Chapter 761: Family Feast

Chapter 761: Family Feast

The zither playing did not last long; Zhao Changhe’s repertoire of tunes was only a handful, mostly practice pieces he had learned back in Gusu, and “Phoenix Seeks His Mate” was one he had specially learned for Tang Wanzhuang…

Yet he still played every practice piece he knew, one after another, for the little maid. She loved listening, loved music even more than Wanzhuang.

After all, her name was Baoqin—she spent every day holding her beloved zither, and a broken string felt like a death sentence.

Even though he played only a few tunes, most of them simple practice pieces, Baoqin listened with pure joy.

What was the fate of a chambermaid? To take the young lady’s place in satisfying the master’s desires when the lady was indisposed. From the age she first understood such matters, Baoqin had long prepared herself mentally—which was why she had been so picky back then… When that stinking bear had failed to catch her eye, she had been more anxious than her mistress, because it meant she too would have to serve a coarse, unappealing man.

Later, later she had come to like him… But even so, she had never dreamed of receiving much tenderness. Most likely, one day when the lady was tired, she would say, “Let Baoqin take over,” and he would not refuse. Then Baoqin would close her eyes, shy and yielding… That scene had played out in her imagination countless times.

Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined he would hold her in his arms, playing her favorite tunes one after another, simply because she liked them.

He had so many matters to attend to; there was no need for this. Doing it or not would change nothing.

Baoqin felt even her dreams had never been so sweet. Even if he was doing it deliberately.

Zhao Changhe was indeed deliberate. Though a chambermaid’s role was taken for granted in this world—even the girl herself would feel resentful if he refused her—he truly could not treat a person as a mere tool for his bed. Yet to say, “Forget those feudal ways, go find your own love,” would be far too affected.

All he could do was make the little maid happy, let her also experience the tenderness the lady felt.

“Master…” The music ceased. Baoqin leaned softly against him, her eyes full of shy joy: “How long will you stay in the capital this time?”

From their first meeting, she had called him “Your Highness” and then “Milord,” all against her true heart. This “Master” was the little maid’s real voice. Asking how long he would stay—her meaning was plain.

Zhao Changhe said, “That depends on the current war preparations. I’m not yet clear on the situation; you probably know more than I do.”

Baoqin’s heart leaped with even greater joy.

She worked daily by Tang Wanzhuang’s side handling official documents, so she indeed understood the situation better than Zhao Changhe. Not to mention grain, fodder, and arms, even the army’s training was not yet complete. Of course, if the Hu cavalry were to ride south now, they could be hastily deployed, but the exact timing would have to be decided after Zhao Changhe returned for discussion.

In theory, as long as no urgent border report arrived immediately, there was no great rush. A preparation period of ten days to half a month was normal; research on the storage ring and mass production also needed time.

Did that mean…

Baoqin stole a glance at Zhao Changhe, only to find him lost in thought. The mention of official matters had already diverted his mind. She sighed inwardly. He was exactly like her mistress—once affairs of state loomed, he forgot everything in his arms. She could only hope the world would soon be at peace, so they could lay down their arms, wander the forests, and rest for a few years.

“Master…”

“Ah?” Zhao Changhe snapped back. The little maid in his arms bit her lower lip: “Would you… kiss me?”

Who was it that said this was the main hall of the Demon Suppression Bureau? This girl was far more forward than Wanzhuang. Zhao Changhe knew she was trying to ease his tension, so he set aside his worries, bent down, and gave her a kiss. Chuckling, he asked, “Come to think of it, I’ve never asked where Baoqin’s family is from. Were you bought by the Tang family as a child?”

“I was born into the Tang household!” Baoqin said proudly. “My father was a guard for the young lady from early on. When she traveled to the capital to study, he was the head of her escort. I heard he often drove the young lady to distraction.”

“A family tradition, then.”

“Hmph. Anyway, the young lady raised me from a child, taught me to read and play the zither, like a real sister. Master, you must never treat her badly.”

