Chapter 64: There is Room For the Poor Daughter
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Chapter 64: Identity
At the gate of the post station, Daohua watched as Xiao Yeyang was escorted onto a carriage. She stared after him until the vehicle disappeared from sight before turning back, holding the jade pendant, and walking toward their lodging with her head down. Yan Wenxiu and the others hurried to follow her.
Advisor Xiao wiped the sweat from his forehead, also preparing to catch up.
When he first received news from a servant reporting that the Yan children had fought with the son of the prefect magistrate of Fanzhou, he was extremely anxious.
The prefect magistrate of Fanzhou seemingly had connections with the provincial administration. Offending this person would likely make County Magistrate Yan's promotion nearly impossible.
Thankfully, the situation didn’t seem as disastrous as he had feared.
Recalling the extraordinary, noble young man from earlier, Advisor Xiao was eager to find out what had transpired.
He was about to leave when his friend, Li Shounian, stopped him.
“What’s going on? Didn’t you say that Magistrate Yan is from a humble background with no connections in officialdom? How come it looks like the Yan family has a powerful benefactor now?”
Li Shounian tugged at his friend’s arm, unwilling to let go.
As a sixth-grade assistant magistrate in the provincial yamen, Li Shounian had encountered many officials of high rank. He could tell at a glance that Xiao Yeyang was no ordinary person.
Advisor Xiao sighed bitterly. “The Yan family truly has no strong connections. Otherwise, with Magistrate Yan’s achievements, how could he still be stuck as a county magistrate after three consecutive terms, all in remote counties?”
Li Shounian nodded. “That’s true. But who was that young man just now?”
Advisor Xiao spread his hands. “I don’t know. I was about to ask.”
Li Shounian didn’t hesitate. “Then I’ll go with you.”
Advisor Xiao nodded in agreement. He couldn’t refuse. Earlier, when he had been worried about the situation with the prefect magistrate’s son, Li Shounian had come along without hesitation to help smooth things over.
He understood his friend’s intentions—Li Shounian believed the Yan family might have gained a powerful ally and wanted to make connections.
Advisor Xiao didn’t mind. For those from humble backgrounds like them, moving up the ranks required seizing every small opportunity.
In their youth, they might have looked down on such opportunism. But years of hardship had tempered their ideals.
The two hurried toward the Yan family’s quarters. Along the way, several officials emerged to greet them warmly. If they hadn’t walked quickly, they might have been stopped for a chat.
Some of these officials were well-connected. While they didn’t recognize Xiao Yeyang, Dong Yuanxian and the others had seen him. A companion of the legitimate eldest son of a second-grade regional governor—how could his status be low?
When Advisor Xiao and Li Shounian reached the courtyard, they saw the post station manager bowing deeply to Yan Wenxiu.
“It’s entirely our fault. We’ve wronged Magistrate Yan and the young masters. We’ve already prepared a better courtyard. Please move there so we can make amends for our mistakes.”
The station manager bent at nearly a ninety-degree angle, leaving Yan Wenxiu at a loss for how to respond.
Spotting Advisor Xiao, Yan Wenxiu seemed relieved. “Advisor Xiao, you’re back!”
Advisor Xiao calmed himself and approached the station manager with a smile. “Thank you for the trouble, Station Manager. However, Magistrate Yan is not yet back. We’ll wait for him to return before moving to another courtyard.”
The station manager nodded repeatedly. “I didn’t consider that. In that case, I’ll leave a few attendants here to help. Once Magistrate Yan returns, they can assist with the move.”
Advisor Xiao nodded with a smile.
The station manager finally breathed a sigh of relief. He instructed the attendants to stay before bowing repeatedly and leaving.
Watching the manager’s drastic shift in demeanor, Yan Wenxiu couldn’t help but feel emotional.
Seeing this, Advisor Xiao took the opportunity to say, “The world is like this—respecting the powerful and slighting the weak. The eldest young master should observe and reflect. It will benefit both your character and your studies.”
Yan Wenxiu straightened his expression and bowed. “Thank you, Advisor Xiao, for your guidance.”
One can learn knowledge from books, but the principles of dealing with people and handling affairs require real-life experiences to truly understand.
Advisor Xiao didn’t say more. Glancing at his eager friend, he asked, “Where are the young miss and the others?”
Yan Wenxiu replied, “They’re in the house.”
The three of them entered the courtyard. As they approached the main house, they heard Yan Wenkai’s exclamation.
“Little sister, this jade pendant is warm to the touch. It must be very expensive!”
This was followed by Daohua’s voice.
“How much do you think we could sell it for at a pawn shop?”
At this, Advisor Xiao couldn’t hold back any longer and strode into the room.
“A jade pendant given by a friend—how can you consider pawning it?”
Seeing Advisor Xiao’s disapproving look, Daohua smiled sheepishly. “I was just saying. I won’t sell it. Xiao Yeyang is so petty—if he found out I sold his jade pendant, he’d definitely argue with me next time we meet.”
“Xiao? That young man’s surname is Xiao?” Li Shounian couldn’t help but ask.
Daohua looked at him curiously and nodded. Then she turned to Advisor Xiao. “His surname is Xiao, just like yours!”
Advisor Xiao and Li Shounian exchanged a quick glance.
Xiao—a royal surname!
Suppressing his excitement, Li Shounian asked again, “Young miss, do you know that young man’s identity?”
Daohua shook her head. “He didn’t say, but he’s from the capital.”
Advisor Xiao asked, “Then how did you meet him?”
Daohua puffed out her chest. “I’m his savior—his lifesaving benefactor! Oh, and so is Third Brother!”
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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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Everyone turned to look at Yan Wentao, who smiled sheepishly and nodded. “And Grandmother, too.”
Daohua nodded. “Right, we saved him.”
Then, glancing at Advisor Xiao and Li Shounian’s expressions, her eyes sparkled as she tested the waters. “Advisor Xiao, what do you think his status is? He seems quite impressive.”
“This...”
Advisor Xiao and Li Shounian had their guesses but refrained from saying much. “We’re not sure, but his status is likely very high.”
Daohua nodded, examining the jade pendant on her waist. “I think so too. Could he be a prince? But would a prince be kidnapped by human traffickers?”
Advisor Xiao’s eyelids twitched. This eldest Yan daughter had a knack for speculation.
Still, that young man, even if not a prince, held a status not far from one.
Didn’t they notice the pattern on the jade pendant?
A qilin!
That was a symbol only royalty could bear.
(End of Chapter)
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