“It’s you, why aren’t you with the General?” Ouyang Ye asked gently.
Mu Anxiao hadn't expected Ouyang Ye to speak to her so tenderly. A flutter of panic inexplicably rose in her heart upon hearing his voice. “I had something to do,” she deliberately deepened her voice, hoping to avoid being recognized by Ouyang Ye.
Ouyang Ye: “Is that so? Then you may go.” With that, he pulled Zhao Xiang aside and made way.
Mu Anxiao still dared not look up. “Thank you, I took a wrong turn,” she said, turned around, and quickened her pace as she left.
Ouyang Ye watched Mu Anxiao’s receding figure with a calm expression, a slight frown creasing his brow.
Seeing this, Zhao Xiang gave a meaningful look to a nearby maid.
The maid nodded, carrying the tray, and walked past him.
After the maid had left, Zhao Xiang shifted his gaze to Ouyang Ye’s face. “Master, what are you looking at?”
“Nothing,” Ouyang Ye retracted his gaze and looked at Zhao Xiang.
Zhao Xiang: “That boy seemed quite scared of me.” He glanced in the direction Mu Anxiao had gone, then back to Ouyang Ye. “Master, do you have business to attend to here?”
“I killed Mu Xiao,” Ouyang Ye said abruptly.
Zhao Xiang: “What?” He looked genuinely surprised.
Ouyang Ye: “Don’t speak of this to anyone.” With that, he turned and walked ahead.
Zhao Xiang didn't understand why Ouyang Ye would tell him this. However, he knew that Mu Anxiao occupied a part of Feng Qishi’s heart. If he kept this secret, Feng Qishi would surely be angry when she found out, and he would truly lose his friendship with her.
Thinking this, he suddenly felt anxious. After much deliberation, he decided it was best to feign ignorance.
Meanwhile.
Mu Anxiao circled back to her original path. As she walked, she recalled Ouyang Ye’s demeanor towards her just now. Her heart sank, a baseless feeling of being discovered creeping in. She stopped, her expression etched with worry, and glanced sideways in the direction she had come. Shaking her head, she thought, *Impossible. My spiritual energy is hidden. That fellow definitely can’t recognize me. Yes, he can’t recognize me.* Having reassured herself, she clenched her fists and turned to continue towards the courtyard where the maids were.
A few minutes later.
Mu Anxiao stopped before the courtyard gate and began to search for the lost silver needle.
“Strange, where has it gone?” she murmured, looking left and right before straightening up.
At the same moment, the first maid, carrying a tray with food, approached Mu Anxiao. “You haven’t left yet?”
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao looked at the first maid’s face and exclaimed, “You’ve just finished preparing it.”
The first maid smiled coyly. “Actually, I don’t know how to cook, so I had the cook teach me for a while. I apologize for keeping you waiting.”
“It’s alright,” Mu Anxiao replied. She stepped forward, glanced at the unappetizing dishes on the tray, and said, “You’ve only just learned to make these, haven’t you?” She decided to ask the first maid for help.
“Mm,” the first maid blushed shyly.
Mu Anxiao chuckled. “They look delicious,” she said, reaching out to take the tray.
The first maid was startled. “I can carry it, you…”
“As a young lady, your strength is naturally limited, and moreover…” Mu Anxiao paused, then smiled. “You made this for me, so I should carry it myself.”
The first maid smiled. “You are truly a good person,” she said, pointing to the main door. “Come, let’s eat inside the room.”
“No need,” Mu Anxiao refused outright.
The first maid looked puzzled. “Why not come inside?”
“I am a man, and that is your boudoir. It wouldn’t be appropriate for me to enter. So,” Mu Anxiao looked around, then turned to the steps, bent down, and placed the tray down. “I’ll just eat here.” With that, she turned and sat on the steps.
Seeing this, the first maid looked embarrassed. “This is quite awkward,” she said, lowering her head, feeling a pang of guilt.
Mu Anxiao casually picked up the rice, which had cooled halfway, from the tray. “What’s so awkward about it? I don’t want you to give them any gossip because of me.” As she spoke, she picked up her chopsticks, took a piece of meat, and her expression froze the moment she put the meat into her mouth.
The first maid looked down at Mu Anxiao’s sudden stillness and asked, “Is it not tasty?” Her tone became tentative.
Mu Anxiao chewed and said, “It’s tasty, but a bit tough.” She swallowed the meat with effort.
The first maid gave a dry chuckle. “If it’s not good, then don’t eat it.”
“No, we mustn’t waste,” Mu Anxiao said. She shifted to the side, placed the bowl on the tray, then picked up the plate and artfully spread the dishes over the rice.
The first maid watched Mu Anxiao’s practiced movements and said, “If it’s not good, don’t force yourself to eat it.”
“It’s delicious,” Mu Anxiao said. She put down the plate, picked up her bowl, and turned back to eat.
The first maid took a step forward and crouched in front of Mu Anxiao. “I’m sorry, I failed.”
“You were helping me just now, weren’t you?” Mu Anxiao asked, looking up at the first maid.
The first maid: “No, I truly felt you saved me.”
“Is that so?” Mu Anxiao mused, then asked, “What is your name?”
“My name is Liu Ye.”
“Liu Ye?” Mu Anxiao smiled slightly. “You got that name after entering here, didn’t you?”
“Mm.”
“Did you give it to yourself, or did Shen…” Mu Anxiao stopped mid-sentence, sensing impropriety, and rephrased. “Did your General give it to you?”
“Myself. There are no restrictions on names here, but I felt my previous name wasn't good, so I changed it to this.”
“I see. Then I’ll call you Liu Ye from now on,” Mu Anxiao said, then began eating ravenously.
Liu Ye conveniently took out a handkerchief from her sleeve. “Eat slowly, no one is competing with you,” she said, a smile playing on her lips.
Mu Anxiao: “I’m hungry.” She continued eating.
Liu Ye smiled faintly.
However, the taste of the meal Liu Ye had prepared was inconsistent, some dishes being too salty, others too bland, bitter, or spicy. Eating these dishes was a form of torment.
But Mu Anxiao did not complain. When she used to beg for food, she had eaten much worse. Back then, to fill her stomach, she would eat anything that wasn't inedible. Compared to that, the dishes Liu Ye had made seemed like a peculiar delicacy.
A few minutes later.
Mu Anxiao finally finished eating.
Liu Ye looked at the food, which Mu Anxiao had completely cleared, and smiled. “You eat so heartily,” she said, reaching out to collect the dishes.
Mu Anxiao wiped the oil from her lips with a handkerchief. “No need, I’ll clean up,” she said, tucking the handkerchief into her sleeve. “I’ll wash your handkerchief for you when I have time.”
Liu Ye looked embarrassed. “The handkerchief is for you. Also, this is a thank-you meal I made for you, it should…”
“Could you help me find the silver needle?” Mu Anxiao thought while eating. Liu Ye had removed the silver needle from Xiaoyue’s shoulder, so Liu Ye would surely be more familiar with the needle than she was. Therefore, she felt it was appropriate to entrust this task to Liu Ye.