Chapter 260: A Gift

 Chapter 260: A Gift

With Gu Jian's help, Grandma slowly lay back on the bed, but her eyes remained fixed on Xiao Yeyang.

Xiao Yeyang felt uncomfortable under her gaze and shifted his attention to Daohua, silently asking, What's going on here?

Daohua shrugged and shook her head, signaling that she didn’t know either.

Just when Daohua thought Grandma was about to say something, she unexpectedly closed her eyes, turned her back to them, and gave the impression that she no longer wished to engage.

Gu Jian then spoke up, “My sister needs rest, you should leave now!” His tone was unambiguously dismissive.

Daohua and Xiao Yeyang exchanged a glance.

Daohua glanced at Grandma on the bed, thought for a moment, and said, “Grandma, rest well. We’ll leave now.”

Grandma didn’t respond, and Gu Jian started waving his hand impatiently.

Daohua, speechless, quickly exited the room with Xiao Yeyang.

As soon as they stepped out, the door slammed shut with a loud ‘bang.’

Xiao Yeyang stared at the closed door in surprise; this was the first time he had ever been kicked out! After a long pause, he muttered, “What kind of attitude is that?”

Daohua was equally speechless. “The strange monk is like that—he has an odd temperament. If he doesn’t like someone, he won’t even look at them.”

Xiao Yeyang shot her a dissatisfied look. “So you’re saying that strange monk doesn’t like me?”

Daohua rested her chin on her hand and gave him a sidelong glance. “They probably know your father, and maybe they even have a grudge against him.”

Xiao Yeyang laughed and responded, “Impossible! No matter what, my father would never oppress two elderly people older than your grandmother.”

Daohua nodded, but her expression remained doubtful. “But when I mentioned Prince Ping to them before, they got very agitated. Grandma also seemed to lose composure when she saw you. How do you explain that?”

Xiao Yeyang was at a loss for words. “How would I know? Didn’t you say they were strange people? Isn’t it normal for strange people to act in odd ways?”

Daohua shook her head and continued to ponder. “I think they either have a grudge against your family or a deep connection.”

Xiao Yeyang interrupted, “Then it must be a connection. From the looks of it, they’ve probably suffered greatly in the past, and maybe my father saved them.”

Daohua nodded, “Maybe that’s it. If they really had a grudge, Grandma wouldn’t have treated you like that.”

Xiao Yeyang sighed, “Alright, let’s stop talking about this. I’m free today, so I’ll accompany you to distribute porridge.”

“Great! I’ve been worrying about not having enough people.”

Back in the room, Gu Jian didn’t leave the window until he could no longer see Daohua and Xiao Yeyang. He then sat down at the bed’s edge.

Grandma opened her eyes, staring blankly at the canopy. “Did they leave?”

Gu Jian nodded. “They’re gone.”

After a long silence, a faint smile appeared on Grandma’s face. “Heaven is still kind to me. Before I die, I was able to see Prince Ping’s son.”

A flash of unwillingness appeared in Gu Jian's eyes. “Sister…”

Grandma raised a frail hand to stop him. “Wait until my health improves a bit, and then we’ll leave. We made our choice back then, and we shouldn’t disturb them anymore.”

Gu Jian lowered his head, clenching his fists tightly. After a long while, he resignedly said, “Alright. The girl brought some rice and flour. I’ll go cook something for you.” With that, he stood and left.

Watching her brother leave, Grandma sighed deeply, touching her burned cheek as tears fell from the corners of her eyes.

This was her fate!

Although Grandma and the strange monk’s actions were puzzling, Daohua and Xiao Yeyang didn’t pay them much mind, as neither of them felt any malice from them.

For the next while, one of them was busy distributing porridge, and the other helped Prefect Magistrate Guo with his work, so the matter was forgotten.

When the disaster situation in Xingyun Prefecture improved, and the distribution of porridge at the city gate was no longer necessary, Daohua finally remembered the two of them.

“I wonder if Grandma’s health has improved? After I finish packing up the porridge equipment, I’ll drop by to check on them.”

Xiao Yeyang, who was helping her, heard this and thought for a moment before saying, “I’ll go with you.”

Daohua turned to look at him. “Why do you want to go?”

Xiao Yeyang hesitated for a moment. “That old lady seems pitiful. I want to check on her.” He still remembered the sadness in her eyes when she looked at him earlier, and it made him feel uneasy.

Daohua didn’t mind, quickly packed up, and after informing Dong Yuanyao, she set off with Wang Man’er and Xiao Yeyang to the pharmacy.

When they arrived, the shopkeeper informed them that Grandma and the strange monk had left a few days ago.

Daohua was taken aback. “They left just like that? Did Grandma get out of bed?” Although she didn’t know the specifics of Grandma’s health, she could tell the old woman was very weak, and it seemed unlikely she’d be up and walking again in just a couple of days.

The shopkeeper shook his head. “Master Gu rented an ox cart and took Grandma away.”

Xiao Yeyang furrowed his brow. “They left in such a hurry. Is something wrong?”

The shopkeeper smiled and replied, “Don’t worry. From what I can see, Master Gu is a very capable person. He’s helped a lot of people during his time here.”

He continued, “Although Grandma’s health hasn’t fully recovered, she’s doing much better. She can’t walk for long periods, but she can still move around occasionally.”

“Oh, and before they left, Master Gu left two items for me to give to you.”

Daohua and Xiao Yeyang exchanged a curious glance before they looked at the shopkeeper.

Soon, the shopkeeper returned with two items, both tightly wrapped in sheepskin. “This one with the red string is for Miss Yan, and the one with the blue string is for His Highness.”

Daohua took the package and shook it lightly. “Could this be a book?”

Neither of them opened the packages immediately. After bidding the shopkeeper farewell, they got into the carriage.

Once inside, Daohua quickly unwrapped the sheepskin, revealing a book. “It’s a medical book!”

Daohua flipped through it quickly, her eyes lighting up.

The book contained various medical formulas, and even recipes for making poisons.

Seeing her so excited, Xiao Yeyang chuckled. “It’s just a medical book. Why are you so happy about it?”

Daohua replied, “You have no idea. The strange monk is very skilled in medicine. If I can learn just a little from it, it’ll benefit me for life.” Of course, what made her most excited wasn’t the book itself, but that she would now have a source to refer to if she ever needed a prescription in the future.

“Quick, see what yours is!”

Xiao Yeyang nodded and quickly unwrapped the sheepskin. His face lit up with excitement.

It was a martial arts manual—a high-level one at that.

Daohua glanced at the medical book in her hands, then at the martial arts manual in Xiao Yeyang’s. “The strange monk and Grandma are definitely not ordinary people.”

After a brief pause, she remarked, “It makes sense that the strange monk gave me a medical book, since I saved their lives. But what’s with him giving you a martial arts manual after meeting you only two or three times?”

Xiao Yeyang was momentarily stunned, then said, “Maybe my father really helped them in the past.”

Daohua fell silent for a moment before nodding. “Either way, it doesn’t seem like they have a grudge.”

(End of Chapter)

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Chapter 259: Peculiar

 Chapter 259: Peculiar

"Master Gu, has Grandma woken up?"

Defu had brought the people saved from the river to the medicine shop. Now, everyone had already left, leaving only Grandma and the strange monk behind.

It wasn't that they didn't want to leave; the truth was that Grandma's body was weak. After the fall into the river and the ensuing struggle, she had nearly lost half her life and still couldn't get out of bed.

When Daohua arrived, Gu Jian was busy making medicine.

Since Defu had brought them, the medicine shop had given them a room.

At that moment, Grandma was lying on the bed while the strange monk was squatting at the door, preparing the medicine.

Gu Jian glanced at Daohua but said nothing, only moving a bit towards the door.

Daohua peeked into the room and saw Grandma struggling to sit up.

Hastily, Daohua walked in and helped her sit up.

Gu Jian gave her a glance but didn't stop her.

Grandma took a few deep breaths before smiling at Daohua. "You're that little girl from Yan Family Village, aren't you?"

Daohua was surprised. "Grandma, you still remember me?"

Grandma nodded with a smile.

She had a vivid memory of this little girl, who had bravely gone out to seek medicine for her grandmother when she was just five. She was very bold, and when they first met, she wasn't scared despite Grandma's half-burned face.

After seeking the medicine, her grandmother had brought her to the temple several times, always bringing food to offer in return. This simple, sincere kindness left a deep impression.

Daohua smiled as well. She had been able to get the medicine back then because of the abbot in the temple and Grandma's help.

Although Grandma's face was badly burned, it was not frightening because her eyes were always so gentle and peaceful.

At that moment, Gu Jian entered with the medicine.

Daohua smiled and said, "Grandma, your memory is much better than the strange monk's. He didn’t even remember me."

Grandma glanced at her younger brother and said with a smile, "He's too busy with his livelihood, thinking of all sorts of things. Naturally, his memory isn’t as good as mine, with nothing to do."

Daohua asked curiously, "Grandma, you two were staying comfortably in the temple. Why did you come to Xingyun Prefecture?"

Grandma sighed. "Abbot Hui De has passed away."

Daohua was startled. "How could that be? I remember when we left, he was still in good health!"

Grandma shook her head. "Illness comes suddenly, and death is unpredictable. It’s not something we can explain."

Daohua remained silent for a moment before continuing, "So, after Abbot Hui De's passing, the new abbot kicked you out?"

Grandma glanced at Gu Jian. "The new abbot didn’t kick us out. It's just that he became friends with the county magistrate, and the magistrate's elderly mother has been bedridden for years. He wanted to send Xiao Jian to treat her, but Xiao Jian refused. So, we felt embarrassed to stay in the temple any longer."

Daohua nodded. The strange monk did seem to dislike official matters.

At that point, Gu Jian finished preparing the medicine and was about to feed it to Grandma.

"I’ll do it!"

Daohua took the medicine bowl from him without hesitation. Gu Jian was no longer young, and he had been squatting for a long time while making the medicine. She noticed his legs were trembling.

Gu Jian glanced at Daohua but didn’t refuse.

Grandma smiled and said to her younger brother, "Sit down and rest for a bit!"

Gu Jian nodded and sat on a nearby stool.

While Daohua fed Grandma the medicine, she joked, "He really listens to you!"

Grandma drank the medicine and sighed, "I actually wish he didn’t listen so much."

Her words were soft, and Daohua didn’t catch them clearly. "What?"

Grandma shook her head and didn’t elaborate, instead asking, "Little girl, I heard the young man who was with you earlier is some kind of prince?"

Daohua laughed. "He’s not a prince. He’s the son of a prince."

Gu Jian immediately looked up. "Which prince?"

Daohua hesitated and looked at him. "Why do you ask?"

Noticing the wariness in Daohua’s eyes, Grandma smiled gently. "He doesn’t like owing people favors. That nobleman helped us, and we can’t repay him. We should at least know who he is."

Hearing this, Daohua relaxed a bit. She realized that the identity of Xiao Yeyang wasn’t a secret in this area, so she answered, "He is the legitimate son of Prince Ping."

"Prince Ping?!"

Daohua felt her hand tighten, and when she looked down, she saw that Grandma had grabbed her hand while Gu Jian, who had been sitting, also stood up.

"Grandma, what’s wrong?"

Daohua’s suspicion deepened.

