Chapter 291: Speechless

 Chapter 291: Speechless

Because of one remark from Xiao Yeyang, everyone stood up.

Xiao Yeyang glanced at Daohua briefly before leaving the pavilion.

Daohua and Dong Yuanyao, holding hands, quickly followed him.

Next came Yan Wenkai and Su Hongxin.

Dong Yuanxuan and Zhou Chengye nodded to Fang Hao and the others before leaving.

Fang Hao stood still. Without an invitation, it wouldn’t be appropriate for them to follow. Since he didn’t move, Fang Liangji and the others naturally didn’t dare to either.

The three brothers, Yan Wenxiu and Li Chenyi, chatted about their experiences in the capital while walking out of the pavilion. Seeing Fang Liangji and his group standing motionless, they glanced at Xiao Yeyang and the others, who were already ahead, hesitated briefly, and then smiled, "Since we rarely get to enjoy flowers together, let’s go as a group."

Hearing this, Fang Liangji’s expression brightened. "Sure!"

He wasn’t eager to curry favor with the Young Prince or other nobles but felt it would be embarrassing and disrespectful if his uncle and Sun Yongyi, their guests, were excluded from the outing and interactions with his fiancée’s family. Fortunately, the eldest son of the Yan family was approachable and considerate.

Soon, the group left the pavilion together, and Fang Hao took the opportunity to strike up a conversation with Yan Wenxiu.

As the direct heir of the Fang clan in Jiguan, Fang Hao was well-versed in various topics. Despite his youth, he was already a successful candidate in the imperial examination, and before long, he was happily engaged in conversation with Yan Wenxiu.

Li Chenyi, meanwhile, slowed his pace, pulling Fang Liangji aside to quietly ask, "What did you do to upset my cousin?"

Fang Liangji’s expression became uneasy. After stammering for a while, he finally explained the situation.

Li Chenyi frowned slightly, casting a glance at Sun Jiayue, who was walking ahead. His expression turned cold. "Liangji, we’ve known each other for a while, and now that your family and mine are connected through marriage, I won’t beat around the bush."

"Do you have any inappropriate relations with Sun Jiayue?"

Fang Liangji’s face turned pale. "Of course not!" His voice grew sharp with anxiety, catching the attention of Yan Wenxiu and the others walking ahead. They turned to look, prompting Fang Liangji to stiffen awkwardly.

Once their attention shifted away, Fang Liangji hastily explained, "I swear, I have absolutely no interest in Sun Jiayue! If I did, I would’ve already asked my mother to arrange a marriage proposal."

Li Chenyi snorted coldly but said nothing further.

Seeing his reaction, Fang Liangji grew increasingly nervous, struggling to explain further. "Today, I came out to enjoy the flowers with my uncle. Thinking it would be dull with just the two of us, I invited Sun Yongyi to join us. How was I supposed to know he’d bring his sister along?"

When Li Chenyi remained silent, Fang Liangji quickly added, "I promise I’ll avoid Sun Jiayue entirely in the future. Is that acceptable?"

Li Chenyi remained quiet for a moment before speaking. "Just a few days before your engagement, you were seen on Anle Street. My parents and second uncle were already displeased."

"And now, only three days after your engagement, my cousin sees you with Sun Jiayue in such an inappropriate manner. Frankly, I’m not happy about it."

"You always have your reasons, but let me ask you—after you marry Zixuan, will you still use similar excuses to make her unhappy?"

Fang Liangji repeatedly assured, "There won’t be a next time."

Li Chenyi stared at Fang Liangji intently, making him squirm with discomfort, before finally saying, "I hope you keep your word."

Once Li Chenyi rejoined Yan Wenxiu, Fang Liangji wiped the sweat from his forehead.

Goodness, he should’ve stayed home today.

First, he was put in a tight spot by the Yan family’s daughter, and now he was threatened by his future brother-in-law. Life was truly tough.

Fang Yiyun looked at her elder brother with concern. "Brother, are you alright?"

Fang Liangji was about to say he was fine when he noticed Sun Jiayue walking toward him. Without a word, he quickly strode over to join Li Chenyi and the others, signaling Sun Yongyi with his eyes to keep his sister in check.

He truly couldn’t handle any more trouble!

"Where are we going?"

Daohua and Dong Yuanyao followed Xiao Yeyang, noticing they were moving further away from the garden. Unable to resist, they asked.

Xiao Yeyang pointed to the sky.

Daohua looked up and saw kites flying in the air. "Are we going kite flying?"

Xiao Yeyang glanced at her with a faint smile. "You catch on quickly."

Daohua shrugged. You made it too obvious.

Hearing that they were going kite flying, Dong Yuanyao immediately brightened up. She grabbed Daohua’s hand excitedly. "Let’s have a competition to see whose kite flies higher and farther!"

Daohua immediately agreed. "You’re on."

Behind the Huashen Temple was a vast, open grassland. By the time Daohua and her group arrived, many people were already flying kites there.

As soon as they arrived, a servant brought over three kites.

Daohua looked at the three kites. "Why are there only three?"

Xiao Yeyang replied, "Kites are for young ladies like you to play with. Of course, there are only three."

Dong Yuanyao frowned. "That’s not right. Yiyi and I are only two people. Why is there an extra one?"

Xiao Yeyang explained, "Su Hongxin’s younger sister also came along. One is reserved for her."

Daohua and Dong Yuanyao both nodded.

