Hearing this, the maid Suling laughed shrilly out of anger. "Fan the fan?"
"Don't think that just because you've received a reward you can soar to high positions. Our young miss will be a thousand times more noble than you in the future!"
Along with her, Suling would also be able to enter the palace as a maid.
Wasn't this far more noble than Qu Yue, an unpopular widow?
Qu Yue lowered her eyes. "I know."
She had never thought of regaining a prominent position. All she asked for was to have enough to eat, sleep well, and have her efforts recognized.
Suling bossed her around. "That's good you know. Our young miss has ordered that you go to the kitchen to cook later!"
Liu Xu, who was standing by, got annoyed. She trotted over to close the far door and then stepped forward, raising her voice to argue.
"Even if your young miss is precious, our madam is the imperial heir's concubine officially recognized by the emperor!"
"She's your master anyway. Straighten your attitude!"
This fierce interrogation instantly ignited the war between them.
Suling raised her eyebrows and looked Liu Xu up and down contemptuously. "Do you believe I'll beat you up?"
Liu Xu was already annoyed that Qu Yue had been bullied and injured by Mu Yao today. Hearing this, she was fully fired up and rolled up her sleeves at Suling. "I'm just afraid you don't dare!"
As soon as she said this, even if Suling was just bluffing, she had to bite the bullet and fight.
She suddenly raised her hand to slap Liu Xu, but in mid - air, her palm was grabbed and bent back. The pain made Suling scream. "Let go of me!"
Liu Xu easily overpowered her. "You? You still want to beat me?"
Qu Yue stood by, stunned, with admiration written all over her beautiful face.
Even when Liu Xu threw Suling to the ground with a shoulder throw, Qu Yue clapped her hands loudly. "Liu Xu! Great! Awesome!"
"Cough, cough, cough..." Suling felt as if her internal organs had been smashed. Her side face rubbed against the ground, and the smell of blood filled her mouth.
But she still refused to admit defeat. "You're finished! When I go back and tell the young miss, you'll pay for this!"
Liu Xu let her go and innocently spread her arms, showing the empty courtyard. "Stop trying to frame me. Who saw me beat you? You clearly fell down by yourself."
She couldn't beat people in the Marquis Mansion, but with the door of their own courtyard closed, surely she could?
Liu Xu had been holding back this grudge for three years, and finally found a chance to let it out!
Suling scrambled up from the ground in a mess, her face covered in mud and extremely angry.
She stamped her foot. "You're going too far! One day, the young miss will teach you a lesson!"
Qu Yue softly emphasized. "You fell down by yourself. She can't do anything to us."
Liu Xu's eyes curved with a smile, and she exchanged a look with Qu Yue from afar.
It was the first time Qu Yue had told a lie with a straight face. She shyly stuck out her tongue.
Was this the young miss smiling at her?
Liu Xu's gaze fell on the dimple on Qu Yue's fair and tender face. It was as if her soul had been sucked in, like being filled with strong liquor, and she was so charmed that she wanted to scream.
She couldn't help but want to apologize for what had happened back then. "Madam..."
Before she could finish her words, Suling interrupted. "What are you laughing at?! If you have the guts, don't go to the kitchen later."
The smile on Qu Yue's lips gradually faded.
She could be arrogant with the courtyard door closed, but once she stepped out, she was still the despised imperial heir's concubine.
Her hand suddenly felt warm. She looked up and saw Liu Xu's burning eyes. "Miss, I'll go with you."
Qu Yue shook her head. "I'll go by myself."
Since Mu Yao had specifically named only her to go, she must have some scheme.
If she rashly took Liu Xu with her, it was very likely that she would harm both of them.
Seeing her determination, Liu Xu didn't insist anymore.
She just whispered a reminder. "Miss, if they ask you to cook, remember to only prepare light tea, vegetarian dishes, and pastries."
Qu Yue was puzzled. "Why?"
"It's the same as the dinner for the guests on the day of the grand funeral. There's an unwritten rule." Liu Xu patiently explained. "On any anniversary of a death, one must not have rich meat dishes."
Qu Yue nodded seriously. "I understand!"
After delivering the message, Suling ran back to the Autumn Moon Courtyard to complain.
After hearing her complaint, Mu Yao immediately slapped the table and stood up. "They dared to beat you?"
"Yes." Suling wiped her tears with a handkerchief. "Miss, now that they've received the reward, they're becoming more and more lawless!"
"Heh." Mu Yao sneered contemptuously. "How long can she be complacent? I'm already the woman chosen by the emperor."
