After the others had left, Gu Ling glared fiercely at Luo Chaoyan. “Woman, shouldn’t we settle our accounts properly now?”
“What does the young master mean?” Luo Chaoyan feigned ignorance.
“Did you know all along that Shopkeeper Li had the recipe?” Gu Ling demanded.
Luo Chaoyan spread her hands. “Young master, I already told you—I’m just a passerby. How could I possibly know?”
Seeing his disbelief, she decided to be honest. “I didn’t know at first, but considering that wine shops usually have a few signature dishes with secret recipes, and since Shopkeeper Li was selling his establishment, I wondered if he might sell the recipe too. So I had someone inquire at nearby wine shops—and sure enough, my guess was right.”
She blinked at him, her smile utterly triumphant. “Well? Not only am I beautiful and kind-hearted, but I’m also quite clever, aren’t I?”
“You!” Gu Ling fumed. “Woman, if you knew he had the recipe, why didn’t you tell me? Instead, you tricked me into handing it over to you.”
“Although we’ve met, young master, we’re not exactly close. Even if I had told you, you might not have believed me,” Luo Chaoyan said. “In fact, you should be thanking me. If not for me, you wouldn’t have gotten your four hundred and fifty taels back.”
“Besides, I’ve given you a free lesson today. No need to be too grateful—it was just a small favor.”
“You!”
This infuriated him. Where did this crazy woman come from? How could she be so shameless?
“Woman, since you know who I am, you should know what happens to those who anger me!”
Luo Chaoyan chuckled lightly. “Gu Er, your intelligence really isn’t up to par. You ought to see a doctor and get some treatment.”
“You…” Gu Ling was livid. “Woman, if I don’t teach you a lesson, you’ll really think I have no temper!”
“Men, tear apart her carriage!”
“Wait!” Luo Chaoyan said. “Gu Er, have you forgotten the pain so soon after your wounds healed?”
“A month ago, at Baoguang Temple, you received fifty lashes for disrespecting me. Are you going to make the same mistake again?”
Baoguang Temple? Fifty lashes? Gu Ling was startled. Could she be the fourth daughter of the Luo Family, now the Young Madam of the Huo Family? No wonder she looked familiar!
“You… you are…”
“Indeed,” she said haughtily. “Although I know my flowery beauty makes you want to get my attention, I’m not someone you can aspire to. You’d better give up.”
“You…” This shameless woman kept mimicking his words—it was infuriating!
“Huo Jin actually married a woman like you? I feel sorry for him.”
Luo Chaoyan waved a hand dismissively. “No need for that. My husband adores me just as I am.” She sighed dramatically. “But I do feel sorry for Marquis Gu, having a son as narcissistic as a daffodil.”
“You…” Hearing this, he knew the “daffodil” remark was another trick. Gu Ling gritted his teeth, remembering the fifty lashes, and dared not act recklessly. This woman probably had more schemes waiting for him. No, he couldn’t fall for it again.
“Woman, I’ll remember you. We’ll see about this.”
“Let’s go!”
After uttering his threat, Gu Ling left with his men.
Once they were gone, Luo Chaoyan and Fengli exchanged a glance, then burst into unrestrained laughter.
The Li family girl walked up to her and said, “Madam, thank you for helping my father out of that predicament, but…”
Seeing that although her expression was sorrowful and downcast, she remained neither servile nor overbearing when facing her, Luo Chaoyan thought she must have received some education and was unwilling to become a servant. It was rare to encounter such a person. She smiled and handed her the deed of sale and several recipe contracts: “You are free.”
“Women have a difficult time in this world. If you can stand on your own, you too can live in this world without being servile or overbearing.”
The Li girl raised her tear-filled eyes to look at the madam before her, somewhat disbelieving. With trembling hands, she took the contracts but only kept the deed of sale, returning the rest to her.
“Madam, I will remember your great kindness and virtue in my heart, but I cannot accept the rest.”
Seeing her resolute attitude, Luo Chaoyan did not press further and had Fengli give her some loose silver.
The Li girl kowtowed to her repeatedly in thanks before leaving.
“Let’s go, we’re returning to the manor!”
“Yes!”
The onlookers, seeing that the parties involved were no longer present and there was no more spectacle to watch, gradually dispersed.
In the private room at Xiangsu Pavilion, Su Yi and Huo Jin sat facing each other.
They had watched the entire commotion downstairs just now.
“Hahaha!”
Su Yi teased, “Brother Huo, your new bride is truly too amusing. I remember narcissus flowers are used to describe arrogant and vain people—it fits Gu Er perfectly.”
Huo Jin remained silent, picking up his teacup and sipping leisurely, though a pair of bright, watery eyes flashed through his mind, smiling like a cunning fox. It was the first time in many days he had seen her smile so radiantly.
“Brother Huo, your new bride is full of tricks when it comes to bluffing people. I’m really curious, is she usually like this in the manor as well?”
Huo Jin gave him a faint look. “Do you have nothing better to do?”
“Hehe! Just curious, that’s all.” Su Yi chuckled awkwardly.
Huo Jin set down his teacup and stood up. “I have official duties to attend to. I’m returning to Fu Ya.”