There is a god in the sky

Chapter 77 Personal Maid 2

Seeing that there was still some time before dark, Xiao Ji told the steward of the Song family and took his men out for a walk in the street.

He bought two pairs of beaded flowers, one pair for Shen Lan and one pair for Xuan'er.

"As a maid of the Xiao family, she cannot be too plain."

The two happily put them on.

Xiao Ji then picked out a violet jade bracelet for Shen Lan and handed it to her, saying, "This is the reward for the last case."

Shen Lan was speechless. "At such a generous rate of rewarding as you, my subordinate will soon be rolling in money."

Although the price of jadeite wasn't as outrageous at that time, it wasn't cheap either.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ji said in a serious tone, "I never mistreat my subordinates."

Sui Feng pointed to a precious sword on the treasure pavilion and said excitedly, "My lord, I want that sword!"

Xiao Ji turned his head and glanced at him sideways, and Sui Feng immediately took back what he had just said.

"Hehe, I don't really want it anymore."

He secretly rolled his eyes. The adults really dote on Miss Shen like a daughter.

Shen Lan put the bracelet on her wrist; it fit perfectly, and the color was indeed beautiful.

But it's actually not suitable for her profession; it would be troublesome to remove it during an autopsy.

However, she is now Xiao Ji's maid, and perhaps he doesn't want the maids in the Xiao family to be too shabby, lest they be looked down upon.

After buying the jewelry, Xiao Ji also picked out a few gifts for the first meeting, spending a large sum of money.

Fortunately, most of their luggage was saved, otherwise they would have had to buy a lot more things.

Shen Lan saw a blacksmith shop at the end of the street and took the drawing she had made on the road to place an order.

The blacksmith shopkeeper initially ignored her because she was a young girl.

When Xiao Ji came in and threw a silver ingot on the counter, the shopkeeper warmly greeted them.

Shen Lan didn't mind his attitude, but she was afraid that he wouldn't be able to make what she wanted.

"Oh dear, the items requested by our esteemed guest are truly exquisite; it may take three to five days to produce them," the shopkeeper said with difficulty.

Xiao Ji frowned unhappily upon hearing this. "I'm only giving you three days. Either deliver the goods in three days, or close the shop in three days! Deliver the goods to the Song residence on Yuhua Street after they're finished."

Upon hearing the address, the shopkeeper didn't dare to object and quickly assured him, "Don't worry, sir, I will definitely make sure the goods are ready for you."

After leaving the blacksmith shop, Shen Lan asked, "If they can't deliver the goods on time, will Lord Xiao really bring people to seal off the shop?"

"will not."

"Aren't you afraid that if you threaten them, they'll resist to the death?"

Xiao Ji laughed, "Look at this blacksmith shop, it's located in the most bustling street, which means the owner is very confident. If you don't use some tricks, they won't pay attention to you or do their best to make your products good."

"I see. It seems I went to the wrong shop."

"No, it's not that. What you need is urgent and exquisite, which is difficult for a small shop to make."

Shen Lan thought about it and agreed.

"Let's go back now, so as not to keep our host family waiting."

Prefect Song arrived home a step earlier than Xiao Ji. Upon learning that they had gone out, he sent men to guard the gate.

He was talking with his wife in the study.

"I intend to ask Xiao Ji to take Lang'er north so that Lang'er can become a disciple of the second son of the Xiao family."

Madam Song asked in shock, "You want Lang'er to join the army? Didn't Master say before that he was going to send him to study at Yuelu Academy?"

Prefect Song snorted coldly: "Is he cut out for studying? At this age, he still lives a dissolute life and is ignorant and incompetent. The teachers in the academy can't control him. It would be best to send him to the army for training."

"But...but the general from the second branch of the Xiao family is stationed on the border. Isn't that too dangerous?"

Prefect Song angrily asked, "Will it work in a safe place?"

He had tried it before, sending his son to the Jiangzhou military camp.

But this unfilial son took advantage of his status to commit crimes in the military camp, completely disobeying the discipline of his superiors, and ran away before even a year had passed.

Madam Song, clutching her handkerchief, her face grim, argued with her husband, "Is the north a place fit for human habitation? The winds are fierce, and it's freezing cold for half the year. We're far away; what if... we can't even collect the body while it's still warm!"

"What a woman's compassion! How can a grown man improve without suffering a bit?"

Prefect Song had only one son, who was spoiled by his family when he was young. Even if he later realized that his son had gone astray, it was difficult to turn things around.

A few years earlier, Prefect Song would not have made such a decision.

But now that he has a grandson and the situation in the court is becoming increasingly tense, if he were to return to the capital, this spendthrift son might very well cause him a huge mess.

There was a knock at the door, and the steward came to report: "Master, Lord Xiao has returned."

Prefect Song hurriedly took his wife to greet the guests.

Xiao Ji, this junior, is outstanding among his peers.

The Song family also wanted to form a marriage alliance with the Xiao family back then, but the Zhao family beat them to it.

Madam Song sighed, "Xiao Ji is good in every way, except that his marriage has been a bit bumpy."

“A good man should have ambitions beyond his hometown. He has been sent away for three years, so it’s a good time for him to go back and get married.”

"What's so good about it? That Zhao family girl is already nineteen years old, she's too old."

Prefect Song's heart skipped a beat, and he asked, "What do you think of our Lian'er as a match for Xiao Ji?"

Song Yalian is the illegitimate daughter of the Song family. She is fifteen years old this year, which is the prime of her life.

Madam Song was reluctant, but she still said, "Xiao Ji is certainly good, but he's not married yet. We can't just take a concubine first, can we?"

"Lian'er is young, it won't hurt to wait a year or two."

Madam Song thought to herself: That depends on whether the Xiao family is willing.

However, thinking of her own aloof and talented illegitimate daughter, she felt that Xiao Ji might actually be interested in her.

She said insincerely, "It's a pity that such a good girl as Lian'er is a concubine. The master loves her dearly, how could he bear to part with her?"

Prefect Song was just saying it casually; he cherished his own daughter.

But Xiao Ji was different from others; being Xiao Ji's concubine was not a humiliation for her.

The welcoming banquet was very grand. Not only did men, women, and children from the Song family come, but Prefect Song also invited officials from the prefectural government.

This clearly demonstrates how much Prefect Song valued Xiao Ji.

Shen Lan was a maid and was not entitled to sit at the table; she had to serve Xiao Ji his meal.

But Xiao Ji dared not let her serve him; he took the initiative to serve the dishes and pour the wine, leaving Shen Lan idle.

Madam Song not only noticed this, but also the new jewelry Shen Lanxin had acquired.

She thought to herself: These men are all the same kind of people.

For an outstanding man like Xiao Ji, who has been away from home for many years without wives or concubines by his side, it is perfectly normal to take in a few beautiful maids and concubines.

Thinking about it this way, she was less opposed to Prefect Song's arrangement.

Shen Lan's gaze fell on an official sitting below her.

The official was plump and had a particularly cheerful face. He would occasionally strike up a conversation with Xiao Ji.

From his words, Shen Lan confirmed his identity: Yu Yuanwang, the Vice Prefect of Jiangzhou.

"I met Lord Xiao when I was in Jianzhou. Does Lord Xiao still remember me?" Yu Yuanwang asked, raising his wine cup.

Xiao Ji nodded in response: "Of course I remember, I haven't congratulated Lord Yu on his promotion yet."

Yu Yuanwang used to be just a minor county magistrate in Qingmu County. It was already quite an achievement for him to climb to the position of prefectural judge in Jiangzhou Prefecture.