Chapter 880
Chapter 880 A Cold and Beautiful Guest
In Dajin, all the educated people who had a little family background were very particular about tea.
They used different kinds of water to boil different tea. Even the burning charcoal was particular.
The equipment was even more complex. It would take days and nights to explain if anyone tried to talk about it in detail.
However, what Lin Mengya was going to make for Ningqiu today was the Yunqing Tea which was popular among noble ladies in Lieyun Empire.
The tea was very delicate, but the tea soup was clear and bright without any impurities.
The taste was elegant, neither bitter nor puckery, but a little sweet.
Therefore, the water was very important. It had to be clear and slightly sweet spring water, together with pure silver charcoal, and finally served with a good-looking jade tea bowl, so as not to lose the taste of the tea.
Therefore, this bowl of tea was very complicated and exquisite. Even in the entire Lieyun, those who could afford it were just the favored children of several well-known families.
Now since they were here, Lin Mengya naturally had to show Ningqiu’s difference in every aspect.
If it was in other aspects, it seemed to be a little deliberate.
She had to put more effort into this kind of trivial thing in order to make it more conclusive.
Yunque looked at Miss Helan who seemed to complain unintentionally. With a clever mind, she immediately understood that it was because of the guest named Ningqiu who had always been spoiled.
A confused look appeared on her face as Yunque came to ask Lin Mengya for advice.
“Miss, you have a sharp nose. But in the countryside like here, it’s really hard to find such precious things. I’m sorry for Miss Ningqiu as well as you.”
Lin Mengya did not insist on using the best things. On the contrary, she frowned. Although she was a little dissatisfied, she would not lose her temper.
“It doesn’t matter. Just bring some light tea to my lady. She prefers lighter ones, so she can’t drink any strong tea.”
Who would be so thoughtful when they were out?
Moreover, Lin Mengya had expected that there would not be as many things here as in the palace.
What she wanted was just let others believe that Ningqiu had grown up in an atmosphere of luxury and wealth, so ordinary things couldn’t be to her taste.
However, the Xin Family was different from others. There were some things that were as good as the ones in the palace.
Therefore, Lin Mengya went back to the courtyard where the banquet was held with Yunque after she got a few decent things.
“Miss, take care. I have to go to do other things, so I couldn’t go with you.”
As Yunque spoke softly, she gradually disappeared in front of Lin Mengya.
Of course, she knew that Yunque was going to report to her master. Lin Mengya nodded slightly and did not say anything else.
She walked up to Ningqiu with tea and desserts. At this moment, the kind Mrs. Xin was greeting other madams.
Although no one turned a blind eye to Ningqiu, she did not take the initiative to chat with them.
She sat quietly by the side and nodded slightly as a greeting only when others mentioned her.
“Miss, here’s your tea.”
Lin Mengya put all the things in front of Ningqiu and said softly.
The latter only took a glance at it and then nodded slightly.
Every move between them was seen by others.
Those madams became more and more convinced that only Madame Jingrou and the Emperor could raise such a goddess-like figure.
Therefore, they all became more respectful to Ningqiu and didn’t dare to neglect her.
After stepping back behind Ningqiu, Lin Mengya, like the others, tried to pretend to be indifferent to the affairs.
Their faces were so cold that it seemed that someone owed them money.
Lin Mengya and the others had become an existence that no one could ignore at the banquet because of their cold demeanor.
In Mrs. Xin’s eyes, there was a very obscure look of complacency.
She was even more attentive to Ningqiu.
She knew that this beautiful guest could not be neglected, so she only chose some important people to introduce when they came to talk.
As for the others, they were all blocked by her.
But even so, Lin Mengya still said goodbye to Mrs. Xin according to her master’s instructions when the banquet was halfway through.
At the banquet, except for the host, only a very few people would wait until the end, such as the host’s close friends, important guests, royal members or those who had no status.
Because of Ningqiu’s identity right now, it was the best choice to leave at this time.
“Does it disappoint you because of the food?”
In order to show her respect, Mrs. Xin took the initiative to stand up and asked eagerly.
“Madam, you’re too serious. I’m not good at drinking and have your spirits dampened. Please forgive me.”
While others were drinking, Ningqiu just drank some tea sent by Lin Mengya from the beginning to the end.
Even for the dessert, she had only eaten a small peony roll. How could she be drunk?
But Mrs. Xin could understand what Ningqiu meant.
And she personally walked Ning Qiu to the gate by leaving others in the banquet.
After repeatedly asking her to stay, she asked someone to send Ningqiu and the others away.
