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Finest Servant Chapter 626
🕑 Added 2023-11-06 10:30:35 +0000 UTCChapter 626 It Was Time
Upon hearing his voice, the woman's figure trembled lightly, and she quickly clutched his hands tightly, her delicate voice softly pleading, "I won't guess; if I guess correctly, I shall surely die!"
This girl, in her idle hours, must have read countless romance novels, for her words were almost unbearable to him! Lin Wanrong felt a sweetness and a tingle as he listened, and with a slight effort, he captured her tender wrists.
Xiao Yushuang turned around swiftly, her eyes wide open, blinking as she stared at him blankly. It had been over five months since their last encounter, and he had grown much thinner. His face was tanned and his body seemed stronger and more robust, with that familiar mischievous smile at the corner of his mouth—the unique, unchanging trademark of his very being.
"Bad guy!" The Second Miss cried out in alarm, suddenly throwing herself into his embrace with all her might, bursting into loud sobs.
Lin Wanrong felt a pang in his heart and gently patted her delicate shoulders, tenderly saying, "Don't cry, don't cry, am I not back now?"
His mentioning of it made things worse; as soon as he spoke, Xiao Yushuang, nestled in his embrace, wailed like a trembling pear blossom in the wind, sobbing incessantly, "You, you bad guy, why come back? Don't you not want us anymore?"
Seeing her heartbreak, it was clear she had suffered immensely from the longing in his absence. Lin Wanrong, moved with pity, gently caressed her face, whispering in her ear, "Who said I didn't want you? You are my heart, my liver, three-quarters of my being. How could I abandon my darling heart? It would be easier to die!"
The Second Miss let out a soft whimper, quickly burying her flushed face into his chest, her ears red as she said, "You speak such shameful words. I don't believe them. If you dare, say it again!"
Lin Wanrong laughed heartily, "Say it again? Once is not enough. I'll shout it for ten lifetimes, a hundred lifetimes, until you tire of hearing it! My darling, my Yushuang, my darling heart—"
In terms of shamelessness, he would rank himself second, and no one would dare claim the first! Old Gao on the side listened until he got goosebumps all over. The Second Miss, her face red with shyness, quickly covered his mouth, "So distasteful! Just these two shouts for today. We shall continue tomorrow!"
"Yes, yes, we'll continue tomorrow!" Watching the Second Miss's face bloom with smiles, his heart burst with joy. He playfully touched and grabbed her small hand, "Second Miss. Who says I don't want you all? Heaven forbid. Such cruelty, don't even mention it in front of me. Just hearing about it makes me feel faint with pain!"
"Naughty!" Xiao Yushuang giggled joyfully, then hummed in mock annoyance. Her lips pursed, "You've been gone so long. For three months, not a word or whisper from you, and everyone was so anxious, nearly driven mad. Sister Xian'er even had her bags packed, ready to search for you at the front lines, but Sister Princess stopped her! She said you were fighting a war, enduring hardships and dangers, and told us not to create chaos or distract you! Sister Ning'er secretly said that you must have met some nomadic woman in the frontier and forgotten all about us! Humph. Not a single word in months. Tell me, if that's not abandonment, what is it?!"
During those months, he had ventured deep into the grasslands and sustained serious injuries; there was simply no time to send letters! Yet, hearing the young lady's tender scolding filled him with a strange sense of joy. To be constantly on the minds of loved ones was the greatest happiness one could have in life! However, Little Ning'er's nose was a bit too keen. Despite the vast distance separating them, she could sniff out the faintest of clues, a truly admirable ability!
Seeing him silent for a long while, the Second Miss suddenly startled, her eyes widening, "You... could it be that you've really met—"
Lin Wanrong let out a dry chuckle, "This matter, when brought up, is quite complicated! The truth is, the reason for the absence of letters these past months was mainly due to the urgency of the war. How could I not think of you all? To do so would be to court death. Look, as soon as the war was over, did I not make haste to return? To rush back, I haven't eaten a single grain of rice since last night!"
‘You indeed didn't eat rice, just swallowed down five meat buns!’ Old Gao listened on the side, snickering to himself.
