Master, I’ve Offended You

In the blink of an eye, it was November. Even though it was just the end of autumn, it was already snowing heavily. 

Just as Chu Yue expected, the winter was going to be very cold. 

But fortunately for them, they had already prepared pure hardwood charcoal. Even if the winter was very cold, the house was warm. 

Chu Yue got up rather early, just as usual. She had no choice about it since she had to make breakfast for the monk. 

"Milady." Hupo got up quickly as well. 

"I'll bring a portion back for you when I come back. You don't have to get up." Hupo was a little sick over the past few days. Clearly, her body was not healthy, and when she was exposed to the cold, she fell ill. 

Hupo felt really regretful. She was supposed to take care of her mistress, but now, her mistress was taking care of her. 

If she had known things would turn out this way, she would have jumped around with her mistress. 

Chu Yue asked her to continue sleeping. Then, she put on a thick cotton shirt and opened an umbrella before she went to the other mountain. 

She used the red beans she had soaked yesterday and made lotus seed and lily porridge as breakfast for the monk. It was a very simple dish, but it was incredibly delicious.

The monk ate the lotus seed and lily porridge and said, "It's cold. Give some money to the chef."

Even though he could eat the delicacies of the world with his status, he was not moved by them. But he could sense that the new chef was very attentive when she cooked and did not work carelessly. The food she delivered always fit his tastes. 

So, he should reward her a little. 

Coincidentally, that day was when Eunuch Feng came over to deliver a book of reports, so he agreed to it with a complicated look on his face. 

Then, he went to Yingda and asked what Chu Yue had been doing lately. 

"She has done nothing. She just comes, cooks, and leaves," Yingda said. 

Of course, he was the one who delivered the food to his master and always used a silver needle to test for poison. However, all the food was fine. Even so, he could not be careless. 

Eunuch Feng was not puzzled by this. He had sent her eight characters to be read through by the imperial astronomers. He would make no mistake when it came to this. 

He just did not understand what was going on with the widow. Wasn't she thinking about seducing his master? He already gave her a chance, so why wasn't she taking any action?

"Summon her here." 

He had no choice and could only call her over. 

It was cold now, so his master would definitely be lonely in bed. Shouldn't the widow go over and warm up his bed?

*****

Chu Yue had just brought some lotus seed and lily porridge back home to eat with Hupo. Ever since she became a chef at Longan Temple, Hupo did not need to cook anymore. Chu Yue just brought food back after she was done cooking. 

Neither she nor Hupo had big appetites, so they did not need a lot.

However, before she took food back, she had asked for permission from the man in black called Yingda. He did not say anything about it, which meant he was tacitly agreeing to it. 

Speaking of which, they were really generous. 

While Hupo and Chu Yue ate, they laughed. Hupo appeared to be much more lively now. 

The chirping of a wild bird came from outside. 

Hupo did not think anything of it, but Chu Yue instantly understood it. Once she finished eating, she said, "Put the plates by the side, I'll come back and wash them later. I'm going out for a stroll."

"Milady, it's cold outside…" Hupo could not help but say. 

"I'm dressed like this, so there's no way I'm going to feel cold," Chu Yue said. She was wearing a large cotton shirt. Even though it did not look elegant, it was really warm. 

When Chu Yue came out, she saw Yingda, which she expected. He went straight back to the top of the other mountain, while Chu Yue went after him at a much slower pace. 

Eunuch Feng was waiting for her. "Ma'am, would you mind coming into my humble abode to drink some tea and warm your body?" he asked.

"Sir, you're far too polite." But Chu Yue still followed him. 

The tea he offered was a high grade pu'er. It was brought over from the palace. 

Eunuch Feng brought out two handfuls of silver from his sleeves and opened the conversation by saying, "Ma'am, you have been doing your work properly over this period of time, and the master has ordered me to reward you." 

Chu Yue looked at Eunuch Feng. "Sir, you hired me, and it's my duty to cook three meals a day. There is no need for the master to reward me."

As she said this, she pushed the two handfuls of silver back. 

"This reward is nothing. If you were a little more sensible, you could enjoy a life's worth of riches and glory," Eunuch Feng said with a smile. He pushed the silver back. 

Chu Yue smiled coldly in her heart. 

'This stupid eunuch seriously won't stop until he kills the monk, huh?'

But that fit her desires perfectly. When she left with the monk, she could do it easily. 

As she thought about this, Chu Yue looked at the eunuch. "Sir, I won't hide it from you. I am indeed short of money right now. Since you're willing to give me money, it would be disrespectful to decline your offer."

Eunuch Feng's expression turned dark. 'Is the main point of this conversation this bit of money? Didn't you hear me when I mentioned a life's worth of riches and glory? I knew it, a widow from the countryside will forever remain a widow from the countryside.'

"May I go and thank Master Dao Yuan personally?

While Eunuch Feng was wondering about whether he should switch people, he heard Chu Yue ask a new question and instantly cast aside his thoughts of switching people. The widow still had a clear train of thought. 

He looked at her and said, "Master Dao Yuan did not say anything, but if you insist on going, you can go and thank him."

Chu Yue spat in her heart. 'Seriously, he's doing something bad, but he's trying to avoid getting the blame, huh?'

"But your appearance is…" Eunuch Feng frowned and looked at her clothes. Truly, she looked like the wife of a farmer. 

"Sir, I'm just going to write a letter," Chu Yue reminded him. 

'You're just going over to thank him? I nearly believed you.'

But he said nothing. After being single for two to three years, a man would look at an ugly woman and still think she was a goddess. 

His master had been celibate for a long time, and he had not even seen a female monkey. Even if this living and breathing widow was dressed in rather simple clothes, she would still be rather attractive to him. Besides, she was not an ordinary widow. She was graceful and very charming. 

He had seen all sorts of beautiful women before, so it would be pretty good if his master was treated with a woman who only had simple but pretty features to reset his tastes. 

And so, Chu Yue saw the monk a second time. 

He had a mink cloak around his shoulders and looked outstanding. Chu Yue really wanted to reach out and stroke his bald head. 

After taking a quick look, Chu Yue lowered her head. 

The monk frowned a little upon seeing her, and his gaze moved to Eunuch Feng. 

"Master, the chef received her reward and wished to come here to thank you. I couldn't stop her." 

Eunuch Feng nearly knelt down. His master did not seem to be pleased. 

"Sir, please leave. I have something to say to the master," Chu Yue said. 

"This is…" 

Eunuch Feng was stunned. He did not expect that the widow would be so bold. Didn't she see that his master was unhappy? Why was she asking him to leave?

He looked at Chu Yue, then at his master. When he saw that his master did not have any opinion about this, he gathered his courage and left. 

But he could sense that his master was about to kill him with his gaze. 

However, Eunuch Feng hoped that the widow would not end up as a disappointment. 

"Master, I offended you the last time we met. I hope that you can forgive me." Chu Yue bent her knees with a doleful look on her face. 

"It's fine." 

When he heard her speaking about what happened last time, the monk said nothing. After all, she was just there for some firewood. It was nothing.