Chapter 683: Chapter 614, Empress Dowager’s Reward_1 Chapter 683: Chapter 614, Empress Dowager’s Reward_1 After Xiao Yeyang left, Daohua stayed at Taohua Temple with Gu Jian and Granny Gu for two days before returning to the Yan Residence.

Once home, Daohua began preparing the medicinal ingredients needed for the Eight Meridian Pill, and by the time she had processed all the ingredients except for the Jingmiao Grass, more than half a month had passed.

In mid-June, Madam Jiang sent out invitations to the officials of Ningmen Prefecture, inviting the ladies of each family to admire lotuses at Jiang’s suburban residence on the twenty-first of June.

Upon seeing the invitation, Daohua’s entire being resisted, “It’s such hot weather for admiring lotuses, not to mention the hassle.”

Madam Li took the invitation from her daughter’s hand and said indifferently, “Admiring the lotuses is secondary, I’ve heard that the twenty-first of June is Miss Jiang’s birthday.”

Daohua was even less inclined to go after hearing this, “Jiang Wanying is having her birthday, and yet it’s us who are being inconvenienced.”

Madam Li glanced at the blazing sun outside the window, herself not keen on going out in such weather. However, since the Jiang Family had already sent the invitations, they had no choice but to attend, “Alright, stop grumbling. It’s a good thing that Jiang’s suburban residence is not too far, just on the outskirts of the city.”

On the twenty-first of June, Madam Li accompanied Daohua and Yan Yihuan to the Jiang Family’s suburban residence.

What was thought to be a small gathering turned out to be quite the event, with Daohua spotting many ladies from provincial officials’ families upon arrival.

Today, Jiang Wanying wore a red dress, looking very festive as she stood among the daughters of various households like the moon surrounded by stars.

Daohua glanced at her and then turned her attention to admiring the lotuses in the pond.

“These lotuses are really beautiful.”

As Daohua sat alone in the Water Pavilion admiring the flowers, Guo Xueming suddenly approached.

Daohua turned her head to look at the smiling Guo Xueming, her eyebrows slightly raised.

Guo Xueming came in front of Daohua and smiled, “Why is Miss Yan sitting here alone?”

Daohua swayed her hand-held fan, “The weather is too hot, I don’t feel like moving.”

Guo Xueming laughed, “I also dislike the heat. I hope Miss Yan doesn’t mind me sitting here.”

Daohua chuckled, “This place isn’t mine. Miss Guo, feel free to sit.”

Guo Xueming promptly sat down and started chatting idly with Daohua.

Seeing that Guo Xueming kept to topics like the weather and lotuses, Daohua humored her with a few responses.

Noting Daohua’s lukewarm attitude, Guo Xueming felt a stronger need to get to know this legitimate eldest daughter of the Yan Family better.

Even in Beijing, she was the center of attention at every banquet, sought after by all. Yet this eldest daughter of the Fourth Rank official’s Yan Family seemed indifferent, showing no interest in befriending either her or Jiang Wanying.

Is it true indifference, or is it feigned loftiness?

The two sat for a while until a maid from the Jiang Family came to say they could sit down for the meal. Daohua excused herself to look for her sister and parted ways with Guo Xueming.

As soon as Daohua left, Guo Xueming’s maid couldn’t help but ask, “Miss, why do you bother getting close to the Yan Family’s eldest daughter?”

With a light flick of her fan, Guo Xueming replied, “Firstly, the Yan Family has indeed helped my father; if I were to distance myself from her, wouldn’t it make the Guo Family seem ungrateful? Secondly, only by being in frequent contact can one truly understand another.”

As she spoke, her expression paused.

Is Brother Yeyang’s closeness with the Yan Family really just because of the Yan brothers?

For some reason, she always felt that Brother Yeyang’s gaze towards Miss Yan was somewhat different from the others.

Compared to Jiang Wanying, who had a more distinguished family and status, she was more wary of this Yan Yiyi, who came from a family of a Fourth Rank official.

Maid: “Miss, I feel that there really is no need to waste your thoughts on the Yan Family’s eldest daughter. You should think of ways to get closer to the Little Prince instead.”

Upon hearing this, Guo Xueming immediately glared at the maid, “Nonsense, look where we are. If others overhear this, what will become of my reputation?”

The maid immediately bowed her head in apology, “I was wrong.”

Guo Xueming snorted, “I’ll punish you when we get back.” Then, she fell silent for a moment, glancing at Daohua walking ahead, and said faintly:
“Since ancient times, marriage has been a matter of parental arrangement and matchmaker’s words. I need not please Brother Yeyang; my task is merely to not displease him, and to have him accept me is enough.”

To please – that was the tactic of a concubine.

….

The banquet was set up in a pavilion next to the lotus pond, with the Madams seated on the first floor and the ladies on the second.

Just as Daohua settled down with Yan Yihuan and the others, she heard the ladies around them murmuring and occasionally looking towards the opposite shore of the lotus pond.

Following the direction of everyone’s gaze, Daohua soon saw Xiao Yeyang standing with Advisor Jiang on the opposite shore of the lotus pond.

“Miss Jiang, did the Little Prince come here specifically to celebrate your birthday?” a young lady asked Jiang Wanying.

