amaotonovel Chapter 120 Things Take a Turn
Chapter 120 Things Take a Turn
Madam Lin gently patted Su Daya's hand, comforting her, "Muya is alright for now. The medicine prescribed by Doctor Li can temporarily control the poison. However, to completely cure her, we must find the person who poisoned her and the antidote."
A resolute glint flashed in Su Daya's eyes: "Mother, I must find the person who poisoned me and avenge Muya!"
Madam Lin nodded, her eyes filled with determination. "Da Ya," Madam Lin said seriously, "Mu Ya said she wants to eat osmanthus cake made by Hong Mei. Go to the kitchen and ask Chef Zhang about the specific recipe and ingredients for osmanthus cake, and see if you can find any clues."
Upon hearing this, Su Daya immediately got up and quickly walked towards the kitchen.
"I must find a clue!" Su Daya thought to herself, quickening her pace.
Inside the kitchen, steam rose, and the aromas of various ingredients mingled together. Chef Zhang was directing several other cooks as they prepared dinner; it was a scene of bustling activity. Su Daya hurried over to Chef Zhang, her rapid breathing causing her chest to rise and fall slightly.
“Cook Zhang,” Su Daya said anxiously, “Muya wants to eat your osmanthus cake. Tell me, what ingredients did you use to make the osmanthus cake?”
Cook Zhang stopped what she was doing, wiped the sweat from her forehead with her flour-covered hands, and asked with a hint of doubt, "Osmanthus cake? Didn't the Second Miss already have one today?"
Su Daya frowned, unaware that Su Muya had eaten osmanthus cake earlier that day. "She...she still wants some," Su Daya explained, a hint of barely perceptible panic in her eyes.
Cook Zhang nodded and recalled, "Making osmanthus cake is very simple. It's just glutinous rice flour, sugar, osmanthus flowers, and..." Cook Zhang paused, gently rubbing her fingers on her apron, "Oh, right, I also added a little honey to make it sweeter."
Su Daya pressed, "Honey? What kind of honey? Where did it come from?"
Cook Zhang was taken aback for a moment, "It's just ordinary honey, the kind we always use in the mansion, kept in earthenware jars in the storage room."
"The kind we always use?" Su Daya repeated the question, a thought flashing through her mind.
Su Daya turned and quickly walked towards the storage room. The storage room was located in the backyard of the kitchen, dimly lit, and filled with a faint musty smell. Various ingredients and seasonings were neatly arranged on the shelves, and Su Daya immediately spotted the earthenware jar that Chef Zhang had mentioned.
The storage room was dimly lit and filled with the mingled aromas of various ingredients, interspersed with a faint, almost imperceptible sweetness. Su Daya hurried to the earthenware jar and lifted the lid. A rich, honeyed fragrance wafted out, sweet with a distinctive floral note—the familiar scent of osmanthus cake. She dipped her index finger in the honey, smelled it carefully, and discerned the aroma. Aside from the strong honey and osmanthus fragrance, there seemed to be no other unpleasant odors. Su Daya wondered if she was overthinking it. She placed the jar back in its place, closed the lid, and turned to leave the storage room.
Back in the kitchen, Su Daya frowned, carefully questioning Chef Zhang about every detail of making osmanthus cake. "Chef Zhang, think about it carefully again. What did you use for each step of making this osmanthus cake? Is there anything different from usual?" Su Daya's voice was anxious, and her eyes were full of inquiry.
Startled by Su Daya's serious expression, Cook Zhang put down her work and carefully recalled the events. "The glutinous rice flour was delivered the day before yesterday, the sugar is the rock sugar that the manor always uses, and the osmanthus flowers were picked a few days ago and have been stored in a sealed jar after being dried..." Cook Zhang counted on her fingers, trying not to miss any details. "The honey is also the one the manor always uses; it's kept in an earthenware jar in the storage room. I use it every time I make osmanthus cake."
Su Daya pressed further, "Are you sure about the source of the glutinous rice flour, the type of sugar, and the origin of the osmanthus? Is it possible that someone tampered with these aspects?"
Cook Zhang thought for a moment and replied confidently, "The glutinous rice flour was delivered by the same grain and oil shop, so there's no mistake. The rock sugar is also something commonly used in the mansion; it's always kept in the storeroom and guarded by a designated person. The osmanthus flowers were picked from the mansion's garden, and I personally supervised the maids as they dried and stored them; there couldn't be any problem." She paused, then added, "If there's anything different, it's that the osmanthus flowers today seem to have a stronger fragrance than usual."
Su Daya memorized all the information. After thanking Chef Zhang, she turned and left the kitchen, quickly returning to Madam Lin's room.
“Mother,” Su Daya walked to Madam Lin’s side and told her everything she had found out, “I asked Chef Zhang, and the ingredients and method of making the osmanthus cake are the same as usual, except that the osmanthus fragrance is stronger today. The honey is also the same as usual, taken from the earthenware jar in the mansion’s storeroom. I went to see it and smelled it myself, and I didn’t find anything unusual.”
After listening, Madam Lin pondered for a moment, then tapped her fingers lightly on the table, making a rhythmic "tap-tap" sound. "So, the problem is very likely with the honey we already have in the manor." Madam Lin raised her head, her eyes sharp. "Go, call the accountant here. I need to see the recent purchasing records."
The maid Cui'er obeyed and left. Before long, she brought the accountant to Madam Lin's room. The accountant was a thin, bespectacled middle-aged man. He held a thick ledger in his hand and respectfully bowed to Madam Lin.
"Madam, you wanted to see me?" The accountant asked respectfully, bowing slightly.
Pointing to the account book, Old Madam Lin asked in a calm tone, "Take a look, have you purchased any new honey recently?"
The accountant opened the ledger and carefully examined it, his fingers tracing the entries, making a soft, rustling sound. The room was silent except for the sound of the accountant turning the pages and the occasional chirping of birds outside the window.
A moment later, the accountant looked up and respectfully replied, "Madam, we have not purchased any new honey recently."
Madam Lin frowned, which further confirmed her suspicion that the problem might lie with the honey that was already in the manor.
"You may leave now," Old Madam Lin waved her hand, signaling the accountant to withdraw.
The accountant bowed and took his leave.
Madam Lin immediately ordered her maid, "Go, summon the servant who was in charge of buying honey and question him." Her tone was firm, and a cold glint flashed in her eyes.
The maidservant obeyed and left. Madam Lin rose and walked to the window, gazing at the darkening sky outside, her mind filled with complex emotions. She felt that a greater conspiracy was hidden behind this incident.