Looking back and seeing Song Jinyu's pitiful little face, Song Qinzhou couldn't help but let out a chuckle. He walked back to his chair and sat down, then picked up the teacup. Song Qinzhou's words drifted through the room along with the curling steam.
"Jiner, in a couple of years, you'll reach the age of coming of age. When you get married then, you can't be ignorant of how to manage a household."
Seeing that the tactic of feigning distress wasn't working, Song Jinyu rolled her eyes, then hugged Song Qinzhou's arm and shook it gently, coquettishly saying, "Daughter is in no hurry to get married. I still want to accompany Father for a few more years~"
"You... Fine. We'll discuss this matter later!" With this single sentence, Song Jinyu couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
"Yuer, in a few days, it will be your mother's anniversary..."
Hearing this, the smile faded from Song Jinyu's face. Her bright eyes took on a tinge of sadness. She nodded slightly, and the room fell into silence for a moment.
"It's getting cold these days. When you go back, prepare more warm clothes. Don't catch a cold." Song Qinzhou always felt worried about his daughter and couldn't help but give a few more instructions.
"Don't worry, Father." Song Jinyu put away her sad expression and a warm smile curved her lips.
When she returned to her own courtyard, Song Jinyu prepared the medicinal herbs and made the medicinal diet. Then, with light steps, she walked through the corridor towards her sister - in - law's room.
"Ouch..." Song Jinyu, who had been preoccupied since earlier, accidentally bumped into a hasty maid on the way. She quickly checked the medicinal diet. Fortunately, it wasn't spilled, only a little soup had splashed out.
"Miss, this slave deserves to die." The maid cowered on the ground, not caring that the dust on the corridor had dirtied her dress. She lowered her head fearfully.
"It's okay. Get up..." Song Jinyu's smile was kind and warm. Before her words faded, when the wind blew, the maid's fingertips were slightly revealed from the fluttering sleeve.
Song Jinyu squinted her beautiful eyes. Only then did she realize that this maid seemed to be deliberately hiding her hands in the sleeve. Her gaze paused on the maid's blackened fingertips for a moment. After a brief thought, a gentle smile curved Song Jinyu's lips.
"Get up. It's just that I've been holding the food box for so long that my arms are a bit sore. You can help me deliver this medicinal diet to Zhuxuan Courtyard."
The maid quickly agreed and took the food box, then went to Zhuxuan Courtyard with Song Jinyu.
...
"Jinyu, why have you changed your maid?" Her sister - in - law sized up the unfamiliar - faced maid who had put down the food box and then whispered.
"Niaoniao went to the weaving workshop to buy some clothes for me. I happened to meet this girl on the way, so I asked her to help carry it." Fang Qiao served the food and placed it on the table. Immediately, the fragrance of the medicine wafted out, refreshing.
"This medicinal diet has a delicate fragrance and not a bit of bitterness. Jinyu, you're so considerate..." The delicate medicinal diet was placed on the table. The faint fragrance of the medicine combined with the alluring smell of the ingredients made people feel relaxed and happy, and their appetites were whetted.
"Sister - in - law, you flatter me." As a disciple of Tianmen Mountain, making medicinal diets was a daily task. However, receiving praise from her sister - in - law still made Song Jinyu's beautiful eyes curve like crescent moons, overjoyed.
"Sister - in - law, wait..." Seeing Xiang about to pick up the medicinal diet and put it into her mouth, Song Jinyu quickly stopped her. The former put down the spoon in confusion and watched as Song Jinyu calmly served another bowl and placed it in front of the strange maid.
"You helped carry it here just now. You must be tired. Have a bowl too."
"This... This slave doesn't dare..." The maid's face suddenly turned extremely ugly. She panicked and declined in a hurry, avoiding eye contact. Her hands unconsciously shrank into her sleeves.
Song Jinyu's eyes were as cold as ice. Her former gentle demeanor disappeared completely, replaced by an air of dignity. She glanced sideways at the kneeling maid and said in a cold tone, "How dare you refuse your master's reward?"
Xiang wanted to say something but was stopped by a look from Song Jinyu.
The atmosphere was oppressive. The maid had no choice but to take the bowl. There was not a trace of color on her delicate face. Her fingers clutching the spoon handle trembled uncontrollably, and she couldn't make the next move.
With a look of resignation, she put the spoonful of medicinal diet into her mouth. Under Song Jinyu's cold gaze, the maid swallowed the food. Cold sweat dripped from her forehead.
Within a few seconds, blood oozed from the seven orifices of the maid who had eaten the medicinal diet. In front of the horrified gazes of Xiang and Fang Qiao, she died from the poison!
The maid's livid face showed a hint of blackness. Her terrifying and painful expression sent shivers down people's spines. Xiang and Fang Qiao's faces turned as pale as paper. Their fingers trembled as they pointed at the stiff - bodied maid on the ground.
"Sister - in - law, the back courtyard is no less dangerous than the battlefield. If you're soft - hearted, the end result will be..."
"Death!!!"