"We'll make our move tonight when everyone's asleep and it's quiet," Huangfu Yue told Xiao Hei the time of their operation.
Xiao Hei nodded. "Actually, if that puppet worm wasn't stored in a large vat, and if it couldn't leave the vat before being placed inside a person, and if that vat wasn't several times larger than me, I could have retrieved it for you. Then you wouldn't have to risk returning to the Chang residence... I could have gone back to the Chang residence alone and stolen the worm for you, saving you the risk of going back to the capital."
The master was a banished criminal. If she returned to the capital and was discovered by people there, it would be reported to the authorities, and she would be pursued nationwide. She and everyone in the prince's manor would be in great danger.
Fortunately, the master was immensely powerful and capable, so she should be able to avoid detection by people in the capital.
When Huangfu Yue heard Xiao Hei's last sentence, she immediately understood the risk Xiao Hei was referring to and what she was worried about.
"Don't worry, you don't need to be concerned. With my abilities, I'm confident I won't be discovered."
After comforting Xiao Hei, Huangfu Yue showed a hint of curiosity and asked, "Is the puppet worm very large, since it's kept in a vat several times larger than you?"
If it was that big, how could it enter a human body?
"No," Xiao Hei shook its small, dark head.
"It's very small, only a little larger than a grain of rice. But I heard it needs to be kept in a large, specially made vat before it enters the human body. It..." Xiao Hei stopped mid-sentence.
It had heard footsteps outside; it was probably Ying'er returning.
It was Ying'er! Huangfu Yue was already very familiar with Ying'er's footsteps.
Huangfu Yue whispered to Xiao Hei, "We'll continue talking after our operation tonight."
She needed to have a thorough understanding of the puppet worm to ensure no mishaps occurred during the theft and its subsequent use.
However, she couldn't let Ying'er know about the puppet worm. She would have to wait until after their operation tonight when it was just the two of them to discuss it further.
Although Ying'er seemed loyal and trustworthy, knowledge of the puppet worm could only be shared between her and Xiao Hei.
Xiao Hei nodded.
A moment later, Ying'er's footsteps stopped at the door. The next second, Huangfu Yue and Xiao Hei saw Ying'er push the door open, holding a cup of clear water.
"Miss, I'm back. They've started serving dinner downstairs, and the owner said your meal will be here shortly. You should be able to eat after you rinse your mouth."
Ying'er came up to Huangfu Yue, smiling, and handed her the water.
Huangfu Yue took the water and, just after rinsing her mouth, saw two waiters enter the room carrying an enormous tray as large as a table. The tray was laden with dishes, a small basin of white rice, and a pair of chopsticks and a bowl.
Seeing the food arrive, Ying'er quickly cleared the table so the waiters could place the dishes and rice.
The waiters promptly set up the meal and were about to leave after saying, "Please enjoy," when Huangfu Yue called out to them.
"Wait, we need two more pairs of chopsticks and bowls," Huangfu Yue said.
Ying'er and the waiters looked at Huangfu Yue with confusion, not understanding why she needed two more pairs of chopsticks and bowls when one set was more than enough for her.
Xiao Hei, being more perceptive, immediately understood why she needed the extra sets and once again marveled at how good their master was to her servants!
Although the waiters were puzzled by Huangfu Yue's request for more tableware, they respectfully agreed. Two minutes later, a waiter brought the additional chopsticks and bowls.
"Ying'er, accompany me and Xiao Hei for the meal," Huangfu Yue said.
Ying'er then understood why she had requested the extra tableware. Touched, she showed a humble expression and waved her hands vigorously. "Thank you, Mistress, but I am a servant, and there are distinctions in status. How can I eat with you..."
"Didn't you sit with me earlier to drink cola and eat potato chips and spicy strips! Now you're talking about distinctions in status and not eating together. Isn't it a bit late for that!" Huangfu Yue interrupted Ying'er.
Ying'er was rendered speechless. Huangfu Yue continued, "Quick, sit down and help yourself to some rice. I'm hungry," she urged.
