Seeing the struggles of the two elders in the water growing feebler, Daohua quickly asked, “Is there any rope on the boat?”A servant boy immediately answered, “Yes!”Daohua said urgently, “Go get it now!”Soon, the servant boy brought over a bundle of rope.Daohua estimated its length and deemed it sufficient, then tugged on it to ensure its strength before quickly tying one end around her waist.Seeing her do this, Dong Yuanyao quickly asked, “What are you going to do?”As Daohua tied the rope, she kept her eyes on the people in the river, “Of course, to save them.”Dong Yuanyao became unsettled, holding onto Daohua’s hand, “You can’t go. The river is so turbulent…”The rope already secured, Daohua interrupted Dong Yuanyao, “Don’t worry, I can swim, and I’ve tied the rope around me. You guys just pull from the boat; I won’t be washed away.”After speaking, she handed the rope to the strongest servant boy, “When I grab the two elders later, you must quickly pull us back, understand?”

Daohua arrived at the rear cabin and saw Dong Yuanyao talking with the few people they had rescued. As she approached, she overheard them discussing the damage caused by the flood.Dong Yuanyao spotted Daohua and smiled, “You’re here!”Daohua nodded, glancing around the room before asking, “Where’s the person who helped me before?”Dong Yuanyao pursed her lips slightly, “While you were changing, he dived back into the river and swam to the shore.”A look of regret crossed Daohua’s face, “What a pity, I don’t even know his name. If he hadn’t lent a hand, it wouldn’t have been so easy for me to rescue Granny Gu and that odd monk onto the boat.”She laughed as she said this.“That man is quite the swimmer; to move so fast in such a rapid river! He also seemed warm-hearted, diving into the river to save others in that situation, he must be brave and kind in spirit.”Dong Yuanyao’s expression turned a tad uneasy. Back at the city gates of Xingyun Prefecture, she had spoken quite highly of

With Gu Jian’s help, Granny Gu slowly lay back on the bed, but her eyes were fixed intently on Xiao Yeyang.Xiao Yeyang felt uncomfortable being stared at and shifted his gaze towards Daohua, his eyes questioning, “What exactly is going on?”Daohua shrugged her shoulders and shook her head to indicate that she didn’t know either.Just as Daohua thought Granny Gu was about to say something, unexpectedly, Granny Gu closed her eyes and turned her back to them, as though she no longer wanted to see them.At this moment, Gu Jian spoke up, “My sister needs to rest now. You should leave,” his tone unmistakably brusque and unapologetic.In response, Daohua and Xiao Yeyang exchanged a puzzled look.Daohua glanced at Granny Gu on the bed, thought for a moment, and then said, “Granny Gu, you rest well. We’ll be going now.”Granny Gu did not respond, while Gu Jian began to wave them off, clearly impatient.Daohua, speechless, and Xiao Yeyang quickly left the room.No sooner had the two stepped ou

Yan Zhigao was honored with an award—an event that nearly everyone in Xingzhou City who should be aware of, was indeed informed. Even officials in Zhongzhou Province with just a bit more access to information had heard the news.Zhou Residence.Old Master Zhou was reading the family letter sent back by his second son. Elder Master Zhou and Madam Zhou were sitting below, quietly waiting.After a while, Old Master Zhou put down the letter, and Elder Master Zhou immediately asked, “Father, what did Second Brother mention in his letter?”Old Master Zhou smiled faintly, “He didn’t say much, just sent his regards, and mentioned the Emperor personally praised the children who went to Jiguang for disaster relief.”A joy appeared simultaneously on the faces of Elder Master Zhou and Madam Zhou, “Was our Chengye among them?”Old Master Zhou gave his eldest son a look, “Isn’t that a silly question? Our Chengye went to Jiguang with the children from the Dong Family, the Su Family, and the Yan Fami

Dong Yuanyao curled her lips and said, “My grandfather might be a bit worried, but my eldest uncle, he wouldn’t be worried at all.”Daohua asked with confusion, “Why?”Dong Yuanyao did not hide anything and directly said, “My eldest uncle was born of the former Madam, my grandmother is just my grandfather’s second wife.”“Ah?” Daohua’s face showed surprise.This, she truly did not know. She had only heard Zhou Jingwan mention that Dong Yuanyao’s family came from the Marquis Yongjia Residence in Beijing. The Marquis was still there, and the princely heir was Dong Yuanyao’s elder brother, the Provincial Governor.Dong Yuanyao continued, “My grandmother married my grandfather when my eldest uncle was already in his teens. At first, my grandmother wanted to form a good relationship with my eldest uncle, but he was very wary of her, especially after my father was born, he always felt that my grandmother would harm him.”“Their relationship, I as the younger generation should not say too mu