The next morning, before it was fully light, Wen Ye walked out of the inner room and saw that the study on the west side was closed. He subconsciously walked lightly and almost scared Tao Zhi who had just arrived outside the hall.
Wen Ye quickly raised his index finger, signaling her not to speak so loudly.
Taozhi had no choice but to lower her voice and said, "Madam, we still have more than an hour before we set off."
According to Wen Ye's previous habit, he would get up less than half an hour before going out. Taozhi came here at this time just to prepare all the washing utensils first.
Wen Ye gathered her clothes and asked, "Where is my husband?"
Taozhi replied, "I went to the front yard, but Liu Xin just came over and said that the young master will come over to have breakfast with you later."
Have breakfast together?
Wen Ye didn't believe it, and thought it would be more likely to hold him accountable.
Knowing that Xu Yuejia was not here, Wen Ye's voice naturally returned to normal. He coughed and said, "It's getting late. Tell them to leave in two quarters of an hour."
Taozhi was surprised: "Two quarters of an hour? That's too hasty. It's only enough for you to wash up, Madam."
Wen Ye said, "Let's go after we wash up. For breakfast, just pack two lunch boxes. I'll eat on the way."
Taozhi still didn't understand and asked, "Why are you in such a hurry?"
Wen Ye explained casually: "The sooner we leave, the sooner we can reach Lancheng. We can't go to the academy to look for the young master after dark."
Taozhi believed it without any doubt and said, "Then I will go and tell them right away."
After Taozhi left, Wen Ye did a set of stretching exercises at the door, and his limbs were a little stiff.
Because of Wen Ye's deliberate concealment, Xu Yuejia didn't know that she had left the Duke's Mansion early. When he came back from the study in the front yard, there was only a figure waiting for him.
The little figure turned around and said to him, "Mother, are you running away?"
Xu Yuejia's tone was rarely gentle, and she responded to him: "Yeah, he ran away."
The little figure approached, his eyes met Xu Yuejia's wrist, and suddenly frowned and said, "Father, you're red here."
Could it be that my father was also bitten by a goose?
He circled it again and exclaimed, "It's still a circle!"
Upon hearing this, Xu Yuejia lowered her eyes and looked.
After a while, he went into the house and changed into some covering clothes.
An hour later, Wen Ye, who had already left the city, woke up from her nap in the carriage. Seeing this, Tao Zhi hurriedly took the food box containing breakfast and placed it on the low table, saying, "Madam, since you are sleepy, why don't you sleep a little longer in the house? It's so uncomfortable to sleep in the carriage now."
Wen Ye stretched and yawned, and replied: "You have never been married, so you don't understand."
Taozhi said carelessly: "What don't I understand?"
Yunzhi, who had been Wen Ye's pillow for quite a while, blushed and stopped her sister: "Stop talking."
Wen Ye and Xu Yuejia are both people who value privacy. They don't like someone watching them outside when they sleep, but someone always has to bring in water after they are done.
The maids and old women are not stupid and they know a little bit.
Yunzhi thought of this, so she stopped Taozhi from asking further. How could the masters' private affairs be discussed openly?
In fact, she was thinking wrongly. After all, Wen Ye had lived in this era for more than 20 years, and he had already let go of many things that he was not used to before.
As for the relationship between husband and wife, it's just that, nothing serious.
The reason why she ran away, ahem, was that she accidentally had two drinks before going to bed last night, and when she was slightly tipsy, many things were out of control.
When she woke up this morning, she suddenly felt guilty, so she set out early.
It can't be called 'escape', she is repenting through action.
I believe that Xu Yuejia, who has always been magnanimous, will understand. She did not violate the laws of Dajin last night.
After making excuses in his heart, Wen Ye's eyes fell on the two maids beside him again. After a long look, he said, "You two are not young anymore, but you still don't want to get married?"
Taozhi was startled by the sudden concern. She asked hurriedly, "Madam, you have found better maids and want to replace us, right?"
Could it be Willow Bud and Willow Heart?
But I don’t see the lady getting close to them normally.
Wen Ye took a bite of the tofu skin roll and said, "Can't I just care about you?"
Taozhi's shoulders trembled slightly, and she said tactfully, "Madam, do you believe it yourself?"
Yunzhi pursed her lips and smiled secretly.
