Chapter 512 - 511: Ruozhu

Chapter 512: Chapter 511: Ruozhu

Aunt Li arrived quickly, followed by Second Sister Li. They lifted the curtain and entered, both startled to see Jin Rui present.

"Isn’t this Miss Jin Rui?" Aunt Li said with a flattering smile, "Here to visit Yun Qi’s wife, I see."

Jin Rui nodded with a smile, her gaze falling on Second Sister Li.

She had not yet reached her coming-of-age ceremony, but she had a dignified appearance, with bright eyes and fair skin. It seemed fitting for her to serve in the household.

Jin Rui gently asked, "Aunt, today the Xu Family mentioned to the madam about bringing your Second Sister into the household. I happened to be visiting Jin Ling, and the madam asked me to take a look at your Second Sister that’s all."

Aunt Li was taken aback, her eyes darting between Jin Rui and Second Sister Li: "Our Second Sister is entering the household? How could the Xu Family..."

"Mother, I asked Aunt Xu," Second Sister Li said.

Aunt Li’s face turned pale instantly: "Didn’t we agree a few days ago? We decided not to mention entering the household anymore!"

"I want to go to the household," Second Sister Li insisted, pursing her lips, "Later, when I marry into the Xu Family, Sister Xiaoqiao has already served in the household. Compared to her, won’t I just be an ignorant country bumpkin?"

"Nonsense!" Aunt Li gasped.

What marriage into the Xu Family, a matter that hadn’t even been discussed properly, was being used to make foolish claims.

A daughter’s reputation is most important, and Aunt Li was extremely troubled. If not for the presence of Jin Ling and Jin Rui, she might have grabbed Second Sister Li’s ear.

In front of these two, Aunt Li could only wave her hands repeatedly: "I apologize for the trouble, it’s all this silly girl’s own idea, I never agreed to it. Please tell the madam that our daughter won’t be entering the household."

"Mother, I want to go," Second Sister Li persisted.

Jin Rui and Jin Ling exchanged a glance and chuckled softly: "You all discuss it yourselves. There’s no lack of hands in the household now; if she really wants to enter, she will have to wait for a suitable vacancy. If you want her to go, I’ll note it down, and when there’s a suitable vacancy, she can enter. Otherwise, another family’s girl will fill the spot."

Aunt Li kept apologizing and pulled Second Sister Li away. Second Sister Li shook off Aunt Li and dropped to her knees in front of Jin Rui: "Miss, please let me enter the household."

Jin Rui did not respond, merely looked at Aunt Li.

The mother and daughter couldn’t come to a conclusion at that moment and left with red eyes.

Jin Ling observed and sighed: "Let them figure it out themselves. Whether we urge or hinder, it might seem as if the madam is at fault."

Jin Rui thought so too.

When they returned to the household, they reported the matter to Du Yunluo.

Du Yunluo shook her head: "She dared to agree to the marriage just to enter the household; she’s quite bold."

The bold and stubborn Second Sister Li eventually persuaded Aunt Li.

Du Yunluo considered it and arranged for her to work at the Flower Supervisor in the garden. The housekeeper Mrs. Zhonghai took Second Sister Li over, and she took the name Ruozhu.

At Jingshui Hall, Mrs. Zhou heard of Ruozhu and asked Du Yunluo about her.

Du Yunluo smiled and said, "She’s the younger sister of Zizhu. The Xu Family mentioned her to me.

I found out that Ruozhu is engaged to the youngest son of the Xu Family, likely to marry after her coming-of-age ceremony next year.

Ruozhu said that the Xu’s eldest daughter-in-law Xiaoqiao had served in our household, and she’s afraid that if she hasn’t, her in-laws might look down on her.

I thought it’d only be for a year, so I agreed."

Mrs. Zhou understood and said, "Letting her be at the Flower Supervisor in the garden is fine. She won’t be near the Old Madam, spared from bringing it up and causing sorrow."

The Fengyu Courtyard also received the news.

Lian Family widened her eyes, "Lian Xiao’s wife actually let Zizhu’s sister into the household? She’s grown quite bold, relying on the Old Madam’s fondness. I’d like to see if the Old Madam will protect her when she finds out she’s stirring trouble behind the scenes."

Nanny Zhu disapproved and whispered to Lian Family, "The master said it right, madam, harming the enemy a thousand while damaging yourself eight hundred is meaningless."

Lian Family turned her head away, unconvinced.

Nanny Zhu, seeing she couldn’t advise any further, used a delaying tactic: "Then wait a bit, madam. With new people entering the household, if she discovers any clues, she might grow suspicious."

"Suspicious of what? What could a little girl possibly understand?" Lian Family spat and said a couple more sentences, but didn’t refute Nanny Zhu.

After May, evening thunderstorms became frequent.

The sky darkened, rumbling, with thunder so loud it unsettled even the adults, not to mention the children.

Du Yunluo held Brother Yan, gently soothing him with soft words.

In the garden, Fuman urged Ruozhu to move several pots of flowers under the veranda, lest the rain destroy them.

Just after they relocated them, large raindrops began to fall, though the thunder succumbed.

Soaked through like drenched chickens, the two returned to their quarters.

Being new, Ruozhu had no choice but to fetch water, passing by Mrs. Zhonghai’s window and overhearing a conversation inside.

"It changes to rain so suddenly, I hadn’t even returned to the rear courtyard. Luckily, I was close, otherwise, I’d be soaking wet."

The voice was unfamiliar to Ruozhu.

Following it was the laughter of Mrs. Zhonghai: "Sister is usually busy. Even when I invite you for tea, you never have the time. Today was coincidental."

"Indeed, this rain reminds me of three years ago when the household was in turmoil. It rained heavily like this, didn’t it?"

Mrs. Zhonghai swiftly interrupted: "Why bring up past matters, sister? If this spreads, none of us will see the light."

"I’m just talking about it with you! I tell you, after that Qixi Festival, I personally saw that thing, it wasn’t of that person’s stature. Surely the household attracted something unclean.

It was strange, that Qingming, a maid in the household, Cangzhu from Shaohui Garden, also died. This year, Zizhu followed, both jumped into wells. Oh my, heaven forbid! It won’t happen again this Mid-Autumn, will it?"

Mrs. Zhonghai squealed: "My dear sister, please stop this, it’s eerie. Zizhu died outside, it’s unrelated to us, don’t frighten me."

The conversation inside shifted topics.

Ruozhu’s face alternated between pale and ashen, quickly scurrying away.

The afternoon thunderstorm came and went quickly. In a while, the skies cleared, and it gradually brightened.

The door to Mrs. Zhonghai’s was opened, and an older matron in her forties stepped out. She glanced at the damp patch under the veranda, turned, and bid farewell to Mrs. Zhonghai.

Ruozhu peeked covertly and asked Fuman, "Sister, who was that matron?"

Fuman, now in fresh clothes, came over for a look: "That’s Mrs. Wen, the night watch in the household. Don’t provoke her; she can speak a few words to Mrs. Gu by the madam’s side."

Ruozhu responded thoughtfully.

What was the thing Mrs. Wen mentioned just now? Who was that person? Mid-Autumn Festival, unclean matters, Ruozhu shuddered. Was that thing some kind of demon?