Chapter 73: Stirred Heart

“Young master, this Hongxiu is simply outrageous! How can she sit at the same table as you to eat?” Old Zhao, though scolded by Li Mohan, still refused to stop criticizing Chu Bing.

Chu Bing snorted, “Why not? I cooked this meal. Shouldn’t I be allowed to eat it?”

Old Zhao’s brows shot up. He cursed angrily, “You are a maid! How can a maid sit at the same table as her master? Is there no respect for rank anymore?”

Of course not!

Chu Bing was about to retort, but suddenly remembered she was in the strictly hierarchical society of ancient times.

She put down her chopsticks, her expression darkening slightly.

Li Mohan glanced at her, furrowed his brow, and likewise set down his chopsticks. He looked at Old Zhao and said, “Uncle Zhao, I have never regarded you as mere servants. From now on, both of you will eat with me.”

“How can that be!” Old Zhao immediately protested, waving his hands in refusal.

Once Li Mohan made a decision, it was not to be questioned. He fixed Old Zhao with a steady gaze until the old man reluctantly nodded his assent, then withdrew his gaze.

“Go bring Uncle Zhao a set of bowls and chopsticks,” Li Mohan ordered the young attendant at the door.

Old Zhao sat uneasily, barely able to swallow a bite, while Chu Bing at his side ate heartily, thoroughly enjoying herself.

Satisfied after her meal, Chu Bing returned to check on her old hen.

Old Zhao remained in Li Mohan’s room.

“Young master, this Hongxiu is far too strange. She must not be kept here!”

Li Mohan was wiping his hands. Hearing this, he looked up at Old Zhao. “I thought we’d already discussed this. Hongxiu is my lifesaver. No matter how odd she seems, I will not abandon her.”

“But sir! You’ve seen it yourself—she’s not an ordinary maid without the strength to defend herself. She possesses supernatural power and is skilled in the arts of formation! Keeping such a person close is dangerous.”

Old Zhao had been testing Chu Bing for days. Although she always managed to cleverly evade his schemes, she inevitably revealed some flaws. Even the little that had surfaced was enough to make Old Zhao wary.

“I trust her,” Li Yuxi said without hesitation.

His voice was calm, as if he were speaking of something entirely ordinary.

Old Zhao’s expression changed abruptly. He gritted his teeth and asked, “Young master, have you truly fallen for this little maid?”

Li Mohan fell silent and turned into the inner chamber.

Though he gave no answer, Old Zhao already understood his meaning.

He sighed heavily. The young master had always been reserved, with no women close to him. Now, he finally liked someone, and she might even be a spy!

Chu Bing was unaware of the conversation between master and servant.

After returning to her room, she first checked her old hen used for testing medicines and found it lively as ever, so she increased the dosage.

She had narrowly escaped Li Yuxi’s pursuit earlier, and had been thinking of ways to increase her teleportation range. Now, being alone, she immediately wanted to experiment.

Fortunately, the room was not large. After some contemplation, Chu Bing truly discovered a clue.

Teleportation was somewhat like crossing space. If she mastered the skill, could she one day leap across worlds and return to her own?

But Chu Bing knew well that such thoughts were wishful thinking for her current self.

“Knock, knock.”

A knock sounded. Chu Bing froze for a moment, hurriedly destroyed the formation she’d set up, and threw all materials under the bed.

She opened the door.

Li Yuxi stood outside.

“…Young master?” Why would Li Mohan come at this hour?

Chu Bing felt tense, her eyes darting around the room, worried she’d left something incriminating in sight.

Li Mohan’s expression was perfectly normal, as if oblivious to her nervous gestures. “I’ve come to apologize to you on behalf of Uncle Zhao.”

Eh?

Chu Bing paused, then quickly waved her hands. “No need, no need. Uncle Zhao is only looking out for you. I understand.”

That stubborn old man, though sharp-tongued, had never truly harmed her, and she could see his devotion to Li Mohan.

For such a loyal old servant, was it worth taking offense?

Li Mohan’s brows relaxed almost imperceptibly. “That’s good.”

“It’s late. You should rest early.”

Chu Bing relaxed, responding with an “Alright.” Suddenly, she felt an itch on her face and unconsciously touched it.

Li Mohan’s gaze sharpened, fixing intently on her face.

“What is it?”

Why was he looking at her like that? Was something wrong?

Chu Bing worried she hadn’t hidden her formation materials well enough and quickly flashed a flattering smile. “I wanted to build a cabinet in the room, so it’s messy. Please don’t mind.”

“…No, I don’t,” Li Mohan finally withdrew his gaze, his voice hoarse and sounding strangely odd.

Chu Bing didn’t think much of it, giving him a broad smile.

Li Mohan looked deeply at Chu Bing, then turned and left.

Chu Bing closed the door and leaned against it, letting out a breath of relief. If Li Mohan ever discovered she had deceived him, she truly didn’t know how she could face him.

Li Mohan was different from others—he always trusted her unconditionally. If even he were to be disappointed in her one day, Chu Bing wondered if she’d have anyone left to trust in this unfamiliar era.

Before her heart could settle, the system in her mind piped up mischievously, “You’d better take a look at your current appearance.”

“What do you mean?” Chu Bing was startled, quickly searching for her bronze mirror.

In the mirror, her face was marred by a thumb-sized streak, as if a piece of clay had fallen off revealing a crack—strange and unnerving.

Chu Bing touched her face tremblingly, then collapsed in despair. “Why didn’t you warn me?”

Li Mohan must have noticed the oddity on her face and might already suspect she was a monster!

The system sounded guilty. “Li Mohan was here just now. If I’d told you, you’d have panicked, and things would have ended even worse.”

Chu Bing’s expression was blank. If the system had a physical form, she would have dearly liked to beat it up.

“It’s not so bad. I think Li Mohan trusts you. Just tell him you messed up with cosmetics…”

“Shut up!” Chu Bing gritted her teeth. “Do you think everyone’s a fool? Besides, if Li Mohan trusts me, I shouldn’t treat him like a fool in return!”

No amount of goodwill could survive such abuse.

The more she thought, the more uneasy she felt. Chu Bing glanced out at the night, unsure when dawn would come.

Letting Li Mohan spend a night in doubt…was dangerous.

Who knew if he’d decide she was a monster and drive her away by morning?

Chu Bing clenched her teeth, threw on a coat, and ran outside.

The system asked in surprise, “What are you doing?”

In the dead of night, where could she be going?

Chu Bing snorted coldly. “I’m going to find a way to fix this!”

To see if she could salvage her image in Li Mohan’s eyes!

She did not want to be mistaken for a monster!