Wen Ye put down his chopsticks, looked back and forth at the two of them twice, and said with a sigh: "Okay, then I will come and take good care of you today. Tell me, it's been so long since you changed your environment, is there anyone you like?"
Although she rejects certain things, she never thinks of imposing her attitude on others.
Everyone has a different definition of a beautiful and happy life. What she can accept may not be recognized by others. Wen Ye has never thought about letting the two of them stay by her side, from a little girl to an old sister.
However, Taozhi quickly refused after hearing this: "I don't have it, and I don't want to."
In fact, Taozhi hadn't said anything more, mainly because she was afraid that Wen Ye would scold her for being wishful thinking. She wanted to have a child of her own, but she didn't want to get married.
To have children or not to get married.
Taozhi considered it for several years and finally chose the latter.
If Wen Ye knew what she was thinking, he would definitely say: Taozhi, you were born in the wrong era.
Yunzhi hesitated for a moment before saying, "I haven't made up my mind yet."
Wen Ye nodded: "Don't worry, you are still young, efficient and good-looking. It is a blessing for anyone to marry you."
Taozhi said at this time: "I think Ah Chun from the front yard is pretty. Yunzhi, do you want to meet her?"
Yunzhi blushed again, and regardless of Wen Ye being there, she reached out to cover Taozhi's mouth that was talking nonsense.
Wen Ye laughed for a long time, and then said: "You should have a longer-term vision. It doesn't have to be someone other than the mansion."
Yunzhi and Taozhi followed one after another.
They are indeed not young anymore, and it is time for them to think about the most important thing in their life, whether to get married or to keep their hair tied up on their own.
The master and his two servants chatted and laughed all the way, and finally arrived in Lancheng at 15:00 on the evening of the twentieth hour.
After entering the city, according to the address given by Lu, I went to the small courtyard where Xu Jingrong would rest during holidays.
After receiving the news a few days ago, Mrs. Jiang sat in the yard after noon today, doing her needlework while listening to the noise outside and looking in from time to time at the alley entrance.
The servant Ah Shi who came with Mrs. Jiang had already driven to the academy to pick up the prince.
Mrs. Lu calculated the days. Wen Ye came today, and tomorrow was the half-day holiday stipulated by the academy every ten days.
After Mrs. Jiang cut the meat and vegetables, she went to the alley entrance for the third time and finally saw a carriage coming towards the alley entrance. When Wen Ye went out, he just rode in an ordinary carriage, but Mrs. Jiang recognized the guard leading the way in front.
The alley was a bit narrow and carriages could only come in one at a time. Mrs. Jiang took over the job of leading the way and brought everyone to the courtyard.
The yard was not big, but fortunately Mrs. Lu was prepared. She wrote a letter to ask Mrs. Jiang to temporarily rent two more yards nearby. It happened that the family next door moved out the day before yesterday, and the yard next door was big enough to accommodate several horse-drawn carriages.
There are many rooms, definitely enough for you.
After Wen Ye got off the sedan chair, Mrs. Jiang said, "Second Madam, please go back to your room and rest for a while. The prince will be back from the academy soon."
After riding in the carriage for a whole day, Wen Ye felt sore in the waist and back, so he agreed.
When she woke up, it was almost dark outside. After Wen Ye got up and dressed, she heard a familiar voice in the yard outside and pushed the door open to go out.
Xu Jingrong turned around when he heard the voice, grinned and shouted, "Second Auntie!"
Wen Ye responded and asked, "When did you come back?"
Xu Jingrong replied, "A quarter of an hour ago, Sister Taozhi said that Second Auntie was resting."
I haven't seen him for several months. He's grown taller and looks stronger than before, but his skin color... Wen Ye was a little confused, how could he be so dark?
Wen Ye asked, "Have you really been studying in the academy these past few months?"
She couldn't help but wonder.
Xu Jingrong immediately shouted, "Second Aunt, why don't you even believe me?"
Wen Ye's eyes clearly scanned him from head to toe, and said, "It's hard to be convincing with your appearance."
Xu Jingrong had no choice but to explain to her again: "There is a mountain behind our academy. During the farming season a few days ago, I didn't go home because I went up the mountain with a few classmates to dig traps and catch some wild animals to eat."
Wen Ye still had doubts: "Just write to Mrs. Jiang and tell her what you want to eat."
