Abandoning Wife and Selling Daughter? Turning Around to Marry a Powerful Minister and Wiping Out Your Entire Clan! - Chapter 41

The young waiter was startled and quickly looked around.

Everyone in the kitchen was busy with their tasks, and no one was paying attention to him.

Outside the kitchen, however, there was a commotion.

“You were given just a small task, and you still couldn’t do it properly? If you didn’t know how, couldn’t you have asked someone?”

The young waiter let out a heavy breath and wiped the sweat off his forehead with his sleeve.

That was close! He thought he had been discovered.

From now on, he would only handle message deliveries—simple and well-paid.

“Ah Niu, what’s wrong? Feeling hot crouching by the steaming basket?” A kitchen assistant chuckled at him.

“It’s fine, it’s fine. Men do tend to feel the heat more, haha.” The young waiter forced a silly laugh, feeling extremely uneasy.

He kept glancing out the window while pacing back and forth near the steaming basket.

“Kid, the food needs to be fully cooked before you can take it out. No matter how much you circle in front of it, it won’t cook any faster,” a chef teased, thinking the waiter was in a rush because a customer was urging him.

The kitchen erupted in laughter at the chef’s comment.

“Who is it that has our young waiter so scared? Should we search Fenghua Tower and report it to the Imperial Censorate so the Emperor can hear about it?”

A teasing voice from a corner made the laughter even louder.

“No… no one scared me. I’m just watching the steaming basket for Lady Zhang. She’ll be back soon, and I need to go greet the guests later.”

Sweat gathered on the young waiter’s face as he wiped it messily with his sleeve.

He was truly anxious. He had asked Chef Zhao’s two apprentices, but neither of them knew much about this particular pastry. They told him to wait for Lady Zhang.

“What if the timing is off and the Crystal Dragon Phoenix Cake is ruined?” The young waiter had no idea what to do, and the only person who understood the pastry had gone to the restroom.

Sweat kept dripping from his forehead. Occasionally, it stung his eyes, making them water.

At a glance, it looked as if the young waiter was crying bitterly in the back kitchen.

“Oh, finally back!” Zhang Xiaolan appeared, looking radiant as if she had just solved a major issue. The dimples on her cheeks deepened and faded with her ever-changing smile.

“Lady Zhang, you’re back! Quick, check on the Crystal Dragon Phoenix Cake!” The young waiter, as if seeing a savior, rushed to pull Zhang Xiaolan over to the steaming basket.

Zhang Xiaolan took a spoon, scooped out a piece of Crystal Cake, and tasted it. “It’s ready. Time to serve it.”

The young waiter finally breathed a sigh of relief. He didn’t even realize that Zhang Xiaolan had eaten the cake without any issues.

As she placed the Crystal Cake on his tray, he took a moment to savor the aroma before quickly leaving the kitchen.

Zhang Xiaolan had been quietly observing him from the moment he entered.

Perhaps he was still new and needed space to work things out on his own.

So, she pretended to have a stomachache and rushed away.

On her way out, she even scolded a little maid, making the young waiter so nervous that he eventually relaxed. At this point, even if she had made mistakes, his own imagination would fill in the gaps.

Had the young waiter done it today? Did Shen Ting show up?

Of course, she did!

Right now, Shen Ting was sitting in the room next to the one where the Crystal Cake had been served.

Faced with a table full of delicacies, she ate leisurely.

Behind her stood two young maids and one senior maid, who was diligently serving her food.

“Madam, you didn’t have to come all this way. If you were craving Fenghua Tower’s dishes, you could have just asked, and they would have delivered a full banquet to the Zhou Residence,” said the senior maid, Cui Liu, as she set down her silver chopsticks. “This place is crowded and noisy. I worry it might be disrespectful to you.”

Shen Ting smiled faintly, focusing only on the food before her.

Zhang Xiaolan had been an expert at managing people for years. After one betrayal, then another, did she not feel ashamed?

This time, she was determined to see Zhang Xiaolan humiliated, accused, and unable to defend herself in front of the common folk. That would finally ease the hatred in her heart.

She had only casually mentioned to Zhou Quan that if he still cared for Zhang Xiaolan, he might as well bring her back into the house. That way, it would be convenient for both parties.

Who knew that fool would take it seriously and send people to ask about her every few days?

When she confronted him, he even accused her of being unfaithful to her words!

It was all Zhang Xiaolan’s fault.

She had left the Zhou Residence but still wanted to stir up trouble. Shen Ting would never let that happen.

Right now, she was just waiting for the guests in the next room to eat the Crystal Cake. Once public opinion turned against Zhang Xiaolan, she would step in to trample her further.

“Oh, heavens! What is happening?”

Before long, a woman’s wailing came from the neighboring room.

Shen Ting’s excitement surged.

Immediately, the young waiter entered the room, and the woman appeared to be seeking a doctor for her husband.

By this time, Shen Ting’s private room door was already open. She gracefully stepped forward into the next room. “What’s wrong, dear sister?”

The woman lifted her tear-streaked face and rasped, “Madam, could you help me find a physician to save my husband?”

Shen Ting caught a glimpse of the man in her arms and instinctively stepped back.

Standing farther away, Cui Wei nearly caused her mistress to stumble.

“Sister, could it be that your husband has been poisoned?”

The woman was about to speak when someone tugged at her sleeve. She then broke into wailing again. “Oh, how can I go on living? We only came here for some pastries, and now my husband has lost his life!”

By now, a crowd had gathered outside the private room.

Shen Ting had long coveted this restaurant, but Fenghua Tower’s mysterious owner and strong backing had thwarted her multiple times.

Back then, Zhang Xiaolan even laughed at her, telling her not to waste her efforts.

Hah, not only would she crush Zhang Xiaolan today, but she would also ruin Fenghua Tower’s reputation!

“Sister, crying here won’t help. Let’s have Fenghua Tower’s manager come and explain this. They must give you justice,” Shen Ting said, dabbing at her eyes with a silk handkerchief, as if deeply saddened.

Hearing the report, Manager Zhang hurried over from outside.

If someone really died from eating at Fenghua Tower, how could he open new branches?

Before arriving, Zhang Xiaolan had already pulled him aside and briefed him on the situation.

Now, standing outside the crowded private room, he heard Shen Ting’s words—as if she had already concluded that Fenghua Tower’s food had killed someone!

Suppressing his anger, Manager Zhang stepped forward. “Madam, I am the manager of Fenghua Tower. This gentleman’s condition is our priority. Let’s have a physician examine him first.”

“A physician is already here. The man’s health is more important!”

A doctor, carrying a medicine box, finally entered the room.

Just as he was about to check the man’s pulse, Shen Ting stopped him.

“Are you really a doctor? Which clinic are you from? I’ve never seen you before!” Shen Ting’s voice was righteous. “What if you’re working with Fenghua Tower to cover this up?”

Turning to the woman, she assured her, “Sister, don’t be afraid. I come from an official family, and I will make sure you get justice!”

Before the woman could react, Shen Ting’s sharp gaze turned to the doctor.

“You fraud, confess now!”

“The physician was brought by this prince. Do you have any objections?”