A Thrilling Scheme Unfolds

Early the next morning, Su Li brought Ling Dang over, and the two whispered secretly in the room for half an hour.

Ling Dang widened her eyes, hardly believing what she heard, and said, "Master, this method is just too incredible!"

"Of course! Now that I've passed this method to you, just follow my instructions exactly, and you'll have Princess Mingyu completely under control," Su Li said with a smile.

Ling Dang immediately perked up and went out to handle things. On the way, she ran into Xiao Zetian, who asked what secret method Su Li had, since she seemed so mysterious about it.

But Ling Dang covered her mouth and laughed, "Master specifically told me not to tell you. It's a secret of our sect, only to be taught to disciples!"

Since Ling Dang said that, Xiao Zetian grew even more curious but could only patiently wait to see what trick Su Li was up to.

Ling Dang didn't go straight to the kitchen but headed to the back door. Every morning, the household's purchasing lady would bring in the food supplies through the back door.

The purchasing lady saw Ling Dang and quickly smiled, "Miss Ling Dang, what brings you here to take a look?"

Ling Dang looked at the various food items in the baskets and chuckled, "Nothing much, just felt like taking a look. Tsk, this basket is for the rich young lady at home, right?"

The purchasing lady patted one of the smaller baskets, "That's right. The madam ordered that every day only food for them be prepared and sent, charging a price a hundred times higher than outside."

Ling Dang grinned broadly. Charging a hundred times more? Her master really knew how to squeeze them—truly a businessperson!

"Come, let me see what food we're giving the young lady today," Ling Dang said as she swiftly rummaged through the baskets. Inside were the same ordinary ingredients as at home, just in smaller quantities since only two people ate there.

After looking for a while, Ling Dang took out a few ingredients and replaced them with others, then told the purchasing lady, "Hmm, this is better."

The purchasing lady saw that the ingredients Ling Dang adjusted were nothing special, all common items.

Since the rich young lady was generally unwelcome, the purchasing lady didn’t bother much and said, "Alright, then send it like this."

Ling Dang nodded, "From now on, I want to personally select the ingredients for the two of them every day."

Although the purchasing lady was puzzled, Ling Dang was Su Li's direct disciple and held a high status in the household, so the purchasing lady nodded respectfully, "Yes, from now on, I'll let Miss Ling Dang inspect the ingredients before sending them."

Ling Dang finished her tasks and returned to the room very satisfied, reporting back to Su Li.

Su Li smiled slyly and said to Ling Dang, "Tell Xiao Zetian to invite Princess Mingyu this afternoon. She must stay in the room with Princess Mingyu for half an hour."

Ling Dang exclaimed, "Master, what do you mean by this?"

Su Li winked, covering her mouth as she laughed, "You'll find out soon enough."

Ling Dang scratched her head, not knowing what Su Li was up to, but still followed orders and told Xiao Zetian.

Xiao Zetian frowned upon hearing this, "What is Ali up to? She actually wants me to actively invite Princess Mingyu to meet and stay in the same room with her for half an hour!?"

Although puzzled, Xiao Zetian trusted Su Li very much, so he immediately sent Ling Dang to pass the message to Princess Mingyu, inviting her to meet in the study two hours after lunch.

Princess Mingyu was so excited when she heard the news that she almost jumped onto the roof, unaware that she was falling right into a carefully planned play by Su Li!