A Maid's Survival Story in a Noble Family Mansion? Rich Landlords Are More Appealing.

The two got right to work. Zheng the blacksmith turned to Zheng's wife and gave her some instructions before going back inside to change into more presentable clothes. They then set off together immediately.

Upon arriving at Weiyuan Escort Agency, Chen Wanxing didn't need to appear this time; Zheng the blacksmith went straight up and greeted the familiar staff.

Soon, a man of about forty years old, with a solemn face and piercing eyes, came out to greet them. It was none other than Chief Escort Song.

"Brother Zheng, what a rare guest! And who is this?" Chief镖师 Song's voice boomed as he clasped his hands in a respectful greeting.

Zheng the blacksmith introduced them: "Brother Song, this is Miss Chen, a close friend of my wife. She came to see me specifically to ask me to recommend two capable bodyguards, and that's when I immediately thought of you."

Seeing that business had come to him, Chief Escort Song went straight to the point: "Miss Chen, please feel free to speak your mind. Don't worry, I will definitely choose two capable people for you."

Chen Wanxing nodded slightly upon hearing this. "Good day, Chief Escort Song. It's nothing serious. I'd like to visit relatives in Runing Prefecture and would like to request that your escort agency send two capable masters to accompany and protect my master and servant on our journey."

"This is not difficult," Chief Escort Song nodded. "The route from Kaifeng to Runing is a plain, and we can travel along the official road all the way. It has always been peaceful. I will send two experienced escorts with us, and they will be able to protect the young lady."

When does the young lady plan to depart, and how many days will her trip last?

"The sooner the trip, the better. If you have a driver available right now, we can set off tomorrow."

Chen Wanxing first stated the basic requirements, then immediately changed the subject, "However, I don't want to hide it from you, the key to my trip is not the journey itself."

Song, the head镖师 (bodyguard/escort), shifted his gaze slightly and leaned forward a little: "Oh? Please tell me more, young lady."

"After arriving in Runing Prefecture, I will need to stay there for a while, but I can't say exactly how long right now."

Chen Wanxing looked at him and slowly stated the core demand, "Therefore, we need to hire bodyguards not only to protect us on the way, but also to wait for a period of time after arriving in Runing."

Of course, I will cover all food and lodging expenses during this period.

Song, the head镖师 (bodyguard/escort), pondered. Escort missions usually have fixed routes and time limits, but this kind of task is not common and has many variables.

He asked cautiously, "What exactly do you need them to do, young lady? If it's...?"

He paused here, but Chen Wanxing and Zheng the blacksmith both understood the meaning behind his unfinished words.

"Don't worry, Chief Escort Song. We're not asking them to do anything dangerous or illegal. How could I, a commoner, possibly get involved in something so dangerous?"

I've been away from home for many years and am not very familiar with my family anymore. I'm worried that if I go back, I might encounter some unspeakable family troubles or be targeted by some unscrupulous people.

That's why I thought of finding two reliable masters to accompany me, mainly just in case. They can stay at nearby inns on weekdays so I can find them anytime.

To put it bluntly, it's just about peace of mind.

Her words were reasonable, and Chief Escort Song's expression softened slightly, but he still had concerns: "Miss, you have thought things through."

However, the waiting time is uncertain, and the brothers in the station all have families to support. If it's delayed too long, I'm afraid...

Upon hearing this, Chen Wanxing immediately responded and offered a solution.

"You don't need to worry about that. I've thought about it and I think the cost of our escort this time should only cover the round trip."

"For the time they remain on duty, I will pay each person an additional one hundred coins per day until the mission is completed. This way, your escort agency and your masters will have no worries about their livelihood. Do you think this is feasible?"

After considering it, Chief Escort Song agreed that this was feasible. One hundred coins a day, although not much and not comparable to their escort duties, involved simply waiting there, which was very low-risk and solved the biggest problem caused by the uncertainty of the time.

"That works; this arrangement is appropriate."

Seeing that the biggest obstacle had been removed, Chen Wanxing finally brought up the most crucial point, the one she cared about the most.

"Chief Escort Song, there's one more thing I need to make clear beforehand. My safety must be the top priority on this trip, and..."