Grandma released her hand and lowered her head, falling silent for a moment. Then she looked up again, her expression darkening. "It’s nothing."

Daohua stood up, looking at them. "You two don’t have any enmity with Prince Ping, do you?"

Gu Jian replied in a low voice, "You little girl, what are you thinking? We’re just two old, worn-out people. How could we have anything to do with the lofty Prince Ping?"

Daohua raised an eyebrow. "You can’t be sure!"

There are hidden experts in the world. Both Grandma and the strange monk were clearly not ordinary people, so having enmity with a prince wasn’t out of the question.

Seeing the increasing wariness in Daohua’s eyes, Gu Jian was speechless.

He thought he was already quite cautious, but compared to this girl, he was nothing—an amateur.

While he and his sister had just been a bit excited, this girl seemed to think they were about to harm the son of Prince Ping.

Grandma reassured her, "Little girl, don’t worry, we won’t harm anyone."

Seeing the sincerity in Grandma's eyes, Daohua hesitated. "Then do you know Prince Ping?"

"Why do you have so many questions? We ask you one thing, and you have to ask it back, don’t you?" Gu Jian walked over and took the medicine bowl from Daohua's hands.

"Alright, you don’t need to feed her the medicine. You can leave now!"

Daohua, who was being practically ushered out, was speechless. "I was just asking casually. Did you have to react so strongly?"

Gu Jian, holding the medicine in one hand and pushing Daohua towards the door with the other, grumbled, "This is just how I am. If you don’t like it, leave quickly."

Daohua was nearly pushed out of the door when suddenly, Xiao Yeyang's voice came from behind them.

"What are you two doing?"

Both Daohua and Gu Jian froze.

At that moment, there was a sudden 'thud' as Grandma fell from the bed.

"Sister!"

Gu Jian rushed over immediately.

Daohua quickly followed and helped steady the old woman.

Xiao Yeyang, seeing that they were struggling, quickly approached and easily lifted Grandma back onto the bed. He asked with concern, "Granny, are you alright? Did you hurt yourself?"

Hearing this, Grandma's eyes instantly filled with tears. She choked, "I’m fine, I’m fine!"

Xiao Yeyang nodded and prepared to step back, but realized his hand was being tightly held. Although he didn’t have a severe aversion to germs, he didn’t like strangers pulling at him like this, so he immediately tried to pull his hand away. However, no matter how much he pulled, he couldn’t free himself.

Seeing this, Xiao Yeyang was helpless. He could use force, but he was afraid of hurting the elderly woman. He turned to Daohua for help.

Daohua noticed the signal and hurried over. "Grandma, please lie down. Let the strange monk check if you were injured." She spoke softly, gently prying Grandma’s hand off Xiao Yeyang’s.

(End of Chapter)

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Chapter 258: Brother Complex

 Chapter 258: Brother Complex

Daohua arrived at the room at the back of the ship’s cabin and saw Dong Yuanyao talking to the rescued people. As she walked over, she overheard them discussing the damage caused by the flood.

Dong Yuanyao smiled when she saw Daohua: "You're here!"

Daohua nodded, looking around before asking, "What about the person who helped me earlier?"

Dong Yuanyao pouted: "That person jumped back into the river while you were changing clothes and swam back to the shore."

Daohua showed regret: "What a pity. I still don’t know his name. If it weren’t for him helping me, I wouldn’t have been able to get Grandma and that strange monk on the boat so easily."

She smiled again as she spoke.

"That person is such a strong swimmer. In such a raging river, he managed to swim so fast! He’s also quite warm-hearted—jumping into the river to save someone in that situation. He must be brave and kind-hearted."

Dong Yuanyao’s expression shifted slightly. She had said quite a lot about that person at the gate of Xingyun Prefecture earlier. Now that she thought about it, her reaction had been a little too intense.

Daohua didn’t say much more, walking straight to the corner where Grandma and the strange monk were sitting.

At this moment, although Grandma no longer faced a life-threatening danger, she was still in a precarious condition. The strange monk sat motionless, holding her hand.

When Daohua approached, Gu Jian lifted his eyes to look at her.

Daohua glanced at Grandma, noticing her flushed face. Without needing to feel her forehead, she knew she had a fever: "Strange monk, do you remember me?"

Gu Jian glanced at Daohua, then lowered his eyes without saying a word.

Seeing this, Daohua pouted and muttered, "You’ve turned cold again, ignoring people!" When she and the villagers went to the temple for medicine, he hadn’t even spared her a glance, even though she was just a five-year-old child back then.

However, his medical skills were truly exceptional. Thanks to the five doses of medicine he gave her and the ingredients she had in her space, she was able to restore her grandmother's health.

Daohua turned to Grandma and said, "Grandma is ill and needs treatment right away. I know you're a divine physician, but you don’t have the right herbs right now. How about we return to Xingyun Prefecture together later?"

Gu Jian looked at Daohua again. After a moment of silence, he rasped, "I just heard them call the young man with you 'Young Prince.'"

The strangeness of the monk wasn’t just in his personality; despite being a monk, he never referred to himself as a 'poor monk' or 'old monk.' When they were at the temple, he always said 'I' like it was his own name.

Daohua looked at him curiously: "Why do you ask that?"

Gu Jian glanced at her and lowered his head again: "Forget it."

Daohua: "..."

Who’s the one begging now?

Just then, Xiao Yeyang walked in.

The servants all bowed: "Young Prince!"

Xiao Yeyang nodded, then walked straight to Daohua.

At this moment, Gu Jian lifted his head again, staring directly at Xiao Yeyang.

Xiao Yeyang stood by Daohua, looking at Grandma and the unconscious monk. He asked, "Do you know them?"

Daohua nodded: "We’ve met a few times. After Grandma recovered, she always took me to the temple to give thanks, and we would talk with Grandma."

Xiao Yeyang looked surprised: "You have a good memory."

Daohua shrugged: "The people are too special. It’s hard not to remember them."

The strange monk was renowned for his medical skills, and Grandma had a face half burned, making them unforgettable once seen.

Xiao Yeyang was silent for a moment: "Since you know them, then take them back to Xingyun Prefecture."

Daohua glanced at the strange monk, who had already averted his gaze, looking down while holding Grandma’s hand. "But we don’t know if they’re willing to go."

Just as she spoke, Gu Jian raised his head and said, "Go." He glanced at Xiao Yeyang before lowering his head again.

Daohua froze. Hadn’t he been so cold just a moment ago?

An hour later, the ship docked at the Xingyun Prefecture pier.

Xiao Yeyang assigned the rescued people to Defu and then took Daohua and Dong Yuanyao back to the Xingyuan.

At this point, everyone had finished their tasks and returned to rest.

"Young Prince, was the food delivery smooth?"

Dong Yuanxuan asked as usual.

Hearing this, Daohua’s heart tightened, and she quickly looked at Xiao Yeyang.

Xiao Yeyang, seeing Daohua’s look, silently turned away.

Since he had promised, he would follow through. How could she not trust him?

---

"Everything is fine, it’s just..."

Daohua quickly walked over and whispered, "Xiao Yeyang, don’t say anything strange."

Yan Wenxiu looked over: "Young Prince, just what? Did my little sister cause trouble?"

Xiao Yeyang looked at Daohua, who was clearly nervous, and smiled: "She didn’t cause trouble. It’s just that I feel the outside is still a bit unsafe, so from now on, when we go out, don’t take Daohua or Miss Dong with us."

Upon hearing this, Daohua immediately relaxed, smiling awkwardly: "I didn’t want to go out in the first place. If you hadn’t asked, I’d still be busy with the porridge."

Seeing Xiao Yeyang’s irritated expression, Daohua quickly grabbed Dong Yuanyao and dashed off.

Seeing this, Yan Wenxiu helplessly shook his head: "My little sister is too carefree. After we go back, I’ll talk to our mother and ask her to keep an eye on her."

Hearing this, Xiao Yeyang paused and quickly said: "Actually... Daohua isn’t careless. She’s just cheerful. I think it’s a good personality. There’s no need to impose too much restraint."

Yan Wenxiu froze for a moment, then looked at Xiao Yeyang with some surprise.

Xiao Yeyang realized he had overstepped. As an outsider, he shouldn’t be involved in matters of family upbringing, especially in front of so many people. Just as he was unsure how to explain, Yan Wenkai burst out laughing.

"I think so too. Big Brother, Little Sister is fine the way she is. Do you want her to be like other young ladies, weak and crying at the slightest trouble?"

"Look at Dong Big Brother. Miss Dong is much more carefree, yet Big Brother doesn’t say anything, right? Isn’t that right, Big Brother Dong?"

Dong Yuanxuan glanced at Yan Wenkai, speechless: "My sister is not carefree. She’s just lively."

Yan Wenkai couldn’t be bothered to argue: "Alright, lively or carefree, as long as she’s happy. As big brothers, what’s wrong with indulging her a bit?"

Yan Wentao added: "I also think Daohua is great, straightforward!"

Yan Wenxiu gave his two younger brothers a look: "I’m just thinking about her. It’s fine now, but if she’s like this after she gets married..."

Yan Wenkai immediately cut him off: "So what if she gets married? With us brothers around, who would dare bully my sister? Hmph, if my future brother-in-law doesn’t know his place, we’ll take care of him, and I guarantee his parents won’t even recognize him."

Yan Wentao seriously nodded in agreement.

Seeing this, Yan Wenxiu fell silent.

Everyone’s life is theirs to live. When things happen, family can help, but in the end, one must rely on themselves to solve problems.

He didn’t think his little sister was wrong, just that her personality needed a little more restraint.

The world is harsh, and living too freely isn’t always a good thing.

(The End of This Chapter)

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Chapter 257: Drying Hair

 Chapter 257: Drying Hair

"Master, the handkerchiefs you asked for!"

In the cabin, Defu entered with several clean cotton handkerchiefs, glanced at Miss Yan, who was obediently standing, and then at the silent master. He quickly placed the handkerchiefs on the table before swiftly exiting.

Upon seeing the handkerchiefs, Daohua glanced at her damp hair and immediately smiled, reaching out to grab one. "This is for drying my hair, right?"

She spoke as she brought her long black hair to the front, beginning to rub it with the handkerchief.

Xiao Yeyang glanced at Daohua, his face stern. He stood up and snatched the handkerchief from her.

Daohua furrowed her brows, confused. "What are you doing?"

"Sit down!" Xiao Yeyang motioned to the chair with his chin.

Daohua studied his expression, thought for a moment, and decided to sit down obediently.

As soon as she sat, she felt her hair being moved to the back of her neck. Turning her head, she saw Xiao Yeyang holding the handkerchief, preparing to dry her hair.

"Actually, I can do it myself!" she said, reaching out for the handkerchief.

Since she had joined Xiao Yeyang on this trip unexpectedly, and the porridge stand needed extra hands, neither she nor Yuanyao had brought anyone along. Drying her hair was something she had planned to do herself.

Xiao Yeyang raised his hand, avoiding Daohua's, and coldly said, "Sit still."

Daohua sighed inwardly, realizing he was clearly angry. It seemed better to go along with him for now. She lowered her hand and remained still.

Only then did Xiao Yeyang begin to dry Daohua's hair.

