High-class maid

In the capital city, in the imperial palace, late at night, inside the emperor's sleeping quarters.

"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty!" The Second Prince, dressed in black and covered in dust from his journey, knelt respectfully on the ground to greet His Majesty.

The Emperor looked at his son, whom he hadn't seen for months, and then thought of the spies in Jinling who had written about his actions there. He sighed inwardly. Having a crown prince who resembled him wasn't enough; now his second son was becoming more and more like him. He didn't know whether this was a good thing or a bad thing.

The Emperor did not instruct him to rise, and the Second Prince dared not get up on his own. The room was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

"Rise, sit down. Have you paid your respects to your mother?" the Emperor said, pointing to the chair below him.

"Thank you, Father Emperor. I came to the palace to see you as soon as I arrived in the capital. I did not go to my mother's palace, so she does not know that I have returned." The Second Prince stood up again and bowed respectfully before sitting down in his chair.

The Emperor nodded and asked, "That old scoundrel also came to the capital with you? But why are your guards and confidants still in Nanjing?"

The second prince wasn't particularly surprised that the emperor knew his whereabouts. After all, the emperor was the Son of Heaven, and his every move was under his watchful eye. Rather than concealing or exaggerating, he might as well tell the truth.

"Your Majesty, I returned to the capital secretly. There were too many people who coveted Duan Laohu, and Jinling was already in danger. I had no choice but to rush back. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."

"It's alright. Rather than staying in Jinling and putting up a fight, it's better to go back to your own place. There's nothing shameful about that. Where is that old scoundrel now?" the Emperor asked again.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, Duan Laohu is currently at my residence, being looked after by a friend of mine." The Second Prince deliberately mentioned Song Wenyang's name to the Emperor.

The Emperor already knew that the Second Prince had come with Song Wenyang, but he still asked in a cooperative manner, "Oh? Which friend? Does he also happen to be in the capital?"

"It is Song Wenyang, the eldest son of the Minister of the Court of Imperial Stud in the capital. He accompanied me back to the capital this time. If it weren't for his company, I'm afraid I wouldn't have been able to return to the capital smoothly." The Second Prince didn't tell the Emperor about the risks he encountered on the river. Anyway, with his father's abilities, he was sure his father would know as soon as he was assassinated.

"Oh? So he's the young master of the Song family. Tomorrow I must praise him properly in court," the Emperor said.

"Father, you absolutely mustn't!" the second prince said, ignoring the emperor's questioning gaze.

"Oh? Why are you in such a panic?" the Emperor asked, puzzled.

"Brother Song's return to the capital this time was kept secret from his father and... stepmother, so I humbly request Your Majesty not to publicize this matter." After saying this, the Second Prince bowed and apologized.

Unbeknownst to him, beneath the emperor's wide sleeves, the emperor's hand was clenched into a fist, so tightly that the knuckles had turned red.

"But the Song family treated him badly? His stepmother couldn't tolerate him?" Even the emperor himself didn't realize that his voice carried a hint of gritted teeth.

The second prince was taken aback for a moment, assuming it was out of concern for him. He waved his hand and said, "Not entirely. It's just that Brother Song deliberately concealed his whereabouts to avoid trouble."

The Emperor had already composed himself by the time the Second Prince replied. He nodded and resumed his usual composed demeanor.

"You must be tired from your journey. Go back to your residence and rest early. My men will bring that old scoundrel to the palace. Once you've rested, go and pay your respects to your mother. She has been missing you for a long time."

"Yes, Your Majesty, I will pay my respects to Mother tomorrow!" The Second Prince rose and bowed.

Seeing that he lingered and refused to leave, the Emperor knew what he wanted to hear. He said helplessly, "I have remembered your brother Song. After that old scoundrel Duan is dealt with, I will reward him."

Having received the Emperor's promise, the Second Prince happily withdrew and disappeared into the night. The Emperor watched his retreating figure, smiling as he murmured to himself, "Quite loyal and righteous, not bad."

Then she thought of Song Wenyang, and her expression turned sorrowful: "Is he not doing well? Does he resent me?"

At this moment, Song Wenyang, who was on the emperor's mind, gently knocked on the door of a house in the alley.

"Coming, coming. Who is it?" Uncle He's voice came from the courtyard. Hearing the long-lost voice, Song Wenyang felt inexplicably at ease.

"Young master? When did you return? Weren't you in Jinling? Why are you back? Why didn't you bring any luggage? Aren't you cold? Come in quickly."

He asked a lot of questions in one breath, but then felt it was inappropriate to ask him at the door, so he hurriedly pulled Song Wenyang into the house. After pulling him in, he didn't forget to go out and look around before closing the door.

"Is there any hot water? I've been running around for a whole day and night, I'm freezing." Song Wenyang rubbed his hands, opened the kitchen curtain with practiced ease, and then sat down on a stool.

"Yes, yes, yes, wait here, I'll go get you some." Uncle He poured Song Wenyang a cup of hot water, his skillful movements showing no trace of his illness.

"Young master, drink up. I'll boil some more hot water for you. Soak your feet in it later, and once your feet are warm, your body will feel warm too." After saying this, Uncle He went to the courtyard to fetch water.

Song Wenyang enjoyed being cared for. Only after Uncle He had boiled the water and given Song Wenyang a thick coat did he sit down and ask...

"Young master, what brings you here so late at night? I just received your letter today and was wondering when you would be returning."

"It concerns the Second Prince, so I had to come back suddenly. Have you read that letter?" Song Wenyang asked.

“Exactly, I was afraid there might be something inside that Miss Shen couldn’t see, so I opened it and looked through it first,” Uncle He said.

If Shen Xing'er were here, she would definitely be angry. So, Uncle He can read! Then why pretend not to know and bother her again and again?

“Since you asked her to read the letter for you, I will definitely not write anything else in the letter, so don’t worry, Uncle.”

"Then should I have Miss Shen read this letter or not?" Uncle He asked.

"Of course I read it. If I didn't, what excuse would I use to give her the gift? You didn't open that box, did you?" Song Wenyang asked, remembering the box that came with the letter.

"No, no, this old servant is not that kind of person!" He Bo waved his hands repeatedly, trying to prove his innocence.

"That's good, I believe you. Do you remember that lame servant, Uncle?" Song Wenyang asked, getting down to business.

"A lame one? There used to be a lame servant in the manor, but I heard he committed a crime and was sold off by the old lady." Uncle He lowered his head and pondered for a while before saying.

"Sold off by my grandmother? Isn't my grandmother usually indifferent to household affairs? Who is that servant with the broken foot?" Song Wenyang asked, puzzled.

All the answers seemed to be on the verge of being revealed, yet also elusive.