Xiao Yushuang suddenly became flustered, "Why didn't you say so earlier? Quick, Huan'er, fetch some pastries for this scoundrel, and bring over the Longjing tea my sister brought back from Hangzhou yesterday as well! And for Officer Gao too!"
The Second Miss was adept at giving orders. In the span of half a year, she had indeed grown up a lot. Perhaps it wouldn't be long before she could resolve the worries and troubles of the Eldest Miss.
Lin Wanrong grasped her hand and smiled faintly, "Second Miss, have you been walking the dog lately?"
Xiao Yushuang's face flushed with a mix of shame and joy, "Of course, I walked the dog. Otherwise, with what would I bite you? Look—"
With a small gesture of her hand, two glowing green eyes appeared at the accounting room's doorway. The red tongue exhaled hot breath, and the massive body shook its head; it was indescribably fierce.
"General Zhenyuan?!" Lin Wanrong was startled and swiftly hid behind the Second Miss, his face turning pale with fear.
Xiao Yushuang giggled, her naive demeanor reminiscent of the old days at the Xiao Mansion in Jinling. Watching her, Lin Wanrong's mind drifted into a daze. The Second Miss seemed to sense his mood, holding his hand tightly and gazing at him with a gentle, water-like tenderness in her eyes and brows.
Si De, Xiao Feng, and others, thrilled by his return, crowded around, hollering "Brother San, Brother San" non-stop, causing a lively scene. Once Huan'er brought the pastries, Yushuang personally fed him a piece. The familiar sweet flavor spread through his mouth, fragrant and delightful. His eyes widened in surprise, "Who made this?"
The Second Miss proudly said, "This is something Sister Qiaoqiao taught me. She said these pastries are your favorites. I've been learning for quite a while now. I make them every day, just waiting for your return! Do they taste good?"
"Delicious, delicious! Brother Gao, you should eat more too. The pastries my wife makes are unmatched in this world!"
The Second Miss silently twisted him a few times, then looked down, her laughter light with shy joy. Officer Gao made a face, groaning inwardly; ‘The pastries had more sugar than flour! You dote on your wife, young man, but don't make me suffer for it!’
After wolfing down a few bites and thoroughly enjoying himself, something suddenly occurred to him, and he looked up, "Why haven't I seen the Eldest Miss?"
Yushuang placed a delicate finger to his lips and whispered softly, "Sister returned from Hangzhou late last night, very tired. She's currently resting in the back courtyard."
Lin Wanrong's eyes widened in disbelief. "Hangzhou? What was she doing in Hangzhou?"
"It was the Zhejiang Merchants' Association; they wanted to discuss business operations with our family. They insisted that only my sister could handle such affairs—"
"What?" Lin Wanrong shot to his feet, seething with frustration: "What business? Those rascals need a beating again? Weren't they sorted out properly last time?"
His last visit to Hangzhou had been nearly a year ago. Back then, he was but an unknown soldier, and though he had dealt with them harshly and to his great satisfaction, unbeknownst to him, the Eldest Miss had silently shouldered so much burden on his account! The Broken Bridge, Su Causeway, Lingyin Temple, the marriage divinations, the severed red threads. Xu Wei, Su Qinglian, Tao Dongcheng, Tao Wanying—so many unforgettable events, so many unforgettable people flashed before his eyes.
This time, however, it was the Eldest Miss who had traveled to Hangzhou alone. She was but a lone woman, vulnerable and isolated. He couldn't bear the thought of her being mistreated. If she had suffered the slightest grievance, he would not hesitate to decimate that so-called merchants' association!
Seeing him filled with righteous indignation, Yushuang hurriedly tugged at him, laughing, "Where has your mind wandered off to? This time, it's the merchants from the Zhejiang Merchants' Association who were practically begging for an audience with my sister. They initiated negotiations to exclusively sell our perfume, soaps, and fabrics—some even offering a king's ransom for the privilege. They can't curry favor with her fast enough! If you go off to beat them up now, you'd be throwing away money!"