Daohua sat quietly for a while, noticing he was silently drying her hair without saying a word. She figured he must still be upset, so she decided to speak up.

"Well, you should know, I'm very cautious about my life. I wouldn't joke around with my own safety."

Xiao Yeyang didn't respond but grabbed another clean handkerchief, continuing to dry her hair.

Seeing this, Daohua couldn't help but glance at his face.

Xiao Yeyang immediately said, "Don't move!"

His tone was sharp—he was still angry.

Daohua sighed internally and continued, "I thought carefully before jumping into the water to save them. First, I can swim; second, I was tied to a rope."

"I know," Xiao Yeyang cut her off, "you’ll say anything can go wrong, but even if the rope breaks, there's still you!"

"You were on the boat, and there were plenty of other sailors who could swim. Surely that would have been enough to pull me back up, right?"

"At worst, if something happened to me, I deserved it."

Before she could finish, Daohua felt her hair being pulled tightly. She turned to see Xiao Yeyang staring at her with an unhappy expression.

"Are you really cursing yourself?"

Daohua mumbled, "I didn’t mean it like that."

Xiao Yeyang growled, "Just be quiet!" As he said this, he accidentally pulled on her hair too hard.

"Ouch!" Daohua quickly grabbed her hair, glaring at Xiao Yeyang. "You did that on purpose, didn't you?"

Xiao Yeyang wanted to explain but didn't want to weaken his stance, so he remained silent.

Seeing his reaction, Daohua huffed and loosened her hair. "Fine, I’m a bigger person. I won’t hold it against you."

Seeing her settle down again, Xiao Yeyang resumed drying her hair.

The two were silent for a while.

Daohua allowed Xiao Yeyang to continue, occasionally glancing at his face. Gradually, Xiao Yeyang’s stiff expression softened, and he focused intently on drying her hair.

Daohua's hair was long, thick, and soft. Every time the strands passed through his fingers, he felt a slight tingling sensation in his heart.

It was his first time drying a woman's hair, and he felt a little awkward. To ease the discomfort, he spoke up.

"Don’t ever do anything dangerous like that again!"

As soon as Daohua heard him speak, she turned around with a smile. "You’re not angry anymore?"

Xiao Yeyang snorted. "When was I angry?"

Daohua teased, "Just now, now, and maybe in the future. You’ve been angry the whole time, otherwise, why are you frowning?"

Xiao Yeyang paused for a moment. "I don’t care about your business. When we get back, let your three brothers handle it."

Hearing this, Daohua couldn’t help but stand up, which caused her hair to tug painfully.

"Ouch!" she exclaimed.

Xiao Yeyang quickly released his hand. "I told you not to move!"

Daohua rubbed her head, ignoring the pain. "Xiao Yeyang, you must never tell my three brothers about today, especially my eldest brother. If he finds out, he’ll nag me for half the day!"

Xiao Yeyang remained unmoved: "I think your big brother should properly manage you."

"Don't!"

Daohua reached out and tugged at Xiao Yeyang's sleeve, shaking it a few times, then said pitifully, "If my three big brothers find out, my grandmother and mother will definitely know too. Once they know about me saving someone from the river, I’ll never be allowed out of the house again."

"Xiao Yeyang, do you really have the heart to leave me locked up in the backyard and not let me out?"

Xiao Yeyang glanced at her and pulled his sleeve away: "I do."

Daohua's breath hitched, then she placed her hands on her hips and said, "Are you still my friend? It's just a small favor, and you're making such a big deal out of it."

Xiao Yeyang looked at Daohua and turned his gaze away, remaining silent.

Since the tough approach didn't work, she tried a softer one.

Daohua immediately stood in front of him, clasped her hands together, and pleaded, "Xiao Yeyang, please don’t tell my big brothers about what happened today. I don’t want to be locked up in the backyard. Please, I beg you!"

Xiao Yeyang: "Then why didn’t you think about this before going into the river?"

Daohua's eyes twinkled: "Isn't it because I trust you? I knew you wouldn’t betray me, that you’d help me, right?"

Seeing her like this, Xiao Yeyang rubbed his head, then saw his sleeve being tugged again. He sighed deeply, yanked his sleeve away, and snorted, "This is the last time. Don’t expect it again!"

Daohua immediately smiled and clapped Xiao Yeyang on the shoulder, "This is what friends are for. Not asking you to go to the mountains of knives or the seas of fire, but to stand together, that's all. Thank you."

Xiao Yeyang raised the corner of his mouth slightly: "Don’t celebrate too early. Just because I won’t say anything, doesn’t mean others won’t."

Daohua smiled: "Don’t worry, Yuanyao won’t say anything. The people on the boat are all your people. If you didn’t tell them, they wouldn’t dare speak."

Xiao Yeyang: "You’ve thought of everything."

Daohua wore a proud expression.

Xiao Yeyang shook his head: "Aren’t you going to dry your hair? If you go back like this, without us saying anything, your brothers will figure it out."

"Dry, dry, dry, of course I will."

Daohua quickly sat up, then urged, "Use some strength and dry my hair quickly!"

"You, don’t take advantage of me!"

"Ah, be gentle, it hurts!"

"..."

Half an hour later, Daohua appeared back on the deck with her hair neatly styled. She looked around and asked Defu, "Where's Yuanyao?"

"Miss Dong is taking care of the people we rescued at the back of the cabin."

(The End of This Chapter)

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Chapter 256: Old Grandma and the Strange Monk

 Chapter 256: Old Grandma and the Strange Monk

Watching as the two elderly people in the water struggled less and less, Daohua quickly asked, "Does anyone on the ship have a rope?"

A young servant immediately replied, "Yes!"

Daohua urgently said, "Bring it here quickly!"

Before long, the servant returned with a bundle of rope.

Daohua measured its length and felt it would be enough. After tugging on it to check its strength, she swiftly tied one end around herself.

Seeing this, Dong Yuanyao quickly asked, "What are you doing?"

While tying the rope, Daohua kept her eyes fixed on the people in the river. "Of course, I’m going to save them."

Dong Yuanyao became anxious, grabbing Daohua's hand. "You can't go in! The water is too strong."

Once the rope was secured, Daohua interrupted Dong Yuanyao’s words. "Don’t worry, I can swim, and I’m tied to the rope. You’ll pull me back from the ship, so I won’t be swept away."

After saying this, she handed the rope to the strongest servant. "When I grab hold of the two elderly people, pull us back quickly, understand?"

The servant was a bit nervous but quickly nodded.

Seeing him nod, Daohua climbed over the railing and jumped into the river with a splash.

Dong Yuanyao couldn't help but gasp in surprise, then watched as Daohua surfaced and started swimming towards the elderly people.

"You must hold the rope tight! If anything goes wrong, pull Daohua back immediately," Dong Yuanyao nervously instructed the servant, then thought for a moment and had the other servants also grip the rope, ready to pull Daohua back at any moment.

The current was swift, and Daohua swam for a long time before she was able to loop her arms around the necks of the two elderly people.

When she saw their faces, she was shocked. "Old Grandma? Strange Monk?"

"Save her!"

Upon seeing Daohua, Gu Jian, who had been on the verge of losing consciousness, immediately brightened up and quickly pushed Old Madam Yan towards Daohua.

Daohua gritted her teeth. "Strange Monk, don’t move, I’m almost out of strength."

Old Jian immediately stopped moving. At this moment, he also realized that the person rescuing them was just a young child, not much older than ten.

With the water flowing so fast, how could such a little child possibly save two adults?

Anxious, Old Jian glanced at his unconscious sister and, gritting his teeth, reached out to try and pry open the arm wrapped around their necks.

Sensing the Strange Monk’s intentions, Daohua immediately shouted, "Strange Monk, I’m tied to a rope. As long as you don’t move, the people on the ship will pull us up."

Old Jian shook his head. "Three of us are too heavy. If the rope breaks, we’ll all die!"

Daohua responded, "It won’t break, the rope is strong!"

Old Jian wanted to say more, but Daohua quickly cut him off. "Aren’t you supposed to be a cold, aloof person? Why are you acting all fussy now? Listen to me, don’t move. We’ll definitely be pulled back up."

Old Jian truly stopped moving.

First, he didn’t want to leave his sister behind, and second, he was astonished by Daohua’s words.

Old Jian glanced at her from the corner of his eye.

Did this child know him?

He had no recollection of her.

On the ship.

"Daohua saved them! Pull them back up quickly!"

As soon as Daohua had grabbed the elderly people, Dong Yuanyao shouted for the servants to pull the rope.

"Pull faster!"

Seeing that Daohua and the others had barely moved in the water, Dong Yuanyao anxiously urged.

The servant was sweating profusely. "Miss Dong, the current is too strong, and there are three people now. We can’t pull them!"

Dong Yuanyao snapped, "What do you mean 'can’t pull them'?"

After thinking for a moment, she called all the people on the deck to help pull the rope. In the end, she herself joined in.

Just as Daohua and the elderly people were slowly moving toward the ship, with a splash, someone jumped from the shore and swam quickly towards them.

"That person swims really well! so fast!"

People on the ship couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise.

Soon, the person reached Daohua and the others.

Daohua glanced at the newcomer but didn’t resist. She let him wrap his arms around her neck and, using the force of the rope, quickly swam back to the ship.

Fifteen minutes later, Dong Yuanyao instructed the servants to pull everyone aboard.

"Daohua!"

At this moment, Xiao Yeyang, who had been at the stern, received the news and rushed over. Seeing Daohua, drenched from head to toe, he quickly took off his outer robe and draped it over her.

Seeing the worry, concern, dissatisfaction, and anger in Xiao Yeyang’s eyes, Daohua quickly spoke before he could say anything. "I can swim. Even if I fall into the river, it won’t be a problem."

She paused for a moment, then added, "For safety’s sake, I’m tied to a rope, so nothing will happen."

Seeing Daohua shrink her neck, looking timidly at him, Xiao Yeyang endured and finally gritted his teeth. "What if the rope isn’t long enough or isn’t strong enough?"

Feeling that Xiao Yeyang was truly angry, Daohua swallowed nervously and weakly said, "It’s fine, I checked it."

Xiao Yeyang held back his anger. "Do you know that anything can go wrong? What if something happens?"

Daohua fell silent. She knew that no matter what she said, Xiao Yeyang would have a rebuttal.

"Big Brother, wake up! Please wake up!"

Suddenly, a deeply restrained cry sounded.

Daohua turned around and saw the Old Grandma lying motionless on the deck, while the Strange Monk looked like he was about to break down.

"I’ll check!"

Daohua quickly stepped forward to check the condition of Old Grandma, then swiftly began performing CPR.

Old Jian watched nervously, seeing Daohua pressing on Old Grandma's chest and doing compressions. Several times, he wanted to stop her, but in the end, he held back.

About a quarter of an hour later, Old Grandma suddenly coughed up several mouthfuls of water.

Seeing this, Daohua collapsed in exhaustion on the deck, while Old Jian, overjoyed, hugged Old Grandma and cried tears of relief.

"Old Grandma needs rest now. Holding her like that will make her uncomfortable," Daohua said, glancing at Xiao Yeyang.

Xiao Yeyang glanced at Old Grandma and the bald Old Jian, then ordered, "Take them to the cabin to rest."

