Chapter 101: There is Room For the Poor Daughter
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Chapter 101: The Fallout
Concubine Lin saw that Daohua had silenced everyone in the room with just a few words. Anxious, she mustered her courage and said, "Eldest Miss, it’s only two slots. With the noble status of the Young Prince, wouldn’t it just take a single word from him to make it happen?"
Hearing this, Yan Zhiyuan immediately snapped out of his daze. "Exactly! This is no big deal for the Young Prince. You're making it sound so serious!" He had almost been outmaneuvered by this girl, Daohua.
"Heh~"
Daohua sneered. "Since you think it’s such a trivial matter, why don’t you go to the academy yourself and ask for the slots?" After speaking, she turned to Yan Zhigao. "Father, what do you think?"
She could outright refuse the pair, but why should a junior like her take on the responsibility of offending others? One of them was her father’s brother, the other his concubine—it should be up to him to handle this.
Yan Zhigao’s brow twitched. Looking at his younger brother and concubine, both gazing at him expectantly, he found himself reluctant to say no.
He hadn’t stopped them earlier because he also hoped Wenjie and Wenbin could study at Wangyue Academy. There was a bit of selfishness in this wish, but it was ultimately beneficial to the family in the long run.
Yan Zhigao glanced at his eldest daughter, who stood beside her mother with a calm expression. His eyes flickered. The Young Prince had granted only three slots, specifically naming Wenxiu and two others. Could this be related to his eldest daughter?
Meeting her father’s gaze, Daohua showed no guilt as she looked back at him, smiling. "Father, asking the Young Prince is no big deal. If you instruct me to do so, I’ll comply. However, doing this might make the Young Prince feel that the Yan family is insatiable."
Yan Zhigao’s expression changed upon hearing this. He immediately made the decision. "The matter of Wenxiu, Wentao, and Wenkai going to the academy is settled. No one is to bring up anything else!"
"Master!"
"Elder Brother!"
Concubine Lin and Yan Zhiyuan cried out in unison.
Yan Zhigao cut them off sharply. "There’s no need to say more!"
Realizing it was futile, Concubine Lin shifted her focus to Daohua, pleading, "Eldest Miss, please help Second Young Master and Wenbin. This isn’t difficult for you. If they achieve success in the future, they’ll surely repay your great kindness."
She then attempted to pull Yan Wenbin forward to plead with Daohua.
Seeing this, Daohua’s face darkened. "Concubine Lin!" Her voice rose, startling everyone in the room.
Tired of being used as a scapegoat by Concubine Lin’s branch, Daohua decided to disregard her father’s face. "Concubine Lin, do you think I’m easy to bully? Every time something happens, you use me as a tool to achieve your ulterior motives!"
"I’ve let things slide before, but let’s talk about today."
"Earlier, you overstepped by addressing yourself as 'daughter-in-law' in front of Grandmother. When Grandmother grew angry and asked you to leave, you diverted the conversation to me, making it seem as though I had wronged you."
"Just now, despite Father’s clear decision to drop the academy matter, you shifted the focus back to me. You even dragged Second Brother and Yan Wenbin into it. What exactly are you plotting?"
Concubine Lin was momentarily stunned by Daohua’s outburst. When she recovered, she immediately started crying. "Eldest Miss, you’ve misunderstood me. I didn’t mean—"
Daohua cut her off, her tone mocking. "Concubine Lin, you’re very skilled at appearing weak. A few tears paired with that pitiful look, and people can’t help but feel sorry for you. Then, you say a few words that seem like a retreat, and you achieve your goals."
"You’ve pinned the future of Second Brother and Yan Wenbin on me, implying that if I don’t plead for them, I lack family loyalty."
"Then, you forcefully brought Wenbin to beg me, adopting a lowly stance. If I don’t agree, I’m cold-hearted and cruel."
"Either way, you win. If I agree, you benefit—your son gets into the academy. If I refuse, I offend everyone in the family, and you lose nothing. Concubine Lin, sometimes I truly admire your cunning."
After speaking, Daohua turned to Yan Zhigao. "Father, if I had known the trouble this would bring, I wouldn’t have dared to ask the Young Prince for any slots."
