Chapter 582: Heartstrings
Prince Rui left the palace and took a detour to Chang'an Street. Seeing that the Four Seasons Seed Shop was still packed, he couldn't help but look thoughtful. After a while, he suddenly slapped his head and said, "Oh, I know why the vegetables and fruits at the Four Seasons Fruit and Vegetable Shop are always in short supply."
Shunzi quickly asked, "Master, why?"
Prince Rui's face showed that he had seen through the truth. "I'm asking you, do you want to eat the vegetables and fruits sold at the Four Seasons Fruit and Vegetable Shop?"
Shunzi nodded quickly. "Yes, ever since Four Seasons Fruit and Vegetable Shop started selling watermelons, they've cut a piece of watermelon every morning for everyone to try for free. I was lucky enough to have a piece, and the taste is so good that my mouth is watering just thinking about it now."
Prince Rui continued, "But the Four Seasons Fruit and Vegetable Shop only sells a small amount of vegetables and fruits every day. What should I do if I can't buy them?"
Shunzi said without thinking: "Wait, and then come early the next day to queue up to buy."
King Rui gave Shunzi a look of disappointment: "Even if you come early to queue up, there are still only a few that can be bought." As he said that, he cast his eyes towards the Four Seasons Seed Shop.
"If you can't buy ready-made seeds, you can always settle for the next best thing and buy some seeds to plant. No wonder such good seeds are so cheap. My royal brother is indirectly trying to get everyone to buy seeds!"
After saying this, he sighed, "My royal brother is truly wholeheartedly serving the people!"
Shunzi couldn't help but ask, "The Emperor wants to promote seeds. In order to avoid issuing direct decrees, wouldn't it be more effective this way?"
King Rui choked and was stunned. Yes, wouldn’t it be faster to issue a decree? Why go to so much trouble?
"Perhaps my royal brother wants to experience the joy of opening a shop? Or perhaps he wants to see everyone's reaction?"
Ningmen Mansion.
On the afternoon of the fourth day of May, Governor Dong and his wife brought Dong Yuanxuan and Dong Yuanyao to the Yan family. They were accompanied by Master Su San and his family.
Mrs. Li was very happy about the arrival of the Su family. Although the Su family had expressed their willingness to accept the bride before, Mrs. Li felt uneasy as long as there was no engagement.
The Su family's visit this time was a good opportunity for the master and Master Su San to discuss the youngest son's marriage.
Mrs. Li enthusiastically led Mrs. Dong and Mrs. Su San towards the old lady's yard.
Later, Daohua happily pulled Dong Yuanyao and Su Shiyu and said, "I never thought I could spend the Dragon Boat Festival with you this year."
Dong Yuanyao smiled and said, "We were able to come this time thanks to my eldest brother. He tried his best to persuade my parents to come, saying that after returning to Beijing, there would be fewer opportunities to visit Zhongzhou, so we should travel more."
Daohua agreed: "That's true."
Su Shiyu looked at Daohua's feet and asked, "What's wrong with your feet?"
Daohua smiled and said, "I went to the mountains to collect herbs a few days ago and accidentally sprained my ankle."
Dong Yuanyao quickly asked, "Is it okay?"
Daohua: "It's okay, it will be fine after a few days."
Soon, everyone arrived at Songheyuan.
Old Lady Yan was smiling as she greeted Madam Dong and Madam Su San. When the younger generation came forward to pay their respects, she kindly took Su Shiyu's hand and asked her some questions, and even gave her a piece of fine warm jade.
When Dong Yuanyao saw this, she quickly tugged at Daohua's sleeve and asked, "Why is your grandmother so kind to Shiyu?"
Daohua looked at Mrs. Su San and saw her smilingly asking Su Shiyu to accept the warm jade. She felt relieved and whispered, "My fourth brother likes Sister Su."
Dong Yuanyao's eyes suddenly widened, and then he said with a look of realization: "I was wondering why Fourth Brother Yan always sticks close to Shiyu, but..." Dong Yuanyao suddenly stopped speaking here.
Daohua understood what she had not said. There was indeed a big gap in social status between the Yan family and the Su family, so she told her that her fourth brother would not take a concubine in the future.
Hearing this, Dong Yuanyao showed envy: "Brother Yan Si thinks so highly of Shiyu. Shiyu is truly blessed."
Daohua smiled and took her hand: "You will meet a suitable husband in the future."
Dong Yuanyao's face showed a hint of bitterness. "I'm afraid I won't have such a blessing." Then he shook his head and said, "Forget it, let's not talk about this anymore. Let's talk about something else. By the way, the people from the Jiang and Guo families came to Ningmen Mansion. Did they cause any trouble?"
Daohua said calmly, "The two families each held a banquet and secretly fought a little, but everything else was quiet."
Dong Yuanyao asked, "I heard that you confronted the maid from the palace in public. Is that true?"
Daohua nodded and briefly recounted what happened that day.
Dong Yuanyao looked at Daohua with admiration. "You're really bold, but you did the right thing. People like Aunt Jia love to bully others. If you don't resist, she'll bully you again next time. But you have to be careful. People like this who come out of the palace are very vicious at heart. Be careful not to get tricked by her."
Daohua nodded: "Don't worry, she has no chance."
