Chapter 200 Once I get out of here, I'll promote you.
Shen Wantang sat at the head of the table, looking at Huayi with dark circles under her eyes, as if she hadn't slept all night, and knew that she was truly heartbroken for Xiao Qingyuan.
This reminded her of the expression on the princess's face when she went to greet her that morning.
The weather was cold, and the woodshed was a place no human being could stay in. Xiao Qingyuan was locked up there all night. Although the princess didn't say anything, she was still worried about him.
She even specifically asked Granny Quan if Xiao Qingyuan had eaten anything.
When Granny Quan said "not a drop of water has been consumed," she was clearly taken aback.
Shen Wantang touched the warm teacup and nodded: "Qinxin, accompany Huayi to the kitchen to get some hot food and chicken soup. Tell Yancheng that it was my order to have Huayi deliver some food to the young master, and also send him a thicker cloak."
"yes."
She agreed to the painting suggestion and was overjoyed: "Thank you, Your Highness! Since Your Highness cares so much for the Prince, I will definitely tell the Prince the truth so that he knows that Your Highness is the best person for him!"
Shen Wantang smiled but didn't say anything, then waved for her to leave.
Qin Xin accompanied Hua Yi to the kitchen, where they got some food, and then they went to the woodshed together.
When Yancheng learned that it was the Crown Prince's wife who had sent Huayi to deliver the food and clothes, he dared not neglect her. He ordered his men to guard the Crown Prince and went to report to Prince Ning himself.
"Your Highness, the Princess Consort sent a maid to deliver hot meals and a warm cloak to you. Would you mind letting the maid in?"
Prince Ning was naturally also distressed for his son. He himself said he would lock his son in the woodshed, so it was inappropriate for him to bring his son food himself. Now that Shen Wantang had stepped forward to plead for him, he naturally went along with it: "Only the Crown Princess cares about that scoundrel. Well, we can't really let him starve or freeze to death. Let the maid go in."
"yes!"
Yancheng accepted the order and went to the woodshed. After arriving, he put Huayi inside.
Xiao Qingyuan had been locked up all night, and he was cold, hungry, and thirsty. When he saw Huayi come in to bring him food, his eyes welled up with tears: "Huayi, I haven't spoiled you for nothing. You're the one who's good to me and remembers to bring me food. Without you, I'm afraid I would have starved to death in this woodshed."
Hua Yi put down the food box and draped the cloak over Xiao Qingyuan's shoulders. Her face was full of heartache: "Your Highness has suffered. You are so precious and noble. When have you ever lived in such a place? It is my fault. I should have brought you food last night, but Yancheng refused to let me in. I begged him for a long time today before he finally made an exception."
As she spoke, she handed the small hand warmer in her hand to Xiao Qingyuan.
When she touched Xiao Qingyuan's hand and found it was ice-cold, tears welled up in her eyes.
She held Xiao Qingyuan's hands in her own to warm them: "Your Highness is so cruel, locking the young master here. Aren't you afraid he'll get sick from the cold? I won't leave. I'll stay here with the young master and warm his hands and feet."
Xiao Qingyuan was even more moved. He handed the small hand warmer to Huayi, wiped her tears, and said gently, "You are weak. If you stay with me in the woodshed for one night, you will get sick. Go back. Don't worry, in a couple of days, Father will calm down and will naturally let me out."
“But, Your Highness is locked up here all by yourself, with no one to talk to. If I stay with you, at least you'll have someone to keep you company.”
The fact that no one is speaking up is a real problem.
But Xiao Qingyuan couldn't bear to let Huayi suffer with him here: "No need for entertainment, I'll just sleep a little longer here. Let's get the food out first, it smells so good, did you make it all for me?"
"Yes, it was all made by your servant. Young Master, please try it and see if it suits your taste."
Xiao Qingyuan was starving; he was so hungry he wanted to gnaw on the wood in the woodshed. He didn't care that the hot food and chicken soup didn't suit his taste.
A few moments later, after he had eaten and drunk his fill, the stiffness and coldness in his body finally subsided.
He grasped Huayi's hand, his eyes filled with tenderness: "Since you came with me, you have suffered a lot, but you have never complained. When my father locked me in the woodshed, you were the only one who cared about me. I know how old-fashioned and difficult Yancheng is to talk to. I don't know how many kind words you said and how much pleading you had to do to persuade him to let you in. It must have been hard for you."
Hua Yi's cheeks flushed as he held her hand: "This is all I should do, just say a few nice words. It's nothing. I am the young master's person, and it is only right for me to give everything for him."
Xiao Qingyuan had been tormented by Chu Yanluo's arrogance and cold face, but now that he had met a gentle and considerate maid who was willing to give everything for him, he felt very comforted.
He even felt strange to himself, wondering why he used to like being treated coldly and arrogantly, not taking him seriously.
It would be more comfortable to be served by a woman like Mingming Huayi.
Without a second thought, he promised, "Once I leave here, I'll promote you. It's too much of a burden for you to remain a maid."
Hua Yi was both surprised and delighted. She never expected that she would get the status of a concubine that she had always wanted just by delivering a meal to Xiao Qingyuan!
She blushed and thanked him repeatedly before reluctantly taking the food box and leaving.
Outside the woodshed, Qin Xin had been waiting for quite some time. When Hua Yi finally came out, she asked her, "Has the young master eaten anything? Is he cold?"
"Don't worry, Sister Qinxin. The young master isn't cold, and he's eaten. He even praised the food prepared by the kitchen, saying it suited his taste!"
"Did you tell the Crown Prince that the food and clothes were sent by the Crown Princess?"
"I already said so."
"Well, that's good. You can go back now. I should also go and report back to the Crown Princess."
"Take care, Sister Qinxin."
Hua Yi bowed her head and bent her waist, looking obedient and gentle. Only after Qin Xin left did she carry the food box back to Xinghe Courtyard.
The thought of the prince promising to take her as a concubine filled her with uncontainable joy, and the corners of her lips curled up in a smile.
"Oh, Huayi, what great news has come your way? You're so happy, while the young master is still locked in the woodshed. Isn't it inappropriate for you to be secretly rejoicing in his courtyard?"
Upon hearing this voice, Huayi's smile vanished instantly.
She looked up at Chu Yanluo as she walked in: "Why are you here, Aunt Chu? Aren't you feeling unwell? It's so cold, wandering around like this will only make you sick. You should go back to Qingwu Courtyard to continue your rest!"
Chu Yanluo sensed the barb in her words and immediately sneered, "It's been a few days, and you've certainly become more sharp-tongued. Who gave you the audacity to speak to me like that? You're nothing but a lowly maidservant, while I am the prince's concubine. How dare you not bow to me? Kneel down!"
Having just received Xiao Qingyuan's promise, Hua Yi felt that she was now on the same level as Chu Yanluo, so of course she refused to kneel before her.
She smiled softly: "Is Aunt Chu deliberately taking advantage of the young master's absence to bully me? But the young master said that I don't need to kneel to anyone except my master!"
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