Good Ending: She Swears She Will Not Let Him Die!

Chapter 296: Chapter 295: Tangcao

”Isn’t it funny?” Madam Ma laughed, ”That’s why I said it’s a ridiculous matter.”

The two older women continued talking, unconsciously laughing louder.

Lian Qiao looked over in response to the noise and said, ”Please help me move out the camphor wood chest from my storage room.”

Madam Ma shivered, stood up, brushed her hands on her skirt, and awkwardly smiled, ”I’m on it.”

Mrs. Shen followed along with her.

The window of the inverted house suddenly was pushed open, revealing a small fair face with a red mole on the forehead - it was Cangzhu.

Cangzhu went to find Hongfu, remembered earlier having asked Yu Zhu to eavesdrop, and was particularly cautious this time, ”When you were working at the front, were you acquainted with Zizhu from Mr. Si’s place?”

Hongfu was unsure of her intent but nodded and said, ”I do know her, but as for being familiar, not really.”

”What kind of person is she?” Cangzhu followed up with a question.

Hongfu frowned and thought for a while, ”Not someone easy to deal with; I don’t like her in general.”

Cangzhu looked around, leaned closer, and whispered, ”I heard she got a bracelet, maybe a gift from Mr. Si.”

Hongfu’s face turned pale, gripping Cangzhu’s sleeve tightly, ”You can’t just say things like that. Why would Mr. Si randomly give her a bracelet? If this gets out, her life may be at risk.”

Cangzhu was startled by Hongfu’s reaction and quickly said, ”Isn’t that why I came to ask you? I haven’t spread it around.”

Hongfu said sternly, ”No matter what, it’s better not to mention it.”

The two parted on a rather sour note.

The next day, Jin Rui, who was not on duty, packed some things to visit her parents.

Du Yunluo called her in and quietly instructed, ”When you return, go to Willow Tree Alley to find Jin Ling, and ask about that bracelet issue, see if it’s as thin as this.”

While talking, Du Yunluo gestured with her hand.

Jin Rui agreed.

After Jin Rui left, Du Yunluo went to Jingshui Hall.

On the 10th, 20th, and 30th of every month, Mrs. Zhou would call in the housekeepers to inquire about the matters of the main household.

Du Yunluo joined in listening as well.

Mrs. Zhou had her own way of managing, and those under her were loyal. Even though her body hadn’t allowed her to manage as meticulously in recent years, the affairs of the main household remained well-organized.

These housekeepers were almost all individuals she had dealt with in the past, making it smooth for Du Yunluo to interact with them.

In the evening, Mrs. Zhou went to Baijie Hall to attend to Madam Wu, sending Du Yunluo back to Shaohui Garden.

Thinking about Jin Rui, Du Yunluo departed after paying her respects.

As soon as she walked into Shaohui Garden, Jin Rui had returned.

Jin Rui took paper from her bosom, ”At Jin Ling’s place, I drew this according to her description.”

Du Yunluo accepted it.

Jin Rui was skilled at drawing patterns, so capturing the bracelet’s details was easy for her.

”Jin Ling said she only saw it once that morning, so she might not remember everything clearly, but the general pattern is like this, and the thickness of the bracelet is about what you said, madam,” Jin Rui said respectfully.

Du Yunluo’s gaze fell on the paper.

Jin Rui had drawn it clearly: overlapping designs of enduring winter, lotus, peony, and orchid, intertwined with delicate intricacy due to being carved on such a thin golden bracelet.

Du Yunluo immediately recognized it as identical to the Tang Grass Pattern on Mu Yuanjing’s wrist bracelet from that day.

Could the Li Family’s bracelet really be Mu Yuanjing’s property?

How did Zizhu acquire it?

Jin Rui cautiously stepped forward and whispered to Du Yunluo, ”Madam, there’s talk in Willow Tree Alley that Zizhu’s bracelet is a gift from Mr. Si, implying she might have an unclear relationship with him.

I asked Jin Ling, and she said Zizhu rarely returns home, so she’s not sure if Zizhu would do such a thing,”

Du Yunluo pressed her lips together and burned the paper Jin Rui had drawn in the lamp flame.

Du Yunluo wasn’t sure if Mu Lianyu and Zizhu were involved, but even if something was going on, why would Mu Lianyu, who wasn’t short of silver, gift Zizhu something of Mu Yuanjing’s?

It didn’t make sense.

However, if this were true, it would explain why Zizhu didn’t work in the inner courtyard in the past life.

The Lian Family must have discreetly dealt with it to avoid the scandal.

Du Yunluo slightly curved her lips.

This could be a good reason to attack the second house; this time, it shouldn’t just blow over quietly.

However, Du Yunluo found the matters of the front courtyard beyond her influence.

In Baijie Hall, Mrs. Zhou accompanied Madam Wu for dinner.

When the table was cleared, Madam Wu sat cross-legged on the Arhat Bed and asked, ”Did you have Lian Xiao’s wife join in listening to the reports today?”

”Yes,” Mrs. Zhou sat down on the other side, smiling, ”I’ve been showing her some of the main household’s account books, and Nanny Su said Lian Xiao’s wife is perceptive and comprehends things in one sitting. Teaching her is no trouble at all.

Knowing this puts me at ease, so I’ve gradually taught her other matters. Even Nanny Su, Mrs. Gao, and several stewards praise her now.”

”If you’ve sung her praises, how could the people beneath you disagree? They’re all astute,” Madam Wu said with a satisfied smile, ”It’s good to be assured. In that case, once Lian Xiao departs, I’ll mention it to Yuanyou’s wife.”

Mrs. Zhou lowered her eyes and said, ”That’s also good, allowing the couple to spend more time together, keeping her from getting overwhelmed with work the moment she takes charge.”

Madam Wu shared the same thought, patting Mrs. Zhou’s hand, saying, ”I heard from Lian Qiao that the two of them get along well. I’m hoping she could be pregnant before Lian Xiao departs, just like Lian Cheng’s wife.”

Mrs. Zhou naturally hoped so as well, nodding her head earnestly.

In Shaohui Garden, Du Yunluo had Yu Zhu set the table.

Earlier in the afternoon, Jiuxi had reported that Mu Lianxiao had some matters and wouldn’t be back for dinner, advising Du Yunluo not to wait for him.

As Du Yunluo was about to finish her meal, she heard voices from outside.

She paused slightly, got up to greet him, and it turned out to be Mu Lianxiao, prompting her to complain, ”Weren’t you not coming back?”

If she had known he’d return so soon, she would have waited to dine together.

Dining alone was indeed dull.

”Bring a plate over,” Mu Lianxiao handed the oil paper package to Yu Zhu, took Du Yunluo’s hand, and walked inside, ”Originally, Prince Cheng’s heir roasted some venison and invited us to drink wine. Unexpectedly, Prince Cheng went to the palace, then asked for the heir, so he had to share the venison. I brought some back, it’s well-roasted; you should try it.”

Du Yunluo smiled with pursed lips.

Once Yu Zhu brought it in, Du Yunluo tasted a bite.

The aroma of the meat was rich.

Du Yunluo laughed with squinty eyes, ”Delicious, but not quite the same as what’s at the hunting grounds.”

At the hunting grounds, the cooks serve it piping hot, sizzling with oil, naturally better than when it’s cool.

Mu Lianxiao also smiled, bent near her, his gaze tender as water, ”You should practice your riding skills, so we can go hunting together next time.”