"Hmm, I swear I won’t do the most fun thing with Qian’er before taking my wife to enjoy the best amusement."
And I should also hide the most amusing things. I absolutely can’t let Qian’er get ahead..."
Lingfei pressed down Zhao Rong’s hand as he was about to lift it.
She gently nodded her head.
Actually, Lingfei knew that Rong’er had perhaps overly interpreted her meaning. But... it didn’t matter, some things can be discussed later.
At this moment, Rong’er’s attitude brought her great joy and satisfaction.
Right at this moment.
Zhao Rong still wore a hesitant expression, "This trip to Great Li, we are representing the Academy, and if I bring Qian’er along..."
Zhao Qian’er asked, "Does Linlu Academy really not allow you to bring someone?"
Zhao Rong shook his head, "That’s not it. It’s usual for attendant students and maids, but bringing Qian’er..."
Before Zhao Rong could finish his sentence, Zhao Qian’er suddenly tiptoed forward, stretched out her little hand, and pinched his nose.
Her hand shook from side to side, and Zhao Rong froze, not responding immediately. His head moved along too.
The little girl’s eyes curved into crescent moons, and under her rosy lips, two tiny pearly sharp canines also appeared.
"Stinky Rong’er, stinky Rong’er. Did you really forget, or are you pretending to forget that Qian’er is your maid? Hmm, I’m the maid accompanying your wife... You, you are my husband, huh, are you trying to deny this?"
Zhao Rong dared not utter a sound.
He had indeed subconsciously forgotten about little Qian’er’s identity, or rather... he had never really viewed little Qian’er as a maid.
A companion maid, in the mundane world below the mountains, is also called a concubine, a woman who marries into the husband’s family with the official wife.
Yet, Zhao Rong’s situation was a bit special, being a stay-at-home son-in-law, so the arrangement of Qian’er as a companion maid was entirely up to Qing Jun.
Moreover, although Qian’er was Qing Jun’s personal maid and a companion maid, she had already become the beloved daughter of Taiching’s Tranquility Mansion, a cultivation genius nurtured by the Zhao family of Great Chu, a station incomparable to that of a servant or maid from Duke Mansion of Jingnan, in Great Chu.
Now, within the Zhao family of Great Chu, the only one who could technically command her was Qing Jun...
Soon, the trio agreed that Zhao Qian’er would accompany Zhao Rong to Great Li, in the guise of a maid or a student.
Zhao Rong continued to stroll with Qing Jun and Qian’er. With his company, the two women grew even happier, smiles spreading across their cheeks.
Especially Qian’er, every time she saw something interesting, she grabbed Zhao Rong and Lingfei’s hands and ran around, never stopping.
The little girl was so energetic that Zhao Rong was getting worn out. If he kept her close by, wouldn’t he be exhausted sooner rather than later?
At one moment, Zhao Qian’er ran ahead while Zhao Rong and Lingfei followed behind.
Zhao Rong glanced at his wife’s beautifully serene profile and noted her seemingly good mood.
He suddenly sighed softly and shook his head.
Lingfei turned, "Husband, what’s the matter?"
Zhao Rong looked down at their intertwined fingers, squeezing her slim hand, and he sighed, "Thinking that it will be a while before I see Qing Jun again makes me a bit reluctant to leave."
That was indeed what Zhao Rong felt deep down, but why he chose to say it out loud at that moment...
Lingfei blushed, gently lowering her head.
"I... I will miss you too, my husband," she said.
She paused, her painted eyebrows furrowing slightly, "Husband, why don’t I come along?"
Zhao Rong shook his head, "We’ve just settled it. You should stay in Du You City and take care of your own affairs. Qian’er and I will just be out briefly, and we’ll be back soon."
"By the way, Qing Jun, I am leaving in a couple of days. Why don’t we hang out a little longer today? Let’s not go back so early. I heard the night market in West City is very lively; we could go there tonight. Ahem, and if it gets late, we can stay over somewhere outside. I can return to Linlu Academy tomorrow."
As Lingfei listened, her knitted eyebrows gradually relaxed, and afterward, her expression remained serene and quiet, without a word.
Regarding Zhao Rong’s suggestion to stay out overnight, she seemed not to understand, being neither for nor against.
About an hour later, the three of them found a busy restaurant for lunch.
After that, in the afternoon, Zhao Rong and Qian’er accompanied Qing Jun to East City to handle some tasks her mentor had assigned and visited some unfamiliar places, though Zhao Rong didn’t inquire further.
Then, once Lingfei had finished her tasks, the trio discussed and decided to revisit the beach where Zhao Rong and Lingfei had reconciled.
They spent the afternoon there, enjoying the salty sea breeze of the North Sea.
By evening, the three left the beach.
Zhao Rong looked at the dimming sky and then at the nearby street market, which seemed even livelier. He decided to make one last effort.
He said to the energetic Zhao Qian’er, who had been running around all day:
"Qian’er, that street looks quite interesting; let’s check it out and buy some snacks. I’m getting a bit hungry."
Before Zhao Qian’er could nod, Lingfei spoke up first, her tone serious.
"Husband, it’s getting late. Let’s not wander around anymore. You’ve been busy these days, and you have important tasks tomorrow. It would be better to rest early."
Zhao Rong looked at his wife’s cool expression, feeling helpless but still maintaining a smile, "Let’s do as my wife says."
Zhao Rong casually hailed a carriage for them.
Lingfei and Zhao Qian’er got into the carriage one after the other.
Preparing to say goodbye, Zhao Rong opened his mouth as they stepped into the carriage.
"Wutong Street, Qinglian Inn."
Lingfei suddenly reported an address to the coachman that felt both unfamiliar and familiar to him.
Zhao Rong was slightly stunned.
On the carriage, Lingfei turned her pretty face away, not looking at him.
Thus, her expression was unclear to others.
But the voice of the autumn-eyed lady, crisp and sweet, drifted lightly like the peaceful yet gentle evening breeze.
"Husband, don’t... don’t stand there stunned. Come on, get in."