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“Uncle Yan, Auntie Yan, I have been out for a whole day and night, and I should head back too. My impromptu visit this time has really been an imposition. Next time, I hope your family will honor my home with a visit when my little nephew invites you all,” Zhou Chengye said with a smile as he made his respects to Yan Zhigao and Madam Li. Last night, in an effort to get closer to Xiao Yeyang and Dong Yuanxuan, he unabashedly stayed over at the Yan Family despite living in Xingzhou City, and despite the fact that it was his first time interacting with the family and, logically, he shouldn’t have stayed over.

Yan Zhigao laughed and waved his hand, “Young Master Zhou is too polite. We are very happy that you came to visit us and you are welcome to come at any time.” Zhou Chengye addressed him as Uncle Yan out of politeness, but he couldn’t truly accept such a title regardless of his status.

The Dong Family has produced a Grand Secretary, and the current Second Master Zhou is a Senior Third Rank Vice Minister of Personnel; how could he presume to accept the title of uncle from a young master of the Zhou Family?

“Then I shall have to trouble you more often in the days to come,” Zhou Chengye said, not minding Yan Zhigao’s choice of address. It had merely been a polite formality anyway. He then turned to Yan Wenxiu.

“I have great admiration for Brother Yan’s scholarship. We must exchange views more often in the future.”

Yan Wenxiu was keen on befriending Zhou Chengye, who didn’t act like a typical aloof aristocratic son. He immediately responded with a smile, “Then if I have anything I don’t understand in the future, I’ll have to ask Brother Zhou for guidance.”

Zhou Chengye chuckled, “It’s not about asking for guidance; it’s about exchanging ideas.” After speaking, he turned to Daohua, “Older Sister Daohua, Jingwan often mentions you at home. If you have time, you should go and visit her.”

Daohua didn’t expect Zhou Chengye to address her as well, and was a bit surprised, but she quickly smiled and promised, “I will.” As for him saying Zhou Jingwan often talked about her, she took it with a grain of salt and didn’t take it to heart.

Afterwards, Zhou Chengye saluted the others as well, then mounted the fine horse his servant had brought over and rode off.

Seeing everyone had gone, Daohua was about to help Madam Li back to the inner courtyard to rest. The dark circles under Madam Li’s eyes showed how hard she had worked to host Xiao Yeyang and that she had not rested well.

Just then, Yan Wenkai came bounding over, tugging at Daohua and asking, “Big sister, what were you whispering to the Little Prince earlier? What did you talk about?”

At this question, Yan Zhigao and the rest turned to look. Yan Wenxiu seemed slightly anxious.

He had not been seriously considering Wangyue Academy at first, but after his younger brother had hinted that the Little Prince might secure them a spot there, he became intrigued.

The notion that Daohua might have broached the subject privately with the Little Prince had made it hard for him not to start looking forward to it.

It had been two years since he had achieved the Scholar rank, and despite consistently studying hard throughout these years, he felt his knowledge and perspective were still too limited.

As the eldest son and grandson of the Yan Family, he had been acutely aware of his responsibilities from a young age. As he grew older, he became increasingly cognizant of the Yan Family’s fragile foundations and had seen firsthand the difficulties his father faced in the government.

All of this made him urgently wish to improve himself, for a person without real ability cannot bear the responsibility of reviving his family.

At the State School, however, there was only so much he could learn and so few people he could meet.

Wangyue Academy stood among the top institutions in Daxia, with both its faculty and students being the creme de la creme of the nation. If he could study in such an environment, not to mention the knowledge, even the connections he could make would represent a considerable gain.

Daohua observed everyone’s expressions, and thinking about how Xiao Yeyang had not given any specifics, she did not wish to give vain hope to others and said, “It wasn’t much; just some words of farewell.”

Upon hearing this, everyone couldn’t help but feel a twinge of disappointment.

Madam Li glanced at Daohua, knowing her daughter had a sense of propriety in her actions. She glared at her younger son, “What are you dawdling for? Go study.”

Yan Wenkai was merely curious and asked casually. Seeing that he could glean nothing of substance, he lost interest and ran off with Wentao.

Yan Zhigao addressed the others, “Everyone, go about your own tasks. I must head to the yamen myself.”

At Xingzhou Port.

Xiao Yeyang and Dong Yuanxuan boarded the ship.

“Bring the wooden box over here.”

Defu carefully placed the unassuming wooden box onto the table in front of Xiao Yeyang’s seat, and after getting a wave from Xiao Yeyang, he bowed and retreated.

“I wonder what gift the eldest miss of the Yan Family has given the Little Prince? Let’s open it and see,” Dong Yuanxuan said with a smile.

In front of others, he was always mindful of propriety, but in private, his interactions with Xiao Yeyang were quite relaxed.