Seeing Daohua's confident face, Dong Yuanyao immediately thought of Xiao Yeyang. The young prince was so worried about Daohua, how could he allow others to bully her? He would definitely teach that Nanny Jia a lesson personally.
Thinking of this, Dong Yuanyao laughed and shook her head. She was really worrying for nothing. Suddenly, she saw Su Shiyu being pulled by Old Lady Yan from the corner of her eye. Seeing her responding shyly, she felt a little envious.
Now thinking back carefully, it seems that Fourth Brother Yan has been protecting Shiyu since a very early time, and the young prince is the same, and has never concealed his special feelings for Yiyi.
It must be a very good feeling to be cared for and protected by someone like this, right?
On the fifth day of May, Daohua and others got up early because they wanted to go to Ningmen Pass to watch the dragon boat race, and took a horse-drawn carriage to Ningmen Pass early in the morning.
When the group arrived, there were already quite a few people sitting on the balcony to watch the dragon boat race.
Yan Zhigao, Governor Dong, and Master Su San took Yan Wenxiu, Dong Yuanxuan and others to the male relatives' side, while Madam Li, Madam Dong, and Madam Su San led the girls to the female relatives' side.
Not long after they sat down, people from the Guo and Jiang families arrived one after another.
Everyone stood up and greeted each other, then sat down again.
Dong Yuanyao took a look at Guo Xueming and whispered to Daohua and Su Shiyu, "This Guo Xueming is much more docile than Jiang Wanying."
Daohua nodded without making any comment.
Unlike Jiang Wanying's aloofness, Guo Xueming treats people in a friendly, natural and appropriate manner, and is very popular among the ladies. Look, as soon as she arrives, the ladies from various families flock to her.
She admired people who could take care of everyone in any situation, but she was unwilling to make too close friends with them.
Su Shiyu didn't make any comments, but just asked with a smile, "I heard that the young prince hasn't paid a visit to Madam Guo and Madam Jiang yet?"
Daohua nodded: "Maybe he is very busy."
As soon as these words were spoken, Dong Yuanyao and Su Shiyu looked at each other tacitly. The young prince might be really busy, but they didn't believe that he was too busy to spare the time to pay a visit to Madam Guo and Madam Jiang.
Speak of the devil, and he will appear. As soon as the three finished speaking, Xiao Yeyang, Yan Wentao and Yan Wenkai appeared at the foot of the balcony.
"Yeyang is here!"
Governor Guo was very happy to see Xiao Yeyang. He smiled and pointed to the three people downstairs with Yan Zhigao.
When the female members of the family heard the noise, they all looked towards the entrance of the building.
Guo Xueming couldn't help but stretch his head to look over there.
Soon, three figures appeared at the stairs.
Seeing the handsome Xiao Yeyang, the cheerful and sunny Yan Wenkai, and the cold and taciturn Yan Wentao walking up from downstairs, the hearts of the ladies suddenly began to flutter, and some of the shy ones even blushed.
Dong Yuanyao touched the rice flower and said, "It seems that the little prince and your two brothers have become a little different."
Daohua was puzzled: "Why is it different?"
Dong Yuanyao pondered for a moment: "He has lost his childishness and gained a touch of fortitude and restraint, which makes him even more eye-catching."
Daohua looked at the three of them carefully. The more she looked, the more it seemed like what Dong Yuanyao had described. After thinking for a moment, she smiled at Su Shiyu and said, "Sister Su, do you think my fourth brother has become more stable and reliable?"
Su Shiyu glared at her, smiled softly and said nothing.
Xiao Yeyang, Yan Wentao and Yan Wenkai greeted the male relatives and then came to the female relatives.
"Yeyang pays his respects to the two ladies."
Seeing Xiao Yeyang greeting Mrs. Guo and Mrs. Jiang at the same time, Daohua felt a little amused. He was smart and did not favor either side by doing this.
Although Mrs. Jiang was unhappy that Xiao Yeyang did not come to pay her a visit, with so many people watching, she couldn't be too rude, so she could only smile faintly and let him get up.
The smile on Mrs. Guo's face was much more sincere. There was no way. She had very low expectations of Xiao Yeyang before, but now seeing her nephew grow up to be so extraordinary, she was really surprised in her heart, so much so that she ignored everything else.
After greeting Mrs. Guo and Mrs. Jiang, Xiao Yeyang did not leave immediately. Instead, he walked towards Mrs. Li, Mrs. Dong, and Mrs. Su and also greeted the three of them.
After he finished greeting, Mrs. Guo said with a smile: "Yeyang, come and meet your cousin Xueming. You haven't seen each other for many years."
Guo Xueming stepped forward and saluted generously, with a perfect smile on his face: "Hello, cousin."
Xiao Yeyang glanced at Guo Xueming, then quickly and calmly looked away. While greeting, he thought that Daohua's previous words were exaggerated. Cousin Xueming was dignified, but she was far from being as beautiful as a flower. It was true that he had poor eyesight.
Seeing Daohua looking over here from the corner of his eye, Xiao Yeyang curled his lips and said to Madam Guo, "My uncle is still waiting, so Yeyang will go over first."
After saying that, he turned and left.
Seeing this, all the ladies felt a little disappointed.
(End of this chapter)
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