Chapter 31.2

At the same time, Yaoniang was aware of the contrast. In short, it was because she didn't stand upright in her previous life. Even if she was doted on by Jin Wang and the servants fawned on her, deep in their hearts, they thought that she only relied on her seducing skill. She was despised and abhorred. 

This was probably the crucial disparity between taking a shortcut and supporting herself on her own.

"By the way, Nanny Su, I forgot to tell you. Brother Zhou Sheng will go home this afternoon. If you have something you need to send home, then prepare it in advance." Xiangcao said enthusiastically and interrupted Yaoniang's thought.

Yaoniang came to her senses.

She didn't expect it would be so quick, but she was delighted when she thought that her family might receive her packages in the next two days. Xiangcao told her to come to her after lunch before she went back to the kitchen, while Yaoniang rushed to get things ready with a light heart. 

Yaoniang prepared a bundle of things. Even when she went to work in the small courtyard, she still thought about bringing more things home.

She had only fifteen liang silvers left and intended to send it all home, as well as the clothes rewarded by Jin Wang. Her figure was about the same as her sister's. If she could wear it, so could her sister. Those two clothes were made from good material, and her sister could wear them when she visited their relatives.

As for Xiaobao, the clothes were made from extra fabric. Last time, she made a dress for the little princess, and Mammy Mu then gave the rest of the fabric to her, so she made it into clothes for Xiaobao. 

It was all set, she had already prepared them well.

But she still didn't feel enough. She wished to bring everything home to make her feel more at ease.

The little princess fell asleep after having lunch, so Yaoniang asked Yuyan for a leave. She came to Xiangcao and asked her to find the person who would help her send her things home.

Xiangcao took Yaoniang to the side gate of the Mansion, where Zhou Sheng was already waiting there.

He was not very old and seemed to be around twenty years old, with dark skin and a tall and strong body. At first glance, he looked like an honest young man.

It was very hot at noon, yet he didn't stay in the shade, directly standing under the scorching sun. She could see him sweating from a distance.

Xiangcao smiled helplessly at Yaoniang and ran over, "Brother Zhou Sheng, why are you standing here? Have you been waiting for a long time?"

Zhou Sheng wiped off the sweat and smiled at Xiangcao, "It’s not too long, I've just arrived. I'm afraid you couldn't see me, so I didn't move. By the way, is she Nanny Su?" Zhou Sheng said with some hesitation when Yaoniang approached him.

There was a hint of surprise in his eyes.

Under the sun, Yaoniang’s skin appeared so fair and clear, radiating a kind of glistening light. Zhou Sheng had never seen such a beautiful woman because he used to work with men, and the women he usually saw were the maids and old mommies.

Regardless of how the other person looked, the light and fair skin were enough to astonish Zhou Sheng. It was very soft and delicate, the kind he had never touched.

After Yaoniang approached, Zhou Sheng saw her face and lowered his head with flushed skin. Fortunately, no one questioned the blush on his face because it was incredibly hot.

"Nanny Su. He is Brother Zhou Sheng."

Yaoniang smiled and said, "Brother Zhou, thanks for your help, sorry for troubling you."

"No trouble at all. It's my pleasure." Zhou Sheng smiled and couldn't help but scratch his head, "If you want to send something home, just give them to me and I promise I will deliver them to your family safely." He patted his chest and made a promise.

Yaoniang handed him the bag and said, "It's just some silvers and clothes."

She repeated the words she wanted to tell to her family and also the Yao Family's detailed address twice. She only felt relieved once she was sure that he remembered them well. 

"Anyway, thank you, Brother Zhou. Please use this to treat yourself to some tea." Yaoniang took out a piece of silver from her sleeve and put it into Zhou Sheng's hands.

Zhou Sheng immediately refused. "No, thank you, Nanny Su, you don't need to be so polite, it's okay!” He was afraid that Yaoniang would continue to put silver in his hands and quickly ran away with the baggage.

"Nanny Su, don't worry. If your family has something to tell you, I will notify you later." He waved his hands and said goodbye to her from a distance.

Yaoniang watched him leave, then said to Xiangcao, "Brother Zhou is a very nice person."

"Brother Zhou Sheng is indeed a very good person, you just don't know him… "

Since Yaoniang had received rewards from Jin Wang, she remembered to fulfill her promise of inviting people in the small courtyard to have a drink and eat.

She didn't know how to arrange it, so she gave the money to Mommy Mo and asked her to set a schedule. It was today.

People in the small kitchen had begun to prepare food in the afternoon.

At dinner, people in the small courtyard all had gathered together, except for Nanny Wang and Nanny Qian who were taking care of the little princess, and Mammy Mu who didn't like the lively place.

It was just the time when the disc-like moon was hanging high in the night sky. The yard in front of the back room was brightly lit and three round tables were placed on the open space.

The dishes were very rich and most of them were made with the food material in the small kitchen. Only meat dishes and wines were bought by Yaoniang's silvers. Therefore, although Yaoniang gave Mommy Mo fifteen liang silvers, the silver spent was less than ten liang, so Mommy Mo gave the remaining silvers to her. She said to Yaoniang that it was not easy working outside when she had lost her man while her baby was still in the cradle, so it was better to save more money.

Yaoniang didn't say anything, but she was truly moved.

All these mommies were good at drinking, and they were fine with the little girls not drinking as much. However, Yaoniang, as the host, was forced to drink a few glasses.

Yaoniang was not good at drinking and after a few glasses, she could not hold her drink anymore.

Anyhow, she was almost full, so she found an excuse to leave.

She returned to the relatively quiet front yard through the corner gate, unlike the lively Back Room. Yaoniang wanted to take a bath, but thinking of the joyful scene over the Back Room, she might disturb them if she went back again. Moreover, there was still more than half a basin of clean water that she prepared in the afternoon, so she wiped herself clean with cold water, and lay down after changing her clothes.

After sleeping for a while, she was awakened by thirst. Yaoniang put her embroidered shoes on and went to the table to drink water.

She barely had two sips, but suddenly someone hugged her from behind.

She turned around only to see Jin Wang's handsome face and was instantly wide awake.

"Your Highness, Your Highness, why are you here?"

"This prince wanted to come, so this prince came."

"It's very late and quiet now. You should go back to rest… "

She was so caught off guard by Jin Wang's actions which made her pretty much speechless.

Jin Wang went to the bedside and sat down like a master.

Yaoniang tried to endure but in the end, she couldn't hold back, "Your Highness, yesterday, there was a reason for that, so this servant… And you promised me that just once last night. You can't go back on your words… "

In the end, there was even a hint of distress in her voice.

Yaoniang was anxious. She had speculated about it for a whole day, for Jin Wang wouldn't let her go so easily after putting that chain on her ankle.

Sure enough!

Jin Wang frowned, "Have this prince said that?"

Yaoniang was stunned and thought for a while, then said, "Although Your Highness didn't say it, you didn't disagree with me when this servant said it to you then." Remaining silent meant that he tacitly agreed to it. This was naturally Jin Wang’s disposition and also how Yaoniang interpreted him.

Jin Wang blinked his eyes, “This prince didn't speak, which means not agreeing.”

Yaoniang was dumbfounded.

Wasn't this just playing rogue? How could he!