Chapter 889 The real intention is not... Chicken (Seeking monthly votes or 2)
"Uncle-Master Tang!"
"Your Excellency, you have arrived!"
The thin-lipped young woman immediately shouted loudly.
"Let go of them all."
Uncle Tang's voice was old and hoarse, yet it carried an undeniable tone.
The thin-lipped young lady immediately released Yu Mili's wrist, and Song Zhian also released the former's wrist.
The three women separated.
Senior Sister Yuan stepped forward and whispered a few words to the head of the Peach Hall.
Uncle Tang nodded slightly, as if he had remembered something, and then asked:
"Xiao Lanlan, Song Zhian, Yu Mili, what happened? Tell us."
Xiao Lanlan must be the name of the girl with thin lips. Seeing that Uncle Tang and the other two were attracted as expected, she perked up, pointed at the broken chicken soup on the ground, and shouted:
"The head disciple, Song Zhian, Yu Mili, and these two young boys from the Bamboo Hall who were fooling around together violated the precepts and indulged their gluttonous desires by secretly catching and killing camellia chickens and brazenly cooking them into soup. They were caught by the disciples!"
"Such a disregard for the law! I tried to reason with her, but Yu Mili was still defiant and unrepentant. She became even more arrogant. I couldn't stand it anymore, so I tried to stop her, but she actually attacked me first."
Upon hearing Xiao Lanlan's words, Yu Mili's face first turned pale, but as she heard the rest, her eyes suddenly reddened, and she anxiously said:
"You're the one who hit me! How can you accuse me first? You were the one who suddenly rushed up and pushed me, snatched the bowl and threw it on the ground. You were the one who started it..."
Xiao Lanlan immediately pointed at her and said:
"So you admit it's your bowl? You also cooked and ate this camellia chicken? So you're admitting to stealing and eating it?"
Song Zhian didn't speak immediately, her eyes fixed on Xiao Lanlan.
The young lady Yu, standing to the side, was not as calm as her and hurriedly waved her hand:
"I...I didn't steal any food, and I don't know anything about any rules. This...this is just a normal chicken..."
"Now that we've caught you red-handed, are you still going to deny it?"
Xiao Lanlan chuckled lightly, ignoring her, and turned to bow to Uncle Tang, her voice clear yet each word piercing:
"Master, I remember when I first arrived at Jianze, my careful and responsible senior sisters instructed me not to harm these colorful-tailed camellia chickens we encountered on the island. It is said that a kind-hearted lady-in-waiting could not bear to harm the creatures that live and breathe Jianze. Thus, the Caotang issued this rule, and those who disobey it will be punished..."
Her voice grew louder and louder, raising her tone higher:
"These rules were repeatedly emphasized from the very first day we entered Jianze, yet some people still knowingly violated them, acting as if the rules of Caotang didn't exist. Such blatant disregard for the law, and they even said that we are Yue Nu of Taotang. If the senior uncles and sisters of Caotang knew about this, they would think that all the newcomers of Taotang are so ignorant and rude..."
"that is."
"That's right."
Voices of agreement came from the surrounding crowd.
Especially the women from the Nine Clans next to Xiao Lanlan, who all spoke up and took sides to support her.
Senior Sister Yuan suddenly stepped forward, went to the food box, opened it, dipped her finger in the chicken soup, put it in her mouth, and after a moment stood up, nodded slightly to Uncle Tang:
"It's camellia chicken."
The atmosphere fell silent for a moment.
Xiao Lanlan crossed her arms and looked coldly at Song Zhian and Yu Mili.
A young woman in the crowd shook her head:
"One bad apple spoils the whole bunch..."
Noticing the increasingly strange looks from the young women around her, Miss Yu blushed, looked around anxiously, and hurriedly explained:
"I...I vaguely remember this rule, but I didn't know this chicken soup was made with camellia chicken. It's...yes, this is a misunderstanding...a misunderstanding..."
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed that Uncle Tang remained expressionless and did not interrupt them. Xiao Lanlan kept her eyes straight ahead and gave a cold laugh:
"Misunderstanding? Don't know? Ha, if everything can be covered up with 'misunderstanding' or 'don't know,' then what's the point of having this thatched cottage?"
Miss Yu was speechless with anger, her eyes reddening with rage: "You..."
Song Zhian suddenly reached out and stopped her, ignoring the entanglement of Xiao Lanlan, and stepped forward, sincerely addressing Senior Uncle Tang and Senior Sisters Yuan and Xi:
“Uncle-Master, we really didn’t know this was a stew of Camellia Chicken. Mili was a little tempted, but we absolutely did not intend to break the rules or provoke Caotang. However, we did eat it. We hope that Uncle-Master will give us a chance to make amends.”
Xiao Lanlan suddenly said:
"Song Zhian, don't just try to shift the blame onto others. The four of you were in cahoots, and you brought the chicken soup. Everyone has seen that. Even if you weren't involved together, you're still accomplices. You all broke the law. Don't try to act all innocent."
