Chapter 656: Chapter 592, Not on the Same Level_1 Chapter 656: Chapter 592, Not on the Same Level_1 “`
Watching Jiang Family’s departing carriage, Governor Guo happily stroked his beard.

The Jiang Family had bullied his daughter, and he hadn’t found a chance to retaliate yet. Now, his nephew had taken the initiative and avenged him.

Content, Governor Guo looked at Xiao Yeyang and, considering the officials still gathered around, said, “Yeyang, although your intentions were good not to tarnish Miss Jiang’s reputation, could you have phrased your words more subtly, hm?”

Madam Guo chimed in with a smile, “Yes, Yeyang, comments like ‘you and Miss Jiang are childhood sweethearts’ are obviously nothing but rumors to anyone with clear sight. There’s really no need to explain such things to everyone. By explaining, it looked as though Miss Jiang was the one eagerly clinging to you, which could only have angered Mr. and Madam Jiang.”

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the ladies and young misses present inevitably shifted.

Thinking of the scene when Jiang Wanying fell towards Xiao Yeyang, they scoffed internally – wasn’t that exactly what it was, her eagerly trying to cling to him?

Seeing the disdain on everyone’s faces, Madam Guo’s smile deepened. Not only had the Jiang Family smeared their daughter’s name, but she had also just turned the tables. She was about to add more when Guo Xueming stopped her.

Guo Xueming shook his head at his mother.

His mother’s words, though direct and damaging to the Jiang Family, also implicated Brother Yeyang.

Madam Guo paused for a moment, raised her eyes to look at Xiao Yeyang, and seeing that he wasn’t looking their way, she thought for a moment and gave a meaningful glance to Governor Guo.

Receiving the signal from Madam Guo, Governor Guo looked at his delicate daughter and his noble nephew, pondered for a moment, and said to Xiao Yeyang with a smile, “Yeyang, I’m tied up here, and your aunt and cousin were also frightened today. Could you do me the favor of escorting them home?”

Xiao Yeyang looked at Governor Guo, not wanting to disrespect his uncle in front of everybody, and after a thought said, “Alright, but please wait a moment, Uncle. I will go and greet Uncle Yan and the others first.”

Knowing that his nephew was on good terms with the Yan Family and that everyone had been frightened today, Governor Guo nodded with a smile: “Go ahead, then.”

Seeing Xiao Yeyang agreeing to escort them home, Guo Xueming felt delighted, but as he quickly walked towards the Yan Family, her eyes involuntarily followed him.

Madam Guo patted her daughter’s hand and said with a smile, “Stop looking; let’s get on the carriage and wait.”

Guo Xueming nodded.

Soon, the two were seated in the carriage.

After boarding, Madam Guo saw Guo Xueming lift the corner of the carriage curtain and followed her gaze. Seeing Xiao Yeyang talking to the people of the Yan Family, she immediately laughed, “You shouldn’t worry too much about such matters.”

Guo Xueming, taken aback, quickly put down the curtain: “What are you talking about, Mother?”

Madam Guo gave her daughter a knowing look: “You are my daughter; how could I not understand what’s on your mind?”

Guo Xueming looked a bit embarrassed: “Mother, I’m not really worried about anything.”

Madam Guo smiled and spoke earnestly, “Yeyang has been close to the Yan Family because he had no relatives in Zhongzhou and had to make some friends to avoid feeling too lonely. Now that we are here, and considering your father has always been kind to him, even if it were just for your father’s sake, he would be close to us.”

Continuing, she took Guo Xueming’s hand.

“Feelings are nurtured through companionship. In the future, I will have your father invite Yeyang to our house more frequently. The more you interact with him and get to know each other, the sooner he will not have enough time to come to us, and where will he find time to care about the Yan Family then?”

Guo Xueming was silent for a moment: “I feel that Brother Yeyang seems to be quite concerned about the Yan Family’s eldest daughter. I accidentally saw him at Guankou Building, constantly glancing at her.”

Madam Guo laughed softly, tapping Guo Xueming’s forehead: “And you say you’re not worried. If you weren’t interested in Yeyang, would you even have noticed that?”

With a serious face, she continued.

