Finest Servant

Chapter 341 The Madam Arrives

"A person from Jinling?" Eldest Miss exclaimed joyously, quickly unbolting the door, and called out in a soft voice, "Who has arrived?"

Huan'er shook her head, "This servant does not know. Someone from the manor has ridden here to report that the carriage has reached the northern gate, and it should be arriving at the manor soon."

Having been away from Jinling for so long, this was the first time someone had come from there. A faint surprise arose in Lin Wanrong's heart. Xiao Yuruo, unable to wait any longer, darted out, and the two arrived at the manor's hall. A young servant, animated, walked up and said, "Greetings to Miss, greetings to Brother San."

"You scoundrel, Si De, how did you sneak off to the capital?" Lin Wanrong shouted, grabbing him by the shoulder and laughing.

Si De's eyes brimmed with tears, "Brother San, not only did I come, but also—"

"The carriage is here, the carriage is here!" Standing at the entrance of the inn, Huan'er called out in her delicate voice, "Brother San, Miss, come out and see!"

Lin Wanrong and Eldest Miss hurriedly drew back the curtain and stepped outside. Far off, two carriages approached slowly, creaking gently, their sound growing more distinct as they neared. On the curtain hanging from the front carriage, a large character "Xiao" was written. Both carriages had curtains drawn low; the rear one seemed heavily loaded, looking rather weighed down, while the front appeared lighter.

As the carriages drew near, the coachman stabilized them with a sound, and the carriage fell silent. Then a little maidservant jumped down, opened the curtain, and a beautiful, mature figure stepped out. Dressed in a goose-yellow gown, her figure graceful, a faint smile on her jade-like cheeks, she looked at Eldest Miss and softly called, "Yuruo!"

"Mother!" Eldest Miss exclaimed, surprise followed by joy. Tears welled in her eyes, and she called out sweetly, plunging into her mother's arms, her heart full of words she wanted to say, yet unable to speak, she whimpered and began to cry.

"Silly girl!" The Madam's eyes reddened as she tightly embraced her daughter, gently patting her shoulder. Mother and daughter embraced as one.

So the Madam had arrived! Lin Wanrong could not believe his eyes. How had the Madam come all this way? Had she not said she did not wish to enter the capital?

As the Madam spoke softly with Eldest Miss, she glanced at Lin San's astonished face, and smiled faintly, "Lin San, are you surprised to see me arrive in the capital so quickly?"

Lin Wanrong shook his head and laughed, "Not surprised, not surprised. Madam is always extraordinary and unexpected. If someone were to guess your move, now that would be surprising."

Madam Xiao chuckled, "A month apart, and your mouth has grown even more clever, even daring to tease me. If I don't surprise you, then I shall bring out someone who will indeed surprise you—"

Before her words were finished, another gentle and pretty face appeared from the carriage. Looking at Lin Wanrong, tears in her eyes, lips quivering, her delicate body trembling uncontrollably.

"Big brother—" The young woman softly called, tears covering her cheeks, as she leaped down from the carriage yoke and threw herself into Lin Wanrong's arms.

"Qiaoqiao?!" Lin Wanrong cried out in surprise, still trying to understand what was happening, as that familiar tender body had already thrown itself into his embrace. Qiaoqiao clung tightly to his waist, pressing her cheek to his chest, her tears flowing like a breached dam, her body shaking violently, crying as though she would faint.

Lin Wanrong's eyes reddened as he embraced Qiaoqiao's frail body, feeling an indescribable emotion well up inside him, an intimacy that only Qiaoqiao and Qingxuan could stir within him. They were one, like vines intertwined with the tree's roots. The Eldest Miss, Xian'er, and Luo Ning had yet to take that final step with him, falling short of that blood-tinged closeness, still needing some refinement.

"Silly girl, stop crying, your big brother is here!" Lin Wanrong said, seeing that Qiaoqiao had already become a tear-streaked figure, her sobs soaking the front of his clothes. He wiped the corner of his eye and gently reassured her.

Qiaoqiao clung tightly to him, unwilling to let go even for a moment, her tears falling like rain. "Big brother, is it really you? This isn't a dream, is it? I've missed you so much, I thought I would die!"

Lin Wanrong tightly embraced Qiaoqiao's delicate waist, as though holding the most precious treasure, his voice breaking as he said, "Silly girl, it's not a dream, it's real! Big brother missed you too."

"Big brother, big brother..." Qiaoqiao's hot tears flowed as she murmured, clutching him as if wanting to meld into his very being.

The Eldest Miss wiped a tear from the corner of her eye and looked at Qiaoqiao, who was sobbing in Lin Wanrong's arms. She spoke softly, "Mother, sister Qiaoqiao, it's cold outside, let's go inside and talk!"

"Yes, yes, let's go inside. My little treasure Qiaoqiao, let your husband carry you in," he said, about to lift Qiaoqiao. Startled, she jumped back, her face blushing as she quickly glanced at the Eldest Miss and Madam Xiao. Although she and big brother had performed the formal marriage rites, how could she let him carry her in front of others?

Seeing Qiaoqiao's dust-smeared hair and weary face, Lin Wanrong could imagine the hardships of her journey. The trip from Jinling to the capital was well over a thousand miles, and her devotion could not be hidden, even if the sky fell. His heart ached, and with a light shout, he disregarded her struggles, lifting her by the waist and heading straight to the hall.

