Chapter 298: Chapter 279: The Beauty Trap_1

“Zixuan will have her engagement settled on February 22nd. I’ll need to prepare the gifts and make arrangements for the trip to Ningmen Prefecture. I definitely won’t have time to go, so, you’ll go to your uncle’s home on behalf of me,” said Madam Li.

Hearing what Madam Li said, Daohua nodded, “Then Mother, when should I go to the provincial capital? Will I be going alone?”

Madam Li pondered for a while. She was not comfortable with the idea of her daughter traveling alone, thought for a moment, and said, “Let your fourth brother take a few days off from the Academy and go with you.”

“Today is already the eighth day of the lunar month. There are not many days left until the engagement. So, go back to your quarters and pack your things first, and head to the provincial capital in a couple of days.”

Daohua had no objections. When Madam Li and the Old Madam Yan heard about it, the latter did not oppose it either.

Thus, Daohua began preparing her gift offerings.

Looking at the courtyard where she had lived for three years, Daohua felt a sense of reluctance. “Once I leave this time, I’m afraid I may not be able to come back.”

After Sister Zixuan’s engagement was settled, the Yan Family should have already gone to Ningmen Prefecture.

Looking at the blooming flowers in the courtyard, Daohua called for Wang Manman, “Go to the Zhou Family and ask Jingwan to come over.”

Soon after, Zhou Jingwan arrived. As she entered the courtyard, she saw the maids and old women packing away things and immediately asked Daohua, who was under the porch, “Are you leaving now?”

Daohua shook her head, “My mother and the others will probably leave a few days later, but I’m leaving the day after tomorrow.”

Zhou Jingwan was surprised, “Why so soon?”

Daohua explained, “My cousin Zixuan is getting engaged. Mother can’t make it, so my fourth brother and I will go.”

Zhou Jingwan walked up to Daohua and looped her arm in hers, “Does that mean we’re about to part ways?”

Daohua corrected, “It’s only a temporary parting; we will see each other again in the future.”

Zhou Jingwan pouted, “Easy for you to say. As we’re getting older, it’s not as easy to go out as it was when we were kids.”

Daohua sighed silently.

It really was a nuisance in the ancient times; it was quite difficult for women to leave their homes.

They were still alright, given some freedom by their family. But once married, without permission from their husbands and mothers-in-law, one might have to spend a lifetime in the inner courtyard.

Putting aside these troubling thoughts, Daohua, pointing to the flowers in the courtyard, remarked, “You’re in luck, any of these flowers that you fancy, you can take with you.”

Upon hearing this, Zhou Jingwan’s eyes immediately sparkled; she set aside her recent worries and excitedly said, “Really?” Seeing Daohua nod, she immediately said happily, “I love the climbing roses in your courtyard the most. I’m going to transplant them into my courtyard.”

Seeing her so happy, Daohua laughed, “Do you want me to get someone to help you?”

Zhou Jingwan nodded repeatedly, “Yes, please!”

In the following two days, Daohua busied herself packing. Wang Manman and others took care of the affairs inside the house, while Daohua met with the butlers of the manors and shops, instructing them to send the account books to Ningmen Prefecture every three months.

“I trust you all, but let me reiterate here, anyone who dares to use the power of the Yan Residence to oppress the local commoners and comes to my knowledge, no matter the reason, will be dismissed immediately. If the offense is grave, they’ll be sent directly to the authorities.”

The butlers from the various manors and shops all listened earnestly and solemnly, assuring that they would not engage in such misconduct.

As for the young miss of the Yan Family, none of them took her lightly; though young in age, her competence was remarkable. Every manor and shop had set rules, and any violators would face punishment. Pleading was useless; she was resolute in her decisions.

Having packed everything in the house and organized the manors and shops, on the tenth day of the second lunar month, Daohua boarded a boat heading for the provincial capital.

Zhou Residence.

After Daohua left, Zhou Jingwan was downcast for several days.

Madam Zhou came to her daughter’s room and saw her clutching the zodiac cartoon dolls given to her by Daohua. Smiling, she walked over and picked up the tiger doll, “That girl Daohua is quite clever and skilled. This needlework isn’t bad at all.”

Her daughter wasn’t fond of sewing, but after befriending Daohua, she had picked it up too. Now her embroidery was presentable when shown to others.

Seeing her daughter unhappy, Madam Zhou said with a smile, “Look at you. It’s not like you won’t see her again, yet you miss her this much?”

