Something unusual in the young madam

"I don't know. It's just that I was preparing lunch, but then, the knife suddenly disappeared from my hand…"     

"Did something happen?"     

"The young master's school sent a message to the master — did she hear about it?"     

"Oh, my god! Did she?"     

"What's going on here? Why are you all flocking outside the kitchen, gossiping?" An older maid stood from a distance, narrowing her eyes at the servants outside the kitchen. The servants looked in her direction, fixing their stance as she approached.     

"Well…" one female servant scratched the back of her head. "... it's because the madam is cooking."     

"Huh???" the head maid, Mrs. Deng, furrowed her brows. "What did you say?"     

Mrs. Deng didn't want to believe her ears until another servant pointed in the kitchen's direction. They made way for her, and the moment her gaze landed in the kitchen, her eyes popped open.     

The young madam was in the kitchen, cooking while humming.     

Mrs. Deng rubbed her eyes while the other servants nodded. They also had the same reaction.     

The young madam never did anything in the manor. Not that Heaven was required to do so, but this was the first time in five years she had taken initiative. Heaven enjoyed being alone — even her husband respected her solitude. Or rather, she just didn't like the company she could have in this house.     

Be it the servants, her husband, or even her son, Heaven disliked everyone. All servants had to tread on eggshells around her, afraid she would lash out at them. Although Heaven didn't do that to anyone in the past, Heaven had a terrible reputation in the household with how she treated the master, especially the young master.     

If not for the master, no one would care about an ingrate like her.     

"What is she planning now?" the head maid frowned, assuming Heaven had a plan up her sleeve.     

Without a second hesitation, Mrs. Deng marched inside the kitchen.     

"Young madam, what are you doing here?" asked Mrs. Deng to Heaven, stopping the latter from chopping the potatoes.     

Heaven lifted her eyes to meet Mrs. Deng's eyes. 'And who you might be?' she wondered, reviewing the memories she had.     

Mrs. Deng, the head maid of the house. She was the one making decisions in the mansion. She was also a loyal servant in the Zhu Clan just like Miriam. It was just that Miriam was more focused on the young master's well-being while Mrs. Deng on the household and the maids.     

'Unlike Miriam, this woman is an arrogant one.' Heaven mentally nodded in understanding, grasping what sort of person this head maid was according to Heaven's memories. 'She's smart, though.'     

Mrs. Deng never directly maltreated Heaven, but Heaven had caught this woman badmouthing her. Heaven let it pass in the past because she didn't care about her; Heaven was too caught up with her own misery.     

It was different now, though.     

"Are you blind?" Heaven cocked her head to the side, raising the knife, and swayed it sideways. "I'm preparing food for the master and the young master."     

"Young Madam, you know the master and the young master were picky eaters! They don't eat just anything — leave it to the chef!" Mrs. Deng frowned deeper, keeping a stern expression.     

'I know that. But as the saying goes, the way to a man's heart was through his stomach. It's a simple peace offering to my husband,' was what Heaven wanted to say, but bit her tongue.     

"Alright." Heaven put down the knife and nodded. She glanced at Mrs. Deng, only to see the latter huffed quietly but didn't hide the satisfaction upon exercising her authority.     

'Hah.' Heaven mentally smirked.     

"Though Mrs. Deng, I heard the young master's temper has been shorter than ever. He hadn't been touching his food, according to Miriam. So, I thought if his mother cooked him food, he might eat." Heaven folded her arms, bending over to rest them on the edge of the counter. "But since you don't want me to touch anything in the kitchen, I'd just tell that to the master."     

Mrs. Deng's face instantly turned red while Heaven flashed her a kind smile.     

"I mean, who am I in this house, right? The young madam should listen to the head maid — I guess, Mrs. Deng should just become the madam since she knows the master and young master better," added Heaven, keeping up her harmless smile. "Right?"     

Mrs. Deng clasped her skirt while secretly clenching her teeth. 'The audacity of this woman!' was what her furious eyes spoke, which Heaven read accurately.     

"I know, right? The audacity of me," replied Heaven, making Mrs. Deng's face freezes. "After neglecting my husband and son for the past five years, I am suddenly acting as if I'm a good wife and mother. However, how in the world would I make amends to those two if I don't dare take a step forward? No matter how terrible this marriage was, these duties were still rightfully mine. The only person who has a say in it was my husband and son."     

Heaven's eyes drooped as the corner of her lips curled up into a crafty smile. "Don't you want this family to finally unite, Mrs. Deng?"    

"Hah…" Mrs. Deng huffed once again, and then quickly recomposed herself. "Of course not, young madam. I'm simply concerned about the master and the young master. Also, to you. You haven't stepped in the kitchen for the past five years. So, I'm a little worried that you might hurt yourself."     

'Smart.' Heaven nodded approvingly to herself.     

"I appreciate your concern, but I'm alright." Heaven picked up the knife to resume her activity. "I'm quite adept at handling knives. There's no way I'd cut myself. Cooking is my passion, you know?" — because cooking her own food was the safest way to eat without worrying about being poisoned.     

As Heaven resumed her activity, she could feel the death glare coming from Mrs. Deng. She didn't care, though.     

'This woman… if the master and the young master had a tummy ache, I'll make sure to report you to the Old Madam! Even if the master warned me, I will make sure to kick you out of this household!'     

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