"Impossible! They promised me!"
"Why not? Would they dare use someone who could so easily betray their former master and steal the secret formula?"
Upon hearing Zhong Muyu's question, Wu Zhong fell silent.
Yes, how could he be so foolish!
“In early spring, give him some money and send him away. Think carefully about what you do in the future, and use that money to find a new way to make a living. You won’t be able to stay a cook in this area.”
Zaochun snorted and tossed him a money pouch with a look of disdain. Wu Zhong then knelt down, weeping and kowtowing, saying, "Madam, I was wrong! Please forgive me this time. I will definitely work harder for you from now on! I won't have any wicked thoughts!"
However, Zhong Muyu didn't look at him, but waved his hand to let Liu Ping and Fang Dazhuang throw him out.
The cries faded into the distance. At the back door of the restaurant, Wu Zhong clung to Fang Dazhuang's arm, pleading, "Dazhuang, we've known each other for a year. You know I was confused for a moment. Please, go and beg the madam to let me stay!"
Fang Dazhuang shook his head sadly: "Ah Zhong, you have disappointed me too much."
Aren't you going to help me either?
"I don't want to help you. You can't go against your conscience. You'd better watch yourself."
Liu Ping chimed in, "Yes, you'd better watch yourself!"
The two men threw Wu Zhong outside and ignored his knocking.
On the way back, Liu Ping asked, "Dazhuang, are you very familiar with Wu Zhong?"
“We worked together as cooks at the Li family's house for over a year. He was a cheerful person and always took good care of me. Perhaps he was afraid of being poor in the past, but I never expected him to do something like this.”
"That was his own choice. If you do a good job, your master will not treat you unfairly."
In the courtyard, Zaochun interrogated Liu Xiaoya: "Xiaoya, did Wu Zhong tell you to say that Madam was looking for me?"
Liu Xiaoya hadn't expected this to happen, and nodded timidly: "Yes, Chef Wu said he couldn't find you, so he asked me to tell you, but I absolutely did not do anything bad for him! Please believe me!"
Sister-in-law Liu chimed in, "Please, Madam, be wise! Our little girl would never do such a thing as betraying her master for personal gain!"
Zhong Muyu said, "Alright, alright, I was prepared for this, so I trust you. But please take this as a warning. Be down-to-earth and don't have unrealistic fantasies."
The two lowered their heads: "We will remember."
Just then, Liu Ping and Fang Dazhuang returned, and Zhong Muyu acted as if nothing had happened, telling them to go back to their rooms and sleep.
The restaurant lost a head chef overnight, but it didn't affect the restaurant at all. Fang Dazhuang was very capable, and he could do the work of two people. Things were actually easier than before.
Therefore, Zhong Muyu took the time to return to Qingshui Village and visit Chi Xuanzhu.
He would help out at the restaurant when he had free time, but otherwise he would teach in the village. In this era, a teacher who stayed in the village to teach people to read was still very rare.
However, upon returning this time, Zhong Muyu noticed that the atmosphere in the village was a bit strange; it was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, as if a festival was about to begin.
Even Chi Xuanzhu was unusually absent from home, leaving Zhong Muyu empty-handed.
When she returned to her lodgings, Uncle Zheng and his wife hurriedly came out to greet her. Zhong Muyu noticed that they had also hung red lanterns outside their houses and asked, "What's going on in the village? Are they celebrating a festival?"
Sister-in-law Zheng said, "It seems the Princess is unaware that this is a major event for Qingshui Village!"
Following the two into the house, amidst the rising steam of the tea, Uncle Zheng and Sister-in-law Zheng began to tell the story of Qingshui Village.
It turns out that Qingshui Village has a long-standing tradition of worshipping the mountain god. Therefore, a mountain god temple was built on Yanshan Mountain, and sacrifices were made every year. If there was a year of famine, it meant that the mountain god was angry. At this time, a young girl was sacrificed, which meant that the mountain god was to find a wife and appease his anger.
This custom is said to have continued for hundreds of years.
Zhong Muyu thought it was nonsense: "So is this a regular sacrificial ceremony or a wedding?"
Sister-in-law Zheng said, "Hanging red lanterns means we're getting married. Last winter was too cold, and this year's harvest was poor. We chose the mountain god's wife around the New Year, and now we're about to hold the ceremony."
"Do you think sacrificing a human life will guarantee good weather and abundant harvests? Don't you think that's ridiculous?"
Sister-in-law Zheng sighed softly: "We've seen it twice. The poor girl was just tied up and carried up the mountain, but there was nothing we could do. It's a deeply ingrained belief in the village."
Uncle Zheng also instructed Zhong Muyu: "Your Highness, you are Your Highness, and we shouldn't say this, but we still have to remind you not to interfere in this matter. Government officials have tried to stop us before, but it was no use."
"Thank you for your kindness, but I still can't accept this. Could you tell me where the girl who was sacrificed this year is?"
Upon hearing this, Uncle Zheng was clearly startled: "Your Highness! You can't help her escape!"
"I won't. I just want to see her. Don't worry, I won't cause any trouble."
"She is currently being held in a mountain temple halfway up the mountain, and no one is allowed to visit her, but if she is a princess, there should be no problem."
"Okay, I'll go check on her."
Before the two could stop her, Zhong Muyu went to find the mountain god temple.
The place was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations along the way, and Zhong Muyu found it all quite absurd.
The mountain god temple was magnificent and the most splendid building in the village. Zhong Muyu could see it without walking far. However, there were many people guarding the mountain god temple at this time, and the guard was very strict.
After Zhong Muyu walked over, the two villagers guarding the gate stopped her.
"Halt! No unauthorized personnel allowed in this area."
Zhong Muyu raised her head and took out a waist token, waving it in front of them: "I am the Jade Princess bestowed by the Empress Dowager, and the current Princess Consort of the Prince of Ling. I came here today because I heard about the sacrificial ceremony."
A gleaming golden token and a string of identities were indeed impressive. Although not all the villagers had seen Zhong Muyu, they had all heard that the Princess Consort of Ling was recuperating in Qingshui Village.
The two men immediately knelt down: "We were blind and did not recognize Your Highness. We have come to pay our respects to Your Highness!"
"May I go in now?"
"Please, Your Highness!"
The gate opened, and Zhong Muyu was led to the main hall, where a golden statue in the center, dressed in magnificent robes and with a kind face, stood, presumably the mountain god they had imagined.
Zhong Muyu asked, "Wasn't it said that the priestess was also here?"
The villager who led her there instructed her, "Your Highness, outsiders cannot meet the women performing the sacrifice before the day of the ceremony. If you wish to see them, you can only do so through the door."
"No problem, I just want to check on her mental state. If someone is locked up here for a long time and something goes wrong, the mountain god will be unhappy even if we offer her up."
"Your Highness is right. Please come with me."
The villagers led Zhong Muyu to a side hall, where the gate was tightly closed and the room was quiet.
Zhong Muyu smiled and handed him two pieces of silver: "Thank you."
The villager happily put it away, nodding cheerfully: "The princess can say whatever she wants to say here, just don't take too long, I'll be waiting outside."
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