‘Well, that's a relief, at least I'm spared the effort of teaching them a lesson along with Brother Gao!’ He chuckled sheepishly, looking at Yushuang, his lips parting as if he wanted to say more but hesitated. However, as if she could read his mind, the Second Miss laughed, "Do you want to go see my Sister?"
He nodded eagerly, and Yushuang whispered, "Then go quickly, just take a glance from outside her window and don't wake her."
How enlightened the Second Miss was! He joyfully agreed and hastened toward the interior of the residence.
Their new home had been built upon the ruins of the old, yet the layout inside was nearly identical to the former. He first stopped by his own room, where everything was brand new. Despite the lack of inhabitants, it remained spotlessly clean, without a speck of dust.
Across from his room was the familiar quarters of Xiao Yuruo. Tiptoeing to her window, his heart suddenly started pounding wildly, and he held his breath, pressing an ear against the window paper to listen. Inside, all was silent; the Eldest Miss appeared to be sleeping soundly.
The journey from Hangzhou to the capital was immensely long; she must have been utterly exhausted. It was best to let her rest.
He shook his head, sighing softly, about to leave when a gentle voice emerged from within, "Is that you, Yushuang?"
The voice was tinged with weariness and fatigue, yet there was no hint of languor. Lin Wanrong stood frozen; the Eldest Miss was still awake?
"You little girl, why didn't you go out to the city outskirts to wait today?" The Eldest Miss spoke with a laugh, "Come in and let's talk."
The door swung open gently.
A graceful figure in a pink nightgown leaned against the bed, her features as delicate as a painting, her gaze lowered. The embroidery needle in her hand darted back and forth with impressive speed.
The bed was piled high with garments, an array of colors and styles, all men's clothing amounting to more than a dozen sets, each tailored for the same figure. The neat stitches on the garments showcased her meticulous craftsmanship, befitting the reputation of the Xiao family, known for their textiles, and the Eldest Miss's skills were indeed the best among them.
"Wait for me a moment, I'm nearly finished with this piece," she said, her gaze fixed on the garment in her hands, not even bothering to lift her head, her weary and slender cheeks growing ever more wan, revealing a heartbreaking beauty in the warm morning light.
When no reply came from Yushuang, the Eldest Miss chuckled and shook her head, taking a few more quick stitches. Suddenly, her movements slowed, and her posture tensely paused.
The room had acquired an additional breath, a distinctive one!
Her needlework became chaotic, and her breaths turned rapid, one after another, as panic rose. Lifting her head, she saw a familiar smiling face just inches away.
He had grown tanned and thin, yet his smile remained as mischievous as ever.
The Eldest Miss gasped for air, her chest heaving violently. She struggled to steady her fluttering heart, her hands trembling as the embroidery needle danced erratically. Her voice was calm yet trembling, "You... you're back?"
Lin Wanrong gently sat down in front of her bed, smiling as he took the garment from her hands, "When sewing clothes, one mustn't stitch the sleeves to the legs, didn't the Madam teach you that?"
"Ah!" The Eldest Miss exclaimed, hurriedly bowing her head to untangle the messy threads.
Seeing the bright red cord tied around her delicate ankle, Lin Wanrong leaned down to kiss her forehead gently, "This is the most beautiful garment in the world!"
Xiao Yuruo's body stiffened, and she suddenly buried herself into his embrace, her body trembling like a struck chord, her sobs silent. Her fists pounded against his chest, wordless, yet her tears fell in torrents.
Neatly piled at the head of her bed were clothes, all adorned with bright red cords on the wrists and ankles, looking like beautiful butterfly knots. Lin Wanrong touched each piece tenderly, his heart aching with emotion, as he sniffed her hair and softly said, "Why haven't you ever sent these clothes to me?"
The Eldest Miss fiercely grabbed the clothes from his hand, her tears falling, "They weren't made for you. Why should I send them to you?"
"Not for me?" Lin Wanrong pointed to the red threads on the cuff, chuckling, "There are words embroidered here. I do have eyes, you know! 'Lin' on one side, 'Xiao' on the other, and this red cord? Ah, I understand now. It must mean that someone surnamed Xiao likes someone surnamed Lin, but the one surnamed Lin is unworthy. So, the one surnamed Xiao has to tie him up with the thread, so he can never escape! Is that it?"
