Su Ya drifted lightly out of the pantry, carrying a large tea tray, and served fragrant tea to Su Shijun and Zheng Qing.
Then she stood attentively to one side with the tray in her arms, looking at her mistress with an expectant expression.
Su Shijun lifted her teacup and took a small sip, a surprised smile appearing on her face.
"Very good." She praised the Little Fox Girl with a glance. "You're nearly eighty or ninety percent as skilled as Su Man."
Zheng Qing grumbled inwardly, If they knew how much tea and dew this little girl had wasted just to make tea, who knew whether they could still be so pleased.
Su Ya smiled until her eyes narrowed into slits. Even the little tail that had been curled around her waist drooped out involuntarily, its tip peeking out beneath her skirt and trembling.
Su Shijun turned her gaze away, pretending not to notice the Little Fox Girl's lapse in composure—she was neither Su Man nor an old nanny responsible for etiquette, and she had always been very lenient in managing the Little Fox Girls under her.
"Go on. Find Su Man and tell her I'm giving you half a day off as a reward for your perfect work today." The witch casually found an excuse and easily sent the little girl away.
Su Ya gave a quick bow, then happily left the reception room with the tea tray in her arms.
The room fell silent again.
After a long while, when the tea had gone down by a finger's breadth, Su Shijun finally spoke again, picking up where Zheng Qing had left off.
She looked at him very seriously. "Those little sprites aren't in danger. They were very lucky... very lucky to have met you. If it hadn't