Chapter 220: Once This Old Servant Arrives, He Won’t Be Leaving
Nearing noon, Xun Feng finally came running back from the pier.
“Master, Young Master, the boat has arrived.”
The moment these words fell, everyone in the room stood up. Old Man Wen was the very first to dash out, his mouth constantly asking, “Where? Where?”
Xun Feng pointed it out for him to see.
Old Man Wen narrowed his eyes and watched for a long while, then tugged at Wen Xiuyi’s sleeve beside him. “Eldest, how come that boat looks a little different from the other boats to me?”
Li Yi and Li Fu cast a glance over—good heavens, why was it delivered using an official government vessel?
Because it was a government vessel, there was absolutely no need to queue when entering the pier; there was directly a designated mooring spot provided for them to dock.
Wen Xiuyi glanced at Li Fu. Recalling that Li Fu said he belonged to the Ministry of Works, using a government vessel was perfectly reasonable, so he didn’t give it any further thought.
“Grandpa, didn’t Old Li say so before? It belongs to a relative of his family. Since they’re from the capital, it’s not surprising for their family to have relatives serving as officials.”
When Old Man Wen heard this, it seemed to make sense.
The father and son, who caught these words in their ears, let out a sigh of relief and hurriedly shot a meaningful glance at Xun Feng.
Xun Feng blanked for a moment but recovered his wits immediately.
“Well, I’ll go check on the boat first to make sure they don’t damage the goods.” After speaking, the man utilized his lightness skills and directly flew away, his speed so fast it looked as if someone were chasing him from behind.
The crowd didn’t think otherwise of it either and hurriedly followed after him.
There was still a distance from here to the pier, so they weren’t as fast as Xun Feng. By the time they arrived, the boat had already come to a steady halt, and people were already disembarking from the vessel.
Xun Feng led the boat’s head steward down and walked before the crowd.
The steward first performed a bow to Li Fu and Li Yi. “Master, Young Master.”
Li Fu silently let out a sigh of relief, cast an appreciative glance at Xun Feng, and nodded. “Mm, Steward Tong, I didn’t expect you to deliver it in person.”
Steward Tong clasped his hands. “Regarding the matter ordered by the Master and Young Master, the Madam did not dare to delay in the slightest. Fearing that others along the way wouldn’t take proper care, she dispatched this old servant to escort the shipment all the way here.”
Li Fu nodded with satisfaction; the Princess Consort’s way of handling matters was indeed reliable. He looked at the rest of the Wen family and introduced, “Steward Tong, these are Uncle Wen and Auntie Wen. The fruit trees and dairy cows delivered this time are for their family.”
Steward Tong: “This old servant greets Old Master Wen and Old Mistress Wen.”
The old couple hurriedly waved their hands. “No need, no need. It has been hard on Steward Tong all this way.”
“It is only right, it is only right,” Steward Tong replied with a smile, then greeted Wen Xiuyi and Wen Yao before calling the men to begin unloading the goods from the boat.
While the rest of the Wen family went to look at the fruit trees and dairy cows, Steward Tong came to the side of Li Fu and Li Yi, whispering, “The Princess Consort bade this old servant to ask: until when do the Prince and the heir apparent intend to wait before returning? Furthermore, with this old servant’s arrival this time, the Princess Consort has instructed me to stay and look after the Prince. The people beside the Prince whom he is accustomed to using have all been brought along.”
Li Fu stroked his chin, thinking that with so many people, the Wen residence wouldn’t be able to accommodate them all, right?
Li Yi spoke up directly, “Uncle Tong, after the matters here are finished, you take the men and return with the boat. Royal Father and I will return by ourselves in a few days. Tell Imperial Mother not to worry.”
Steward Tong wore a face of difficulty. “heir apparent, this isn’t for this old servant to decide. As you know, no one dares to disobey the Princess Consort’s orders.” Except for you two—running off for months at a time. The Princess Consort just hasn’t caught you; once she catches you, you’re done for.
However, Steward Tong naturally didn’t dare to voice these words.
But to have him turn back and head home the way he came right now—he didn’t dare to do that either. Returning would mean being scolded to death by the Princess Consort.
