62. A Prophecy Fulfilled
“Mom,”
After finally swallowing the strange pastries, Gong Yiling couldn’t help but ask, “who taught you how to make these?”
Gong Muzhi rubbed her head, a satisfied expression on her face. “How did you know I learned from someone?”
“Otherwise, where would you have learned to make such a variety?” Gong Yiling stuck out her tongue. “Back in the palace, besides eating dinner with me, you never had breakfast or lunch. You certainly wouldn’t have asked the chefs to make them.”
“So, it’s because you couldn’t help yesterday that you went and learned, right?”
Hearing this, the old mother became a bit embarrassed. “How can I ever hide anything from you…”
“Mom,” Gong Yiling gently took her hand and shook her head with a smile. “You’re busy. If you want to eat something, I can make it for you.”
“Pastries are one thing, but chopping vegetables and cooking… what if you hurt yourself?”
“Pfft!” Gong Muzhi burst out laughing. “Silly girl, the number of people your mother has killed could circle this Qian Yue Academy several times. Am I afraid of getting a little cut while cooking?”
Well… Gong Yiling stroked her chin.
That was true. Perhaps after learning to cook, her mother’s killing techniques would also become more varied.
“But Mom, who did you learn these pastries from? Did you kidnap a chef when you came here?”
“Kidnap? What kind of person do you think I am?” Gong Muzhi replied with a serious expression. “My principle has always been, if I can kill them on the spot, I never kidnap!”
Her voice was a bit too loud.
Fortunately, the others didn’t hear their previous conversation, only the part about “never kidnapping,” so no one paid any attention.
“Lower your voice!” Gong Yiling quickly patted her cheek. “So, who was it…?”
“A maid from the East Courtyard, but I guess you could say I rescued her.” Gong Muzhi mumbled, “I didn’t really want to get involved…”
“Rescued her?” Gong Yiling raised an eyebrow, puzzled.
Being a maid here was a life-threatening job?
“Emmmm… it was like this.”
Gong Muzhi had used an earth puppet technique to infiltrate Qian Yue Academy. As soon as she arrived, she bumped into a lost Yan Chuyue. The two of them wandered around together for a while before finally flying out of the forest.
But there was a problem. Her mother was unfamiliar with this place and couldn’t seek out her old acquaintances—she would probably be reported immediately.
So, Gong Muzhi had to find a place to stay as a temporary instructor and investigate her purpose for being here. After all, while students might have their identity tokens checked, no one would bother an instructor.
To become an instructor, all you needed was a dormitory and the standard uniform and bracelet.
Since instructors were all elder-level figures from various sects, although they also needed a token to enter and leave, the bracelet was less restrictive. It wouldn’t become unusable if taken off.
So, all Gong Muzhi had to do was find a lone instructor, knock them out, drug them, and throw them into a wooden box for a few days. Problem solved.
“That person seemed to have no visitors and wasn’t close to the other instructors, so I just… chose him.” Gong Muzhi said mysteriously, “But you’ll never guess what I saw when I was about to throw him into the box.”
“What did you see?”
“I found a woman in a box in his room, the same woman who has been serving me these days.” Gong Muzhi clapped her hands. “She’s not young and has probably been at the academy for a while. I don’t know why that man tied her up in there. And when she woke up, she didn’t even know how she got there.”
“So I just kept her. She’s a diligent worker and didn’t ask any questions about why the room’s occupant suddenly changed.”
“Such a thing happened?” Gong Yiling frowned.
This Qian Yue Academy was full of strange things, hidden currents flowing beneath the surface. It was all very puzzling.
“But Mom,” Miss Gong continued, “did no one come looking for this instructor afterward?”
“There were some letters, but I didn’t read them. That’s all.” Gong Muzhi pinched her daughter’s cheek. “Are you worried about me? Don’t be. If one or two people come, I’ll just tie them up together. If it weren’t for their life tokens, I would have killed them already.”
“Ahaha… ahahahaha…”
What could Miss Gong say? She could only laugh helplessly.
Indeed, in such matters, her mother was invincible. A few instructors were no match for the dignified Palace Master of the Pear Blossom Blood Orchid Palace.
“Alright, I’ve saved some pastries for you. Take them to Qiu Shui, Chun Lian, and Miss Yan. And who was the other one… the Fifth Princess of the Heartflame Empire?”
“Yes.”
“As expected of my daughter.” Gong Muzhi rubbed her hands together with a grin. “You’ve even managed to snag a big one, the future Empress of the Heartflame Empire. Your skills are far superior to mine.”
I’d rather not be compared to someone who only kills and never kidnaps.
Not knowing what to say, Gong Yiling just stuck out her tongue at her mother. After a bit more conversation, she took the breakfast back.
When she returned to the dormitory, everyone was already awake. Gong Yiling also pulled Leng Yuli over to eat with them.
“These were made by a maid at Qian Yue Academy and my mother.” Gong Yiling looked pointedly at Qiu Shui, who seemed to have not slept well, and handed her a pastry, presumably made by the maid.
“Open your mouth.”
“Ah.”
“Good girl.”
As Qiu Shui bit into the pastry, Gong Yiling released her hand. But at that moment, Qiu Shui’s pupils contracted, and she quickly took the pastry in her hand, staring at it in disbelief.
“This… this is…”
“What’s wrong?”
Qiu Shui looked up, her eyes shining with an increasingly fervent light, a look full of hope.
“Master… this, was it really made… by a maid?”
“Yes, what…?” Looking at Qiu Shui’s expression, and recalling Gong Muzhi’s story, Gong Yiling suddenly realized something.
Holy crap!
Could it be that much of a coincidence?