“Based on today’s events, Yeyang indeed seems to be a good choice. We can seriously consider the proposal from your grandfather. However, we should still observe Yeyang a bit longer. After all, whether he’s a mule or a horse, we’ll only know from a closer look.”

“As for the eldest daughter of the Yan Family… a fourth-ranked official’s daughter doesn’t have the qualifications to be your rival. Put your heart back in your stomach.”

Guo Xueming frowned, “But…”

“`
Madam Guo interrupted her, “There are no ‘buts’ about it. A boy of seventeen or eighteen is in his prime, and it’s understandable for him to be drawn to pretty faces.”

“In families like ours, which man doesn’t have multiple wives and concubines? You aim to be the principal wife; don’t fret over such trivial matters. Concubines are merely playthings and truly not worth your concern.”

“What you should focus on is cultivating a good relationship with Yeyang, letting him realize your worth and irreplaceability. Like that time, you made life difficult for the Yan Family’s eldest daughter and Miss Dong at the Guankou Building, try not to do that in the future.”

Guo Xueming’s expression froze, and he said uneasily, “Mother saw it?”

Madam Guo looked at Guo Xueming, “If you really think Yeyang is good, don’t openly harm the people and things he cares about or values. If you must act, make sure he doesn’t find out.”

“Think about it; Yeyang is on good terms with the Yan Family. No matter what he feels for the Yan Family’s eldest daughter, if you trouble her and Yeyang finds out, do you think he’ll still have a favorable opinion of you?”

Saying so, she stroked Guo Xueming’s hair bun.

“My daughter is a snow lotus on the mountains, while that Yan Family’s eldest daughter is just a weed at the foot of the mountain. You are not on the same level; there’s absolutely no need for you to get involved yourself, understand?”

Guo Xueming pondered deeply for a while before nodding her head.

Meanwhile, Xiao Yeyang was talking with Yan Wenxiu and others, but his gaze kept drifting toward the carriage where Daohua was sitting. Seeing the curtain closed, he couldn’t help but frown.

After a while, Yan Zhigao noticed the Governor glance their way and said to Xiao Yeyang with a smile, “We’ve all brought bodyguards. Little Prince, you don’t need to worry. Go attend to your affairs.”

Xiao Yeyang replied with a smile, “We’re all heading back to Ningmen Prefecture together.” Patting Yan Wenkai on the shoulder, he continued, “I’ll lead the way. You guys keep up.”

After saying that, he glanced again at the carriage where Daohua was before turning to head toward the Guo family’s carriage.

…

Inside the carriage, Dong Yuanyao and Su Shiyu were silently watching Daohua.

Feeling awkward under their gaze, Daohua couldn’t help saying, “Why don’t you talk? Why just look at me?”

Dong Yuanyao tentatively asked, “Are you alright?”

Daohua rolled her eyes in annoyance, “What could possibly be wrong with me?”

Dong Yuanyao fell silent and looked towards Su Shiyu.

Su Shiyu reflected for a moment, “The Governor is the Little Prince’s uncle. Out of respect for the latter, the Little Prince is bound to show some courtesy.”

Daohua nodded, “Of course.”

Seeing Daohua so composed, Su Shiyu was at a loss for what to say.

At that moment, the carriage started moving.

Daohua reached out to lift the curtain and looked forward. Watching Xiao Yeyang riding ahead of the Guo family’s carriage, she fell silent for a while, then let the curtain fall, “Actually, it’s quite good to observe how he interacts with other girls.”

Hearing this, Su Shiyu and Dong Yuanyao quickly exchanged a look, then both seemed lost in thought.

Su Shiyu suddenly remembered how, back on the bridge, a young lady had secretly passed a pouch to Yan Wenkai, and how he had dodged her like avoiding a wild beast. Then, turning back, he had chased after Su Shiyu, asking her for a pouch, and she couldn’t help but smile.

Indeed, if it hadn’t been for that chance encounter, how would she have known he felt differently about her?

“I only want your pouch. I couldn’t care less for anyone else’s.”

Recalling Yan Wenkai’s brazen words, the smile on Su Shiyu’s face grew deeper.