Li Fu scratched his head in vexation. “Then find a place to stay by yourselves; the Wen residence cannot accommodate so many people.”
Steward Tong persisted, “The others don’t have to follow, but this old servant must follow the Prince.”
“You, you, you…” Li Fu glared.
Steward Tong spread his hands. “The Princess Consort said…”
Before the words could be finished, they were interrupted by Li Fu. “Fine, fine, if you’re going to follow, then follow. But the others can just find an inn to stay by themselves. We won’t be much longer anyway; once this Prince’s business here is done, we will return.”
Steward Tong fell silent, responding respectfully, “Yes.”
Li Yi suppressed a laugh by the side. Royal Father was always like this, fearing Imperial Mother. Everyone said Royal Father was henpecked, but in reality, only he knew that Royal Father deeply loved and respected Imperial Mother.
Seeing his old father suffer a setback, Li Yi’s mood grew thoroughly pleasant.
Over there, Wen Yao and Wen Xiuyi looked at the fruit trees being moved down from the boat, their moods extremely good. Wen Yao couldn’t distinguish much of anything, but Wen Xiuyi could recognize what they all were, and in his heart, he had already begun planning how to plant them on the mountain.
Old Man Wen and Old Madam Luo, on the other hand, circled around the few cages holding the dairy cows. Who knows if the journey by water had caused these dairy cows a bit of maladjustment, but at this moment, they were all lying prone inside the cages looking quite listless.
The old couple was worried sick, constantly questioning the cowherds beside them whether these cows would be alright.
The few people dispatched by the Princess Consort of Ding this time were considered expert hands at raising cows. Knowing that this was caused by being unaccustomed to the local climate, they assured that as long as they were properly cared for afterward, they would recover.
Hearing the men say so, the old couple finally set their hearts at ease.
Seeing that there was nothing for her to do on either side, Wen Yao saw the Li father-and-son duo standing nearby and actively walked over.
“Li Yi, thank you so much this time. Now our barren mountain can finally stop being called a barren mountain.”
Seeing Wen Yao, Steward Tong raised an eyebrow. This young girl’s eyes were sharp and nimble, and when speaking to the heir apparent, she wasn’t at all affected or coy like the noble young ladies of aristocratic families. Her poised and generous manner naturally made one feel a fondness for her.
However, the heir apparent actually allowed someone to address him directly by his name. It seemed that after returning, he would have to speak properly with the Princess Consort.
It was only a pity that this girl looked to be only around ten years old or so; her age was a bit small.
Steward Tong thought delightfully to himself, and a fatherly smile unconsciously spread across his face. Wen Yao was utterly bewildered.
She quietly whispered to Li Yi, “This steward of your family—he couldn’t be…” Wen Yao pointed at her own head.
Li Yi nearly failed to suppress a laugh. Casting a glance at Steward Tong, he called out, “Uncle Tong, stop smiling; it’s creepy.”
“Huh?” Only then did Steward Tong realize he had lost his composure. He quickly returned to normal and apologized with a smile, “This old servant lost his composure; I pray the Young Mistress will not take offense.”
“It’s nothing, it’s nothing, Steward Tong. Sorry to trouble you to travel such a long distance to deliver so much over. If you don’t mind, today it’s my treat—I’ll treat you to a meal,” Wen Yao said.
Steward Tong hurriedly bowed. “Then it is truly this old servant’s good fortune. In the letters the Master and Young Master sent to the Madam, they didn’t fail to praise the Young Mistress’s superb culinary skills. Today, this old servant can be considered to have a treat for the palate.”
Wen Yao giggled, “Easy to say, easy to say.”
Steward Tong was truly worthy of being a grand steward; the matters along the entire journey were arranged in a thoroughly orderly and fitting fashion. Even after they disembarked the boat, the hands and horse carriages for transporting these saplings and dairy cows had already been arranged.
Old Man Wen and the others only needed to check that there were no problems, then drive their own carriage to follow the convoy back.
No time was to be lost; with so many saplings, they still had to be arranged to be planted early.
