Main courtyard
Mrs. Liu flipped through the account book restlessly, glancing at the door every now and then, as if she were desperately waiting.
Looking left and right, no one came. Frustrated, Liu reached for her teacup, absentmindedly took a sip, and put it down. But she didn't put it down properly, and the teacup, along with the remaining half-cup of tea, rolled onto her thigh.
Liu cried out in surprise and lifted her clothes to shake them.
The maids rushed forward, helping her change clothes, wiping the table, changing the cushions, and picking up broken teacups—it was quite a flurry of activity.
Liu sat down on the other side and saw the wet account book on the table. She became even more irritated and threw a tantrum, sending all the maids around her out.
Just when Liu was about to lose her composure, Granny Liu finally returned.
Liu suddenly stood up, stepped forward, and asked anxiously, "Is it done?"
Granny Liu wiped her sweat and replied, "It's done, it's done. The food has been given out, and the cook wouldn't dare not do as instructed."
Liu was still worried, "Is your medicine really effective?"
Granny Liu sighed deeply and said, "Madam, don't worry, this time I found a doctor with real skills. The doctor said that once this medicine is taken, it won't be long before the person becomes mentally unstable, looking almost like they've been possessed or lost their mind."
Liu seemed to finally feel relieved, muttering, "You forced me to do this, so you can't blame anyone else."
Hejingyuan
Min Yueqing was looking through the pastries and honey water that the two children would eat later.
Nowadays, Min Yueqing personally checks everything her two children are about to eat, and only after she has confirmed that everything is safe can they eat it.
Since someone has this idea of poisoning, and no one knows what food she might put it in, we must be on high alert. Even Ah Mei and Ah Zhu cannot let their guard down.
Fortunately, Ah Mei and the other woman had always eaten with Min Yueqing, so their current situation didn't attract much attention.
Ah Zhu walked in and whispered, "Miss, I just saw Granny Liu from the main courtyard secretly pass a small paper packet to Chef Tian. They did it quite discreetly. If I hadn't been keeping an eye on Chef Tian, I really wouldn't have noticed."
Min Yueqing nodded, instructing her to keep an eye on things again.
After A-Zhu left, Min Yueqing stood up and stretched her arms and legs, preparing to go on stage herself.
Min Yueqing lightly tiptoed and leaped directly out of Hejing Courtyard, flying to the roof of the main house in the main courtyard, where she lay down and waited leisurely.
Sure enough, a short while later, Granny Liu came over as expected.
After Granny Liu entered the room, Min Yueqing moved two tiles away without anyone noticing.
As soon as Liu Mama entered, she said, "Madam, it's all taken care of. The things have just been given back to Chef Tian."
Mrs. Liu was a little worried: "Can this person be trusted? Why did he choose such a dish yesterday, and those three people from Jingyuan didn't touch it at all? It's understandable for the adults, but the children didn't eat anything either?"
Liu Mama replied, "Some people just don't like venison, that's why they won't touch it. Madam, don't worry, Granny Tian's daughter works odd jobs in our courtyard, she would never dare to have any disloyalty, I'm sure there won't be any mistakes today."
After hearing this, Liu thought it made some sense. Of course, even if she still harbored resentment, it wouldn't do any good to vent it on Liu Mama, so she could only hope that everything would go smoothly today.
Min Yueqing's eyes were icy cold. No wonder she could command the cooks in her courtyard; she had started planning this long ago.
Cook Tian spent more time in Hejing Courtyard than Min Yueqing did. No one would have thought that she would actually work for the main courtyard. Madam Liu certainly had a good plan.
Sending the mother to her stepson's house, having someone else's daughter under her control—I ask you, in this world, which mother wouldn't think of her own daughter?
Min Yueqing gently placed the tile back in its original position, tiptoed off the roof, and lightly leaped back to Hejing Courtyard.
However, Min Yueqing did not rush back to her room, but instead went to the cook, Tian Shi, first.
But she soon realized that this was not a good time, because the cook, Tian, was busy washing and chopping vegetables with two young maids in the kitchen.
Min Yueqing guessed that the paper package should be on Tian Shi's person. Ordinary people would never dare to leave such a thing openly in their room, and since she might need it when cooking, she would naturally have to carry it with her.
Min Yueqing looked around and saw Amei peeking out of the kitchen window. Next to Amei, a small head was peeking out. Who else could it be but Shitou?
Seeing the two of them acting suspiciously, Min Yueqing almost burst out laughing.
She looked again carefully, but the other little one was not there. She guessed that he was not tall enough to reach the window, so he did not participate in the activity.
Min Yueqing turned and landed in a secluded spot in the courtyard, then leisurely walked back to her room.
Pei Ji, with her little face puffed out and lips pursed, was sitting at her small desk reading a book. She was so engrossed in it that she didn't even notice when Pei Ji came in.
Min Yueqing tiptoed up behind the little boy, covered his eyes with her hands, and said in a gruff voice, "Guess who I am?"
Pei Ji was initially startled, as no one had ever played with him like this before. But then he chuckled and grabbed the two hands on his face with his soft little hands, sweetly calling out in his soft, sweet voice, "Mother."
The sound was so sweet it seemed to drip with honey.
Min Yueqing smiled and moved her hand away, praising, "Lele is so smart!"
Pei Ji said aggrievedly, "Mother, where did you go? I couldn't find you just now."
Min Yueqing chuckled, "Mother went to take care of some things. You were looking for me?"
Pei Ji couldn't help but lean close to his mother's ear and complain softly, "Yes, I went to look for you after my run, but I couldn't find you. Shi Tou is gone too. I know he must have gone to the kitchen to keep watch, even though he ran away when I wasn't looking. He didn't want to take me with him."
Min Yueqing gently guided, "Then think about why he didn't take you with him?"
Pei Ji thought for a moment, then said dejectedly, "He probably thinks I'm too young."
Looking at the little boy's downcast face, Min Yueqing said, "Everyone grows up from a small child, including Shi Tou. He was once as small as you, but he worked hard to grow up. So, Lele, your task now is to eat well, exercise hard, and try to grow up quickly."
Pei Ji couldn't help but ask, "Now that we're grown up, does that mean we can do whatever we want?"
Min Yueqing didn't lie to him and replied, "That's not true. There are many things that adults can't do."
Pei Ji's rosy lips involuntarily pouted again, "So even adults can't do whatever they want."
Min Yueqing chuckled and kissed the little boy on the forehead. "But when you grow up, there will be many things you can't do now that you can do. For example, when you grow up to be as big as Shi Tou, you might run more laps than him."
Min Yueqing hit Pei Ji's sore spot right away, and Pei Ji had no choice but to reluctantly accept the encouragement.
Seeing that the little boy had stopped daydreaming, Min Yueqing patted his head and told him to continue reading.
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