After speaking with great effort for a while, Granny Gu fell back into a deep sleep. Gu Jian stayed to watch over her in the room while the others withdrew.
Daohua’s brows were tightly furrowed, her mind still pondering over Granny Gu’s recent words.
Having Xiao Yeyang call her grandmother was something Daohua could understand; after all, these past two years, Granny had always treated Xiao Yeyang as her own grandson, and a call of ’grandmother’ in her time of illness wasn’t unreasonable.
But arranging a marriage between her and Xiao Yeyang... that was quite preposterous.
Granny knew Xiao Yeyang’s identity—a son of the Prince. How could she decide on his marital affairs?
When Daohua turned to look at Xiao Yeyang, she noticed he was somewhat in a daze, his eyes filled with shock, bewilderment, and deep compassion. Just as she was about to speak, the Elder Lady Yan pulled her into a room.
"Grandmother, what’s the matter?"
Seeing her grandmother’s worried face, Daohua was stunned.
Elder Lady Yan looked at Daohua, "Girl, tell your grandmother, what do you think of Yeyang?"
Daohua’s expression became stiff, and her eyes roamed, knowing that her grandmother was asking if she agreed with the marriage arrangement Granny Gu had just set. After a moment of silence, she nodded, "Xiao Yeyang is quite good."
Hearing her words, Elder Lady Yan instantly breathed a sigh of relief.
Since Gu Jian had revealed his identity and his sister, in a moment of crisis, had arranged a marriage between her granddaughter and Yeyang, the Yan Family couldn’t possibly refuse.
Thankfully, Yeyang was a good person, and the granddaughter herself was willing.
Elder Lady Yan took out the dragon-shaped jade pendant Gu Jian had given her: "This is from your master. He said that Sister Gu could decide on Yeyang’s marriage. This is a token of engagement."
Daohua stared at the jade pendant in shock.
Dragon...
This was something only the Emperor could use!
Seeing that the granddaughter understood the significance of the dragon-shaped jade pendant, Elder Lady Yan sighed and carefully put away the jade pendant: "Girl, your marriage to Yeyang is settled."
With that, her face showed her worries.
"Yeyang is good, but his status is too high. You’re straightforward and dislike constraints, and the Imperial Family has many rules. If you’re bullied after marrying into it, our family won’t be able to help you."
Daohua was still submerged in her thoughts and didn’t clearly hear what Elder Lady Yan had said.
She had suspected the identities of her master and Granny before, but her master had fended off her suspicions, and she hadn’t thought much about it after that. She could never have imagined that they were related to the Imperial Family.
After thinking for a while, Daohua excused herself to Elder Lady Yan and went out to find Xiao Yeyang.
Xiao Yeyang’s mind was also in turmoil at the moment. When Daohua came to find him, he was sitting in the pavilion, lost in thought.
Upon seeing Daohua, before she could speak, Xiao Yeyang took the initiative, "I also just found out. I’m not clear about the specifics myself."
Hearing this, Daohua’s guess was confirmed, "So, Granny is your real grandmother. Then isn’t she the Emperor’s..."
Xiao Yeyang shook his head, his expression somewhat vacant: "All I know is that the Emperor’s uncle doesn’t have close ties with the Jiang Family, and he’s respectful but not intimate with the Empress Dowager. The Imperial Family has always been emotionally detached; I’ve never thought much about it, nor have I ever heard any rumors."
Daohua fell silent; the affairs of the Imperial Family were too complicated.
The two sat in the pavilion for a while, and as the sky darkened, they returned to Taohua Temple.
During dinner, as Gu Jian was worried about Granny Gu and both Daohua and Xiao Yeyang, along with Elder Lady Yan, had suddenly learned about Granny Gu and Gu Jian’s identities, they were somewhat distracted and hastily finished their meal.
That night, Daohua and Xiao Yeyang intended to stay up to keep watch over Granny Gu, but Gu Jian refused, insisting on keeping the vigil himself.
Unable to argue, they both returned to their rooms.
The next day, when Daohua awoke and stepped outside, she was stunned at the doorway. Seeing the red silk hung high under the eaves and the large red ’happiness’ characters posted on the doors and windows, her eyes widened.
Daohua thought she wasn’t fully awake yet and quickly shook her head, rubbing her eyes. Looking again, her view was still filled with a sea of celebratory red.
What was happening?
She stepped out of the room and when she arrived at the main hall, she found it had been completely transformed into a wedding venue.
Xiao Yeyang had also gotten up, and after walking out of his room, his reaction was exactly like Daohua’s.
Both stood under the corridor, eyes meeting with mutual surprise.
Wasn’t it just an engagement?
Gu Jian promptly shooed them away, "If there’s nothing else, you should leave; my sister needs to rest."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yeyang looked at Daohua, took her hand, and they left the room.
As soon as the two left, Gu Jian let out a sigh of relief.
This time it was his selfishness.
Actually, he had never considered having the two children get married right away, but when he saw Defu and the others making arrangements, he suddenly felt tempted.
He knew that this was unfair to his disciple, but his sister had lived a life of hardship. Her son was married without her presence, and now, in this moment of crisis, if she could see her grandson get married, it might lessen her regrets.
...
Once outside, Daohua saw Defu and Dongli arranging Xiao Yeyang’s room and quickly went over to have a look.
"The bed should be sprinkled with red dates, longans, and peanuts."
"And the dragon and phoenix candles? These absolutely must not be forgotten!"
Daohua frowned upon seeing this and quickly distanced herself.
Xiao Yeyang caught up and observed Daohua’s expression, "You... aren’t happy?"
Daohua glanced at Xiao Yeyang, feeling somewhat troubled, "Don’t you think it’s too sudden?"
Xiao Yeyang also felt it was sudden, but he was quite willing, "I think it’s quite nice."
Daohua replied, "But I’m not ready yet." Saying that, she glanced at Xiao Yeyang, "And I haven’t yet decided."
Xiao Yeyang’s face showed urgency, "Don’t you want to marry me?"
Daohua looked at Xiao Yeyang, "Once you marry me, you can’t have affairs with other girls or ladies. Have you thought about this point?"
Xiao Yeyang took Daohua’s hand, "I know what you want is a lifetime commitment with just one partner, and I won’t let you down." Seeing Daohua’s head bowed in silence, he immediately raised his hand and swore.
"By the heavens above, if I, Xiao Yeyang, ever betray Yan Yiyi in this life, may I be struck by lightning and meet a terrible end."
Watching the earnest look in Xiao Yeyang’s eyes, Daohua’s troubled heart gradually calmed down; a lifetime is too long, and no one can guarantee what the future may hold, but in this moment, she was willing to believe in Xiao Yeyang’s sincerity.
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