Chapter 51: Something nasty is brewing (1/2)
Xu Mansion.
Xiao Chu stepped out to make the arrangements, minutes before the guests were led in by madam Xu. The guests were led to a widespread wooden pavilion opposite a temporary stage. The female guests took their seats under the pavilion, separated from the male guests by a screen.
Zhu Fenfang was seated next to Madam Xu, Xiao Chu to Zhu Fenfang's side minutes after she was seated. She whispered into her ear ” Everything is set, young Miss”.
Zhu Fenfang glanced at Su Liya with the side of her eyes, her lips curved up. ”Good” she replied feeling giddy. The thoughts of finally wiping the smile off of Su Liya's face made her happy, she could barely keep calm.
Not long after, a long line of maids carried trays of food and placed them carefully on the table before stepping aside for a new set of maids who delivered the jugs of wine.
Zhu Fengyin was seated next to Madam Lu and Lu Yiling at the opposite end of the table from Zhu Fenfang. Which gave Zhu Fenfang a full view of Zhu Fengyin and Su Liya. She watched as a maid holding a jar of wine topped off everyone's cup of wine.
Zhu Fenfang caught the maid's eyes when she was only a few steps away from Zhu Fengyin and nodded. She watched as the maid pretended to slip pouring wine all over Zhu Fengyin. ”Ah!” the maid screamed mouth opened slightly.
It happened so fast, no one saw that it was staged. Zhu Fengyin and Su Liya stepped back as soon as they heard the maid exclam. Their quick movement made the maid miss her target as the wine plastered on the spot Zhu Fengyin's seat was previously located.
The wine missed Zhu Fengyin by a hairs distance but a few droplets fell on her white shaw. The maid fell to her knee, she low towed multiple times hitting her forehead on the ground multiple times while pleading loudly ”sorry madam, I was wrong. I deserve to be punished!”.
Madam Xu stood and instructed the maid ”What is this, quick go check of First Madam Lu is hurt. Sorry for this First madam, I didn't teach my servants properly. I will discipline this unruly maid” she looked to the steward and nodded towards the kneeling maid.
”No no, it is alright madam Xu there is no need for that. It was an accident, I don't mind”, Zhu Fengyin said folding the stained Shawl and handed it over to Su Liya.
Su Like took the shawl and bowing rushed out to get her mistress another shawl. Madam Xu was impressed by how can and collected Zhu Fengyin was in the face of such a horrible mistake that her impression of Zhu Fengyin improved.
She looked at the shivering made and said ”Go away”.
The made turned to madam Xu still kneeling, kowtowed and replied ”Yes!” She picked up the pitcher and left the room while the other maids did a quick work of cleaning the spilled wine and replacing the stained seat with a fresh seat.