Old Jian looked at Daohua, then at Xiao Yeyang. After a moment, he said nothing, just picking up Old Grandma and following the servant below deck.

After they left, Xiao Yeyang fixed an annoyed gaze on Daohua.

Daohua knew she was about to be scolded. Her eyes quickly shifted, and she raised her hand to cover her forehead. "Ah, my head hurts so much. I must have caught a cold."

Hearing this, Dong Yuanyao immediately understood. She quickly stepped forward to help her. "You’re all wet. Come on, I'll take you to change your clothes."

Daohua nodded eagerly. "Yes, yes, let’s go."

Watching the two leave, Xiao Yeyang rubbed his aching temples and sighed helplessly.

Afterward, when Daohua had changed clothes, she still couldn’t avoid Xiao Yeyang’s scolding.

Seeing Daohua shrink her head like a quail, standing obediently in front of Xiao Yeyang, Dong Yuanyao covered her mouth and stifled a laugh. She then left the cabin and went up to the deck. It was then that she remembered something.

"Where is the person who helped Daohua save them earlier?"

A servant immediately pointed to the riverbank. "Over there. That person just jumped back into the water and swam back to the shore."

Dong Yuanyao looked over and just saw that person crawl out of the water, helping an elderly person who was waiting on the shore, before leaving. "It’s him!"

The young man from the porridge stand who had said he wasn’t an official!

(End of Chapter)

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Chapter 255: Saving People

 Chapter 255: Saving People

By the end of August, the city gates of Xingyun Prefecture were finally opened.

They had no choice but to open them; the gates had been closed for nearly three months, and the supplies in the city were completely depleted. Now, many people had no food left.

Now that the plague had been cured, people could go out and seek a living.

Daohua had thought that they could leave, but unexpectedly, Xiao Yeyang needed to stay behind to assist with disaster relief.

Prefect Magistrate Guo was in charge of military affairs in three provinces: Zhongzhou, Fenxi, and Jiguan. This time, Jiguan had experienced both floods and a plague, and it was up to him to oversee the relief efforts.

Although the plague had been controlled, there were still large numbers of refugees who had not been settled.

Prefect Magistrate Guo was busy, and when Xiao Yeyang visited, he noticed that his uncle had lost a lot of weight after two to three months without seeing him. He immediately decided to stay and help, also thinking it would be a good opportunity to train himself.

Dong Yuanxuan and Yan Wenxiu thought about it all night and decided to stay as well.

"We came to Jiguan to help with disaster relief in the first place. We didn't expect to catch the plague before we could do anything. Now that we're well again, we should start doing something worthwhile. Otherwise, our trip here would have been for nothing."

Upon hearing this, Daohua and Dong Yuanyao exchanged glances.

Daohua looked at Yan Wenxiu and his brothers. "I came to take you home, so whenever you go back, I'll go back too."

Dong Yuanyao also quickly spoke to Dong Yuanxuan. "Brother, I’m the same. I’m going back to Zhongzhou with you."

Yan Wenxiu and Dong Yuanxuan both looked helpless.

Finally, Dong Yuanxuan spoke up. "Then you both stay inside the city and don’t run around. There are refugees everywhere outside, and it’s very dangerous for young girls like you to go out."

Daohua quickly nodded in agreement. "Don’t worry, we promise not to wander around if we're not with you."

Dong Yuanyao also nodded in agreement.

In the days that followed, Xiao Yeyang and his group were sent by Prefect Magistrate Guo to help. Daohua and Dong Yuanyao stayed busy as well.

Daohua had Qin Xiao Liu sent back and brought several boats of grain, while Dong Yuanyao sent a letter home, and the Dong family also gathered a batch of grain to send over.

The two of them set up a porridge stall at the city gates to distribute porridge.

"That riverbank collapse really did a lot of damage!"

"Indeed, I heard that countless fertile fields in Jiguan were flooded, and many houses were destroyed."

Daohua and Dong Yuanyao, dressed as men, stood in front of the porridge stall, scooping porridge for people while whispering to each other.

"Isn't it all because of the corruption and bribery of the officials? If it weren’t for that, how would we have suffered these disasters?"

A voice filled with dissatisfaction and resentment reached Daohua and Dong Yuanyao's ears. They looked up and saw a young man of about fifteen or sixteen, dark and sturdy, dressed in short clothes.

Seeing the approving expressions on the people around them, Daohua thought for a moment and said, "You can't just blame all officials. Not all officials are bad. There are many honest and upright ones."

The young man sneered. "You’re still too young, little brother. There’s no such thing as a truly good official in this world. Even if there are, they’re just seeking fame and prestige."

Dong Yuanyao, unable to tolerate it, put down her ladle and looked at the young man angrily. "What nonsense are you talking about? If there are no good officials in this world, then who collected the medicinal herbs when the plague broke out?"

"Who made the porridge you’re drinking now? And who’s going to various places for disaster relief and transporting grain? You can’t be without a conscience. How can you drink the porridge that officials gathered and then speak ill of them?"

The young man was left speechless. After a long silence, he finally muttered, "This porridge was collected by officials?"

Dong Yuanyao nodded. "Of course. Listen carefully. One of these porridge stalls was set up by the Prefect Magistrate of Zhongzhou, and the other by the Prefect Magistrate of Xingzhou. If you don’t believe me, you can go and ask."

Seeing the people around nodding in agreement, the young man glanced at the angry Dong Yuanyao, didn’t scoop any porridge, and left angrily.

Daohua tugged at Dong Yuanyao. "Why get so angry? That person’s probably just venting because his family was affected by the disaster."

Dong Yuanyao picked up the ladle and continued serving porridge to the people behind them. "I just can’t stand it. I won’t even talk about your father, but my own father—I've seen how he has served as an official since I was little. Maybe he has some of the habits of officials, but he’s truly been working for the people."

Daohua said, "Alright, don’t be angry!" She then called Wang Man’er over to send a bowl of porridge to the young man.

She noticed that he was with an elderly man.

Dong Yuanyao glanced over, curled her lip, and said nothing.

Daohua smiled but didn’t explain. She wasn’t as personally invested as Dong Yuanyao. She knew the young man was probably venting his anger at the officials responsible for the riverbank collapse, and her father had nothing to do with it, so she didn’t mind.

Before long, it was September.

On the day of the Chongyang Festival, Xiao Yeyang, following Prefect Magistrate Guo’s orders, was transporting a batch of grain to the neighboring city. Passing by the city gate, he saw Daohua and Dong Yuanyao and asked.

"Would you like to come with me to the neighboring city for a walk?"

Daohua and Dong Yuanyao both brightened up at once. "Is that okay?"

Xiao Yeyang smiled. "What’s the problem? It’s just bringing you two along."

Daohua quickly said, "Then let's go. Wait a moment, I need to make a quick announcement."

In no time, the three arrived at the dock and boarded the ship.

Daohua stood on the deck, looking at the flooded fields on both sides, sighed, and then asked, "Will we be able to return today?"

Xiao Yeyang nodded. "Of course, if things go smoothly, we should be back before evening."

An hour later, the three of them arrived at the dock in the neighboring city.

After this flood disaster, the emperor had issued a great fire and harshly dealt with a group of officials. Now, the officials in Jiguang were all extremely cautious, fearing that any mistake would lead to accountability.

So, Xiao Yeyang’s handover went smoothly.

"Your Highness, please rest assured. These grains will be immediately used for disaster relief."

Xiao Yeyang’s expression didn’t change. He calmly said, "I’ve sent all the grain over without missing a single grain. If the disaster is not under control, then it will be your problem, Magistrate. You can explain it to the emperor yourself later."

The magistrate's body shook slightly.

On the bow, watching the stern-faced, serious Xiao Yeyang, Dong Yuanyao tugged at Daohua’s sleeve. "The young prince looks quite intimidating when he doesn't smile."

Daohua carefully looked at him and pursed her lips without replying.

It might be because she was too familiar with Xiao Yeyang, or perhaps because she had seen him begging as a beggar; in any case, she wasn’t particularly afraid of him.

Soon, Xiao Yeyang returned and smiled at Daohua and Dong Yuanyao. "Alright, my business is done. On the way back, we can take it slow and enjoy the scenery."

"Sure!"

Daohua and Dong Yuanyao had no objections. They had come out for a leisurely trip, after all.

During the trip, the three of them were chatting and laughing on the deck when they suddenly heard a cry from the shore. Looking over, they saw that a section of the riverbank had suddenly collapsed, and several people walking by fell into the water.

Xiao Yeyang immediately ordered the ship to stop, called for a servant who could swim to rescue the people, and then prepared to personally watch from the back of the boat.

Daohua and Dong Yuanyao wanted to follow, but were stopped by Xiao Yeyang.

"The back of the boat is narrow and chaotic. Don’t go over there, you might fall into the river."

Daohua quickly said, "Then you be careful too."

Xiao Yeyang nodded, then turned and left.

While Daohua and Dong Yuanyao were waiting for news, another shout came from the front.

Daohua immediately looked over and saw that the riverbank in front had collapsed as well, and two elderly people fell into the water.

"Quick, save them!"

The people on the deck panicked and looked around before saying, "Miss Yan, all the ones who can swim went to the back to save people. We don’t know how to swim."

Daohua froze for a moment and quickly looked at the two elderly people in the river who were now rushing towards them.

(End of Chapter)

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Chapter 254: Private Chat

 Chapter 254: Private Chat

"Goodness, they've been going at it for almost an incense time (half an hour), and they're still not stopping?" Yan Wenkai muttered, watching Daohua and Dong Yuanyao continue to spar in the courtyard, locked in an ongoing back-and-forth.

At this point, it had nearly surpassed the time they spent practicing martial arts during their own sparring sessions.

Dong Yuanxuan smiled. "Both Yuanyao and Miss Yan are the type who won’t easily admit defeat. I think they're still going at it."

Xiao Yeyang chuckled as well. "Daohua’s endurance is strong. You can see that every time she’s knocked back by Miss Dong, she grits her teeth and rushes right back in."

"And Miss Dong has been training for longer, so her reaction speed and techniques are superior to Daohua’s."

"However, Miss Dong seems to lack the stamina that Daohua has. If Daohua keeps pushing her like this, neither will be able to gain the upper hand for a while."

Just as Xiao Yeyang said, Daohua and Dong Yuanyao were both exhausted, but neither was willing to admit defeat, so they kept going.

Yan Wenkai watched the two of them sweat profusely, feeling tired for them. He pouted, saying, "What’s the point of this? You’re both young ladies, why be so competitive?"

His words weren’t quiet, and Daohua and Dong Yuanyao, who had been considering how to end their sparring, immediately exchanged glances. They simultaneously paused their movements, then turned toward Yan Wenkai, rubbing their hands together as they walked over to him.

Seeing them approach, Yan Wenkai felt something wasn’t right, but he wasn’t afraid. Standing tall, he teasingly said, "What, are you two planning to gang up on me?"

While their skills were decent, they were no match for him, a true martial artist.

Dong Yuanyao eagerly raised her fists, saying, "Fourth Brother Yan, please show us your skill!"

Daohua didn’t bother with pleasantries. "Fourth Brother, take this!" She swung a punch at him.

Yan Wenkai quickly dodged by tilting his head and spinning around, feeling pleased with himself. However, when he looked down, he saw that Dong Yuanyao’s leg had somehow stretched out to trip him.

