Chapter 60 Ling Zixia tests the tea set with water
Night slowly fell, and soft lights came on in the Jingsi Courtyard.
Zhao Wenxuan did not come back as soon as he said. It was obvious that Zhao Wuji had left him in the study to discuss matters.
Ling Zixia had a light but exquisite dinner served by Qing'er and others.
After dinner, she did not rest immediately, but sat by the window, quietly looking at the moonlight outside.
Qing'er replaced the cup of freshly brewed hot tea for her. The fragrance of the tea was lingering and refreshing.
Ling Zixia picked up the teacup, but she didn't drink it. Instead, she put the warm wall of the cup against her slightly cold palm to keep warm.
She glanced casually at the brand new Ru kiln tea set on the table, and a barely perceptible cold light flashed in her eyes.
This set of tea set was delivered personally by Zhao Wenxuan's study servant in the evening, who said that it was specially selected for her by the young master.
But Ling Zixia only took one look and knew that this seemingly exquisite tea set actually contained a secret.
She gently put down the teacup and gave instructions to Nanny Guifang who was standing beside her.
"Mammy, go call Mo'er and Xiaoxing in. I have something to tell you."
Although Nanny Guifang was a little confused, she immediately bowed and responded, then walked out quickly.
Soon, Mo'er and Xiaoxing followed Nanny Guifang in, and the three of them bowed respectfully to Ling Zixia.
"I wonder what the master wants me to do?" Nanny Guifang asked in a low voice.
Ling Zixia did not answer them immediately, she just slowly stood up from the chair.
She walked slowly to the table, stretched out her slender fingers, and gently brushed the surface of the tea set.
Her movements were gentle and slow, as if she was admiring a peerless work of art.
"This set of tea set was specially given to me by the young master this afternoon. Do you think it looks good?" she asked softly in a calm tone.
Mo'er and Xiao Xing looked at each other, and Mo'er quickly stepped forward and flattered with a smile.
"It's beautiful, of course it is. This is top-quality Ru kiln celadon, with a delicate body and a warm glaze. You can tell at first glance that it's a priceless treasure."
Xiao Xing also echoed, with a hint of envy on her face.
"Yes, the young master really cares about his master. He gave such a valuable thing as a reward without hesitation."
Only Aunt Guifang looked at the tea set with a hint of subtle doubt in her eyes.
Ling Zixia smiled faintly. She picked up the teapot on the table and filled the empty cups with tea one by one.
The boiling hot tea was poured into the cup, and the rising steam made the celadon glaze appear even more smooth like jade.
After she finished all this, she put down the teapot and spoke to Guifang and the other two.
"Since you all think this tea set is good, I can't enjoy it alone."
"You've all been frightened by me today. Consider this cup of tea my reward for you. Drink it up."
As she spoke, she gestured with her eyes for them to come forward and get the tea.
The expressions of Guifang and the other two changed instantly. They looked at each other, their eyes filled with fear and anxiety.
In a large mansion, the master's reward of things is a blessing, but rewarding food is often accompanied by huge risks.
No one knows whether there is something deadly hidden in this tea.
Especially the master in front of him, her methods are unpredictable and hard to guard against.
"What? You don't dare to drink?" Ling Zixia's voice was still calm, but with a barely perceptible hint of coldness.
A trace of cold sweat broke out on Guifang's forehead. She quickly knelt on the ground, her voice trembling a little.
"Master, please forgive me. We are humble servants. How dare we share the tea set and drink the fragrant tea with you?"
Mo'er and Xiao Xing also immediately knelt down. They were so scared that they didn't even dare to raise their heads.
Ling Zi-Xia looked at the three people kneeling on the ground, an extremely sad smile on her face.
"Get up, I don't mean to test you."
Her voice softened a lot, as if the coldness just now was just an illusion.
"I just want you to understand one thing."
As she spoke, she stretched out her finger and gently touched the water stain on the table that had overflowed from pouring tea.
Then, under everyone's puzzled gaze, she used her wet finger to touch the outer walls of the three cups filled with tea one by one.
Just as her fingers touched the wall of the cup, an extremely strange scene happened.
The three Ru kiln tea cups, which were originally sky blue in color, quickly developed a layer of fine, spider-web-like black cracks on their surfaces where her fingers touched.
The cracks spread at a speed visible to the naked eye. In just a few breaths, the three intact teacups turned into a pile of cracked waste.
“Pah…Pah…Pah…”
Three crisp shattering sounds were heard one after another, and the three teacups actually shattered on their own in full view of everyone.
The boiling hot tea flowed all over the table, emitting a wisp of steam.
Guifang and the other two had their eyes wide open as big as bells. They stared blankly at the three piles of porcelain fragments on the table, the color draining from their faces.
They could never have imagined that this seemingly exquisite tea set was so fragile that it broke into pieces with just a slight touch.
Ling Zixia looked at their horrified expressions quietly. She spoke slowly with a hint of desolation in her voice.
"Do you see it now?"
"This tea set, called 'One Thread', is a poisonous device made using a special technique."
"Its clay is mixed with a powder called 'bone-rotting grass'."
"This powder itself is non-toxic, but once it comes into contact with hot water, it will slowly release a colorless and odorless toxin."
"If you drink from this tea set for a long time, within three months, the poisoned person's bones will become soft and their meridians will be severed. Eventually, they will turn into a pool of pus in endless pain."
Her words were like a cold wind from the underworld, making everyone present shudder.
Guifang's body was shaking like a sieve. She looked at the pile of debris, her eyes filled with fear.
She knew that if she had really drunk that cup of tea, she would probably be...
Ling Zixia ignored their fear and continued speaking in that calm tone.
"And I just added a little bit of wood ash to the water, which can react violently with the 'Rotten Bone Grass'."
"That's why its toxicity took effect prematurely, ruining the very foundation of this tea set."
As she spoke, she slowly turned around and looked at Guifang and the other two kneeling on the ground. Her eyes became sharper than ever before.
"Whoever sent this tea set deserves death."
"And you are the only people I can trust in this meditation center."
"I hope you understand that we are now all on the same boat. We rise together and we suffer together."
"If I fall, your fate will be even worse than mine."
Her words were like a heavy hammer, hitting the hearts of Guifang and the other two.
They knew that what Ling Zixia said was true.
They have been branded as "Jingsiyuan" and are completely tied to this mysterious master.
Guifang raised her head, a hint of determination flashed in her eyes, and she kowtowed heavily to Ling Zixia.
"Master, rest assured. This old slave... understands."
"From now on, my life belongs to the master, and I will do whatever the master commands!"
Mo'er and Xiaoxing immediately expressed their opinions, their voices full of determination.
"This servant is willing to die for the master!"
Ling Zixia looked at them and finally a satisfied smile appeared on her face.
She knew that from this moment on, these people had truly become her own.
She slowly walked to the window, looked at the bright moon outside, and a cold murderous intent flashed in her eyes.
Zhao Wenxuan...you gave me such a "big gift", if I don't give you a good return, wouldn't it be too impolite?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
