Qin Miaomiao reached out and took the cup. The aroma was indeed rich, but she didn't drink it immediately. Instead, she gracefully stirred with the spoon, her face adorned with a smile as she glanced at the maid, Xiao Qin.
The schadenfreude and smugness poorly concealed in Xiao Qin's eyes instantly made Qin Miaomiao smile faintly.
She cast a glance at Lu Qing, then at the floating patterns on the coffee. Her eyes gleamed faintly, and Lu Qing felt a ripple of unease in his heart. Her red lips parted lightly, exuding a trace of elegance:
"Husband, it seems some people truly enjoy playing the hypocrite."
Smart people don't need things spelled out. Lu Qing immediately understood her implication, and his gaze turned icy as he looked at the maid, speaking coldly:
"You. Drink it."
Xiao Qin's face instantly turned ashen. "Young Master, this… this coffee is made for Madam."
"Drink it, or leave."
The anger in Lu Qing's brow was unmistakable. Though his words were directed at the maid, his gaze shifted to Housekeeper Li.
Housekeeper Li felt a jolt in his heart. The Young Master… Does he know this girl was brought in by me?
"The Young Master told you to drink it, so drink it!" Housekeeper Li scolded angrily.
Damned girl—how dare she bring trouble upon herself! Blind fool, how could I have brought such a mess into the house?
Seeing the anger on Housekeeper Li's face, Xiao Qin hurriedly pleaded, "Uncle, I… I won't drink the coffee. Please don't force me!"
"Won't drink? Does that mean the coffee is poisoned? Seems like there's quite a bit of scheming going on here."
Qin Miaomiao spoke with evident meaning, casting a deliberate look at Housekeeper Li and the other servants.
Lu Qing could obviously see through her intention—this was entirely deliberate. With one line, she disarmed and intimidated the entire household; she was clearly asserting dominance.
But he had to admit, her move was brilliant! Even Lu Qing couldn't find fault with it. Besides, it was indeed time to discipline the Lu Family's servants.
Lu Qing's gaze was as sharp as a blade and cold as ice as it fell on the trembling Housekeeper Li.
"You damned girl! Speak—what did you do to the coffee?"
True, this was the Old Master's residence, but Lu Qing was now the head of the Lu Family. A mere servant wouldn't dare defy Lu Qing, would they? Absolutely not!
Terrified of becoming involved, Housekeeper Li grabbed Xiao Qin's arm and roared furiously.
Seeing her uncle act this way, and feeling the terrifying gaze of that god-like man—though he didn't even look directly at her—Xiao Qin was so frightened she trembled all over, her legs went weak, and she stammered in panic:
"N-no… no, I wouldn't dare poison it. I was just… just…"
How could she dare to admit it?
"Just what?" Qin Miaomiao smiled faintly.
At that moment, another maid spoke up loudly:
"I saw her spit into the coffee!"
With just one sentence, this Young Madam directed suspicion toward every servant. Everyone was on edge, no one stupid enough to care that Xiao Qin was Housekeeper Li's niece. Self-preservation and proving their innocence became the priority.
Spitting in the coffee wasn't just an insult to Qin Miaomiao—it was an insult to Lu Qing, and to the entire Lu Family!
As the saying goes, even beating a dog requires consideration of its owner. And Qin Miaomiao wasn't a dog; she was the officially wedded Mrs. Lu, the future matriarch of the Lu Family!
She—this was a death wish!
Hearing this, Housekeeper Li trembled all over, his scalp prickling with fear. Before Lu Qing could lose his temper, Housekeeper Li swung his hand and delivered a slap.
"Beast! How dare you do such a thing? How dare you insult the Young Madam! Someone, drag her out! Never let her set foot in the Lu Family's home again!"