881 Chapter 881-poisoning
Sitting in lady Caitlin’s carriage, Xia Pingan looked at the manor outside the carriage, deep in thought.
Lady Caitlyn’s Manor was too big. The farm and vineyard outside the manor alone covered more than 4000 acres. The manor occupied a large area of Hills and flat land to the East of Koland. Golden wheat waves rose and fell in the fields, the windmill’s windmill rotated slowly, and the grapevines were arranged neatly on the low hills. Everything in front of them was pleasing to the eye.
The Golden carriage drove on the road of the manor at a steady pace. It felt like the Lord was patrolling his territory. Many people working in the fields would stop what they were doing and bow to the Golden carriage when they saw it passing by. The carriages and ox-carts that were pulling goods would stop by the side of the road when they saw the Golden carriage. The Coachmen would take off their hats and respectfully give way.
Xia ping ‘an could see that the people working in the manor were sincerely respectful to the person sitting in the carriage.
Sitting in the carriage, lady Caitlyn was stroking the head of the Black Dragon who was squatting in the carriage. She seemed to be very interested in the Dragon.
Madam, I can tell that the people in this Manor really like you, Yingluo, ” Xia Pingan said.
wealth doesn’t mean much to me. With the wealth I have now, I won’t be able to spend it all even in ten lifetimes, ” Mrs. Caitlin raised her eyes and glanced at Xia Pingan. She replied lazily, ” every year, I will distribute 20% of the manor’s income to my subordinates. I thought that this would slow down the speed at which my wealth increases. I didn’t expect that the more I get, the more I get. The increase in the manor’s harvest has already exceeded the portion that I’ve given out, Yingluo.
“Madam, don’t you have any children?”
Mrs. Caitlyn shook her head. I had a child with my first husband, but the child died when he was very young. Then, my husband passed away as well, and I haven’t been pregnant ever since, Qianqian.
Xia Pingan smiled apologetically. I’m sorry, Mrs. Margaret never told me about this. I don’t know much about your personal situation, Yingluo.
it’s okay. It’s been a long time, and I’m not sad anymore. Now the whole of kland knows that I’m a Black Widow, a woman who can’t give birth but can shorten the lives of every husband of mine. Many people say that I’ve been cursed and will die alone with a pile of gold coins, ” lady Caitlyn said with a self-deprecating smile. so many people covet my wealth but are afraid of my bad luck. My life is filled with hypocritical flattery and hypocrites who pretend to be greedy and reserved. I’m already used to it. Compared to some of the upper-class circles in kolanthe, I actually prefer to hang out with people in Margaret’s circle. They seem simpler. We can talk about flower arrangements, cooking, beautiful dresses, jewelry, and beautiful men. Sorry, I don’t know why I’m telling you all this today. I feel that you’re different from those people. You can trust Yingluo.”
In order to find out how Mrs. Caitlyn had been poisoned, Xia ping ‘an had agreed to pay her a visit to her Manor. Before coming here, Xia ping’ an realized that he had underestimated the wealth of this woman. There was probably no other widow like her in all of kland.
Looking at the huge Manor in front of her, Xia Pingan also vaguely understood why this woman had been poisoned.
Other than Xia ping ‘an and this woman, no one knew the purpose of Xia ping’ an’s visit to the manor this time. Even Mrs. Caitlyn’s coachman did not know. Mrs. Caitlyn had only invited Xia ping ‘an to the manor for a two-day holiday.
After a while, the carriage stopped in front of a pool in front of a beautiful building. A servant had already come up and opened the door. Lady Caitlyn was the first to get off the carriage, followed by Xia Pingan and the Black Dragon.
It had a Spire-shaped roof, white walls, and gray tiles. In front of the entrance was a huge fountain and statue. In front of the fountain and statue was a large, well-trimmed open garden. On both sides of the garden were stretches of vineyard. The grape vines climbed up along the pergola, forming a shady grape corridor around the manor. The roots of the vines extended in all directions. Standing in front of the manor, one could smell the fruit fragrance of the surrounding grapes. The castle-like Manor of lady Caitlyn covered an area of more than 50 acres. It was luxurious, elegant, and full of the aura of wealth.
Woof, Woof, Woof, Woof! the Black Dragon got off the car and suddenly barked in a direction.
Xia Pingan glanced at the Black Dragon, and the Black Dragon stopped barking. Then, an old man in his 50s, who was wearing a black tuxedo, walked over from a distance. He was bald and a little fat, but he looked kind and harmless.
Madam, you’re back, Chenchen. the old man came to the front of the carriage and bowed slightly to lady Caitlin.
NATAS, this is Xia Pingan, my friend. He will be my private fortune-teller from now on. He will be on vacation in the manor for two days. Please arrange a room for him, ” lady Caitlyn instructed. The old man smiled and greeted Xia Pingan with a normal expression.
