High-class maid

After a whole day's journey, they finally arrived at the post station before dusk. Everyone was exhausted and went back to their rooms to rest.

"Eat up, the masters are so kind, tonight is quite a feast," said Shan Tao, looking at the four dishes and soup on the table.

Because they were busy traveling during the day, only the masters ate lunch, while the maids and guards ate dry rations. When they arrived at the post station, they were already starving. Seeing the food on the table, they didn't hesitate and ate heartily.

"I'll take the bowl over." Shen Xing'er carried the empty bowl she had finished eating to the kitchen.

"I'll go too." Shan Tao quickly followed and came out as well.

"Silly girl, I can take her by myself, why did you come along?" Shen Xing'er asked, looking at Shan Tao walking beside her.

"There are too many people. I'm not used to being with them. I'd rather come with you to run errands and help digest my food."

It turned out that the rooms at the post station were in short supply, so the maids had to squeeze in for the night. As third-class maids, Shan Tao and Shen Xing'er had to do the errands.

Meanwhile, inside the master's room, a man in black handed him a letter. The master eagerly opened the envelope, and after reading the contents, he burst into laughter.

"Hahaha, very good, very good. Chen Sanxiao's backyard is on fire. Let's see how he has the energy to oppose me now." After saying this, Xiao Jiuchuan placed the letter on the candle and watched it be slowly consumed by the flames.

"You did a good job. Call Shen Kun over and go down to collect your reward."

The man in black clasped his hands in a salute, then turned and disappeared into the night.

"Master, you wanted to see me?" Shen Kun rushed out from the darkness, waiting for the master's instructions.

"News has come from the capital that Chen Sanxiao's wife discovered his mistress. It's said that when Chen Sanxiao arrived, his mistress had already been given an abortion drug." The master's lips curled slightly, showing that he was very pleased.

Shen Kun was not surprised by this result at all, because he had arranged for all the evidence to be delivered to this lady.

"You've done a good job. What reward do you want?" The master pointed to the chair behind him, gesturing for him to sit down.

"This servant wants nothing; it is my duty to relieve my master's worries and troubles," Shen Kun said.

"Alright, I'm not one to give anything in return. Here, take this silver note." With that, the master took out a silver note that he had prepared beforehand from his sleeve.

"This..." Shen Kun thought for a moment, not wanting to appear too pretentious by giving a reward, and he didn't know what to buy with such a large sum of money, so he continued...

"Master, why don't you help me buy some fertile land? I don't know anything about business, but the weather has been good these past few years, so growing grain is sure to be profitable."

"That's fine then. I'll give you the land deed in a while."

"Master, we can still push things along now," Shen Kun suggested in a low voice.

"Oh? Tell me about it." Xiao Jiuchuan became interested and sat up straight to ask.

"Although that woman became Chen Sanxiao's mistress and even got pregnant with his child, she was still a virtuous woman. Now, Chen Sanxiao's wife, relying on her status as an official's wife, is bullying others..."

After Shen Kun finished speaking, he stopped talking, believing that Xiao Jiuchuan would understand.

“Yes, do it that way! I’m so excited, I’ll leave this to you.” Xiao Jiuchuan instructed.

"Yes!"

The two discussed something in the room, and all that was known was that after Shen Kun left the room, he hurriedly disappeared into the night, while the master slept soundly, which was a rare treat.

The next day, just as dawn was breaking, Shen Xing'er and her group finished breakfast and set off for Jinling. However, these young maids were anything but bored; they were all gossiping about the capital.

"Xing'er, have you heard? There's an official in the capital who was having an affair. Somehow his wife found out and reportedly took the law into her own hands, beating the mistress half to death."

After Shan Tao finished speaking, she was surprised by the lady's methods and shivered as she hugged her arms.

How could Shen Xing'er not know about this? The matter in the book became more and more serious, and Chen Sanxiao even took the opportunity to divorce his domineering wife. From then on, everyone secretly called him Chen Shimei.

At this moment, Shen Xing'er could only pretend that she knew nothing and asked, "Then how did you know about this?"

"That concubine's brother is no pushover. I heard everyone in the capital knows about it now, and it might even alarm the Emperor!" Shan Tao said softly, covering her mouth.

Even her mistress's brother has become known to everyone; it seems the person behind it all was very well-prepared. What Shen Xing'er doesn't know is that without her father's instigation, this matter wouldn't have escalated so quickly.

"Alright, let's not mention this again. Be careful that if the masters find out, they'll punish you with your monthly allowance." Shen Xing'er made a shushing gesture, and Shan Tao obediently nodded.

This continued for two more days, until Shen Xing'er's legs were about to give out, and they finally reached the riverbank.

"Finally, I don't have to walk anymore!" Shan Tao was so excited when she saw the large ship moored by the river that she almost cried. Heaven knows, her shoes were almost worn out.

The other maids and servants were also beaming with joy, and even their masters were delighted. However, their happiness was short-lived, quickly replaced by seasickness.

"Shantao, stop throwing up. I have some seasickness medicine here. Take one." Shen Xing'er patted Shantao, who was vomiting, and took out a seasickness medicine from her purse and put it in her mouth.

Seeing how upset Shan Tao was, she felt upset herself.

"Xing'er, you were right. I'm really much better now," Shan Tao said weakly, sitting wearily on the ground.

"Xing'er, do you still feel nauseous? I feel like throwing up too," Green Ink asked apologetically as he took some fresh air on the deck at the back of the ship.

"Yes, yes." Shen Xing'er immediately took one out of her purse and gave it to her.

"Thank you," Green Ink said politely as she accepted the pills.

After spending another three days on the ship, the First Madam distributed lemons to everyone and then invited a doctor to teach them that anyone who was seasick should press the acupoints on their hands. This greatly alleviated the seasickness of the group.

"We won't be traveling this afternoon. This is a small town, so everyone remember to be back by late afternoon," Danxue instructed.

"Wow, I can't believe I can get off the ship. I was so bored on the ship."

"Yes, yes, it's not as comfortable as walking, it's so wobbly." The group discussed happily in hushed tones, then went back inside to get their purses.

"Let's go down quickly and try some local delicacies." Without thinking too much, Shan Tao pulled Shen Xing'er downstairs.

"Shantao, after being on the boat for several days, I can't walk anymore." Shen Xing'er felt a little uncomfortable with her feet firmly planted on the ground, not swaying.

"Haha, I'm not used to it either. Let me help you," Shan Tao said.

The two supported each other as they walked and strolled along.