"Yes. Geez, for these few tiny dishes, the entire kitchen was turned upside down. How could it be easy to prepare Gui Le dishes in such a short time in this kind of place?" The matron raised her head and looked further into the room, whispering, "How is it now?"

The mention of this made Hongqian worry again. "How is it now? I'm worried to death, but she's super relaxed. Let me tell you, according to the Duke, if something happens to her...." She pointed towards the main room inside, "not just me, but the entire kitchen's lives are at stake."

The matron paled.

"Leave this food container to me." Behind the two people, an unfamiliar face suddenly popped out.

Hongqian was startled, clutched to her chest and jumped back. She hadn't opened her mouth yet when Zuiju had taken the heavy food container off her. "The Duke has ordered that, from now on, I will look after Miss Bai. Hongqian is to remain here, to help me familiarise how serving works here. You can just call me Zuiju."

Although Hongqian was shocked, but was happy to have someone replace the pressure of failure. She lowered her head, saying, "Yes."

"The kitchen still has work to do, so I'll get going. The food container does not have to be returned to the kitchen, as I'll come to get it myself. Just put it on the table in the side room." The matron hurriedly excused herself, then stepped into the thick snow, going back the way she came.

Moran walked towards them. "Take them to her, or the dishes will get cold."

Zuiju nodded her head and headed for the main room. She pushed open the door with one hand, the other holding the food container. When she turned, she saw that Hongqian had followed her. She whispered, "You don't have to come in, I'll deal with her myself."

Hongqian knew Pingting's stubborness, her immense ability to hold her opinion regardless of how much one cried or begged. But seeing Zuiju's utter confidence, she wasn't sure what to say. She gave her a look, nodded and went into the side room.

Zuiju lifted the curtain and stood at the door, not making any other steps. She just quietly observed Pingting reading on the couch.

It was a while before she walked towards the table and opened the food container. One by one Zuiji took out the dishes, still steaming hot.

Two meat dishes, two vegetable dishes, steamed chicken soup with cloud ears, a bowl of well-boiled rice porridge and four other Gui Le side dishes.

Ten things in total, completely covered in colour, flavour and taste. Each was mouthwatering.

Zuiju spread out the dishes, stood by the raised platform and carefully sat down. "Your servant, Zuiju, due to the Duke's order, has specifically come to serve Miss Bai."

Pingting continued to have her head lowered, reading. Her slightly drooping neck, delicate white skin, was undescribably touching.

"I know persuasive words have all been used by Hongqian already, and even if the food on the table is limited delicacy of the mountains or seas, Miss feels no desire to eat." Zuiju slyly smiled, saying, "Miss' desire is to simply have the Duke by Miss' side. Due to the Duke's temper, surely only an extreme measure of the last resort can soften it? To me, if it really becomes the last resort, even if the Duke agrees to come, Miss can no longer hold up either. This 'I test you, you test me' will be a waste of your life and cause grief to the Duke forever. Miss is a wise person, so why continue such a foolish act?"

Pingting's gaze finally lifted off the book and swept towards Zuiju.

Zuiju saw her movement and went a little closer, intentionally lowering her voice. "Miss' love for the Duke is very deep and can't bear to leave the Duke alone right? You have to look after your body so that you can gain the Duke's love in the future. I have a bottle of special medicine, a family secret recipe. Taking one can replace the meals for the day. As for the dishes on the table, Miss does not have to worry about them. Just return them the way you used to. Like this, in less than two days, the Duke will definitely be distressed and will naturally come to see Miss."

She took out a small bottle from her arms and shook it at Pingting. "This act will not be detected by anyone, human, ghost or god. It is perfect to test the Duke's thoughts towards Miss and does not damage your body. What does Miss think?"

Moran had hid himself behind the door. His hearing was above most people and heard about seventy-five percent of Zuiju's words, which he thought were very clever.

To attack an opponent, one must attack the heart. This bottle of medicine was the perfect bait, making the future easier to deal with.

Pingting's gaze remained soft throughout and as clear as dew. She stared at Zuiju for a long time before suddenly opening her mouth to speak, "Can you smell the scent of snow?" Due to the lack of food Pingting's voice was very hoarse but still possessed an exciting charm that others lacked.

Zuiju was stunned, unsure of how to reply.

Pingting slowly turned away, her gaze resting towards the snowing sky where the sun tried to outrun the white face of the clouds.

She stretched her delicate eyebrows, carelessly slurring her words. "Only those who have pure hearts are able to smell the scent of snow. If you can't resolve the feeling of sadness and continuously panic, then what's the difference between life and death? I have already found the way to solve the problem of death so go tell the Duke that Pingting has never felt more relaxed than now."

Zuiju remained dazed for a long time before putting the bottle back into her sleeves. She stood up, preparing to leave. Out the door, she looked up to see a surprised and frustrated Moran. She pursed her lips, "There's nothing I can do but convince the Duke to come personally."

Moran sighed helplessly. "Easier said than done, the Duke is even harder to convince than she is. I can only hope that he changes his mind in fear. How could you or I possibly bear his punishments?"

Relationships between men and women were truly scary, making such a wise person like the Duke fall into the pits of traps, putting their survival at great risk. This fatal attraction between two clever people resulted in too many setbacks.

Zuiju tried again. "If one place doesn't work, then try the other place. Let me try." Leaving Moran, she headed towards his office by herself.

Chu Beijie was in his office. He held a teacup in his hand, but he didn't even drink a sip until the tea became cold.

Then suddenly, he heard someone outside. "Zuiju would like to see Duke."

Chu Beijie abruptly stood up from his seat, before realising his actions were too impulsive. He returned to sitting down. He placed the cup back onto the table. "Come in."

Zuiju walked into the office and bowed at Chu Beijie. "Duke, Zuiju has seen Miss Bai."

"Still refusing to eat?"

"Yes."

"How's her body?"

"Judging by her face, not very well."

Chu Beijie replied "Hm." He asked using a deeper voice, "You haven't gotten her pulse?"

"No."

"Given her any medicine?"

"No."

"Applied acupuncture yet?"

"No."

Chu Beijie laughed coldly. "Your Teacher bragged about your cleverness, how you are able to determine a patient's intentions so even psychiatric conditions are solved. Since you are not taking her pulse, giving medicine or applying acupuncture, I suppose you must have another way to help her?"

"Yes," Zuiju replied respectifully, "Zuiju does have a way to help her."

"Oh?" A dim light of interest flickered in Chu Beijie's eyes. "Say, how do you plan to help her?"

Zuiju carefully thought this through for a while and then rapidly spat out, "If the Duke firmly refuses to see Miss Bia, then Zuiju's best plan to help Miss Bai is to prepare poison for her, so she can part from this world without pain." She paused and sighed. "No one can convince Miss Bai. From just one phrase, her words are not a threat or blackmail but something she feels comfortable about. She is waiting for Duke's decision without resentment. A doctor's heart is like a parent's, so knowing that she's a hopeless case, giving her poison is the happiest choice."

Chu Beijie's breathing stopped, his clenched fists loosened, then tightened again. He quietly asked, "What phrase?"

"She asked Zuiju if she could smell the scent of snow." Zuiju's expression was one of remembrance, "She said, only those who have pure hearts are able to smell the scent of snow."