The journey to Shanning Prefecture would take two days. When darkness fell, they reached their overnight lodging point.
The servants who had gone ahead had already made arrangements, and the officials at the relay station who had received word came personally to receive them.
Qi Yue rubbed her waist and back as she got out of the carriage, surveying the relay station before her. This must be the ancient government guest house, she thought—with lanterns hanging high, slate-blue bricks and gray tiles, imposing and dignified.
“Young Madam,” A’Ru reminded her in a low voice.
Qi Yue came to her senses and saw Chang Yuncheng walking toward the inner gate, surrounded by four or five officials.
“Where is Miss Rao?” she asked, looking back.
Rao Yufang had just gotten off the carriage and came over with lowered head upon hearing the inquiry.
“Let’s go,” Qi Yue said with a smile.
Rao Yufang nodded and pulled the hood of her cloak lower, covering half her face.
The minor officials at the relay station secretly observed these two women protected by servants.
Such beauties… indeed, the family members of the Marquis’s household are as beautiful as heavenly immortals…
Qi Yue found everything fresh and interesting. Seeing that most of the rooms here were lit, it seemed there were quite a few guests.
“Walk faster, what are you looking at!” Chang Yuncheng had somehow appeared in front of her.
Qi Yue frowned and looked up at him. Just as she was about to retort, Chang Yuncheng raised his hand and pulled the hood behind her over her head, suddenly blocking her eyes.
“What are you doing!” Qi Yue said angrily, reaching up to pull at the hood.
“It’s so cold, keep it on,” Chang Yuncheng said in a low voice.
“Cold? What cold…” Qi Yue didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Before she could finish speaking, Chang Yuncheng grabbed her hand and pulled her forward.
“My wife has a weak constitution…” she heard Chang Yuncheng explaining to the people around them.
The surrounding officials laughed heartily, all praising the Prince for his tender care for his delicate wife.
What tender care? Was he really that kind-hearted? Qi Yue pursed her lips and used her other hand to lift the hood slightly so she could at least see where she was going.
“Miss…” the maid following behind Rao Yufang reminded her quietly.
Only then did Rao Yufang lift her feet to follow. Up ahead, Chang Yuncheng pulling Qi Yue had already been separated by the crowd of people surrounding them.
“This is Miss Rao, please arrange things properly for her.”
Chang Yuncheng’s voice came from ahead.
The Rao family? The officials were stunned. To be referred to directly as “the Rao family” and have connections with the Marquis Dingxi’s household could only mean the Shandong Rao family!
The officials who had assumed these were delicate wives and beautiful concubines traveling along suddenly realized, and several immediately came personally to pay their respects.
A slight smile appeared on Rao Yufang’s face beneath her hood as she returned the courtesies one by one. When she looked up again, Chang Yuncheng and Qi Yue had already entered their room.
Her steps hesitated for a moment.
“Miss Rao, this way please,” an official said attentively, leading the way.
It was in the opposite direction from Chang Yuncheng’s room…
Rao Yufang lowered her head and walked with light steps. After simple washing, dinner was brought.
At this time, the local officials would certainly be hosting a banquet for Chang Yuncheng, so he must have gone out to eat.
“Nanny Gui, do we still have any of the preserved meat in jars that we brought from home?” Rao Yufang asked.
The woman who was watching the maids organize the bedding they had brought hurried over at her call.
“Yes, we still have some. Knowing Miss loves to eat this, besides what was left for the concubine, we kept a small jar,” the woman said with a smile.
“Bring it out,” Rao Yufang said. “Take it for the Young Madam to taste.”
The woman was startled, then understood and nodded with a smile.
“Baojuan, come serve Miss while she combs her hair,” she called busily.
A young maid hurried over.
Rao Yufang sat before the mirror, carefully and lightly applying makeup…
That Young Madam was already a beauty—no matter how much makeup she applied, she couldn’t compare to her…
It would be better not to apply makeup at all…
Rao Yufang carefully wiped off the makeup she had applied.
When she brought people to Chang Yuncheng’s side, since they all recognized each other, the guards didn’t stop them.
“Miss Rao?” The maids and servants standing outside the door were all surprised.
“The Young Madam is eating dinner, isn’t she? I’m also alone, so I came to keep her company,” Rao Yufang said with a smile to the servants who came to greet her.
The servants smiled.
“Thank you, Miss…” one of the plump women said with a laugh, “but our Prince is also here, so you see…”
Rao Yufang was stunned.
The Prince was also here? Why hadn’t he gone to the banquet?