Chapter 214: A Blessing

 Chapter 214: A Blessing 

“How did it go? Is the grain issue resolved?”

When Madam Li asked, Yan Zhigao nodded in response, but then he raised a question. “Why does our daughter have so much grain seed?”

Madam Li froze for a moment.

"Our daughter"—this was the first time the master had used such a affectionate tone to refer to their daughter.

Seeing that Madam Li didn’t respond, Yan Zhigao began changing his outer clothes and said, “Why are you in a daze?”

Madam Li stepped forward to help him straighten his clothes, then shook her head with a smile. “That girl said she’s just being prepared. She’s got grain on hand, so she’s not afraid. She said that even if there’s a disaster or a drought, as long as she has this stored grain, our family won’t starve.”

She sighed, continuing, “I think it was during her trip to Linyi County with mother. She suffered a lot and was starving, which probably made her so fond of storing grain.”

Yan Zhigao also recalled the image of his elderly mother and others dressed like beggars outside the county office in Linyi. At that time, he had been so caught up in the joy of reuniting with his mother that he hadn't considered how they—old or young—had survived the bandits along the way or how they had begged for food.

Seeing Madam Li looking at him with concern, Yan Zhigao patted her hand. “Daohua is a good girl. Your words are right. She really is our family’s lucky star.”

“In the past, although the Young Prince treated us kindly, it was just the playful bond between children. I’ve never been completely at ease.”

“After all, there are so many people around the Young Prince. Our children are not irreplaceable. If others come along who are better at playing and making trouble, the Young Prince might distance himself from our children.”

Upon hearing this, Madam Li was displeased. “What do you mean, our children aren’t as good as others’?”

“Wen Kai loves to cause a ruckus, Wen Tao is too honest, they’re a bit lacking in that regard. But what about Wen Xiu and Daohua? What makes them any worse than the children of others?”

Yan Zhigao sighed helplessly. “I’m not saying our children are worse. What I mean is that relationships between people change over time.”

“Right now, the Young Prince is only fourteen, and it’s the time when he enjoys playing. That’s why our playful children catch his eye. But in two years, when he matures and becomes more serious, he might need different types of companions.”

Madam Li fell silent, no longer refuting him.

Yan Zhigao, seeing that he had convinced his wife, continued, “But with this grain seed assistance, our family has formed a deeper bond with the Young Prince and, by extension, the Guo family.”

“I’ve heard from Lord Dong that the banditry in Fenxi is severe, and the Emperor is very concerned. So, when the high-yield grain seeds were developed, Fenxi was the first place they thought of. As long as the people are well-fed, they won’t be as likely to join the bandits.”

“If the grain seeds were lost, the people wouldn’t survive, and if a larger bandit problem arises, Prefect Magistrate Guo would face severe punishment.”

“We’ve pretty much saved Prefect Magistrate Guo’s life this time.”

Listening to Yan Zhigao’s analysis, Madam Li nodded in agreement, then smiled proudly as she added, “And all of this is thanks to Daohua.”

Yan Zhigao smiled and said, “Yes, yes, I’m not disagreeing.”

Madam Li sighed, “I just hope this batch of grain seeds arrives safely. If it does, the people in Fenxi will have hope, and you, my dear, will have political achievements to your name.”

Yan Zhigao nodded in agreement, “Indeed. In the end, it’s the common people who suffer the most from both natural and man-made disasters.”

At the Central Province Port:

Seeing the grain being transported to Fenxi, Dong Jiancheng finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Though the grain issue wasn’t directly his responsibility, if the bandit problem in Fenxi wasn’t resolved, it would affect the neighboring provinces like Zhongzhou as well.

Not to mention the pressure of resettling the refugees, which would already be enough of a headache, but the security issues could be even worse.

This shipment had to make it there safely!

After all, the high-yield grain had come from his jurisdiction, and if it helped ease the bandit troubles in Fenxi, he would share some of the credit.

No one in this era would ever complain about too much credit.

“Father, after the Young Prince takes us to the Commander's Training Field, we’re heading straight back to the academy and not returning to the residence,” Dong Yuanxuan said, running over to his father to explain their plans.

Dong Jiancheng glanced at the Young Prince, who was chatting with the three sons of the Yan family. His eyes flickered slightly. “Go ahead.”

After his eldest son ran off, Dong Jiancheng let out a sigh.

The Yan family really is lucky.

First, they inadvertently saved the young prince, and now they’ve helped Prefect Magistrate Guo with such a big task. The bond between them will surely grow deeper in the future.

Look, they’ve even taken the three young masters of the Yan family to the Commander's Office. The Fourth and Third Young Masters of Yan are on the martial arts track, and they’ll definitely need to work with the Commander's Office in the future. The earlier they get involved, the more they can broaden their horizons, avoid unnecessary detours, and expand their connections.

This treatment is something even our own sons haven’t received.

On the main peak of Wuhua Mountain, in the Meilin Manor.

"Madam, the grain seeds have been successfully transported."

A man in black knelt on one knee. In front of him, Guo Ruomei sat with an indifferent expression. "Have the people secretly escorting the shipment been arranged?"

The man in black nodded. "Everything has been arranged. There will definitely be no more incidents with the grain seeds being robbed."

Guo Ruomei squinted slightly. "It better be that way. You may leave now, and follow the grain convoy. If anything happens, send a carrier pigeon immediately."

"Understood."

After the man left, Mei Shuang entered with tea. "Madam, now you can be at ease."

Guo Ruomei took the tea and shook her head. "As long as the grain seeds aren’t in the ground, I can’t be at ease." She said, lowering her head to sip from the cup.

Looking at the jasmine flowers blooming in the tea, a faint smile finally appeared on Guo Ruomei’s lips. "By the way, that young lady from the Yan family has helped us twice now."

However, the smile quickly faded, and she muttered, slightly frustrated, "She has sharp eyes, though."

Last time, when she finally had a chance to interact with her son, that girl had ruined it.

Mei Shuang, remembering the time when the eldest young lady of the Yan family had seen through their disguise, felt somewhat embarrassed.

They had been a bit too hasty, otherwise, how could such a young girl have noticed something was off?

Guo Ruomei took another sip of tea, then fell into thought. "Go tell Shen Qiao to properly teach the eldest young lady of the Yan family, and make sure she learns the etiquette and skills of the noble ladies in the capital."

Mei Shuang nodded in agreement.

Shen Qiao was the Yan family’s tutor. Initially, to thank the eldest young lady of the Yan family for saving her young master, Guo Ruomei had sent someone to visit Shen Qiao, which led to Shen Qiao teaching the young ladies of the Yan family. Without that, given Shen Qiao’s reputation in Xingzhou, the Yan family wouldn’t have been able to afford her.