Song Zhian ignored her and simply added honestly to Uncle Tang:
"What I meant by making amends together is that we should work together to redeem ourselves. Although I did not eat it, I was preparing to eat it without knowing the truth, so I am also at fault."
Xiao Lanlan's soft voice drifted into everyone's ears:
"With your character, how can you go to Qiutang? Qiutang is always out on business and strictly adheres to discipline. You're stealing camellia chicken now, are you going to embezzle rare and precious ingredients in the future? You say you know you're wrong and will correct it? That's not necessarily true. Maybe you don't know you're wrong, you just know you'll be punished, you're afraid..."
"Uncle-Master Tang, Senior Sisters, this is something we absolutely must investigate..."
Song Zhian slowly turned her head, her eyes fixed on Xiao Lanlan.
The latter, without hesitation, met her gaze and said with a smirk:
"Don't misunderstand, I'm not envious of you. I accept that I didn't get to go to Qiutang. Taotang is great, and Uncle Tang and the senior sisters are all great. I still have a lot to learn. But right now, Sister Song, you're not good enough for Qiutang. Isn't that obvious to everyone?"
All eyes fell on Song Zhian, and the nine young women nodded, glancing at Uncle Tang and the two senior sisters.
The noise in the arena grew louder.
However, some observant people on the field had already realized who Xiao Lanlan was targeting.
"Alright, quiet down, stop arguing."
Uncle Tang spoke slowly.
The field fell silent.
Xiao Lanlan immediately shut up, became obedient, and stood to the side with her eyes down.
Song Zhian lowered her head slightly, looking at the ground.
Uncle Tang glanced at the food box and asked first:
“These pheasants on the island are indeed precious and rarely seen in the mountains. They are not domestic chickens and should not be poached.”
“Qiutang did have a ban, although it was a long time ago, issued when the Third Lady was still alive. But rules are rules, and Xiao Lanlan is right about that.”
Upon hearing this, Yu Mili, Sha Ergou, and Lu Jinghong all trembled.
It gives one a vague sense of unease.
Uncle Tang paused, then looked at Song Zhian, who was bowing her head and remaining silent, as if she were deep in thought.
Senior Sister Yuan glanced at Song Zhian, and despite not usually meddling in other people's business, she asked coldly:
"Song Zhian, have you had your soup?"
Song Zhian hesitated for a moment, then shook her head.
Senior Sister Yuan then coldly asked Yu, Lu, and Sha:
"Who caught the chicken, who cooked it, and who brought it?"
The three of them remained silent for a moment.
Xiao Lanlan said somewhat sarcastically:
"They're all the same, they're all accomplices, they can't escape responsibility. If they hadn't been discovered, they would have finished the drink long ago, and Sister Song didn't stop them. Besides, birds of a feather flock together, they all hang out together."
"Hmm, although the senior sisters emphasize the camaraderie among fellow disciples in Jianze, I don't quite understand why Sister Song and Sister Mili like to hang out with men so much..."
Senior Sister Yuan glanced at Martial Uncle Tang's expression, then turned back to look at the silent Song Zhi'an with a slight frown:
"say."
Yu Mili lowered her head, her fingers clenched together, her fingertips turning white.
Lu Jinghong glanced at the silent Miss Song, his eyes darting around, seemingly wanting to speak but holding back.
"Miss Song, why not tell the truth..."
The next instant, Song Zhian turned to look at him, and Yu Mili also looked over.
Lu Jinghong paused, then shut her mouth again.
Xiao Lanlan smiled and asked:
"Truth what? What excuse are you going to come up with? Are you going to sacrifice a few to help one of her get off the hook...?"
Before the words had even finished, Sha Ergou, who had been staring at the food box for a long time, suddenly looked up, rushed forward, and said in a loud, booming voice:
"Senior Aunt, Senior Sister, I made this soup. I was greedy and brought it here to fill my stomach. Miss Yu saw it and ate it by mistake. As for Miss Song, she didn't eat any and even advised us not to be greedy... I... I didn't know it was some kind of camellia chicken. Miss Song and Miss Yu didn't know either. If they had known, Miss Song would definitely have stopped them..."
Song Zhian frowned and looked at Sha Ergou, while Yu Mili also looked at him with a pained expression. Lu Jinghong held his sword and remained silent for the time being.
The three of them, including Uncle Tang, also looked at him with scrutiny.
Xiao Lanlan nodded in agreement: "Indeed, he's quite loyal. Do you men think it's cool and dazzling to do this in front of women?"
She emphasized the word "loyalty" a little.
Everyone knew what she meant.
Surprisingly, Sha Ergou wasn't oblivious at this moment; he clearly understood, his dark face flushed red, and he burst into curses:
"What are you being sarcastic about? There are chicken feathers in my yard, things that everyone hates. Use your dog eyes to see for yourself!"
The short-haired boy uttered a few words of local dialect, which no one could understand, but everyone knew were probably swear words.
