This time, Old Woman Luo was stunned for a long while—so long that Ren Yaoqi thought she had fainted. Finally, Old Woman Luo spoke, her voice carrying the unique hoarseness and weariness of an elderly person: "This servant was once a second-rank maid serving the young mistress of the Zhai Family."
"What is Han Dongshan's original name?"
Old Woman Luo glanced at Ren Yaoqi and struggled for another long moment: "Zhai... he is the young master of the Zhai Family, Zhai Yaozu."
Ren Yaoqi recalled that Xia Sheng had mentioned Han Dongshan was once called "Brother Zu" in the past—the name matched.
"He was very young when he left Yanbei. Do you remember his appearance?"
"Zhai... Master Han, this servant only caught a glimpse of him from a distance that day. But the first one I recognized was Young Master Han. He looks very much like the young mistress of the Zhai Family, especially the eyes." Old Woman Luo paused. "After encountering Young Master Han at the Ren Family last time, this servant was startled. Coupled with your request to inquire about the Qu Family, this servant truly does not know anyone from the Qu Family, but I felt that what you really wanted to ask about was the Zhai Family. That day, Shui Ai insisted on going out to see the world. This servant thought of that Young Master Han and grew increasingly uneasy, so I inquired about the Han Family's residence. The Han Family is also a prominent household, and this servant naturally couldn't enter. I was merely trying my luck, but unexpectedly, I happened to see Zhai... Old Master Han coming out of the residence... This servant had taken care of the young master of the Zhai Family for a while back then, so I recognized him. At the time, this servant was frightened and ran away. But I couldn't shake the unease in my heart, so in the afternoon, I wanted to go back and confirm. Unexpectedly, I was discovered by Young Master Han, and he chased after me."
Ren Yaoqi remained silent for a long time before finally asking, "What exactly was the grudge between the Zhai Family and the Ren Family back then?"
Old Woman Luo's face grew even paler. Her complexion was originally quite dark, but now it was completely drained of color, as if shrouded in an aura of death.
"Fifth Miss, this servant is old and doesn’t have many years left to live, but having reached this age, I’ve already lived a full life. However, I truly cannot rest easy about Shui Ai. This child was picked up by me, and once I close my eyes for good, she will have no one to rely on. Could you... could you be merciful and take her in as a maid?"
Old Woman Luo’s request was clearly an attempt to negotiate with Ren Yaoqi. If Ren Yaoqi was willing to take in Shui Ai, she would share what she knew.
Those in positions of authority dislike being threatened, and Ren Yaoqi was no exception, especially since Old Woman Luo was originally a servant on the Ren Family estate. However, meeting Old Woman Luo’s turbid yet hopeful gaze, Ren Yaoqi calmly replied, "I can keep her. In the future, if she proves suitable, I will assign her to my quarters." If not, she wouldn’t keep her.
She could understand Old Woman Luo’s feelings. The Ren Family mansion wouldn’t mind having one more maid, but to serve by her side, one must first earn her approval. A personal maid isn’t a position just anyone can fill—the fate of Ren Yaohua in the past was a clear example.
Seeing that Ren Yaoqi hadn’t refused, Old Woman Luo quickly added, "Fifth Miss, rest assured. Shui Ai is naturally pure-hearted and not foolish. If you have someone teach her, she will surely learn everything."
Ren Yaoqi nodded. "I will arrange for someone to teach her."
Old Woman Luo breathed a sigh of relief, and her complexion improved slightly.“Are you badly injured?” Ren Yaoqi remembered that Zhu Ruomei had said her injuries were not serious, but Old Woman Luo’s complexion truly did not look well, so it seemed as though she were giving her final words.
Old Woman Luo shook her head. “This servant’s injuries are not severe, but I am old, and I know my own body.”
Ren Yaoqi thought she would find another doctor to examine her later, but Old Woman Luo had already spoken hoarsely, “Does Miss wish to ask about the grudge between the Zhai Family and the Ren Family?”
Ren Yaoqi nodded.
Old Woman Luo sighed, turned her head, and her gaze passed over Ren Yaoqi’s shoulder to look behind her.
Ren Yaoqi followed her gaze and naturally saw Xiao Jingxi.
