??Chapter 477: Chapter 478: There’s a Problem_1
Chapter 477: Chapter 478: There’s a Problem_1
“Mu, have so tea,” Qingi directly handed over the tea.
Muniang had just argued with Steward Chen, and her heart was troubled. How could she be in the mood for tea? She simply waved her hand: “Just put it there.”
Qingi’s palms were sweating, but having co this far, how could she just let it go?
“Mu, even if you’re tired from a day’s work, you can’t neglect your health like this. I specifically brewed Bi Luo Chun for you, knowing it’s your favorite. It’s best to drink it while it’s hot,” Qingi persisted, pushing the teacup closer to Muniang.
Muniang didn’t want to disappoint her kindness, so she agreed to take a sip, and as she lifted her eyes, she saw the hopeful gaze in Qingi’s eyes, seemingly expectant. Muniang, being observant, didn’t think much of it,
but as she was about to taste the tea, her eyebrows furrowed: “Is this Bi Luo Chun? It doesn’t sll right.”
A flash of panic swept through Qingi’s eyes: “What’s wrong? Could it be that my tea leaves are not fresh?”
Muniang shook her head: “There seems to be an additional scent.”
Qingi was breaking out in a cold sweat. She had thought that, at most, Muniang, a country girl, claid to like tea only to enhance her own status, and in reality, wouldn’t be able to discern much. Yet, she had been unaware of Muniang’s prowess in tea, where she could detect an altered flavor with just a slight addition.
“It’s just so tonic I added seeing that you’ve looked a bit pale lately, so I…”
Muniang had begun to suspect sothing and was about to ask further about the tonic when Lu Qi’er burst in, excitedly saying, “Mu! My father finally gave
a day off, and I rushed right here, almost bursting with impatience!”
Muniang was startled before replying, “Qi’er, why don’t you go watch the play outside? Tianniu is also watching.”
Lu Qi’er walked over with a big smile: “The play is almost over. I’m waiting to watch the full performance at noon. It’s not as fun to start watching in the middle.”
As she spoke, she noticed the teacup in Muniang’s hand and blurted out, “I’m dying of thirst! Mu, may I have a sip?”
Then she took the cup from Muniang’s hands. Muniang knew that Qi’er was a wild child, not at all like a well-bred young lady and was used to her playful ways. Muniang actually enjoyed this closeness and didn’t mind, simply laughing, “You gluttonous cat, always thinking everything I have is so great.”
Lu Qi’er giggled and was about to drink from the cup, but Qingi’s face changed, and she quickly intervened: “This tea was specially brewed for Mu, you shouldn’t drink it!”
At these words, not only was Lu Qi’er embarrassed, but Muniang was also taken aback, clearly unaware of why Qingya would suddenly act so out of line.
Lu Qi’er was quick-witted, having learned from her father how to mingle in social circles. She couldn’t just stand there dumbfounded, so she said with a laugh to smooth things over, “Qingya, you’re so stingy. Could it be that you only brewed this one cup? You’d be heartbroken to let
have a sip, I’ll be so hurt.”
Now it was Qingi’s turn to feel embarrassed. Aware that Lu Qi’er had offered her a way out, if she was to respond jokingly now, the issue could be resolved. If she remained oblivious, she would be the one embarrassed in the end.
Qingi thought that the tea had nothing more than safflower in it, which would only promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis for ordinary people. Only pregnant won could be hard by it, so perhaps this attempt had been in vain. If Lu Qi’er drank it, no one would notice anything amiss. As for Muniang, she could serve her another cup later.
After much contemplation, Qingi finally nodded her head.
However, this mont of hesitation increasingly aroused Muniang’s suspicions. She was always a suspicious person, but she didn’t guard against Qingi and her siblings—until today. Qingi’s behavior was abnormal, one odd act after another, which struck Muniang as strange. Why couldn’t Lu Qi’er drink the tea? Was Qingi truly so ignorant of propriety? She didn’t believe it.
Lu Qi’er was eager to drink along, yet Muniang stopped her, “Qi’er, hold on. You’re not acting like a young lady of your standing—always snatching things. Be careful, or I’ll tell your father to correct this bad habit of yours.”
Lu Qi’er felt incredibly aggrieved; Mu had never used to scold her with such stiffness before.
But Muniang glared at her, and Lu Qi’er quieted down, swallowing her grievances.
“You two, go out and play—not here bothering . I have a headache,” Muniang really did have a headache. The recent events had already been enough to upset her, and she truly had no energy left for more concerns. Besides, Steward Chen’s words just now had been incredibly aggravating, and she had a belly full of anger with nowhere to vent it.
Lu Qi’er could see that Muniang was in a bad mood, so she prudently hurried out. Qingi wanted to say more, but Qingya, feeling sorry for her mistress, imdiately pulled Qingi out with her.
Watching Qingi’s behavior, Muniang felt even more that sothing wasn’t right; her anger grew. She slamd the cup down on the table and called out sharply, “Qingya!”
Qingya quickly ca in, “Lady, what’s the matter?”
“Go find a doctor to check what’s really in this tea,” Muniang’s voice carried a tiredness.
Qingya, looking at the tea on the table, was imdiately alard—wasn’t this the tea Miss Qingi had brought over? Why would the lady want soone to check it? Could it be possible that…
Qingya dared not think further and quickly agreed, turning to leave straight away.
Muniang, however, called her back, “Rember, do it quietly, don’t alarm anyone.”
Qingya naturally understood and nodded, then imdiately left.
Muniang, looking at the tea cup, suddenly felt exhausted. It would be best if the tea hadn’t been tampered with, otherwise, all her care for Qingi over the past two years would have been a complete waste!
Having been reprimanded by Muniang for no apparent reason, Lu Qi’er was incredibly upset and went to Tianniu to complain, “Has Mu been spending too much ti with my father, becoming as stiff as he is? She didn’t used to talk to
like that.”
Tianniu found this strange upon hearing these words. She was clever, and Muniang had particularly trained her, so she would naturally think more deeply than others. Being an outsider sotis made things clearer, and from what Lu Qi’er said, Muniang seed to be the one behaving abnormally, but it made Tianniu even more suspicious of Qingi.
Rembering her visit to Qingi that morning, Tianniu had felt sothing was off. She had thought Qingi was just in a bad mood with her, but now it seed there might be another reason.
Tianniu lowered her voice, “Qi’er, stop crying for a mont. If Mu had truly beco as stuffy as your father, she wouldn’t have let
learn about business with her. As for the tea, if Mu doesn’t want you to drink it, it’s not necessarily because she wants to see you act like a proper young lady.”
Lu Qi’er was taken aback, “What do you an?”
“I’m afraid the tea might be poisoned.”
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