He chuckled and handed over a food box. "Mother said you must be hungry after your long journey, so she had some pastries prepared this morning. They taste just like the old Liufangzhai pastries!"
Yun Manwan recognized the sickly boy who used to live next door to Sanyang Village. She gestured for Yun Tiankuang to take the food box from his hand, her face wary. "Thank you, Young Master Sun."
Sun Chengyuan ran happily to Xiao Youran, "You Ran, I never expected that you would become a young lady of the Duke's mansion. My mother is very happy for you."
Yun Tiankuang pushed him aside without saying a word, "She's become a young lady of the Duke's mansion, what are you all so happy about?"
Sun Chengyuan still had a happy expression on his face, "You've finally overcome your hardships, of course we're happy!"
Little Youran, with her short legs, was about to say something when she heard a voice from afar behind her that seemed to say, "Your Highness the Crown Prince!"
She paused, turned around, and looked behind her.
But then they saw a familiar carriage parked not far away, and a boy was jumping off the carriage.
Senior brother? Xiao You Ran asked in surprise.
The young man was Wen Yuanbai. He had heard that the Duke of Yun had come to Taizhou with his wife and children, so he hurried over as well.
As soon as he arrived, he saw Magistrate Cao rushing over, one hand holding his official hat and the other holding his belt.
When Magistrate Cao belatedly learned that the governor and his entourage had arrived in Wufeng County, he was inspecting potato cultivation in a village. He hurriedly rode back, nearly vomiting from the jolting.
Upon dismounting, he saw the Crown Prince's carriage, rushed forward, knelt down, and shouted, "Your Highness the Crown Prince!"
Wen Yuanbai had just landed and stood still when he was stunned by the shout.
Seeing out of the corner of his eye that Xiao Youran and the others had already turned around, he immediately turned around as well, bowed to the carriage, and said loudly, "Your Highness, Magistrate Cao of Wufeng County in Taizhou has arrived."
After saying that, he turned his head slightly and glared fiercely at Magistrate Cao.
Magistrate Cao was completely bewildered. Who was this Crown Prince calling Crown Prince?
Then they saw several people in the distance, one of whom seemed to be the young county princess.
Only then did he realize what was happening, and he quickly kowtowed to the carriage, saying, "Your Highness, please forgive my lateness and failure to greet you properly."
A moment later, a deep voice rang out in the carriage, "Rise, no need for formalities, you may go about your business."
Magistrate Cao wiped the sweat from his brow, stood up shakily, and bowed to Wen Yuanbai, saying, "Greetings, Your Highness."
Wen Yuanbai was also on tenterhooks. He offered a helping hand and nodded to him, indicating that he should do as he pleased, before striding towards Xiao Youran.
Nan Zhuo followed behind his master and gave a thumbs up to the guard who spoke up decisively in the carriage.
Little did they know that the guards in the carriage were also wiping their foreheads hard, cleaning up both sweat and tears.
Xiao Youran ran towards Wen Yuanbai with a grin, "Senior brother, what brings you here?"
Wen Yuanbai went up to her and patted her head. "I heard you were back, so I came to see you."
Xiao Youran pointed to the crowd slowly moving forward not far ahead, "Father and Mother are up ahead. We're heading back to the capital today."
Sun Chengyuan immediately chimed in, "What a coincidence! My father also wants me to set off for the capital to go to Songhe Academy! Why don't we travel back to the capital together?"
Wen Yuanbai couldn't help but glare at him.
Xiao Youran looked at him in surprise, "Lord Sun and Madam Sun are both in Taizhou, and you're studying in the capital city all by yourself?"
Sun Chengyuan nodded. "A teacher recommended me to Songhe Academy, and the academy agreed. My father was very happy and told me to go there as soon as possible. A man's ambition lies in all directions. I am already ten years old and can live independently!"
With an arrogant expression, he glanced disdainfully at Nan Zhuo and the others accompanying Wen Yuanbai.
Wen Yuanbai:......
Was he being looked down upon?
He smiled slightly, "This young master is naturally not as good as Young Master Sun, who had to go out to study and take the imperial examinations at such a young age."
Sun Chengyuan was taken aback at first, then realized that Wen Yuanbai was the heir of the Xuan King and did not need to take the imperial examination.
Before he could say anything more, Wen Yuanbai continued calmly, "Furthermore, I have been accustomed to a life of luxury since childhood, and the idea of living independently is meaningless to me. It is a good ambition for a man to have ambitions in all corners of the world, but if all men in the world take independent living as a prerequisite for having ambitions in all corners of the world, then wouldn't all the great achievements made by noble families over the years have been in vain? Don't forget that General Yun, who was just promoted to Duke, also had countless soldiers and lieutenants by his side before he was able to drive the Western Di out of the Great Zhou in one fell swoop. It is no exaggeration to say that he is a model of a man's ambitions in all corners of the world."
Sun Chengyuan was surprised that Wen Yuanbai, who was usually aloof and reserved, would seize on one of his sentences and utter so many rebuttals. He couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed and annoyed.
His mother, Madam Sun's voice came from ahead and saved him, "Chengyuan, quickly take the young masters and ladies of the Yun family and follow us to Zuixianglou!"
Sun Chengyuan quickly gestured for him to enter, "The Governor has prepared a welcoming banquet, Your Highness, please."
Wen Yuanbai took Xiao Youran's hand and walked forward, "What does this young master care about being a governor or a sub-prefect? Come on, junior sister, your senior brother will host a special welcome dinner for you!"
Yun Manyan quickly pulled Xiao Youran aside, saying with a wry smile, "Young Master, you've come from afar and are a guest too. Why are you holding a banquet to welcome Sixth Sister? Don't steal the spotlight from the host!"
Wen Yuanbai snorted, "This young master is pleased!"
Xiao Youran was both amused and exasperated. "Senior brother, Father and Mother are here! Wouldn't it be inappropriate for us to run away on our own?"
Yun Tiankuang immediately came over and took Xiao Youran's hand from the other side, "Of course, you are now the legitimate daughter of our Duke's mansion, so you can't run around! When you're out and about, you have to stay with your father and mother!"
Wen Yuanbai, standing behind, looked at the Yun siblings, who were protecting Xiao Youran on either side, with a gloomy expression. He suddenly felt as if his beloved younger sister had been taken away by someone else.
She finally managed to send her own brother to Guigu Mountain, and in less than a year, she suddenly has so many older brothers and sisters?
His vigilance suddenly arose.
But what could he do?
The Yun family children are now Xiao Youran's rightful older brothers and sisters, no longer just cousins!
Sun Chengyuan caught up with her, "You Ran, I know this place well, I'll show you the way!"
Wen Yuanbai snorted and stepped between him and Xiao Youran, saying, "Just follow the path ahead. Why do we need you to lead the way?"
Sun Chengyuan, unwilling to give up, tried to bypass him and say a few more words to Xiao Youran, but Wen Yuanbai always blocked him intentionally or unintentionally.
Yun Manwan and Yun Tiankuang quickly pulled Xiao Youran forward.
The group happened to pass by the former Yun Family Cloth Shop at that moment.
The cloth shop had long since closed down, but the Luo family's cloth shop across the street was still slightly open.
Xiao Youran glanced over there subconsciously and saw a fat woman leaning against the door.
The fat woman was none other than Manager Luo. When she saw Xiao Youran looking in her direction, she immediately prostrated herself on the ground and began to kowtow to her repeatedly, looking at her with pleading eyes while frantically pointing to her mouth.
Xiao Youran: ? ? ?
The group didn't stop and quickly moved away.
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