Chen Xiang Ling stared at the empty dining hall. Except for the long dust-covered wooden table and the empty seats sitting around it, there was no food or people there.
She turned to look at Fu Xiao who had followed her inside the open dining hall built adjacent to the kitchen. Noticing her gaze, the girl hurriedly spoke, "Apologies, My Lady. I thought you would be having your breakfast in your courtyard as usual. I will set up your breakfast here right now."
Xiang Ling watched as Fu Xiao grabbed towels from a wooden rack sitting next to one of the walls and quickly wiped the table and the chairs to clean them. She then took out a clean tablecloth and draped it over the table before she disappeared into the kitchen to grab Xiang Ling's breakfast.
Xiang Ling settled down on one of the seats and waited patiently. A minute or two later, Fu Xiao returned to the dining hall with a tray filled with bowls and plates of freshly prepared dishes.
The last meal Xiang Ling had was at the temple the previous late morning before they set out to return to the Chen Manor. After that, she skipped dinner because of Wei Guang. At the moment, she was really hungry and her stomach was excited to taste some delicacies.
However, all her excitement came crashing down when Fu Xiao placed the tray on the table and she got to see the dishes. There was a bowl of simple porridge, another containing three dumplings, and a plate filled with stir-fried green leaves.
Turning her attention toward Fu Xiao, she asked, "This is it? The breakfast you prepared?" She was having a hard time believing how sad her life had become within the span of the past twenty-four hours. Someone like her who used to enjoy delicacies from all around the three realms, was now made to eat porridge and green leaves.
Fu Xiao noticed the displeased look on her lady's face and felt terrified. However, there was nothing she could do. "My lady, there aren't enough rations in the kitchen. So..." She didn't dare to speak any further. Even though her lady had been acting differently since the day before and hadn't punished anyone so far, it would be stupid of her to believe that she wouldn't be punished again if she eventually ended up infuriating her lady.
Xiang Ling let out a sigh and didn't speak at all. At this point, she knew clearly why there was a lack of ration in the kitchen and why Fu Xiao didn't buy more from the market. Instead, she asked, "What about my husbands? Are they not going to eat their breakfast?"
"I have already delivered breakfast and medicine to First Master. Third Master is not in the manor and Fifth Master has already taken his breakfast to his courtyard. As for Fourth Master... he still hasn't returned..."
Xiang Ling nodded her head in understanding before she started eating her breakfast. She finished the porridge first along with the stir-fried green leaves before she ate the dumplings. After she was done with the breakfast, she dismissed Fu Xiao and headed outside.
As an Immortal, she didn't have mortal money with her. The Spiritual crystals that she had in her possession would bring too much attention to her if she decided to trade them in the markets of the Mortal world. That was why, she had to find a way to earn some money.
Of course, it could have been the easiest way out to ask for money from the County Magistrate Chen but considering the relationship between the previous owner of the body and her parents, Xiang Ling didn't find it a good plan.
Walking out of the manor, she headed in the direction of the city market and since she was walking on foot, it took her quite a while to reach the bustling streets of the main market.
She had many skills that she could use to earn money in the Mortal Realm, however, most of these skills needed time and investment of money to bring results in the long term. But recalling the simple breakfast she just stuffed into her growling tummy, she knew that she didn't have that much time, she needed to earn money almost immediately.
While her brain was busy thinking of ideas to earn some quick money, she noticed the crowd that had gathered outside one of the shops in the market. As she walked closer, she noticed the board above the entrance of the shop and realized that it was a Herb Hall. Feeling curious, she approached a group of women standing in the back of the crowd and inquired, "What is going on here?"
The women spared her a quick look and only noticed a beautiful and elegant lady standing next to them while curiously looking at the medicine shop. All three of them failed to recognize that this 'beautiful and elegant lady' was none other than the infamous Chen Xiang Ling.
"A group of people from the Capital City are inside that shop. From what it looks like, their Young Master is seriously ill and they are here for a check-up. However, Physician Li said that the Young Master is perfectly fine even though he is crippled and looks pale. That group of people just announced that anyone here who can successfully diagnose their Young Master, that person will receive a reward of a hundred taels."
Xiang Ling absorbed all the information and a bright smile bloomed on her lips. It seemed like Heaven was finally doing her some favor. It was time for her to use her skills and win over those hundred silver taels.