She came here on a mission for the Lu family, so she couldn't miss any suspicious spots.
Xu Jingrong sighed, "It's not as fun to talk to Mrs. Jiang as it is to do it yourself."
It's not like he's short of food.
Wen Ye complained in her heart, she just didn't like to do things herself.
However, Xu Jingrong's reason was acceptable. She then asked, "Have you ever been to a casino?"
Xu Jingrong was shocked. He never thought Wen Ye would ask him this.
"Aunt, although I am a bad boy, I stay up late at night to catch up on classes, and I throw paper balls at people, but I have never gambled!"
Wen Ye: “…”
The first two items also sound bad.
Xu Jingrong assured again: "It's true."
He didn't know why his second aunt asked him if he had ever been to a casino, but he would never admit to doing something he had never done even if he was beaten to death.
Wen Ye: "In that case, where did you spend all that money?"
Xu Jingrong said calmly: "Eat."
There is nothing to hide. He continued, "Second Aunt, you may not know that there is a restaurant on this street that serves delicious food. Their business is booming every day. They also specialize in serving students from the academy. As long as you pay a deposit, they can deliver the food to the academy on time."
Wen Ye felt it sounded familiar. Isn't this the take-out of later generations? But it was not a rare thing in Dajin either.
During the cold winter, some wealthy families are reluctant to go out, but miss the restaurant's signature dishes, so they will send their servants to the restaurant to buy them.
Over time, the restaurant slowly figured out the taste, and later on, there was no need for waiters to go there every day. As long as you make a reservation in advance, the restaurant's waiter will deliver the food to your door.
Of course, there are risks involved, and no one knows what will happen during the food delivery process. The Lu family would never allow food from outside to be brought into the house in this way.
So it is understandable that Xu Jingrong didn't know about it before.
"Is it really that delicious?" Wen Ye asked.
Xu Jingrong said sincerely, "It's really delicious."
He added, "It just so happens that I have half a day off tomorrow morning, so I'll invite my second aunt to have lunch at that restaurant."
Wen Ye did not refuse, she really wanted to try it.
She said, "I believe what you said."
But no matter how much you believe it, you still have to check it out.
After being questioned for a long time, Xu Jingrong finally responded and asked, "By the way, Second Aunt, you didn't come here just to see if I've been to the casino, did you?"
Wen Ye said, "Of course not."
Xu Jingrong remained skeptical: "Really?"
Wen Ye said casually: "It's your second uncle's birthday soon, and I want to pick a special birthday gift for him."
Xu Jingrong felt something was wrong with him. He asked, "Why do you have to come to Lancheng to choose a birthday gift? Isn't there anything in Shengjing?"
How could Lancheng have something that Shengjing doesn’t have?
Wen Ye couldn't tell him that she wanted to come to Lancheng for a visit, complete the tasks that Lu had asked her to do, and pick a birthday gift.
So she thought for a moment and asked, "Can I enter the back hill of your academy?"
Xu Jingrong replied, "That mountain can't be said to belong to the academy. It's just that part of it is connected to the academy. Second Auntie can't enter the academy. If you want to climb the mountain, there are roads outside to get there."
climb mountains?
Wen Ye shook his head: "I don't want to climb the mountain, I just want to catch a rabbit."
Xu Jingrong thought, "Aunt, you don't want to give Uncle a rabbit as a birthday gift, do you?"
Wen Ye: "No?"
There were some things she didn't intend to explain too much to him.
Xu Jingrong said honestly: "It's OK, but it's too simple."
After he finished speaking, he suddenly remembered the scene of his mother's last birthday.
Xu Jingrong was silent for a moment and asked, "Second Aunt, what are you going to give my mother for her next birthday?"
Wen Ye chuckled and said, "Are you coming to me now to spy on military intelligence?"
The probe failed.
Xu Jingrong was not willing to accept it: "Aren't you afraid, auntie, that I will tell uncle about you choosing a rabbit as your birthday gift?"
Wen Ye said calmly, "Just say what you want to say."
"But before you say anything, you should think carefully. I'm not afraid that you will ruin this surprise, but I don't know what your second uncle will think then."
Xu Jingrong: “…”
It’s all thanks to the image Xu Yuejia presents to others on a daily basis.
Wen Ye took one look at the defeated boy and realized that he would not speak.
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