Xia Momo suddenly lowered her head, covered her mouth and nose with a handkerchief, and said urgently to the person next to her with an uncontrollable tremor in her voice.
But before he could finish speaking, and before anyone could react, he practically fled in panic, staggering as he rushed out of the gate of Bazhenlou, as if a demon was chasing him.
"……This is?"
"Sister Xia's movements are so swift and agile..."
The young noblemen and ladies were left looking at each other, muttering amongst themselves, not understanding what was going on.
*
Back in her carefully decorated courtyard, Xia Momo, still shaken, gulped down several mouthfuls of cold tea before she could barely suppress the trembling in her heart.
Helian Jue's cold glance made her uneasy.
But what bothered her even more was the popularity of Bazhenlou and the glory of the time-traveling female manager, Liu.
There's a saying that's true in modern times: without comparison, there's no harm done.
As a fellow time traveler, she couldn't stand idly by and watch her colleague have such a smooth and successful life.
A sinister glint flashed in Xia Momo's eyes.
She summoned her trusted maid and whispered a few instructions to her.
Soon, carefully crafted words began to spread again in the capital, but this time, instead of being heard from ordinary people, they were circulating among the scions of aristocratic families.
A few days later, when they mentioned Bazhenlou again, Xia Momo frowned at the young master of the Ministry of Personnel, looking worried: "Young Master Li, Bazhenlou is lively, but it's a mixed bag of people from all walks of life, a place where all sorts of people mingle."
“I heard that some thugs caused trouble there a few days ago… You are of high status, and if you go there often, you might offend someone or get tainted by some unclean people… Sigh, I’m worried about your reputation.”
“Sister Wang, the food there is indeed quite strong in flavor, but it is certainly novel.”
"Just having the kitchen open to everyone, with the smoke and heat rising, and the sweat and saliva of the cooks flying everywhere... Ugh, just thinking about it makes me uncomfortable."
"No matter how fresh the ingredients are, after going through all this... I still feel uneasy. A clean little kitchen at home is still the best."
She spoke to the daughter of the Minister with a hint of earnest advice.
To those old-fashioned and conservative ladies of noble families, she put on a face of concern for the country and its people: "Ladies, you may not know this, but the Eight Treasures Pavilion puts on some inappropriate singing, dancing and storytelling performances, which attract people to show their faces and gather in noisy crowds. If this continues, it will damage public morals and disrupt etiquette!"
"The way of merchants is ultimately a lowly pursuit; such ostentation is not a sign of good fortune."
These words, though spoken in small doses, are highly toxic.
Each seemingly caring reminder and heartfelt word of concern accurately hits the points that matter to different groups of people.
Through the unintentional spread of rumors by the young noblemen and ladies she knew, a wave of negative gossip about Bazhenlou quickly swept through the elite circles of the capital.
"Have you heard? Bazhenlou looks glamorous, but its kitchen is actually filthy!"
"Yeah, the people are too mixed. All sorts of people come in. There was even a group fight last time!"
"Exactly, what kind of behavior is it for a woman to show her face in public and do business, and to engage in all those fancy things?"
"Popularity is not a sustainable strategy."
Although these discussions did not form an overwhelming wave, but only spread within the upper circles, they were still like annoying mosquitoes, trying to cast a shadow over the booming success of Bazhenlou.
Inside the private room.
Helian Jue listened as his bodyguards whispered reports about the negative discussions about Bazhenlou circulating among the aristocratic families in the capital, and how these discussions originated from Xia Momo.
There was no surprise in his unfathomable, cold eyes, only a knowing mockery.
It really was her.
Even after reincarnation, it seems she still can't shake her despicable nature of spreading rumors and attacking others with treacherous schemes.
Helian Jue's fingertips tapped the table unconsciously, and a chilling killing intent once again spread uncontrollably.
Now, can we kill Xia Momo?
However, at that moment, the crisp sound of a gavel striking the stage in the center of the lobby downstairs rang out, instantly attracting everyone's attention and interrupting Helian Jue's thoughts.
A new day's program begins.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
