When Shui Yue led people to the kitchen to get lunch, it was bustling inside.
Nanny Jin stood under the veranda, raising her voice to talk with the steward, Li Deshun’s wife.
Shui Yue was not far from them and happened to hear snippets about the rain soaking the firewood, causing a delay, and then they ntioned that the wind and rain were so severe that fresh goods from the village couldn’t be delivered to the city. The kitchen had to economize in the coming days. They also said that many farrs outside the city suffered disasters due to last night’s thunder, and if not for the rain, the thunderfire might have burned their hos down.
As Shui Yue left with a food box under an umbrella, the two were talking about Miao Family rushing out, probably unable to return soon.
Due to the rain, just after 3:00 PM, it had already turned dark outside, not like in July, but as if winter had arrived.
When Du Huaiping returned ho, he was in a sorry state, with his official robe mostly wet. Mrs. Zhen urged the small kitchen to prepare hot water.
Once Du Huaiping was tidied up and had a bowl of ginger soup, he felt more comfortable and said, "This rain is too heavy. If it continues tomorrow, even the suburbs of the capital might be in trouble."
Mrs. Zhen, upon hearing this, instinctively recited a Buddhist prayer: "Did Shui Yue hear from the buyers that there were thunderfire victims outside the city?"
"I heard that two villages caught fire, and it was fortunate that the rain fell later; otherwise, they would have been burned to the ground. The city was busy today; many places were flooded." Du Huaiping initially wanted to say more but refrained, seeing the two girls present.
After dinner, seeing that the wind and rain outside continued, Mrs. Zhen did not ask Du Yunluo to return to the West Courtyard but instead instructed Shui Yue to prepare the green gauze cabinet for Du Yunluo to stay in.
That day, Miao Family didn’t return until well past the second watch, and as dawn broke, they called a dical woman, and the small kitchen lit a fire to brew dicine.
The house was full of people, with many mouths.
Du Yunluo stayed in Mrs. Zhen’s room, and everyone knew that when Miao Family returned yesterday, she was distraught. If not for Quan Yin and Mrs. Shen Changgen supporting her from each side, she might have collapsed right there. So even noticed that the two golden phoenix hairpins she wore when leaving were missing.
Everyone had a curious mind, but when it ca to Miao Family, coupled with the Zhao family’s previous car tracks, no one dared to make reckless comnts about Miao Family.
In the afternoon, the rain stopped.
Mrs. Zhen looked at the weather, had Shui Yue redo her hair, and went to Shuifu Garden to visit the sick.
Du Yunru, ready for marriage, could not visit the sick in front of Mrs. Xia. Since Du Yunluo still couldn’t walk, the two set up a chessboard and randomly moved pieces.
Holding a black piece, Du Yunluo leaned over and whispered, "Big sister, what’s wrong with our second aunt?"
"How should I know?" Du Yunru replied, seeing Du Yunluo’s eyes swirling, she tapped her forehead, "What nonsense are you thinking again?"
Du Yunluo burst into laughter: "Why do you assu I’m thinking nonsense? Could it be that you, my sister, are thinking the sa?"
Du Yunru’s face flushed, and she ignored her.
Du Yunluo was just guessing. What could make Miao Family so out of sorts? It was either sothing to do with Du Huaiping, or with Du Yunlang and Du Yunying, or the Miao Family.
These days, Du Yunying was quietly staying in Shuifu Garden, and Du Yunlang wasn’t the type to cause trouble, leaving only Du Huaiping and the Miao Family.
Beyond that, Du Yunluo couldn’t guess.
When Mrs. Zhen arrived outside Shuifu Garden, Liao Family was about to leave.
After exchanging greetings, Liao Family shook her head and said, "A person usually so vigorous falls ill so quickly, alas..."
Though sighing, Mrs. Zhen still detected a hint of schadenfreude.
Knowing Mrs. Zhen’s nature, Liao Family said no more and left.
As Mrs. Zhen reached the main house entrance, she heard Du Yunying’s voice inside.
"People do things under Heaven’s watch; it’s clear even Heaven can’t stand it. And she still has the nerve to play victim? If she hadn’t served our great-grandmother, she’d have been kicked out long ago!"
Mrs. Zhen cleared her throat and called out loudly, "Second sister-in-law, I’ve co to see you."
There was imdiate silence inside; after a mont, Mrs. Shen Changgen lifted the curtain and ca out, respectfully saying, "Third Mistress, our lady invites you inside for a chat."
Mrs. Zhen nodded.
Inside the room, Du Yunying stood by the window, lowered her hands and greeted, while Miao Family lay on the bed, looking pale.
Mrs. Zhen sat on the edge of the bed, offered a few words of comfort, and inquired about Du Yunying’s hand, to which she hesitantly responded.
Half-propped up, Miao Family leaned on a reddish-brown Hangzhou silk pillow, looking even more under the weather.
"You must have heard what Yunying said just now, didn’t you? Sorry to have shown you a joke." Miao Family coughed a couple of tis and sighed, "Being a daughter-in-law isn’t easy. For so many years, we’ve always been dutiful and follow the rules, but soone just grows rebellious horns on their head, getting more reckless with age."
Words long stifled, Miao Family could only vent occasionally to Mrs. Shen Changgen. Now seeing Mrs. Zhen, she felt a sense of familiarity and trusted that Mrs. Zhen was already acquainted with her sister-in-law’s character, so she didn’t hold back and poured it all out.
"It’s my sister-in-law and Cai’er who got into trouble."
Hearing this, Mrs. Zhen’s eyebrows twitched.
"Sending Cai’er to the manor was originally decided by her maternal family, not my idea. Even if I said not to send, soone had to appreciate it first; otherwise, they’d bla it all on . Why should I play the fool?" Miao Family sighed deeply and continued, "A few days ago, we had a big argunt over Mrs. Fang’s matters. She was shouting that since the facade was already torn apart, why let Cai’er suffer outside the city and insisted on bringing Cai’er back. I didn’t want to argue, so I ca back first. It’s not up to her alone at ho; otherwise, Cai’er wouldn’t have been sent away, and after days of fussing, with no result in sight, the incident at the manor happened."
Mrs. Zhen’s heart raced, recalling what Du Huaiping said yesterday, she exclaid, "I heard from our master that a manor caught fire; could it be..."
Miao Family slowly nodded: "The manor where Cai’er was recuperating. She was startled and then choked by smoke, causing her to faint. Fortunately, it rained, preventing a bigger disaster. The steward at the manor didn’t dare delay and entered the city at dawn to report."
When my sister-in-law learned of it, she couldn’t sit still anymore. Ignoring the storm, she prepared a carriage to rush to the manor, but before leaving the city gates, the horse was spooked on the street. Not only did it hit soone, but she was also jostled around inside the carriage, getting her head injured."
The Miao family ca to report, and I thought since it involved my sister-in-law and niece, I couldn’t pretend not to know and reported to Lianfu Garden before returning to my maternal ho."
As soon as I entered the door, the one with the bandaged head lunged at , accusing that if not for , Cai’er wouldn’t have fallen into the water, wouldn’t have been sent to the manor, and wouldn’t have nearly lost her life, and she wouldn’t have hurt her head..."
"Sister-in-law, can you believe it? What kind of talk is that!
All these years, I’ve helped my maternal family as much as I could. I used to treat Cai’er so well, and how did she repay ? If we hadn’t rushed in ti, I’d already be kneeling myself till my knees shatter before the old lady!
I sent Cai’er back, saying not to plot against Yun Lang. Did I say sothing wrong? But look at them, one crying and the other making a fuss, still blaming .
Everything’s my fault!"
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