Seeing that his Uncle Tang's expression was somewhat grim, Lu Jinghong immediately turned around and "taught" Sha Ergou a lesson:
"Shut up! Speak properly, don't be so insolent!"
Xiao Lanlan was not angry; instead, she smiled.
"Why are you still swearing? Can't you present the facts and reason with us? Your senior uncles and sisters are all here. Who are you trying to fool with your bullying?"
She didn't look at Lu Jinghong, but turned to smile at Song Zhian:
"No wonder Sister Song is so protective of these men from the Bamboo Hall. They're really there for us when trouble comes. It's just that we're too stupid to be as smart as Sister Song..."
Uncle Tang waved his hand:
"Stop talking. Let's stick to the facts and not bring up anything else. I'll ask you one more time: who caught the camellia chicken?"
She shook her head: "Follow the rules, the person who catches the chicken should be punished."
The atmosphere fell silent for a moment.
Xiao Lanlan's expression changed slightly, clearly showing dissatisfaction, and she couldn't help but interject:
“Uncle Tang, you have a keen eye for detail. Qiutang is an important hall of our sect. The selection of Yue Maidens requires careful consideration. Why don’t you report this matter to the Queen Mother…”
Senior Sister Yuan suddenly said, "Xiao Lanlan, your martial aunt knows her limits, so you should say less."
Xiao Lanlan was a little stuck.
At this moment, Song Zhian knew perfectly well that Senior Sister Yuan and even Uncle Tang secretly cherished her talent and protected her.
However, if they report the crime "truthfully," the others might not be able to bear the punishment, especially Brother Liu, who just got the chance to stay. If he takes the blame now, he won't even be able to do the forced labor... Only she, at worst, will be able to stay in Taotang.
However, it would mean losing the hard-won opportunity to work at Qiutang.
To say I don't feel any pain would be a lie.
The young woman, who had come from Jiannan Road with great difficulty, was caught in a dilemma.
"It's me..."
Just as Sha Ergou was about to take a step forward, Song Zhian moved with him—the sound of the former stepping forward was like a wake-up call reminding people to leave at the appointed time, instantly tilting the scales in her heart to one side and killing her hesitation.
Song Zhian stepped forward.
At this moment, for some reason, she found herself very calm, and she guessed that her expression was calm in the eyes of those around her... Song Zhian's focus shifted for no apparent reason, and she spoke softly:
"Uncle-Master, it's me..."
"It's me."
At that moment, two sentences, one spoken by a man and the other by a woman, rang out almost simultaneously in the room.
Song Zhian paused for a moment, frowned and turned around, only to find that it was neither Sha Ergou nor Lu Jinghong.
The sound came from behind the crowd behind Uncle Tang.
Uncle Tang and his two companions turned around at the sound along with everyone else.
A young man in a felt hat stepped out from the back of the crowd, speaking calmly, just like Song Zhian.
Under Xiao Lanlan's furrowed brows, Ouyang Rong turned to Song Zhian and asked:
“Miss Song, have you forgotten? This food box was brought by me, not by Er Gou. I caught that camellia chicken to make soup. There are still chicken feathers in Er Gou's yard.”
He paused, and everyone saw the young man in the felt hat smile somewhat embarrassed.
"I know exactly how many spoonfuls of salt, a few pieces of ginger, and a handful of chopped green onions were added to the soup."
"Tch, here comes another self-righteous traitor. All five of you are in cahoots. Who would believe someone who's an accomplice? You keep changing your testimonies. One minute it's Er Gou, the next it's you. What will it be like next?"
Xiao Lanlan scoffed and pointed at Lu Jinghong.
She tilted her head and said, "Sister Song, you have so many people protecting you... Why are you looking at me like that? Are you going to make a move too?"
Xiao Lanlan asked Ouyang Rong, who was staring at her.
Ouyang Rong shook his head:
"No, I just wanted to ask if you could lower your voice a bit, young lady. I'm sorry, but your voice really does sound like a rooster's, chattering away. It's too noisy. Um, could you please be a little quieter? Your senior uncles and sisters are all here and will see through everything. You keep yelling around like you're trying to be indignant at a chicken. Hmm, if I didn't know better, I would think you two are very close and that you've lost a relative."
He waved his hand sincerely:
"Sorry, I didn't mean to insult anyone, it was just a fitting analogy, it's definitely not true, right?"
The surrounding crowd began to look at him strangely.
Xiao Lanlan was stunned for a moment, then her heart leaped with rage:
"You! You're talking nonsense..."
"Shhh."
Ouyang Rong interrupted her by raising a finger in front of his mouth, politely and patiently signaling her to be quiet.
Yu Xiaoniangzi, Sha Ergou, and Lu Jinghong were all stunned.
Song Zhian silently turned her head and stared at the tall, straight back that had stood in front of them without saying a word after returning.
She suddenly realized that Brother Liu, who was usually taciturn, actually had a sharp tongue. He just didn't like to speak, but when he did... it was something else entirely.
(End of this chapter)
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