Since meeting Song Ce during the Mid-Autumn Festival, Xie Nanjia has not received any news from Hongou Manor. Now that she suddenly received a letter, she felt uneasy for no reason.
After seeing Xiao Xizi off, she went back to her room alone to open the letter and found that it was from Song Ce.
In the letter, Song Ce said that Xiu'er Niang had agreed to his proposal and that he had already chosen a date. He wanted to marry Xiu'er Niang in a formal ceremony to give her a legitimate status. He also said that if Xie Nanjia was convenient, he hoped she could take a few days off and go back to attend their wedding.
Xie Nanjia had been worried for a long time, but she didn't expect that it was good news. She was relieved immediately. Looking at the date when Song Ce wrote the letter, it was more than a month ago, and the wedding day was tomorrow.
It took a month to deliver the letter, which was a distance of 300 miles. I don't know who sent it and how many twists and turns it went through. It was a blessing that it was not lost.
Xie Nanjia was happy from the bottom of her heart that Xiu'er's mother had a stable home. She borrowed Xiu'er's body, and it was reasonable for her to go back. However, she was a person who could not control her own destiny, and time was really tight. After much thought, she still had to ask Zhao Jingyu for help.
So she said hello to Nanny Li and hurried to the west wing.
Seeing her coming and going in a hurry, Nanny Li couldn't help but wonder again: "Why is this girl not at home all day long? She is even busier than her masters. If you don't know, you would think she is busy all the time!"
When they arrived at the west wing, Zhao Jingyu had just finished breakfast and was sitting in front of the window playing chess with Hu Qianshan. The room was warm as spring with the heating on.
Zhao Jingyu was an impatient person and could never beat Hu Qianshan in chess. Seeing that he was about to lose, he took the opportunity of Xie Nanjia coming in to get up and walk away.
"You just went back, and now you're back again. Are you missing me again?" He tilted his head slightly and looked at Xie Nanjia with a smile as beautiful as a flower.
Xie Nanjia didn't want to argue with him. She calmed down her disordered breath caused by her hasty escape and asked earnestly, "Second Master, do you still mean what you said yesterday about taking me back to the farm to see my mother?"
"Hmm?" Zhao Jingyu raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Didn't you say you wouldn't reply? Why did you change your mind?"
"It's a long story." Xie Nanjia said, "Just tell me if it still counts. If it does, I'll tell you on the way. If not, there's no need to tell you."
"It seems to be an urgent matter. Is it dangerous?" Zhao Jingyu asked.
"No, I just came to visit my mother." Xie Nanjia said.
"Is that so..." Zhao Jingyu pondered for a moment, then pointed at Hu Qianshan and the chessboard, "If you help me beat Mr. Hu, I'll take you there."
"…" Xie Nanjia looked down at the chessboard along his hand and nodded, "It's a deal."
"Is it true?" Zhao Jingyu questioned her confidence.
Xie Nanjia didn't reply, but walked over, pulled up a chair and sat down, then picked up a white piece and placed it in the upper right corner of the chessboard.
"Can you do it? Watch carefully before you do it... Huh?" Zhao Jingyu was suddenly stunned as he spoke and rubbed his eyes in disbelief.
Not only him, even Hu Qianshan widened his eyes in surprise.
"You're great, girl. You brought the Second Young Master back to life with just one chess piece." He gave her a thumbs up and praised.
"Thank you for your compliment, sir. It's your turn." Xie Nanjia said modestly, but there was no trace of modesty in his expression or tone, as if he was talking about the weather in a calm manner.
Hu Qianshan did not dare to underestimate the enemy and fought with all his might.
Xie Nanjia held the chess box in one hand and the chess piece in the other. Every time Hu Qianshan made a move, she would quickly place the chess piece, with quick and decisive movements and without any hesitation.
Hu Qianshan was pressed by her step by step, and gradually lost his rhythm. After ten steps, he was completely defeated.
"This girl is really amazing!" Hu Qianshan wiped the sweat off his forehead and praised sincerely, "She has such accomplishments at such a young age. I admire her. I admire her."
