Chapter 12 (1/2)
Chapter 12
Chapter 12 — Want to hurt me? I’ll poison you to death!
Yu Linglong laughed lightly and slowly descended the steps. Her smile was like a beam of light, capable of single-handedly lighting up the overcast courtyard.
“No time to wait on me?” Her voice was melodious, like a twinkling bell, but it sent s.h.i.+vers up Lifeng Nian Jiade’s spine. Yu Linglong arrived at her side and glanced at her coldly.
“What if I said you have to wait on me?”
When Yu Linglong’s eyes fell on her face, Lifeng Nian Jiade suddenly felt a sharp pain shoot up from the place she had been stabbed that morning. This Fourth Miss wasn’t easy to shake off! Lifeng Nian Jiade was s.h.i.+vering in fear, but she forced herself to calm down before responding, “This servant… this servant is afraid it’s not a good time.”
At that, Yu Linglong sneered and said coolly, “It’s alright, come in.” Once her back was turned, the little maidservant behind Lifeng Nian Jiade immediately fell down on her knees. A faint sob could be detected in her childish voice as she whimpered, “Fourth Miss, this servant… this servant doesn’t dare enter, please let this servant go—”
Before she could finish, Lifeng Nian Jiade delivered a harsh kick to her side and chastised, “Despicable wench! How disgraceful of you!” Then, she turned to Yu Linglong and fawned, “Fourth Miss, please pardon this wench’s offense. She was recruited not long ago. She is ignorant, so upon seeing Fourth Miss, she was frightened.”
The corners of Yu Linglong’s lips arched up coldly.
Frightened? Was she some hideous, man-eating monster? The little maidservant had yet to taste her fists, so what could she be frightened about? Or perhaps, the little maidservant was frightened by not by her, but by
what was going to happen soon?
No longer wanting to bother with them, Yu Linglong tossed out two words, “Come in!” before stepping into the room. Lifeng Nian Jiade lifted the little maidservant by her ear and raised her voice, as though scolding the little maidservant for Yu Linglong to hear.
“You humiliating wench, why couldn’t you do something that simple? Get out! Just you wait, I’ll teach you a lesson when I return!”
Yu Linglong paid no heed to Lifeng Nian Jiade’s words and continued into the room. Chances were, Lifeng Nian Jiade was afraid the little maidservant would leak a certain secret, so she’d chased her away.
One by one, Xuan Cao laid the dishes out on the table; the dishes consisted of eight treasures duck, ginger-sauce fish fillets, sweet and sour lotus root, rice-flour pudding, and a large pot of steaming snow fungus dessert soup with shredded chicken. An alluring aroma wafted from the food, and just looking at the table was enough to stimulate one’s appet.i.te.
However, Yu Linglong didn’t spare a single glance at the dishes. Her piercing gaze was fixed on Lifeng Nian Jiade, who was standing to the side.
Could it be that the Fourth Miss had noticed something? Lifeng Nian Jiade thought anxiously. It can’t be! Only Mother Cui knew about the scheme. The little maidservant from earlier had only been terrified of this place because she’d heard rumors about it.
If not for the fact that sending over the dishes alone would attract the suspicion of the Fourth Miss, Lifeng Nian Jiade wouldn’t have brought that cowardly little maidservant along. Her wandering mind was suddenly dragged back by Yu Linglong’s remark, “What, you’ve never waited upon a mistress before?”
Lifeng Nian Jiade composed herself and hurriedly suppressed the unease boiling in her
her heart. She took two steps forward and picked up some chopsticks, “What would Fourth Miss like to eat?”
Noticing Lifeng Nian Jiade’s slightly trembling hand, Yu Linglong’s lips curved into a ridiculing smile. Was she already trembling from this? She wouldn’t be able to accomplish anything big with this sort of weak mentality.
Yu Linglong’s lack of response caused Lifeng Nian Jiade to feel uncertain. After forcing herself to think about how she was beaten by Yu Linglong that morning and recalling Mother Cui’s warnings, she callously picked up a duck leg and placed it in front of Yu Linglong.
“Fourth Miss, this eight treasure duck was made with sausage, mushrooms, ginkgo, bamboo shoots, dried tofu, and other ingredients. Do give it a try, Fourth Miss.” However, Yu Linglong’s chopsticks remained on the table. Her bright eyes seemed to be smiling, but it was a chill-inducing smile.