High-class maid

"Xing'er, how was your day? Are you exhausted? What's the young lady of Yongchang Prefecture like? How was the food? Was she living a glamorous life?" Shan Tao, who had just finished her job, saw Shen Xing'er lying on the bed and hurriedly went over to ask curiously.

Shen Xing'er glanced at her, but didn't say anything. Instead, she pointed to her aching wrist.

Shan Tao understood her implication and said, "Tch, I give up." After saying that, she resignedly lifted Shen Xing'er's arm and started massaging it for her.

"I didn't see the young lady from Yongchang Prefecture, but I saw the hem of her clothes when she left. It looked like she was wearing a fox fur cloak, it was so big!" Shen Xing'er said, recalling the scene at Yongchang Prefecture.

"Ah? Even an ordinary cloak is so expensive. How much silver would such a large fox fur cloak cost?" Shan Tao was also surprised and followed Shen Xing'er in her daydreaming.

"Who says otherwise? Guess how many dishes we ate today?"

"Ten?"

Shen Xing'er shook her head.

"How many are there?" Yamamoto asked directly, too lazy to guess anymore.

Sixteen!

"What? This is too lavish! We only eat six dishes during the New Year!" Shan Tao exclaimed in surprise at the generosity of Yongchang Prefecture.

"Who can argue with that? That one meal would cost us several months' worth of our monthly allowance."

"Wouldn't Qianying be furious if she found out? I heard from my mother that she has to buy meat herself if she wants to eat a bite these days," Shan Tao said, sharing the gossip she had heard.

"Qianying's rise to power was never honorable to begin with, and now that the young mistress is about to enter the manor, the servants will take her even less seriously." Shen Xing'er wasn't surprised at all by Qianying's fate. How could a mere maid possibly have any control over her masters? It was simply wishful thinking.

"Alright, go to sleep, you've had a long day." After hearing Shen Xing'er's experiences in Yongchang Prefecture, Shan Tao stopped pretending, simply shoved Shen Xing'er's arm aside, and climbed into her own bed.

"You little rascal, you flung my arm off! Looks like I won't be able to draw for the next few days," Shen Xing'er said, feigning pain as she held her arm.

"Really? Let me see if it's true." After saying that, Shan Tao scratched Shen Xing'er when she wasn't paying attention.

Shen Xing'er hurriedly begged for mercy, and the two of them played around, which swept away the fatigue of the day.

"Young Master, your letter." Xiao Tong's voice pulled Song Wenyang, who was reading a book, back to his senses.

Before Xiao Tong could hand him the letter, Song Wenyang walked up to him and snatched it from his hand.

"Son..."

"Get out, and close the door behind you." Song Wenyang didn't even look up. If Xiao Tong hadn't seen the smile on his young master's face, he would have thought he had offended him somehow.

Xiao Tong pouted and obediently closed the door.

Song Wenyang held the letter as if it were some rare treasure, quickly reading through its contents before reading it word by word.

"Is this Xing'er's handwriting? I never imagined her handwriting would be so beautiful and charming, just like her. She can actually read?" Song Wenyang muttered to himself.

After reading the letter over and over again, Song Wenyang put it away in a box that had been prepared beforehand, then picked up his pen and wrote a reply with a smile on his face.

"Thank you for your concern, Uncle He. Wen Yang is in good health. I wonder if you still remember the old servant from our mansion, a man with a limp? If you do, please write to let me know... How is Miss Shen? I have prepared two portions of Jinling's unique specialties, one for you and one for Uncle He. I wonder if the purse is finished yet?"

After finishing writing, Song Wenyang read it again to make sure there were no problems, and then put it away. He answered all of He Bo's questions in the letter, but he didn't answer when he would return.

"Young Master." Xiao Tong's voice came from outside the door again.

Song Wenyang frowned slightly, but still asked, "What is it?"

"The Second Prince sent someone to invite you."

Song Wenyang got up and opened the door, then handed the letter to Xiaotong and said, "Deliver this letter to the escort agency, to the address in the capital. Also, there are two New Year's gifts and a small box on my desk in my study; take those with you as well."

After saying that, he got up, mounted his horse, and headed towards the Second Prince's residence.

"Brother Song has arrived? Please have a seat." The Second Prince was discussing matters with someone when he saw Song Wenyang arrive. He waved to the person, who tactfully withdrew.

"I wonder why Brother Rong has summoned me?" Song Wenyang sat down in the chair without ceremony and asked directly. He knew that the Second Prince was a low-key person and would not summon him in broad daylight unless it was urgent.

"I'm leaving," the Second Prince said.

"Where are you going? The capital? Aren't you going to spend the New Year in Jinling?" Song Wenyang knew he would return to the capital, but he didn't expect him to rush back before the New Year.

“Indeed, we’ll leave tonight,” the Second Prince said.

"Why are you in such a hurry? Can't you leave tomorrow?" Song Wenyang asked, puzzled.

“No, Duan Laohu knows too many secrets. Since I captured him, people have been visiting me and bringing me gifts every day, but I haven’t seen any of them. Now I’ve already angered everyone. I’ve received news that these high-ranking officials from Jinling are coming to assassinate him today.”

"How despicable! They actually tried to kill us in the dungeon to cover their tracks! What exactly does Duan Laohu have against them?" Song Wenyang was furious after hearing this.

"I'm also very curious. The more they want him dead, the more I want to protect his life! I want to see just how bold they are that they don't even respect me, a prince!" the Second Prince said.

"Brother Rong, don't worry. Once you reach the capital, you'll be safe. Is there anything I can do to help? I, Song, will absolutely do my duty!" Song Wenyang said.

The Second Prince had been waiting for this very sentence. He patted Duan Laohu on the shoulder and said, "Good brother! I want you to come back to the capital with me! Right now in Jinling, I don't trust anyone but you. Whether we can turn things around in the capital depends on whether we can get Duan Laohu back to the capital safely."

“No problem, I won’t go back to my residence to pack my bags, so as not to expose my whereabouts,” Song Wenyang replied without hesitation.

The second prince felt a warmth in his heart, and he said, "But this will delay your studies, and you will have to take the imperial examination next spring. I feel really bad about it."

Song Wenyang thought to himself, "Brother, can I say that I could memorize these test questions with my eyes closed?"

He thought this to himself, but said aloud, "It's alright. I get bored reading indoors all day. Maybe I can concentrate better in a different environment. But this means I can't go to my maternal grandparents' house."

"Brother Song is so intelligent. He was the top scholar in the provincial examination last year. If he becomes the top scholar in the metropolitan examination next spring, it will bring even more glory to your ancestors! If you can accompany me to the capital, I would like to lend you my tutor, would that be alright?" the Second Prince said.