Yan Zhigao’s face darkened.
The others in the room looked equally uncomfortable.
Concubine Lin turned pale, unable to respond after Daohua laid bare her manipulations. She could only bow her head and wipe her tears silently.
Yan Wenkai, impatient with her display, muttered, "Concubine Lin, why is it that every time I see you, you’re crying? Do you know how to do anything else?"
"Bang!"
Old Madam Yan slammed her hand on the table. "If you want to cry, go do it elsewhere! Don’t make me angry here!" Pointing a trembling finger at Yan Zhigao, she barked, "Is this the so-called sensible concubine you speak so highly of?"
Yan Zhigao, seeing how furious his mother was, immediately scolded Concubine Lin. "Why are you still standing here? Leave at once!"
Terrified, Concubine Lin quickly curtsied to Old Madam Yan and hurried out with Yan Wenbin and Yan Yishuang in tow.
As soon as she left, Old Madam Yan glared at Yan Zhigao. "I can’t bear the blessings of such a concubine. Tell her to stay far away from me in the future, or she might just drive me to an early grave!"
Yan Zhigao stammered, "But Mother, Lin-shi was only concerned about Wenbin’s future—"
"Bah!"
The elderly lady spat angrily at him: “If she’s so concerned about Wenbin’s future, why doesn’t she go bother you instead of causing trouble for my Daohua? Let me warn you—this is the last time! If your concubine dares stir up trouble again… humph! This old woman will take Daohua back to our hometown!”
Hearing this, Daohua stepped forward and took the elderly lady’s arm, burying her face in her shoulder to hide her expression: “Grandmother, it’s my fault. If I had known, I wouldn’t have brought up the matter of the quota to Xiao Yeyang. I promise I won’t make such mistakes again.”
As soon as she said this, the atmosphere in the room grew tense.
Madam Li, thinking Daohua was genuinely upset, rushed over immediately: “Good child, this isn’t your fault. How could the decisions of the Young Prince be influenced by you?”
Even Yan Zhiyuan and Sun Shi hurried to chime in: “Exactly, exactly, it’s not your fault.”
Although their son couldn’t attend the academy, the Yan family had undeniably benefited from the Young Prince’s visit, and they had also reaped their share of the rewards.
Yan Zhigao wanted to say something but hesitated, glancing at Old Madam Yan and his wife. To his frustration, neither of them paid him any attention.
Daohua kept her head down and spoke in a muffled voice: “Second Brother couldn’t attend the academy, and I feel truly sorry. Now, Second Uncle and Second Aunt must hate me!”
Yan Zhiyuan and Sun Shi immediately denied it: “That’s nonsense. Your second brother studying at the prefectural academy is just as good.”
Yan Wenjie pursed his lips, wanting to retort that it wasn’t the same. However, seeing his parents glaring at him, he reluctantly kept quiet.
Old Madam Yan glanced at Daohua leaning against her shoulder and impatiently waved everyone out: “Enough, don’t eat here today. Seeing you all just annoys me!”
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This novel is translated by the Eternal Novel Hits translators. Please read it at https://eternalnovelhits.blogspot.com
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After the crowd had dispersed, Old Madam Yan turned to Daohua with a huff: “Alright, they’re gone now!”
Daohua lifted her head, smiling brightly without a trace of sadness.
“You little rascal!”
Old Madam Yan poked her forehead with a mix of exasperation and helplessness.
Daohua sighed: “Concubine Lin knows exactly how Second Uncle and Second Aunt think. If I didn’t put on this act, they’d definitely hold grudges against me, and even Second Brother would blame me.”
“Grandmother, I’m truly terrified of that Concubine Lin.”
Old Madam Yan just stared at Daohua, her expression suggesting she was watching a performance.
Feeling awkward under her grandmother’s gaze, Daohua shook Old Madam Yan’s arm.
“Hmph!”
The elderly woman snorted coldly. “With everything you said this time, your father will make her behave. I know my son—he values the family and his career too much to let a mere concubine jeopardize the Yan family’s relationship with the Young Prince.”
(End of Chapter)
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