Xiao Yeyang himself had a temper and was quite picky, but he was indeed a decent person. At least, he never treated his subordinates with violence or irrational demands.

Xiao Yeyang glanced at Dong Yuanxuan, tempted to tease him further, but he was also curious about what Daohua had gifted him. After a moment’s thought, he reached out and opened the wooden box.

“Wow, three cylinders of tea leaves, Little Prince, you’ve got to give me one.”

Dong Yuanxuan immediately opened his mouth to ask for some.

Perhaps because they had left in such a hurry, the Yan Family was not fully prepared, so he had not received any presents.

Well… not exactly nothing, he still got a share of the last cart of vegetables and watermelons.

As Xiao Yeyang held the bamboo cylinder, opened it and saw that it was indeed filled with jasmine tea, he disdainfully said, “This Daohua, ruining good stuff again, is this bamboo cylinder even meant to hold tea?”

Though his tone was full of disdain, the corners of his mouth were continuously curling upwards.

Dong Yuanxuan didn’t say anything even though he saw through it. The jasmine tea was also not bad for him, noticing that Xiao Yeyang had no intention of giving him any, he said again, “Little Prince, there are three cylinders of tea, you can’t drink that much, give one to me.”

Xiao Yeyang quickly covered the bamboo cylinder, “No way, this little bit of tea isn’t even enough for me to give away as presents.” Uncles, teachers — these people were all way more important than a Dong Yuanxuan.

Seeing that Xiao Yeyang had put away the tea, Dong Yuanxuan pursed his lips, but was perceptive enough not to continue asking. Xiao Yeyang was usually quite generous; if he didn’t give, it meant he really didn’t want to.

“What’s that wrapped in cloth?”

Xiao Yeyang was also curious, he opened the cloth wrap, and a fresh ginseng, just unearthed, appeared starkly in the view of the two men.

Looking at the ginseng roots still covered with a bit of soil, Xiao Yeyang was at a loss for words.

On the side, Dong Yuanxuan’s mouth twitched as well. The Yan Family’s eldest daughter certainly had a unique style of gift-giving — even good things need decent packaging, “This ginseng looks like it’s a hundred years old, right?”

A Hundred-Year Ginseng, just like that, wrapped in a rough cloth and given as a present!

Xiao Yeyang picked up the ginseng, still not yet processed, and nodded, “Even if it’s not enough, it’s not far off in years. This Daohua, why give me a ginseng?”

Dong Yuanxuan smiled, “Didn’t the elder Miss Yan say that? It’s a thank-you gift for you.”

Xiao Yeyang put down the ginseng, looked at the jasmine tea in the bamboo cylinder, then at the ginseng wrapped in cloth, and heaved a helpless sigh. When Daohua gave a gift, it really required him to do some reworking.

“And what’s in that porcelain bottle, it’s not some medicine, is it?”

Looking at the last three small porcelain bottles in the wooden box, Dong Yuanxuan asked.

Xiao Yeyang picked up a porcelain bottle, opened the cap and took a whiff, then before Dong Yuanxuan could say anything, he quickly stowed the porcelain bottle away.

It was the golden sore medicine that Daohua used to save Zhao Ergou before — it had even better hemostatic and anti-inflammatory effects than the army’s golden sore medicine.

Of the three gifts, this was the most valuable!

Whether it was the tea or the ginseng, if he simply said the word, people would immediately bring them to him, but this superb golden sore medicine that could save lives was virtually priceless.

Dong Yuanxuan, seeing Xiao Yeyang’s reaction, was very curious, “What’s this good stuff, can’t you show me?”

Xiao Yeyang ignored him and said, “Arrange it, didn’t Daohua say she wanted to treat me to that hotpot? Check when we can come again.”

Dong Yuanxuan thought for a moment, “That would probably have to wait until around Mid-Autumn Festival. Taking leaves too frequently, the scholars would get unhappy.”

Xiao Yeyang’s face fell, Prince Rui’s uncle had specifically instructed the Academy when he left to treat him as an ordinary student; to punish when necessary, to scold when needed, and he couldn’t be too presumptuous.

If things got too out of hand, he could be sent back to the capital.

Meanwhile, at the rear of the passenger boat, Defu personally watched as the bodyguards stored the vegetables and watermelons from the Yan Family in the storeroom.

A bodyguard mumbled softly, “When other families send gifts, it’s all gold and silver valuables, but this Xingzhou Prefectural Governor sends a cartload of vegetables and fruits.”

“Whack!”

Listening to this, Defu walked over and smacked the bodyguard on the forehead, “What do you know? The vegetables from Prefectural Governor Yan’s home are much tastier than what’s sold outside.”

Last night, the Yan Family’s eldest daughter specifically left dinner for him and Zhao Ergou.

The taste, that was something delightful.

“Be careful with these watermelons when you move them, don’t let them get smashed. The Little Prince really likes them.”