After flinging a lightning bolt, Su Muqing calmly followed the maids to wash up.
She finally had so many people serving her, so she decided to experience it. To see what it felt like to be a wealthy ancient person with servants attending to every need.
A young maid brought over a tray and presented it to Su Muqing, saying, "Eleventh Concubine, this is Mì Fāng Zuì. It's the most famous flower wine in our entire Sian Prefecture. A small pot usually sells for at least one tael of gold, and now it's even harder to find. Our Lord specially ordered it to be brought for Concubine to try."
Hmph! What nonsense are you spouting? You're the concubine, your whole family is concubines, all eighteen generations of your ancestors are concubines!
Su Muqing feigned picking up the cup and smelling it. Surprisingly, the aroma was quite pleasant. Under the ancient brewing method, it was no easy feat for the wine to be so crystal clear. Her nose was filled with a delicate jasmine fragrance.
Although it was indeed a rare and fine item, it was a pity that those harmful impurities were added, ruining the authentic ancient flower wine!
Su Muqing raised the wine cup and pretended to take a small sip, then quickly poured the wine into her space. She said casually, "It's really delicious. I didn't expect the Lord to have such good water here. I'm afraid it can't be found outside, right?"
Hearing this, the young maid's face lit up with pride, as if she wanted to stick her nostrils in the air. "Naturally. Now, in the entire Sian Prefecture, only our Lord's residence has Mì Fāng Zuì. You can't buy it anywhere else."
Su Muqing pouted childishly, "If I can't buy it, I'll learn to brew it myself. The Lord is the magistrate of Shiqiao County, aren't you afraid of not finding someone to brew good flower nectar?"
The young maid couldn't help but sneer in her heart. A country bumpkin, relying on a bit of beauty to debase herself and become a concubine to an old man who could be her father, thus transforming into a phoenix. Now she even wanted to learn to brew Mì Fāng Zuì? What a pipe dream.
Although she wore a mocking smile, she certainly wouldn't voice it. After all, Su Muqing was the master's concubine. There was no need to offend her with unpleasant words. What if she became favored in the future and sought revenge on her?
"Heh heh, Concubine probably can't learn it. The secret recipe and the master brewer for Mì Fāng Zuì were all taken by our Lord... Concubine should seize this opportunity to drink more flower wine and then serve the master well. That way, the master will dote on you more!" Seeing that she almost revealed those matters, the young maid quickly changed the subject.
Su Muqing grumbled inwardly, why did this maid speak like someone from a disreputable establishment?
From her words, it seemed that the person who could brew flower nectar not only lost the secret recipe but was likely harmed!
This Chen Dahe, extorting the people's property, harming young girls, and seizing others' belongings. It was truly unbearable!
Su Muqing had originally stayed to give the villagers more time to travel, and secondly, she wanted to deal with this Chen Dahe. However, considering her own safety as paramount, she had planned to leave after enjoying the hospitality.
But now she felt that such a hateful person, just taking a "little bit" of his wealth, was not enough to quell her anger. She had to teach him a harsh lesson.
...
In the study, the man stood in the dark underground vault, looking at the iron cage in mid-air, which had been turned into a hedgehog, with a face full of rage! It was empty? It was actually empty!
Chen Dahe knelt on the ground, looking at the empty vault. He couldn't believe it and wiped his eyes with his sleeve several times. How could this be? He had personally delivered food to the people here this morning. Why were the things and people suddenly gone?
"Chen Dahe, don't you have anything to say?" The man twisted the poison from his fingernails, his tone extremely cold.
Chen Dahe felt a group of venomous snakes crawling all over him, flicking their forked tongues. Within moments, his entire body was drenched in sweat.
"My Lord, I, I really don't know! I came in here this morning, and it wasn't like this! You must believe me, my Lord!" Chen Dahe explained in a panicked rush.
"Are you saying that someone could rescue people under the condition of triggered mechanisms? Or that someone could move so many treasures without alerting anyone in your manor? Are you trying to fool yourself, or do you think I'm an idiot?" As he spoke, the man kicked Chen Dahe, sending the over two-hundred-pound man flying several meters away.
Chen Dahe was almost kicked to death. He spat out a pool of foul matter, then a pool of blood. Clutching his stomach, he rolled on the ground, his face turning blue. Judging by his appearance, he had at least broken several ribs.
"Fine, you refuse to speak? Guards! Bring all of Chen Dahe's family to the main hall." After the man gave the order, he turned and headed towards the main hall.
"My Lord, please don't... please... it has nothing to do with me... My Lord... it has nothing to do with my family... Please..." Chen Dahe begged, struggling to crawl on the ground.
After Su Muqing finished washing up, it was a time of great chaos in the county magistrate's mansion. She took advantage of the confusion and hid among the crowd, looking for an opportunity to kill the scoundrel magistrate.
However, when she saw Chen Dahe bowing and saluting to a man, showing extreme respect, she knew this must be his superior. So she hid aside to watch the show.
It was only when the men in black started arresting people everywhere that Su Muqing took the opportunity to run out. But ancient mansions were full of twists and turns, and she ran until she was dizzy.
By a stroke of luck, she ran straight into the main hall. However, there was nowhere to hide in the main hall. At this moment, a noisy commotion could be heard from outside.
The detectors in her space kept emitting alarms, indicating the approach of strong energy. The group of red dots on the screen also showed people approaching this location. It was too late to escape, so Su Muqing turned and hid in her space, intending to eavesdrop on their conversation.
Shortly after she entered the space, a group of people walked into the hall. The man at the front, appearing to be in his thirties, had a tall and straight posture, a fair face without a beard, and a slightly effeminate air. He was the man Chen Dahe had been so respectful towards.
The half-dead Chen Dahe was dragged in by two men and thrown to the ground. He looked to be in a bad state.
A moment later, more than a dozen people were brought into the hall.
"Master..."
"Master..."
The group of women who had been crying profusely rushed to help Chen Dahe, who was thrown to the ground covered in blood. Each of them was pale with fright, dabbing their tears with handkerchiefs while sobbing.
In a short while, the main hall became like a marketplace, filled almost entirely with the crying and wailing of the women.
The fair-faced man raised his hand, signaling his subordinates to separate Chen Dahe from his many consorts. Those who disobeyed were slapped. The main hall gradually quieted down.