Xiao Jingxi glanced at Ren Yaoqi, smiled faintly, and then calmly stood up, showing no trace of embarrassment at being unwelcome.
However, seeing him about to leave, Ren Yaoqi called out to stop him, saying, “Young Master Xiao, please stay.” She turned back to Old Woman Luo and said, “Go ahead, it’s fine.”
Old Woman Luo glanced at Xiao Jingxi in surprise. Though she could not guess his identity, she knew from the address that he was not from the Ren Family. Old Woman Luo hesitated, looking at Ren Yaoqi as if wanting to speak but holding back.
Old Woman Luo meant well, as she believed the Ren Family would never want outsiders to hear what she was about to say.
Ren Yaoqi understood Old Woman Luo’s meaning, but she still shook her head. “I know what I’m doing. Go ahead.”
Xiao Jingxi looked at Ren Yaoqi, raised an eyebrow, and finally sat back down.
Seeing Ren Yaoqi’s insistence, Old Woman Luo could say no more and slowly began, “No one remembers the Zhai Family now, but decades ago, the Zhai Family was one of the wealthiest households in White Crane Town. Though the Zhai Family kept a low profile, they were still a prominent family in Yan Prefecture.”
Old Woman Luo’s voice was hoarse and weathered, as if grains of sand were lodged in her throat.
“Master Zhai was knowledgeable and charitable, but unfortunately, he lost his wife in middle age. Master Zhai had only one legitimate son, who had recently married. The young mistress was exceptionally beautiful, well-educated, and kind to others, though her health was not strong. The doctor said she would need a year or two of careful recuperation to have children. Master Zhai thought it over and remarried, choosing the daughter of an ordinary family in the town to avoid causing his son and daughter-in-law any distress. This newly married lady had lost her father at a young age, with only a bedridden mother and an unmarried younger brother at home. She was a capable person, supporting the family single-handedly and funding her brother’s studies. Master Zhai had heard of her virtuous reputation and married her despite opposition from the clan. He also arranged for her mother and brother to move into the estate so she would have no worries. However, this newly married lady was also unfortunate and passed away from illness within two years of entering the household. Her mother, upon hearing the tragic news, followed her in death. Master Zhai and the young master Zhai were both kind-hearted people. Seeing that the lady had passed away, leaving only her brother, they allowed him to remain in the estate, arranged a marriage for him, and gave him a shop as his livelihood.”Old Woman Luo paused, as if recalling or perhaps just lost in thought: "In the second year after the young mistress married, she finally became pregnant and gave birth to the young master, Zhai Yaozu. But not long after, the Liao people invaded. Due to the suspicion of the previous emperor, the Yanbei Prince's Mansion existed in name only, and the troops sent by the southern court were simply no match for the Liao cavalry. The outcome was predictable. At that time, many families in Yanbei were preparing to move south, and the Zhai Family also had this intention. However, because the young mistress was pregnant again, the Zhai Family delayed their plans, wanting to wait until the pregnancy was more stable before leaving. Fortunately, the Zhai Family had moved out of their ancestral home to seek refuge, temporarily settling in a relatively safe place. At that time, the young mistress’s brother’s family also moved in with them. Coincidentally, high-quality coal mines were discovered in the western mountains. Among the young mistress’s dowry were several barren hills in the western mountains, which had originally been considered insignificant. Unexpectedly, their value skyrocketed due to the discovery of coal."
It was only then that Ren Yaoqi realized that this Old Woman Luo must have some literacy. Although her emotions were unstable, her speech was clear and coherent, which was quite inconsistent with her rough appearance.
"The Zhai Family originally decided to head south to Jiangnan once the young mistress’s health improved. The young mistress wanted to sell the coal hills she owned, as many people were interested in buying them at the time, and the price was very reasonable. Our young mistress was not skilled in business, and the Zhai Family did not covet their daughter-in-law’s possessions. In the end, the matter was entrusted to the young mistress’s brother to handle."
