Finest Servant

Chapter 208 Comfort

The two of them had walked the entire way in silence. Lin Wanrong hadn't spoken a single word. Seeing Lin San's furrowed brow, Guo Wuchang also dared not break the silence.

When they returned to the Xiao mansion and he came to his small room, Lin Wanrong didn't even bother to wash his face. He flung himself onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling. He felt as if something were lodged in his chest, an unpleasant sensation that he could not shake. Yes, he had thoroughly enjoyed the shouting and the fighting earlier in the day, but aside from that, he found no comfort. 'Damn it,' he thought, 'have I been seeing myself as more noble than I really am?' He mocked himself with a bitter smile.

He rummaged in his pocket and pulled out the double-barreled pistol that Xiao Qingxuan had given him. The gun barrel, which had recently been fired, still carried the faint scent of burnt gunpowder. Surprisingly, it smelled slightly pleasant. This western-style pistol was exquisitely crafted, and the one Xiao Qingxuan had given him was truly a masterpiece. Such a firearm was rare even in European royal courts. Given the current technology in Great Hua, manufacturing even a large cannon would pose significant challenges, let alone creating this pistol. Judging by the surprised expression on Prince Zhao Kangning's face, he hadn't seen such a gun before. Could Xiao Qingxuan's status be even more noble than Zhao Kangning's?

He pondered this for a while and then toyed with the pistol again. He had used this gun for the first time today and nearly embarrassed himself. He had no confidence in his marksmanship, fearing that he might miss. So, he had fired two shots deliberately. The recoil from the gun was significant. Although the first shot hit the target, the second one was off. This indeed made him feel ashamed. However, seeing the power of the pistol gave him more confidence. No matter what kind of martial arts master he might encounter, in the face of this gun, they were all inferior.

'Qingxuan has been very good to me,' Lin Wanrong finally understood Xiao Qingxuan's good intentions. With this gun in his hand, he feared no one. He sighed softly, reminiscing about the days he spent with Qingxuan. Although their time together was short, it had left a profound impression. He wondered when he would see her again.

He didn't know what was going on today. He felt exceptionally down, and his mind was full of chaotic thoughts. He unknowingly drifted off into sleep while lying on the bed.

He didn't know how much time had passed when he was awakened by a soft knock at the door. When Lin Wanrong opened his eyes, the sky was completely dark. He had slept through the entire day without noticing.

Shaking his head and chuckling bitterly, Lin Wanrong thought, 'How have I become as sleep-prone as a pig?' He opened the door, and a soft female voice from outside asked, "Why aren't you lighting the lamp?"

"Because the night is the best time for thinking," Lin Wanrong replied, chuckling as he stepped aside to let the Eldest Miss into the room.

"You always have a slick tongue," Xiao Yuruo rolled her eyes at him, then she found a match and gently lit the oil lamp in the room. The dim light of the lamp cast a faint glow on her beautiful face and graceful figure, rendering her more charming than ever.

Lin Wanrong was momentarily stunned, then smiled and asked, "Eldest Miss, why have you come?"

Xiao Yuruo didn't respond. Seeing the dark marks on his face and hands, she frowned and scolded, "Why don't you wash yourself? You're covered in dust and look absolutely unsightly."

Lin Wanrong shook his head and laughed, "I'm tired, I don't feel like moving at all."

"Always tired when there's work to do, I think you're just finding excuses to be lazy," Eldest Miss Xiao shot him a reproachful glance. Rising from her seat, she walked a few steps gracefully and fetched a warm towel for him from outside the room. "Here, clean yourself," she said softly.

Taking the towel, Lin Wanrong wiped himself in a haphazard manner. Grinning, he said, "Eldest Miss, I am deeply touched by your kind gesture of ‘serving tea’ and attending to my needs."

Miss Xiao looked at him and scoffed, "You're always causing trouble, whether it's in front of me or others. Today you've offended Teacher Mei Yanqiu. You have no idea how influential she is in the capital. We haven't even made our trip to the capital, and you've already managed to provoke someone of her stature."

Lin Wanrong looked at her and said, "You knew about it?"

Eldest Miss Xiao nodded, "Cousin Guo had told me the entire situation when he came back. As for the Young Prince, I won't speak of him. He's never had good intentions toward the Xiao family, and this isn't the first time you've embarrassed him. But Mei Yanqiu's disciples are influential figures in the capital. You've offended her, and after the New Year, we'll surely face trouble in the capital. All this mess is because of Luo Ning—"

Lin Wanrong gave a bitter smile of resignation, "What has Miss Luo got to do with this?"

Eldest Miss Xiao huffed, "If it weren't for her inviting you, none of this would've happened. I think you're besotted with her. You even deceived me yesterday, saying she wouldn't go."

Sweating, Lin Wanrong thought to himself, 'Did I really deceive you? Or did you just not get the hint?' He shook his head and said, "This has nothing to do with Miss Luo. With my personality, I was bound to clash with Teacher Mei sooner or later."

Knowing his words rang true, Miss Xiao sighed softly, "Us merchants, we're seen as less than peasants in the eyes of those nobles. This isn't about one or two families, it's the attitude of the entire Great Hua Dynasty. It's not something that can be changed with a few words from you. You're usually so clever, why can't you understand this?"