"Thank you for your compliment, sir." Xie Nanjia was as modest as ever. While picking up the chess pieces and putting them into the chess box, he asked Zhao Jingyu without turning his head, "Second Young Master, can we go now?"
"It's okay!" Zhao Jingyu's voice sounded from afar.
Xie Nanjia was stunned and turned around to look, and saw Zhao Jingyu walking out of the inner room neatly dressed.
"How did Second Young Master know that I would win?" she asked in surprise.
"I don't know. I'm just afraid that you'd be bored waiting for me to change clothes, so I let you kill time." Zhao Jingyu said with a smile, her jade-like face shining against the backdrop of the big red flamingo cloak.
Xie Nanjia was so dazed that he forgot where he was. It was not until the carriage rumbled onto the street that he slowly came to his senses and remembered that he had forgotten to ask the Fourth Young Lady for permission.
"Don't worry, I've asked Yiyun to tell fourth sister, you just continue to be infatuated with me." Zhao Jingyu said happily.
Xie Nanjia blushed immediately and said stubbornly, "I didn't."
"Why did I seem to have lost my soul without you?" Zhao Jingyu asked, "Do you know how you got on the bus?"
"…" Xie Nanjia asked with a red face, "How did you get on?"
"I carried you up here." Zhao Jingyu said.
Xie Nanjia: “… I don’t believe it.”
"If you don't believe me, ask Wei Jun." Zhao Jingyu said as he was about to lift the car curtain.
Xie Nanjia quickly held his hand and said, "Forget it, forget it. I believe you."
Zhao Jingyu lowered the car curtain and squinted at her: "I know I'm very good-looking, but I'm surprised that you're so obsessed with me."
Xie Nanjia: “…”
In fact, she was not only dazzled by Zhao Jingyu's appearance, but was mainly moved by Zhao Jingyu's attitude. She thought that it would take a lot of effort to accomplish something, but Zhao Jingyu agreed without even asking the reason. When she finally won the chess game and planned to use this to make Zhao Jingyu fulfill his promise, Zhao Jingyu had already changed his clothes when the outcome was still uncertain.
Therefore, when she turned around and saw Zhao Jingyu, who was neatly dressed, coming out of the inner room, she was indescribably shocked. When Zhao Jingyu told her that he asked her to play chess because he was afraid that she would be bored waiting, she was shocked beyond words.
This guy, who often says one thing and means another, can be deadly when he gets serious.
"Anyway, thank you very much, Second Young Master, for accompanying me on this trip." She said in a voice that was gentler than ever before.
"No need to thank me. I just want to know why you suddenly want to go back." Zhao Jingyu said with a smile.
Xie Nanjia then told him the reason honestly.
Zhao Jingyu was surprised after hearing this: "So, are you going back to stop your mother from getting married?"
"Of course not. I'm so happy that my mother has found a good home!" Xie Nanjia said, "I want to go back and see her off to get married."
"It's interesting that a daughter is sending her mother to get married." Zhao Jingyu laughed and shouted to the driver, "Turn around and go to Jinxiufang first!"
Jinxiufang is the most famous garment workshop in the capital. The clothes there are fashionable and expensive. The cheapest piece of clothing is enough to cover the expenses of an ordinary family for two years. It is the favorite garment workshop of the nobles in the capital.
But what was Zhao Jingyu suddenly going there for
"Since it's a wedding, your outfit is too shabby." Zhao Jingyu explained, "I'll take you to pick out a nice dress so that your mother knows that you haven't suffered in the Marquis' Mansion. I'll also pick out a wedding dress for your mother so that she can get married beautifully and become the most glorious bride in Hongou Manor."
“…” Xie Nanjia opened her mouth, wanting to say something of thanks, but in the end said nothing.
She was not good at expressing her feelings, especially after marrying Zhao Jingping. Her heart gradually became cold and indifferent in the day-to-day suffering. She became more and more closed and would not be easily moved by anyone.
But at this moment, Zhao Jingyu really touched her.
She didn't know how to express her gratitude, and was a little embarrassed to express it. She could only silently remember Zhao Jingyu's kindness in her heart and find an opportunity to repay him in the future.