She waved Suling over and whispered instructions.
The more Suling listened, the brighter her eyes became. She clenched her fist tightly. "Tonight, we'll surely make her lose face!"
As if thinking of something, she carefully probed. "Miss, will you take me with you when you enter the palace in the future?"
Mu Yao curled her lip in disgust. "Of course."
"Great!" Suling was so happy that she almost jumped three feet high.
Mu Yao sat back on the reclining chair and rolled her eyes.
Did this stupid girl really think she could follow her into the palace?
She was daydreaming.
When Qu Yue arrived at the kitchen, there were only one or two maids washing and cutting vegetables inside.
She pursed her lips and stepped forward, patting the maid who was picking vegetables. "Excuse me, has the young miss been here?"
The maid sighed and slowly replied. "The young miss asked you to prepare a whole table of dinner."
It was exactly as Liu Xu had guessed!
Her heart sank. She scanned the rich ingredients on the table, which included all kinds of big fish, meat, and rare delicacies.
Qu Yue's eyes were as clear as a green pond. "Use these to cook?"
The maid met her gaze and slowly nodded.
"Okay." Qu Yue picked and chose the ingredients on the table. In a short while, she had finished making a series of delicious dishes that looked and smelled good.
Seeing her staring contentedly at the sumptuous dishes on the table, the maid hesitated to speak. "Madam, you..."
Qu Yue tilted her head and asked. "What's wrong?"
Hearing Mu Yao's warning in her ear, the maid's lips moved several times, but she still swallowed her advice. "It's... nothing."
Qu Yue took out a silver ingot from her sleeve, observed her surroundings, and then put it into the maid's palm.
She lowered her voice and pleaded. "Can you help me find some light tea, vegetarian dishes, and pastries?"
Her soft and gentle voice was like a warm stove in winter, making the maid's heart soften.
Her hand hesitated in the air for a while and finally took it.
The maid wiped her hands. "I'll go buy them for you right away, madam!"
"Thank you!"
Qu Yue wiped the sweat off her forehead with the back of her hand. The smell of the food filled her nose.
She was really smart.
She had guessed that Mu Yao wanted her to cook a big - meat meal to make a fool of herself in front of the emperor, and she had also left a way out without offending her.
But Qu Yue didn't have time to be happy for long. Mu Yao's sneer came from outside the kitchen. "You're only fit to do rough work in the kitchen."
Qu Yue was startled. She widened her eyes and turned around. The dim lantern shone on her snow - white cheeks, making her look extremely pitiful.
"Sister." She straightened up and called out.
Mu Yao inspected the delicately arranged dishes and waved to the people outside. "Put all these dishes on a tray. I'll carry them to the dining room myself later."
Qu Yue frowned, sensing something was wrong.
If Mu Yao wanted to harm her, why would she carry these dishes to the dining room herself?
Mu Yao stretched out her hand to Qu Yue. "Take off your apron and give it to me."
She even wanted her apron?
Qu Yue hesitated and took it off. Mu Yao snatched it away forcefully!
Mu Yao quickly put it on herself and couldn't help complaining. "So slow. You're so annoying."
She stretched out her hand and warned Qu Yue. "Keep your mouth shut. I made this meal."
Her tone was harsh and merciless. "If you dare to say a single word, your fate will be the same as that servant who stole the burial objects!"
She tied on the apron, picked up the tray prepared by the servant, and walked gracefully towards the dining room.
At the same time, the maid Qu Yue had sent to buy vegetarian food came back.
She handed the heavy bag to Qu Yue and finally couldn't hold back. "Madam, just turn a blind eye to this. It's also a recognition of your cooking skills."
Qu Yue took the things and casually inquired. "Do you know what they're up to?"
The maid hummed and shook her head with a sigh. "The young miss and her mistress had long planned to use the imperial heir's funeral to arrange the marriage with the emperor. Your meal is their courting meal!"
These words, like a blunt knife, stabbed into Qu Yue's heart.
What did they take Mu Yuan's death for?
It was a living life!
His funeral was definitely not a chance for them to exploit his last value!
Qu Yue was burning with anger. With a cold face, she put the vegetarian food on a tray and rushed straight to the dining room.
The usually simple dining room was extremely luxurious today, all shiny and golden.
Mu Yao was like a busy bee moving around, putting the dishes Qu Yue had made on the table.
From afar, she saw a slender figure, but her face suddenly darkened when she recognized who it was.
"Who let you come?"