"Ah, so you two want a two-on-one?" Yan Wenkai grinned.

Though Dong Yuanyao’s attempt to trip him didn’t succeed, he immediately rolled up his sleeves, ready to show them what he was capable of. "Let me show you what real strength is!"

Daohua and Dong Yuanyao exchanged a smile, neither feeling intimidated. Instead, they charged at him together.

By the side, Xiao Yeyang and Dong Yuanxuan watched as Yan Wenkai was surrounded by the two girls, shaking their heads with a smile.

"Let him run his mouth!" Xiao Yeyang said.

Watching the playful chaos in the courtyard, Xiao Yeyang felt a sense of relaxation. The epidemic had been brought under control, his uncle could finally fulfill his duties, and his royal uncle could breathe easier as well.

Dong Yuanxuan also felt at ease. With no further problems, his sister was safe, and the elders could rest assured.

In the courtyard, Yan Wenkai initially seemed to have the upper hand, but as the sparring progressed, Daohua and Dong Yuanyao’s coordination became more seamless. One of them would tie up his movements while the other attacked, and by the end, Yan Wenkai had taken quite a few hits.

"Ow, stop, stop! That hurts!" Yan Wenkai grimaced.

After a few more exchanges, Daohua and Dong Yuanyao finally stopped, standing to the side with victorious smiles.

Yan Wenkai rubbed his sore arm and grumbled, "Don’t get too smug. I was letting you win, you know? I didn’t want to go too hard on you since you’re both girls."

Daohua wiped the sweat from her forehead and grinned. "Fourth Brother, don’t forget that neither of us were using weapons."

Yan Wenkai rolled his eyes. "I wasn’t using one either. If I had, you wouldn’t have even had a chance to strike!"

Dong Yuanyao laughed. "Fourth Brother, you should be careful when talking big; you might strain your tongue."

Seeing Yan Wenkai still arguing with the two girls, Dong Yuanxuan shook his head and spoke up, "It’s time for you to leave!"

After all, a man shouldn’t casually enter the girls' quarters.

"Next time, I’ll show you just how good I really am!" Yan Wenkai declared confidently before leaving the courtyard.

Once he was gone, Daohua and Dong Yuanyao shared another smile.

"My Fourth Brother is so cute. We should spar with him more often."

Dong Yuanyao nodded. "Sure! My brother always says Fourth Brother Yan is a bit scatterbrained, but I think he’s actually pretty thoughtful. He was holding back when we sparred earlier."

Daohua lifted her chin proudly. "Of course, my Fourth Brother is a gentleman." She paused and then added, "Though sometimes he’s a bit careless and not very considerate."

Dong Yuanyao smiled. "Boys are like that, generally."

Daohua grinned. "Let’s go. We need to wash up and freshen up, or we’ll catch a chill."

After this day, Daohua and Dong Yuanyao’s friendship grew stronger.

As they spent more time together, Daohua realized that Dong Yuanyao had very modern, progressive ideas, and they often found many common topics to talk about.

Both of them disliked rigid rules and didn’t want to be confined to the inner courtyard, so many of their thoughts and beliefs were remarkably similar, and their bond grew deeper.

After several shipments of medicine were delivered by the court, the plague in Xingyun Prefecture was fully controlled. No new cases appeared in the city, and those who had been infected were recovering.

However, to prevent further spread, the city gates remained closed.

On the 15th of August, Daohua and her group celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival at Xingyun Prefecture.

"Good thing I’m here, or you wouldn’t even be able to eat mooncakes this year!" Yan Wenkai said, holding a mooncake in one hand while smugly addressing Dong Yuanxuan and the others.

Su Hongxin rolled his eyes but didn’t respond, focusing on eating his mooncake.

Because there were limited ingredients, the mooncakes Daohua made were in short supply. Rather than waste time arguing with Yan Wenkai, they all preferred to just eat more mooncakes.

The others ignored him, and even Xiao Yeyang, at that moment, didn’t hold back and was eating without hesitation.

After all, for the past couple of months, they’d only been eating light meals and taking medicine. Finally, they had some mooncakes for the festival, so of course, they wanted to enjoy them.

In no time, the few plates of mooncakes were devoured by the group of half-grown youths.

When Daohua and Dong Yuanyao returned after preparing the hotpot, they were greeted by nothing but empty plates.

Only then did Xiao Yeyang and the others realize that the two girls hadn’t eaten yet, and they all felt awkward.

"Well..." Yan Wenkai, still holding a half-eaten mooncake, looked at Daohua and awkwardly smiled. "Big Sister, do you mind? If you don’t mind..."

"I do mind!" Daohua cut him off quickly.

Daohua immediately cut in, turning to prepare the hotpot dipping sauce.

Yan Wenkai, feeling a little awkward, smiled sheepishly. He thought it might not be appropriate to only ask Daohua, so he turned to Dong Yuanyao with the mooncake in hand.

Seeing him look at her, Dong Yuanyao hurriedly said before he could speak, "I don’t like mooncakes." With that, she quickly ran off to find Daohua.

Yan Wenkai, left with an incredulous expression, muttered, "Why run so fast? I'm not a tiger!" He grumbled, feeling unappreciated, yet he still ate the half mooncake with a tilt of his head.

The others watching couldn’t help but laugh.

Soon after, the hotpot was ready, and Daohua called everyone to eat.

Without any elders around and being in a foreign land, the group, free from the usual restraints, ate, drank, and laughed as they pleased.

Daohua was also in a very relaxed mood. If not for the fact that everyone had recently recovered from illness, she might have even steamed a pot of wine to enjoy.

Before long, Daohua had eaten her fill but didn’t want to leave the table early, so she started observing the others.

Looking at the group of young men, full of vigor, Daohua smiled slightly and, suddenly feeling curious, whispered to Dong Yuanyao.

"Which one do you think is the best among them?"

She wouldn't dare say such things to others. Even Zhou Jingwan, despite not being too restricted by her family, was still somewhat bound by the constraints of her time. For instance, when they watched a play and wanted to discuss the actors' figures or looks, Zhou Jingwan would feel embarrassed.

But Dong Yuanyao was different. She was bolder, more casual, and, like Daohua, was also a fan of handsome faces.

Sure enough, as soon as the question was out, Dong Yuanyao’s gaze became intense as she started observing them. "As for nobility, the young prince’s bearing is unmatched. No one else can compare."

Daohua nodded in agreement. Even if nothing was said, when Xiao Yeyang sat down, everyone’s attention would naturally be drawn to him.

"As for elegance, your brother isn’t bad, and Big brother Zhou is alright too, but I think he tries a little too hard, acting overly serious," Dong Yuanyao continued.

Daohua couldn’t help but laugh and nodded repeatedly. "Exactly! I feel the same. My brother hasn’t quite developed enough of a thick skin, and sometimes he’s awkward, while Big brother Zhou doesn’t do that."

Dong Yuanyao added, "When it comes to being considerate, my brother is the best."

Daohua agreed, "Big brother Dong is thoughtful and steady, truly top-notch, unlike Big brother Su, who sometimes likes to show off. But he’s not unpleasant."

Dong Yuanyao smiled. "The Su family is known for their scholarly background. They’re used to the refined and cultured atmosphere, so when someone like Big brother Su comes along, lively and energetic, he naturally gets a lot of attention."

Daohua nodded in understanding. "Rare things are valued more highly." She then glanced at Yan Wenkai and Yan Wentao, who were devouring their food. "When it comes to straightforwardness and cheerfulness, my Fourth Brother is the best; when it comes to reliability, my Third Brother is the best."

Dong Yuanyao nodded in agreement. "Fourth Brother Yan is indeed fun to be around, and it’s very relaxing to play with him. As for Third brother Yan, he gives the impression of being very dependable, like a friend you can trust wholeheartedly."

Daohua beamed with pride. "Of course, my brothers are all great."

Dong Yuanyao looked at the proud Daohua and sighed, "Ah, why do I only have one brother?"

(The End of This Chapter)

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Chapter 253: Sparring

 Chapter 253: Sparring

Under Xiao Yeyang's watchful eyes, Daohua finished the dumpling soup completely, even letting out a satisfied burp after finishing.

"Are you full?" Xiao Yeyang asked.

Daohua, afraid that Xiao Yeyang might offer to make more, hurriedly replied, "I'm full, really full, not only full but stuffed!" She paused, then added, "Thank you!"

She had been so busy that she nearly forgot her birthday. Her big brother, third brother, and fourth brother were all around, but she didn’t expect that Xiao Yeyang would be the one to remember her birthday.

Xiao Yeyang smiled but said nothing.

Daohua glanced at the darkened sky and stifled a yawn. "I’m going to sleep now. You should rest too. Though you’re better, your body still needs time to recover."

Xiao Yeyang nodded. "Alright."

After Daohua left, Xiao Yeyang looked at the empty bowl that had held the soup and smiled at Defu. "Daohua finished all of it, so I think the longevity noodles turned out alright."

Defu stayed silent.

How could he respond to that? It was clear that Miss Yan had eaten it to spare her master’s feelings, not because it was tasty.

Seeing his master so pleased, Defu wisely kept quiet.

"Where's the Young Prince? Why hasn't he returned yet?"

Yan Wenkai looked at Xiao Yeyang’s room, noticing the door was closed and the lamp unlit, which made him wonder.

Dong Yuanxuan thought for a moment and said, "I haven’t seen the Young Prince this afternoon."

Yan Wenkai frowned. "The plague in the city is under control now. There’s nothing urgent to deal with, right?"

Yan Wenxiu considered it and replied, "The Young Prince might have other matters."

Yan Wenkai nodded but didn’t say anything more.

After a while, noticing that Yan Wenxiu, Yan Wentao, and Zhou Chengye were still not leaving, he spoke up. "Aren’t you guys going to bed? I’m already sleepy."

Yan Wentao, usually quiet, spoke up then, furrowing his brow. "I keep feeling like there’s something I need to do, but I just can’t remember what."

Yan Wenkai immediately asked, "What is it?"

Yan Wentao scratched his head. "I just can’t remember!"

Seeing this, Yan Wenkai waved his hand. "Never mind, it’s probably nothing important. What we should think about now is whether we can leave the city for the Mid-Autumn Festival."

This made Yan Wentao recall something, and Yan Wenxiu, hearing "Mid-Autumn," suddenly remembered the significance of the day.

"Today is our older sister's birthday!"

Upon hearing this, Yan Wenkai froze, and Dong Yuanxuan, who had been wiping the chessboard, froze as well and quickly looked toward Xiao Yeyang’s room.

"Oh no, how could I forget?" Yan Wenkai exclaimed, smacking his hand. "It’s already so late. It’s too late to celebrate sister’s birthday now!"

"Too late for what?"

At that moment, Xiao Yeyang, accompanied by Defu, returned.

Yan Wenkai glanced at him and said, "Today is my older sister’s birthday, but we all forgot about it."

Xiao Yeyang smiled. "I thought it was something serious. Well, it’s getting late. Everyone should go back and rest now." With that, he took Defu and went back to his room.

Yan Wenkai stared blankly, then muttered, "It’s our sister’s birthday, and the Young Prince acts so nonchalant about it."

