Chapter 86 Horrifying Moment: Meng Lingyao felt only a cold scrutiny and an instant...
As expected, Meng Lingyao's smile remained unchanged, and even her eyes did not waver in the slightest. She calmly rose and gave a slight bow in the direction of Miss Yuan, "Miss Yuan is too kind. The items worn by all the ladies present are the result of their ingenuity and unique charm. My meager skills are merely a rudimentary understanding of the properties of herbs and the methods of blending. How dare I presume to offer my opinions before the discerning eyes of this distinguished gathering? That would truly be like showing off my limited skills before an expert, only to become a laughingstock."
She changed the subject at the right moment, looking at the blooming chrysanthemums in the courtyard, "Today, I am honored to have Madam Yuan host this elegant crab and chrysanthemum banquet. The timing, location, and people are all perfect, and the garden is already filled with fragrance. Speaking of the incense pairings for this autumn banquet, I have some humble opinions, and I would like to exchange them with you all."
“Oh? Miss Meng, please speak.” Madam Yuan immediately replied, glancing at her youngest daughter with a light but not heavy look.
Miss Yuan still kept her neck stiff, but she turned her head away and didn't dare to look her mother in the eye.
Meng Lingyao nodded with a smile and explained in detail, “Chrysanthemums are slightly cold in nature, and crab meat is sweet and also tends to be cold. Excessive coldness can easily damage the spleen and stomach, so it is necessary to harmonize it with the qi of ‘warming the middle and unblocking the meridians.’ Just like the ginger vinegar served at your table, which is used for its pungent and warming properties. The same principle applies to the blending of spices. If you pursue a strong aroma, it will easily overpower the original flavor of the chrysanthemum and crab, making them the main ingredients. If you pursue a purely cold aroma, it will not match the overall atmosphere.”
"Madam Yuan ordered this 'Golden Osmanthus and Drunken Chrysanthemum' because it is wonderful in taking the richness of golden osmanthus as the base, blending the bitterness of chrysanthemum as the style, and then adding a warm and mellow sandalwood fragrance to harmonize it. The three complement each other, so that the aroma is refreshing and invigorating, yet warm and dignified, which is just right for the pleasure of autumn banquets."
Before he finished speaking, a chorus of praise erupted from the room.
"So that's how it is."
"This method of preparation is truly ingenious!"
"It is thanks to Madam Yuan's thoughtful consideration and Miss Meng's intelligence and insight that we have been able to hold this elegant banquet today."
The initial awkwardness caused by Miss Yuan vanished, and everyone's gaze towards Meng Lingyao now held genuine admiration. Miss Yuan's nose twitched, and she secretly took a few deep breaths of the incense, muttering reluctantly, "She really does have some skill..."
Cui Qingyin gripped the handkerchief tightly in her hand, her face flushing red and then turning pale. She had originally intended to embarrass Meng Lingyao today, but her plan backfired, making Meng Lingyao shine instead.
This woman...this woman, what a skill! No wonder she moved Pei Xu to tears.
Wang Li's gaze was fixed on Meng Lingyao. He could clearly see that the flower ornament between her eyebrows faintly shimmered with tiny gold spots in the sunlight, as if all the brilliance of the banquet was concentrated on her alone, making it impossible for anyone to look away.
He held the wine glass, almost forgetting to swirl it, causing the wine in the glass to ripple slightly.
As the banquet progressed to its midpoint, the atmosphere grew increasingly lively. Even the ladies and young misses, speaking in their soft Wu dialect, were making Meng Lingyao dizzy. She excused herself to change her clothes and temporarily left the banquet. Seeing Songlan hiding to the side, engrossed in a struggle with a crab, she didn't call her and left with a maid from the Yuan household.
As they approached a secluded moon gate, a more elegantly dressed head maid suddenly called out to them, "You, come here quickly, the madam has an urgent matter."
The maid hesitated, "Sister, I was just about to take the guests to rest."
“The lady has given the order, how dare you disobey?” The head maid gave her a cold look, then bowed to Meng Lingyao. “Miss, if you go straight to the end of this road and turn right, you will find the resting place for the women. There is an urgent matter in the manor at the moment, please forgive the lack of hospitality.”
