Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 1631: Chapter 1631: Unexpected Death

The wax plum lay there so quietly, as if she were asleep, but who would sleep on the ground in this freezing weather?

Clearly, she wasn’t asleep, and her complexion was terrifyingly pale.

Bai Ruozhu felt her legs becoming extremely heavy, each step becoming agonizingly difficult, as if her legs were bound with chains weighing thousands of pounds, making each step ever more burdensome.

The wax plum was one of the first maids Bai Ruozhu purchased, who followed her from Beiyu City to the Capital City. Bai Ruozhu had even once scolded her, admonishing her to cherish life and not to harbor thoughts of ending it.

Although the wax plum had bitten her tongue badly and couldn’t speak anymore, she was a perceptive girl, and any task Bai Ruozhu assigned to her was completed with excellence.

She learned weaving quickly and could have become a rather skilled weaving artisan, but because Bai Ruolan liked her a bit more, the kind-hearted wax plum went to take care of Bai Ruolan. She cared for her for over a year. Even though Bai Ruolan lived like a child, unable to take care of herself, and though she sometimes had uncontrolled emotional outbursts that were terrifying, the wax plum stayed by her side without complaint, taking care of her meticulously, as if Bai Ruolan were her own younger sister.

Bai Ruozhu sniffed and squatted beside the wax plum’s body, touching her hand that was as cold and hard as the icicles hanging from a roof.

She had given the name Wax Plum hoping she would bloom in the snow, brave through hardships, living strong and optimistic, yet she never imagined that the wax plum would wilt in the snow before even blossoming.

She couldn’t help but choke up, ”How is the investigation going? How did the wax plum die?”

Jianqi took a couple of steps closer, saying, ”Master, I checked a bit and it seems she accidentally slipped and fell unconscious at night, hitting the back of her head, and then froze to death in the snow due to the freezing weather.”

Bai Ruozhu suddenly turned her head, ”It wasn’t murder?”

She could hardly believe this answer. Why did the heavens treat the wax plum this way? Had she not suffered enough!

”Did nobody notice the wax plum fainting? There are guards near this yard; did no one notice anything?” Bai Ruozhu’s voice rose, causing the nearby guards to shiver. One of them stepped forward and said, ”Replying to the miss, we didn’t hear anything last night, and after nightfall, it wasn’t convenient for us to enter the lady’s yard to check.”

Indeed, even though Bai Ruolan is not very bright, she is still a miss of the Bai Family. ********** Is there any justification for guards to check the yard after the miss has gone to bed?

Bai Ruozhu tried to calm herself down, knowing she shouldn’t blame others recklessly. If only she had shown more care towards Bai Ruolan and the wax plum, perhaps the wax plum wouldn’t have died so pitifully.

”The wax plum must have slipped and fallen outside during the night, but because she couldn’t speak, she didn’t make any noise. The snow on the ground would have muffled her fall.” The guard added.

Bai Ruozhu took a deep breath, ”Then why did the wax plum leave the house in the middle of the night?”

She looked in the direction, seemingly towards the small kitchen. Could it be that the wax plum or Bai Ruolan was hungry?

”She might have gone to the small kitchen to fetch hot water or food.” Jianqi agreed with Bai Ruozhu’s deduction.

”If Ruolan needed something and she didn’t return, wouldn’t Ruolan come out looking for her?” Bai Ruozhu glanced at the side room, inside which Bai Ruolan lay, having had her acupoint pressed into a slumber.

Jianqi sighed slightly, ”Master, Lady Ruolan’s mind is indeed impaired. Perhaps she made a request but forgot after a while and fell asleep. Or maybe the wax plum herself was just thirsty.”

”Check thoroughly again. I don’t want to miss any clue. I also don’t like the thought of the wax plum being murdered, but if that’s the case, I must ensure justice is served; no possibility can be overlooked.” Bai Ruozhu narrowed her eyes as she spoke.

”Yes.” Jianqi and the others responded in unison.

Bai Ruozhu, feeling somewhat weary, left the yard to find her father and mother hurrying over.

Parents were simple folk, unaccustomed to events of death in the residence. She quickly suppressed her inner bitterness, forcing herself to be strong.

”Father, Mother, you don’t need to go over there. I’ve taken care of everything, and Ruolan needs to rest well for now.” Bai Ruozhu stopped them from going further.

Lin Ping’er looked heartbroken, ”How did a perfectly good person just die like that?”

”Jianqi checked and said she probably got up at night, slipped, and fell unconscious, hit her head, and then froze to death in the snow.” Bai Ruozhu explained.

Bai Yihong also looked guilty, ”I should have had the servants clear the snow more diligently, otherwise...”

”Father, this isn’t your fault. The servants did clear the snow during the day. It accumulated overnight.” Bai Ruozhu looked at the sky; the snow had stopped for the moment, but since the sun hadn’t come out, it might snow again tonight.

Lin Ping’er took Bai Ruozhu’s hand and consoled, ”You have a soft heart; this must be hard for you. We’ll give her a good burial.”

Bai Ruozhu nodded and led her parents towards the front courtyard. As they walked, snowflakes started to fall again, and a chilling wind howled through the distant corridor, sounding like someone crying.

After that, Bai Ruozhu didn’t go to the Female Physicians Institution. She stayed at home in a room with the Earth Dragon, talking with her parents. The three couldn’t help reminiscing about the time when they first bought the servant, feeling a bit sentimental about the present.

”Once we have properly buried the wax plum, the twelfth month will be upon us. Your second brother has already petitioned the emperor for permission, so we’ll depart for our hometown soon, visiting our ancestors as well as the village folks. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen them, and we miss them.” Bai Yihong said.

Bai Ruozhu nodded, ”Alright, I’ll make preparations in advance. Father and Mother, see what needs to be prepared, and let’s pack early. We can’t forget the gifts we’ll bring.”

Speaking of returning to their hometown, Lin Ping’er perked up, ”Alright, I’ll take charge of the gifts. I’ll make a list later, and no one will be left out.”

By midday, Jiang Yichun hurried back, having evidently been informed by the guards.

”Ruozhu, are you alright?” He quickly approached, looking at her with genuine concern.

He knew her well; despite her tough exterior, inside, she was incredibly compassionate.

Bai Ruozhu forced a bitter smile and shook her head, ”I’m fine. I’ve asked them to investigate thoroughly. I don’t want to miss any possibility.”

”I’ll take a look. Previously, while working at the Judicial Office, I learned a bit about investigations.” Jiang Yichun said before bowing to the older couple. ”You stay here and talk with your parents; I’ll be back shortly.”

With that, he didn’t give Bai Ruozhu a chance to follow him and quickly left on his own.

He didn’t want her to go and feel distressed again.

”Yichun, given his status, attending to the cause of the wax plum’s death is out of his concern for you.” Lin Ping’er said softly beside her.

Yes, if it weren’t for her, Achun probably wouldn’t even know who the wax plum was.