Her tone was gentle yet carried an undeniable firmness: "You must follow my arrangements. I hope this trip will be safe and smooth."

"Unless ordered by me, you must not initiate conflict with anyone. However, in the event of a genuine emergency, you two masters must do everything in your power to protect my master and servant."

"Rest assured, young lady, the reputation of Weiyuan Escort Agency is 'trust' and 'stability'. The people I send to you will definitely be skilled, know the rules and boundaries. They will be patient when necessary, and they will protect you without hesitation when it's time to act."

"With the head镖师's words, I can rest assured."

Song, the head镖师 (bodyguard/escort), then had his assistant summon two bodyguards in their thirties. He introduced them, saying, "Zhou Shan and Zhao Dahe are old brothers who have followed me for many years. They are skilled in martial arts and have a calm temperament. They will definitely be able to protect the young lady."

Chen Wanxing carefully observed them and found that the two men had upright gazes, restrained auras, and orderly movements, which pleased him.

She then carefully finalized the amount of payment with Chief Escort Song, paid a deposit, and signed a simple contract.

……

Having returned from Weiyuan Escort Agency, with her biggest worry gone, Chen Wanxing began packing her final belongings. She asked Granny Li to hire a carriage from a car dealership.

"It's cold now, we need to hire a carriage that's well-insulated."

Granny Li was efficient and returned with news in less than half a day: the carriage had been hired; it was a nearly new painted carriage from the carriage shop, with the inner lining of the carriage walls filled with reed catkins.

The carriage curtains were replaced with thick cotton curtains, and the seats were covered with felt. They looked inconspicuous, but the carriage was very sturdy, and it was still pulled by a strong young chestnut horse.

The driver was a man in his thirties, a man of few words but with clear eyes. His surname was Sun, and he was also from Ruyang County. He was very familiar with the route back to Ruyang County.

Meanwhile, Chen Wanxing and Yunzhu had already packed their luggage.

Besides a few sets of necessary clothes and some dry food, Chen Wanxing also specially prepared a small box containing twenty or thirty taels of loose silver and a few strings of copper coins.

It wouldn't be wrong to say she was suspicious, but Chen Wanxing was always cautious, and she would never tell anyone about the gold and silver she kept hidden away or her secret space.

Chen Wanxing finished packing and checked it again to make sure everything was correct before she felt relieved.

On the eve of departure, the atmosphere in the courtyard was heavy with the weight of parting.

With red-rimmed eyes, Amber pushed a food box into Chen Wanxing's arms: "Sister, the food on the road is simple. These are all easy-to-carry pastries. At least we can change our tastes."

Once you arrive, be careful in everything you do, and don't rush...

She paused, swallowed back the words "recognize relatives," and changed her words, saying, "Don't rush to make a decision. Observe more and listen more. If anything happens, be sure to send a message back."

Chen Wanxing hugged the food box tightly and nodded emphatically: "I know, take care of yourself too."

If things go well on my end, I probably won't be coming back for the New Year this year, and you'll have to spend it with Granny Li. But don't worry, if you really feel lonely, wait for my news. Once I'm settled, you can come find me."

"Okay, I know, you don't need to worry about me."

The next morning, just as dawn broke, the air was bitterly cold. Coachman Sun was already at the alley entrance with his carriage on time, accompanied by two bodyguards from Weiyuan Escort Agency, Zhou Shan and Zhao Dahe, dressed in neat short clothes, carrying bundles on their backs, riding alongside him on horseback.

Yunzhu carried her luggage and followed behind Chen Wanxing. Amber and Granny Li also went out together and escorted her to the alley entrance.

Granny Li was also holding a small quilt, which she had hastily made in the last couple of days so that Chen Wanxing could use it to keep warm on her legs when she got cold on the road.

She took a deep breath of the crisp, cool air, and without further hesitation, wrapped her fox fur cloak tighter around herself, took Yunzhu's hand, and bent down to step into the carriage.

"Amber, Granny, let's go back. The chill hasn't gone down yet; it's still very cold. Uncle Sun, please continue on your way."