Zhou Jingwan nodded, “Only when I’m with Daohua do I feel at ease. The other girls are all awkward and uninteresting.”

Madam Zhou sighed, “If only that girl Daohua were two or three years older, then, oh my, I’d really love to have her as your sister-in-law.”

Zhou Jingwan’s eyes brightened at the thought, but then dimmed again, “Mother, you might as well not have said that.”

Moving forward, Madam Zhou pulled Zhou Jingwan up, “Enough of this gloominess; come with me to see your brother’s betrothal gifts.”

…

Provincial Capital, Li Family.

As soon as Daohua arrived, Li Zixuan and Li Zixin crowded around her, pulling her into the residence.

Yan Wenkai, seeing his two cousins didn’t even give him a glance, suddenly felt depressed and looked at the Li Chenyi brothers, “I’m standing right here, how come they didn’t even take one look at me?”

Li Chenzhi laughed and patted his shoulder, “Cousin Wenkai, this just shows your charm is no match for your cousin’s!”

Hearing this, Yan Wenkai not only wasn’t upset, but even wore a proud face, “Of course, whose cousin do you think she is?”

On the second day at the Li’s, Dong Yuanyao came to visit.

“How come you’re here?”

Seeing Dong Yuanyao sitting in the parlor drinking tea, Daohua was full of surprise.

Dong Yuanyao glanced at her and said discontentedly, “You still have the nerve to ask me, coming to the provincial capital without even stopping by to see me.”

Daohua walked over with a smile, “I just got here.”

Dong Yuanyao stood up and paid her respects to the sisters Li Zixuan and Li Zixin.

Afterwards, the four of them went to play in Li Zixuan’s courtyard.

In the mid-afternoon, Dong Yuanyao got up to leave. Before she left, she suggested to Daohua, “Staying at home is quite boring, why don’t we go for a stroll on the street tomorrow?”

Daohua nodded repeatedly, “Sure, sure.” She just finished speaking when she thought of something, and turned to look at Li Zixuan, “Cousin Zixuan, you can go out of the residence now, right?”

Li Zixuan shook her head, “I’m not going out, you all can go. I still have to embroider my wedding dress at home.”

Daohua then looked towards Li Zixin.

Li Zixin was full of interest, “As long as my mother agrees.”

Daohua turned to Dong Yuanyao, “Just wait a moment, I’ll go ask my aunt. If she agrees, we can go out tomorrow.”

The Fan Family had no objections, and the next morning, Daohua went out with Li Zixin, meeting up with Dong Yuanyao at the arranged restaurant.

After the three young ladies met up, they first went to a fabric shop, then a dressing store, and after strolling around for most of the day, they returned to the original restaurant, planning to have lunch before continuing their outing and then heading home.

Just as they were about to order food, Li Zixin suddenly exclaimed with surprise.

Daohua quickly asked, “What’s wrong?”

Li Zixin pointed at a richly dressed gentleman downstairs and said, “That person is Feng Liangji.”

Upon hearing this, Daohua immediately stood by the window to look down, and Dong Yuanyao also crowded over with curiosity.

“What does he look like? Is he handsome?”

“Not bad, he seems quite debonair, barely worthy of Cousin Zixuan.”

Looking at Feng Liangji talking with a friend on the street, Daohua narrowed her eyes, “He looks alright, but who knows what his character is like?”

Hearing this, Dong Yuanyao immediately said, “Why not test him and find out?”

Daohua was instantly intrigued, “How should we test him?”

Dong Yuanyao said seriously, “To test a man’s character, of course you have to use a beauty trap.”

Daohua’s eyes lit up.

At the side, Li Zixin seeing both of them so eager to try, hurriedly stepped forward to stop them, “Don’t you two cause trouble.”

Daohua hesitated for a moment, but then thinking that Cousin Zixuan might end up marrying a scumbag, she said, “Cousin Zixin, you wouldn’t want Cousin Zixuan to marry someone unworthy, would you?”

“While things aren’t settled between them yet, we have the chance to test this man’s character. If he’s not right, we still have the chance to call it off. Once the arrangement is made, going back on it would damage Cousin’s reputation.”

At this, Li Zixin hesitated as well.

Seeing her like this, Dong Yuanyao said, “Don’t worry, we know what we’re doing, we won’t let him find out about us.”