High-class maid

"It's getting late, and we still have things to do at the manor, so we won't linger any longer. Young Master Song, we'll take our leave." Madam Wang glanced at the sky and rose with Shen Xing'er.

Song Wenyang also hurriedly stood up and said, "Miss Shen, Aunt, please wait. Why don't you let the inn's carriage take you back?"

Just as Madam Wang was about to politely decline, Shen Xing'er quickly said in front of her, "Then thank you for your kindness, Young Master Song. Mother, let's wait outside." After saying that, she blinked at Madam Wang, as if afraid that she would scold her.

Madam Wang shook her head helplessly and said, "Then thank you for your kindness, Young Master Song."

Song Wenyang took in the eyes of the mother and daughter, and couldn't help but laugh at Shen Xing'er's playful appearance, a smile appearing on his lips that he himself didn't even realize.

Just then, Song Wenyang noticed that Shen Xing'er was wearing the peach blossom hairpin he had given her. He had been so focused on whether she had lost weight and whether she was happy that he hadn't dared to look at her again. But now, seeing her hairpin in a daze, he was overjoyed.

"Young Master Song, please go back inside. We're leaving," said Madam Wang, lifting the carriage curtain.

Song Wenyang smiled slightly, said nothing, and continued to stand outside the door watching them go. Wang had no choice but to lower the curtain and sit down; there was a charcoal brazier in the carriage, and it couldn't be allowed to get hot and cold alternately.

At this moment, Shen Xing'er opened the curtain again and said, "Goodbye, Brother Song! Take care of yourself!" After saying that, she quickly sat up straight, as if she hadn't just spoken.

Song Wenyang felt a lump in his throat. He waved to the carriage, though the girl inside couldn't see him, his heart was full. Then he turned and went back inside, satisfied.

"You silly girl, don't do that again! What if someone sees you like that? What will they say about you?" Wang was startled by her daughter's overstepping behavior and hurriedly admonished her.

Shen Xing'er ignored her. Perhaps it was because of the charcoal brazier in the carriage, but she felt her face was very hot. She turned around and wanted to open the curtain to let in some cool air.

Wang slapped her on the back again, then pulled her back. Looking at her daughter's awkward expression, she asked...

"Could it be that you can't bear to part with Young Master Song?"

"Mother, what are you saying! No way! I'm not feeling well, I'm going to take a nap." After saying that, Shen Xing'er closed her eyes and pretended to sleep.

"Oh no, oh no, I won't be able to take my daughter to see Young Master Song anymore. Well, this is the last time they'll meet," Wang thought to herself.

"Young Master, you've been looking at this page for a whole incense stick's time," Uncle Jiao said gently, noticing his young master's blank expression.

Song Wenyang snapped out of his reverie and asked casually, "Has the coachman returned?"

"They're back. The driver safely delivered Miss Shen and her daughter to the back gate of the Xiao residence."

"That's good. Is there anything else?" Song Wenyang asked, seeing that Uncle Jiao seemed hesitant to speak.

"Yes, it's about Lao He. Is he really alone in the capital?"

Uncle Jiao and Uncle He had an exceptionally close relationship; in their youth, they were as close as brothers. However, after Song Wenyang's mother passed away, and with the business in Jinling to manage, Song Wenyang trusted Uncle Jiao the only person he could rely on, so he had to send him to Jinling.

"How could that be? I arranged for guards to keep an eye on Uncle He. Sending Miss Shen is just an extra precaution."

"Oh, I see. This old servant thought that the young master was taking this opportunity to correspond with Miss Shen," Uncle Jiao teased.

"No way, Uncle Jiao always overthinks things," Song Wenyang retorted stubbornly.

"Young Master is as stubborn as ever..." Uncle Jiao muttered, then quickly closed the door and slipped away.

The next day arrived in the blink of an eye. As the capable people by the side of the lady and the master, Shen Kun and Wang Shi were naturally too busy to go to the inn to pick up Zhang Yuzhu, so the matter was handed over to the idle Shen Xing'er.

Zhang Yuzhu, who had been waiting outside the inn for a long time, skipped over when she saw Shen Xing'er's clothes.

"How long have you been standing outside? Have you eaten?" Shen Xing'er asked, looking at her nose, which was red from the cold.

Zhang Yuzhu nodded, then shook her head. She was probably too excited, afraid of missing Shen Xing'er, and had even forgotten to eat breakfast.

Helpless, Shen Xing'er bought her two mutton buns from a bun shop. Zhang Yuzhu smiled shyly, took the buns, and ate them heartily.

"Xing'er, who is this?" Green Fruit asked.

When the two of them arrived at the dock, the maids from the Minister's residence were already waiting for them.

“Oh, this is my cousin. She has a sore throat and wants to go to the capital for treatment. The First Madam has specially granted her permission to come back with us,” Shen Xing’er said.

"I didn't know you had relatives in Jinling. By the way, your cousin is really beautiful," asked the second-class maid, Lüguo.

Zhang Yuzhu smiled gently at her, then stood behind Shen Xing'er and said nothing more.

No one said anything more to Zhang Yuzhu. They were all teenage girls who were finally going back to the capital. Even standing on the windy dock, they weren't afraid of the cold and were all very excited.

"The masters are here, be quiet." Someone in the crowd said, and everyone quickly shut up. After carrying their luggage onto the boat with the servants, Shen Xing'er finally embarked on her journey back to the capital.

Meanwhile, in a small restaurant in Jinling, Song Wenyang and the Second Prince were watching the boats on the river.

"Brother Song, everyone's gone, so don't look anymore," the Second Prince said, turning his gaze away and teasing Song Wenyang.

“Brother Rong, you also can’t bear to part with the beauty on the boat, we’re in the same boat.” Song Wenyang held his teacup and smiled as he clinked glasses with the Second Prince.

"No, no, no, we are different. The tiger has been caught, and I will be returning to the capital soon to report back. As for Brother Song, I'm afraid I won't be able to see my beauty this year."

"Although I'm confident I'll pass the next imperial examination, I still need to put on a show. Otherwise, how could my dear mother be at ease?" Song Wenyang's eyes darkened, and then he said, seemingly jokingly.

The second prince patted his shoulder and comforted him, "Alright, I'm waiting for Brother Song to pass the imperial examination with top honors! By the way, what's going on between you and that girl? Weren't you afraid of dragging her down? Why are you reluctant to part with her, yet you still come to see her off? Could it be that you still have feelings for her?"

Song Wenyang recalled what Shen Xing'er had said to him while she was drunk, and also remembered the peach wood hairpin she wore. He said, "I've changed my mind. I can be accommodating to anything, but for her, I want to take a gamble."

The Second Prince shook his head like an elder and said, "Young people are hard to fathom. Don't worry, when I return to the capital, I will definitely ask Sheng'er to look after her!"

“There’s no need to look after her. She doesn’t like special treatment. You can ask Miss Xiao to keep others away from her,” Song Wenyang said.

"Don't worry, Brother Song rarely asks for my help, so I will definitely handle this matter well," the Second Prince patted his chest and assured him.