TFWYH – Chapter 329 Sneaking Out

“Come in quickly! At this hour… and in this cold!” Joy turned immediately into worry.

Yuan’er welcomed Tang Wan inside.

Aunt Hong hurried to stoke the fire in the room. “Why are you coming at this hour? Didn’t Sister Jiang tell you not to come?”

“I snuck out!” Tang Wan shook her head with a little pride.

“Oh, you!” Aunt Hong chuckled. “Have you eaten? I made some porridge—have a little to warm yourself up.”

“Thank you, Aunt Hong!” Tang Wan nodded.

“No need to thank me. It’s almost ready—I’ll go check!” Aunt Hong said, stepping out and leaving the space for the two sisters.

Tang Wan set down the fruit and pastries on the table, then unwrapped a bundle and took out a pale pink wide-sleeved flowing fairy dress. “A New Year gift for you!”

“Thank you!” Yuan’er accepted it joyfully.

“And this too!” Tang Wan pulled out a white jade hairpin carved with magnolias and handed it to her.

Yuan’er was startled and hesitated. “This… white jade? How expensive must this be?”

“It suits you!” Tang Wan pinned the white jade hairpin in her hair. “Beautiful!”

“You’re more beautiful than me, sister.” Yuan’er was genuinely happy. She said this, but her eyes kept glancing at her reflection in the bronze mirror, the joy in them impossible to hide.

“Oh, right!” Suddenly remembering something, Yuan’er went to the bed and took a small notebook from under the pillow, handing it to Tang Wan. “Here are some bits of gossip I’ve been recording recently. Take a look, Sister Wan—see if anything interests you.”

“Oh?” Tang Wan took the notebook and flipped through it.

Indeed, Yuan’er had recorded things in great detail—what she learned on which day was all noted. She had even tried to deduce multiple possible outcomes for some events, writing them down for reference.

One piece of information caught Tang Wan’s attention: the Su family had aligned themselves with the Second Prince faction, and it seemed they intended to have Su Yuan appointed as the magistrate of Xiangxi Town.

This…

Abandoning commerce for politics?

It seemed likely that Su Qing had used some method to make this happen.

Plus, with the Su family finally choosing sides, the emperor seemed willing to let them compete with other forces.

Tang Wan hadn’t realized how much her own actions had influenced Su Yuan’s official appointment.

If she hadn’t agreed to hand over the method of making Liuli glass, the emperor wouldn’t have given him this opportunity.

Without the emperor’s favor, no matter how the Second Prince faction maneuvered, it would have been useless.

Tang Wan asked Yuan’er, “Did Su Yangyu tell you this?”

Yuan’er nodded. “He treats me like a close confidante, so he doesn’t hide these things from me. Also, he said the Eldest Prince sent assassins after the Su family. Luckily, a mysterious person sent them a warning, so the Su family could act quickly and side with the Second Prince, gaining his protection. Otherwise, the Su family wouldn’t have survived this time.”

Tang Wan nodded, deep in thought about the Su family.

Su Qing treated her like a daughter, and she didn’t want anything bad to happen to the Su family—or to Su Qing herself.

Actually, the best thing would be for them to withdraw from the political sphere and enjoy a carefree life, traveling and seeing the world.

But Su Qing wouldn’t do that. Her heart was full of hatred, and she couldn’t be prevented from taking revenge.

Even if Su Qing was willing to let go, the Eldest Prince—a petty, narrow-minded scoundrel—probably wouldn’t let the Su family off either.

As Tang Wan pondered all this, Yuan’er didn’t disturb her and quietly stayed nearby.

Soon, Aunt Hong brought in the porridge, its fragrance filling Tang Wan’s nose.

Tang Wan focused back, drank the whole bowl, and finally felt some warmth.

After chatting a bit more with the mother and daughter, Tang Wan left, wanting to check on the ten “Ye” generation youths.

Hearing this, Yuan’er insisted on going with her. She even said she had prepared New Year gifts for them—she had planned to deliver them tomorrow, but since Tang Wan was going now, it was the perfect time.

So Tang Wan left with her, heading to the small courtyard where the “Ye” generation lived.

When they arrived, everyone was gathered around a bonfire, playing drum-and-pass games and roasting food.