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

Chapter 301: Chapter 300: Inquiry

Lian Qiao felt a cold chill at the back of her neck.

She stared at Madam Ma in astonishment, unable to speak for a while.

Cangzhu is actually dead?

A person who was alive just yesterday is gone just like that?

And died in the well, was it an accident or...

Lian Qiao shivered, glancing around, Yu Zhu and the others also looked extremely pale.

Mu Lianxiao’s expression was grave as he asked again, ”Has the body been retrieved?”

Madam Ma stammered, ”The scene was so shocking that I couldn’t even stand steady, I didn’t dare stay and came back immediately to report. I heard them say that as soon as they found out, they sent someone to call the Second Madam, so she should be in the garden by now, retrieving the body.”

In such a situation, it’s natural for Madam Ma to be flustered and scared.

Mu Lianxiao nodded slightly and said, ”Go over again and find out what’s going on.”

Madam Ma hesitantly agreed, bracing herself to leave, but before she could exit Shaohui Garden, two women came towards her.

In the main room, Du Yunluo had just gotten up and couldn’t hear the commotion outside, so she didn’t pay attention until Jin Lan rushed in.

”What happened?” Jin Rui asked with a frown.

Jin Lan said, ”Madam, Mrs. Ma said Cangzhu died in the well in the small garden.”

Jin Rui, who was doing Du Yunluo’s hair, was startled by the news, and her hand slipped, causing Du Yunluo to gasp in pain.

”Maid...”

”It’s alright,” Du Yunluo interrupted Jin Rui, focusing on Jin Lan, ”What did you say? Cangzhu is dead?”

Du Yunluo found it hard to accept.

Nothing like this had ever happened before.

Many things had changed in this life, and Du Yunluo knew that unexpected events would keep coming, but she hadn’t anticipated that the sudden shocking news would be the death of a maid.

And it was in the well.

”Madam,” Lian Qiao’s voice came from outside, ”Nanny Dong and Nanny Zhu from Second Madam’s side are here.”

Du Yunluo had Jin Rui finish her hair, then got up and moved to the inner room.

She glanced at the two respectful nannies.

Both were trusted confidantes of the Lian family.

After asking them to sit, Du Yunluo said, ”I heard it. Was it Cangzhu who was retrieved from the well?”

Nanny Zhu secretly breathed a sigh of relief, as Du Yunluo’s directness spared them some trouble. She said, ”Madam, it was indeed Cangzhu. Our madam said that nothing like this has happened in the inner courtyard for years. Whether it was an accident or not... it needs to be understood. If there’s no explanation, people in the back courtyard will be on edge.

Such a major event can’t be hidden from the Old Madam, so please visit Baijie Hall later. Our madam has gone to call for Cangzhu’s parents.”

Du Yunluo lowered her eyes and solemnly replied, ”Since it happened in my courtyard, we must find out the truth. Please tell my aunt that once I’m ready, I’ll go to Baijie Hall.”

Nanny Zhu and Nanny Dong excused themselves.

Once they were far enough away, Du Yunluo snorted coldly.

It’s been years since something like this happened in the back courtyard...

Only the Lian family could say something like that.

People died outside because of the second house, of course, there was nothing happening in the back courtyard.

Mu Lianxiao entered, lifting the curtain, and seeing Du Yunluo’s displeased face, gently held her hand, soothingly pressing her palm. ”Are you frightened?”

Du Yunluo shook her head, ”I just feel it’s very sudden.”

Mu Lianxiao tightened his grip, pulling Du Yunluo into his embrace, and gently stroked her back, ”Have a meal first, then I’ll accompany you to Baijie Hall.”

Du Yunluo smiled faintly.

When they arrived at Baijie Hall, Madam Wu, aided by Mrs. Zhou, had already reached the Flower Hall.

Mu Lianxiao, having official duties, excused himself and left after greeting Madam Wu, Mrs. Zhou, and the Lian family.

Cangzhu’s parents were brought in.

”Poor thing...” Cangzhu’s mother knelt in front of Madam Wu with a thud, trying to say something, but when she opened her mouth, no words came out, only tears falling, and she curled up on the ground, weeping.

Cangzhu’s father wiped his face and kowtowed three times, ”Madam, please give us justice.”

Madam Wu closed her eyes and sighed deeply.

As someone who had experienced it, she knew what it felt like to suddenly lose a child.

It’s like having a piece of flesh gouged from your body! It hurts so much one could faint.

Mrs. Zhou turned her head to wipe her reddened eyes.

The Lian family, seeing the couple unable to form any words, said, ”Madam, yesterday was Qingming, Cangzhu went home to burn incense. The gate records this; she went out with a token and returned to the residence at one o’clock in the afternoon. Whether she fell in the water before reaching Shaohui Garden or after returning and going to the garden is unknown.”

Madam Wu turned to Du Yunluo, ”Did you see Cangzhu return yesterday afternoon?”

Du Yunluo thought for a moment and said, ”Grandmother, I didn’t notice yesterday afternoon, but Lian Qiao said she hadn’t seen Cangzhu the whole time, knowing she hadn’t returned overnight. She sent Mrs. Ma to ask Cangzhu’s family first thing at dawn, and then...the garden incident happened.”

The Lian family frowned and asked, ”If Lian Qiao didn’t see her, did anyone else?”

Du Yunluo looked coolly at the Lian family.

Although Cangzhu was a maid of Shaohui Garden, this matter had no direct connection to Du Yunluo. She had never been harsh or difficult to Cangzhu, let alone beaten or scolded, so Cangzhu couldn’t have become disoriented due to unkindness.

Unless this was drawn into some internal conflict among the maids of Shaohui Garden, which could challenge Du Yunluo’s management.

Du Yunluo replied, ”I remember when I sent Aunt Xu off yesterday, it was around a quarter past three. If Cangzhu returned at a quarter past one, she should have been at Shaohui Garden. Yet I and Aunt Xu talked at the garden gate for a while, and we did not see her.

After that, people in the courtyard returned one after another. If Cangzhu had come back, someone would have seen her.”

Bringing up Mrs. Xu was naturally the best explanation.

Madam Wu nodded slightly and called for Lian Qiao.

Lian Qiao’s story was consistent; among the twenty or so people in Shaohui Garden, it was unlikely that she would have been overlooked.

Mrs. Zhou whispered to Madam Wu, ”It seems she had an accident as soon as she returned.”

”Why would she go near the well for no reason?” Madam Wu looked at the Lian family, ”Was it the well at the corner of the small garden by the second gate?”

”Yes, that well,” the Lian family hurriedly replied. ”That’s why we found it strange. No one goes there except to draw water during the day. Why would she go there...”

Madam Wu asked Lian Qiao again, ”Did Cangzhu have any disputes with anyone normally?”

Lian Qiao hesitated, lowering her head without answering.

The Lian family, seeing this, quickly said, ”This is a matter of life and death, Lian Qiao, don’t think of covering anything up.”

Du Yunluo raised her hand to press her throbbing temple, recalling what Jin Rui had said, that Yu Zhu and Cangzhu didn’t get along.

Lian Qiao remained silent for a long while, finally uttering two words: ”Yu Zhu.”