Zhuque drove the carriage steadily to a stop at the gate of the house.

Xiao Yunze got off first, then raised his hand to help Song Tingwan get out of the car.

Song Tingwan looked up and saw the plaque "Qin Mansion" hanging high above the door, and something began to occur to him.

Xiao Yunze's mother's surname is Qin?

There are red lanterns hanging on both sides of the gate, making the area in front of the gate very bright.

Butler Mu Zhong had been guarding the door. When he saw Xiao Yunze coming, he hurried forward excitedly.

"Your Highness! You are finally back!"

"Your Highness is welcome back home!"

Xiao Yunze nodded, "No need to be so polite, steward. Please go inside first."

"Oh! Okay!" Mu Zhong wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes excitedly and stepped forward to lead the way.

Song Tingwan followed them into the yard.

The yard was brightly lit, and I met many servants and maids on the way. It felt different from what I saw during the day.

It seems not so deserted anymore.

Mu Zhong was very perceptive and explained at the right time, "Your Highness, you said during the day that the goddess would stay here, so I took the initiative to add more servants to serve the goddess."

Serve?

Song Tingwan pursed her lips.

She is not so delicate that she needs to be served.

Song Tingwan glanced at Xiao Yunze, and seeing that he had no objection, she didn't say much.

"Your Highness, have you had dinner yet?" Mu Zhong looked at Xiao Yunze hopefully. "If not, the kitchen fire is still hot. I will tell them to start cooking right away."

Hearing this, Xiao Yunze turned his head to look at Song Tingwan, "What would you like to eat, Wanwan?"

"Anything will do." Song Tingwan swallowed. She was indeed a little hungry as she hadn't eaten much today.

Xiao Yunze winked at Mu Zhong, who immediately understood, "Your Highness, you and the goddess should go sit in the lobby first. I will go and tell the kitchen to prepare the food."

Just after turning around and taking a few steps, Mu Zhong came back and looked at Song Tingwan, "I wonder if the goddess has any dietary restrictions?"

Song Tingwan shook his head, "I won't pick, it's troublesome."

"No trouble, no trouble. I'll go down and prepare first."

Having said that, Mu Zhongchao took a few steps back and turned to leave.

Before leaving, he glanced at Song Tingwan twice and made up his mind secretly.

The young master treats the goddess so well, he must take good care of her in the future and make her live comfortably.

After Mu Zhong left, Song Tingwan took Xiao Yunze's arm and said, "Are you staying here tonight?"

Xiao Yunze led her towards the lobby and asked, "Why, Miss Song doesn't want to take me in?"

Song Tingwan: “…”

Thinking that Zhuque was following, Song Tingwan turned around, but saw him far away, following slowly behind.

Song Tingwan pursed her lips and spoke carefully, "In the imperial study, did your father give you any trouble later?"

Xiao Yunze's big hand gently covered the cold little hand resting on his elbow, "What does it mean to be embarrassed? Make me kneel?"

Song Tingwan was slightly surprised. How did he know that he was worried about this?

Seeing her expression, Xiao Yunze knew that he was right. "My knees have been burning from your staring at me all the way here."

Song Tingwan raised an eyebrow. "Why don't you take the initiative to tell me the situation? I'm worried that after I leave, the emperor will punish you by making you kneel again."

Xiao Yunze chuckled, "No one is allowed to enter without being summoned. This is the rule. I broke the rule first, so naturally I must be punished. Father punished me by making me kneel, which was already a light punishment."

"How would he deal with others who did the same?" Song Tingwan was a little curious.

"hiss--"

"Who knows? No one in the palace dares to act like this." Xiao Yunze took her hand and quickened his pace. "It's a bit cold outside. Let's go inside quickly to avoid catching a cold."

"Don't your legs hurt from walking so fast?"

"I can still bear this little punishment, don't worry."

Where Song Tingwan couldn't see, Xiao Yunze's eyes darkened and he remembered something that happened many years ago.

It was also on such a cold night that the young boy saw with his own eyes his mother being pushed out of the bedroom by his father and falling to the ground.

The emperor scolded loudly: Who allowed you to come in without me summoning you?

Xiao Yunze vaguely remembered that he was seriously ill that day, but all the doctors in the Imperial Hospital were summoned to the Queen's Palace. His mother was stopped outside the Queen's Palace, so she had to carry him to find his father.

After the door of his father's bedroom was closed, he heard a woman's laughter coming from inside, but it was soon drowned out by his mother's crying.

That night, the third prince went to the Queen's Palace to ask a royal physician to come out and see him.

Thinking of Xiao Yuncheng, Xiao Yunze's eyes gradually became cold.

This time, I won't let him go.

-

In the lobby.

Song Tingwan sat upright, looking at the maids lined up in front of her who were wearing the same uniform and were all quite good-looking, with an embarrassed look on her face.

Mu Zhong stood aside respectfully and said, "Lady Goddess, these are all first-class maids. You can pick two that you like to serve you."

"I don't need anyone to serve me." As soon as Song Tingwan finished speaking, he saw the maids in front of him all looked panicked.

What does this mean?

Song Tingwan looked at Xiao Yunze for help.

Xiao Yunze raised his lips lightly, "Pick two smart ones. Since you don't like people following you, the rest can stay in the outer courtyard."

A guess suddenly emerged in Song Tingwan's mind. She pursed her lips and said, "Please introduce yourselves."

Seeing the maids looking at each other in bewilderment, Song Tingwan said again: "Say your name and tell me what you are good at. As long as you are good at it, anything is fine."

"Let's start with the first one on the left."

Upon hearing this, the first maid on the left instantly became nervous and tensed up, "Replying to the goddess, my servant Haitang is diligent and good at needlework."

My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!