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Cheng Residence was brightly lit, with all the maids and servants gathered together. Inside the hall, a new red plaque and an ancient blue bronze cauldron had been added. Dozens of round redwood tables were set up in succession, each laden with countless delicacies. Everyone took their seats, wearing different smiles, having worked hard for a year, and tonight was the only time they could relax a little.
Feng Yin led Cheng Mo Su to the main seat. She leaned against a satin pillow embroidered with golden pythons, signaling Feng Yin to sit down as well. The people at this table were all maids and servants who frequently interacted with Cheng Mo Su. Steward Liu and Liu Wen Tang were naturally present, but one appeared somewhat tense while the other wore a smug expression.
Shaoyi also arrived on time, sitting next to Cheng Mo Su. She nodded slightly at him, her face lacking the usual smile. Her delicate fist was tightly clenched, and her eyes rippled with emotion. She raised a wine cup from the edge of the table and said, "Everyone, please allow me to say a few words before the feast begins." Standing up, she looked around elegantly and gracefully. "Tonight is New Year's Eve, and since my father has not yet returned, I will organize this gathering. You have all worked hard in the residence over the past year, and I will continue to rely on your care in the new year." Applause erupted around her as she suddenly set down her raised wine cup and grabbed a cup of tea instead. "Today, I will toast you all with tea instead of wine; please everyone raise your tea cups."
Everyone stood up, holding their intricately carved tea cups. Cheng Mo Su's voice was warm and gentle yet firm as she said, "A toast to everyone." She tilted her head back and drank it all in one go, her fair neck trembling slightly. Everyone followed suit, drinking it down as applause thundered once more. Cheng Mo Su set down her tea cup, smiling like a warm breeze; however, there was a mist in her Water Eyes, which pierced directly into Steward Liu and his son's eyes. A smile that was indescribable hung on her Lip Corners, but inside she felt a heavy pain. "Uncle Liu, Wen Tang, why aren't you drinking?"
Steward Liu's forehead broke out in sweat; this tea should have been brewed with water he had poisoned—why had no one in Cheng Residence fainted yet? Liu Wen Tang also changed from his smug demeanor to one of panic, looking helplessly at his father for assistance. Cheng Mo Su's brows furrowed in anger and sorrow as she held the tea cup with trembling fingers. "Uncle Liu, why are you still not drinking? Is it that my status is too low for you to drink the tea I offer, or..." The mist in her eyes slowly dissipated, replaced by a layer of cold frost. "Or are you afraid I poisoned you?"
"Miss! We wouldn't dare..." Steward Liu's expression turned frantic at this point; he lost his ability to think clearly. Why did she say that? Did she already know?! Trembling, Steward Liu picked up the cup and drank it down; Liu Wen Tang followed suit out of fear. It was just ordinary tea without any additives. Steward Liu's heart sank—then where was the water he had poisoned?
"Is Steward Liu looking for this pot of tea?" Shaoyi spoke coldly from beside them, his eyes shining with cold light that radiated an icy aura like a winter storm sweeping over Steward Liu and his son.
Under such intense pressure, Steward Liu and Liu Wen Tang suddenly knelt on the ground without regard for their dignity. Shaoyi reached for an empty tea cup and poured himself some tea, coldly observing the barely noticeable fine powder within as he said harshly, "Steward Liu, do you dare drink it?"
"I..."
Cheng Mo Su quietly watched from the side with her Water Eyes tightly closed and long eyelashes trembling. "Uncle Liu, I never expected you to be so ruthless; I never thought you would scheme for wealth at the cost of lives." Scheme for wealth at the cost of lives?! Those four heavy words struck Steward Liu like a blow, rendering him immobile; he didn't want to kill anyone! He only wanted to use sleeping powder to incapacitate everyone and then escape with some money!
"Miss!" Tears streamed down his face as he pleaded, "Miss, I don't want to kill anyone; I only want wealth! Miss, I..."
