"Of course we should. We've only been here for one day. If we go back now, Grandmother will be worried."
Moreover, the entrance exam for the women's college is approaching. If she returned to the mansion now, her mother would surely use filial piety as an excuse to force her to run errands for her father. It would be better to stay here in peace.
"I understand, Miss. It's getting late. You should go to bed early. The young master can stay with me tonight."
"Okay." Xie Fengran was also tired. After giving a few instructions, she went to rest.
Early the next morning, Zhu Qing entered the small courtyard, braving the morning chill.
Xie Fengran hadn't woken up yet. Lan Fang pulled Zhu Qing into the room, sat her down, and stuffed a cup of hot tea into her hand.
"You've worked hard!"
Zhu Qing was flattered and quickly shook her head. "It's not hard, not hard. It's nothing compared to the hard work you've put into serving the young lady, Sister."
Lan Fang pursed her lips and smiled, then told Zhu Qing to sit down and rest.
She had thought this would be a hard - to - approach chivalrous woman, but unexpectedly, she was just a soft and cute girl.
This instantly stirred Lan Fang's motherly side. Seeing that Zhu Qing was still wearing the same clothes as last night, she found a set of clean, unworn clothes for her.
"The young lady was exhausted yesterday. She won't wake up so soon today. Go and change your clothes, then come over for breakfast."
Zhu Qing held the clothes, looking a bit at a loss. "Sister, how can I accept this? I..."
"From now on, we'll serve the young lady together. We're all sisters. Why can't you accept it? Hurry up!"
Zhu Qing gave Lan Fang a grateful smile. "Thank you, Sister. I'll go and change my clothes."
"Go ahead!"
After Zhu Qing tidied herself up, she came back and waited.
By this time, Xie Chenghui had woken up and was crying and shouting to see his sister. Lan Fang was busy organizing Xie Fengran's clothes and had no time to coax him. She just told He Xiang to watch him.
But Xie Chenghui bullied He Xiang for being afraid to discipline him and became even more unrestrained.
"I want to see my sister. Get out of my way!"
Seeing that He Xiang couldn't hold back Xie Chenghui, Zhu Qing kindly stepped forward, grabbed Xie Chenghui by the collar, and effortlessly lifted him up.
She then turned to He Xiang and asked, "Sister He Xiang, who is this little brat? How should we deal with him?"
When Zhu Qing lifted Xie Chenghui up, He Xiang was stunned.
Hearing her words, she came to her senses and quickly took the boy into her arms. "Zhu Qing, this is the young master, the young lady's younger brother!"
"..."
Zhu Qing quickly let go and performed an un - quite - standard curtsy. "Please forgive me, young master. I didn't mean it!"
After Xie Chenghui was put down, he was also stunned for a moment.
But after that, his eyes lit up when he looked at Zhu Qing. He rushed over and hugged Zhu Qing's thigh. "Can you lift me up again?"
"..." Zhu Qing blinked and said with some difficulty, "Yes, young master, but..."
She tilted her head and looked at He Xiang, silently asking with her eyes.
This was a precious young master. Although she didn't understand the rules well, she knew that the young masters of wealthy families couldn't be casually touched!
He Xiang was also a bit headache - stricken. She had experienced how powerful the young master could be. After thinking for a while, she told Zhu Qing,
"Just make sure you don't drop the young master."
"Then please rest assured, sister. It'll be fine."
Then Xie Chenghui had a great time.
When Xie Fengran got up and walked out of the room, she saw Zhu Qing holding the flailing Xie Chenghui, swinging back and forth on the courtyard wall.
Xie Fengran almost choked on her saliva. Pointing at the two of them, she stammered, "Wh - wh - what's going on?"
Lan Fang had already gotten over her shock. Now, she looked at the courtyard wall expressionlessly and said indifferently, "Don't worry, young lady. They've been playing for a whole morning. The young master doesn't even want to eat breakfast."
"..."
In the end, it was Xie Fengran who coaxed them down.
After landing, Xie Chenghui rushed over and hugged Xie Fengran. "Sister, sister, it was so much fun!"
Zhu Qing followed behind, not out of breath at all, but looking a bit guilty when she saw Xie Fengran.
"Y - young lady!"
Xie Fengran covered her forehead with one hand and let out a long sigh. "Come in and have breakfast!"
After breakfast, Xie Chenghui pestered Zhu Qing to play with him again.
Zhu Qing took a step back and didn't dare to take him out.
Xie Fengran was also a bit headache - stricken. She told Lan Fang to take him out, but unexpectedly, Xie Chenghui had his eyes set on Zhu Qing and refused to follow Lan Fang.
Finally, a little monk came to deliver a message, which diverted Xie Chenghui's attention.
"Lan Fang, take a few more people with you."
"Yes!"
After getting rid of the little troublemaker, Xie Fengran heaved a sigh of relief and looked at Zhu Qing.
"Miss, I was wrong. I shouldn't have taken the young master onto the courtyard wall."
Zhu Qing lowered her head, with a sincere attitude and a strange sense of proficiency.
Xie Fengran wasn't really blaming her for this. "Remember, you must never do this in the mansion."
"Yes, I remember, miss."
"Did your senior brother say anything?"
Zhu Qing straightened her expression. "Reporting to the young lady, senior brother asked the young lady to rest assured. He will surely find out that person's background within five days."
Xie Fengran nodded. Assigning this task to Zhu Qing's senior brother was also to see how capable they were.
"Miss, I have another thing to report."
Xie Fengran was deep in thought and waved her hand. "Speak!"
"This morning when I came back, I happened to see the monks of the temple sending those two people from last night away at the foot of the mountain. I followed them for a while and happened to see that the carriage of the temple broke. Those two people rolled out together."
"What did you say?"
Xie Fengran came to her senses at this moment and asked in disbelief, "How could the carriage break all of a sudden?"
Zhu Qing couldn't believe it either when she saw it, but, "I didn't dare to believe it either. After they left, I went to take a look. The carriage really broke because it was old and in disrepair."
The implication was that they were really unlucky.
Xie Fengran's expression was a bit strange. She was a bit curious. "Did anyone see it?"
Zhu Qing nodded. "On the road outside the South City Gate, there were all people from the villages sending vegetables to the city. They just met some acquaintances and changed carriages to get away."
"It seems that this can't be hidden now."
The city gate was closed at night, and the abbot didn't want to offend the Prime Minister's Mansion, so he rushed to send the two people back early in the morning. Who would have thought that the carriage would let them down and throw the two people out.
Among those who went into the city to deliver vegetables, there were also servants who often came and went to wealthy families. Now, everyone in the capital would probably know about Zhang Yao's affair.
Xie Fengran remembered something else. "Zhu Qing, go and take care of Xie Chenghui. Ask Lan Fang to come and see me."
Seeing Xie Fengran's serious face, Zhu Qing quickly rushed out.
When He Xiang saw Zhu Qing leaving, she walked in and asked, "Miss, that little monk just now was sent by the abbot. He asked when you would be free to get the amulet for good luck."
"Not in a hurry. Go and ask Jing He for some prepared vegetarian pastries. Later, ask Lan Fang to take them back for Grandmother to taste."
"Is Sister Lan Fang going back?"