At the Zhou family residence.

Old Master Zhou was also following the situation with the grain seeds. Upon learning that the Yan family had helped gather more than 20,000 stones of grain, he couldn’t help but sigh.

"When luck comes, it’s unstoppable. Last year, when Yan Zhigao first arrived in Xingzhou, he was ostracized and bullied by everyone in the local Prefectural . But now, even the Provincial Advisor Du has had to bow down and seek peace with him."

Master Zhou nodded, his tone slightly sour. "Isn’t that right?"

Old Master Zhou gave him a sidelong glance. "I heard that this time, the young prince took the three Yan brothers to the Commander's Office. Originally, Cheng Ye wasn’t included, but it was the eldest young master Yan who suggested it, and that’s how he went along."

Master Zhou didn’t seem too concerned. "Cheng Ye studies literature, so he wouldn’t be of any use at the Commander's Office. It’s normal for the young prince not to bring him."

Old Master Zhou shook his head in disappointment. "It’s not about use or not. It’s about whether the young prince takes our Cheng Ye along for the ride. Never mind, you wouldn’t understand."

"Anyway, as long as the Yan family keeps doing well, we’ll continue to benefit. It hasn’t been long, and we’ve already gained quite a bit."

(End of Chapter)   

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Chapter 213: Protecting the Food

 Chapter 213: Protecting the Food

Daohua’s Estate. 

This estate was specifically used for growing grain. It was the largest of the three estates given to her by the Li family, covering nearly 5,000 acres.

Within the estate, Daohua had also had a granary specially built.

As soon as Yan Wenxiu and Defu entered the granary, their eyes widened. 

So much wheat!

It was neatly stored in separate storage rooms. 

The wheat was freshly harvested this year—each grain large and plump, with a shiny, translucent appearance. Even those unfamiliar with farming could tell this was high-quality seed.

"These seeds must be nearly 20,000 shi, right?" Defu asked, excited.

If they could recover the 20,000 shi his lord had lost, and return it, they wouldn’t have to face any punishment.

Qin Xiao Liu nodded with a smile. "Not too much, not too little—exactly 20,000 shi. This year’s harvest was good. Each acre produced about 6 shi of grain. After accounting for the seeds already planted and the grain sold to nearby villages, this is what's left."

Yan Wenxiu’s expression shifted. "Six shi per acre?"

Qin Xiao Liu nodded again. "Yes, but that's because the land here is fertile. The villagers’ land yields only a little over five shi per acre."

Defu immediately said, "This is excellent. From what I know, only places with abundant rainfall in the south can achieve this kind of yield. To have such high output in the north is really impressive."

Qin Xiao Liu smiled. He clearly remembered that when Daohua first discussed the yield per acre, she was dissatisfied and said she would develop even higher-yielding grain seeds in the future.

Of course, that was something for them to keep to themselves.

Defu looked at Yan Wenxiu. "Young Master, should we start transporting the grain now? The sooner we get it to Fenxi, the sooner His Lordship will be at ease."

Yan Wenxiu nodded.  

As he watched the bags of wheat being loaded onto the carts, Defu’s tense heart began to relax.

In contrast to Defu’s growing smile, Qin Xiao Liu looked at the grain warehouse, now slowly being emptied of the carefully stacked grain, with a pained expression.

"By the way, my lord, Defu, have you arranged for enough people to transport the grain? We can't afford to lose it again." 

Defu smiled reassuringly. "Don’t worry, I’ve already notified Commander Shen. He’ll personally oversee the convoy, and His Lordship’s Jinling Guards will accompany them. Once the grain arrives in Fenxi, the soldiers under the Prefect Magistrate’s command will be there to assist, ensuring the grain reaches the hands of the people in Fenxi."

Hearing this, Qin Xiao Liu didn’t say anything more.

Soon, after all the grain was loaded onto the carts, a group of soldiers in armor, wielding long knives, arrived outside the estate.

Qin Xiao Liu surveyed the scene and, seeing that there were many soldiers, each appearing quite capable, he finally felt at ease.

By the time Yan Wenxiu and the others returned to the Yan residence, it was already afternoon. Commander Shen and the soldiers tasked with transporting the grain were waiting at the port and hadn’t entered the city.

Upon learning that 20,000 shi of grain had been collected, Xiao Yeyang was extremely excited and happy. He looked toward Daohua, wanting to say something, but as the words reached his lips, he felt it would sound too sentimental, so he swallowed it back down.

"I need to go with the convoy to the provincial capital. I’ll be leaving now."

Daohua thought for a moment and then said, "I noticed you didn’t eat much at lunch. Wait a minute, I’ll get you some food for the road." She then turned to Yan Wenxiu. "Big brother, will you be going as well?"

"I—"

Yan Wenxiu glanced at Xiao Yeyang. Honestly, he had come back this time just to help gather the grain, and now that the grain issue was resolved, there was no need for him anymore.

Xiao Yeyang looked at Yan Wenxiu, then thought for a moment. "He should go. When we reach Wuhua Mountain, we’ll pick up Wenkai and the others. My uncle has several subordinates at the Commander’s Office, all skilled in archery and martial arts. It’ll be a good chance for them to meet."

Yan Wenxiu’s expression brightened. What Yan Family lacked was depth and connections. Now that the Young Prince was willing to introduce them, it was truly an excellent opportunity.

Daohua nodded. "Alright, then wait for me. I’ll get a bit more food."

Yan Wenxiu, worried that Xiao Yeyang would have to wait too long, said, "You don’t have to trouble yourself."

Daohua reassured him. "Don’t worry, it won’t take long." She turned and ran off.

Xiao Yeyang smiled. "It’s Daohua’s kind intention, we can wait a little longer. It’s not urgent."

Soon, Daohua returned, holding a porcelain jar. "You’re really getting the better deal here. This is a special yam and black rice porridge I made for my grandmother. It’s got a lot of good ingredients in it. Once you get on the ship, divide it up and share."

She held out the jar.

Daohua’s hand was reaching for Yan Wenxiu, but before he could take it, Xiao Yeyang swiftly grabbed it first.

Seeing how he was "protecting" the food, Daohua laughed. "I must tell you, you can’t eat it all by yourself. You have to share half with my brother. He’s so thin and really needs to replenish his strength. Now hurry up, don’t delay the grain delivery."

Xiao Yeyang glanced at Daohua before turning to leave with Yan Wenxiu and Defu, holding the porcelain jar.

Once aboard the ship, Yan Wenxiu sat in the cabin, waiting for Xiao Yeyang to share the black rice porridge with him. However, after a long wait, Xiao Yeyang made no move.