Dong Yuanxuan’s eyes flickered, and he smiled. "If you really care, you can give Miss Yan a birthday gift later."

Yan Wenkai shook his head. "It’s not the same. No matter how good the gift is, it can’t compare to being with her."

At these words, everyone looked at Yan Wenkai.

Feeling the sudden attention, Yan Wenkai shifted uncomfortably and took a step back. "What? Did I say something wrong?"

Su Hongxin was amazed. "Wenkai, I didn’t know you had such a sensitive side!"

Seeing that everyone was surprised, Yan Wenkai became a little proud, puffing out his chest and raising his chin. "Heh, there’s more about me that you guys don’t know."

Daohua returned to her courtyard, spent some time chatting with Dong Yuanyao, and then went to wash up and sleep.

Perhaps because the plague had been brought under control and everyone was recovering, she slept deeply that night, without the usual worries weighing on her. She slept until the morning light.

The next morning, as the sky began to brighten, Daohua stretched and turned to Wang Man’er. "Man’er, bring me my whip. I haven’t practiced with it in a while, so I need to get some exercise."

The sound of the whip cracking soon echoed through the courtyard.

Dong Yuanyao was woken by the sound. "What’s that noise?"

Her maid quickly replied, "Miss, it’s Miss Yan practicing with the whip. She’s really good at it."

Originally groggy from sleep, Dong Yuanyao immediately perked up and sat up in bed. "Really? Quick, help me get ready. I’m going to watch."

Not long after, Dong Yuanyao stepped outside.

Looking at the courtyard, she saw Daohua expertly wielding the whip, and her eyes immediately lit up with excitement.

When Daohua saw Dong Yuanyao, she quickly put away the whip and apologized, "Sorry, I forgot about you. Did I disturb you?"

Dong Yuanyao smiled and walked over. "It’s fine, I was about to get up anyway." She glanced at the whip in Daohua’s hand. "You’ve been practicing this for a while, haven’t you? It looks like you’ve gotten pretty good."

Daohua was surprised. "You understand the whip?"

Dong Yuanyao shook her head. "I don’t know much about the whip, but I understand the strength behind it." With that, she struck a quick, sword-like motion with her hands, her posture tense and clearly full of power.

Daohua was astonished. "You’re training in martial arts too?" Most of the young ladies Daohua knew, even the favored ones like Zhou Jingwan, were taught to be gentle and quiet. Weapons like swords and whips were strictly prohibited.

Their family wasn’t as strict with these rules, and with her grandmother and mother supporting her, plus the opportunity presented by Qin Wushu, Daohua had a chance to learn the whip.

Dong Yuanyao lowered her hands, smiling. "I’ve always been an active child. When my big brother started training in martial arts, I followed him around and learned. Later, my father saw how much I enjoyed it, so he hired a martial arts teacher just for me, and I’ve been learning swordsmanship for several years."

Daohua said, "Really? I’ve only been practicing the whip for less than two years."

Dong Yuanyao’s eyes gleamed as she looked Daohua up and down. "How about a competition?"

Daohua, excited by the challenge, agreed right away. "How do we compete?"

Dong Yuanyao paused for a moment before replying, "Whips and swords can be dangerous, so let’s go for hand-to-hand combat!"

"Sure!" Daohua eagerly agreed and rolled up her sleeves, ready for a fight.

Seeing this, Dong Yuanyao didn’t feel scared; instead, she was eager to test her skills.

The two of them, one wanting to test her own abilities and the other finally finding someone to spar with, immediately began to fight.

Wang Man’er and Gu Yu stood by, cheering the two on.

Meanwhile, Xiao Yeyang and the others in the neighboring courtyard heard the commotion and hurried over. As soon as they arrived at the gate, they saw Daohua and Dong Yuanyao engaged in a fierce sparring match.

The two were exchanging blows with precision, each strike landing firmly and without hesitation—definitely not playing around.

After watching for a while, Yan Wenkai sighed, "I always thought the older sister was just playing around with the whip, but it turns out... she’s got some real skill."

"Look at that sweeping kick, that backhand punch. Not bad, those punches look like they’d hurt if they landed."

Dong Yuanxuan chuckled, "My sister and Miss Yan train in martial arts, but the focus is more on agility than strength. One practices swordsmanship, the other the whip. If they’ve really honed their speed, we’d have to be careful if we ever spar with them."

Xiao Yeyang nodded. "Yuanxuan’s right. There’s no need for girls to focus on strength the way we do. If they get too muscular, it wouldn’t work. But the way Daohua and them train is just right."

(End of Chapter)

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Chapter 252: Longevity Dumpling Soup

 Chapter 252: Longevity Dumpling Soup

"Has Daohua and Wen Xiu written letters back?"

Upon hearing the Steward’s report, both Old Madam Yan and Madam Li were filled with excitement.

Old Madam Yan anxiously asked, "Where are the letters? Quickly, bring them to me!"

Steward Sun immediately handed over the letter from Daohua: "The letters from Eldest Young Master, Third Young Master, and Fourth Young Master are with the Master. He said he would personally bring them back when he finishes at the court."

Madam Li took the letter and asked, "Did Wen Xiu, Wen Kai, and Wen Tao all write back?"

Steward Sun quickly nodded, "Yes, they did."

Madam Li handed the letter to Old Madam Yan, urging her to read it first, then clasped her hands in prayer. "Thank heavens, they’ve written back. It must mean they’re all right."

Old Madam Yan finished reading the letter and, knowing that Daohua and her three brothers were safe in Xingyun Prefecture, finally let out a long breath, murmuring, "Amitabha, I must observe a fast this month to thank the Buddha for protecting the Yan family’s descendants."

Madam Li quickly added, "Mother, I will fast with you."

Old Madam Yan handed the letter to Madam Li, "Go tell your third brother and third sister-in-law. They must be struggling to get by these days."

Madam Li nodded and promised, "I will send someone to tell them immediately."

---

At the front court.

Yan Zhigao sat, rereading the letters from Yan Wenxiu and his brothers, still in disbelief.

In the letters, Yan Wenxiu and the others described in detail the situation in Jiguang and mentioned Daohua’s method for treating the plague.

The plague in Xingyun Prefecture had been controlled, and it was thanks to the prescription given by the eldest daughter!

At that moment, Yan Zhigao felt as though something fortunate had fallen into his lap, leaving him dazed.

His eldest daughter had always been fond of reading medical books—he had heard his mother and third brother mention it a few times, but he had never paid it much attention. Who would have thought that, just like that, she would have earned such great merit for the Yan family?

Yan Zhigao read the letters carefully again, making sure everything was true before sighing deeply.

Just as the Yan family received the letter from Daohua’s siblings, a memorial also arrived at the capital.

---

At the imperial palace.

The emperor looked over the memorial from Old Physician Xu, learning that a method to treat the plague had been found and that the plague in Xingyun Prefecture had been brought under control. He immediately uttered three "Good!" in succession.

Below, several ministers secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

During this time, with the floods and plague in Jiguang, the emperor had frequently been in a bad mood, scolding one minister after another, making every court session tense.

Now that the plague had been controlled, it was truly a cause for celebration!

"Yan Zhigao…"

The emperor narrowed his eyes as he looked at the name mentioned in the memorial. "This name sounds familiar."

The Minister of Personnel quickly stepped forward and replied, "Your Majesty, Yan Zhigao is the Prefect Magistrate of Xingzhou who introduced the high-yield grain seed."

The emperor nodded, a look of recognition crossing his face. "Ah, yes. Him. By the way, has the grain yield report from Fenxi arrived this year?"

The Minister of Revenue replied, "It has been submitted. The yield of the land using the new grain seed has increased by about one shi per mu."

"Good!"

The emperor exclaimed, standing up and pacing back and forth before continuing, "Since the yield is indeed high, we must promote this new grain seed as soon as possible. And prioritize its distribution to the northern provinces that have been affected by the disaster."

He paused for a moment.

"This Yan Zhigao is indeed a lucky official; he should be properly rewarded."

---

At Xingyun Prefecture, Xingyuan.

After half a month of treatment, Xiao Yeyang had recovered significantly, and Yan Wenkai was already able to run and jump. However, Dong Yuanxuan’s health was still a bit fragile, and he needed more rest.

One evening, Daohua had just finished her work when Xiao Yeyang dragged her into the kitchen.

"Here!"

Daohua stared at the bowl of dumpling soup placed on the table, still steaming, with a confused look at Xiao Yeyang.

Seeing her confusion, Xiao Yeyang had to remind her, "Today is the first day of the eighth month. Don’t you remember what day it is?"

Daohua’s eyes lit up. "Oh, it’s my birthday!" She looked down at the dumpling soup on the table, then up at Xiao Yeyang, who seemed a little uncomfortable. A flash of realization crossed her mind. Tentatively, she asked, "Is this your version of the longevity noodles?"

Xiao Yeyang stiffly nodded, looking awkward. "I was just bored and decided to try making it. It's my first time, so it might not be very good."

Defu, overhearing this, couldn't help but look up at the sky.

For that bowl of dumpling soup, his master had been in the kitchen all afternoon. Clearly, he had a lot of free time.

Daohua couldn’t help but twitch the corners of her mouth. "Xiao Yeyang, I think you may not have a clear understanding of your own abilities. You should be more confident. This isn’t just not good; it’s very bad."

With that, she sat down at the table.

After hearing Daohua's words, Xiao Yeyang thought she was rejecting his cooking, but to his surprise, she picked up her chopsticks and started eating.

Xiao Yeyang's heart tightened, and he quickly asked, "Is it good? Oh, I mean, can you eat it?"

Daohua, having taken a bite of the dumpling soup, paused for a moment, swallowed the dumpling in her mouth, and then looked at Xiao Yeyang with a hint of amusement. "Xiao Yeyang, if you're not sure whether this dumpling soup is edible, why did you make me eat it?"

Xiao Yeyang responded, "I thought, for your birthday, you should have longevity noodles."

Daohua glanced at the bowl, where the dumpling soup looked nothing like noodles. "Are you sure this is supposed to be longevity noodles?"

Xiao Yeyang’s face stiffened as he looked at the dumplings in the soup. "I cooked it for a long time to make sure it’s edible. I think it should be fine."

Daohua looked at the sticky, gooey soup and sighed. "You’ve basically turned it into porridge. I’m sure it’s edible, at least it’s cooked."

Seeing that Daohua was still eating, Xiao Yeyang felt a bit embarrassed. "Um, you don't have to eat anymore if you don’t want to."

Daohua shook her head. "Why not? It’s your first time cooking, after all. I should at least eat it to show some appreciation."

Seeing Xiao Yeyang looking a little awkward, Daohua smiled and added, "Honestly, it’s not as bad as I imagined. Though, did you confuse sugar with salt? Dumpling soup should be salty, but this is sweet."

"Anyway, I’m not picky. If it’s sweet, it’s sweet. It's just a change of taste."

Watching Daohua eat with no signs of pretending, Xiao Yeyang couldn’t help but smile. It made all the effort he put in this afternoon feel worthwhile.

"Take your time. If you like it, I’ll make another batch right away. The fire's still going."

"Cough cough~"

Daohua suddenly choked, starting to cough.

Seeing this, Xiao Yeyang quickly stood up and rushed to her side, gently patting her back.

