Chapter Eighteen: Purchasing a Maidservant

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Li Xianjin glanced awkwardly at Lin Zhaoyan, hoping for any kind of response. Lin Zhaoyan merely smiled and said, “Your intention is appreciated. Today, I shall pretend I never met Lord Li. Please take your leave.” Hearing this, Li Xianjin had no choice but to leave sullenly.

Lin Zhaoyan then turned to Zhou Jingxuan and asked, “Why are you so upset?”

“I’m not,” Zhou Jingxuan initially tried to be stubborn. But seeing Lin Zhaoyan’s gentle smile, he relented. “It’s because that Li Young Master and Zhao Young Master are not good people.”

“I actually find Young Master Li quite refined and courteous. He even apologized to me,” Lin Zhaoyan said deliberately.

“If he were truly that good, he would have stopped Zhao Jiuyuan’s actions from the start,” Zhou Jingxuan snorted coldly. “Even if he was too late to stop him, he shouldn’t have invited you to meet Zhao Jiuyuan again.”

Lin Zhaoyan nodded in agreement. “Your Highness has a point.”

“Exactly. General, you’d better keep your distance from the Li family,” Zhou Jingxuan said slyly. “You never know what people’s hearts hide. What if you get taken advantage of?”

“Then I should thank Your Highness for your concern?” Lin Zhaoyan smiled softly.

Zhou Jingxuan was actually quite nice—good-natured, sharp-minded, and intelligent. A perfect friend or partner.

While Zhou Jingxuan was still calculating how many ‘rivals’ he had met today, he was unaware that Lin Zhaoyan had already given him the ‘good person card.’

After the meal, Lin Zhaoyan took the imperial-granted carriage to the gate of the General’s residence. At that moment, the coachman handed over a wooden box with both hands. It looked plain, even worn with age.

“This is the token His Majesty has bestowed upon the General. Please take good care of it.”

Lin Zhaoyan accepted the box and nodded in thanks.

Inside the General’s residence, the atmosphere was quiet and few people were present. Only an elderly steward and a young maid greeted him warmly.

The steward, surnamed Wen, was an old woman. “My lord, why didn’t you inform us in advance of your return? I only overheard some gossip while buying vegetables today, and at first, both Peach and I didn’t believe it!”

The maid Peach seemed about eighteen, with a round, cheerful face. “General, you’re finally back! Wen and I have already cleaned your room. Would you like to dine first or freshen up?”

“I’ve already eaten,” Lin Zhaoyan smiled. “Thank you, Wen and Peach. I’ll be staying in the capital for a while, so everything as usual will suffice.”

“Shall we hire more people to serve you?” Wen asked.

Lin Zhaoyan didn’t want new staff initially, but considering Peach might be overwhelmed and Wen was elderly, it seemed better to find another young woman for mutual support.

“All right, then. I’ll get you a fresh orange juice,” Lin Zhaoyan teased.

Peach tilted her head in confusion, not understanding “orange juice.” Although she didn’t grasp what the General meant, she noticed he smiled more and talked more than before—this was a good thing!

Meanwhile, Zhou Jingxuan dashed back to the Prince Zhou’s residence, where, inevitably, he faced the prince’s reproach.

The quarrel between the General and the heir apparent had spread, naturally reaching Su Chengyun’s ears.

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At that moment, Su Chengyun was playing with a silver-white kitten. Upon hearing the guards’ report, he smiled lightly, “Oh, is that so?”

“Many commoners saw it with their own eyes on the street.”

“That’s good.”

“...Zhou Jingxuan.” Su Chengyun murmured, suddenly gripping the kitten’s neck. Startled, the kitten leapt up as Su Chengyun tossed it aside, smoothing his sleeves with a look of disdain.

Early the next morning, Lin Zhaoyan took the only two attendants at the residence to the human market—the place where servants were bought and sold.

“If anyone looks suitable, we’ll hire them,” Lin Zhaoyan said, playing the indifferent master and strolling about freely.