Could it be that the Young Prince really wanted to eat it all by himself?

As this thought crossed his mind, Yan Wenxiu couldn’t help but twitch his lips and ask, "Your Highness, aren’t you hungry?"

Xiao Yeyang glanced at him disdainfully. "What’s the big deal about a bit of porridge? Why are you so obsessed with it?"

Yan Wenxiu fell silent.

This was no ordinary porridge; it was the special porridge Daohua made for her grandmother, and it must taste amazing.

Yan Wenxiu remembered an occasion when he had gone to pay his respects to his grandmother and happened to catch her eating a special yam and red date porridge that Daohua had made for her. His grandmother had offered him a bowl, and the taste had been so delightful that he could still remember it clearly.

"I didn’t eat lunch," Yan Wenxiu said.

Seeing that Xiao Yeyang still had no intention of sharing the porridge, Yan Wenxiu decided to play his trump card. "My fourth brother loves the food Daohua makes. When he arrives, I’m sure he’ll be pestering you for some."

At this, Xiao Yeyang finally frowned. The thought of Yan Wenkai, the big eater, made him realize it was better to hurry up and eat the porridge himself.

"Defu, go get the bowls and chopsticks," he said, casting a dissatisfied look at Yan Wenxiu. "You just said you didn’t want any, and now you’re asking for it. Really…" He shook his head in disapproval.

Yan Wenxiu didn’t respond, knowing that he simply wanted to eat the porridge now. After spending so much time with the Young Prince, he was no longer as restrained, though he wasn’t as carefree as his fourth brother.

Defu quickly brought over the bowls and chopsticks.

Only then did Xiao Yeyang open the porcelain jar.

As soon as the lid was removed, a rich fragrance wafted out.

"Gululu~"

Defu couldn’t help but swallow his saliva.

He really wanted to eat!

But he knew it was impossible. The Young Prince wouldn’t even share with Yan Wenxiu, let alone with him.

"Uh—"

As he looked at the half-bowl of black rice porridge being pushed toward him, Yan Wenxiu couldn’t help but feel speechless. He hadn’t expected the Young Prince to be so protective of his food.

(End of this chapter)  

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Chapter 212: Happy to Help You

 Chapter 212: Happy to Help You 

Yan Wenxiu continued, “The housekeeper and the others have gone back to the old home. They should be able to gather another batch of seeds, but it won’t be much, and it might be a bit late. I’m not sure if we can plant in time this year.”

Xiao Yeyang fell silent.

From Xingzhou to Yan Family Village, it would take at least ten to fifteen days even if they rushed. Then from here to Fenxi, it would probably be mid-November by the time they arrived.

By then, they would miss the best planting window.

Xiao Yeyang furrowed his brows. “How much can your family gather?”

Yan Wenxiu replied, “About 2,000 shi.”

Hearing the amount, Xiao Yeyang didn’t say anything, but Defu anxiously spoke up, “Only that little? That’s not enough!”  

Yan Wenxiu quickly added, “My third uncle estimated that we can gather about 5,000 shi from the old home.”

Defu replied, “But the time might be too late over there, and even if it’s 5,000 shi more, it still won’t be enough.”

Xiao Yeyang tapped the stone table and said in a low voice, “If it’s not enough, there’s nothing we can do. Just send over what your family has gathered for now.”

Daohua sat nearby, watching the two of them talk seriously. Once they were done, she asked, “Are you collecting grain seeds?”

Xiao Yeyang, distracted by the transportation issue, casually nodded.

Yan Wenxiu, on the other hand, was thinking about how their family’s resources were too thin. If they had more land and estates, they could definitely help the Young Prince and Governor Gu. Unfortunately, Yan Family had only risen recently.

He was so absorbed in thought that he didn’t even hear Daohua’s question.

Daohua, displeased with their dismissive attitude, spoke up, “Why didn’t you ask me if I have any grain seeds?” She looked at them in confusion, thinking that even though they had sent people to the old home, they didn’t think to ask her.

As soon as the words left her mouth, both Xiao Yeyang and Yan Wenxiu turned toward her in perfect unison, their faces a mix of confusion, surprise, and expectation.

“Miss Yan, you have grain seeds?” Defu was the first to ask, his voice full of excitement.

Daohua raised her head slightly. “Of course I do. Don’t forget, I have several estates.”

Xiao Yeyang and Yan Wenxiu both tensed up.

Forgive them—they really had forgotten, or rather, had habitually overlooked this possibility.

In their minds, such major matters were beyond the reach of women in the inner courtyard. They had never even considered asking Daohua.

It wasn’t just them. Even Yan Zhigao hadn’t thought of this.

Xiao Yeyang moistened his dry lips and asked cautiously, “How much grain seed do you have?”

Daohua raised an eyebrow. “How much do you need?”

Seeing her bold response, Xiao Yeyang’s eyes lit up. He held up one finger. “Do you have 10,000 shi?”

The grain seeds his uncle had lost amounted to 20,000 shi. If they could gather more than 10,000 shi, the Gu family would be able to help his uncle avoid punishment.

Daohua smiled. “What’s with your careful tone? It’s only 10,000 shi.” She patted her chest confidently. “I’ll help you out.”

At her words, both Xiao Yeyang and Yan Wenxiu were visibly delighted.

However, Yan Wenxiu, worried that Daohua might not fully understand the quantity, quickly confirmed, “Little sister, you mean 10,000 shi, not one shi, ten shi, or a hundred shi, right?”

Daohua, feeling somewhat insulted, replied, “I’m not a three-year-old! Of course I know how much 10,000 shi is.”

Xiao Yeyang trusted her and immediately said, “The grain seeds are at your estates, right? Just give me the address, and I’ll send someone to collect them right away. We need to hurry; they’re waiting to plant in Fenxi.”

Daohua turned to Wang Man'er and said, "Go call Xiao Liu over and have him bring people to the granary."

Xiao Yeyang glanced at Defu, who immediately said, "I'll go with Miss Man'er."

Once the two of them left, Yan Wenxiu turned to Daohua. "Little sister, how come you’ve stored so much grain?"

Daohua shrugged her shoulders and tilted her head with a smile. "I didn’t store it. This is from the autumn harvest, just gathered recently. I've been busy practicing horseback riding lately, so I haven’t had time to sell it yet."

Hearing this, Xiao Yeyang and Yan Wenxiu exchanged a quick glance before both of them smiled, relieved.

They both knew that Daohua liked to sell things to store money, then buy more estates.

Xiao Yeyang quickly furrowed his brows. "Autumn harvest? Does this wheat seed survive the cold?"

Daohua reassured them, "Don’t worry, it’s a Daohua product, definitely top-notch. Not only can it withstand the cold, but it also resists pests."

