Chapter 761: Family Banquet

The playing stopped after a while. Zhao Changhe only knew a handful of tunes, most of them practice pieces he had learned in Gusu. “A Phoenix Seeks His Mate” had been something he deliberately picked up for Tang Wanzhuang...

Still, he played every practice piece he knew, one after another, for the little maid. She loved listening, perhaps even more than Tang Wanzhuang did.

After all, her name was Baoqin, and she clung to her beloved guqin every day. If a single string snapped, she would react as if she had been stabbed in the heart.

Even though the songs were few and mostly simple practice pieces, Baoqin listened with rapt attention, utterly delighted.

What was the fate of a chamber maid? It was to take the mistress’s place whenever she was indisposed, to fulfill the master’s desires. From the moment Baoqin became aware of such matters, she had long since prepared herself mentally. That was why she had been so picky in choosing her future master... Back when this brutish bear of a man was not to her liking, she had been more anxious than even her mistress, because it meant she would have to serve a man she found repulsive.

But later... Later, she had grown fond of him.

Even so, she had never expected much affection. At most, there would come a day when her young miss, too tired to accompany him, would simply say, “Let Baoqin serve tonight.” He would not refuse, and Baoqin would close her eyes, blushing as she submitted to him... That scene had played out in her mind countless times.

Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine that he would hold her in his arms and play song after song just because she liked them.

He had so many pressing matters to attend to, and none of this was necessary. And whether he did it or not, it would not change anything.

Even dreams were not this beautiful. Even if he was doing it on purpose, just to make her feel better, she did not care.

Indeed, Zhao Changhe was doing it intentionally. While it was true that in this world, a chamber maid serving her master was as natural as breathing, to the point where even the maid herself would feel slighted if she were not wanted, he still could not bring himself to treat someone as a mere tool, summoning her when needed and disregarding her otherwise. But neither was he about to spout some lofty nonsense about defying the feudal system and letting her go find her own love.

The most he could do was make the little maid happy, let her experience the same tenderness that her young miss enjoyed.

“Young Master[1]...” As the music ceased, Baoqin leaned softly against him, her eyes filled with both shyness and joy. “How long will you be staying in the capital this time?”

From the moment they reunited, she had called him “Your Highness,” then “Master,” but none of it had been sincere. This “Young Master” was her true sentiment. And her question about how long he would stay carried an even clearer implication.

Zhao Changhe replied, “That depends on the current state of military preparations. I don’t have a clear grasp of the situation yet. You probably know more than I do.”

Baoqin’s smile deepened.

She handled official documents by Tang Wanzhuang’s side every day. She did in fact know more about the situation than Zhao Changhe. Never mind logistics and armaments, even just the basic training of the army was not complete yet. Of course, if the cavalry of the northern barbarians were to launch an incursion right now, the troops could be deployed, hasty though it would be. But as for when exactly they should move, that was something they still had to determine together after Zhao Changhe’s return.

Theoretically speaking, as long as there was no urgent report from the border, there was no immediate rush. Taking up to half a month for preparation was entirely normal, especially since the research and mass production of storage rings also required time.

So... does that mean...?

Baoqin stole a glance at Zhao Changhe, only to find that his mind had already drifted elsewhere. The moment serious matters were mentioned, his focus had been pulled away completely. She sighed inwardly. He truly was just like her young miss. Once the affairs of the nation were at hand, they would forget anything and everything in their embrace. All she could do was hope that peace would come soon, that the world would be at rest, and that they could finally lay down their burdens and enjoy a quiet life in the countryside for a few years.

“Young Master...”

“Huh?” Zhao Changhe snapped back to the present. The little maid in his arms bit her lip and whispered, “Do you... want to kiss me?”

Who was the one just now insisting this was the main hall of the Demon Suppression Bureau? This little maid was far bolder than her master.

Zhao Changhe knew she was trying to help him relax, so he let go of his worries for the moment. He lowered his head and kissed her, then chuckled. “Now that I think about it, I never asked where your family is from. Were you bought by the Tang Clan as a child?”

“I’m born to a servant of the Tang Clan!” Baoqin declared proudly. “My father has served the family for years. Back when the young miss traveled to the capital for her studies, my father was her lead bodyguard. I hear he often made her so angry she wanted to strangle him.”

“

Mm

, I see. So it runs in the family...

Uh

, I mean, it’s a family tradition.”

“Hmph, of course! The young miss personally raised me, taught me to read, to play the guqin. We’re practically sisters. So, Young Master, you’re not allowed to treat the young miss poorly.”

“Alright, alright, I get it. Treating you well means treating Wanzhuang well.” Before she could say another word, Zhao Changhe silenced her with another kiss.

The hands that had just been plucking the guqin strings naturally transitioned to teasing Baoqin.

