Wang Li witnessed this, her gaze on Su Qing turning sharp and unreadable.
She took the cup of water Su Qing offered and looked at him.
'This guy is definitely not simple!'
'What was Steward Wang thinking? The uses for an aromatic ointment... that's not something a common slave would know.'
The more Wang Li looked at Su Qing, the more she felt something was off.
'Could this Wang Qi have lived in a major family before?'
Wang Li didn't question Wang Qi. After all, he was her slave now.
But when she saw Wang Qi's swarthy face and emaciated frame, she thought it unlikely.
"Wang Qi, wash my face."
Su Qing replied, "Yes, milady."
...
Su Qing picked up a silk cloth and gently wiped Wang Li's face, his movements exceedingly soft.
Su Qing could feel the girl's tender and supple skin, which couldn't help but stir a little excitement in him.
He also wiped away the sleep from her eyes.
Meanwhile, Wang Li was rinsing her mouth, her cheeks puffed out.
Su Qing didn't find it cute at all, because Wang Li kept staring intently into his eyes.
Every time their gazes met, Su Qing had to avert his.
---
Only after the troublesome morning routine was over and Wang Li had left did Su Qing finally let out a sigh of relief.
'We didn't even talk, so why did I feel so much pressure?'
'Damn it!'
Su Qing cursed inwardly.
'Why does that girl keep staring at me?'
'Even I'm not impressed by my own appearance.'
Su Qing was completely baffled.
Then, he took a bite of the Dandelion Grass Cake.
It was his food for the day.
Su Qing felt a pang of frustration. He wanted to go out and find more things to synthesize, but the dining hall was the farthest he was allowed to go.
The most he could do was synthesize nine steamed buns into one.
The Dandelion Grass Cake tasted much better than a regular grass cake.
At least it had a hint of sweetness.
A short while later.
Su Qing started to feel that something was wrong.
His skin felt sticky, and he noticed a faint, foul odor.
Su Qing couldn't help but wonder.
'Is the detoxifying effect that potent?'
Su Qing quickly drew a bucket of water, stripped naked, and gave himself a thorough washing.
After he got dressed again, Su Qing felt incredibly comfortable.
His body felt a little lighter.
'Detoxification... Does that mean my body was full of toxins before?'
Su Qing went to fetch more water. There was a large water jar in the courtyard, and as he filled it, he could check his reflection to see what had changed.
...
He stared at his reflection in the water.
Su Qing couldn't tell what had changed, as he had never taken a good look at himself before.
His skin was just as dark as before.
'The Dandelion Grass Cake is great. I'll have to water that patch of ground more often,' Su Qing thought. He was very pleased with the feeling of his body being less burdened.
After a moment's thought, Su Qing decided to take a walk. If he saw any unclaimed weeds along the way, he would pull them all up and synthesize them.
'As a servant, it's perfectly normal to clean up some weeds for the Wang Family, right?'
With that thought, Su Qing was already on his way out of the courtyard.
Su Qing walked with his head lowered. That way, he wouldn't offend anyone, and he could also keep a close eye on his Synthesizer panel.
[Ordinary Grass: (...)]
[Cyan Leaf Grass: (Lush leaves and stems, suitable as horse feed...)]
[Dandelion Grass: (...)]
...
Su Qing pulled them up one by one, looking for all the world like a diligent servant hard at work.
Each time he pulled up a handful of grass, Su Qing stuffed it into his robes.
Then, he would quietly attempt to synthesize them.
Su Qing's inventory grew a little.
Su Qing synthesized six ordinary grass cakes, two Cyan Leaf Grass Cakes, and another Dandelion Grass Cake.
'It's almost noon. I have to hurry back.'
Glancing at the sun, Su Qing quickly started running back.
Wang Li had mentioned she wanted a bath around noon, with lukewarm water.
With that in mind, Su Qing immediately began to heat the water.
After getting the firewood started,
Su Qing hurried off to the dining hall.
He wasn't given any trouble when he said he was picking up Wang Li's meal.
He then took nine steamed buns and left.
And then, he synthesized them.
[Synthesis Successful: First Layer Compressed Steamed Bun: (Small and exquisite. Eating one will stave off hunger for five days.)]
[Synthesis Lv1 (143/200)] [Synthesis Success Rate +1%]
'As expected, it's easier to create something new by synthesizing nine of the same item.'
Su Qing understood this principle.
Su Qing returned to Wang Li's quarters.
He adjusted the temperature of the boiled water.
A short time later,
Wang Li returned.
She was covered in a sheen of sweat, her fair skin flushed as if she had just come from a workout.
The thin layers of silk clung to her body.
However, it wasn't a particularly seductive sight.
Because she hadn't developed yet, she was completely flat-chested.
"Wang Qi, well done!"
Seeing the bath already prepared, Wang Li couldn't help but relax. After training for so long, she could finally rest.
Without a second thought, Wang Li went into the room and began to remove her clothes.
'She didn't even close the door!!!'
Su Qing screamed in his mind.
'How is this girl so shameless? What's wrong with her?'
Su Qing was baffled, but he acted quickly, moving to shut the door.
"Milady, you forgot to close the door."
Su Qing's voice snapped Wang Li back to her senses, just as the door clicked shut.
Wang Li found the situation amusing, but it also reinforced her feeling that there was something strange about this Wang Qi.
'Someone from a common background wouldn't have such manners.'
Now undressed, Wang Li's thighs were well-proportioned and looked powerful, with clearly defined muscles.
The muscles on her arms were also quite prominent.
'Wang Qi, you're an interesting fellow. For being so tactful, maybe I'll let you live.'
Wang Li thought to herself.
Of course, Su Qing had no idea what Wang Li was thinking.
He just didn't want to die. A servant could be executed for any simple reason, and Su Qing just wanted to reduce that possibility to its absolute minimum.
「Half an hour later.」
Wang Li called out, "Wang Qi, come in."
Upon hearing her, Su Qing knocked before slowly opening the door.
He saw that Wang Li was still in the tub and wondered what she wanted from him.
"Come over here and wash me."
Wang Li suddenly stood up. The sensual image instantly flooded Su Qing's mind, and his entire body went rigid.
He didn't dare to let his mind wander. In the battle between life and lust, Su Qing chose life.
"Yes, milady."
Su Qing was obedient, offering no argument or question.
'I already pointed it out once; saying it again would be an offense. Surely Wang Li knows that, right?'
'No, that's impossible. This must be intentional on her part.'
He washed her back, and then her front.
Wang Li watched Su Qing with a cold, detached expression, and Su Qing kept his own mind completely blank.
"You seem... paler, Wang Qi."
Wang Li asked, looking at Su Qing in confusion.
Without stopping his hands, Su Qing put on a look of confusion mixed with a hint of joy. "Really, milady? I'd love to be paler. Maybe it's because I haven't been out in the sun."
Su Qing knew it was likely the effect of the Dandelion Grass Cake, but he couldn't possibly reveal that.
However, Wang Li suddenly shoved him.
Caught off guard, Su Qing stumbled and fell to the floor.
"Your eyes... they haven't changed one bit."
"Wang Qi, lying to me is punishable by death!"
...