The wheat seeds she used on her estates were all grown in the space’s yellow earth. The reason she had so much was to quickly and widely spread the seeds.

Yan Wenxiu glanced at Daohua. He knew where his father’s high-yielding seeds had come from, so hearing Daohua’s words, he wasn’t worried about the quality of the seeds.

Before long, Qin Xiao Liu arrived with Defu.

Daohua turned to Qin Xiao Liu and said, "Xiao Liu, take Defu and the others to the granary to collect the seeds." She paused, then looked at Yan Wenxiu. "Is 10,000 shi enough? Should I get more?"

Xiao Yeyang’s breath caught for a moment, then he cleared his throat and spoke. "If you have more, of course, the more the better."

Daohua immediately turned to Qin Xiao Liu. "Give them all the seeds from the granary."

Qin Xiao Liu nodded in agreement.

Soon, Qin Xiao Liu, Defu, and the guards Xiao Yeyang had brought with him headed for Daohua's granary to collect the seeds, with Yan Wenxiu following along.

"Alright, the seed issue is settled. Don’t worry, just relax and wait," Daohua said, smiling as she refilled Xiao Yeyang’s tea cup.

Seeing the freshly brewed tea, Xiao Yeyang felt thirsty and lifted the cup to drink, while silently reflecting.

The incident with his uncle losing the grain seeds had really taken a turn for the better.

Now, as long as they could get the seeds to Fenxi quickly, his uncle would no longer have to worry about punishment.

With the matter resolved, he felt a sense of relief.

After drinking most of the tea, Xiao Yeyang put the cup down and looked at Daohua, who was smiling and sipping her tea. A warm feeling began to rise within him.

Although he was of royal blood and of high status, there were very few people he was truly close to.

His father had never raised him, and although his uncle cared for him, his duties were too heavy, so it was always his uncle who had taught him.

When his uncle lost the grain seeds and faced punishment, he had been truly anxious and worried.

Fortunately, there was Daohua.

From the moment they first met, she had continuously surprised him, and he couldn’t help but feel drawn to her.

"Thank you."

Upon hearing this, Daohua smiled and, seeing how serious Xiao Yeyang was, waved her hand dismissively. "No need to thank me, we’re friends, after all!"

Xiao Yeyang froze for a moment, then furrowed his brow. "Friends?"

Seeing his hesitation, Daohua’s expression turned slightly sour. "What, you don’t consider me your friend?"

Xiao Yeyang thought the word "friend" felt a little strange, but seeing Daohua’s expression, as if she would immediately turn hostile if he said otherwise, he quickly shook his head. "We’re friends."

Only then did Daohua smile again. "Friends should help each other, so you don’t need to be so polite. Besides, haven’t you helped my family a lot too?"

Xiao Yeyang fell silent for a moment. "I haven’t done anything for your family."

Daohua’s smile faded, and her face grew serious. "Even if you didn’t do anything, you’ve still helped us," she said with a charming smile. "I’m really glad I could help you this time."

(The End of This Chapter) 

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Chapter 211: The Lost Seeds

 Chapter 211: The Lost Seeds  

After the Chongyang Festival, Daohua’s daily routine gained an additional task: taking the horse for a ride outside the city.

Sometimes she would go with Zhou Jingwan, and other times, she would go alone.  

Madam Li, always concerned about accidents, insisted that every time Daohua went out, she should be followed not only by Wang Man'er and Qin Xiao Liu but also by an old maid and two servants.

As the days became busier, time passed quickly, and before they knew it, it was mid-October.

One day, Daohua returned from outside, leading her horse, Hongzao. As she entered the main courtyard, she saw Madam Li sitting with a furrowed brow, clearly upset.

"Mother, what's wrong? Did someone upset you?" Daohua asked, her eyes filled with concern.

Madam Li glanced at her daughter, beckoned her over, and after Daohua sat down, she forced a smile, "With you here, who would dare bully me?"

Daohua smiled faintly, "Then what's going on?"

Madam Li sighed deeply, "Your father just returned and said that the batch of seeds sent to Fenxi has been lost!"

"What?!" Daohua’s eyes widened in shock. "How could it be lost? Wasn’t it the army’s responsibility to escort the seeds? How could they just disappear?"

Madam Li explained, "They say they were attacked by bandits."

Daohua found it hard to believe, "Are bandits really so bold nowadays that they dare to rob even the military?"

Madam Li sighed again, "It’s because of the severe drought in the North a couple of years ago. Many people could no longer survive and turned to banditry. Although the weather has improved a bit this year, the fields are still recovering, and the grain yield is low. People are still hungry, and the problem with bandits is getting worse."

Daohua frowned, "Didn’t those bandits know that they were robbing the seeds that were meant for planting? How could they do this to others?"

Madam Li shook her head, "When people become bandits, can you really expect them to have any conscience? The fact that they didn’t kill anyone is already a mercy."

Daohua’s expression became more worried. "So what do we do now? Didn’t the people in Fenxi need these seeds for the winter wheat planting? If they’ve lost the seeds, won’t they face another disaster?"

Madam Li shook her head. The matter involved the livelihood of the common people, and it was beyond what someone in the inner chambers like her could handle.

Daohua sighed, feeling the harshness of life in ancient times.

Suddenly, Daohua’s eyes widened as she looked up and asked urgently, "Mother, will Father be held responsible for the loss of the seeds?"  

Madam Li shook her head, trying to reassure her daughter, "No, your father handed the seeds over to Prefect Magistrate Guo with all the proper paperwork. If anyone is to be blamed, it would be Prefect Magistrate Guo, not your father."

Daohua let out a sigh of relief.

In ancient times, the concept of collective punishment was common. If something went wrong with her father, the entire family could suffer the consequences.

Madam Li frowned, "But…"

Daohua’s heart skipped a beat. "But what?"

Madam Li sighed again, "Your father had hoped to accumulate merit by solving the food problems of the people in Fenxi. Even though he isn’t an official there, by providing the seeds, he would have earned credit. Unfortunately, now everything is ruined."

Daohua nodded, but her face soon became clouded with worry. "But Prefect Magistrate Guo is Xiao Yeyang’s uncle. If he gets punished, Xiao Yeyang will certainly be worried."  

As if on cue, the very next day after Daohua learned of the lost seeds, Xiao Yeyang arrived at the Yan residence.

At that moment, Daohua was in the stable, feeding Hongzao some hay. When she saw Steward Sun and Qin Wu rushing into the stable, preparing to leave, she felt something was off.

Usually, Steward Sun would stop to ask her how she was doing, and Qin Wu would pet Hongzao. But this time, they simply greeted her and quickly left.

