kingnovel Chapter 278 points out
Chapter 278 points out
In just a short while, it started snowing heavily outside.
Li Xiaonuan stepped on the tall stacks of hay and tore a large hole in a corner of the roof near the back wall. Snowflakes drifted in through the gap.
Looking at the opening that she had painstakingly created, Li Xiaonuan suddenly had an idea.
But now is not a good time to escape. At the very least, it's more practical to wait until the whole family has eaten their fill and is warm before making a run for it.
After all, of the four family members, only Li Xiaonuan was wearing boots; the others were only wearing cotton socks.
Besides, you need to be well-fed to have the energy to run, right?
The ladle used to hold the beans was very dirty, so Li Xiaonuan had to grab a handful of snow from the roof, put it in the ladle, melt it, and then wash it.
Just as Li Xiaonuan finished washing the ladle and boiled a large ladle of water for her father and the others to drink, the door to the hay shed was opened.
Li Xiaonuan quietly hid the water ladle in the haystack, looking at the housekeeper and the other two old women standing at the door.
“Madam, look, they’re actually warming themselves by the fire.” A woman with slanted eyes and a thin, mean-looking face immediately said to the housekeeper standing at the door.
"They started a fire? No wonder. How did they set the hay on fire? Chang Ma, go in and put out the fire right away," the housekeeper ordered.
The mean-looking old woman then entered, carrying a wooden basin of water.
When the old woman came in, Li Xiaonuan pulled her family far away from the fire.
The old woman poured out a basin of water with ice crystals, extinguishing the fire that had been burning so brightly.
The hay hut, which had just been slightly warm, instantly turned cold again.
"Hmph, you're lucky you dodged fast, otherwise I would have poured this basin of water all over you." After pouring the water, the old woman walked out arrogantly.
"Zheng Ma, take two boys inside and bring that Miss Li out for questioning," the housekeeper ordered.
Before long, another old woman with a stunted face entered with two servants.
Without them having to lift a finger, Li Xiaonuan went out on her own. She wanted to know what the housekeeper was up to.
Because it was snowing heavily outside, the housekeeper was standing under the eaves.
Li Xiaonuan looked around and found the snowflakes falling all around her exceptionally pleasant. If it weren't for the inappropriate circumstances, Li Xiaonuan would have loved to rush out and properly enjoy the snow scene.
She hadn't felt much cold while she was indoors. But now that she was outside, the north wind was howling, and Li Xiaonuan, who was only wearing a thin cotton-padded jacket, couldn't stand it anymore.
But the housekeeper, draped in a mink cloak and clutching a hand warmer, quietly watched Li Xiaonuan without saying a word.
Seeing herself about to tremble like a leaf, Li Xiaonuan paced impatiently. She didn't want to be treated with such cold violence.
Even without the haughty housekeeper asking, Li Xiaonuan knew what the other person wanted to know.
“Headmistress, did you call me out here to enjoy the snow with me? If so, I’d rather not keep you company. I’m just a peasant girl; I have no interest in enjoying the scenery with servants.” Li Xiaonuan deliberately emphasized the words “headmistress” and “servants.”
The housekeeper's expression changed drastically after hearing what Li Xiaonuan said.
The housekeeper knew in her heart that her family was now the lowest-ranking servants, even lower than ordinary people like Li Xiaonuan.
That's why the butler and his wife are so eager to get rid of their servant status.
The steward had pleaded with the prince and princess before. Although the two were outwardly the most amiable, neither of them would budge on the matter of removing the steward's family from the register of official status.
Taking advantage of this chaos, the butler's family began to harbor ulterior motives.
While Prince Jing and his family were still detained in the palace, they agreed to the man's request almost without thinking.
So what the butler's family is doing now is simply cooperating with that person to find a way to overthrow the Eagle King's dynasty.
Then, the man kept his promise and allowed their family to be legally removed from the social register.
After they were released from their official positions, it was time to reward them for their contributions. Having done so much, they were sure to be given an official post.
But that's a matter for the future. Right now, the steward's family are indeed servants, lackeys and lackeys.
"Hmph, let you be smug for a while longer. Miss Li, considering how much I've taken care of your family these past few days, you'd better hand over the things obediently." Although the housekeeper was furious inside, she maintained a calm demeanor as she spoke.
"Things? What things? Mother, do you really think I stole the formula for that scented soap?" Li Xiaonuan pretended to be stupid.
“Miss Li, I respect you because you have some ability. But if you refuse to cooperate, don’t blame us for being ruthless,” the housekeeper threatened.
The housekeeper was a somewhat plump middle-aged woman with fair skin, a round face, and a high forehead. She had a kind and gentle appearance.
However, her heart was just as repulsive as her teeth.
That lady's teeth were rather comical. Not only were they uneven, but they were also completely rotten.
Compared to her yellow teeth, the housekeeper's mouthful of rotten teeth was enough to give anyone goosebumps.
Fortunately, the housekeeper's wife was quite attractive, which made people overlook her rotten teeth.
Of course, that's assuming she doesn't speak or smile without showing her teeth.
Li Xiaonuan shuddered, turned to stare at the pure white snow, and asked, "Madam, if you don't explain clearly, how will anyone know what you want? Besides, you already took everything from me when you searched me earlier. Didn't you see that?"
Seeing that Li Xiaonuan was unmoved by reason, the housekeeper changed her approach.
“Miss Li, let’s be frank. What I want are all the drawings and manuscripts you gave to Prince Jing. I believe you have a copy of them. Just hand them over, and I guarantee I’ll put in a good word for you with some influential people.”
"Ah~" Li Xiaonuan pretended to suddenly realize, "So you wanted a nautical chart. You should have said so earlier. If you had, I would have brought the drawing."
The housekeeper had been somewhat expectant when Li Xiaonuan made that sound. But after hearing Li Xiaonuan's words, she raised her eyebrows again.
“Miss Li, I believe you are a smart girl. So please stop pretending to be stupid. You should know that what I need is what you gave to the Prince when you were at the villa.” The housekeeper’s tone was a little loud.
"Mom, do you want the secret recipe for scented soap, or the manuscript for the crystal telescope?" Li Xiaonuan had no choice but to use these two obvious items to make up the difference.
She was so cold that she was shivering and could barely speak.
“Mom, I can’t stand the cold. As you know, our family lives in the south and can’t withstand the harsh northern winds. If I can’t stand it now, what you want will be wasted.” Li Xiaonuan decided to take a gamble.
At the very least, she needed to get some warm clothes. That way, her family wouldn't have to freeze when they fled.