89There must be a trial marriage girl, right?
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Chapter 89 Shouldn't there be a trial marriage maid?
Shen Yulou and the other two galloped their horses while it was still daylight.
The horses provided by the palace were all good horses, and the ones snatched from the Ministry of Personnel were even more exceptional.
After two hours of riding, the horses were still full of spirit.
But Shen Yulou couldn't take it anymore.
"Finally, there's an inn ahead! Stop!"
The three halted, and as Shen Yulou dismounted, he felt his backside was numb.
He limped towards the inn.
Suddenly, he looked back at the banner.
"Qingqing, take down the flag."
"Oh."
When Qingqing took down the flag and entered the inn, the waiter was talking to Shen Yulou.
"Sir, there are only two rooms left."
Shen Yulou frowned, "Only two rooms? There are no others, right?"
"That's right, sir!"
Shen Yulou turned to Song Hu and asked, "How about you share a room with this Young Master?"
Song Hu straightened his back, "Young Master, I'm afraid you'd have to sleep on the floor then."
The waiter said, "This strong man is too big; he alone would fill the bed."
Shen Yulou said, "Then there's no choice. Qingqing and I will share a room. Get us a room."
"Alright!"
Song Hu followed the waiter upstairs. Shen Yulou casually told Qingqing, "Qingqing, just give the horses to the innkeeper."
After speaking, Shen Yulou also went upstairs.
Qingqing stood downstairs, almost petrified.
What?
What did he just say?
He said she and Shen Yulou would share a room... to sleep?
How could he say it so naturally?!
Qingqing debated for a long time downstairs. She couldn't possibly stand outside all night, could she?
As night fell, the biting cold wind made Qingqing shiver. She steeled herself and went upstairs.
Pushing open Shen Yulou's room, she felt completely numb.
The room was tiny, with nothing but a bed.
The waiter said with a smile, "You two guests should rest early. I'll go feed the horses."
With that, the waiter thoughtfully closed the door.
The waiter went downstairs, took out a silver ingot from his Huai and weighed it a few times, then spoke to the accountant next to him.
"Don't you think this person is interesting? We have plenty of rooms, but he insisted I say there were only two left."
The accountant fiddled with his abacus and said, "These young masters have all sorts of hobbies. As long as there's a reward, who cares what they do."
...Qingqing stood in the room, looking very flustered.
Shen Yulou said, "What are you standing there for? Why aren't you getting water for this Young Master to wash up?"
Qingqing frowned, "Why should I?"
"Why? After I marry the Princess, won't this still be your job? I'm just letting you get used to it in advance."
Qingqing put her hands on her hips and said, "It's right for me to serve the Princess. Don't you have your own maids? After the Princess marries you, I'll have to serve both of you by myself. How will I manage?"
Shen Yulou paused, "What you said makes sense. Then I'll give you double wages."
"I..."
Qingqing snorted and went out to fetch water with the bucket from the room.
Not long after, Qingqing returned with a bucket of hot water and a bucket of cold water, standing at the door with a towel, saying with a displeased expression.
"Wash your face!"
Shen Yulou unbuttoned his clothes and closed his eyes.
Qingqing wiped Shen Yulou's face. Although she was very angry, what Shen Yulou said was indeed true.
After the Princess married, these tasks would naturally fall to Qingqing.
Shen Yulou was only an internal affairs official, with only Palace Maids around him, not personal maids. After marriage, Qingqing would also serve him.
Now, it could be considered an adaptation.
After washing Shen Yulou's face and feet, Qingqing also began to wash up.
After taking off her socks, Shen Yulou saw Qingqing's fair, pinkish little feet and was immediately stunned.
"Wait."
"What?"
"Let me wash your feet."
"Huh?" Qingqing looked bewildered.
Shen Yulou said, "I'm considerate to my subordinates. You're tired serving me, so I'll serve you too."
Without waiting for an answer, Shen Yulou grabbed Qingqing's feet with both hands and put them into the water.
Qingqing's face flushed, feeling a little embarrassed.
A moment later, Qingqing frowned.
"Are you washing or touching?"
"Washing."
"You're almost scrubbing off my skin!"
"Almost done, almost done. I'll give you a foot massage."
"Lighter, I can't take it!"
"Will it be comfortable if it's lighter?"
"No more, let go quickly!"
"You girl, bear with it! Look at you, getting water all over me!"
Song Hu lay in the next room, shaking his head when he heard the sounds from there.
The customs in Hun Kingdom are really open...
Early the next morning, Qingqing hit the road with panda eyes.
She had slept on a chair all night and was dead tired.
The three once again galloped all day, covering a lot of ground.
They had traveled far from the imperial city.
The further north they went, the colder it got, and the days grew shorter.
Qingqing shivered from the cold, "It's so cold, I wish I had brought more padded jackets."
Song Hu said indifferently, "Winter in our Wulin Kingdom is much colder than this. You can't handle this temperature?"
Shen Yulou said, "If you can handle it, take off your clothes and give them to Qingqing."
Song Hu:... The 1.9-meter strong man immediately fell silent.
As dusk approached, the three found an inn and checked in.
"Song Hu, go get the rooms, same as usual."
"Understood."
Song Hu entered the inn first, and the waiter was incredibly enthusiastic.
"Sir, are you stopping for a meal or staying the night?"
Song Hu threw over a silver ingot.
"Staying the night. Later, when my Young Master comes and asks how many rooms you have, just say there are only two left."
...Shen Yulou and Qingqing entered the inn.
"Boss, we'd like to stay."
"Young Master, I'm terribly sorry, but there are only two rooms left."
"Oh, well, that's fine. Prepare them quickly."
Qingqing frowned, looking displeased.
Why were there only two rooms left again?
She hadn't seen many people on the road. Was the inn really that popular?
Shen Yulou had brought a lot of money on this trip. He ordered some good wine and dishes. The three only went back to their rooms to rest after finishing their meal.
After washing up, Shen Yulou lay on the bed, looking at Qingqing, who was yawning from exhaustion, and asked.
"How about you come and sleep here with me? Nothing else."
Qingqing quickly shook her head, "No, that's against the rules."
Shen Yulou thought for a moment and asked.
"Before a Princess marries, according to custom, there should be a trial marriage maid, right? Don't you have this rule?"
Shen Yulou had read about such things in some unofficial historical books before.
Before some high-ranking women married, their accompanying maids would first share a room with the husband to test if he was capable.
Such traditional virtues must have been lost in later generations, but in this dynasty, there should be such a rule, right?
Qingqing's face instantly flushed, and her eyes darted away.
"Those are folk customs; they are not strictly enforced within the imperial family."
Shen Yulou said, "Since you say it's not strictly enforced, then it still exists. If you don't come and try, what if I'm a cripple? Wouldn't your Princess suffer a loss?"
Qingqing's face was so red it felt hot.
"This, this is a bit against the rules