"What happened?" Daohua thought, watching them hurry off. "It looks like they’re going on a long trip."

Qin Xiao Liu, who was standing nearby, also looked confused. "Miss, should I go find out?"

Daohua nodded, "Go ahead."

After a short while, Qin Xiao Liu returned, breathless. "Miss, the Master has returned, and so has the Young Prince. They are both in the front courtyard now!" 

Daohua quickly threw the hay into the horse’s trough and frowned. "But the academy doesn’t have a break until the end of the month. Why are they back now? Could it be because of the seed issue?"

She hurried toward the main courtyard. As she reached the door, she saw Madam Li and Yan Wenxiu rushing out. 

"Mother, Big Brother, where are you going?" she called out.

Madam Li replied in a hurry, "Your brother and I have something urgent to handle. We’ll talk to you later," and with that, they both hurried away.

Daohua paused for a moment before turning to Wang Man'er. "Let’s go to the front courtyard."

As she passed through the flower gate, Daohua saw Xiao Yeyang sitting in the pavilion of the outer courtyard.

Unlike his usual confident and spirited demeanor, Xiao Yeyang now looked troubled and anxious, with furrowed brows and a worried expression.

"What's going on with you?" Daohua asked.

Daohua walked into the pavilion.

Xiao Yeyang, who had been anxiously worrying about his uncle, Prefect Magistrate Guo, was about to explode in frustration when someone interrupted his thoughts. He looked up and, upon seeing Daohua, immediately suppressed his anger, slumping in exhaustion. "What brings you here?"

Daohua sat down across from him, noticing his furrowed brow, and asked, "Shouldn't I be the one asking you that? Are you worried about your uncle?"

Xiao Yeyang glanced at Daohua and nodded. "A few years ago, the severe drought caused banditry to spread in many parts of the North. My uncle was appointed as the Prefect Magistrate precisely to deal with the bandit problem."

"Fenxi, in particular, has been the hardest hit, and as a result, the banditry there is the most severe."

"The root cause of this banditry is hunger. To solve the problem of banditry, we need to address the root issue—lack of food."

"Honestly, when Master Yan developed high-yielding grain seeds, not only was my Imperial Uncle delighted, but so was my uncle. With those seeds, he could have solved the bandit problem sooner."

"But now, just when we were hopeful, the seeds were lost!"

"If Fenxi doesn't have a good harvest next year, the bandit problem will only worsen. For my uncle, as the Prefect Magistrate in charge of suppressing banditry, this would be a severe dereliction of duty. Even though the loss was beyond his control, he will still face punishment."

"If things escalate into a major disaster, losing his position and title might be the least of the consequences."

"The Guo family has many political enemies in the court. They won’t let such an opportunity slip by and will strike heavily at my uncle's reputation."

Daohua's heart sank as she listened to him.

If things truly spiraled out of control, it might lead to the Guo family’s downfall or even exile and confiscation of property.

At that moment, Yan Wenxiu walked up, looking at Xiao Yeyang and saying, "Your Highness, my mother has already sent people to the surrounding villages to gather whatever remaining seeds they can find. However, there won’t be much."

The truth was that the high-yielding seeds had been planted only recently. Their family had only harvested one season's worth. Besides saving some for their own planting and giving some to trusted families, they hadn’t set aside much.

What made it worse was the timing—early October, when the Yan family’s fields had just planted the winter wheat.

(End of Chapter)  

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Chapter 210: Clever and Witty

 Chapter 210: Clever and Witty  

Feeling the silence around them, Daohua and Zhou Jingwan, whose faces weren’t yet thick-skinned enough, gradually lowered their voices, their cheeks flushing with embarrassment.  

Did we go overboard with the compliments?

The two girls exchanged a glance, uncertain whether they should continue.

Now, the ladies and young girls in the room should have remembered their brothers, right? Maybe, probably, possibly...  

Daohua glanced over at Dong Yuanyao. Since this was the Dong family’s boat, it wasn’t right for the Yan and Zhou families to overshadow the Dong family. With a sly smile, she turned the conversation to Dong Yuanyao.  

"Brother Dong is great too. Today, when Sister Dong was riding, he followed her closely on horseback, making sure she didn’t get hurt. His horse-riding form was absolutely graceful and impressive."

Dong Yuanyao, noticing Daohua was now shifting the attention to her, looked somewhat reluctant.

She wasn’t like Yan Yiyi and Zhou Jingwan, shamelessly boosting their brothers to the sky. But remembering how her mother had been talking about marriage arrangements for her brother, she decided to bite the bullet and pushed through, "My brother isn’t that exceptional. Apart from being skilled in both the arts and martial arts, well-educated, honest, reliable, and having excellent character, he's also steady and reserved, with good looks. Other than that, there’s not much else."

This time, Daohua and Zhou Jingwan were left utterly speechless. 

Well, they had at least mentioned a few flaws about their brothers. But Dong Yuanyao? She was praising him to the heavens, not even worried about biting her own tongue.

She’s even more shameless than we are!

"Pfft~"  

On the other side of the screen, Dong Jiancheng, who had been watching the scene unfold, suddenly spewed the tea he had just sipped.   

Yan Zhigao and Master Zhou exchanged a knowing look and smiled with a hint of mischief.

Well, it seemed like none of the three of them could make fun of the others now.

After listening to Dong Yuanyao, Dong Yuanxuan, like Yan Wenxiu and Zhou Chengye before him, wished he could crawl into a hole and hide.

While they were feeling embarrassed, Su Hongxin, on the other hand, was looking at his sister, Su Shiyu, with an expectant gaze. 

Yan Wenxiu, Zhou Chengye, and the others’ sisters had all praised their brothers to no end. Surely, his sister—so knowledgeable and talented—could praise him to be even more handsome, graceful, and charming, right?

However, he was disappointed.  

After meeting his eyes, Su Shiyu lowered her head in embarrassment.

On the opposite side, Su Shiyu’s face was flushed with shame. She had let her brother down—there was no way she could praise him the same way the others had.

Brother, I’m sorry! I just can’t do it!

"Hahahaha~"

"Hahahaha~"

After a brief silence, the cabin erupted in laughter.

Some of the ladies were laughing so hard they could hardly breathe, while even the young girls leaned against each other, shaking with giggles.  

At this point, everyone had definitely remembered Yan Wenxiu and Zhou Chengye.

There was no way they couldn’t, with Daohua and Zhou Jingwan bringing them up every time they spoke.

On the other side of the screen, the men were also laughing, offering their congratulations to Yan Zhigao and Master Zhou, praising them for having such fine sons.

Though it had started as playful teasing by the young girls, there was plenty to be gleaned about the character and talents of Yan Wenxiu and Zhou Chengye from their words.

