Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity-Chapter 294 - 130 Yao Mengxian

Once all the dishes were served, Gu Chengyu glanced at each one. The dishes at Qunying Building were considered quite complete in color, aroma, and taste. There were more stews, with only a braised lion’s head as a braised dish. Gu Chengyu thought to himself that compared to the cuisine at his own restaurant, it was far inferior. His restaurant’s menu included steamed, boiled, fried, deep-fried, braised, and stewed dishes, all of which were comprehensive.

He picked up a piece to taste; the flavor was acceptable! However, the fish soup was quite fishy, so after one bite, Gu Chengyu did not try it again. After sampling the flavors, Gu Chengyu was reassured; there was still quite a gap compared to his restaurant’s dishes, not to mention even less impressive than what Nanny Li made at home.

"Chengyu! This isn’t as delicious as the food at your restaurant!" Sun Xian had realized Gu Chengyu’s intention by now. This young man was probably thinking of opening a restaurant in the Capital. However, opening a restaurant in the Capital wasn’t that simple.

"We’ll discuss it later! These are famous dishes in the Capital, so eat more!" Gu Chengyu tried each dish with two bites to taste the flavors and then stopped eating.

After everyone finished eating, it was over an hour later. They went upstairs to their respective rooms, feeling tired and wanting a good rest!

"Ah!"

At this moment, a young girl sat up on a sourwood canopy bed carved with a begonia pattern. Her forehead was covered with tiny beads of sweat. She opened her eyes suddenly, breathing heavily.

"Miss, what’s wrong?" Da Ya, Lianxin, came down from the Beauty Couch behind the screen and quickly ran to the bedside.

The girl looked at Lianxin with dazed eyes, only seeming to realize, "Lianxin?"

"It’s me! Miss, were you having a nightmare again?" Lianxin worriedly looked at her mistress, then turned to pour a bowl of tea for the girl and handed it to her.

The girl took the bowl, sipped some tea, and calmed down. However, she felt entirely uncomfortable with her sweaty, sticky body.

"What hour is it now?" Handing the bowl back, she leaned against the pillow, looking a bit fatigued.

"Miss, it’s only 3:45 AM; there’s still time! Why not sleep a little longer?" Lianxin glanced at the hourglass and informed the girl.

"No! I’m covered in sweat, and it’s uncomfortable! Go to the main kitchen and get some hot water; I need to freshen up!" The girl closed her eyes again, showing some dark shadows under her lower eyelids.

Though Lianxin felt pity for her mistress, she also thought about the need to greet the Great Madam at 5:45 AM, and she had to go along with her mistress’s wishes. Since about a month ago, her mistress started having frequent nightmares at night. From then on, the girl seemed to have changed somewhat.

The girl called her back to reality, "But at this time, the main kitchen is busy preparing breakfast; I’m afraid..."

The girl furrowed her brows slightly and then snorted coldly. She understood the unfinished words of Lianxin, "Just go!"

Lianxin had no choice but to comply.

After Lianxin left, the girl closed her eyes again. It seemed she had had a long dream, so real that upon waking, she couldn’t distinguish dream from reality. She’d been having such dreams for over a month now and, looking back, felt that her former self was quite foolish.

"Yao Mengxian! So what if you’re the legitimate daughter of the first branch? Look at you, living a life worse than a dog’s, really pitiful!"

"Seeing your face now, it makes me sick!"

The girl tightly gripped the quilt. Every time she recalled the experiences and venomous words from her dream, she felt a chill throughout her body. It took a while before she let go of the quilt, with intense hatred in her eyes.

She thought it was all just a dream, yet all the big and small events within the mansion that she dreamed of over a month ago kept happening. It seems these were all real. Since she experienced these in dreams, she was determined to prevent the tragic events from occurring.

The troublemakers in the main kitchen, whom she figured out a way to rectify a few days ago, had shown improved attitudes over the past couple of days. Although Lianxin would face disdain when fetching hot water, the old women would certainly dare not refuse.

She got out of bed and sat before the dressing mirror. By the dim candlelight, she looked at the girl in the mirror. Gazing steadily, she suddenly reached out and touched her face, feeling the smooth, fine skin with relief. This face was still young, the skin so delicate and smooth.

But because of this face, she suffered bitterly and endured torment in her dreams.

"Miss! Are you awake?" Qing Dai entered the inner room, softly calling out.

Upon hearing the voice, the girl immediately recognized it as Lianxin having called in Qing Dai. Qing Dai and Lianxin were both second-class maids by her side, always taking care of her daily needs.

Regardless of legitimacy, the girls in Duke Zheng Mansion were each attended by two second-class maids, three third-class maids, a stewardess, and several rough maids and two rough old women within the yard.

Lianxin, aged thirteen, was steady by nature, while Qing Dai, at twelve, was usually more lively. Last night, it was Lianxin’s turn to attend, and since Yao Mengxian wanted to freshen up, Lianxin called in Qing Dai to assist.

"Qing Dai, come in!" she said calmly, then quickly got back into bed.

From now on, she must change her temperament. Previously, she always thought if she neither competed nor fought, she could stay out of troubles. But now she no longer thought that way; she didn’t want to compete, but her status was an eyesore to many, and they wouldn’t leave her alone.

"Why did you get up so early again, Miss? You’re still young, you should eat and sleep more to grow!" Qing Dai felt deeply concerned to see her mistress up so early again.

"Couldn’t sleep! Tomorrow, you go see Uncle Geng, let him help me investigate something! Let him go to Qunying Building to look into a person named Min Feng and report everything that happened there to me!"

Uncle Geng was the accompanying steward of Yao Mengxian’s mother, as reliable as Qing Dai and the others. She had no one else trustworthy and couldn’t leave the inner courtyard, so she relied on Uncle Geng. Unless she had full knowledge, she couldn’t be at ease. Even though past events matched her dreams, those were trivial matters—if she found this person, it would confirm her dreams were true.

"Uncle Geng is merely a steward at the estate, and it’s not convenient for him to come to the mansion often. Even if he got the news and entered like last time, it’d be dangerous!" Qing Dai didn’t question her mistress’s reasons, believing she had her rationale.

Since falling into the water that time, her mistress seemed to mature greatly. At ten years old, she sometimes seemed as composed as an adult, losing her former innocence and meekness, becoming more astute. More importantly, she learned to plan for herself.

Yao Mengxian reflected that indeed it wasn’t convenient. The last time she asked Uncle Geng to investigate something, he had to pretend to report on the estate’s situation to deliver the message. Such matters couldn’t be done frequently, as it would arouse suspicion.

Thinking it over, she suddenly thought of someone else, "Your brother Xing is also nine years old this year, isn’t he? He can handle such tasks! Let him go. Due to his age, he won’t raise much attention."