Ye Lan lifted her eyes, her gaze falling on Mu Xi, calm and unreadable, showing no hint of emotion.
She motioned for the maids to withdraw, then slowly spoke in a low, magnetic voice tinged with a barely perceptible chill: “Mu Xi, is what Lady Karin said true?”
Mu Xi’s heart tightened; she had been waiting for this question.
She raised her head to meet Ye Lan’s steady gaze.
Those eyes were as deep as an ancient well, impossible to read.
“Is what Lady Karin said true?” Ye Lan repeated, her tone still calm, yet carrying a subtle pressure.
Mu Xi knew denial was pointless.
Lady Karin would surely embellish the story, eager to paint her as a vile and unforgivable villain.
But facts were facts; they could not be disputed.
“It’s true, Master.” Mu Xi admitted calmly, with neither fear nor any attempt to curry favor.
She understood that before Ye Lan, any pretense was utterly powerless.
Lady Karin, who had been sitting on the sofa expecting Mu Xi to squirm with excuses, was shocked by the straightforward admission.
She suddenly stood, screaming, “Ye Lan! Listen to this! She admitted it herself! That wretched woman actually dared to burn me! You have to stand up for me!”
Her finger jabbed nearly into Mu Xi’s face, her expression twisted—there was not a trace of a noble lady’s grace left.
Ye Lan’s eyes remained fixed on Mu Xi, as if ignoring Karin’s shrill outburst.
A faint smile played at the corner of her lips, ambiguous and slightly mocking.
“The reason?”
“Because she didn’t see me as a person.” Mu Xi met Ye Lan’s eyes and spoke slowly, her voice low but clear, carrying a hint of stubbornness beneath the surface.
“I don’t like her.”
Lady Karin seemed to hear the world’s greatest joke.
She burst into uproarious laughter, shaking like a blooming flower, as if Mu Xi had just said something outrageously ridiculous.
“Don’t like her? What are you? A lowly pet, and you dare say you don’t like me? Ye Lan, look at your pet—she’s getting more interesting by the day!”
At last, Ye Lan turned her gaze away from Mu Xi and toward Lady Karin.
Her eyes became icy cold, like frost in the dead of winter, chilling to the bone.
Karin’s laughter abruptly stopped as if strangled.
Her smile froze, ugly and forced.
“Karin.” Ye Lan’s voice was low and slow, laced with warning.
“This is my Manor, my pet. You have no right to boss her around.”
Lady Karin’s face paled and flushed repeatedly.
She hadn’t expected Ye Lan to defend Mu Xi so fiercely—after all, Mu Xi was just a lowly pet.
Burning with rage yet afraid to lose face before Ye Lan, she forced down her anger and said stiffly, “Ye Lan, you… you’re really speaking to me like this because of a pet?”
Ye Lan ignored Karin’s challenge, responding coolly, “It’s almost lunchtime. Lady Karin has traveled far and must be hungry. As for Mu Xi…”
Ye Lan paused, her eyes shifting back to Mu Xi with meaning, “She will be punished by not being allowed to eat and must serve Lady Karin during the meal as atonement. How does that sound?”
Lady Karin had wanted Ye Lan to severely punish Mu Xi—ideally with a public beating on the spot.
Hearing Ye Lan’s lenient decree that Mu Xi only be denied food and forced to serve immediately made her feel the punishment was far too light to relieve her hatred.
She snapped, “Not letting her eat? What kind of punishment is that? I want her to kneel and apologize to me! I want—”
“As the guest wishes.” Ye Lan interrupted, her tone calm yet commanding, allowing no argument.
Karin’s face turned deathly pale.
She knew Ye Lan had made her decision, and further resistance would only humiliate her.
She glared fiercely at Mu Xi, as if she wanted to devour her alive, then stormed back onto the sofa without another word.
Lunch soon arrived, and everyone gathered in the Dining Hall.
The hall was extravagantly decorated, with soaring ceilings painted with exquisite ceiling murals.
A massive crystal chandelier hung down, sparkling brilliantly and lighting the entire room as if it were daylight.
The long dining table was laden with a dazzling array of dishes, filling the air with mouthwatering aromas.
Ye Lan and Lady Karin took their seats first, while the maids respectfully stood to the side.
Mu Xi silently moved behind Lady Karin like a lifeless shadow.
Li Xin stood not far off, her sharp eyes scanning the room, alert to every movement within the Dining Hall to ensure Ye Lan’s safety.
Lady Karin didn’t begin eating immediately after sitting down.
Instead, she scrutinized the dishes on the table with a proud and picky gaze, as if inspecting shoddy goods.
She picked up a napkin and frowned disdainfully, as though it was neither soft nor clean enough.
Then she lifted the cutlery, examining them carefully under the light to see if they were refined and expensive enough.
Mu Xi quietly stood behind Lady Karin, feeling a surge of disgust watching her act like a queen inspecting her domain.
The meal formally began.
Lady Karin sat at the table, commanding Mu Xi to serve her as if directing a subject.
“Pour me some water, it must be warm. Too hot and I won’t drink it.” Her tone was imperious.
Mu Xi silently picked up the water jug, poured a glass of warm water, and handed it over.
Lady Karin took a sip and immediately frowned. “4
The water is too bland, tasteless. Are you doing this on purpose?”
Mu Xi replied calmly, “This is plain boiled water. What flavor does Lady Karin want?”
Provoked, Lady Karin grew even more arrogant.
“I want juice. Orange juice. Go get it now!”
Mu Xi turned to fetch the orange juice, while Lady Karin began to criticize the dishes.
“This steak is overcooked and tough. Bring me a tender one.”
“This salad dressing is too rich; change it to vinaigrette.”
“This soup is too salty. Make a new batch.”
Mu Xi busied herself moving around the table like a diligent servant, meeting all of Lady Karin’s finicky demands.
The atmosphere in the Dining Hall was heavy and stifling, broken only by Lady Karin’s sharp, commanding, and harsh voice.
Finally, Mu Xi brought out a delicate dessert.
Lady Karin took a bite, her face instantly darkening.
She slammed the plate onto the table.
“What is this?! Sickeningly sweet and disgusting! Are you trying to fool me with this garbage?”
Fragments shattered, juice splattered, even landing on Mu Xi’s skirt.
Mu Xi’s long-suppressed fury ignited.
She glared coldly at Lady Karin, her tone laced with mockery.
“Lady Karin truly has exquisite taste; no food seems good enough for you.”
Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, Lady Karin’s fur stood on end in rage.
She sprang up, pointing her finger at Mu Xi’s nose, screaming, “You vile servant! How dare you mock me! I’m going to teach you a lesson today!”
With that, Lady Karin grabbed a nearby dinner knife, the blade aimed straight at Mu Xi’s face, her expression fierce and terrifying.
“I’ll carve up your face and see how you dare seduce anyone after that!”
The knife glinted coldly as it swiftly lunged forward.
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