Both young men were highly regarded.

Families with eligible daughters began seriously considering the possibility of a marriage match.

Hmm... Zhou family was impeccable in all respects, but the Yan family’s foundation seemed a bit shallow by comparison.

Yan Wenxiu and his friends were too embarrassed to stay any longer. Fearing that Daohua and the others might come up with some other scheme, they used the excuse of returning to the academy as it was getting late and hastily disembarked from the boat, practically running off as if their backsides were on fire.

As the crowd began to disperse, Master Zhou and Yan Zhigao also took their leave, accompanied by Madam Zhou and the bashful Daohua and Zhou Jingwan.    

Afterwards, the other guests also started to depart. Once they were all gone, Madam Dong couldn’t hold back any longer and laughed heartily, "That Yan family girl and Zhou family girl are just too adorable! How are they so clever and sharp?" 

Dong Yuanyao rolled her eyes, "The real clever one is Yan Yi, Jingwan just follows her lead."

Dong Jiancheng laughed and walked over, "They may be sharp, but they can't hide their wit and intelligence."

Now, the ladies and young girls of each family had a solid understanding of Yan Wenxiu and Zhou Chengye, and could assess whether they would be suitable matches for their daughters.

Madam Dong nodded in agreement, "Indeed, those two girls are good. It’s impressive how they already know to help their brothers like that at such a young age."

Dong Yuanyao sighed, "Mother, I praised my brother too."

Madam Dong shot a glance at her daughter, "Your praise is too general. When you praise someone, do it like those two girls—get into the specifics so others can truly understand the person."

---

On Zhou family’s boat, Madam Zhou smiled warmly and patted the seat next to her for Daohua to sit beside her.

Daohua, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the warmth, hesitated and asked quietly, "Aunt, did I do something wrong?"

Madam Zhou shook her head, still smiling, and gently patted Daohua’s head, "You did nothing wrong. In fact, you’ve helped me a great deal."

On the Dong family’s boat, there was a girl that Madam Zhou had in mind for her eldest son. Initially, the family had been ambiguous about their attitude towards the Zhou family, but after the girls' little scheme, Madam Zhou had a conversation with the girl’s mother, suggesting they should consider further interaction.

To be honest, for a family like the Zhou family, finding a suitable match for their son was not difficult. However, as parents, they still hoped to find a girl who was truly compatible with their son’s heart.

Madam Zhou saw Daohua's unease and immediately rescued her from the awkward situation, "Jingwan and I are going to check on our horses."

Madam Zhou didn’t stop her, only reminding, "Be careful."

---

By the time Daohua and Yan Zhigao returned to the Yan residence, it was already late. Both father and daughter were still in high spirits from the day’s outing, their faces bright with smiles.

"Father, I’ll take the horse to the stable."

Yan Zhigao glanced at the fine steed Daohua was holding and nodded, "Go quickly and come back soon. Your grandmother and mother must be waiting for you."

Daohua nodded and hurried off.

When she arrived at Songhe Courtyard, Yan Zhigao had already shared with the family how Daohua had tried to promote Yan Wenxiu to all the ladies, which resulted in everyone bursting into laughter.

Upon seeing her, Madam Li teased, "You little thing! I’m not even worried, yet you’ve already gone and worried about your brother’s marriage!" 

Daohua sat next to Old Lady Yan and responded softly, "Mother, I only mentioned it briefly. Brother’s marriage is for you and Father to decide."

Sun Shi looked at her son, Yan Wenjie, and remarked thoughtfully, "In the blink of an eye, Wenxiu is almost at the age for marriage. Time flies."

Madam Li also sighed, "Indeed, Wenxiu is already sixteen."  

Sun Shi smiled, "Wenjie is only a few months younger than Wenxiu. It won’t be long before he turns sixteen. Daohua can’t just focus on her eldest brother; she needs to think about her second brother too."

Madam Li’s smile faded slightly, and she didn’t respond.

Meanwhile, Daohua didn’t pay much attention to the conversation and was quietly recounting the events of the day to Old Lady Yan.

Later, Sun Shi tried several times to bring the conversation back to Daohua, but Madam Li intervened each time. 

(End of Chapter)

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Chapter 209: Creative Salesmanship

 Chapter 209: Creative Salesmanship

When Dong Yuanxuan and Zhou Chengye arrived, the young ladies who had been whispering immediately fell silent. Several of the older girls, who were already being considered for marriage, shyly lowered their heads.   

Looking at the various ladies pulling her older brother into conversation, Zhou Jingwan suddenly realized something and whispered to Daohua beside her, “Now I understand why my mother is here. She’s here to help my brother find a wife.”

Daohua paused for a moment, then looked around at the young ladies present. Seeing that they were all sneaking glances at Dong Yuanxuan and the others, she quickly understood.

This was just like an ancient version of a matchmaking event!

Zhou Jingwan continued, “I’m sure my mother has someone in mind for my brother.”

Daohua asked, “Are you sure?”

Zhou Jingwan nodded. “Otherwise, why would she have been so eager when Madam Dong suggested that my brother and his friends come over? She must be planning to let the girls take a look at him first.”

Daohua turned her attention to Dong Yuanxuan and his friends, who were being questioned by the various ladies. She noticed that her three older brothers were also receiving attention from the others. After thinking for a moment, she said, “This kind of observation isn’t very useful!”

“Why not?” Zhou Jingwan immediately looked at her.

Daohua explained, “Think about it—whether it's Brother Dong or the young men on the other side of the screen, who isn’t handsome, elegant, and well-spoken? With so many talented young men, how can the girls remember your brother?”

It was clear that many of the families present had come on this trip with the intention of secretly evaluating potential matches.

Zhou Jingwan froze for a moment. “Right! While we’re selecting someone, they’re also selecting us. And even if my mother has someone in mind, that family may not be interested him. What should we do?”

Daohua narrowed her eyes. “We need to find a way to make sure your brother and my brother stand out.”

Zhou Jingwan nodded thoughtfully, then looked at Daohua with surprise. “But didn’t you say your mother isn’t in a hurry to find someone for your brother?”

Daohua replied, “She’s not in a hurry, but I think the girls here are all quite good. Maybe one of them could be my future sister-in-law.”

Zhou Jingwan was speechless. “Your mother isn’t even here, so what’s the point of you causing a commotion?”

Daohua grinned. “It’s not like we have to settle things right away. I just want to give it a try, see if we can get something going.”

Zhou Jingwan raised an eyebrow. “What are you planning to do?”

Daohua gave her an exaggerated look. “What can I do? I’m just trying to figure out how to make sure all the ladies and their families remember my older brother.”

Zhou Jingwan immediately became excited. “Do you have a plan? Tell me! I also want everyone to remember my brother.”