The little maid had tears in her eyes, but Meng Lingyao didn't bother to argue. She nodded and walked forward on her own.
Following the maid's instructions, after turning right, several men dressed as servants of the Yuan family hurried towards them, carrying a long, narrow wooden box about three feet long and one foot wide. The box didn't seem large, but the men carried it carefully and heavily, indicating that it was quite heavy.
Meng Lingyao had no intention of paying attention, but in the instant they passed each other, her gaze was firmly drawn to several unusual details.
These men were all burly and had steady steps; their pace was remarkably synchronized as they carried the boxes. Meng Lingyao had seen similar scenes in the army with her maternal grandfather when she was young, and such a rhythm could only be achieved through rigorous and unified training.
As I passed by, the lid of the box loosened slightly due to the adjustment of the angle, revealing a gap, and a faint smell of musty paper mixed with the smell of old ink wafted out.
Meng Lingyao was all too familiar with this scent; it was the unique aroma of ancient scrolls or old contracts that had been sealed away for a long time, and it was extremely similar to the scent of the ancient book fragments that her father treasured.
She lingered for a brief moment longer on the gap in the box and on the men carrying it, her gaze still holding a hint of inquiry.
This gaze, which an ordinary person might not even notice, was keenly caught by the man leading the way carrying the box. His eyes, alert and sharp as poisoned arrows, shot towards Meng Lingyao.
In that instant of eye contact, Meng Lingyao felt only a cold scrutiny and a sudden surge of intense vigilance, and... a murderous aura!
The leading man paused, seemingly unintentionally partially blocking Meng Lingyao's view of the box with his body. At the same time, he subtly gestured with his chin towards his companion.
The men carrying boxes to the side froze, their eyes darting around, and the atmosphere suddenly turned icy. An invisible sense of oppression instantly filled the narrow walkway.
The man closest to Meng Lingyao had his elbows slightly bent, as if he were preparing to do something under his sleeves.
Meng Lingyao's heart skipped a beat and then pounded violently against her chest.
She's being targeted!
A tremendous sense of crisis washed over her like a bucket of ice water. Her mind raced as she calculated escape routes and the possibility of calling out. The road behind her was open, but her heavy clothing meant she couldn't run fast. Would her shouts attract guards in time? And these guys in front of her, clearly fierce soldiers, would never give her a chance!
In a flash, she made her decision.
Fear was forcibly suppressed, replaced by an almost cold composure. Her back straightened, her waist slightly lowered, and her right hand silently slipped into the depths of her wide sleeve, her fingertips already touching the cold hilt of the knife.
Even if it's just to hold them off for a moment!
At the critical moment, a voice tinged with concern rang out from the other end of the road—
"Miss Meng, what brings you here?"
It's Wang Li.
He turned from the intersection and strode over. His face wore his usual gentle smile, and his gaze swept over Meng Lingyao and the servants carrying the trunk.
The servants clearly recognized him; their movements froze, and their menacing aura quickly dissipated, transforming them back into meek and submissive servants. The leader reacted the fastest, bowing slightly to Wang Li, "Young Master Wang."
"What are you carrying? It's so heavy!" Wang Li asked casually, glancing at the camphor wood chest.
The leading man immediately replied respectfully, "Reporting to you, young master, the master instructed that all the old documents and files accumulated in the study over the years be moved to the inner storeroom for sorting. They're all old papers, incredibly heavy." His answer was impeccable, and his tone was casual.
Wang Li nodded without asking any further questions. He turned to Meng Lingyao and said gently, "Miss Meng, this place is close to the important area of the Yuan garrison. If we come here without the master's guidance or permission, it would be against the rules and might cause a disturbance. The garrison commander is usually busy with military affairs, and military matters are of great importance. You must not take this lightly, Miss."
Meng Lingyao suppressed her fear; her back was already soaked with cold sweat, but her hand, gripping the dagger tightly in her sleeve, did not loosen its grip. A blush quickly rose to her face, and a hint of confusion and apology appeared in her eyes.
