Chapter Twenty-One: The Human Instinct to Seek Benefit and Avoid Harm

Luo Yunqiao turned her head to look at Yinxin.

Yinxin, feeling that there was nothing wrong with what she had said, frowned and asked, "Miss, did I say something wrong?"

"It’s just that I find it truly unexpected for someone with the Prince’s status to eat wontons on the side of the road. Who would have thought that the dignified God of War, a man beneath only one person but above thousands, would actually eat at a roadside stall?"

"Yinxin, sometimes status is merely a tool that allows you to access higher levels of society; it is not meant to make you completely discard the foundations of the world."

"The fact that he can come here to eat these small wontons only proves that the food is good. When food is delicious, people will naturally flock to it. Why should one distinguish between noble and base based on location or the status of the proprietor?"

Yinxin found these words somewhat difficult to grasp. Given Prince Yan’s esteemed position, was coming to the roadside to eat not considered a descent from his high status?

"What you see is the Prince’s status; what I see is the people living in peace and contentment, and the Prince’s care for his subjects." Luo Yunqiao reached out and tapped Yinxin on the head. "You little girl, you still have much to learn!"

The master and her two maids were not far from Xiao Muyuan and his companion. With their sharp hearing, they had naturally overheard the entire conversation between the mistress and her maids.

"No wonder you’re helping her. She really is a transparent and wonderful person. The Marquis’s household, filled with fools as it is, has finally produced one clever soul!" Lin Zhou remarked with a clicking of his tongue.

Xiao Muyuan glanced at him, his own favorable impression of Luo Yunqiao growing significantly.

Watching the three figures move further away and vanish into the crowd, Lin Zhou turned to the man beside him. "How do you plan to make contact with the Luo family?"

"Although this eldest young lady of the Marquis’s estate did not grow up there, she is, after all, of their true bloodline. Moreover, she is one of the only two clever people in the entire estate. Using her as a point of entry is not a bad idea."

"That old fool Luo Chao is a simpleton, and the eldest young lady has a stubborn temper; she probably isn’t his favorite."

As he finished speaking, Lin Zhou’s wontons arrived. He rubbed his hands together happily, picked up the bowl, and took a sip of the broth, feeling immensely satisfied by its savory flavor.

"As you said, the eldest young lady of the Luo family is a clever person. Being overly familiar will only make her wary. Better to take it slow," Xiao Muyuan said, using his spoon to lift a wonton to his lips.

"That’s true, but how will you investigate the Luo family then? If you have to be so cautious about this eldest young lady, won't it take a long time to infiltrate the household? That would be too late!" Lin Zhou said, biting into a wonton with a frustrated sigh.

Xiao Muyuan stirred the wontons in his bowl slowly with his spoon, his deep eyes lowered, lost in thought.

Elsewhere, Luo Yunqiao and her two maids arrived at Jinxin’s home.

"Mother, the Miss is here!" Jinxin called out, pushing the door open to announce their arrival to those inside.

Inside, Jinxin’s mother grabbed Muxin, who was about to stand up. "Quickly, go hide in the inner room!"

"Mother, I..." Before Muxin could finish, his mother interrupted him. "Listen to me. I won’t harm you. You follow the eldest young master, and your sister follows the eldest young lady. No matter what happens in the future, you two will have a fallback. But if you both follow the same person, the whole family will be doomed if disaster strikes!"

"Child, you cannot put all your eggs in one basket. Remember, your master is the eldest young master!"

After saying this, she pushed him into the inner room and closed the door. She tidied up the room before smoothing her clothes and walking out.

Seeing Luo Yunqiao and the two maids enter, Mother Lin stepped forward to offer a respectful bow. "This old servant greets the Miss."

"Mother, the Miss came to have my brother handle some business. Is he at home?" Jinxin asked, smiling as she tugged on her mother’s sleeve.

The sight of the affectionate mother and daughter filled Luo Yunqiao with a sense of envy.

"Er... Muxin went out. I don’t know when he’ll be back. Miss, please sit. You keep her company while I go get some snacks and brew some tea for the Miss."

With that, Mother Lin pulled Jinxin away. Luo Yunqiao inspected the room, while Yinxin stayed close to her side. Jinxin’s home was no different from any ordinary household, but Mother Lin was clearly a capable manager, keeping everything in perfect order. There were beautiful curtains by the window, the patterns of which were clearly hand-stitched.

In the kitchen, Jinxin grabbed her mother’s arm. "No need to get snacks, Mother. The Miss is here to see my brother about something. Since he’s not here, she won’t stay long!"

Mother Lin, feeling exasperated by her daughter’s lack of foresight, poked her hard on the forehead.

"You stubborn girl, can’t you see why I pulled you away?" Mother Lin glanced cautiously outside to ensure Luo Yunqiao and her maid were not looking, then whispered, "From now on, stop dragging your brother into the eldest young lady's affairs."

"But... why, Mother?" Jinxin asked, confused.

"Tsk!" Mother Lin patted her daughter and pulled her close, whispering a few things into her ear.

Jinxin’s expression changed, and she looked at her mother with complicated eyes.

"Don’t look at me like that. This is all for your and your brother’s sake," Mother Lin sighed heavily. "The eldest young lady has suffered so many grievances in the Marquis’s estate. In the time you’ve been by her side, do you really think she’s the type to just let it go?"

"I know a thing or two about what goes on in the estate. Your brother follows the eldest young master, who is the legitimate heir; his future is secure. If he stays with him, then if something happens later... he might be able to save you."

"You, on the other hand, must serve the eldest young lady well. If she succeeds in the future, you will rise with her. By each of you walking a different path, you are leaving a lifeline for each other!"

Hearing this, Jinxin finally understood her mother’s plan. It was indeed a wise choice. Her brother being with the eldest young master was the safest bet, but what about the Miss? Jinxin began to worry, thinking also of the other servants who had been sold off.

"Mother, I understand!" Jinxin’s mood dimmed, but she could not argue with the logic; her mother was doing this for their sake.

"Alright, take good care of the eldest young lady. Don’t let her see anything amiss!" Mother Lin wiped Jinxin’s face, handed her a plate of pastries, and walked out with a pot of flower tea.

"Miss, this old servant only knows how to make a bit of flower tea. Because of this skill, the old mistress didn't cast me out of the estate back then. Please, have a taste of what I’ve prepared!"

As she spoke, she poured a cup for Luo Yunqiao.

Luo Yunqiao smiled and nodded. She lifted the cup to her lips, the faint, fresh fragrance wafting up. She took a small sip; it was clear, sweet, and entirely devoid of bitterness.