Daohua glanced at the group of ladies. “Look, even though your older brother and my older brother are standing here, the ladies and their families can only see their outward appearance. They don’t really know them well.”

“If they don’t know them, how can they judge whether they’re a good match? And if they don’t know, they’ll hesitate, consider other options, and maybe miss out on a good match.”

Zhou Jingwan nodded. “That makes sense! My mother, when she’s picking a family, sometimes can’t decide. One looks good, then another looks good, but she can’t make up her mind. In the end, the girl gets engaged to someone else.”

Daohua nodded in agreement. “That’s because there’s not enough information. Men are afraid of entering the wrong profession, and women are afraid of marrying the wrong man. When families are choosing a son-in-law, they are very cautious.”

“So, what we need to do is make sure the ladies and their families get to know our brothers well.”

Zhou Jingwan’s face brightened. “What’s your plan? Tell me, how do we do it?”

Daohua smiled. “We just need to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of our brothers.”

Zhou Jingwan was surprised. “We have to mention their weaknesses too?”

Daohua nodded. “Of course! Only by exposing their flaws can we see if the other party is willing to accept them. You know, when matchmakers are involved in these things, they usually only talk about the good qualities and avoid mentioning any flaws. But once the couple is married, they realize they don’t get along and end up fighting and causing trouble for the rest of their lives. Do you want your brother to have that kind of relationship with his future wife?”

Zhou Jingwan quickly shook her head, but hesitated before saying, “But isn’t it inappropriate to reveal my brother’s flaws in front of others?”

Daohua smiled. “That’s where we have to be careful with how we phrase things. For example, I can say that my brother wakes up early every day to study and spends most of his time in the study room.”

Zhou Jingwan said, “You’re praising him for being diligent and hardworking.”

Daohua shook her head. “It’s not just that. Think about it more deeply. If my brother spends all his time in the study, doesn’t that mean he spends less time with the family? He’s been like this since he was young, so he’s probably very strict with himself.”

Zhou Jingwan nodded thoughtfully.

Daohua continued, "My brother spends little time with the family, so girls who need their husbands to spend a lot of time with them probably won’t consider him."

"My brother is very strict with himself. So, girls who are more carefree, casual, and easygoing will most likely not choose him either."

"However, even if they don’t choose him, they’ll still think of him as a hardworking and driven person, and that won’t harm his reputation at all."

Zhou Jingwan looked at Daohua with admiration. "Daohua, you’re amazing!"

Daohua modestly waved her hand. "Oh, it’s nothing special."

Beside them, Su Shiyu was staring in shock at Daohua and Zhou Jingwan, who were deep in discussion about how to make their brothers stand out. She swallowed nervously and looked at Dong Yuanyao with questioning eyes, silently asking, Should we stop them?  

Dong Yuanyao, expression stiff, shook her head. She knew Yan Yiyi was bold, but she hadn’t expected her to be this bold—to openly promote her brother like this!  

Though shocked, Dong Yuanyao was also curious and eager to see how Daohua would carry out her plan.

Soon, everyone witnessed Daohua and Zhou Jingwan’s thick-skinned approach.

While the room was still lively with conversation, two slightly childish but clear voices suddenly rang out.

"Jingwan, why do the mosquitoes only bite me and not you?"

"It’s because my brother prepared a sachet for me. He said that when we travel, there are more mosquitoes, and he was worried that my mother and I couldn’t handle the bites, so he asked many physicians to specially create this sachet for us. It contains over twenty kinds of herbs. The sachet is great, but the smell is a little strong. Every time we go out, my brother insists that we wear it. I can’t avoid it even if I don’t want to."

(Strengths: Thoughtful, caring, filial, protective of his sister; Weakness: Sometimes too authoritative)
"Your brother is really kind. I wish I had a brother like that."

"Daohua, don’t envy me! Brother Yan is also great. I remember once when we were out shopping, you accidentally knocked over a merchant's stall, and the merchant was about to cause trouble. Brother Yan immediately stood in front of you without saying a word, took a punch from the merchant, and protected you."
(Brave, responsible, dependable, makes you feel safe)
"But when we got home, my mother wanted to punish me, and he didn’t plead on my behalf. He said that if you make a mistake, you should be punished, so you can learn a lesson." 
(Takes things at face value, not good at interceding)
"So I think Brother Zhou is better. Every time we go out, you don’t have to worry about anything. Brother Zhou takes care of everything for you."

(Thorough, takes care of everything)

"But the things he prepares for me aren't always to my liking. Like the rouge, I prefer the one you gave me, but he insists on buying a bunch from outside."
(Overbearing, controlling)

"Brother Yan is better. He never forces me to do anything I don’t like, nor does he make me eat things I don’t enjoy."

(Respects others' preferences, loves his family)
"But he never spends time with me. All he does is study, saying he wants to take the imperial exams and bring glory to the family."
(Neglects family feelings, too focused on family honor)
"Still, Brother Zhou is better."

"Brother Yan is better."  

"Brother Zhou is better."

"Brother Yan is better."

Daohua and Zhou Jingwan exchanged comments back and forth, listing out every possible compliment for Yan Wenxiu and Zhou Chengye, from head to toe, inside and out. As for the hidden flaws—whether anyone could catch them was beyond their concern. 

The entire cabin suddenly fell dead silent.

Whether it was the ladies inside or the men outside, everyone was stunned, their eyes wide open.

All that echoed in their ears were comments on how good Brother Yan was and how great Brother Zhou was.   

Su Shiyu was frozen, her handkerchief slipping from her hand to the floor without her noticing.

Dong Yuanyao, who prided herself on her own thick skin, now found herself speechless, admiring Daohua and Zhou Jingwan’s self-assured, unrestrained approach.

As for the two brothers, Yan Wenxiu and Zhou Chengye, at first, they hadn’t thought much of it. But as the conversation went on and they realized what their younger sisters were trying to do, both of them turned bright red with embarrassment. They wished they could just disappear into the ground.

(End of chapter)   

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Chapter 208: In the Prime of Youth

 Chapter 208: In the Prime of Youth 

The Dong family’s boat was large, with the lower deck divided by screens into two sections: one where the men sat, drinking tea and chatting, and the other where the women were laughing and enjoying each other’s company.

The purpose of an outing was to have fun, and since the people present were all friends, the atmosphere was much more relaxed than usual. Everyone was in good spirits, and the whole cabin was filled with cheerful chatter.

On the deck, Dong Jiancheng watched as his eldest son, leading a group of energetic young men, approached. He smiled and said to Yan Zhigao, "Youth is really wonderful. Carefree, free-spirited, and so full of joy."