She turned to the side, completely concealing the outline of the dagger in her sleeve, and gave Wang Li a deep curtsy, her voice trembling slightly from the alcohol, "Please forgive me, Young Master Wang. I drank a few too many cups of osmanthus wine during the banquet. I wanted to come out for some fresh air, but I didn't expect the Yuan family's courtyard to be so beautiful, with its winding paths and secluded spots."
She gently touched her forehead with her slender hand, her delicate brows furrowing slightly, even the floral decoration between her eyebrows creased. Her embarrassment deepened. "I was so captivated by it that I lost my way... If it weren't for your timely guidance, I truly don't know what I would have done..."
Her frail and helpless appearance was something Wang Li had never seen before, a stark contrast to her previous composure in front of others.
As if a pair of soft hands were gently plucking at his heartstrings, Wang Li subconsciously lowered his voice and asked, "Why is there no one to guide us?"
Meng Lingyao lowered her eyes slightly, "Originally, I did have one, but halfway there, my maid was called away, saying that the madam urgently needed it. The madam's matter could not be delayed, so I asked them to point me in a general direction... but I didn't expect that we would go the wrong way."
Upon hearing this, Wang Li's eyes flickered. He glanced at the servants still standing there, then at the tightly sealed box, and thinking of the little maid Meng Lingyao had mentioned who had been suddenly summoned away, he instantly understood everything, and his face immediately turned ugly.
He knew that Cui Qingyin disliked Meng Lingyao. He would let it go if he had the chance to tease her a little, but he never expected that she would actually want to kill her!
The Cui family has recently been cooperating with Commander Yuan on a batch of extremely sensitive matters. He has naturally heard about the Wang family, who have been entrenched in Jinling for a long time. Although he doesn't know the details, Cui Qingyin once mentioned that it "concerns a century-long plan" and "requires the most reliable people to handle it"...
If an outsider were to glimpse even the slightest hint of such a taboo, these people would rather kill the innocent than let the guilty go free!
But how innocent is Miss Meng?
He quickly composed himself, forcing a reassuring smile at Meng Lingyao. "I see. Since it was an accident, what wrong did Miss Meng commit?" His gaze shifted to the several silent "servants," his voice turning colder. "Aren't you going to do your work? Are you just standing here blocking the way?"
"Yes, Young Master Wang." The group exchanged glances, and the leader set off first, followed closely by the others. They walked steadily toward the inner courtyard and soon disappeared into the secluded flowers and trees.
Seeing the group leave, Wang Li secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He turned to Meng Lingyao and said gently, "Miss Meng, you've been frightened. It's windy and the scenery is rather desolate here. Please come back to the main banquet with me." He stretched out his hand, indicating the direction to lead the way.
"Thank you for your trouble, Young Master Wang." Meng Lingyao lowered her eyes in thanks, her posture gentle. She accompanied Wang Li, her expression gradually returning to normal.
"During the banquet just now, Miss Meng handled everything with ease and grace... truly admirable."
"Young Master Wang, you flatter me. It's just my duty, and I didn't want to disappoint Madam Yuan's kind offer." Meng Lingyao responded to Wang Li's words, her eyes constantly scanning the scenery along the way.
Ping An returned to the banquet, picked up a cup of slightly cooled chrysanthemum tea and drank it all in one gulp. The elegant chrysanthemum fragrance finally dispelled the lingering stench of blood in her lungs. She chatted and laughed with everyone, even raising her cup to return the frequent glances from Miss Cui Jiu with a slight smile.
After the banquet ended, Meng Lingyao returned to Juxianglou. Without even taking a break, she hurriedly said to Cang Dian, "Quickly invite Mr. Zhang over. Tell him that I have recently obtained a formula for calming the nerves and aiding sleep, and I would like to ask him to taste it." This was a secret signal for an urgent meeting.
Mr. Zhang arrived quickly.
Meng Lingyao looked up at him with a solemn expression. "Please ask Mr. Zhang to make the contact. I have something to investigate and I need to borrow Shaoqing's guards." She paused and added, "They need to be skilled in combat."
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Author's Note: Wang Li: I just love the contrast [dog head with rose in hand]
The couple in the draft have already ended their long-distance relationship, but everyone will have to wait a little longer. I promise you'll have something nice to eat during the holidays [pity] (starting to make empty promises).
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