Finest Servant Chapter 626

Chapter 626 It Was Ti

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 seed 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 ntioning 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 co back? Don't you not want us anymore?"

Seeing her heartbreak, it was clear she had suffered imnsely 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 shaful 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 lifetis, a hundred lifetis, until you tire of hearing it! My darling, my Yushuang, my darling heart—"

In terms of shalessness, 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 ntion it in front of . Just hearing about it makes feel faint with pain!"

"Naughty!" Xiao Yushuang giggled joyfully, then humd 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 t so nomadic woman in the frontier and forgotten all about us! Humph. Not a single word in months. Tell , if that's not abandonnt, what is it?!"

During those months, he had ventured deep into the grasslands and sustained serious injuries; there was simply no ti 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 t—"

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 at buns!’ Old Gao listened on the side, snickering to himself.

Xiao Yushuang suddenly beca flustered, "Why didn't you say so earlier? Quick, Huan'er, fetch so 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 sha 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 deanor reminiscent of the old days at the Xiao Mansion in Jinling. Watching her, Lin Wanrong's mind drifted into a daze. The Second Miss seed 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 sothing Sister Qiaoqiao taught . 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 tis, 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 suffer for it!’

After wolfing down a few bites and thoroughly enjoying himself, sothing 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 rchants' 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 ti?"

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 ti, 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 rchants' association!

Seeing him filled with righteous indignation, Yushuang hurriedly tugged at him, laughing, "Where has your mind wandered off to? This ti, it's the rchants from the Zhejiang rchants' Association who were practically begging for an audience with my sister. They initiated negotiations to exclusively sell our perfu, soaps, and fabrics—so 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 ho had been built upon the ruins of the old, yet the layout inside was nearly identical to the forr. 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 imnsely 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 erged 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, "Co 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 garnts, an array of colors and styles, all n's clothing amounting to more than a dozen sets, each tailored for the sa figure. The neat stitches on the garnts showcased her ticulous 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 a mont, I'm nearly finished with this piece," she said, her gaze fixed on the garnt 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 ca from Yushuang, the Eldest Miss chuckled and shook her head, taking a few more quick stitches. Suddenly, her movents slowed, and her posture tensely paused.

The room had acquired an additional breath, a distinctive one!

Her needlework beca 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 garnt 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 exclaid, hurriedly bowing her head to untangle the ssy 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 garnt 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 ?"

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 ?" 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 an that soone surnad Xiao likes soone surnad Lin, but the one surnad Lin is unworthy. So, the one surnad 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 . Why haven't you sent them? You should know, on the front lines, I have to wear the sa garnt for a fortnight!"

The Eldest Miss spat out, "Stop trying to sweet-talk . You have more clothes than you need. Every other week, Qiaoqiao and Ning'er send you a pile of garnts, 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 ?"

Xiao Yuruo shyly smiled and gently lifted her sleeve, "Look!"

Lin Wanrong gazed in amazent, stunned for a mont. 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 tis they can wrap around you!”

“And what if I never co back?”

“If you don’t co back? Then I will make them for a lifeti, 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 ti, 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 ntion 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 co true like this, even the Buddha must admire , 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 sowhat haggard; she worries for your safety as well and told to keep an eye on you, not to let you flirt around!”

“Shaful, shaful, the Madam is right to admonish !” He bowed his head in mock sha.

“I also visited Qixia Temple to see a lay Buddhist with her hair still intact! She kept asking about you! I wonder if you rember her?”

“A lay Buddhist? With her hair? He was puzzled for a while: "Are you talking about Miss Wanying? She hasn’t beco a nun yet?!”

The Eldest Miss scolded, “Such a young and beautiful woman, and you wish for her to beco 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 co it’s now all my fault?”

Yuruo snorted, twisting his arm a few tis, bitterly saying, “The won you’ve bullied, their outcos 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 to bully you for a lifeti?”

“I wouldn’t!” The Eldest Miss retorted softly, her ears turning a deeper shade of red: “A lifeti is too short, I want you to bully 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!”

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