Lin Wanrong chuckled, "When I see injustice, I cannot just walk away. If I don't stand up to it, I feel uneasy."

Eldest Miss Xiao said pensively, "I've been doing business with my mother since I was thirteen or fourteen. We were two women alone, constantly traveling. We faced numerous humiliations and put-downs, too many to count. If we reacted like you, we wouldn't be alive today."

Tears glistened in her eyes as she remembered their past hardships, "Can't you learn to bear it a little? What good will it do to fight back? Did you really win this battle? You might've felt good yelling, but you also ruined your own mood. You look so dejected now, nothing like the Lin San I knew. I used to worry about the Xiao family's affairs, feeling miserable all the time. You told me, whether we're sad or happy, a day will still be a day. We need to learn to enjoy life. You were the one who advised me, so why are you the one falling into depression now?"

These words warmed Lin Wanrong's heart. He looked at Xiao Yuruo and said, "Eldest Miss, I thought you came to scold me, but instead, you're here to comfort me. I'm so moved, I feel like crying."

Xiao Yuruo's cheeks flushed as she retorted stubbornly, "What are you grateful for? I'm here to reprimand you. I want to see if you dare offend people recklessly in the future."

Eldest Miss Xiao was tough in speech but soft at heart, a trait Lin Wanrong understood well. He felt a touch of warmth in his heart and nodded, "Eldest Miss, rest assured. That Teacher Mei will be punished by heaven for her unkindness. Even if she has many rich and powerful disciples, we aren't pushovers." While saying this, Lin Wanrong's thoughts oddly drifted to the elegantly dressed middle age man he had met outside the Lingyin Temple in Hangzhou, and of course, to Xu Wei, the most powerful man in the current court who was likely hiding somewhere in Jinling. With his current relationship with Old Man Xu, anyone who wished to harm Lin San or the Xiao family had to think twice.

"Lin San, the Xiao family has no way out now. You've offended so many people, and they will take it out on us. You can't just wash your hands of it, and you're not allowed to abandon us. If you do, I won't forgive you, even as a ghost," Miss Xiao said softly.

Sweating, Lin Wanrong gave a bitter smile, "Eldest Miss, it's not as serious as you think. The contract I signed with you is only for one year, you can't hold me responsible for a lifetime."

"Who wants to depend on you for a lifetime—" Eldest Miss Xiao retorted, "All these affairs of my family, good or bad, were caused by you. You are not allowed to go anywhere until you resolve them. If you want that contract, I can sign for ten years, a hundred years for you."

So she wanted to trick him into renewing the contract. This young lady was both domineering and cunning. Lin Wanrong chuckled and changed the subject, "Eldest Miss, how is the consolidation of the Tao family's shops going?"

Eldest Miss Xiao nodded, "I've discussed it with the stewards, and everything is going according to plan. You've been lazy today, but you're not allowed to run off tomorrow, or I'll dock your salary." As she mentioned docking his salary, she couldn't help covering her mouth and laughing.

At the mention of salary, Lin Wanrong suddenly remembered something and asked, "Eldest Miss, I should be getting a share of the perfume earnings, right?"

Eldest Miss Xiao laughed, "Don't worry, how could I forget about you? The net profit from our perfume this month is around thirty thousand taels. Your half would be fifteen thousand taels."

"Better than nothing, I guess. Eldest Miss, are you cooking the books?"

"I'm so annoyed with you—" Miss Xiao huffed in exasperation, flicking her sleeve in a huff. But she accidentally knocked over the oil lamp on the table. With a soft pop, the wick flickered a few times before going out completely, plunging the room into darkness.

Eldest Miss Xiao cried out in surprise, thrown off by the sudden darkness.

"Don't be afraid," Lin Wanrong gently reassured her, taking her hand, "I'm here."

There was a long silence from Eldest Miss Xiao in the darkness. Lin Wanrong could hear her breathing, which sounded somewhat irregular. He turned towards her and saw her staring at him, her eyes glimmering like droplets of water in the dark.

Lin Wanrong was puzzled and quickly asked softly, "Eldest Miss, are you alright?"

Eldest Miss Xiao shook her head and smiled, "What could possibly be wrong? I'm already used to getting annoyed by you several times a day."

Lin Wanrong chuckled, "I speak like this because I'm familiar with you. I wouldn't even bother joking with others."

"Lin San, you should rest well. I'll come for you early tomorrow, and you're not allowed to slack off." Eldest Miss Xiao turned her head, pulled open the door, and walked out. As Lin Wanrong was puzzling over this, he saw Eldest Miss Xiao turn back and say, "I almost forgot. This letter was delivered to our residence this afternoon. It's addressed to you."

She took an envelope from her bosom and handed it to Lin Wanrong. Lin Wanrong asked in surprise, "A letter for me? Who wrote it? I don't have many friends in Jinling."

"You'll know when you read it," replied Eldest Miss Xiao.

The room was too dark, and after much fumbling, Lin Wanrong managed to light the oil lamp. When he looked outside, Eldest Miss Xiao was already gone without a trace.

He took out a sheet of paper from the envelope. It was a small piece of white paper, with two lines of small characters written on it: "I appreciate your honesty and integrity, and I shall repay it with a token of my gratitude."

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