Chapter 82: Poison!?
"The last I checked, this is my wedding, and I would be the one to choose who cooks for me or not."
Mo Ying warned, as Mo Lan didn’t seem intimidated one bit.
But just before Mo Lan could say another word, San Na stepped forward as she walked towards Lin Xu and Yan Mei.
"I’m sorry, but the young master and my future husband say he won’t be accepting your cooking here... please leave," she said to Lin Xu.
Lin Xu’s gaze lingered on San Na for a brief moment before she lowered her eyes and nodded slowly. "As you wish, Princess," she said softly, showing no sign of emotion on her face.
The entire hall was silent again, everyone watching the scene unfold like a play they didn’t dare interrupt.
Mo Lan’s lips curved into a faint smirk. "Well then, since the future bride has spoken, what else can we say? But I do hope you realize, dear sister-in-law, that good cooks are not easy to find."
San Na smiled politely, though her tone carried a hint of pride. "I appreciate your concern, Princess Lan. But I trust my husband’s judgment completely."
Mo Ying didn’t respond.
Lin Xu bowed once more, keeping her composure even as her heart twisted. "Then we’ll take our leave. Thank you for having us."
Without another word, she turned around and began to walk out, Yan Mei following closely behind her. The guards stepped aside as the two women passed, their footsteps echoing through the hall.
Just as they reached the doors, a small voice suddenly spoke—Mo Lan again, this time calm but laced with amusement. "How interesting... she didn’t even flinch when told to leave. Brother, are you sure you don’t know her?"
The question hung in the air like smoke.
Mo Ying’s eyes darkened, but he didn’t answer. Instead, he stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor. "Enough talk. The meal is over."
He strode out of the hall, brushing past the servants who quickly lowered their heads.
Meanwhile, outside, Lin Xu finally stopped walking when they reached the quiet corridor. She looked ahead blankly for a moment before whispering, "Let’s go, Yan Mei... we’ll pack our things."
Yan Mei’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears. "Lin Xu, how could you stand that? How dare Mo Ying treat you like that? He more than anyone should know how delicious your foods are, yet he threw it on the floor and insulted us."
Lin Xu smiled faintly, though it didn’t reach her eyes. "It doesn’t matter. He’s the general now; what do you expect? Either way, we won’t stay where we aren’t wanted."
"B-but you once saved him, he stayed with us for so long, yet he acts as though he had never met us. I can accept if he’s rude to me, but to you? That’s unacceptable... after all, you two are in lov—"
Yan Mei stopped talking as Lin Xu flashed her a quick stare before folding her hands.
"Lovers? Seriously? I already told you, what we had was just a fake marriage... we were just friends with benefits, there was nothing going on. We both got what we wanted so we can live our lives the way we want to. I-if he d-decides to marry a princess, then he can... I don’t care!"
Lin Xu said, though her voice and watery eyes said otherwise. "C’mon, let’s go pack our things."
Lin Xu took hold of Yan Mei’s hand, dragging her towards the cook’s quarters.
"Oh, Lin Xu!"
After they left, a figure emerged from the pillar as he stood there, his eyes glued on the backs of the two women as they walked away.
"Young Master," Fuhan suddenly appeared.
"Escort them both back home, make sure nothing happens to them," Mo Ying instructed before turning around to leave.
Lin Xu had already informed her staff; thank goodness she only came with three, so they could just leave as quietly as they had arrived.
They packed their things and got ready to leave when suddenly the head maiden arrived.
It was a middle-aged woman, and upon seeing Lin Xu, she smiled.
"Is there a problem?" Lin Xu asked, worried.
The woman shook her head. "There is no problem. I just came to give you your payment for the service you rendered tonight and for coming all the way from your village to the capital."
She said as she signaled one of the maids to bring a pouch as she handed it over to Lin Xu.
"That in there is 500 taels for tonight’s service."
Smiling, Lin Xu nodded. "Thank you... I appreciate."
Ha! There was no way she was going to leave without collecting a dime.
This was the best profit because all she did was cook; she didn’t pay for ingredients or even the transport to get here.
"We’ll escort you both out; there is a carriage waiting for you."
"Alright!"
And so they led Lin Xu, Yan Mei, and the other staff.
The handmaiden and a few other maids escorted Lin Xu, Yan Mei, and the rest of the staff through the long, dimly lit corridor of the Mo residence.
It was quiet—too quiet.
Lin Xu walked calmly, clutching the small pouch of taels she had just received. Yan Mei followed closely behind, still grumbling under her breath about the humiliation they faced earlier.
But after a while, Lin Xu frowned. The path they were taking didn’t feel right.
"This isn’t the way to the main gate," she said quietly, glancing around. The walls here were unfamiliar—bare, with no lanterns hanging, no servants passing by.
The head maid stopped walking and turned slightly, her smile suddenly disappearing. "Oh, don’t worry, Miss Lin. We’re simply taking a shorter route," she said, her voice oddly calm.
Lin Xu’s instincts kicked in. She stopped walking. "A shorter route?"
Before she could say another word, two maids behind her shoved her hard. She stumbled forward, landing on the cold stone floor. Yan Mei gasped, rushing to help her up, but another maid grabbed her by the hair and pushed her down too.
"What are you doing?!" Yan Mei cried, struggling.
The head maid’s expression turned cold as she waved her hand. "Hold them down."
In seconds, the maids pinned Lin Xu and Yan Mei to the ground, their arms twisted behind them. The rest of their staff tried to step in, but they were quickly struck down by the guards that had followed.
Lin Xu gritted her teeth, trying to break free, but one of the maids pressed her knee against her back.
The head maid stepped closer, her voice low and sharp. "You should’ve never come here. But unfortunately... we can’t let you walk out of here alive."
Lin Xu’s eyes widened. "What?"
Another maid brought out a small porcelain bowl filled with a dark, thick liquid. The smell alone was enough to make Yan Mei gag.
"Hold her tight!" the head maid ordered.
The maids obeyed immediately, gripping Lin Xu’s arms and shoulders, forcing her head back as the bowl was lifted to her lips.
Yan Mei screamed, "No! Let her go!" and thrashed wildly, but one of the maids slapped her across the face, silencing her.
The poison touched Lin Xu’s lips. She struggled harder, turning her head away, her eyes blazing.
"Drink it!" the head maid shouted furiously, trying to force the bowl down.
But before the poison could reach her mouth—
"Stop!"
A deep, commanding voice thundered from the shadows.