daohua corrected her. "It’s only temporary. We’ll meet again in the future."

Zhou Jingwan pouted. "That’s easier said than done. We’re getting older, and it’s not as easy to go out as it was when we were children."

Daohua sighed inwardly.

Life in ancient times was troublesome, especially for women. Even stepping outside was difficult.

They were lucky; their families pampered them. If they married, they would have to stay in the back courtyard unless they had their husband's or mother-in-law's permission.

Not thinking too much about it, Daohua pointed to the flowers in the yard. "Consider yourself lucky. Take whatever flowers you like."

Hearing this, Zhou Jingwan’s eyes lit up, and her previous worries vanished. "Really?" When Daohua nodded, she excitedly said, "I love the climbing roses in your yard! I’m going to transplant them to my garden."

Seeing her so happy, Daohua smiled. "Do you want me to have someone help you?"

Zhou Jingwan nodded eagerly. "Yes, yes, please!"

In the next two days, Daohua focused on packing, while the servants managed the house. Daohua also met with the Stewards of the estates and shops to remind them to send the account books to Ningmen Prefecture every three months.

"I trust you all, but I’ll say it again: if anyone dares to abuse their power and bully the local people, I’ll make sure they’re expelled, and if it’s serious enough, I’ll have them sent to the authorities."

The Stewards of the estates and shops listened carefully and assured her they wouldn’t do such a thing.

Despite her young age, they didn’t underestimate her. She had a firm hand, and every estate and shop had strict rules—breaking them meant punishment, and no one could use personal connections to escape consequences.

Once everything was packed and arranged, Daohua boarded the boat to the provincial capital on the 10th of February.

Zhou Family

After Daohua left, Zhou Jingwan was in low spirits for several days.

Madam Zhou went to her daughter’s room and saw her hugging a cartoon toy of the twelve zodiac animals that Daohua had given her. Smiling, she picked up the tiger toy. "Daohua is quite talented. Her sewing skills are impressive."

Her daughter was never fond of sewing, but since becoming friends with Daohua, she had picked it up. Now, her needlework was presentable enough to show others.

Seeing her daughter downcast, Madam Zhou smiled. "Look at you. You’re not going to be apart forever. Is it really that hard to let go?"

Zhou Jingwan nodded. "Only when I’m with Daohua do I feel at ease. With the other girls, it’s always awkward and boring."

Madam Zhou sighed. "If only Daohua were two or three years older, I really would want her to be your sister-in-law."

Zhou Jingwan’s eyes brightened, but then darkened again. "Mother, you shouldn’t say such things."

Madam Zhou went over and pulled her daughter up. "Alright, enough with the gloom. Let’s go see the dowry your brother is preparing."

Li Family in the Provincial Capital

When Daohua arrived, both Li Zixuan and Li Zixin rushed over to greet her and led her into the house.

Yan Wenkai, seeing that the two girls didn’t even acknowledge him, immediately felt annoyed and looked at his brothers. "I’m standing right here, yet they didn’t even glance at me?"

Li Chenyi laughed and patted his shoulder. "Wenkai, it seems your charm doesn’t compare to that of your cousins!"

Hearing this, Yan Wenkai didn’t feel upset at all. Instead, he proudly said, "Of course, don’t forget whose cousins they are."

The day after Daohua arrived, Dong Yuanyao paid a visit.

"Why are you here?" Daohua asked in surprise as she saw Dong Yuanyao sitting in the living room, sipping tea.

Dong Yuanyao gave her a glance and said, "You have the nerve to ask me? You arrive at the provincial capital and don’t come to find me?"

Daohua smiled as she walked over. "I’ve just arrived."

Dong Yuanyao got up and greeted Li Zixuan and Li Zixin.

The four of them then went to play in Li Zixuan’s courtyard.

In the afternoon, Dong Yuanyao got up to leave, and as she was about to go, she turned to Daohua. "It’s so boring staying at home. Why don’t we go shopping tomorrow?"

Daohua eagerly nodded. "That sounds great!" Then she turned to Li Zixuan. "Cousin Zixuan, can you go out tomorrow?"

Li Zixuan shook her head. "I won’t be going. You girls can go shopping."

Daohua then turned to Li Zixin.

Li Zixin looked tempted. "As long as my mother agrees."

Daohua quickly went to ask her aunt, and after receiving her approval, Daohua, along with Li Zixin, went out early the next morning and met Dong Yuanyao at the agreed-upon restaurant.

After they met, they first visited a fabric shop, then a miscellaneous goods shop. After a long day of shopping, they returned to the restaurant for lunch and planned to shop a bit more before heading home.

Just as they were about to order food, Li Zixin suddenly exclaimed in surprise.

Daohua immediately asked, "What’s wrong?"

Li Zixin pointed downstairs at a young man in fine clothes. "That’s Fang Liangji."

Hearing this, Daohua quickly went to the window to look. Dong Yuanyao leaned over, curious.

"How does he look? Is he handsome?"

"He’s alright, looks quite graceful. He’s barely good enough for cousin Zixuan."

As they watched Fang Liangji chatting with his friends on the street, Daohua narrowed her eyes. "He looks fine, but I wonder about his character."

Dong Yuanyao immediately chimed in. "You’ll know once you test him."

Daohua’s interest was piqued. "How do we test him?"

Dong Yuanyao said seriously, "To test a man’s character, you need to use a beauty scheme."

Daohua’s eyes brightened.

On the side, Li Zixin saw their eager expressions and quickly stepped forward to stop them. "Don’t do anything rash."

Daohua hesitated for a moment, but then, thinking of how Zixuan might marry a bad man, she said, "Cousin Zixin, don’t you want Zixuan to marry well?"

"Now that the engagement isn’t finalized yet, we have a chance to test his character. If he’s no good, we can still back out. Once the engagement is set, though, it’ll harm cousin’s reputation if we try to break it off."

Li Zixin hesitated.

Seeing her uncertainty, Dong Yuanyao reassured her, "Don’t worry, we’ll be discreet. He won’t find out."

(End of Chapter)