Mrs. Caitlyn then introduced the old man to Xia Pingan. this is the Butler of my Manor. His name is NATAS. You can tell him if you need anything here!
Xia Pingan also looked at the old man and nodded.
alright, NATAS, go and prepare today’s lunch. I’m going to show my friend around the manor now!
“As you wish, Madam. May I know where you would like to have your meal?” The Butler asked thoughtfully.
“Let’s do it in the attic dining room!”
After giving instructions to the Butler, Mrs. Caitlyn took Xia Pingan on a tour of the vineyard.
The vineyard in the manor was very large. The wine and other fruit wines brewed in the manor were an important source of income for the manor. Walking in the vineyard, Xia Pingan saw that many people working here were actually farmers summoned by Summoners.
Madam, you have many farmers in your Manor. Do you have a Summoner here? ”
Oh, there are no Summoners in the manor. Many of the farmers in the manor are bought from the summoner’s market outside. NATAS said that it is much more convenient to buy and use the farmers summoned by these Summoners than to hire servants and workers. We can save a lot of labor expenses every year. NATAS was prepared to replace 80% of the people in the manor with the farmers and craftsmen summoned by the summoners and fire the rest, but I think that kind of Manor lacks vitality. I still prefer more people. There’s no need to save on this little expense, Yingluo.”
The summoner’s market was where Summoners made money. A Summoner could summon all kinds of people, such as farmers, craftsmen, doctors, servants, chefs, even Warriors or various pets, and sell them in the market. Summoners could get money and various other rewards, but they had to give up the use of these summoned creatures for a year.
The summoner’s market in Koland opened once every three months, and every time it opened, it would be very lively and attract a large number of people.
“How many Summoner’s farmers have been bought from the manor?”
not many, less than a hundred. They make up less than 20% of the workers and servants in the manor.
Xia Pingan nodded.
Mrs. Caitlin brought Xia Pingan on a tour of the vineyard and then the wine cellar. After a short walk outside, it was already noon. The two of them returned to the manor for lunch.
The dining hall was in an attic on the rooftop of the manor. This attic was the highest place in the manor. With Windows on all sides, they could enjoy the scenery of the entire Manor. It was arranged as a distinctive small dining hall.
Xia Pingan brought the Black Dragon over. The manor’s butler, NATAS, looked at the Black Dragon beside Xia Pingan and reached out to take it away.
The Black Dragon once again bared its teeth at the Butler, NATAS.
“Madam, it’s not very appropriate for this dog to be here. I can take this dog somewhere else so that it won’t affect your meal, Madam.”
it’s okay. I like this dog. I’ll let it stay!
As soon as lady Caitlyn spoke, the Butler, NATAS, no longer insisted and allowed the Black Dragon to enter the attic dining room.
Soon, plates of lunch were served by the manor’s attendants. Tars was personally serving them. He took out a poison test needle for each dish before bringing it to the table.
Lunch was very sumptuous. Beef sirloin with deep-fried foie gras, caviar and seafood platter, vegetable soup, cheese fruit salad with sour plum sauce, black horn mushroom steak, seafood tomato sauce rolls, chicken sauce grilled codfish, dessert, and a few types of wine.
The Black Dragon was exceptionally obedient at this moment. It squatted beside Xia Pingan and stopped barking. It only wagged its tail.
Madam Caitlin’s favorite dishes were vegetable soup and beef sirloin with foie gras in oil. The vegetables, foie gras, and beef sirloin on the table were all produced in the manor’s farm. They were specially raised by the farm for Madam Caitlin.
Xia ping ‘an didn’t make a sound and finished lunch with Mrs. Caitlyn.
In the afternoon, Mrs. Caitlyn took Xia Pingan to visit the farm in the manor.
After visiting the farm, the two of them strolled along the river in the manor. At this time, only Mrs. Caitlin was by Xia Pingan’s side. Xia Pingan finally spoke, ” Madam, I think I already know how you were poisoned? ”
“Ah, how did I get poisoned?” Lady Caitlyn stopped in her tracks.
“The meal we had this afternoon was actually poisoned!”
“Didn’t you eat the food at noon? you knew it was poisonous and you still ate it?”
Xia Pingan shook his head. if it’s just one meal, it doesn’t matter because the amount of poison isn’t enough, and it won’t affect me at all. But Madam, you live here and basically eat in the manor every day. As time passes, the poison will accumulate in your body. That’s a different story.
Mrs. Caitlyn’s expression finally changed. who poisoned you? ”
...
“It’s your Butler, NATAS!”
The source of this c𝐨ntent is freewe(b)nov𝒆l