The vegetarian meals at the Temple of the Medicine King were quite ordinary, not comparable to the delicacies at Baiweizhai in the capital, nor to the food at Gandhao Temple. Yet, Li Man'er ate with great relish, as if the food suited her palate perfectly.
Seeing her eat with such delight, Madam Guo secretly rejoiced. "I was worried you wouldn't eat, but it's good that you are."
"Our young lady truly likes the vegetarian dishes from the Temple of the Medicine King. Eat more if you like them."
Li Man'er did not stand on ceremony. She needed to eat her fill to have the energy to tease Madam Guo later.
"Perhaps it's the fresh mountain air and the ingredients here that make me eat so much."
Madam Guo glanced subtly at Granny Yu, who understood immediately and quietly withdrew.
Li Man'er acted as if she hadn't noticed, setting down her chopsticks and accepting the clear tea offered by Green Robe to rinse her mouth.
Granny Yu returned with two bowls of tofu pudding. She placed them on the table, one in front of Madam Guo and one in front of Li Man'er.
"Young lady, the soybeans for this tofu pudding were grown in the temple and soaked in mountain spring water. Once the beans are ground, they have a natural sweetness. The temple monks are quite ingenious; they added almonds and milk to create this dessert. Please try it."
Li Man'er knew very well that the main event was in this bowl of tofu pudding. She stirred the pudding with her spoon, feigning disgust. "What shop doesn't sell sweet tofu pudding these days? What's so special about it? In Jiangnan, hawkers sell it on the streets, a worthless item."
Granny Yu, possessing a silver tongue, immediately replied, "Young lady, you may not know, but while tofu pudding itself isn't rare, it's the use of beans soaked in this mountain spring water that makes the taste truly different. Jiangnan water is excellent, unlike the capital's, where the water is quite hard. Take a bite, and perhaps you can even taste a hint of Jiangnan."
Regardless of what Li Man'er said, the goal was for her to eat this tofu pudding. Once she ate it, everything else would be settled.
Li Man'er casually took a couple of bites. "It's nothing special. You're just eating it because it's new to you."
Granny Yu's heart finally settled, and Madam Guo also appeared relieved. The mistress and servant exchanged a knowing glance, both believing that they had succeeded at this point.
Li Man'er ate about half a bowl and felt her eyelids growing heavy. She put down her spoon, yawned, and felt overwhelmingly sleepy.
"What's going on?" Li Man'er shook her head, trying to clear her head. However, she grew sleepier and sleepier, almost slumping onto the table.
Madam Guo was overjoyed and said hurriedly, "Your young lady is tired. Quickly help her to the meditation room inside to rest."
Green Robe and Purple Smoke did not hesitate, and quickly helped Li Man'er up, supporting her as they walked towards the inner room.
"How can this drowsiness come on so suddenly?"
"Perhaps it's the spring fatigue, autumn weariness, and summer naps?"
Madam Guo, not entirely at ease, asked Granny Yu to follow and check. Granny Yu understood and immediately followed them into the inner room.
Purple Smoke was helping Li Man'er take off her shoes, while Green Robe stood by, fanning her.
"Has the young lady fallen asleep?"
"Granny, please speak softly." Purple Smoke smiled. "Granny, please don't blame her. Our young lady woke up early, and after sitting in the carriage for two hours, it's natural to feel sleepy after eating."
Granny Yu looked intently at Li Man'er and said softly, "Young people do get sleepy a lot. Only when we reach our age do we cease to feel tired."
Purple Smoke smiled. "Granny has also been busy all morning. Please go and rest. We are here with the young lady."
Granny Yu replied, "It's a hot day, and you've worked hard. I'll have someone bring over some watermelons later, so you can cool down too."
"That would be wonderful, Granny. Thank you." Green Robe replied with a smile, though her heart was pounding. Before they came, their young lady had instructed them not to resist whatever Madam and Granny Wang asked them to do, but to comply. Their young lady had said that no matter what schemes Madam had, she would not let her succeed.
Green Robe and Purple Smoke believed their young lady was capable of this, so both cautiously cooperated with Madam Guo and her servant, fearing they might act too obviously and reveal a flaw.
Unfortunately, Madam Guo and Granny Yu were so engrossed in the joy of their imminent success that they noticed nothing amiss.
Granny Yu cautiously observed Li Man'er again, confirming she was sound asleep, before leaving the inner room.
Madam Guo asked impatiently, "Is she asleep?"
Granny Yu nodded cautiously and added, "I'll go and prepare some watermelons for them."
Madam Guo nodded, a smile spreading across her face. Those five shops would soon be hers, rightfully belonging to her! Once this was done, the dowry left by Madam Ning would be hers to withhold at will.
Soon, Granny Yu brought the watermelons. Before she took them in, she exchanged a look with Madam Guo, indicating that she had tampered with them and reassuring Madam Guo.
Madam Guo nodded, and Granny Yu took the watermelons into the inner room.
After eating the watermelons, Purple Smoke and Green Robe were also incapacitated, and both mistress and servants lay in a deep sleep.
Granny Yu patted and poked them, and only after confirming they would not wake up did she coldly exit the inner room and report to Madam Guo, "Madam, they've all been taken care of."
"Hmph, the three of them, mistress and servants, are all equally stupid."
"Madam, shall I go and call Young Master Yongzhang now?"
"Go!"
Granny Yu quickly summoned Guo Yongzhang, who had been arranged to be at the temple beforehand.
As soon as Guo Yongzhang entered, he cupped his hands and bowed to Madam Guo. "Aunt, my dear aunt, if this succeeds, I will be your son."
Guo Yongzhang was somewhat thin and sallow-faced, with dark circles under his eyes like a panda, clearly indicating he had damaged his health with indulgence.
Madam Guo found him irritating. This child had been adorable when he was young. She didn't know how he had been raised to become like this. The family's circumstances were clearly average, yet he acted like a pampered young master, even learning to drink and frequent brothels. He was utterly useless, and even though he was her nephew, she still despised him.
He was a complete good-for-nothing.
In the past, Madam Guo might have thought this good-for-nothing was entirely useless, but now she felt he had some value. At the very least, he could help her dispose of Li Man'er, that scourge, and obtain half of her dowry – a plan that killed two birds with one stone.
"If you handle this matter well, you'll be set for life with no worries about food or expenses."
"Thank you, Aunt, for your great kindness. I knew Aunt loved me the most."
Madam Guo signaled Granny Yu to remove the two troublesome maids. Granny Yu, understanding, took a few loyal servants and led Li Man'er's two maids out.
Guo Yongzhang's eyes widened when he saw Green Robe and Purple Smoke, and he almost drooled.
"Aunt, good Aunt, please give me these two maids as well. Your nephew begs you."
Madam Guo cursed him before saying, "Li Man'er is the true beauty of this world. When you marry her in the future, her maids will surely become yours soon enough. Why worry about not having the chance to enjoy their company? Today, the important matter is paramount. If you can't do it, I'll find someone else."
Guo Yongzhang was startled into a panic and quickly said, "Aunt, please don't be angry. Your nephew is just impatient. You are right, everything you say is right."