"Who likes you?!" Xiao Yuruo's face flushed red, and with a huff, she turned her head away, then quickly turned back and pounded twice swiftly on his chest.
Lin Wanrong laughed, taking her hand gently, "You've made so many clothes for me. Why haven't you sent them? You should know, on the front lines, I have to wear the same garment for a fortnight!"
The Eldest Miss spat out, "Stop trying to sweet-talk me. You have more clothes than you need. Every other week, Qiaoqiao and Ning'er send you a pile of garments, so many that you could use them as a blanket by now!"
He blinked in feigned surprise, "Then why do you still make clothes for me?"
Xiao Yuruo shyly smiled and gently lifted her sleeve, "Look!"
Lin Wanrong gazed in amazement, stunned for a moment. The Eldest Miss’s clothing, at the wrists and ankles, was indeed embroidered with clusters of red threads, with 'Lin' on the left and 'Xiao' on the right, clearly visible.
“These clothes,” she said, “for each piece I make for you, I make one for myself! I’ve strung these red threads together, waiting for your return, to see how many times they can wrap around you!”
“And what if I never come back?”
“If you don’t come back? Then I will make them for a lifetime, to see if they can stretch across the grasslands!”
Lin Wanrong burst into hearty laughter, then suddenly, his laughter ceased as he embraced her tightly, his heart trembling with waves of emotion.
The Eldest Miss, clutching his hand, suddenly said with delight, “Do you know? I went to Hangzhou a few days ago!”
“I heard from the Second Miss!” he chuckled, “Did you go to the Su Causeway, West Lake, and Lingyin Temple? You didn’t need to draw lots this time, did you?”
“What would I do at those places by myself?” The Eldest Miss abruptly turned her head away, a blush rising on her cheeks. She gripped his hand tightly, annoyed, and huffed, “I just went to eat a skewer of candied hawthorns!”
Lin Wanrong blinked, then suddenly smiled broadly, “I understand now, I understand! The lot we drew in Hangzhou, we are to fulfill together! Haha. You didn’t mention it, and I had almost forgotten! Once I finish the matters at hand, we’ll go back to Hangzhou together. We’ll take that marriage fortune slip and kowtow to the Buddha! To have a fortune come true like this, even the Buddha must admire me, hehe!”
Xiao Yuruo’s face flushed like rouge, she gave him a shy glance, holding his hand tightly.
“I went to Hangzhou, and on the way back, I visited Jinling. Mother looked somewhat haggard; she worries for your safety as well and told me to keep an eye on you, not to let you flirt around!”
“Shameful, shameful, the Madam is right to admonish me!” He bowed his head in mock shame.
“I also visited Qixia Temple to see a lay Buddhist with her hair still intact! She kept asking about you! I wonder if you remember her?”
“A lay Buddhist? With her hair? He was puzzled for a while: "Are you talking about Miss Wanying? She hasn’t become a nun yet?!”
The Eldest Miss scolded, “Such a young and beautiful woman, and you wish for her to become a nun? I heard that Qixia Temple doesn’t take female disciples, that’s why she hasn’t been ordained! Think of how you used to bully her; now I’ve explained everything to her, yet she bears no grudge against you, still concerned about how you’re doing!”
“The heart of a Buddhist is indeed expansive,” he nodded solemnly, then smiled, “But when I bullied her, it was all for the Eldest Miss. How come it’s now all my fault?”
Yuruo snorted, twisting his arm a few times, bitterly saying, “The women you’ve bullied, their outcomes are clear as day! I can’t be bothered to argue with you anymore!”
He chuckled, leaning close to her ear, whispering softly, “Would you then allow me to bully you for a lifetime?”
“I wouldn’t!” The Eldest Miss retorted softly, her ears turning a deeper shade of red: “A lifetime is too short, I want you to bully me for all eternity!”
Moved by her words, Lin Wanrong was about to embrace her when suddenly the Second Miss burst in, breathless with urgency, “It’s not good, it’s not good, the Sister Princess is about to give birth!”
