Chapter 70: A Hint Through Pearls
Upon hearing this, the managing Auntie didn’t dare hesitate. She immediately ordered her subordinates to take the food away and prepare a fresh meal.
Thus, when the new dishes were delivered to Wutong Hall, everyone’s eyes were drawn to the spread.
The managing Auntie noticed the strange looks from He Zhao, Yao Guang’s servant, and smiled knowingly. “The Young Master has been eating too plainly recently. I saw that the kitchen received many fresh vegetables today, so I specially had them prepare a good spread and sent it over.”
Yao Guang withdrew his gaze. “Auntie is truly thoughtful.”
One second, Yao Guang was politely exchanging pleasantries with the Auntie; the next, his face turned cold.
“Itâs just that… why did Auntie only send such good things today?”
Yao Guangâs question stunned the Auntie.
Did it even need to be said?
Li Xuanyue had publicly beheaded a disrespectful maid in the Imperial Garden today. It had terrified everyone. Now, news had spread that Li Xuanyue was sending Yin Xin to personally deliver gifts to every Consort.
What did this prove?
It proved that even if Li Xuanyue didn’t spend time with the Consorts, she still valued the five of them highly.
Previously, the servants had been lazy, treating Consort Yao Guang with indifference. Now that they knew the truth, they naturally dared not neglect him any longer. They had to treat him like an ancestor. Otherwise, they would lose their heads just like the managers and maids of Shanren Hall.
The Auntie forced a smile. “Consort Yao jokes. A few days ago, I saw that your health wasn’t great, so I specifically told the kitchen to make things lighter for you.”
She spoke as if she had done it entirely for his own good.
“But eating plain food too often… I feared your body couldn’t take it either,” the Auntie argued glibly. “It just so happens that the procurement team brought fresh ingredients today. I thought since you’ve eaten vegetarian for so long, I’d ask them to make some new dishes. I hope Consort Yao likes them.”
“Hmph!”
Standing to the side, He Zhao couldn’t help but sneer internally after hearing the Auntie’s words.
“Then your timing is truly impeccable,” he couldn’t resist mocking aloud. “You didn’t send it earlier, you didn’t send it later. You only thought to improve our master’s meals today, right after the Princess punished those insubordinate servants.”
“If the Princess hadn’t punished those slaves who bullied their masters today, I fear you wouldn’t have changed the menu for my master so easily, would you?”
Previously, Yao Guang had been eating clear soup with hardly any water, and meat was a rare sight. Even He Zhao, as a servant, couldn’t stand it. Worried that Yao Guangâs health would collapse, he had privately gone to see this managing Auntie.
But what had her attitude been back then?
She had been completely dismissive. In the end, He Zhao had to take out five taels of gold and place them in her hand just to exchange for some barely edible food.
Did this Auntie think those events were forgotten?
Mocked by He Zhao, the Auntie’s face turned a mix of green and red.
If she had known the Princess hadn’t discarded Consort Yao, she never would have made things difficult for him privately, nor would she have taken He Zhaoâs five taels of gold.
Now, she was riding a tiger and couldn’t get off.
She was terrified that if the people around Consort Yao revealed this to Princess Xuanyue, it wouldn’t just be herâeveryone in Wutong Hall would lose their heads.
Thinking of this, the Auntie dared not hide anymore. With a loud thud, she knelt directly in front of Yao Guang.
The sound of knees hitting the floor sounded painful, but the Auntie seemed not to feel it. She kept kowtowing and apologizing to Yao Guang.
“Consort Yao, I was blinded by greed before, which is why I did such rebellious things. I know my mistake now. Please, seeing that this is my first offense, do not expose me to the Princess.”
“From now on, I will listen to whatever you say!”
If this matter were exposed, only death awaited her. She had just secured the position of manager; she didn’t want to die like this.
Yao Guang held his chopsticks, eating unhurriedly.
“You’ll really listen to whatever this Young Master says?”
He suddenly paused, looking down at the kneeling woman.
He knew these servants were only frightened by what Li Xuanyue had done today. However, this was good. He was new to the Phoenix Clan, and aside from He Zhao, he had no one to help him gather information from the other palaces.
Although what this Auntie had done was excessive, it didn’t warrant death. Keeping her might prove useful to him.
The Auntie froze, then nodded vigorously. “Yes! As long as Consort Yao doesn’t expose me to the Princess, I will listen to you from now on. Even my life is yours.”
“Get up,” Yao Guang ordered indifferently.
The Auntie rejoiced, knowing the matter was resolved, and quickly stood up.
Dissatisfaction flashed in He Zhaoâs eyes. “Young Master, are we just going to let it go?”
In his opinion, people who feigned obedience while acting against their masters should be beheaded just like the Princess had ordered. How could she be allowed to live?
Hearing this, the Auntie, who had just felt a sense of relief, stood awkwardly to the side. She knew He Zhao still held a grudge over the five taels of gold.
She had already decided in her heart that when He Zhao came to find her privately later, she would return the gold. That way, they could coexist peacefully for now.
Yao Guang waved his hand. “You may leave.”
He gave the lazy command.
“Yes!”
The Auntie didn’t want to stay a moment longer. As soon as Yao Guang spoke, she nodded quickly and retreated.
Not long after, Yin Xin arrived at Wutong Hall carrying a massive Night-Luminescent Pearl.
This was the last palace on her route. She hadn’t dared to delay on the road. Only after having the item set down did she finally let out a sigh of relief.
“Consort Yao, this is a token of the Princess’s regard. She hopes you will like it,” Yin Xin explained with a smile.
Heaven knew how conflicted she had been when choosing these rare treasures.
The five Consorts were all handsome, elegant, gentle, and god-like figures. It seemed that no gift was sufficient to express the Princess’s affection for them.
Therefore, Yin Xin had decided to use Night-Luminescent Pearls for all of them, implying that they were the pearls the Princess cherished most.
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