Chapter 530 - 529: Timid

Chapter 530: Chapter 529: Timid

After acknowledging the kinship, Gui Family took their people and left.

Du Yunluo supported Madam Wu back into Baijie Hall, discussing the arrangements for July.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is a significant day in the mansion. According to tradition, they invited monks to the mansion to chant sutras and pray for blessings.

Madam Wu listened carefully, nodded, and said, "In that case, let’s proceed."

Du Yunluo agreed, adding, "In a few days, it will be the Qixi Festival. In the mansion, only Sister Ying and Sister Niang are left, so there’s no need to organize anything else."

Madam Wu laughed heartily, "I am looking forward to seeing what kind of flower melon the girls will carve when they grow up."

"Speaking of skills, Lian Xiao’s wife’s flower melon carvings are truly impressive," said Lian Family, casually but not lightly.

Du Yunluo had carved Mu Lianxiao drumming on a dragon boat and also riding a tall horse, all vividly lifelike.

"Thank you for the praise, Second Auntie Xie," said Du Yunluo.

Lian Family did not mention this to compliment Du Yunluo. Clearing her throat, she said, "The girls are still young; it’s enough for them to pay respects to the moon. With so many maids in the house, prepare some melons, fruits, and peanuts for them to seek skills."

Du Yunluo agreed.

In Shaohui Garden, several young maids were also talking about skill-seeking.

Ruozhu came to deliver flowers, smiling at Yan’er, "The sisters are also going to seek skills."

"Just joining in the fun," Yan’er wanted to say more but stopped when she saw Hongfu glance over.

Returning to her own quarters, Fuman was not in the room. Ruozhu leaned her cheek on her hand, recalling the words she overheard on that stormy day.

Mrs. Wen spoke of some shadow, unclean, tabooed by the Zhonghai Family.

What exactly happened in the mansion that Mid-Autumn Festival?

Especially what Mrs. Wen said, that at Qingming that year, a Cangzhu died in the mansion’s well; this Qingming, Zizhu similarly died in a well outside the mansion.

This Mid-Autumn Festival, will there be trouble in the mansion again?

The more Ruozhu thought about it, the more uneasy she became. Gathering courage, she went to find Yan’er again.

Yan’er pulled Ruozhu out of Shaohui Garden to a secluded spot in the garden and said, "It’s already July, you really are..."

"I’m timid," Ruozhu looked down and said, "I want to follow the sisters to seek skills, but I heard there might be something, so I..."

"If you’re timid, just don’t go," Yan’er stomped her foot and said, "Look at Fuman, she doesn’t get involved in these things. I heard she saw it that year too. It’s just a shadow, fleeting, I can’t even say what it really is. Back then, it scared Hongfu terribly, even twisted her ankle."

Ruozhu bit her lower lip, her face pale: "Just hearing you say it scares me; I won’t go; I’ll hide in my room."

"Coward!" Yan’er giggled, "Then remember, don’t come out at night for this month; who knows what you might encounter."

Ruozhu nodded repeatedly, thanking Yan’er.

After Yan’er walked away, Ruozhu watched her back with a deep look in her eyes.

On the night of Qixi, the moonlight was faint, and the stars were dazzling.

The garden was extraordinarily lively, familiar young maids gathered to pay respects to the moon, seeking skills, laughter constantly ringing out.

Hongfu sat in her room, dazed. Ever since that frightful time, she hadn’t fully recovered. This year was supposed to be better, but then Zizhu threw herself into the well.

With Zizhu’s death, Hongfu was completely shocked.

The death of Cangzhu years ago filled her mind. She still remembered hearing Cangzhu’s words, and the two went to meet Zizhu together. Later, Cangzhu was gone, and Hongfu knew it was all for that golden bracelet.

This matter haunted Hongfu, she didn’t dare to speak a word about it to anyone.

Cangzhu didn’t accidentally fall; it’s likely Zizhu pushed her. Hongfu couldn’t bring it up at all.

Now, with both gone, Hongfu wasn’t relieved but burdened by this secret, barely able to breathe.

Unexpectedly, Ruozhu entered the mansion.

When Ruozhu asked Yan’er about things from when Zizhu used to work, Hongfu was unsettled. She didn’t want to mention the past, only saying she forgot.

Only she knew that she hadn’t forgotten anything.

She orchestrated the meeting between Zizhu and Cangzhu, resulting in Cangzhu’s death...

Hongfu lay on the table and suddenly heard a thud. She quickly lifted her head but didn’t know where the sound came from.

She took a deep breath, thinking she heard wrong.

The next moment, another thud, and a shadow flashed outside the window. This time, Hongfu saw it clearly, almost screaming.

She stumbled to the door, pulled it open, peered out, but there was nothing, no shadow, nothing at all.

Though it was July, Hongfu felt the night breeze as cold as winter; she quickly shut the door, huddled on the bed.

Not knowing how long she sat there silently, footsteps outside made her hear Yan’er’s voice, and she hurried to call out.

Yan’er’s face didn’t look good, "What’s wrong with you?"

"I..." Hongfu couldn’t speak, "Why are you back so early?"

Upon hearing this, Yan’er forced a smile, "There was something unclean again. It seemed Sister Liu He from Jingshui Hall saw it and was almost scared to tears. How could we stay, so we just..."

Hongfu couldn’t help but tremble, gripping Yan’er’s arm tightly, "I saw it too, just now outside my window."

Yan’er’s face darkened.

Early the next morning, Du Yunluo arrived at the Flower Hall for a meeting. The stewards and maidservants present all had unpleasant expressions.

"What’s wrong?" Du Yunluo asked.

The women exchanged glances, and finally, Granny Jia was pushed forward.

Granny Jia, steeling herself, smiled awkwardly, "Madam, last night in the garden during the moon worship, it seems they saw that unclean thing again."

Du Yunluo was startled, set down the tea cup, and said, "This talk must not be spoken carelessly."

"Who would dare speak carelessly," Granny Jia said awkwardly, "Madam, what should we do?"

Du Yunluo snorted, "What else can we do, just like before, increase the number of night patrols."

With the master’s instructions, even if the servants were unwilling, they dared not argue further.

By the afternoon, the people designated for night patrols were all arranged.

Ruozhu, having tended to the flowers, returned to her place only to see Mrs. Wen enter Zhonghai’s room. She quickly tiptoed over and crouched under the window to eavesdrop.

"I really don’t want to patrol," Mrs. Wen complained, "What could we possibly find this time? Last time, after half a month of hard work, the end result was... oh, it was better not knowing. This time, if we find out some dark secrets again, what would we do?"