Wen and Peach were overwhelmed by the bustling market, dazzled by the crowd.

“Oh, what a coincidence—” a familiar voice called. It was Zhou Jingxuan.

Lin Zhaoyan turned, curious. She wore a simple long dress and a bamboo hat, yet he still recognized her. “Why do I always run into you, Your Highness... Zhou Young Master?”

“Not a coincidence,” Zhou Jingxuan smiled. “I spotted Miss Zhaoyan from afar.”

Lin Zhaoyan was still not used to him calling her by her given name. She touched her nose and said, “Just call me Zhaoyan.”

“Then you can call me Axuan,” Zhou Jingxuan pressed his advantage.

Lin Zhaoyan gave him a half-smile and a sidelong glance. He immediately fell silent.

If she wasn’t going to call him that, why glare?

“Jingxuan,” Lin Zhaoyan suddenly called, her voice clear and refreshing like mountain spring water.

He couldn’t help but smile sweetly.

“What are you grinning at?” Lin Zhaoyan asked, puzzled.

“Eh~”

“?” Lin Zhaoyan tugged at the corner of her mouth. “Are you here to buy servants too?”

“My mother asked me to buy a maid,” Zhou Jingxuan said, troubled. “To send to my cousin’s house. She’s short on help.”

“If your cousin lacks help, surely your uncle would handle it. Why send you?”

Zhou Jingxuan shook his head. “I don’t know. I was about to ask, but got scolded.”

It seemed being despised by Prince Zhou and Princess Zhou was routine for him.

Lin Zhaoyan sympathized for a moment.

“And what about you, Zhaoyan?”

“My residence needs help, so I’m here to look.”

“The General’s residence must be magnificent. Still short-staffed? Can I visit?”

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“The General’s residence is modest. If you come, you’ll probably only get cold water and leftover food,” Lin Zhaoyan joked.

“I’d still be willing.”

“But I wouldn’t want you to.”

Had she been too kind to Zhou Jingxuan, allowing his cheekiness?

Zhou Jingxuan immediately turned serious. “Then let’s pretend I never said that.”

Good. She was pleased.

After a brief chat with Zhou Jingxuan, a guard ran over. “Your Highness, I have selected the servants.”

“Good. Let’s head to the Jiang residence and deliver them to my cousin,” Zhou Jingxuan said, waving cheerfully to Lin Zhaoyan. “Let’s go. Next time we meet, Zhaoyan, you have to invite me to your residence!”

Had she agreed to that?

As Zhou Jingxuan left, Wen and Peach returned with a ragged young girl.

Peach hesitated before stepping forward. “Miss, this girl is called Xiaohua. I think she’s very good.”

Seeing her, Lin Zhaoyan suddenly thought of Hu Yun.

She hadn’t asked Zhou Jingxuan where he had placed Hu Yun yet.

“But she’s so thin and frail. She won’t be quick at work,” Wen disapproved.

“I can do anything, as long as Miss Jiang takes me in!” Xiaohua immediately knelt down, kowtowing to Lin Zhaoyan.

Instinctively, Lin Zhaoyan stepped back from the deep bow. She sighed, “Get up quickly. I’m not opposed to keeping you, but you must first pass a trial period.”

“If you don’t pass, I’ll send you back but will pay you something. Is that okay?”

“Anything Miss Jiang says!” Xiaohua’s eyes brightened.

“My surname is Lin. Just call me Miss Lin,” Lin Zhaoyan said kindly.

Xiaohua felt as if she were bathed in golden light, like a savior.

Lin Zhaoyan led the three back toward the General’s residence. Passing by the Jiang estate, she saw a crowd of townsfolk gathered, pointing and whispering.

Where there is commotion, there are always people.

“Get lost!” A maid threw a basin of water, scattering the crowd. Only then did Lin Zhaoyan see who was drenched.

Zhou Jingxuan?