Chapter 355: The Small Courtyard House Bought by Song
Que
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Then, Prince Huaiyin left on his horse.
Qin Xiaoyao waited until he rode his horse far away before she mounted her horse.
After leaving the palace, she headed for Taiping Street.
Taiping Street was quite a distance away from the street where the Marquis’s residence and the nobility and high-ranking officials lived. That street wasn’t in the sphere where most of these people moved in.
The place where Qin Xiaoyao and Song Que had agreed to meet was on this street.
Qin Xiaoyao recited the address in her heart as she tracked down the place.
Finally, she found the house in an alley.
After confirming that she did not come to the wrong place, Qin Xiaoyao went up and knocked on the door.
After a while, an old woman came out.
Qin Xiaoyao was puzzled and wondered if she had come to the wrong place.
The old woman spoke first.
“It’s Mistress, right? 1 have been waiting for Mistress for many days. Mistress, please come in.” As she spoke, she looked behind Qin Xiaoyao to make sure that no one was following her.
Qin Xiaoyao looked down at the clothes she was wearing.
For the sake of convenience, she had been wearing men’s clothes ever since she came to the capital.
This person could recognize her identity as a woman at a glance and even addressed her as “Mistress.” There was no doubt that this person was stationed here by her husband.
“Mm-hmm,” Qin Xiaoyao responded.
She quickly led the horse and followed the old woman into the courtyard.
As soon as Qin Xiaoyao entered, the old woman immediately closed the door.
Then, she walked to Qin Xiaoyao’s side with a smile.
“Master has bought this courtyard for some time now and instructed me to wait for Mistress here.”
“Today, 1 have finally met you, Mistress.”
“Mistress, this way please,” the old woman said enthusiastically.
Qin Xiaoyao’s eyes flickered, and she stopped in her tracks.
“How do you know me? Also, who is this master you speak of?” she asked.
The old woman’s words made her 70 to 80% sure that the former was hired by her husband.
However, she still had to be on her guard. She had to confirm her identity first.
The old woman was taken aback.
Then, she smiled again.
“Mistress, you need not worry. The reason I recognized you was that Master had shown me a portrait of you, Mistress. He also told me that Mistress likes to wear men’s clothes.
“As for who Master is, he once told me that his surname is Song.”
Qin Xiaoyao was finally relieved.
Only then did she nod and allow the old woman to continue to lead the way.
“You said that it has been some time since my husband bought this courtyard house?” she asked as she walked.
“Yes. It’s been more than half a month,” the old woman replied.
Qin Xiaoyao’s heart skipped a beat.
In other words, half a month ago, her husband had predicted that he would meet her here?
Hmph! He still told her to leave the capital first. She knew it. He was so pretentious.
“Is there anyone else here?” Qin Xiaoyao asked again.
At the same time, she looked around the courtyard.
The courtyard was quite small, but it was clean and tidy. Compared to their home in Mountain Spring Town, it was probably less than half the size of their home.
“Mistress, there is only me, the servant.”
“Master has instructed me to stay in this courtyard to wait for Mistress and Master,” the old servant replied.
Qin Xiaoyao looked at the old woman.
“How… should 1 address you?” she asked again.
“Oh, Mistress, just call me Granny Hu,” the old woman hurriedly replied.
Qin Xiaoyao nodded.
“Granny Hu,” she called out.
“Yes, Mistress,” Granny Hu quickly answered.
Qin Xiaoyao smiled.
“When did you start following my husband? Did you work for him before?” she continued to ask.
Judging from her attitude to her behavior, Granny Hu did not appear to be an ordinary old woman. Where did her hubby find such a person?
He even arranged for her to stay here alone. It was enough to show that he trusted this person.
Granny Hu was taken aback.
After hesitating for a moment, she said, “I used to be a servant of the Song family. 1 was saved by Master half a month ago, and then 1 was arranged to come here.”
Master had told her that she could tell Mistress everything she knew.
She was responsible for guarding this place. It was normal for Mistress to have doubts about her.
Qin Xiaoyao was quite surprised.
“I see,” she said.
Finally, she stopped asking.
“Mistress, please rest in the room for a while. 1 will go and harness the horse,” Granny Hu suddenly said when they reached a side room.
Qin Xiaoyao glanced at the room in front of her and nodded.
She handed the reins to Granny Hu.
“By the way, Mistress, what would you like to eat? I will prepare it later,” Granny Hu took the reins and asked again.
Since Mistress had already come here, perhaps Master would come later.
She had to prepare more food.
Qin Xiaoyao glanced in the direction of the kitchen.
“Buy some tofu, eggs, vegetables, and meat, and get two jars of wine.”
“I’ll cook with you later,” Qin Xiaoyao said.
It had been a long time since she cooked anything after leaving Mountain Spring Town.
After coming to such a small courtyard with only a few people, she suddenly felt the urge to cook.
Qin Xiaoyao couldn’t help but look forward to eating the food she cooked with her husband later.
“Sure!” Granny Hu smiled and replied.
She turned around and prepared to leave.
“Wait…” Qin Xiaoyao stopped her.
Then, under Granny Hu’s puzzled gaze, she took out her money pouch.
“No need, Mistress.” When she saw this, Granny Hu quickly gestured with her hand.
“Master has already given me money. It’s enough to buy groceries.”
Qin Xiaoyao ignored her and took out five taels of silver from her purse.
“What my husband gave you is from him. What 1 am giving you, you can just keep it.” As she spoke, she handed over the silver.
A trace of gratitude flashed across Granny Hu’s face.
“Thank you, Mistress,” she finally accepted the silver.
Qin Xiaoyao smiled.
“Alright. Go do your work.
“My husband will be here soon. Let’s try to get the food ready before he arrives.”
“Yes, Mistress,” Granny Hu smiled and answered. She then left quickly.
Qin Xiaoyao also smiled and turned around to enter the room.
When she entered the room, she realized that the furnishings in the room were very similar to the room that belonged to her and her husband back in Mountain Spring Town.
Knowing that this was definitely Song Que’s arrangement, Qin Xiaoyao felt a surge of warm sensation in her heart.
Qin Xiaoyao opened the closet and took out a set of women’s clothing. After changing into it, she combed her hair into a bun.
Following that, she left the room and sat in the courtyard.
Then, before long, Granny Hu returned.
She carried a bamboo backpack on her back, and there were many things inside.
As she came closer, Qin Xiaoyao realized that not only were the things she asked for in the backpack, but Granny Hu had also bought some other vegetables.
When Granny Hu saw that Qin Xiaoyao had changed her clothes, her eyes were filled with approval and admiration.
She praised her Master inwardly for his good taste.
“Let’s go cook,” Qin Xiaoyao quickly said after going through the things that Granny Hu had bought.
“Alright,” Granny Hu smiled and answered.
Thus, the two of them went to the kitchen.
Soon, as the two of them cooked together, they became familiar with each other.
Only then did Qin Xiaoyao learn that when Granny Hu was young, she was actually her mother-in-law’s dowry maid..