"Master? Master?" Xin Shang called out to Xin Zizhao several times, but Xin Zizhao didn't respond, which made Xin Shang a bit worried.
A moment later, Xin Zizhao crumpled the note in his hand into a ball, looked at Xin Shang and said, "Don't worry, Xin Shang. I have my own plan."
Since Xin Zizhao had said so, Xin Shang had nothing to worry about. All that was left was to see how his master would arrange things.
Xin Shang fetched a full basin of water and carried it upstairs to Xin Zizhao's room. Just as he entered the room, Wei Shuxuan had already gotten up. Hearing the noise, she turned around. Seeing Xin Zizhao carrying a bucket of water in, she lazily showed a smile and said, "You're back, Zizhao."
"Yeah," Xin Zizhao carried the water and walked in quickly. He casually closed the door of the room and said, "Hurry up and get up to wash and change your clothes. It's time for breakfast."
Ge Zian and Ge Longan had gotten up long ago and were already sitting in the main hall, waiting for Wei Shuxuan and Xin Zizhao to come down for breakfast.
After Xin Zizhao came back, Wei Shuxuan felt that something was off about him. He seemed a bit restless, just like boiling water bubbling continuously. "What's wrong with you, Xin Zizhao? I've felt that you've been fidgety since just now. Has something happened?"
Wei Shuxuan had such good observation skills that Xin Zizhao knew he couldn't hide it from her. Although at first he didn't know how to bring this matter up to Wei Shuxuan, since she had already noticed it, he had to tell her the truth.
"Xuan'er, I have something to discuss with you."
In the main hall of the Sanmei Inn.
"Why haven't Zizhao and Xuan'er come down for so long?" There was already a bit of impatience on Ge Longan's face, but it was only shown in his words.
"Father, don't be so impatient. They might come out soon. Just wait patiently."
Ge Zian calmly sipped his tea and advised his father not to be so fidgety. Xin Shang looked up in the direction of Xin Zizhao and Wei Shuxuan's room. He thought they were probably discussing the matter of returning to the capital.
The sharp - eyed Ge Zian noticed the unusual look on Xin Shang's face and had a rough idea in mind. Soon, Xin Zizhao and Wei Shuxuan came downstairs. Wei Shuxuan saw them all sitting at the table sipping tea and felt a bit strange. "Why aren't you having breakfast? Are you waiting for Xin Zizhao and me?"
"We've been waiting for you two," Ge Zian replied first. "We didn't dare to start eating without you two."
"What are you saying?" Wei Shuxuan smiled and sat down. "If you're hungry, you can start eating first. There's no need to wait. Since we're all out together, don't be so formal. There are only strangers around, and no one will find fault with us."
Seeing Wei Shuxuan looking so calm, Xin Shang thought Miss Xuan would be angry, but nothing happened. Looking at Xin Zizhao again, he also looked calm, as if nothing had happened. It was as if the restlessness in the yard just now was just an illusion.
He was a bit curious about the result of the discussion between his master and Miss Xuan.
However, until breakfast was over, Xin Zizhao and Wei Shuxuan still didn't announce anything. After breakfast, everyone left for their own rooms. Xin Shang sat at the table without moving. Wei Wei, who had originally planned to go back to his room, thought it was strange to see Xin Shang sitting there motionless. He retracted the foot he had just taken and turned around to walk towards Xin Shang.
"Xin Shang, what's wrong? You seem to have something on your mind?" Wei Wei came to Xin Shang's side and asked with concern. After getting along for many days, and when Wei Wei was in a bad mood, Xin Shang had comforted and admonished him many times. This made Wei Wei unable to sit idly by when he saw Xin Shang feeling depressed.
Xin Shang thought that anyway, Wei Wei and the others would know about this soon, so it was okay to tell him now.
"About the matter of the master and Miss Xuan..."
Wei Wei quietly listened to what Xin Shang said. He wasn't very worried about the decision between Xin Zizhao and Wei Shuxuan. "Since it's a matter between Young Master Xin and the young lady, we just need to follow their arrangements. I think the young lady probably won't leave with Young Master Xin. After all, the things the young lady has to do aren't finished yet, and it's not time to go back as agreed."
"So, you'll stay?" Xin Shang looked up at Wei Wei.
"Of course. Wherever the young lady is, I'll be. Unless the young lady asks me to carry out a mission."
After hearing Wei Wei's words, Xin Shang suddenly felt enlightened. "Wei Wei, I kind of understand what you mean."
"Xin Shang, you've been with Young Master Xin for so long. Don't you understand the duty of a secret guard yet?"
"Yeah, I know now. It's just that when I knew the master had to go back to the palace in a hurry, I was a bit worried that the master wouldn't take me back but would ask me to stay here with Miss Xuan. It's not that I don't want to protect Miss Xuan. It's just that the master is the master after all. The only person I want to protect whole - heartedly is always the master. It must be that something has happened in the palace for him to go back so urgently. I don't want no one to protect the master."
"Yeah, I understand your concerns."
The two looked at each other and smiled, and the worries in their hearts were finally put to rest.
In the evening, during dinner, Xin Zizhao announced something to them. "I received an urgent message from the emperor, asking me to go back to the palace quickly. After discussing with Xuan'er, we've decided that I'll go back first, while Xuan'er will stay here to investigate the news of Sima Yongheng and the missing persons case."
"Wei Wei will stay here with me. The rest of you can go back with Xin Zizhao if you want."
"No!" Xin Zizhao firmly denied Wei Shuxuan's words. "I'll also let Xin Shang stay here with you."
"Stay with what! No need. Let Xin Shang go with you. With Xin Shang by your side to protect you, I'll feel more at ease. Right, Xin Shang?" Wei Shuxuan playfully winked at Xin Shang.
"If Young Master Xin is worried about Miss Xuan, then my father and I will stay here with Miss Xuan. Anyway, my father doesn't want to go back to the capital for the time being."
Afraid that the two of them would conflict again, Ge Zian volunteered to stay here. Ge Longan had no objections to this. Hearing that Ge Zian and Ge Longan would stay, Xin Zizhao felt a bit more at ease. "Okay then. In that case, Zian, I'll leave Xuan'er to you."