If she were a first-class maid in a wealthy family, she could definitely afford to eat wontons as her monthly allowance.
Don’t even mention one bowl, it’s fine to have one bowl a day.
Mei Yun was an orphan. When she was very young, she was bought into the Jiang family mansion by the head nanny who was in charge at the time, and became her maid.
When Jiang’s father was still alive, things were alright. Rong Shu had two nannies and three maids by her side.
Later, when the Jiang family fell into decline, Rong Shu asked Mei Yun for her opinion. She was willing to return Mei Yun’s contract of indenture, since they had been together for many years and she couldn’t bear to see Mei Yun suffer with them.
But Mei Yun was a kind-hearted person. Not only did she not leave, she also said that she didn’t want the monthly allowance, she just wanted a meal.
Rong Shu was always grateful to her, and also felt indebted to Mei Yun.
After arriving at the Song residence, Mei Yun, despite having the dignity of a first-class maid, gave most of her monthly allowance to Granny Li, who was still living in the Jiang family.
It was Granny Li who bought her into the Jiang family. Mei Yun always said that if Granny Li hadn’t taken pity on her and bought her back, she, a mere young girl, might not have survived to adulthood.
Rong Shu knew all this, and often when she had extra money, she would give Mei Yun some silver and jewelry so that she could save it for her future dowry.
Although they were master and servant, they actually had a deep bond.
Fu Lin Lou, just across the street.
A handsome man sat by the window in a private room on the third floor. Although he was listening to his friend talking, his eyes were always fixed on the woman sitting next to the wonton stall across the street.
After Zhou Linfeng finished speaking at length, he looked at the person opposite him and found that the person’s mind had long since wandered off somewhere else.
He closed his folding fan and followed Song Wenjing’s gaze, only then realizing what was going on.
“So that’s why you’ve lost your mind. It turns out you’ve met your sister-in-law.”
Zhou Linfeng had met Rong Shu and remembered her.
To be honest, Rong Shu is very beautiful, the kind of beautiful that leaves a deep impression on people after just one meeting.
What puzzled him was that Song Wenjing was staring blankly at his wife.
It’s really quite different from how he’s always been so serious and methodical since he was a child.
He tapped the table with his folding fan, successfully getting Song Wenjing to turn his head back.
“I said, you’ve been living back in the manor lately, and I see you every day. Why do you still look at me like this even when we’re out here?”
Song Wenjing glanced at him sideways, picked up his celadon teacup, and asked in his usual calm voice, “So what were the Prince of Qin’s men doing in Jiangzhou, as you just said?”
Zhou Linfeng scoffed lightly, “Change the subject.”
Only after successfully receiving Song Wenjing’s cold gaze did he become serious.
“It’s like they’re looking for someone, and they’re doing it covertly. My men can’t figure out who they’re looking for.”
Zhou Linfeng’s father used to be the head of the Imperial Medical Academy.
Several years ago, he resigned due to illness and returned to Jiangzhou with his entire family to settle down.
He claimed to be ill, but in reality, he was simply trying to avoid the chaotic and corrupt imperial palace.
Zhou Linfeng said, “The reason I know that the Prince of Qin sent someone is because his confidant came to my residence in person to ask my father about the case that happened when the Princess of Qin was pregnant.”
Song Wenjing tapped the half-empty teacup with his fingertip and looked down.
Rong Shu was now holding a spoon, scooping up wontons and blowing on them.
The steaming wontons made her little face turn a little red.
She ate while talking to Mei Yun, looking more relaxed than he had ever seen her before.
This realization startled Song Wenjing.
It seemed to be the first time he had seen her outside of Songtao Garden and the East Courtyard.
In his memory, Rong Shu was mostly the one who would gently come forward to help him change his clothes when he returned to the mansion.
Or she might gently inquire about his meals, or talk to him about the shop’s revenue.
She always had a very gentle demeanor, as if nothing in the world could make her angry.
She was fine, but compared to when he saw her now, he suddenly felt that Rong Shu seemed more alive now.
He considered going down to look for her, but was afraid of spoiling her good mood.
He didn’t even realize why he subconsciously felt that his presence would disturb her.
He didn’t listen to anything Zhou Linfeng said.
Zhou Linfeng was also helpless, so he simply kept quiet and drank his tea.
Song Wenjing only looked away and focused his attention after Rong Shu and Mei Yun finished their wontons and left downstairs. He slightly raised his chin, signaling Zhou Linfeng to continue.
Zhou Linfeng was furious and yelled, “So you’re treating me like your servant, ordering me around, aren’t you!”
Song Wenjing said, “If you don’t want to talk about it, then don’t.”
Despite being stabbed like that, Zhou Linfeng managed to hold on for a while.
But his inability to keep secrets led him to speak up again.
“Why do you think the King of Qin is investigating the King’s wife’s medical records?”
If it was something like Princess Qin having a difficult childbirth, it would be understandable, after all, it’s the royal family, and those unsavory things are not uncommon.
However, the Qin princess’s entire pregnancy and delivery went extremely smoothly.
The current Crown Prince of Qin is doing well and is full of energy.
Zhou Linfeng couldn’t understand it, and he was also afraid that the Zhou family would be implicated in something because of this.
“Whatever the reason, since the King of Qin handled this matter in secrecy, you should keep it to yourself.”
Song Wenjing told Zhou Linfeng that he knew his friend too well; he had no sense of propriety when it came to his words, and if he didn’t pay attention, he might get into trouble for what he said.
Zhou Linfeng said, “Of course, that’s what I told you.”
“The King of Qin now commands a large army; none of the other princes have his level of strength.”
Zhou Linfeng had been living in Beijing for several years and knew a lot about the city.
He whispered, “The one above is now quite old, and most people in the court have already chosen sides, with the Prince of Qin being one of the most prominent among them…”
…
As evening approached, Zhou Linfeng teased Song Wenjing as he came downstairs, “You’ve been absent-minded all day. I really regret letting you come out. I should have let you go shopping with your wife. Now it’s as if I deliberately separated you two.”
Song Wenjing glanced at him: “When did I say I was going shopping with her?”
Seeing his rare response, Zhou Linfeng laughed and said, “With the way you’re staring at her, who wouldn’t notice? But I have to say, why did your wife only bring a maid with her when she went out, and carry all those bags herself? Is your Song family really so stingy with your wives?”
His words elicited a moment of surprise and confusion in Song Wenjing’s eyes.
He didn’t notice any of that; he was only focused on his wife’s unusual expression.
When Zhou Linfeng said that, he remembered that she always seemed to be accompanied by that maid who came from Zhao County.
The other servants in Songtao Garden each performed their duties, but she was rarely seen with any of them.
Why is that?