After coughing for a while, Daohua felt better and quickly said, "It's fine, I’m full after this bowl."

Sweet dumpling soup... although it’s edible, it’s too rich if you have too much!

Xiao Yeyang looked at her and fell silent for a moment. "Alright, I’ll admit it, I’m a bit rusty this time. I’ll do better next year."

Daohua immediately had a jolt of realization.

Next year?

Oh my god, please spare me!

(End of Chapter)

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Chapter 251: Best Friends

 Chapter 251: Best Friends

Since confirming that the prescription could treat the plague, Physician Xu immediately went to the nearby Prefectural office, where he worked with other physicians to treat more patients in the city.

As for Xingyuan, seeing that Xiao Yeyang, Yan Wenkai, and Dong Yuanxuan were all improving, and that no new patients had been added to the household, the elder physician decided to hand things over to Daohua.

He had realized that the young lady from the Yan family was quite capable. From the daily medicine she sprinkled to preparing and distributing the medicine, every step was done efficiently. He was confident leaving the people in Xingyuan’s care.

Thus, Daohua became extremely busy, working tirelessly every day like a spinning top.

But the results were encouraging. Those infected with the plague were showing signs of recovery, and the situation had mostly been brought under control.

One day, Dong Yuanyao walked into Daohua's courtyard, rubbing her shoulders. "The medicine has all been distributed for today. Is there anything else you need me to do?"

Her big brother was improving day by day. Now, with the help of servants, he could walk again. The weight that had been on her heart was finally lifted, and she had the energy to do other things.

Daohua was counting the remaining medicinal herbs, calculating how much longer they would last. Hearing Dong Yuanyao’s question, she glanced in the direction of the kitchen. "Sister Dong, if you’re free, can you take the porridge I made to Fourth Brother and the others?"

Dong Yuanyao nodded, turned to go to the kitchen, but after taking a few steps, she stopped and turned around. "Yan Yi!"

Daohua looked up in confusion. "Sister Dong, is there something else?"

Dong Yuanyao replied, "Yan Yi, don’t keep calling me ‘Sister Dong.’ We’re not that different in age, it sounds a little distant. Just call me by my name." After finishing, she tilted her head and walked off.

Daohua stood stunned for a moment, then shook her head and smiled. She suddenly thought of something and shouted, "Dong Yuanyao, don’t forget to wash your hands and disinfect!"

Dong Yuanyao, who had reached the kitchen door, heard her and immediately smiled back, replying, "Don’t worry, I won’t forget."

When Dong Yuanyao arrived with the porridge, Xiao Yeyang, Yan Wenkai, and Dong Yuanxuan were sitting outside enjoying the sunshine.

As Yan Wenkai put it, they had been lying in bed for so long that they were starting to mold.

Upon seeing the food container in Dong Yuanyao’s hand, Yan Wenkai's eyes lit up, and he quickly went over to take it from her. "Sister Dong, why are you the one bringing us food today?" He opened the lid quickly, only to see it was just porridge. His expression instantly fell.

Dong Yuanyao smiled. "Yi'er is busy, so she asked me to bring it to you."

Xiao Yeyang frowned. "Didn’t you say the other people in the household were stable? Why is she still so busy?"

Dong Yuanyao thought for a moment. "From the look of things, it seems she’s worried about whether we have enough medicinal herbs."

Xiao Yeyang was surprised. "Has she already used up all the herbs she brought?"

Dong Yuanyao explained, "Originally, the amount was enough for those in Xingyuan, but a few days ago, Physician Xu said the city was in urgent need of herbs, so she distributed some to them."

Xiao Yeyang fell silent.

The prescription Daohua gave was already showing results. Now, most of the infected in the city had stabilized after taking the medicine, but with so many people, the medicinal herbs were running out.

The memorial had already been sent to the emperor’s uncle. With a solution in hand, the emperor’s uncle would undoubtedly gather and send more medicinal herbs from various places, though it might take a while.

At this point, Yan Wenkai interjected, "Sister Dong, don’t keep calling her Yi, just call her Daohua. I can’t get used to it."

Dong Yuanyao rolled her eyes. "You’re supposed to be Yi’s brother, and yet you’re calling her by her nickname. It’s fine at home, but it’s not appropriate to call her that outside."

The name Daohua was a bit rustic. If addressed like that in front of daughters from other official families, they might not say anything publicly, but privately they would certainly laugh about it.

Dong Yuanyao continued, "In the future, be more careful. Don’t keep calling her by her nickname."

Dong Yuanxuan glanced at his sister in surprise. What happened recently? It seemed like his sister had gotten much closer to Yan Yi, even protecting her now.

Yan Wenkai looked at Xiao Yeyang and Dong Yuanxuan, seeing their agreement, wisely didn’t argue with Dong Yuanyao. He just looked at the black rice porridge in his bowl with disdain. "Sister Dong, I want to eat meat."

As soon as he said this, Xiao Yeyang and Dong Yuanxuan also looked expectantly at her.

After drinking medicine for so many days, they were all craving some meat.

Dong Yuanyao remained unfazed. "You can eat meat if you want, but you’ll have to ask Yi. I’m just the one delivering the food."

Upon hearing this, the three of them lowered their heads in unison.

Asking Daohua? Forget it!

That person had clearly said that they couldn’t eat anything non-vegetarian until they were fully recovered.

Yan Wenkai sighed and resigned himself to drinking the porridge. "When will this end?"

Dong Yuanyao was displeased. "Fourth Brother Yan, you should be grateful. Jiguang has suffered a disaster, and many people don’t even have enough food to eat!"

Hearing this, Yan Wenkai didn’t dare say anything more. He lowered his head and quietly drank his porridge.

Dong Yuanxuan shot his sister a glare but didn’t say anything.

Compared to others, they were indeed much better off. At least they still had black rice porridge to drink.

Xiao Yeyang remained silent for a while before asking, "I’m almost fully recovered. When can I leave the courtyard?"

Dong Yuanyao shook her head. "I’m not sure. I’ll ask Yi for you."

Daohua remained busy until dark before finishing everything on her to-do list.

Wang Man’er came in with hot water for washing up and smiled. "Miss Zhou really helped you a lot this time. Just as we were running low on medicinal herbs, she happened to send a new batch over."

Daohua smiled and then corrected her. "Jingwan isn’t helping me. She’s helping the people in the city."

Wang Man’er smiled but didn’t say anything.

If her young lady hadn’t mentioned it, Miss Zhou probably wouldn’t have gone out of her way to gather medicinal herbs.

Daohua added, "By the way, the Zhou family’s boat is leaving tomorrow. Please bring me some paper and ink; I’m going to write a letter home to report everything’s fine."

"Also, let’s inform Big Brother and the others, and have each of them write a letter home. This way, Grandmother and the others should be completely at ease."

Wang Man'er smiled and agreed, then waited until Daohua had finished washing up before taking the basin and leaving.

As soon as she stepped out of the room, she saw Dong Yuanyao and was immediately surprised. "Miss Dong, what are you doing here?"

Dong Yuanyao replied, "I’m here to sleep with Yi."

Inside, Daohua, who had just taken a sip of tea, immediately spat it out when she heard this.

When Dong Yuanyao entered the room, she saw Daohua coughing and quickly went over to pat her on the back.

"I’m fine, thank you!"

Daohua wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, then awkwardly smiled and asked, "Yuanyao, why are you looking for me so late?"

Dong Yuanyao smiled and said, "I’m bored sleeping alone, so I thought I’d come and sleep with you."

"No!"

Daohua’s refusal was quick and decisive.

Dong Yuanyao looked at her, pursing her lips. "Are you rejecting me?"

Daohua sighed in exhaustion. "I’m not rejecting you, it’s just that I’m a bad sleeper. I toss and turn all night and might disturb your rest."

Dong Yuanyao looked doubtful.

Daohua quickly raised her hand and swore, "I swear." She was really tired these days and needed a good rest at night, or else she wouldn’t have the energy the next day.

If there was another person in the bed, she knew she wouldn’t sleep well.

Dong Yuanyao was silent for a moment, then said, "Okay then, I won’t sleep in your bed, but can I move into your courtyard? That’s fine, right?"

Daohua nodded. "Of course, feel free!"

Seeing this, Dong Yuanyao finally smiled and happily left to move her belongings.

Li Xia, who had been watching in confusion, asked, "Why is Miss Dong suddenly moving in to stay with Miss? Isn’t she tired?"

Gu Yu pondered for a moment. "Maybe Miss Dong thinks that by living together, they can become closer. She probably sees Miss as a close friend now."

Upon hearing their discussion, Daohua rubbed her forehead.

This best friend really caught her off guard!

(End of Chapter)

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Chapter 250: Prescription

 Chapter 250: Prescription

"Miss, look! Physician Xu has entered Fourth Master's room!"

Wang Man’er suddenly called out.

Daohua turned around, thought for a moment, and then said, "You all watch the medicine carefully. Once it's done, have Xiao Liu deliver it to the other patients in the manor. I'll go check on things."

Inside the room:

After checking Yan Wenkai's pulse, Physician Xu couldn't contain his excitement. He quickly told the servant, "Hurry, go bring Miss Yan here!"

Just as he finished speaking, Daohua walked in.

"Physician Xu, do you need something?"

Physician Xu immediately stood up, his excitement apparent. "The conditions of His Highness and Fourth Master have improved, which means Miss Yan’s prescription is effective. May I see the prescription?"

Daohua smiled and nodded. "Of course, I was actually planning to ask Physician Xu to review it earlier, but I was afraid of disturbing you since you were so busy. I wanted to wait until we saw results before asking for your opinion." She then took out the prescription she had written earlier.

Physician Xu quickly took the prescription and read it. The more he read, the brighter his eyes became. "You should have shown this to me sooner!" He said, preparing to leave with the prescription.

After a few steps, he stopped and looked at Daohua apologetically.

Daohua smiled warmly, "Physician Xu, please feel free to take it. Before I came, my father asked me to do everything I could to help the victims. It’s the responsibility of the Yan family as part of the Daxia."

Physician Xu cupped his fists, deeply moved. "Lord Yan's sense of righteousness is admirable. Miss Yan, rest assured, if the prescription works, I will personally submit a report to His Majesty." With that, he left in a hurry, soon disappearing from sight.

Daohua chuckled, "This physician is quite strong for his age!"

That night, neither Xiao Yeyang nor Yan Wenkai woke up.

No one was worried, as it was clear to anyone who had seen their sleeping faces that their breathing was steady and their conditions were improving.

Dong Yuanyao, after hearing news from the servants and personally standing outside their rooms to check, was convinced that the prescription Daohua provided was effective.

In fact, when Physician Xu came to get the prescription, she had already begun to believe it, but since it was her brother's health on the line, she couldn’t afford to take any chances. That’s why she waited until now.

Looking up at the moon in the sky, Dong Yuanyao, despite it being well past midnight, gathered her courage and headed to the courtyard where Daohua stayed.

At that moment, Daohua and Wang Man’er were still organizing medicinal ingredients.

The first to notice Dong Yuanyao was Gu Yu. "Miss Dong, what brings you here?"

Daohua turned around, seeing that Dong Yuanyao appeared a little uncomfortable, and immediately stood up. "Sister Dong, is there something you need?"