"Shut up!" Cheng Mo Su lowered her head; strands of hair fell across her fair cheek as she did not want to hear anything more. When Shaoyi hurriedly found her earlier, she hadn't believed him; Steward Liu had watched her grow up—she had never regarded him as a servant. Steward Liu fawned on those above him while bullying those below him; both she and her father were aware of his underhanded dealings with Liu Wen Tang. They had just turned a blind eye to it all until now... He actually wanted to harm her... Cheng Mo Su stepped back slightly, feeling utterly exhausted as Shaoyi quickly stepped forward to support her.
"Housekeeper Liu," Shaoyi said in a deep voice. He couldn't bear to see Cheng Mo Su in such pain, so he would take it upon himself to say and do what needed to be done. "Look closely! This is poison!" His resonant words, cold demeanor, and eyes filled with killing intent sent shivers down Housekeeper Liu's spine, making him feel a chill run down his back. Liu Wen Tang was already too frightened to speak, frozen in place.
Housekeeper Liu trembled as he took the intricately carved teacup, startled to detect a strange smell from the tea; it was not the sleeping drug he had used before! What was going on? His heart sank; the medicine had been swapped! This package should indeed be the poison that Shaoyi mentioned! At that moment, he truly understood what it meant to be unable to defend oneself and how harming others ultimately harms oneself.
Cheng Mo Su steadied herself by the edge of the table and forced a smile at Shaoyi. Her normally rosy and vibrant face had lost all color. "Uncle Liu, considering all the years you've worked for our Cheng Family, I won't call the police. I'll just lock you and Liu Wen Tang up for now and deal with you both when Dad returns!"
Outside, the sound of firecrackers grew louder and more numerous, with laughter and joy echoing from every household. Cheng Mo Su tightened her coat as she stood by the window, staring blankly at the world painted with fireworks. Outside was a riot of colors and bright lights, but inside her heart, she felt an invisible wave of darkness crashing over her, threatening to engulf her and pull her into an endless abyss.
"Everything has been taken care of; I've given the maids and servants double red envelopes, and they've all gone back to their rooms to rest." Shaoyi's upright figure appeared before her, and she suddenly felt as if someone had pulled her back to shore.
She looked up into his concerned eyes and tried to muster a smile. "Thank you. Just now... I must have scared you with my appearance... actually, I..." As she spoke, tears could no longer remain steady in her eyes; they suddenly flowed down her cheeks, falling onto the ground like a mournful melody.
"I know; you don't need to say anything. I understand," he said as he pulled her into his embrace. He felt her warmth against him; her faint fragrance was so close to his chest. How could he not know how painful it was to be betrayed by someone trusted? The memories of the past stirred within him, leaving him restless.
It was unclear how long had passed when she finally lifted her small head from his chest after crying herself out. Shaoyi looked at her tear-streaked face and her lost expression, feeling an uncomfortable tightness in his chest. She hastily wiped her face and smiled at Shaoyi. "I'm fine now. Thank you for today; you saved everyone's lives at Cheng Residence."
"I should be the one thanking you," Shaoyi said quietly as he gazed at her, thinking to himself how grateful he was that she believed in him and allowed him to stay. Cheng Mo Su did not understand the meaning behind his words; she only felt that his gaze held warmth and tenderness she had never experienced before. She managed a faint smile—was this perhaps the only shoulder she could rely on right now?
Both of them calmed down and instinctively maintained a polite distance from each other. Leaning against the cold floor-to-ceiling window, Shaoyi said solemnly, "Actually, there's something very suspicious about this matter."
"Really?"
"I just interrogated Housekeeper Liu; he claimed he bought sleeping pills twice. The first time he just wanted to test the drug's effect. After trying it out, he asked Liu Wen Tang to dispose of the residue. Who would have thought that incompetent fellow carelessly fed the leftover sleeping pills to a horse? That caught my attention. The second time he went for more medicine; this time it was meant for use in well water. It happened to snow and freeze over when I discovered the powdered substance in the water. When I dissolved those powders, I found they were actually poison." Shaoyi analyzed methodically. "I believe Housekeeper Liu is not lying; with his temperament, he would never dare to poison anyone!"
Cheng Mo felt a tingling sensation all over his body, and a sense of fear filled his heart. "What do you mean..."
Shaoyi's expression was filled with coldness, and his eyes were full of icy light. "Someone has switched the medicine! That person wants to use Butler Liu's hands to eliminate everyone in the Cheng Family!"
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