Chapter 122: Who Stole It (Bonus Chapter Seeking Pink Votes)
Fu Tingyun thought of how Hanyan and Lü'e had remained silent when Mother Chen and the others forced the medicine down her throat.
They were the last ones to attend to her and were among those who knew the inside story. Since she was supposed to "die of illness," how could Mother Chen and the others spare Hanyan and Lü'e?
Though she had worried about their fate before, she had clung to the hope that Zhao Ling, due to his mother's suffering, particularly despised those who bullied the weak and helpless. If Mother Chen and the others had intended to harm Hanyan and Lü'e, Zhao Ling would surely have intervened if he had witnessed it. Holding onto this sliver of hope, she had chosen to turn a blind eye. But now... it was likely that by the time Zhao Ling arrived, Hanyan and Lü'e had already been killed by Mother Chen. That was why he had been so enraged when he saw her being force-fed the medicine—enough to kill Mother Chen and the others.
That was also why Abbots Guo Hui and Guo Zhi remained unharmed. When the family learned she had been rescued, they panicked. Regarding the deaths of Mother Chen and the others, the Fu family could only claim that Azure Cloud Temple had been raided by migrant bandits. Otherwise, with so many deaths, the authorities would have had to investigate...
Zhao Ling, Zhao Ling... If not for him, she would have long been nothing but a wisp of a wronged ghost!
Fu Tingyun whispered his name in her heart.
He hadn’t told her, afraid it would grieve her.
No matter the circumstances, he always put her first.
Tears welled up in Fu Tingyun’s eyes.
Hanyan, Lü'e, even the deceased Zhe Liu and Jian Cao—they had suffered such fates simply because they had served her. How unjust it all was!
At this thought, Fu Tingyun gritted her teeth in fury.
It was all Zuo Junjie’s fault!
If not for him, how could Zhe Liu and the others have died? If not for him, how could Hanyan and Lü'e have been harmed?
She asked Yu Wei, "Who helped you pack my trunks?"
Yu Wei prostrated herself, her forehead pressed against the cold stone tiles, her body trembling like a withered leaf about to fall in the autumn wind.
Choking back sobs, she answered, "It was Moxiang from the Eldest Madam’s household!"
"What did you say?" Fu Tingyun could hardly believe her ears.
Moxiang from the Eldest Madam’s household had originally been a young maid in her own quarters. Not only was she beautiful, but she also had a talent for reading and writing. While others took a full day to memorize a passage of Buddhist scripture, she could do it in just an hour. The Eldest Madam, who often copied scriptures, had specifically asked Fu Tingyun’s mother for her and given her the name Moxiang ("Ink Fragrance"). When she first entered the household, she was only eight or nine years old and had been under Yu Wei’s care. The two had been as close as sisters. Later, Moxiang became skilled at composing poetry and gradually gained some literary fame within the Fu household. The servants often sought her out during festivals, weddings, or funerals to write celebratory or elegiac couplets. Over time, she grew somewhat arrogant, rarely deigning to interact with ordinary people. Though Fu Tingyun disliked her temperament, she appreciated that Moxiang remained unchanged in Yu Wei’s presence. Once, when the Sixth Aunt reprimanded Moxiang, Fu Tingyun had even interceded on her behalf.
Fu Tingyun erupted in fury, her tone sharp and accusatory. "How do you know it was her? If so, why didn’t you say anything at the time? Do you realize that by protecting her alone, you’ve harmed so many others?""I didn't know at the time," Yu Wei sobbed, "I truly didn't know then. Though we were as close as sisters, I'm not someone who can't distinguish right from wrong. Especially with such a serious matter—if mishandled, all the maids serving the young lady could face death. Even if I wanted to protect her, how could I stand by and watch Zhe Liu, Jian Cao, and the others who shared my room for years be wrongfully accused or even lose their lives?" Her voice broke with tears. "I thought since she served the elder madam and Zuo Junjie was the elder madam's brother, I didn't dare seek her out even after returning to Huayin. It wasn't until I spoke with Yi Tong later that I learned she had hanged herself—already five months pregnant at the time. That's when I remembered... There was a period when she was learning to paint from someone, always cheerful. The Guanyin embroidery I made for the elder madam was based on her drawing. She made me promise not to tell anyone, saying the other maids were already jealous of her for composing poetry—if they found out she was learning painting from him, they'd resent her even more. When I pressed her about who was teaching her, she refused to say. At the time, the Eighth Young Master from the fourth household often hovered around her, so I assumed it was him. I warned her that Fourth Madam was shrewd and capable, while the Eighth Young Master was weak-willed. If she had such intentions, she should make it official soon, or else when Fourth Madam found out, the Eighth Young Master wouldn't protect her. Moreover, serving the elder madam who was in mourning, neither the grand madam nor the elder madam would spare her. She just scoffed, saying disdainfully that the Eighth Young Master could only fool illiterate maids—if he wanted her to be his 'red-sleeved companion' like in the old tales, he'd better memorize the 'Thousand Poets' Anthology' properly first.
"I knew she admired scholarly types, so hearing this reassured me. I planned to question her properly later. But then, first came the young lady's coming-of-age ceremony, followed by a letter from the Yu Family about sending someone to discuss the wedding date in summer. We were swamped with work, and I temporarily set her matter aside... Now I realize it must have been Zuo Junjie. No one else could freely enter and leave the elder madam's quarters. Normally, Mo Xiang would just visit briefly, but in the days before the incident, she came twice at dusk when Zhe Liu and I were busy storing the young lady's sun-dried clothes and bedding. Once, the young lady's undergarments were left unfolded on the bed, and she helped fold them while chatting. Another time, I clearly remembered closing the chest with your undergarments, only to find it open again later. I thought I'd been too busy to notice... She was poor at needlework but could paint—it must have been her tampering!"