They quietly returned to the courtyard where Ningqiu lived. It had only been one night. It used to be a quiet small courtyard, and now there were a lot of new things.
Other than elegance, Lin Mengya could not come up with any words to describe them.
“Thank you for your kindness in seeing us off. My lady appreciates it.”
Lin Mengya winked at Baisu and Qinghu who immediately took out a lot of silver ingots from their sleeves and rewarded all the people who came back with them.
“Thank you for your reward, Miss. We’ll take our leave.”
With the heavy silver ingots on their hands, they all put on a flattering smile on their faces.
She should be respectful to her superiors, and generous to her subordinates.
This was Lin Mengya’s idea for Ningqiu. As a goddess, she could not be too close to anyone.
The four of them shut the gate as soon as they entered the courtyard, blocking out all those who wanted to spy on them.
Ningqiu struggled to walk into the inner room. Her body immediately softened, and she collapsed on the couch like a piece of mud.
“Sister Helan, you didn’t tell me that one would starve to death if she was the chosen witch, did you? When I was a maid in the palace, I could at least feed myself. But now my identity has changed. I’m not as good as before.”
Seeing Ningqiu looking at her pitifully, Lin Mengya knew that she must have been starving.
During the day, in order to put on the clothes that she had carefully prepared for her, she had been starving for the whole day.
In the evening, she only had a bellyful of tea. How could a girl at her age not be hungry?
“Thank you for your hard work. Baisu and Qinghu. Go and get something to eat. We’re all tired today. Let’s get some delicious food to eat.”
These two also pulled off their clothes and returned to their original appearances.
They were good at martial arts, so it was easy for them to get something to eat.
After a while, there were a lot of dishes, such as roast chicken and roasted goose, on the table in Ningqiu’s room.
But when Ningqiu was about to pick up her chopsticks, they were put aside by Lin Mengya on the bland boiled vegetables.
“You can only eat this these days. Put up with it for a while. When you entered the Pool of Various Venomous Insects, you can eat whatever you want.”
Ningqiu looked at Lin Mengya with tears in her eyes. She couldn’t help but swallow saliva by looking at others eating happily.
But Lin Mengya was telling the truth. She had the fragrant powder on her that could attract the Icy Jade Venomous Cicada.
If she wanted to maintain it for a longer time, she had to be ascetic.
Lin Mengya finally gave her a piece of steamed fish.
It seemed that she was eating a supreme delicacy. She even almost ate all the fishbones. How miserable she was!
After having had enough food and wine, Qinghu and Baisu would find a place to deal with the remaining things.
Lin Mengya and Ningqiu took out the incense. The cold and sweet fragrance filled the whole room, and the smell of the food gradually dissipated.
They each drank a cup of warm tea and then sat down at the table to discuss what would happen after that.
“Our performance today is very good. I think the Xin Family will definitely take the bait. Tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, they will let you get close to the Icy Jade Venomous Cicada again whether intentionally or not. At that time, do you know what to do?”
Ningqiu nodded. Since Madame Jingrou had told her these things, she would not easily forget them.
Lin Mengya calculated the time. Xiu should be here in a few days.
As soon as she arrived, half of her plan should be successful.
“But will they really believe me? I always feel that it is impossible for them to be so flustered because of their ability. Even if I can control the Icy Jade Venomous Cicada, they may not believe that I am the chosen witch. They may not do us a favor and let the Ninth Prince enter the pool.”
Although Ningqiu had been staying in the room for the past few days, she had heard everything that happened outside.
It could be said that the Xin Family had tried every single mean to test her.
Since they couldn’t get in, they would wait outside for the opportunity to spy on her maids.
Fortunately, these people were personally selected by Madame Jingrou, and they were also old servants who had served in the palace for many years.
Otherwise, they might really reveal some flaws.
“They will. Do you think that the venomous insects, including the Icy Jade Venomous Cicada, only came out for a walk that day?”
Lin Mengya looked calm. It seemed that she was very confident.
She raised her eyebrows and explained to the three curious people.
“Although these poisonous insects and venomous insects are on the periphery, I think the terrain of the pool should be extremely special. These insects can’t leave there easily. Otherwise, they would have left long ago as soon as they got rid of the control of the chosen witch. Or maybe they would have been caught by the people of the Xin Family. Think about it. Why do people who want to get the benefit of the pool have to go deep into that dangerous place? This means that once those insects leave the pool, they will be useless. So, I tried to attract so many insects on that day. I’m afraid that the Xin Family is very distressed at this moment.”
Hearing this, the other three people finally understood the final purpose of Lin Mengya attracting the insects.