“All right, all right, I understand. Being good to Baoqin means being good to Wanzhuang.” Zhao Changhe again silenced the little maid’s chattering lips.

The hand that had just played the zither naturally began to play Baoqin instead.

“Mmm…” Baoqin’s sweetness was nearly plucked away. I told you to kiss me, not to play me! What was that standard technique of plucking, strumming, rubbing, and picking all about?

“Your Highness.” A cough came from outside the door, followed by a soft knock. “His Majesty summons you and Miss Baoqin to dine at the palace.”

Baoqin startled, quickly pushed the master away, and jumped to the floor. She panted for a moment before realizing, then pointed at her nose in astonishment: “Me? That… His Majesty invites me to dinner?”

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

If not for Chichi’s indulgence, I might never have dared to pursue your mistress in the first place, let alone you… Though she sometimes couldn’t help being jealous, that only made her more human.

…

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

The little maid shrank back a little, tried to pull free but failed, so she could only huddle behind him, glancing around nervously, afraid of being laughed at.

But everyone they passed did laugh—though it was a fond, aunt-like smile.

Baoqin was old enough, but she had never grown tall. She looked like an undeveloped little girl, especially beside Zhao Changhe’s towering nine-foot frame. She seemed like a little sister being taken out for a walk by her big brother; no one could think otherwise.

Baoqin was baffled by the laughter. It didn’t seem mocking, but what did those expressions mean? Was there a flower on my face?

She instinctively touched her cheek, forgetting that her fingers were still greasy from tuning the strings. She smeared three streaks across her face.

The people laughed even more.

Baoqin didn’t understand, but she grew indignant. She stopped hiding, quickened her pace, and walked openly beside Zhao Changhe, clutching his arm.

Let them laugh.

Thus they reached the palace gate. Two figures, one in red and one in white, approached from the opposite direction. Both tilted their heads in perfect unison, studying the way she clung to the master’s arm.

Tang Wanzhuang. Yue Hongling.

Baoqin felt like a little vixen caught red-handed by the lawful wife. Her face flushed crimson to the roots of her ears. She instantly released his arm and jumped back: “Mi… Mistress!”

But though she let go of his arm, the hand he held did not let go. She jumped back only to be pulled forward again, like a little ornament.

Tang Wanzhuang and Yue Hongling both laughed aloud.

Tang Wanzhuang smiled as she came to Baoqin’s other side, took her other hand, and swung it gently as they walked into the palace: “Little tabby cat, been sneaking a bite?”

Baoqin: “Huh?”

Zhao Changhe laughed. “No. How’s the ring research going?”

Tang Wanzhuang replied with a smile, “Simpler than we imagined. We were still limited in our thinking, always focusing on rings. But rings are small; carving a spatial array on such a tiny object demands too much precision, and we couldn’t do it quickly. Hongling suggested, why must it be rings? Rings are for personal convenience. For transport, we could make small boxes or chests… That solved everything. Even the material requirements are less stringent than for rings. Our foundation can easily handle it.”

Zhao Changhe gave Yue Hongling a thumbs-up: “Flexible!”

Yue Hongling shook her head with a smile. “Compared to some of your ideas, it’s still far behind.”

“How soon can we mass-produce?”

“Master Yuanxing is organizing the carving of the arrays now. Once the molds are cast, batch production shouldn’t be hard. Hmm… we should see the first samples in about three days. We’ll evaluate then. Sha Qi’s shipment has also arrived; we can start using it in some areas today.”

Baoqin realized that no one was paying any attention to her little transgression with the master. They talked business as they walked, one on each side, pulling her through the palace gate like a couple bringing their child to a banquet.

And this banquet… truly seemed like a family feast.

Somehow, a thought surfaced in Baoqin’s mind: If they had to split into tables, wouldn’t it feel like His Majesty and Baoqin should sit at the same one?