Yu Wei's expression turned vacant.
"As for Yi Tong, thinking I was dead and wanting to clear the young lady's and our sisters' names, she secretly investigated Zuo Junjie. She discovered not only that Mo Xiang's death had been suppressed by the elder madam, but that Zuo Junjie's escape was also facilitated by the elder madam's warning. Because of this, the grand madam is now deeply displeased with the elder madam—she's replaced all the elder madam's attendants under the pretext of natural disasters and misfortunes, and moved the elder madam to the Tingxiang Pavilion in the rear garden, forbidding her from moving freely about the house lest she frighten the young masters and misses."Yu Wei finished speaking and kowtowed to Fu Tingyun with loud "thuds": "Miss, I know all of this is my fault. Even if I died a thousand, ten thousand times, it wouldn't be enough to atone for my mistakes. But if I die, your situation will become even more unclear. I must live, go to the capital, find the master and mistress, and tell them everything. Even if they don't say anything, I will then join Zhe Liu and the others, begging for their forgiveness..." She raised her head, her fair forehead stained crimson. "But without household registration or travel documents, I'd likely be caught as a runaway servant before traveling a hundred li and sent to the county office. So I lingered around this post station, hoping to find a kind soul willing to buy me as a servant and take me to the capital. Half a year passed—occasionally I met a few kind people, but they either couldn't take me to the capital and gave me some silver to find another way, or questioned me closely until I slipped up and aroused suspicion that I was a runaway servant. Most, however, coveted my looks. Though I'm steeped in sin, I fear nothing if I can just see the master and mistress. But I'm terrified of falling into their schemes, becoming another Moxiang... Miss," she dared not ask about Fu Tingyun's circumstances, staring straight at her as blood from her forehead trickled down her cheeks, "let's go to the capital? I'll tell the master and mistress everything. Once they know you've been wronged, they'll surely stand up for you. Since Zuo Junjie has framed us, why should we uphold any righteousness with him? We can frame him too..." Her expression twisted with fury. "Even if I die, I'll take a bite out of Zuo Junjie!"
"Good, we'll go to the capital!" Fu Tingyun stood, her expression icy, chin slightly raised. Suddenly, she seemed solemn and dignified, exuding an undeniable authority. "Even if Zuo Junjie is dead, I'll dig up his corpse!"
The resolute tone sent a shiver through Yu Wei's heart.
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The carriage moved briskly along the post road to the capital. Fu Tingyun sat with a face like still water, eyes closed as she leaned against the large bolster pillow, her thoughts in turmoil.
Yu Wei sat obediently by the carriage door, holding the sleeping Linchun, answering Zheng Sanniang's questions in hushed tones. Occasionally, she glanced up at Fu Tingyun with a trace of bewilderment, seeming somewhat uneasy.
Zheng Sanniang covered her mouth and chuckled softly. "Didn't you say you once served our young lady? Then you should know she's very kind—there's no need to be afraid. Even someone like me, with no ties to her, was given food and shelter. How much more so for someone like you, fleeing hardship alone!" She patted Yu Wei's hand reassuringly. "Just settle your heart and serve our young lady well. She won't treat you unfairly."
Having fabricated a reason for their reunion, Yu Wei strictly observed the hierarchy, responding respectfully to Zheng Sanniang with a deferential "yes," lowering her lashes to hide the bitterness in her eyes.
When had she become a stranger by the Ninth Miss's side?
She gently patted Linchun in her arms.
Perhaps... Miss is doing well now?Being able to stay at the post station, with guards escorting them, and the decision to take her to the capital—Master Lu, who appeared very steady, was called over. Upon hearing that she and the young lady were old acquaintances, Master Lu immediately revealed a kindly smile. Early the next morning, not only did he arrange for the silver and the guard named Jian to hire a broker to properly handle the sale contract at the government office, but he also bought her several winter garments and gave her a few taels of loose silver. Like Zheng Sanniang, he simply instructed her to take good care of the young lady.
Thinking of this, she raised her head to glance at Fu Tingyun again, only to meet the curious gaze of the young master named A Sen sitting beside her.
A Sen's face flushed red, and he quickly turned his head away, but then immediately looked back, his eyes wide open, staring back at her defiantly.
Yu Wei couldn't help but purse her lips into a smile.
Then she froze slightly.
How long had it been since she last smiled?
How long since she had felt this lighthearted?
Feeling her vision blur slightly, Yu Wei hurriedly took out a handkerchief from her sleeve to wipe the corners of her eyes.
Zheng Sanniang was full of suspicion.
Logically speaking, this Yu Wei was merely someone who had served the young lady in the past. Yet, the gentle and nimble way she took out her handkerchief made her seem like a young lady from a respectable family.
Could she also be someone who had fallen into hardship?
Zheng Sanniang couldn't help but feel a pang of pity.
This damned natural disaster had ruined so many good families.
Recalling how Yu Wei had mentioned surviving by scavenging discarded food from the post station, she said sympathetically, "The journey is long. Since the young lady is resting, you should close your eyes too." With that, she quietly went to pick up Linchun.
Yu Wei was physically weak, and carrying the sturdy Linchun was indeed quite strenuous.
She handed Linchun over to Zheng Sanniang and gave her a grateful smile.
Fu Tingyun, who had been lying with her eyes closed as if asleep, suddenly opened them and calmly instructed Zheng Sanniang, "When we reach the next post station, go and inform Master Lu to have him summon a physician to examine Yu Wei."
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Sisters, brothers, thank you all for sending me so many zongzi!
O(∩_∩)O~
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(End of Chapter)
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