Chapter 511 - 510: Weakness

Chapter 511: Chapter 510: Weakness

Second Sister Li winced in pain on her shoulder, grimacing as she rubbed it, and said, "Mother, we were born into this household, and we can’t stand firm against the masters, but I just want to know why Big Sister died.

I just want to find out the reason. Once I know, I won’t cause trouble or make a fuss. What use is fussing anyway?

I just want an answer!"

These words struck a chord in Aunt Li’s heart.

She wasn’t clueless; she had seen Big Sister’s oppression over the past few years, but she was utterly powerless.

Last month, Big Sister said she would jump into the well and then she did. On the last day she returned home, she didn’t leave any words for her.

Aunt Li felt uneasy, so she thought of going to ask Jin Ling.

She knew that the bracelet was not simple; there must be a story behind it.

Big Sister had learned things she shouldn’t have known, which made the masters of the household wary.

On a larger scale, among the nobles and officials in the Capital, which family doesn’t have one or two things they can’t speak of?

For such matters, people below have lost their lives, and her Big Sister was not the first.

Aunt Li felt heartache for Big Sister, but as they were just servants, their lives belonged to the masters, what else could she do?

She could do nothing.

A mother’s heart is kind, only wanting to understand the full situation, not thinking of anything else, yet even this wish could not be fulfilled.

Aunt Li hugged Second Sister and cried again, "If I could find out from Yun Qi’s wife, my wish would be fulfilled. But she won’t and can’t say anything. If you go into the estate to inquire, I won’t allow it. If the masters find out, wouldn’t you end up like Big Sister?"

Second Sister Li cried along, but she had already made up her mind.

In late May, Mu Lianxiao was back to his old routine, going to the Ministry of War in the morning, and entering the palace if summoned by the Holy Emperor.

During the day, Du Yunluo had leisure time and often spent it with Zhuang Ke, letting several children play together.

On this day, after Du Yunluo sent Mu Lianxiao out, she went to the Flower Hall for a meeting.

Things were proceeding naturally, making management convenient.

Once everything was arranged, Du Yunluo let the steward women and nannies go and rested in the Flower Hall herself.

Soon, a woman hesitantly returned.

"What else do you have to say, mama?" Du Yunluo looked up and asked her.

The woman was from the Xu Family, steward of the sewing room. She smiled sheepishly and steeled herself to say, "I have something I wish to speak to Madam about.

Madam, do you remember Zizhu, who went with Mr. Si during Qingming?

Her natal family and my wife’s natal family are both in Willow Tree Alley. A few days ago, Zizhu’s younger sister asked my wife to pass on a message, saying she wanted to come to the estate to work.

I thought this wasn’t something I should handle or promise frivolously.

But then I thought, Zizhu was meticulous in her work and she went with Mr. Si, and her family is quite... well, I thought I should report this to Madam."

Du Yunluo gave the Xu Family a glance.

She knew what the Xu Family wanted to say. The Xu Family wanted to say that the Li Family over there was quite pitiful, but Zizhu had gone after Mu Lianyu. It’s a matter of keeping those thoughts to oneself, never daring to speak them out loud.

Seeing the Xu Family’s report, it seemed the Li Family had given her some benefit.

Du Yunluo lightly tapped the table, originally intending to refuse, but then she held her tongue and said, "I know about this. If the estate needs a maid, I will remember."

The Xu Family wasn’t expecting Du Yunluo to agree outright. To get such a word was satisfying enough, and she repeatedly praised Du Yunluo’s kind heart.

Jin Rui helped Du Yunluo back to Shaohui Garden and softly said, "Does Madam really intend for Zizhu’s sister to enter the estate? There’s surely a reason she suddenly wants to join."

"Zizhu died because of Cangzhu; it originally had nothing to do with me," Du Yunluo said.

"That’s true," Jin Rui poured Du Yunluo some tea, "I saw Nanny Zhu at Zizhu’s in-laws last time, maybe Second House wants to dig up old accounts."

"I’m not afraid of her digging." Du Yunluo pursed her lips.

The old matters, Mu Lianyu and Mu Yuanjing’s affair, were not forced by her; those two had started their affair before Du Yunluo had entered the estate.

What Du Yunluo had done was to expose those scandals and not just quietly cover them with a blanket.

If the Lian Family wanted to cause trouble in Baijie Hall with this matter...

Du Yunluo lowered her gaze, her eyes deepening.

Things had been too quiet lately.

This life was different from the previous one. The path for Second House to seize the title was uncertain in Du Yunluo’s heart.

After plotting for over ten years, she couldn’t believe they would give up at this moment.

One couldn’t predict when a knife might emerge, and it would aim for the weak spot; perhaps it would be better to throw a "soft spot" to the Lian Family, to stir up some waves.

A few days ago, the visit of Imperial Doctor Xing; although Madam Wu didn’t say anything, Du Yunluo could tell she was aware.

The actions of Second House were only ever explicit about Mu Liankang’s disappearance, leaving everything else for Madam Wu to ponder herself.

Du Yunluo felt that it might be beneficial for the Old Madam to know more about the situation now.

This way, the future would not be shocking, and Madam Wu wouldn’t be overwhelmed all at once.

This time, perhaps the trouble should begin with Zizhu’s death.

Du Yunluo quietly instructed Jin Rui, and Jin Rui nodded in understanding.

The next afternoon, Jin Rui appeared again in Willow Tree Alley.

Jin Ling invited her to sit and said, "I hadn’t realized, Madam seems so at ease these days."

Jin Rui chuckled and lightly tapped Jin Ling before adopting a serious tone, "It was Madam who sent me. Yesterday, Second Sister Li sent someone to the estate, wanting to join the work."

"Second Sister Li?" Jin Ling furrowed her brows, contemplating, as she recounted to Jin Rui how Aunt Li had come to ask her about Zizhu’s death and how Second Sister Li had perhaps overheard something.

"What has the Li family offered the Xu Family?" Jin Rui asked again.

"The Xu Family? Wasn’t it Xiaoqiao’s in-laws?" Jin Ling explained, "Xiaoqiao used to be in the estate’s sewing room, was fancied by the Xu Family, and married off as their eldest daughter-in-law. The Xu Family has a younger son who likes Second Sister Li very much, often sending Xiaoqiao back to visit her family and asking Aunt Li to propose a marriage, but Aunt Li hasn’t consented."

Jin Rui understood and said, "The marriage arrangement is likely to be set, so they want Second Sister to work as a maid in the estate for a year or half, so she can say she served the masters."

"What does Madam think?" Jin Ling turned her bright eyes, "The Li Family suddenly wanted Second Sister to enter the estate, it’s probably related to Zizhu’s matter."

Jin Rui smiled slightly, "Madam said, she hopes they investigate. It doesn’t matter if it causes a stir."

Understanding this, Jin Ling was clear. She called Ying’er over and asked her to invite Aunt Li next door.