Finest Servant - Chapter 212

Chapter 212 The Visit

Having left Luo Min’s place, it was already getting late. Suddenly, Lin Wanrong remembered that he hadn’t yet informed Old Luo about Luo Ning’s illness. The old man, in these past few days, was so busy discussing important matters with Xu Wei that he certainly didn’t have time to take care of domestic affairs. With this thought, he turned to Gao Shou, who was escorting him down the mountain, “Brother Gao, could you please convey the news of Miss Luo’s sickness to Governor Luo, and see how he intends to handle it?”

Gao Shou nodded, “Naturally. But given what I know of Governor Luo, he probably won’t leave here so readily at such a critical time.”

As a close aide of Luo Min, Gao Shou was naturally in the know about his affairs. Old Luo, cunning in appearance but upright at heart, would surely not allow family matters to hinder state affairs. Lin Wanrong sighed, feeling a bit sympathetic for Luo Ning and her sibling. Having such a father might not necessarily be a blessing.

“By the way, why didn’t I see Brother Gao Qiu?” Lin Wanrong asked.

“Oh, he followed Master Xu early this morning to coordinate military affairs between the two regions,” Gao Shou replied, not concealing anything, knowing the relationship between Lin Wanrong, Xu Wei, and Luo Min.

Xu Wei didn’t have it easy either, already in his fifties or sixties, recently took Su Qinglian as his concubine, had barely spent any romantic time with her, and probably hadn’t had many wedding nights before he was rushing around again. Being an official was truly troublesome, it was better to be a simple commoner like himself.

After the conversation with Luo Min, Lin Wanrong felt at ease. Moved by Old Luo’s integrity, he wished to do something for him. ‘Never mind then, if you old man have no time to care for your own daughter, I will go and visit on your behalf.’

As soon as the thought occurred, he turned his horse around and headed directly to the Governor’s residence. The sky was dark, and the Luo mansion was quiet. Just as Lin Wanrong was about to enter, he suddenly remembered Teacher Mei, unsure if she was also residing in the Luo mansion. If he were to enter rashly, wouldn’t it cause more trouble for Luo Ning? As he hesitated at the gate, a small sedan stopped at the mansion’s entrance. A few maids and old women helped an elderly lady out. It was none other than Luo Min’s mother – Old Madam Luo.

On the day of her birthday, Lin Wanrong had been especially flattering towards her, even gifting her a diamond and Xu Wei’s “Returning Home in Wind and Snow”. His couplets were unrivaled, so even if the old lady was dazzled she could still recognize him. Seeing him lingering at the gate, she waved from a distance, “Isn’t that Young Master Lin? Come here, let’s chat.”

Lin Wanrong dismounted and approached, giving his greetings, “Lin San greets Old Madam.”

Old Madam Luo looked him up and down, nodded with a smile, “Good, good, has Young Master Lin been well these days?”

Lin Wanrong responded with a smile, “Thanks to your blessings, Old Madam, I eat well, sleep well, and play well.”

Old Madam chuckled, “Young Master Lin is truly eloquent, and so talented. I wonder which fortunate girl is promised to you.”

“Old Madam, you’re joking. I’m just a small servant in the Xiao family, without wealth or power, no young lady would look favorably upon me,” Lin Wanrong humbly replied.

Old Madam Luo shook her head, saying, “Young Master Lin, a hero doesn’t fear humble beginnings, you must not underestimate yourself. My ancestor was once a mere cowherd, but he followed the Founding Emperor in battles to conquer the world, eventually being conferred as Marquis. You are young now, as long as you’re willing to work hard, success is only a matter of time.”

“You are the descendant of a noble family, Old Madam. My apologies for my ignorance.” Lin Wanrong exclaimed in surprise. No wonder the old lady seemed so distinguished and poised, she was a descendant of a founding general. Luo Min, the fat old man, surprisingly had such a glorious ancestor.

The old lady took his hand and said, “All of that is due to the grace of my ancestor, I merely bask in his glory.”

Seeing the maids carrying incense burners and Buddhist scriptures by her side, Lin Wanrong curiously asked, “Old Madam, where were you from?”

Old Madam Luo sighed, “It’s all because of my poor Ning. I don’t know what kind of grievance she suffered yesterday, but she came home weeping bitterly. I tried to ask her about it, but she wouldn’t talk. I don’t know who the damned person is who made my Ning so sad, if I find him, I’ll make him pay.”

Despite the old lady’s aggressive words, Lin Wanrong felt a strange comfort. He lacked nothing at the moment, but he was missing this kind of familial affection, like that of a doting grandmother.

“Ning is very heartbroken. She started talking deliriously in her fever. The siblings lost their mother when they were young, and I, this old woman, personally raised them. Especially Ning, she has always been strong since childhood. She not only had to take care of her brother, but also me, a lonely old woman. She also had to study hard. She has truly suffered a lot. Yesterday, when she fell ill like that, it was heartbreaking for me to see. I woke up early today, went to the temple, and prayed all day to the Bodhisattva to bless my little Ning to recover soon.” The old lady wiped away two tears.

Lin Wanrong sighed, “Old Madam, may I ask you something? Miss Luo has a mentor named Mei Yanqiu, does she also live in your mansion?”

