ARC 1: The Prime Minister’s Tool Wife ✦ c1 ~ 70
✦ 46
Translator: InkyDragon (https://inkydragontranslation.wordpress.com)
“Young Master! Why did you call me here?” Qin Mei’s voice, both charming and clear, came from outside. With a smile on her face, she quickly walked into the hall.
“Oh, a family banquet? Why didn’t you tell me earlier? I could have asked the kitchen to prepare more dishes. What’s the special occasion today? Why the sudden family banquet?” Qin Mei glanced casually at the dishes on the table and asked, looking confused.
Obviously, she hadn’t carefully examined the appearance of the dishes, otherwise she wouldn’t have made such comments.
“What family banquet? Open your eyes and take a good look at the dishes on the table!” Luo Rui couldn’t help but angrily reply when he saw her still acting clueless.
Hearing her husband’s reproachful tone, Qin Mei felt unhappy and pouted as she seriously examined the dishes. As soon as she did, she exclaimed, “What’s going on? How did the kitchen staff manage to make such things? Are they meant for pigs?”
“So, Madam also knows that these things are meant for pigs?” Xu Shi Chu sneered and glanced at Qin Mei. “Then why were they delivered to my courtyard? Or does Madam think I’m only worthy of pig food?”
Qin Mei’s rising anger was suddenly extinguished, and she looked panic-stricken, hastily denying, “No, I… I don’t know who sent such dishes to your courtyard. It must be the servants acting on their own!”
Then she tugged at Luo Rui’s sleeve and hurriedly explained, “Husband, I swear I didn’t do this. You have to believe me…”
In truth, her reaction was already an admission of guilt. After all, if she hadn’t instructed someone to do it, her first instinct should have been to investigate the reason and then punish the culprit, rather than trying to clear herself of suspicion without any evidence.
“Qin Mei! Do you think I’m an idiot?” Luo Rui gritted his teeth, not expecting his wife to be so foolish, handling trouble in such a naive and obvious way, full of loopholes.
“Master, the kitchen staff has arrived,” Shu Qi called out.
Qin Mei, upon seeing them, paled, sweat forming on her forehead.
“Interrogate them!” Luo Chang Qing, expressionless, ordered Shu Qi, “Punish them severely if they refuse to tell the truth.”
On Luo Chang Qing’s handsome face, cold as ice and snow, his imposing aura was intimidating. Even the servants, as well as Qin Mei and Luo Rui, found it difficult to withstand his anger. They clenched their fists, barely managing to control their trembling.
The only exception was Xu Shi Chu. It was as if she hadn’t noticed Lord Luo’s expression at all. Sitting calmly beside him, she leisurely sipped her tea while calmly interrogating the kitchen staff.
Luo Chang Qing glanced at her, feeling as though she belonged to a different world from the rest. He couldn’t help but feel helpless, guilty, and slightly unwilling.
He couldn’t quite understand Xu Shi Chu. She was skilled in business, enjoyed the pleasures of life, possessed a sharp mind, and had a cold temperament. She had long abandoned her maiden family, except for her little nephew, seemingly indifferent to everyone else, including him, her nominal husband.
She treated him just like she treated everyone else, neither subservient nor arrogant. Even when she used his power, it was a fair exchange, with clear benefits for both parties. She wouldn’t take advantage of him, nor allow him to gain any advantage over her.
Did he truly lack charm? Luo Chang Qing began to doubt himself, a rare occurrence. He considered himself good-looking, still relatively young, and held a significant position of power in his prime.
Then why didn’t his second wife admire him in the same way other women did? Despite being married, he never lacked women willing to throw themselves at him. So why didn’t a woman like her appreciate a man like him?
If Xu Shi Chu knew what Luo Chang Qing was thinking at that moment, she would surely scoff. Men were just like this—despicable. He had clearly warned her not to have any inappropriate thoughts about him, yet when someone genuinely showed no interest and kept a safe distance, he wondered why no one was trying to get close to him. It was truly a case of self-righteousness and despicability.
Xu Shi Chu suddenly looked at Luo Chang Qing sharply, peering through his façade. Awkwardly, he averted his gaze, feeling strangely guilty under her piercing eyes.
Fortunately, Shu Qi came to his rescue, breaking the awkward silence. “Master, the interrogation is complete.”
“What did you find out?” Luo Chang Qing resumed his role as the prime minister, calmly inquiring.
“After the interrogation, it was revealed that the head chef, Zhang, had accepted a bribe from Hong Xiu, the chief maid beside the Young Madam. She insinuated that the meals served to the Madam would be downgraded, suggesting that the step-wife shouldn’t enjoy the Master’s favour, and that Young Madam was the true mistress of the mansion. Driven by greed, Zhang then used leftovers from the kitchen to prepare meals for the step-wife…” Shu Qi reported methodically.
“No! It wasn’t me, the servant girl! I didn’t do any of those things!” One of the maids, kneeling beside Qin Mei, quickly defended herself upon hearing this. “I have no issues with Madam Luo, why would I do such a thing? It must be head chef Zhang trying to frame me! I’ve had disagreements with him before, and now he’s seeking revenge! I implore the master and young master to see the truth…”
Xu Shi Chu observed with amusement: Seems like this one is called Hong Xiu. She’s quite eloquent, skillfully defending herself.
Meanwhile, Qin Mei on the other side was trembling, covered in cold sweat. She stared desperately at the maid Hong Xiu, hoping she would cooperate and not betray her.
“It’s you! The silver you gave me is still in my room, untouched. And the handkerchief wrapped around the silver, that’s yours too. It’s embroidered with the character for ‘Xiu’! Besides you, who else in the mansion would embroider that character?” head chef Zhang, who had been beaten, fiercely retorted upon hearing the maid’s words.
He now despised the maid Hong Xiu. If she hadn’t bribed him with silver, he wouldn’t be suffering like this. He could still be the head chef.
Upon hearing this, the maid Hong Xiu grew even more panicked, no longer caring about anything else as she anxiously looked towards her mistress Qin Mei, hoping she could save her.
But how could Qin Mei dare to speak up for her? She was already overwhelmed with her own troubles, so she bit her lip and discreetly stared at the maid Hong Xiu, subtly shaking her head.
The maid Hong Xiu instantly turned pale, her eyes suddenly determined, as if she had made a decision. Qin Mei was frantic, trying to speak but unable to produce any sound, and she mouthed a few names to her.
Seeing her lips, the maid Hong Xiu suddenly felt hopeless, as if all life had drained from her. She collapsed on the ground, saying, “It was me… I couldn’t bear to see Madam Luo making things difficult for Young Madam, so I took it upon myself to hinder Madam Luo.”
Xu Shi Chu mocked, “So you think I’m making things difficult for Young Madam just because I refused to give her flowers for free? You, this maid, are indeed loyal…”
But Qin Mei, desperate for support, put on an angry facade and scolded the maid Hong Xiu, “How could you do such a thing? Can a mere servant like you meddle with Madam Luo? Do you still see me as your mistress?”
Then, with righteous indignation, she turned to Luo Rui and said, “Husband, you must punish these servants who dare to disrespect their masters!”
─── ❖ ── ☆ ── ❖ ───
( )………( )
(๑✪ᆺ✪๑)
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