Yan Zhigao nodded in agreement, smiling. "Yes, youth is always something to be cherished and remembered."

Dong Jiancheng’s gaze swept over the group, and finally settled on the "youth" leading the magnificent blood-sweat horse. His eyes flickered briefly.

The Young Prince truly was different when it came to the Yan family.

A blood-sweat horse was rare and valuable, worth more than gold. Yet, he had given one to a young girl so casually.

Inside the cabin, the group of young men walking toward them caught everyone’s attention. The ladies began whispering to each other, trying to figure out who these young men were. The girls also began to gossip.

"Isn’t that Miss Dong? Why is she dressed as a man again?"

"She’s holding a horse, so she must be going to ride it."

"That black horse she’s holding is so beautiful, and the other two horses, the white one and the chestnut one, you can tell they’re high-quality steeds."

"I heard there’s a stable behind the palace. Did they go there to ride?"

"Aren’t outsiders not allowed to enter there freely?"

"Don’t you know? Young Master Dong and Young Master Su are the Young Prince’s companions, so they must have been brought along by him."

"Look! The two young masters walking beside Young Master Dong are the ones who helped evacuate the boats at the port."

"It really is them! I wonder which family they’re from?"

"Xiao Liu, keep an eye on Hongzao(Red Date). After getting on the boat, if it starts feeling uneasy, feed it some grass."

When they reached the shore, Daohua handed the horse reins to Qin Xiao Liu. She was about to join Dong Yuanxuan and the others to board the Dong family’s boat and greet the elders from each family.

Qin Xiao Liu gently patted the back of the chestnut horse, smiling. "Don’t worry, Miss. I’ll take good care of Hongzao." This blood-sweat horse was such a rare breed. He’d never seen anything like it, and now he had to look after it carefully.

If it weren’t for following Miss Yan, he probably would never have seen such a horse, let alone have the chance to take care of it up close.

Zhou Jingwan handed her horse reins to the servants as well.

"Let’s go!" she said.

Once everything was settled, Dong Yuanxuan smiled and led the group toward his family’s boat.

Once aboard, Dong Yuanxuan and the others greeted the male elders first, with Daohua and the others following behind and respectfully offering their greetings.

After the formalities, the elders began questioning Dong Yuanxuan and the others about their studies.

Dong Yuanyao, feeling bored, led Daohua and Zhou Jingwan through the screen into the women’s section.

As soon as they entered, all eyes turned toward them. The ladies and young misses of various families took note of the newcomers.

"Well, well, where did these three handsome young men come from?" Master Dong’s wife, sitting at the head of the table, smiled at them. 

"Madam Dong, you’re teasing us again!" Zhou Jingwan, having visited the Dong family before, recognized Madam Dong and immediately responded with a smile. When she noticed her own mother, Madam Zhou, was present, she was a little surprised. "Mother, why are you here too?"

Madam Zhou gave her daughter a reproachful look. "What? You can go out to have fun, but I can’t?"

Zhou Jingwan quickly walked over, leaned against her mother, and shook her lightly. "I didn’t mean it that way, Mother." 

Madam Zhou ignored her daughter, but smiling, waved at Daohua. Once Daohua approached, she looked at the other ladies and said, "You might not know, but this handsome young man here is the pearl of the Yan family’s Prefect Magistrate, Lord Yan." 

She then stood up and led Daohua to Madam Dong. "This is Madam Dong."

Daohua hurriedly bowed. "Good day, Madam Dong."

As expected, the woman who had raised someone as refined as Dong Yuanyao must be a person of cheerful and open-minded nature. Madam Dong immediately gave the impression of being a bright and forthright person. 

Madam Dong smiled, took Daohua's hand, and looked her up and down before saying, "I’ve heard about Lord Yan’s family having a young lady with the qualities of a refined and gentle orchid. Today, I finally get to meet her." Saying that, she took off a string of blue pearls from her wrist and intended to put it on Daohua’s wrist.

Daohua quickly tried to decline, but Madam Dong spoke first, "This pearl bracelet looks best on young girls like you. We’re too old for it!"

Madam Zhou smiled and added, "But compared to these young girls, we are indeed old."

Seeing Madam Zhou nodding for her to accept, Daohua no longer hesitated and graciously thanked her, "This bracelet is beautiful. Thank you, Madam Dong." 

Madam Dong, seeing Daohua’s graceful and composed manner, smiled and nodded in approval.

The other ladies in the room, seeing Madam Dong give such a valuable gift to the eldest daughter of the Yan family right after meeting her, all began to consider the matter in their minds.

Later, Madam Zhou introduced Daohua to other ladies.

"This is Madam Su, the mother of your brother Su."

Daohua bowed. "Good day, Madam Su."

The Su family was a prestigious scholarly family in Zhongzhou, with generations of officials and a history of producing top scholars such as top scholars, second place, and third place in the imperial exams. They were truly a noble family. 

In contrast to Madam Dong’s cheerful warmth, Madam Su was much more gentle and dignified. She helped Daohua up and said, "There’s no need to be so formal when you’re out. You’re our guest." Then, she gave Daohua a jade pendant.

After meeting with several ladies, Daohua received quite a few gifts.

When they returned to Madam Zhou and Dong Yuanyao’s side, Dong Yuanyao began introducing the young ladies from other families.

After meeting so many people, Daohua felt a bit dizzy.

"Daohua, this is Big brother Su’s younger sister, Su Shiyu." 

After meeting everyone, Madam Zhou finally led Su Shiyu over.

With eyes like a painting and a demeanor as elegant as orchids, she was the very image of a gentle, water-like beauty.

When Su Shiyu approached, Daohua stared in awe. It wasn’t until Madam Zhou waved her hand in front of Daohua’s face that she snapped out of it and quickly bowed, "Sister Su."

Su Shiyu glanced at Daohua with some curiosity. She had heard her older brother mention this young lady from the Yan family often, describing her as lively and playful, similar to Yuanyao. But now, seeing her in person, Daohua seemed very composed. She returned the courtesy, "Miss Yan."

Just then, Dong Yuanxuan’s voice came from behind a screen. 

"Mother, I’ve brought a few of my classmates to pay their respects to the ladies."

Madam Dong smiled and said to the other ladies, "That’s the proper etiquette. Everyone here is an elder, so it’s only right for them to come and greet you."

Madam Zhou immediately chimed in, "We are all familiar with each other, and they grew up together. There’s no need to stand on ceremony."

The other ladies nodded in agreement.

They had all taken a quick look earlier and noticed that the young men were all handsome and in the prime of their youth. It was a good opportunity to observe them closely, as they might find potential future sons-in-law.

Madam Dong waved toward the screen. "Come over here." 

(End of chapter)

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