Jiang Wanying cast her eyes down with a faint smile, not saying a word, giving the impression of tacit agreement.

Upon seeing this, a trace of mockery crossed Guo Xueming’s eyes. During the Dragon Boat Festival, Brother Yeyang outright denied his childhood sweetheart relation with Jiang Wanying; anyone with eyes could see that Brother Yeyang did not fancy Jiang Wanying.

It hadn’t been long since then, and now the Jiang Family was putting on this ambiguous front again, truly shameless.

As if struck with a thought, Guo Xueming suddenly turned to look at Daohua, seeing her calm demeanor, as if the matter did not concern her, which left Guo Xueming feeling uncertain.

Generally speaking, if a woman was interested in a man and heard that he had gone out of his way to attend another girl’s birthday, she would feel a twinge of jealousy, wouldn’t she?

The eldest Miss Yan seemed too composed, looking as if she didn’t care at all about Brother Yeyang’s presence.

Daohua, sensing someone’s gaze, lifted her eyes and met Guo Xueming’s eyes. Watching Guo Xueming hastily shift her gaze away, Daohua let out an audible sneer.

At this time, the floor below was suddenly filled with commotion.

A butler, leading several maids, hurried over with an excited smile on their faces.

“Madam, the Empress Dowager has sent people to deliver a birthday gift to the young mistress,” she exclaimed.

Madam Jiang jumped up at once, “Where are they?”

The butler pointed backward, “Just behind here, they should arrive any moment.”

Upon hearing this, Madam Jiang immediately sent a maid to call Jiang Wanying down from upstairs.

Seeing this scene, Daohua’s eyes flickered, thinking to herself that the timing of the Empress Dowager’s envoy couldn’t have been more opportune.

Guo Xueming laughed directly, “The Empress Dowager truly dotes on Miss Jiang, or else she wouldn’t make such a grand gesture of sending birthday gifts.”

Hearing these words, the expressions of the young ladies present all shifted subtly.

It seemed that the Jiang Family’s invitation today for them to admire lotuses was merely a ruse; the true intention was to show them how much the Empress Dowager valued the Jiang Family.

Soon, a middle-aged eunuch, leading several young eunuchs, appeared before everyone.

Madam Jiang, accompanied by Jiang Wanying, stepped forward to greet them. The middle-aged eunuch had the junior eunuchs present the gifts from the Empress Dowager, and Madam Jiang and her daughter immediately knelt to express their gratitude.

The middle-aged eunuch lifted Madam Jiang up with a beaming smile and asked, “Is the Little Prince here? The Empress Dowager has also brought gifts for him.”

Madam Jiang immediately sent someone to call for Xiao Yeyang.

Before long, Advisor Jiang led Xiao Yeyang over, with Advisor Jiang hastily walking in front, and Xiao Yeyang trailing unhurriedly behind.

Watching from the pavilion above, Daohua saw Xiao Yeyang’s furrowed brows and knew he was extremely unwilling.

Thinking of his sudden appearance here and then looking at the eunuch who seemed to have timed his entrance perfectly, she couldn’t help but feel that this was a deliberate arrangement by the Jiang Family.

Suddenly, a sense of urgency gripped Daohua’s heart.

The Empress Dowager’s gifts…

Could the Empress Dowager be intending to openly matchmake Xiao Yeyang and Jiang Wanying?

No sooner had Daohua thought this than Guo Xueming did as well, which is why she now looked extremely displeased.

At this moment, Xiao Yeyang had reached the bottom floor.

The middle-aged eunuch, with a grin, took a sandalwood box from a young eunuch behind him and quickly opened it, revealing a pair of mandarin duck jade pendants tied with a Tongxin Knot.

Seeing the contents of the box, Xiao Yeyang, who had been frowning, immediately turned cold. Without any expression, he glanced at the middle-aged eunuch and both Advisor Jiang and Madam Jiang.

The middle-aged eunuch felt his scalp tingle under Xiao Yeyang’s gaze, but remembering the Empress Dowager’s instructions, he steeled himself and said, “Little Prince, these are the Empress Dowager’s gifts for you and County Mistress Wanying. Please accept them and express your thanks.”

Xiao Yeyang stood motionless, while Madam Guo and Guo Xueming watched anxiously, and Daohua gripped the handkerchief in her hand tightly.

The Empress Dowager’s intentions were now clear as day: if Xiao Yeyang accepted the gift, he would be acknowledging the Empress Dowager’s attempt to arrange a match between him and Jiang Wanying; but if he refused, it would be considered an act of defiance against the Empress Dowager, a grievous offense.

This Empress Dowager, she was far too cunning.

Jiang Wanying, seeing Xiao Yeyang’s reluctance to accept the gifts, felt anxious. After a moment’s hesitation, she felt compelled to step forward and say, “Big Brother Yang, this is a reward from the Empress Dowager; please accept it.”

Seeing Xiao Yeyang still unmoved, Jiang Wanying had no choice but to add, “Then I will take mine first.” With that, she reached for the jade pendants in the box.

However, Xiao Yeyang was quicker. He snatched both jade pendants and, with a swift motion, flung them far away.