From the three kites, Dong Yuanyao quickly grabbed one first. "I want this eagle kite."

Daohua glanced at the butterfly kite and the pig-head kite in her hands, frowning. "Who made this kite? How could they make it into a pig's head?"

Dong Yuanyao immediately responded, "Then take the butterfly one."

Daohua hesitated for a moment before shaking her head. "Leaving the pig-head kite for someone as gentle and graceful as Sister Su doesn’t seem right, does it?" Saying this, she imagined Su Shiyu running with a pig-head kite, and the thought made her burst out laughing.

"Forget it, I’ll take it!"

Nearby, Xiao Yeyang had been watching Daohua. When he saw her choose the pig-head kite, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl upwards.

Defu, standing off to the side, rolled his eyes dramatically.

The master is just too ridiculous.

Even if he was born in the Year of the Pig, what could it mean that Miss Yan chose the pig-head kite?

Soon, with the maids’ help, Dong Yuanyao's kite soared high into the sky.

Daohua insisted on flying hers herself. She ran across the meadow with the kite but managed only to get it a few meters off the ground, where it wobbled precariously, ready to fall at any moment.

Seeing Daohua running out of breath with such poor results, Xiao Yeyang couldn’t bear it anymore. He walked over, took the string from her hand, and skillfully launched the kite into the sky.

"It’s flying!"

Watching the kite rise higher and higher, Daohua’s smile grew brighter and brighter. When it finally stabilized, she eagerly turned to Xiao Yeyang. "Give it to me, I want to do it."

Xiao Yeyang handed her the string and, seeing her eyes sparkling with joy, teased, "Not angry anymore, are you?"

Daohua, busy letting out more string, paused at his words and looked at him in confusion.

Xiao Yeyang smiled faintly. "About the Fang Liangji matter."

Daohua scoffed. "He’s not worth my anger. But after today, I’m definitely telling Uncle and Aunt."

"He’s already apologized, and Cousin Chenyi spoke to him too. Don’t be so unforgiving; it won’t look good for Uncle and Aunt either."

Yan Wenxiu walked over, followed a few steps behind by Dong Yuanxuan and the others.

Hearing this, Daohua bristled. She shoved the string back into Xiao Yeyang’s hands and said sternly, "Brother, I can’t agree with you. Let me explain."

Yan Wenxiu, knowing his sister’s personality, knew she wouldn’t let it go. He nodded indulgently. "Go ahead. I’m all ears."

Daohua began, "First, the person Fang Liangji should apologize to isn’t me but Cousin Zixuan and Uncle and Aunt. His public apology today was only because I embarrassed him."

"Second, Fang Liangji and Cousin Zixuan are already engaged. As someone with a betrothal, shouldn’t he be mindful of his behavior?"

"Sun Jiayue made the first move; that’s a reflection of her upbringing, so I won’t comment. But Fang Liangji? How could he not firmly reject her ambiguous actions? Delaying and hesitating like that—doesn’t that give her false hope?"

Yan Wenxiu thought for a moment and said, "Cousin Chenyi told me that Fang Liangji didn’t want to embarrass Sun Yongyi."

Daohua sneered. "He cares about a friend’s pride, but does he not realize that his attitude and behavior hurt Cousin Zixuan?"

"What, he can’t bear to damage his friend’s pride but doesn’t mind making Cousin Zixuan upset? That’s unreasonable."

Yan Wenxiu took a deep breath. "Husband and wife should be one."

Daohua interrupted sharply, "Brother, by ‘husband and wife should be one,’ do you mean the husband gets to act as he pleases outside while the wife swallows her grievances at home?"

Yan Wenxiu opened his mouth but didn’t know how to respond. "I didn’t say that."

Daohua continued, "But that’s what you’re thinking. You believe women should selflessly sacrifice for men, and if they get upset over small matters, they’re seen as improper or ungracious."

"What does ‘husband and wife should be one’ mean?"

"It means sharing hardships, never abandoning each other, and supporting one another—that’s what it means."

"It doesn’t mean the husband indulges in debauchery outside while the wife stays home, dutifully caring for the family, handling household affairs, and enduring silently without complaint."

"Why should it be like that?"

"People say, ‘Treat others as you would be treated.’ If someone gives you genuine care, shouldn’t you reciprocate? If you can’t, let them go. Don’t harm others and yourself."

Just as Yan Wenxiu was about to say something, Daohua raised three fingers.

"Third, why did the Fang family arrange a marriage with the Li family? It was for mutual benefit, wasn’t it? Shouldn’t they then show some gratitude? They can’t just take advantage and then humiliate the Li family’s daughter, can they?"

"As a man, shouldn’t he show responsibility and courage? If he’s already engaged, he should be committed to his fiancée. Don’t talk about true love or being forced into it—what was he doing before? Nobody compelled him."

"Since he made a choice, he must bear the responsibilities that come with it."

After finishing, Daohua glanced at Dong Yuanxuan and the others, who were standing a few steps away. With a cold snort, she took the string from Xiao Yeyang’s hands and walked off to find Dong Yuanyao, kite in hand.

Xiao Yeyang stared at his now-empty hands and rubbed his nose.

This girl even vented her anger on him!

He then glanced at Dong Yuanxuan and the others, who looked equally embarrassed, and suddenly felt a sense of balance. At least he wasn’t the only one on the receiving end of her irritation.

(End of chapter)