Seeing Ying'er hesitate, still reluctant to sit and eat with her, Huangfu Yue frowned slightly.
"Do you want me to get angry?" she threatened.
Ying'er quickly shook her head, no longer daring to hesitate. With a genuinely moved expression, she said gratefully, "Thank you, Miss. You are so kind to your servants, Miss. You truly have a bodhisattva's heart. Heaven will surely bless you, and good deeds will be rewarded. You will have smooth sailing in all things and your wishes will come true."
Huangfu Yue curved her lips. "I didn't realize you were so sweet-mouthed, girl. You're quite good at saying nice things..."
"I didn't mean to say nice things to please you, I truly..."
"I know. Don't mind what I said. Hurry and help yourself to some rice, I'm really hungry."
Seeing Ying'er become anxious, fearing she misunderstood her intentions, Huangfu Yue smiled and interrupted her again.
Ying'er felt relieved, nodded, and began to serve herself rice.
She quickly filled three bowls with rice, first handing one to her mistress, Huangfu Yue, and then placing one in front of Xiao Hei.
As she handed the bowl to Xiao Hei, a look of curiosity appeared in her eyes.
She was curious how it, not being human and lacking hands, would use chopsticks to pick up food.
"Xiao Hei, I'll get you food. These are all the signature dishes of this establishment, so they should be good. Try them all, and tell me which ones you like, and I'll get them for you."
Huangfu Yue also knew Xiao Hei couldn't use chopsticks. She picked up the chopsticks placed on its rice bowl and said to Xiao Hei.
Xiao Hei had intended to say "Thank you, Mistress," but just as the words reached its lips, it remembered Ying'er's presence and swallowed them back.
It cast a grateful look at Huangfu Yue and nodded.
It hadn't spoken in front of Ying'er before, and Ying'er didn't know it could speak.
It was better not to let Ying'er know it could talk, for now.
Although Ying'er, due to her relationship with Huangfu Yue, didn't fear or dislike it as much as others in the prince's manor, if she knew it could speak, she would surely consider it a monster and fear and dislike it.
People like Huangfu Yue, who didn't instinctively fear or dislike 'monsters,' were very rare.
Huangfu Yue's gaze fell upon the delicacies on the table. So many dishes, she counted... nine dishes and one soup.
There was braised shark fin, white braised shark fin, Kong Family First-Rank Pot, flower-braised mandarin fish, stir-fried shrimp with snow peas, fried bean sprouts, shredded chicken in chili oil, pig's head meat with cucumber, garlic eggplant, and a trio of mushroom and tofu soup.
These dishes looked delicious, and their aroma made one's mouth water.
Huangfu Yue first picked up a piece of braised shark fin and placed it in Xiao Hei's bowl. Then she picked up a piece for herself and began to eat.
"Delicious! It's truly delicious! Xiao Hei, Ying'er, quickly try this braised shark fin, it's so delicious...
Ying'er, you have hands, so I won't get food for you. Help yourself."
Huangfu Yue praised the braised shark fin and called out to her two servants.
Xiao Hei eagerly opened its beak and ate the braised shark fin in its bowl. Ying'er, seeing Xiao Hei already eating, picked up her chopsticks to get a piece of braised shark fin and also started to eat.
Upon tasting the braised shark fin, both Xiao Hei and Ying'er's eyes lit up. The braised shark fin was indeed delicious, exceptionally so.
"This shredded chicken in chili oil is also very tasty, hurry and try it!"
Huangfu Yue was already eating the chicken, exclaiming how good it was, worthy of the inn's signature dish, as she placed shredded chicken into Xiao Hei's bowl so it could eat the chicken immediately.
Ying'er followed her mistress's advice, quickly tasting the shredded chicken in chili oil, and like Xiao Hei, her eyes lit up again, and she exclaimed internally how delicious it was.
Huangfu Yue, along with the person and the crow, ate with relish, feasting happily and enjoying themselves immensely!