Chapter 24: I Suppose You Have a Conscience

"Candied hawthorns! Sweet and sour candied hawthorns! Delicious, sweet, and sour!" The crisp, clear voice of a child rippled through the air like a stone cast into a still, waveless river. Little Taro shot a triumphant look at her mother standing behind her, a confident smirk on her face. She refused to believe that her young mistress—that little glutton—could possibly resist.

Wrapped in her silk quilt like a silkworm cocoon, the little girl squirmed. Did Little Taro really think she could lure her out with snacks? Hmph, did she think she was still three years old? It was just a candied hawthorn; it wasn't as if she hadn't eaten one before. They were sour, and she didn't even like them.

The little "silkworm" tried her best to remind herself that this was just a trick played by her young maid. She wouldn't fall for it. But why was her mouth watering? How pathetic! She patted her little round belly with a chubby hand. "Are you going to behave or not? If you don't listen, you're not getting any dinner tonight!"

Little Taro called out a few more times, but the room remained silent. *Hmm, the young mistress has impressive self-control today,* she thought. *Even candied hawthorns can't tempt her? No matter, I still have other treats.*

Lowering her head, she rummaged through her pocket and pulled out a small, white, square object wrapped in red silk. Little Taro chuckled. "Milk curd from the Northern Barbarians! Milk curd! Fragrant and smooth milk curd! This is the very last piece; if you don't want it, it's gone!"

The little girl inside the cocoon twisted and turned, rolling back and forth on the bed while clutching her quilt. *Little Taro, you bad girl! You only know how to use food to trick me! Hmph, and you even said you'd stay by my side forever. Liar, you're all liars! I, Zhantai Lingwei, will never forgive this wicked maid!*

Little Taro scratched her head. Her mistress still hadn't made a sound—she must be truly furious. *Fine,* she thought. *I wanted to give her a surprise, but...* With a sigh of regret, she opened the bag by her feet and began to lay out the food, saying nothing more.

The little one waited for a long time, but there was not a sound from outside. *Bad maid, liar, liar, villain.* Even Little Taro wasn't sincere toward her; it hadn't even been that long, and she was already ignoring her. *Fine, go away then! I can manage on my own.*

The little "silkworm" imagined all sorts of scenarios: she would be all alone, talking to the ants in the corner, talking to the trees, talking to the sky... *Ahhhhh, no, I don't want that!*

Just as she was lost in her imagination, her nostrils twitched slightly. *Wait, what is that smell? Why is it so fragrant? What is it?* Her stomach gave a loud, hungry growl. Lingwei pouted. Little Taro hadn't even called her for dinner! *Wicked girl! When Father and Mother come back, I’ll tell them I don't want this maid anymore!*

The aroma grew more intense. Clutching her grumbling stomach, the little girl emerged from her silk quilt. She took a few steps on the platform, then tripped and collapsed onto the bedding. *Oh, oh,* the little one whimpered, clutching the quilt and baring her tiny teeth, biting down on it hard. She was so hungry, so hungry—she wanted to eat.

Her little pride flared up again. This was clearly a trap set by Little Taro. If she ran out now, she would be falling right into it, and that wicked maid would surely laugh at her. *No, no, I cannot let that bad maid laugh at me.*

But... but she was so hungry! She tossed and turned on the platform in agony, rolling left and right. *Ah! Food is the most important thing under the heavens! Forget the jokes, forget the pride, forget the dignity—to hell with all of it!* Lingwei scrambled up, scurried off the platform, and ignoring her shoes, she sprinted out the door on her two soft, fair little feet.

"Young Mistress, come quickly, come quickly! I brought you delicious things! Everything is ready, you’ve come at just the right time—look, Mother is just about to slice it!" Little Taro’s eyes crinkled into crescents. As long as her young mistress came out, everything would be fine.

The little girl lifted her chin with an air of haughty arrogance. "Little Taro, I suppose you still have a conscience."