Chapter 25: Slap Her Across the Face

The servant woman’s name was Dachun.

Initially, Dachun had been scared half to death when Qingyin dragged her out, but upon seeing the bandages on Lu Zhaoling’s head, her courage returned. Right, the Second Miss was just a girl raised in the countryside, a girl held in no regard; what did she have to fear?

She immediately wrenched herself free, stood up straight, and glared indignantly at Qingyin. "This is the Lu residence! Don't you go acting so arrogant, you outsider!"

However, still wary that Qingyin might truly have been sent by the Prince of Jin, she did not dare to strike. Had that apprehension not been there, she would have already scratched her face.

"Our indentures are in the Miss's hands. As long as the Miss is a member of the Lu family, then so are we," Qingyin said. She needed to make sure the people in the Lu household understood that they were now the Miss’s personal maids.

"You aren't with the Prince of Jin's mansion anymore?"

Hearing this, Dachun felt a surge of joy, but her expression quickly soured. She reached out and grabbed at Qingyin’s hair with a vicious look, her tone turning cruel. "Then you dare lay a hand on me!"

Before her hand could touch a single strand of Qingyin’s hair, her wrist was seized and twisted violently. Dachun’s body lurched with the motion of her arm, and she let out a howl of pain.

"It hurts, it hurts! Let go!"

Lu Zhaoling said coldly, "Slap her."

Qingyin responded immediately, "Yes!"

She grabbed a wooden rice scoop from a nearby table and struck Dachun’s mouth with the back of it.

"Smack!"

Dachun felt a sharp, searing pain, and the metallic taste of blood filled her mouth instantly. She pressed her tongue against her teeth, feeling that her front incisors had loosened. She began to wail.

"The Second Miss is shielding a wicked servant to beat people! Ugh, it hurts so much—"

The others were stunned. At first, they had been shocked by Lu Zhaoling’s accusation about spitting into the pickles—a matter they truly knew nothing about. But seeing Dachun’s reaction, they instantly understood that she really had done it. Having worked together in the Lu household for so many years, they knew each other well; if Dachun hadn't been guilty, she wouldn't have reacted that way.

Before their shock could fade, they were further stunned by the ferocity of the mistress and her maid.

Sister Gui shrank her neck. She shot a quick glance at Lu Zhaoling. Although the Second Miss had a head injury and appeared frail, she stood there with a cold, refined air. There was not a trace of provincialism about her, and her eyes were calm. How could she resemble a child who had been abused while growing up in the countryside?

Moreover, this maid, Qingyin, did not look like an ordinary servant either.

Regardless of who sent her to the Lu family, she now took orders only from Lu Zhaoling and showed no mercy when beating the Lu family’s servants. What did this imply? It meant this maid had a background of her own.

Sister Gui’s mind raced.

"Who told you to do it?" Qingyin asked, her voice filled with anger.

Dachun wailed, her mouth filled with blood. The blow from the wooden spoon had left her head buzzing with pain.

"I didn't, don't you frame me..." Her speech was slurred. Held by Qingyin’s grip, unable to struggle, she was filled with rage, panic, and pain, her tears streaming down.

"Is that so?" Lu Zhaoling stepped closer, pressing a finger against Dachun’s forehead and lifting her face.

Dachun met her eyes and felt a wave of pressure from that gaze, which shone like stars, causing her heart to tremble. A trace of energy from Lu Zhaoling’s finger slipped into her forehead, though no one else could see it.

She asked again, "I'll give you one more chance. Who ordered you to spit in the food?"

Everyone present assumed that it was impossible for Dachun to tell the truth, but to their surprise, Dachun blurted out:

"Wuu! It was the Second Miss—no, the Third Miss! It was the Third Miss who told me to do it!"

Lu Zhaoyue had already been demoted from Second Miss to Third Miss in her mind.

The cook and the others widened their eyes, their expressions shifting. How had Dachun actually confessed? Such a disgusting and childish act—if she claimed the Third Miss ordered it, they didn't dare doubt her.

Dachun was a mess of tears and snot, terrified and bewildered. Why had she actually betrayed the Third Miss?

Lu Zhaoling withdrew her hand and stepped back as the words left Dachun’s lips. She looked at her with disdain and gave a light wave to Qingyin.

Qingyin gritted her teeth and released her.

"I haven't had breakfast yet."

Lu Zhaoling’s gaze swept across everyone, finally resting on Sister Gui. Sister Gui felt a jolt in her chest. Why was she looking at her?

Lu Zhaoling pointed a finger. "What is your name?"

"This servant, this servant is called A-Gui, everyone calls me Sister Gui..." Sister Gui felt that Lu Zhaoling was terrifying.

How could a little girl from the countryside have the courage to bring a maid and come demand an accounting from all of them? And she had even made Dachun tell the truth!

Is she really the Second Miss? Could it be that she passed through some desolate mountain on the way here and was possessed by a wandering spirit?

The thought flashed through her mind, and Sister Gui turned pale with fright.

"You. What good food is left in the kitchen? Bring it to me."

In Lu Zhaoling’s eyes, a faint aura of death lingered over Sister Gui. Moreover, this woman was cowardly and likely skilled at self-preservation.

There was indeed red date and bird’s nest soup stewing in the kitchen, meant for the Madam, the Eldest Miss, and the Third Miss to have a little in the morning, with the rest kept warm until the afternoon. There were also snacks kept warm on the stove, in case the masters suddenly felt peckish.

But none of this was for Lu Zhaoling. If she gave it to her, how would she answer to the Madam and the Eldest Miss?

"Those are for the Madam and the Misses..."

Before Sister Gui could finish, she met Lu Zhaoling’s mocking gaze.

"Do you want to be slapped too?" she asked.

Sister Gui jumped. She did not! And Qingyin was clearly capable of doing it.

The two cooks saw this, rolled up their sleeves, and walked toward Qingyin. "You maid, you don't know your place. Your uncles will teach you a lesson..."

They were men, used to lifting heavy pots, chopping bones, and kneading dough; they had strength. They had to teach this maid a lesson to keep Lu Zhaoling in check.

Qingyin’s eyes turned cold.

"Miss, may I?" she asked Lu Zhaoling first.

Lu Zhaoling stepped back. "Of course, don't be polite."

A moment later, four people lay on the ground. Besides the two cooks, there were two kitchen assistants. They had all been flattened by Qingyin in just a few moves.

Qingyin turned to Sister Gui.

"I'll get it right now!"

Sister Gui’s face went white. She scrambled into the kitchen, her hands shaking as she scooped up the remaining bird’s nest soup and snacks, loaded them into a food basket, and brought them out to Qingyin.

Lu Zhaoling glanced at them.

"Go ahead and report me if you want. But I can have Qingyin continue to beat you this afternoon. If you know what’s good for you, make sure my lunch and dinner are prepared properly."

With that, she took Qingyin and left the kitchen.

Sister Gui’s legs gave out, and she collapsed to the floor.

Madam Lu and Lu Zhaoyue soon learned of what had happened in the kitchen.

"Outrageous! How dare she!" Madam Lu slammed her hand on the table in fury.