“

Mmff

—!” Baoqin’s sweet, fluttering feelings were nearly chased away entirely. She had only asked for a kiss, not for... this!

What’s with this flawless execution of light strokes, slow caresses, pressing, and lifting? Does he think I’m the guqin?

“Your Highness.” A soft cough came from outside the door, followed by a gentle knock. “Her Majesty has summoned you and Miss Baoqin to the palace for a meal.”

Baoqin startled, instantly pushing Young Master away and leaping to her feet. She panted for a long moment before fully processing the words. Then, she pointed to herself in disbelief. “Me? That wi—Her Majesty wants to dine with me?”

Zhao Changhe ruffled her hair. “Let’s go. We’re all family. Chichi isn’t as possessive as you all think.”

If Chichi had not been so indulgent, he might never have dared to pursue her young miss in the first place, let alone her. Of course, sometimes Chichi did get jealous, but that was just part and parcel of being a real, living person.

* * *

When they entered the palace, Zhao Changhe was holding Baoqin’s hand.

𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

The little maid shrank back slightly and gave a weak tug to free herself, but when that failed, she could only lower her head and follow behind him, glancing around nervously, afraid of being laughed at.

Yet along the way, those who saw them did smile, but they were all smartass auntie smiles.

Baoqin was certainly of age, but she had never grown particularly tall. She looked like a late teenager; next to her, Zhao Changhe’s towering frame looked a full zhang tall, while her petiteness seemed even more exaggerated. To an outsider, it simply seemed like an older brother taking his little sister out to play. No one would think otherwise.

Though people chuckled at her, Baoqin remained clueless.

It doesn’t seem like they’re mocking me, but what’s with those expressions? Do I have something on my face?

She instinctively reached up to touch her cheek, forgetting that her fingers were stained with oil from adjusting the strings on her guqin. With a single swipe, she smudged three dark streaks across her face.

And so, the onlookers’ smiles deepened even further.

Baoqin still did not understand but felt too frustrated to care. Since there was no hiding anyway, she quickened her pace and boldly clung to Zhao Changhe’s arm, walking beside him with open defiance.

Laugh all you want, I have already won.

This was the scene as they approached the palace gates.

Just as they arrived, two figures—one in red, the other in white—approached from the opposite direction. Both tilted their heads in eerie synchronization, studying Baoqin as she clung to Zhao Changhe’s arm. The figures were none other than Tang Wanzhuang and Yue Hongling.

Baoqin suddenly felt like a concubine caught in the act by the main wife. Her face flushed bright red all the way to her ears, and she hastily let go of Zhao Changhe’s arm and jumped back. “Y-young miss...”

But while she let go of his arm, their hands were still clasped. The moment she leaped backward, she was immediately pulled forward again like a dangling ornament.

Tang Wanzhuang and Yue Hongling both burst into laughter.

Tang Wanzhuang stepped forward with a teasing smile, took Baoqin’s other hand, and began swinging it lightly as they walked into the palace. “Little cat... you sneaked a taste, did you?”

Baoqin blinked. “Huh?”

Zhao Changhe chuckled and said, “No such thing. How’s the ring research going?”

Tang Wanzhuang smiled. “Easier than expected. At first, we were too fixated on making rings. But rings are small, and carving spatial formations on such a tiny object is extremely difficult, so we couldn’t rush it. Then Hongling asked, ‘Why does it have to be a ring? Rings are convenient for individuals, but for transport purposes, why not use small boxes or cases instead?’ And just like that, the problem was solved. The material requirements also aren’t as strict as for rings, so we can manufacture them easily.”

Zhao Changhe gave Yue Hongling a thumbs-up. “Smart thinking!”

Yue Hongling shook her head with a smile. “It’s still far from the kind of ideas you come up with.”

“How soon can mass production start?”

“Master Yuan Xing is currently overseeing the engraving of the arrays. Once the blueprints and molds are ready, large-scale production won’t be difficult. We should see the first batch of prototypes in about three days. After that, we’ll evaluate them. Meanwhile, Sha Seven’s shipment has already arrived. We can start implementing it in select areas today.”

Baoqin, still caught in the middle, realized that no one had paid the slightest attention to her acting suspiciously around Zhao Changhe. They simply continued their discussion, each holding one of her hands and walking her toward the palace as if they were a couple bringing their child to a banquet.

And this banquet seemed an awful lot like a family gathering.

Somehow, a strange thought popped into Baoqin’s head:

If we’re sitting at separate tables... why do I feel like I’ll end up sitting with Her Majesty?

1. The term being used here is 姑爷, which generally refers to a son-in-law, specifically the husband of one’s daughter. In this case, it’s clearly supposed to mean “Tang Wanzhuang’s husband.” It’s impossible to render it as is in English and not be weird, so we decided on “young master” because she calls Tang Wanzhuang “young miss.” ☜