"Ah!" Qiaoqiao exclaimed, looking at her big brother's determined face. A mixture of sorrow and sweetness welled up in her heart, and she softly called, "Big brother," unable to speak another word. She buried her face in his chest, letting her tears fall, all her hardships evaporating in that embrace.

"That annoying man!" the Eldest Miss muttered, knowing that now was not the time to be jealous, but the sight of Lin Wanrong's genuine affection for Qiaoqiao left a sour taste in her heart.

"Yuruo, what did you say?" Madam Xiao asked, looking at her meaningfully.

The Eldest Miss's face flushed, and she quickly lowered her eyes, hurriedly saying, "Mother, the wind outside is strong; let's go inside."

Madam Xiao glanced at Lin Wanrong, then at the Eldest Miss, and slowly shook her head with a sigh, making her way to the living room.

Upon entering, maidservants quickly offered hot towels and steaming water. After washing, Huan'er served two cups of hot ginseng tea. The Eldest Miss personally handed one to her mother, then offered the other to Qiaoqiao, "Sister, you must have suffered from the wind and cold on your journey. Drink this to warm yourself."

Qiaoqiao hastily accepted the cup with both hands, thanked the Eldest Miss, and warmed the ginseng tea in her little hands for a moment. Just as she was about to bring it to her lips, she noticed her elder brother beside her smiling warmly at her. She set the tea down and handed it to Lin Wanrong, saying, "Big Brother, you drink it first!"

‘This girl, she's going to melt my heart,’ thought Lin Wanrong, feeling a sour yet tender emotion he couldn't quite describe. Of all the women he knew and teased—be it the noble and pure Qingxuan, the cunning Xian'er, the lively Luo Ning, or the strong-willed Yuruo—each one had distinct personality and convictions. Among them, Qiaoqiao's radiance was the least conspicuous, yet it was this adorable Qiaoqiao who thought of him all the time, treating him as her everything.

Lin Wanrong held her small cup-bearing hands and said, "Little darling, big brother is not cold. You've traveled such a long distance, so you must drink quickly to warm yourself."

Qiaoqiao shook her head, saying, "Big brother, I'm not cold either. On the road, just thinking about seeing you soon warmed my heart."

Madam Xiao, from across the room, chimed in, "Oh, this girl Qiaoqiao! On the journey, she asked about our progress every hour. In the past half month, if she hasn't asked a thousand times, it must be at least eight hundred."

Qiaoqiao bashfully lowered her head, saying, "I've never traveled far from home before, and I didn't know where the capital was. If I didn't ask every day, I felt uneasy, afraid that if I took a wrong turn, I wouldn't see big brother. Big brother, am I very silly?"

Emotion welled up in Lin Wanrong, and he grasped her hand, saying, "You're not silly; you are the cleverest woman in the world. No one can compare to you. Now drink your tea quickly, or it will cool down."

Qiaoqiao firmly shook her head, speaking shyly, "Big brother, you are the head of the household; you should drink the tea first, or I won't feel right."

The Eldest Miss gazed at Qiaoqiao and sighed softly. No wonder he loved Qiaoqiao so dearly. Though she was from a poor family, her sincerity was as clear as crystal. How many in the world could achieve that?

‘Enough, enough, I owe this girl in this lifetime,’ Lin Wanrong thought, taking the ginseng tea and lightly touching it to his lips. Only then did Qiaoqiao's brow blossom into a smile, and she joyfully drained her cup. Her charming and adorable manner caused both the Eldest Miss and Madam Xiao, women themselves, to praise her silently in their hearts.

"Qiaoqiao, how did you end up coming to the capital with Madam?" Lin Wanrong asked, once everyone had settled down from the initial excitement of the unexpected reunion.

Qiaoqiao snuggled beside him, her face flushed with gentle happiness, and softly began, "Big brother, after you left, on the eighth day of the first lunar month, our branch of Food for Immortals in the Confucius Temple opened. Now everything is on track, and our Food for Immortals restaurant is the largest in all Jinling. Besides Father, Qingshan and Beidou have come back to help, and I've specifically hired several accountants. Everything is running smoothly. But without big brother there, I felt uncomfortable. Just then, Madam Xiao sent word that she needed someone to accompany her to the capital—"

Madam Xiao laughed and interrupted, saying, "You silly girl, it was you who came to me with the proposal; how has it become that I sought you out?"

"Madam, didn't you promise not to tell?" Qiaoqiao's face turned red, and she protested anxiously. Seeing her elder brother smiling at her, she gently lowered her head, daring not to speak further.

"Silly child," Madam Xiao sighed softly, "wanting to see him is nothing to be ashamed of, so why can't it be spoken of? Are you still afraid he will scold you? If Lin San dares to bully you, I'll be the first to not let him off!"

Lin Wanrong grasped Qiaoqiao's small hand, smiling faintly. The little girl softly acknowledged with a sound, and her heart was immediately filled with joy. Suddenly remembering something, she said, "Big brother, someone asked me to bring a letter to you."

"A letter? What letter?" Lin Wanrong asked, puzzled.

Qiaoqiao smiled mysteriously, taking an envelope from her pocket and handing it to him.

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