The carriage swayed gently as it left the Zhou family residence. This time, the coachman was no longer Zhou Liu-lang.
“Do you know the way?” the maid asked, lifting the curtain.
The coachman nodded nervously.
“Going through Datong Street is quicker,” the maid said, then shot the coachman a look that seemed to ask, Do you really know the way? “Sixth Young Master always took the longer route.”
With that, she lowered the curtain and went back inside.
The coachman quietly pursed his lips.
From here to Yudai Bridge, taking Datong Street and then cutting through Baochao Alley was indeed the shortest route, with fewer people, carriages, and traffic.
And yet, this country bumpkin from Jiangzhou actually knew about it?
How long had it been? Just a few days, and she was already more familiar with the capital than he, someone born and raised here.
No wonder people said this young lady had been blessed by the gods— even her maid was this remarkable.
The coachman raised his whip, urging the horse to move steadily forward.
Inside the carriage, the maid’s face carried a trace of worry as she glanced at Cheng Jiao-niang.
“Miss, are we… going back to the Zhou family?” she asked.
“Of course, we’re going back,” Cheng Jiao-niang replied. “They haven’t chased me away yet.”
The maid couldn’t help but chuckle but quickly stifled it.
“Miss, should I check in the coming days to see if Old Master Zhang has arrived in the capital?” she said, as an idea occurred to her.
Cheng Jiao-niang gave her a look.
“No need. I’m not yet at the point where I have no other ways,” she said.
The maid giggled.
“Miss, I didn’t mean to underestimate you. You’re the most capable person I know,” she said with a laugh.
“I know,” Cheng Jiao-niang replied. “I simply don’t like placing my hopes on others, that’s all.”
As she spoke, she looked at the maid, the corners of her lips curling into a faint smile.
“Besides, everything right now is exactly as I intended,” she added.
The maid nodded and replied with a respectful “Yes.”
Cheng Jiao-niang’s arrival brought a lively buzz to the residence near Yudai Bridge.
“Sister, you haven’t been here for days!” Xu Bangchui called out.
Cheng Jiao-niang exchanged formal greetings with the men who came out to welcome her, then stepped through the doorway.
Xu Bangchui went to take the reins of the horse, only to notice the coachman staring in shock, his mouth agape.
“What are you looking at?!” Xu Bangchui snapped, snatching the whip and urging the horse into the courtyard.
The coachman snapped out of his daze and hurried to follow.
“Hey, hey, what do you think you’re doing?” Xu Bangchui turned and glared at him.
The coachman froze in fear.
“I… I… I…” he stammered, unable to form a coherent response.
“Get back! Get back! Do you have no manners? Do you think you can just walk in here?” Xu Bangchui said, tilting his chin upward as he sized up the coachman and shook his head. “You’re not nearly as disciplined as the last coachman. That one understood the rules—he never stepped through the door and always waited in some corner. You should learn from him.”
With that, he led the horse inside, leaving the coachman standing dumbfounded at the entrance.
The last coachman? Lady Cheng’s trips had always been personally chauffeured by the Sixth Young Master.
The Sixth Young Master was mistaken for a mere coachman? And he’d never even set foot inside the door?
And who were these men? They acted as if they owned the place, walking in and out like the masters of the house.
The others in the house bustled about preparing a meal to entertain their “sister,” leaving only Fan Jianglin, Xu Maoxiu, and Xu Bangchui to keep Cheng Jiao-niang company.
Cheng Jiao-niang set down her teacup.
“So, you’ve negotiated it down to eight thousand guan?” she asked.
Xu Maoxiu nodded.
“That guy’s asking price was way too steep,” Fan Jianglin said. “After days of haggling, we only managed to bring it down this far.”
He clicked his tongue in disbelief.
“Eight thousand guan… I’ve never seen that much money in my entire life,” he added.
“Exactly! And that guy acted like we were the ones getting a bargain,” Xu Bangchui chimed in, clicking his tongue as well. “He kept going on about how profitable his restaurant is, how great its location is, and how much money it makes.”