The old lady snorted, “That Mei is Ning’s childhood teacher. Unlike other scholars who grow in wisdom with age, this Mei is going the opposite direction. Over the years, she’s been acting more and more out of line, neglecting scholarship, busy recruiting rich students, but making no progress in her learning. In my view, she falls far short compared to you, Young Master Lin. How could she live in my mansion?”

Lin Wanrong thought to himself, ‘It’s quite normal for a teacher to build connections and attract funding for projects. It’s just unfortunate that this Teacher Mei has touched my sore spot. If I don’t deal with you, I would not be doing justice to my burning heart.’

“Young Master Lin, I’ve noticed that Ning is fond of you and treats you quite differently. Please go see her and comfort her. I, as her grandmother, am just wishing for my dear girl to get better soon.” The old lady grabbed Lin Wanrong’s sleeve without any further ado and walked into the mansion, her steps filled with urgency.

Lin Wanrong felt a sense of admiration in his heart. While Luo Ning’s father might not be up to par, her grandmother was an object of envy. Every loss has its compensation; this girl hadn’t been treated unfairly after all.

As the elderly lady walked a few steps ahead, Old Madame Luo pointed to a small building aglow with dim lights and said, “That is Ning’s boudoir, Young Master Lin, you should go up and see her.”

‘The boudoir of a maiden, can I simply waltz in?’ Lin Wanrong hesitated for a moment. Turning around, he found the old lady had already walked off into the distance. Wasn’t she a maiden once, too, not taking such things into account? To go or not to go, Lin Wanrong loitered beneath the building for a while, finally gritting his teeth and declaring, “Hesitation isn’t my style, it’s just entering a girl’s room. What’s there to fear? If I want to go in, I need to do it confidently and admire my bravery.”

With a mischievous chuckle, he climbed the stairs, just about to push the door, when, with a squeak, the door was opened from within, and a beautiful figure emerged from the room.

Lin Wanrong was taken aback for a moment and called out, “Qiaoqiao—”

Upon lifting her head and seeing that familiar face, Dong Qiaoqiao couldn’t help but exclaim with joy, “Big brother, why are you here too—”

Lin Wanrong pointed to the room and whispered, “Is Miss Luo inside? Did you rush over to take care of her?”

Qiaoqiao nodded and gently replied, “She just drank some medicine and fell asleep. Sister Ning treats me like her own sibling; it’s only right for me to take care of her. Big brother, did you come to see Sister Ning?”

‘The bond between these two girls is truly remarkable,’ Lin Wanrong thought, taking Qiaoqiao’s hand and smiling, “What else do you think I came for? How is Miss Luo’s condition? Has she improved at all?”

Qiaoqiao sat next to him, shaking her head with a sigh, “There’s no improvement, the doctor says she’s suffering from an anxiety disorder, and that she needs rest and recovery.”

“Anxiety disorder?” Lin Wanrong furrowed his brows. “Then let her rest properly. The poetry event and such laborious tasks should be delegated to others.”

Qiaoqiao shook her head, “Big brother, you don’t understand Sister Ning. Though she may be a frail woman, she’s high-spirited. She’s been managing the poetry event single-handedly, she wouldn’t trust anyone else with it. If Sister Ning ever felt unwell in the past, she would tell me, but this time, I don’t know what upset her. She’s been crying, talking nonsense in her sleep, but when asked, she refuses to say anything. I’ve known her for a while, but I’ve never seen Sister Ning like this.”

Seeing the worried look on her face, Lin Wanrong couldn’t help but smile, pulling her into his arms, “Silly girl, everyone has their own worries. Even if you are close sisters, she can’t share everything with you. On the other hand, little darling, you’ve been working so hard these days without taking care of yourself, you’ve lost quite a bit of weight.”

“Big brother—” Qiaoqiao blushed, snuggling into his arms, “I’m not tired at all. I feel content having things to do every day. I don’t want to be a burden to you, I will manage the restaurant well so you won’t have to worry.”

Lin Wanrong pinched her nose, planting a kiss on her rosy lips, and laughed, “What burden, stop talking nonsense. You’re my treasure, and also the lady boss of the restaurant. If you don’t manage it, who will?”

Qiaoqiao gave a soft hum, burying her head in his chest with immense joy.

Seeing her adorable demeanor, how could Lin Wanrong resist? He gently unbuttoned her small coat, his hands venturing to her chest, beginning a tender exploration. Her delicate skin was silky smooth, exuding a faint fragrance. Lin Wanrong held her tightly, letting her curves transform into various enticing shapes in his hands. Qiaoqiao was panting, too embarrassed to utter a word.

With a gentle touch on her pink bud, Qiaoqiao immediately breathed out hot air from her nose, her face flushing, and she collapsed weakly into his arms, panting, “Big brother, not here, Sister Ning is still in the room—”

Her words only fueled Lin Wanrong’s desire. How stimulating was it to be in someone else’s room with a maiden inside and such an enticingly sweet girl outside? He knew that this kind of thought was beastly, but weren’t all humans evolved from beasts? Pretending to be pure would probably earn the contempt of even God.

Lin Wanrong gave Qiaoqiao a lustful smile and said, “Little darling, let’s give it a try.”