Chapter 500 - 499: Great Evil

Chapter 500: Chapter 499: Great Evil

Du Yunluo’s fingertips gently tapped a few pieces, saying, "Looks dreadful? If she frightens you, she may be considered a ’good person’."

Jin Ling lowered her eyes and nodded.

She had dealt with Zizhu; Zizhu was not a person of great evil. On the contrary, Zizhu was quite timid.

Pushing Cangzhu into the well was the most malicious thing Zizhu had ever done in her life, so malicious that even Zizhu herself couldn’t face it.

The weight of a life had always been heavy on Zizhu’s mind, even after three years, it remained burdensome.

Counting the days, it was just a few days past Cangzhu’s death anniversary. No wonder Zizhu seemed so lost.

Du Yunluo could somewhat understand Zizhu’s feelings.

She too had killed before.

Even though she tried not to think about it, sometimes when she saw the flame flickering on the oil lamp, her heart couldn’t help but tremble.

Du Yunluo knew she wasn’t wrong. In that situation, if she hadn’t struck the villain unconscious, it would have been them who suffered.

If the situation were to happen again, Du Yunluo would do the same thing, instinctually, even before her thoughts could catch up.

However, the weight of a life cannot simply be explained by right or wrong.

Just like Zizhu, she made a wrong move because she stole a bracelet and was forced to silence Cangzhu when there was nowhere else to retreat.

But in her heart, she still couldn’t escape the punishment of her conscience.

Killing is a grave sin.

After talking with Du Yunluo, Jin Ling stood up to take her leave.

Du Yunluo instructed Hong Jinbao’s family to prepare a soft sedan chair, sending Jin Ling to the mouth of Willow Tree Alley.

Just as Jin Ling stepped down from the chair, Zizhu came out carrying a bundle.

Zizhu was thin, with hollow cheeks, high cheekbones, and a chin so sharp it could be used as an awl. Her clothes didn’t fit well, looking oversized, while the upper garment seemed half new, half old, probably made last autumn.

Jin Ling noticed that Zizhu had lost so much weight in just half a year.

Zizhu walked out in a daze, and upon seeing Jin Ling, her scattered gaze focused: "Sister-in-law."

Jin Ling sighed, "Even if you’re seeking redemption, you shouldn’t let yourself become like this. Your mother saw you like this and was heartbroken."

Zizhu gave a sheepish smile. Her thin face exaggerated the size of her eyes, which sparkled in a misty gaze: "On Qingming that day, I burned a lot of paper offerings, yet I still feel uneasy.

Sister-in-law, I always dream of Cangzhu—she smiles at me, beckoning me over.

I’m terrified and don’t know what to do. Look, I’ve put on several strands of Buddha beads...

Sister-in-law, everyone involved in that matter is gone, even Mr. Si is gone, so what about me?

How long can I still live?

They say that there is karmic retribution, that good and evil are recompensed by the heavens. With my situation, shouldn’t I bear the consequences by now?"

Jin Ling felt a chill down her spine from Zizhu’s words, despite standing beneath the blazing sun, she broke out in a cold sweat.

"Mr. Si died in battle, don’t let your thoughts run wild," Jin Ling said.

Zizhu pursed her lips and shook her head: "Had it not been for the scandal being exposed, Mr. Si wouldn’t have gone to the Northern Border and stayed there for more than two years without returning.

If Mr. Si had been in the capital, how would the winter battle in the Northern Border have involved him?

Ultimately, it all started due to that scandal.

Sister-in-law, don’t comfort me. I know my sins are heavy."

Saying this much, Jin Ling could no longer persuade her, watching as Zizhu staggered back inside.

In the Fengyu Courtyard, Lian Family took her medicine from Zhu Shan’s hand, mouthful by mouthful.

After taking a sip of honey brew, Nanny Zhu lifted the curtain and entered, gently nodding towards the Lian Family.

Lian Family understood, and gestured for Zhu Shan to guard the door.

Yesterday, Nanny Zhu was pressed by Lian Family to recall the sequence of events around the Mid-Autumn Festival that year, from the maids’ experience of seeing strange shadows on the night of the Qiqiao Festival, to the evening when Mu Lianyu and Mu Yuanjing were caught.

Even in recalling, there were some things Nanny Zhu dared not tell Lian Family.

Like the heavy rain that night—she hadn’t patrolled but was drinking and eating meat in the Flower Hall, with over half the jug of wine going down her throat.

Had she not drunk so much, she wouldn’t have dared to let someone climb over the wall to open the gate of Manhe Garden.

This detail was never mentioned then, and wouldn’t be mentioned now. Saying it would have Lian Family settle accounts in autumn, and Nanny Zhu would suffer.

Nanny Zhu’s recount matched that of the past, but Lian Family’s mind was full of what Mu Yuanmou had said at the time.

Was it all orchestrated by Du Yunluo?

They had speculated so back then, but found no clues, and the matter was set aside.

Now, rethinking it, Lian Family realized that the affair wasn’t solely Du Yunluo’s doing, but she herself had been pushed along like a boat on a current.

Especially regarding the night patrol, Du Yunluo brought up the old customs, leading Nanny Shan to mention them, which prompted Lian Family to follow the old customs.

If from the start, it was assumed that Du Yunluo had orchestrated it secretly...

With this thought, some matters seemed clear, yet others became even more ambiguous.

The crux was whether Du Yunluo knew about Mu Lianyu and Manhe Garden’s two masters and servants before the incident occurred, and how she found out.

Only by confirming this can conclusions be drawn about the subsequent events.

Lian Family instructed Nanny Zhu to investigate.

Nanny Zhu sat beside Lian Family, speaking lowly: "I found something, but I’m not sure if it’s related to Mr. Si’s matter."

"Just say it, no matter how trivial," Lian Family said.

"Following Madame’s orders, I inquired about some people who served around Mr. Si at the time," Nanny Zhu rolled her eyes and said, "There’s one named Zizhu, does Madame have any impression?"

The name sounded somewhat familiar. Lian Family thought for a moment: "She worked in Lianyu’s front courtyard?"

Nanny Zhu nodded: "She tidied up for Mr. Si, and that May, her mother came to the estate to tell Madame that Zizhu was getting married and requested her departure. Madame allowed her to leave."

Lian Family squinted her eyes and said: "Seems like it did happen, but what’s her connection to the Mid-Autumn Festival incident?"

Nanny Zhu advised Lian Family not to rush and continued: "Zizhu’s family lives in Willow Tree Alley, not far from Yun Qi’s couple. That spring, there were rumors in the alley that Zizhu got a golden bracelet from Mr. Si.

It was said that Zizhu’s sister wore it on her wrist, and it was an exquisite bracelet. Lu’s family asked about it, and Li’s family said it was forged at a small gold shop, which didn’t please Lu’s family. The bracelet wasn’t just an ordinary item.

Because of this, the two families quarreled somewhat, random gossip surfaced in the alley. They were just idle gossip from the elder women, filthy to the ears, never reaching Madame."

"What were the unpleasant things said?" Lian Family spat, "Would Lianyu reward a maid with a golden bracelet? Hmph! Were they saying Lianyu took Zizhu as his mistress?"

Nanny Zhu laughed awkwardly, forcing out the words: "Those were the rumors, but I believe Mr. Si didn’t commit such an act."