He paused and looked at Xu Maoxiu.
“Third Brother, is it possible that running a restaurant earns more than being a prime minister?” he asked.
Before Xu Maoxiu could respond, the maid kneeling behind Cheng Jiao-niang covered her mouth with a laugh.
“A Chief Minister’s monthly salary is around three hundred guan. At that rate, it would take two years to save enough to buy the restaurant,” she said.
The others suddenly understood.
“Being a prime minister earns so little? That’s pitiful,” Xu Bangchui said with a nod.
Of course, no one became a prime minister just for the salary.
The maid, still smiling, said no more.
Fan Jianglin and Xu Maoxiu ignored him and turned their attention to Cheng Jiao-niang.
“That price is indeed steep. If it’s not urgent, we can take our time wearing him down,” Xu Maoxiu suggested.
Cheng Jiao-niang shook her head.
“No need. It’s just money; it’s nothing,” she said.
Eight thousand guan?
Just money?
Nothing?
Everyone in the room stared at her, even the maid looking slightly surprised.
“Sister, you’re wealthier than the Prime Minister,” Xu Bangchui chuckled.
“No,” Cheng Jiao-niang said as she stood, “life is the most valuable.”
Life?
The three men looked at her in confusion, but the maid suddenly understood.
“Oh, Miss, I see now,” she said, her composure briefly slipping.
So, everything Miss had done was for this!
Zhou Liu-lang picked up a wine jar and prepared to drink straight from it.
Young Master Qin reached out with his cane and gave him a smack, causing wine to spill all over Zhou Liu-lang.
“What are you doing? Want to share a cup again?” Zhou Liu-lang shouted, glaring at him.
Young Master Qin chuckled at his comment.
“Why don’t you ever listen to me? You insist on provoking her—what’s the point? You can’t hit her, and you can’t out-argue her. Isn’t this just asking for humiliation?” he said, laughing.
“She’s the one provoking us!” Zhou Liu-lang shouted back. “What kind of grudge does she have against us? Will it ever end?”
“Maybe she’s just being honest. Why are you so worked up?” Young Master Qin replied.
Zhou Liu-lang scoffed.
“‘Only treat the incurable,’ huh? Just because the Chen family praised her a bit, she really thinks she’s some kind of deity? She’s causing this uproar out of sheer spite. What good does it do her? Acting so brazenly as a young lady—what’s she going to do in the future?”
Young Master Qin was lifting his teacup when he heard this and laughed.
“Good thing she has an older brother like you to protect her,” he joked.
“Qin Shi’san!” Zhou Liu-lang yelled, his voice tinged with both anger and embarrassment.
Young Master Qin raised his teacup with a grin.
“Alright, alright, no more jokes,” he said, pausing for a moment. “Actually, I think it’s not a big deal. Whether it’s out of spite or confidence, why don’t you just ask her and find out?”
Zhou Liu-lang kept a stern face and said nothing.
“You know who I’m talking about, so stop pretending to be clueless,” Young Master Qin said as he finished his tea in one gulp.
“Someone, come here!” Zhou Liu-lang called out.
A maid outside the door quickly came in.
“Go and get Ban Qin here,” Zhou Liu-lang ordered.
The maid hesitated for a moment.
“Young Master, which Ban Qin?” she asked, a bit uncertain.
Zhou Liu-lang clenched his wine bowl so tightly it creaked.
“That lady—I feel like everything she does is on purpose!” he said through gritted teeth.
It seemed she had a way of constantly reminding everyone of her presence, and not in a pleasant way.
His gaze fell on the small table, where Young Master Qin was calmly pouring tea across from him.
Noticing Zhou Liu-lang’s stare, Young Master Qin immediately grinned.
“This tea tastes terrible. I think I’ll stick to wine,” he said, raising an eyebrow.
Zhou Liu-lang glared at him with a sour expression.
“It’s your young master’s Ban Qin,” Young Master Qin said with a laugh, turning to the maid still waiting by the door.
The maid understood and quickly replied, “Yes, Young Master,” before turning to leave.