Dong Yuanyao, not one to beat around the bush, walked straight up to Daohua with a sincere expression. "Sister Yan, I’m sorry for doubting the prescription you provided earlier. I..."

Daohua interrupted her with a smile, "I understand."

Seeing Dong Yuanyao staring at her in surprise, Daohua continued, "I truly understand. After all, it’s about the safety of family, and it's only natural to be cautious."

Dong Yuanyao felt a sense of relief and looked at Daohua with admiration.

At that moment, the Yan family’s eldest daughter, whom her brother had always praised, truly caught her attention.

In the past, she had thought Daohua was decent enough, but no more than a playful companion—just another young lady who liked to have fun.

But now, seeing the understanding in her eyes and the lack of resentment on her face, she realized that Daohua was someone worthy of her friendship.

"Thank you!"

Daohua smiled and shook her head. "No need to thank me. My big brothers and your big brother are friends. To put it bluntly, I've already considered him my half-brother. If he needs help, I’ll naturally do my best."

As she spoke, she walked towards the room and took out two packets of prepared medicine.

"I was planning to send this in the morning, but since you're here now, you can take it with you."

Dong Yuanyao took the medicine and smiled at Daohua. This time, she didn’t say thank you but instead said, "Yan Yiyi, from now on, you’re my sister."

Daohua was momentarily stunned.

Dong Yuanyao then said, "I’m going to make medicine for my brother now. You can continue with your work." With that, she turned and left.

Once she was out of sight, Daohua shook her head and walked back inside.

Wang Man’er, Gu Yu, and Liu Xia were quietly laughing. "Our miss just gained another sister!"

The next morning, Yan Wenkai woke up first. As soon as he opened his eyes, he immediately started asking for food.

Since contracting the plague, he had barely eaten anything except medicine and was starving.

"Looks like he's not in danger anymore!"

Daohua had Wang Man’er bring in the black rice and jujube porridge she had prepared early in the morning. Yan Wenkai drank two bowls before lying back down to sleep again.

Not long after, Xiao Yeyang woke up as well.

Defu immediately told him that Physician Xu had reviewed the prescription and confirmed it could be used to treat the plague. Xiao Yeyang sighed in relief and drank a bowl of black rice porridge before resting again.

Dong Yuanxuan woke up the next day.

When he saw her brother awake, Dong Yuanyao couldn’t hold back her tears any longer.

The siblings had always had a close bond, and when she heard that her brother had been infected with the plague and was trapped in Xingyun Prefecture, Dong Yuanyao had left a letter for her family and secretly come over. She had arrived days earlier than Daohua and the others.

These days, seeing her brother’s condition worsen every day, she was on the verge of breaking down. Now that he was awake, all her fear and anxiety suddenly came pouring out.

The tears wouldn't stop once they began.

Dong Yuanxuan had just woken up, feeling weak and unsure how to comfort his sister. In the end, it was Daohua who came over and helped take her away.

"Sister Dong, since you don't have anything else to do, why don't you help us make some medicine? There are still many people sick in the manor!"

Seeing Dong Yuanyao sniffling, Daohua had no choice but to send her to do something to distract her.

Dong Yuanyao wiped away her tears and nodded. "Okay."

Seeing her so obedient, Daohua felt a little out of place. However, she had to check on the usage of the medicinal ingredients and didn’t have the time to comfort the young girl.

In the following days, the entire manor was busy. This busyness brought with it a change: the previous sense of gloom and the unease among the people had disappeared.

People outside had noticed this change.

When Xiao Yeyang woke up again, Physician Xu came over. After discussing with several other physicians, they confirmed that the prescription provided by Miss Yan could indeed cure the current plague.

"Spread the news. Tell everyone that a method to cure the plague has been found to ease their worries. Also, copy the prescription and send it to my uncle."

Physician Xu asked, "Should we not mention the source?"

Xiao Yeyang shook his head. "Don't mention it until my royal uncle has received the memorial. As for the memorial to the emperor, wait until we see results here at Xingyun Prefecture before sending it."

Physician Xu nodded. "Understood. I'll start treating the plague victims in the city with this prescription."

(End of chapter)

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Chapter 249: Trust

 Chapter 249: Trust

Daohua and her group arrived at Xingyuan in the afternoon. By that evening, Xiao Yeyang had moved into the courtyard where Yan Wenkai was staying, while the healthy Yan Wenxiu and Yan Wentao moved to another courtyard.

Xiao Yeyang's condition had already become quite serious. Over the past few days, he had been hanging on with the medicine Daohua brought earlier. On his way here, he had experienced another bout of diarrhea, and now, his face appeared pale.

After Daohua checked his condition, she turned around to prepare more medicine.

An hour later, Daohua returned, holding a bowl of medicine. Just as she was about to step into the room, Xiao Yeyang hastily stopped her. "Don't come in! This plague is highly contagious. Even though I’ve been careful, I still caught it. You... you don’t want to get infected too, do you?"

Daohua paused, looking at the persistence and concern in Xiao Yeyang's eyes. Finally, she handed the medicine to Defu.

Defu took the bowl and asked, "Miss Yan, what is this medicine?"

Daohua thought for a moment and carefully replied, "I’ve seen a few formulas for treating the plague in medical books. After examining Xiao Yeyang's symptoms, I decided to use one of them."

Upon hearing that Daohua had a formula for treating the plague, both Xiao Yeyang and Defu were relieved.

However, Defu's smile quickly faded as he looked at the medicine, hesitating. "Miss Yan, does this mean you don’t know the effects of the medicine?"

Daohua lowered her eyes and remained silent. Of course, she knew the effects. But it was hard to explain, and she couldn’t just say this formula had been verified by generations of people.

Defu became cautious and didn’t dare to give the medicine to his master.

What if the formula was fake? If Xiao Yeyang took it, would his condition worsen instead of improving?

Xiao Yeyang glanced at Daohua, then, clutching his stomach, he stood up and took the medicine from Defu. He drank it in one go.

"Master!" Defu’s face changed.

Xiao Yeyang handed the empty bowl back to Defu and frowned. "It's so bitter!"

Daohua's eyes flashed. "Aren’t you afraid of making your stomach worse?"

Xiao Yeyang sat back on the bed. "I’m already in this state. How much worse can it get?" He paused, then looked at Daohua seriously. "I trust you."

Daohua raised an eyebrow. "Hmm?"

Xiao Yeyang continued, "You came all this way through so much danger. You couldn’t possibly be delivering a useless formula."

Daohua smiled. "You know me pretty well!" Then she looked at Defu, who still looked worried. "Don’t worry, the medicine might not work, but it won’t make him worse."

Defu gave a wry smile.

Xiao Yeyang rubbed his stomach, and though it could have been psychological, he felt less pain. After a moment, he stood up again.

"What are you doing?" Daohua immediately asked.

Xiao Yeyang replied, "I’ll go for a walk to reassure the people outside."

Daohua refused. "Quick, help him back to bed."

Defu hesitated, looking at Xiao Yeyang, then at Daohua.

Although he wanted his master to rest, he didn’t dare to give orders like Daohua did.

Seeing Xiao Yeyang stand still, Daohua sighed. "The formula I gave you really is for treating the plague. Now that Fourth Brother and you have taken it, we’ll know by tonight or tomorrow morning if it works."

"Don’t you feel sleepy right now?"

Xiao Yeyang nodded. He did feel a bit light-headed.

Daohua smiled. "That means the medicine is starting to work."

The herbs she used for Xiao Yeyang and Fourth Brother were from her space, and their efficacy was several times stronger than regular herbs.

She continued, "Don’t worry about things outside. I’ll take care of it. Just rest well. The sky won’t fall."

Xiao Yeyang stared at Daohua, and all the tension he had been holding onto quietly loosened.

Seeing that Xiao Yeyang had no objections, Defu immediately helped him back to bed.

Xiao Yeyang was exhausted, and after lying down, he soon fell asleep.

Defu, seeing this, smiled in relief and whispered to Daohua, "Master is asleep! He hasn’t had a proper rest because of his stomach pains for a while now."

Daohua was impressed. Even in such a state, Xiao Yeyang had managed to hang on so long with his strong willpower.

"You keep an eye on him. I’m going to check on Brother Dong. Let me know if anything happens!"

When Daohua arrived at Brother Dong's new courtyard, she was surprised to see Dong Yuanyao there.

"Sister Dong, you’re here too?"

Dong Yuanyao looked a bit fatigued, but smiled when she saw Daohua. "You’re here, so why can’t I be?"

Daohua shook her head. "I didn’t mean that. I just didn’t expect to see you here."

Dong Yuanyao understood and, after some thought, asked, "How are Xiao Yeyang and Fourth Brother Yan?"

Daohua replied, "They’ve both gone to sleep. Since you’re here, tell me about Brother Dong’s condition in detail. The more detailed, the better, so I can prepare his medicine."

Dong Yuanyao eyed Daohua carefully, then hesitated. "Can you really treat illnesses?"

Daohua repeated what she had told Xiao Yeyang earlier about her use of the formula.

Dong Yuanyao furrowed her brows. "Isn’t that reckless? You can’t just give people unverified medicine. What if it makes them worse?"

Daohua fell silent at her words.

Looking at Dong Yuanyao ’s disapproving expression, Daohua thought back to Xiao Yeyang, who had immediately trusted her and taken the medicine without hesitation. She suddenly felt a deep sense of something.

Xiao Yeyang truly trusted her!

"Sister Dong, if you have doubts, you can wait. But if my brother and Xiao Yeyang show signs of improvement after taking the medicine, then you can give it to Brother Dong. How does that sound?"

Dong Yuanyao hesitated for a moment. Her brother was already unconscious, and though she didn’t dare to give him medicine rashly, she decided to wait one night. She nodded in agreement.

Meanwhile, Defu, not daring to take risks with Xiao Yeyang's health, immediately called for Physician Xu as soon as Daohua left.

Looking at Xiao Yeyang, who was lying on the bed and sleeping soundly, Physician Xu hurriedly checked his pulse. After a moment, he excitedly turned to Defu.

"Master Xiao Yeyang has taken some medicine, right? Quick, show me what it is!"

Upon seeing Physician Xu's reaction, Defu knew things were looking up. "The medicine was prepared by Miss Yan. She personally made it. I don’t know the details, but... Physician Xu, will he be alright?"

Physician Xu breathed a sigh of relief. "Master’s condition has improved. If this continues, he should be fully recovered soon."

Defu was overjoyed. "Really?"

Physician Xu nodded, then continued, "What exactly is going on with Miss Yan? Hurry up and tell me everything."

Defu immediately relayed everything Daohua had told him.

After listening, Physician Xu fell silent for a moment, then stood up. "Let’s go. Take me to see Miss Yan. If his condition has also improved, then the formula is most likely real."

At that moment, Daohua was in the courtyard, guiding Wang Man’er and others on how to prepare the medicine.

Although she had to wait for Xiao Yeyang and Fourth Brother to show signs of improvement before revealing the full formula, it was still possible to prepare some medicine for the other patients in the manor to help ease their symptoms.

There were too many patients outside, and she didn’t have the ability to treat them all individually, but the people in the manor could still be saved.

Because of Xiao Yeyang, the manor was under a lot of scrutiny. As long as the people in the manor improved, it would give hope to those outside as well.

(End of chapter)

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