“Sigh… Fine then, I’ll reluctantly agree. Actually, as a farm girl, I don’t deserve such high treatment! Forget it, since you insist so much, I’ll go!” Ye Qingcheng put on a reluctant expression, but she didn't forget to pull the little beggar along, holding the hand of the little beggar who was too scared to walk. The Shopkeeper took the opportunity to walk ahead and lead the way, letting out a deep breath.
Upstairs.
“Master, that young lady has entered the private room!” Steward Xu stood respectfully before the man. “She even brought a beggar in. All the guests in the main hall have fled!”
The man’s lips curved slightly. “Interesting! Waive her bill!”
The Steward couldn't figure it out. She was clearly just a little girl who wanted to eat at a grand restaurant, so why did the Master become interested in her? He didn't even care that she brought a beggar inside!
“Yes!” The Steward disagreed internally, but he respectfully agreed out loud and went down to give instructions.
Soon, the window of the private room on the second floor moved slightly, and a man dressed as a black-clad Guard jumped in.
He stood firm before the man and cupped his fist. “Master!”
“Is the matter settled?” the man asked in a deep voice.
“It was the Crown Prince’s people who tampered with things; it has been solved!” The black-clad Guard nodded.
“Prepare! Return to the capital!” The man issued another command.
“Yes!”
“You stay behind and protect her!” Jun Mochen gave Mo Li one final task: to remain and protect Ye Qingcheng.
This meant that Mo Team’s Elite Guards were on standby here at all times.
Mo Team had twenty-three Elite Guards, meaning twenty-three teams of Guards. If necessary, Mo Li could mobilize these more than twenty thousand Guards, but usually, these Guards trained in secret locations and would not appear unless needed.
Mo Li was stunned for a moment, then cupped his fist. “Your subordinate understands!”
In his daze, he knew exactly who the Master was referring to, because no other woman had ever made the Master so concerned. It wasn't about that other young lady; if it were her, the Master would have returned to the capital right after descending the mountain and wouldn't have waited until now, specifically coming to this restaurant to wait because he learned this young lady had arrived in Sunset Town early that morning.
“Only protect her. Do not interfere with her life! If you fail to ensure her absolute safety, you will return and accept punishment yourself!” Jun Mochen emphasized his tone again.
Mo Li knew that the Master’s casually mentioned punishment meant he would lose half his life.
The Master’s system of rewards and punishments was extremely strict. Rewards were generous, but punishments were not light either. He only escaped a calamity because Divine Doctor Xue pleaded for him, as Divine Doctor Xue wanted him to take him to find that young lady, which is why the punishment was waived.
However, he still couldn't understand why the Master would listen to someone else this time; Divine Doctor Xue’s words hadn't carried this much weight before.
“Your subordinate obeys!”
Regardless, the task assigned by the Master must be completed. He needed to go notify the other teams to prepare to return to the capital and then arrange for Mo Team to remain stationed here.
He then withdrew with a cupped fist. As soon as he left, Steward Xu returned.
“Master, that young lady did not accept our offer to waive the bill, but she ordered quite a few items, all specialties of our establishment! She even had someone take that beggar to bathe and change clothes.”
Steward Xu reported everything he had learned as soon as he entered the room.
“I thought she really could eat delicacies while facing that beggar!” Jun Mochen murmured.
“Does the Master have any instructions?” Steward Xu hadn't heard clearly and asked.
“Nothing! Prepare! We are returning to the capital!” Jun Mochen’s mood had inexplicably improved significantly, and he said to Steward Xu in a light tone.
Steward Xu was surprised. This was the first time the Master had spoken to him so pleasantly. However, he dared not delay and quickly ran out to make preparations.
After the Master arrived here, he sequestered himself in this Taoran Residence, then went out for two days. He returned early this morning injured, but it didn't look serious, and with Divine Doctor Xue accompanying him, the Master’s complexion looked good, so he should be fine.
He should just focus on his own duties, arranging the Master’s food and daily life. Too many matters were beyond his purview; speaking too much would only annoy the Master.
As Steward Xu, who had served the Master since the Imperial Palace, he understood Jun Mochen extremely well—what he needed with just a glance, what a look signified—he grasped it all clearly. Right now, the Master was happy in body and mind, having encountered something joyful.
The old Eunuch also relaxed, humming a little tune while packing luggage.
That’s right, Steward Xu was actually a Eunuch who served Jun Mochen, brought out from the Imperial Palace. After arriving at the Prince's Manor, he was made the Steward.
On Ye Qingcheng’s side, after entering the private room and ordering the food, she called the Waiter to take the timidly seated little beggar across the way to wash up and change clothes.
It was simply that she couldn't eat when facing someone dirty and smelly!
She had pulled the beggar from across the street over partly to get a small revenge on the Waiter who had blocked her entry earlier, not because she had any special hobbies. If the person wasn't taken away to be cleaned up, she wouldn't be able to enjoy her delicious meal.
The Waiter reluctantly led the little beggar toward the backyard, complaining the whole way, kicking and shoving until they reached the back.
There were rooms for staff in the backyard, usually for the employees of the establishment. After the Waiter brought the person inside, he dutifully brought bathwater for the little beggar and then fetched a piece of clothing that was neither new nor old.
“That’s it! Do you know how to bathe yourself? Hurry up! That young lady is waiting!”
The little beggar became even more timid because she was a girl. Although she was a beggar, she understood the reason for the separation between men and women.
She just stood there, not moving, head lowered. She was afraid of the establishment’s staff; she had been beaten by such restaurant staff many times while begging.
“I really owe you! Hurry up and take off your clothes! I’ll wash you!” Seeing this, the Waiter had no choice but to roll up his sleeves, preparing to bathe the little beggar himself, but as soon as he said that, the little beggar backed away, waving her hands.
“Hurry up! If it weren't for the person behind that young lady, I wouldn't be serving you! Aren't you satisfied? Hurry up!” Seeing this, the Waiter became even more impatient and stepped forward, intending to grab the little beggar and undress her.
As a Waiter at Taoran Residence, his job was envied by so many people; when had he ever stooped to bathing a beggar? If the Shopkeeper hadn't ordered that the young lady’s request must be met, would he bathe this filthy beggar? What a joke!
But this ungrateful, pretentious little beggar was waving her hands at him—she was really asking for trouble.
“No… no… no need! I’ll wash myself! I… I am a girl!” The little beggar finally couldn't break free and had to reveal her gender. “You can wait outside for me!”
She had her own unavoidable difficulties. If she dressed as a girl, people might take notice of her and sell her for some Silver. Therefore, she always dressed like a boy; being young, others couldn't tell the difference.
“A girl? Why didn't you say so earlier! That’s perfect! Wash up quickly, and I’ll wait outside for you!” Upon hearing this, the Waiter let go. He had no ulterior motives regarding the little beggar, so he easily walked out, not forgetting to instruct, “Hurry up! Otherwise, when the food arrives and the young lady looks for you, I won't be able to explain!”
The little beggar replied softly. Seeing the Waiter leave, she quickly locked the door, nimbly took off her clothes, and began to bathe.
She was lucky today to meet a fairy sister who would actually treat her to a meal at Taoran Residence—a grand restaurant they normally couldn't even approach. This time, she would have something to brag about when she went back.
Those companions of hers definitely hadn't eaten the food here; she would be the very first one.