"You don't have to repay me. Giving me your body is enough." Zhao Jingyu seemed to see through her thoughts again. He came over and said with a smile.
"..." Xie Nanjia retreated in disdain, "You want me to marry you for a piece of clothing? You really want to be my lover."
The carriage stopped in front of Jinxiufang. The shop assistants recognized Zhao Jingyu's carriage and lined up respectfully at the door to greet him.
Zhao Jingyu led Xie Nanjia into the store and walked around the room choosing suitable clothes for her.
The people in the store looked at Xie Nanjia, who was dressed as a maid, and did not take her seriously at first. But when they saw Zhao Jingyu choosing clothes for her, they realized that she was the sponsor of the day. The lady in charge of receiving the female guests came over hurriedly to serve her.
Since she was attending a wedding, she couldn't wear too plain clothes, but she also couldn't wear bright red to overshadow the bride. After choosing for a long time, Zhao Jingyu chose a light purple dress for her, plus a cape of the same color, and asked her to try them on later.
The receptionist was about to take off the dress when the waiter at the door suddenly shouted, "The young lady of the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion is here!"
Xie Nanjia was startled when he heard this, and hurriedly looked outside the door. Sure enough, he saw his aunt Sheng Qingyun walking towards him with his cousin Su Jinping's hand.
What a coincidence, she actually met her aunt here. Although Xie Nanjia couldn't go forward to recognize her relatives, she was very happy.
Before I knew it, Sheng Qingyun and his mother entered the store, and the store was filled with greetings.
Sheng Qingyun gently asked everyone to stop being polite, and said that he came today to buy clothes for Princess Jinping, and that he would buy anything that Princess Jinping liked, no matter the price.
Two wealthy sponsors came at once, and all the employees were delighted and served them diligently.
After Sheng Qingyun finished speaking, he noticed Zhao Jingyu and greeted him with a faint smile: "Second Master Zhao, what a coincidence, you are here too?"
Zhao Jingyu bowed and saluted: "Young Madam, how are you? I just got here too."
Princess Jinping saw Zhao Jingyu at the side and could not help but be struck by his immortal-like appearance. However, when she thought that he was a bastard, she felt very sorry and bowed slightly to show politeness.
"Mr. Zhao, are you going to buy clothes for yourself?" Sheng Qingyun asked.
"No, I bought it for my girl." Zhao Jingyu said frankly and generously pulled Xie Nanjia to his side.
Xie Nanjia took the opportunity to greet her aunt and cousin.
The mother and daughter recognized her as the girl who slapped Miss Chen Er at the welcoming banquet, and they were both secretly surprised.
Isn't this girl the maid of the fourth young lady Zhao? How did she become the maid of the second young master Zhao? Sheng Qingyun thought to himself, but didn't ask, and said with a smile: "So that's the case, second young master Zhao, please do as you please."
"Young Madam, please feel free to do as you please." Zhao Jingyu said.
Sheng Qingyun nodded and took his daughter's hand: "Jinping, if you like any piece, just tell them and ask them to take it down for you to try on."
Princess Jinping glanced around and landed on the light purple dress that Zhao Jingyu had chosen for Xie Nanjia: "Mother, I like this one."
Sheng Qingyun took a look and said with a smile: "My son has a good eye. Let them take it down for you to try."
"…" The receptionist was embarrassed and apologized, "I'm sorry, Madam, this dress was chosen by the second young master first, so it should be given to this girl to try on first."
"Really? What a coincidence?" Sheng Qingyun was slightly embarrassed. "In that case, let's look at something else."
"Mother!" Princess Jinping quietly tugged at her sleeve, her eyes revealing her desire for the dress.
In fact, she didn't have to do this, but she felt unhappy when she thought that she, as a county lady, had to give in to a maid.
Sheng Qingyun finally found his daughter who had been missing for twelve years. Naturally, he didn't want her to suffer any injustice, so he tried to negotiate with Zhao Jingyu: "Second Master, I'm so sorry, my Jinping really likes this dress, I wonder if you can give it up?"
(End of this chapter)