"Not long after, the brother returned and said he had found a buyer for the young mistress, offering a fair price. The Zhai Family and the young mistress trusted the brother and handed the matter entirely over to him. However, although the hills were sold, the payment never arrived. Since the Zhai Family had already set a date to move south with several other families and could not wait any longer, the brother suggested that he stay behind to wait for the payment on behalf of the young mistress and then join them in Jiangnan once the money was received. Naturally, the Zhai Family was unwilling to let the brother take such a risk."
Ren Yaoqi remained silent, listening carefully as Old Woman Luo recounted the past. On the other side, Xiao Jingxi also remained motionless, his breathing so faint it was almost inaudible.
"At that very moment, the Prince of Yanbei led his troops back to reclaim the territory. The Prince of Yanbei’s army was under divine protection, and the Liao people were no match for them, forced to retreat step by step. As they were about to be driven back beyond the pass, the people of Yanbei could not help but rejoice. However, the Liao people were unwilling to return beyond the pass empty-handed, and with the Yanbei army pressing them hard, they decided to plunder Yanbei before leaving, seizing its wealth and women."
As if recalling that bloody and turbulent period, Old Woman Luo’s voice trembled.
"With the Prince of Yanbei about to return, the Zhai Family no longer wanted to leave. After all, the Zhai Family’s roots were still in Yanbei, and starting over in Jiangnan was something no one wanted. But one day, the Liao people discovered the hiding place of the Zhai Family. As soon as they entered, they ransacked the place, taking all the valuables and money from the Zhai Family. Master Zhai was a broad-minded man and ordered his family not to resist, accepting that the money was lost. But... but those beasts were not satisfied with just taking the valuables. They took a liking to our young mistress."
As she spoke, Old Woman Luo’s tears began to fall, her words breaking into sobs."But the young madam was already with child at that time! Naturally, Master Zhai and Elder Master Zhai could not stand by and watch her be taken by those beasts, so they fought desperately to resist, and in the end, they were... they were all killed. The young madam was publicly... publicly... sob..."
Ren Yaoqi had not lived through those years and could not imagine it. Yet now, hearing Old Woman Luo speak of it, she felt a tightness in her chest, unbearably distressed.
Old Woman Luo wept for a long time before barely managing to stop: "At that time, my sister Chun'er and I, along with the young madam's senior maid, Li Niang, had taken the young master out, and by chance, we escaped the disaster. When we returned, we saw corpses everywhere, and the young madam had been violated and killed, two lives lost. We were so frightened we nearly fainted. Nanny Liu, who served the eldest young madam, had been slashed with a knife and pretended to be dead, narrowly escaping. We dragged Nanny Liu away, and fortunately, her wounds were not fatal. Originally, we wanted to find a place to hide, but Li Niang was the young madam's dowry maid, having grown up with her since childhood and sharing a deep bond. She insisted on going back to collect the bodies of the master and the young madam. Though terrified, we thought of how well our masters had treated us, so we returned once more. Unexpectedly, this time we saw that maternal uncle and his wife. At first, we thought they had come to collect the bodies and wanted to approach them, but then we heard a shocking conversation."
Old Woman Luo's face was now numb: "That couple had come to see if everyone in the mansion was dead. They even argued because they couldn't find the young master's body. Those Liao people had been led there by them. They had revealed the Zhai family's hiding place to the Liao people and informed them that the Zhai family was wealthy and that there was a woman of exceptional beauty in the household, using them as a tool for murder. It turned out that this maternal uncle had long known from somewhere that the Prince of Yanbei was about to return. They had never intended to follow the Zhai family to the south, and they coveted the mines in the young madam's possession."
Even though it was summer and the ventilation in the room was poor, Ren Yaoqi felt a bone-chilling cold, as if it were creeping up from the depths of her heart, like the flickering tongue of a venomous snake, making her shiver uncontrollably.
"We covered the young master's mouth and hid in the shadows. I glanced at the young master and saw him obediently nestled in Li Niang's arms, but his eyes were fixed unwaveringly on the arguing couple. At the time, I thought he was frightened out of his wits... I forgot that the young master was not so young then, and the master had always praised him for being clever, alert, and quick to learn."
The room fell into a heavy silence. Old Woman Luo was lost in memories, unable to snap out of it. Ren Yaoqi lowered her gaze, staring at her own hands, lost in thought. She had remained silent since Old Woman Luo began recounting the past.
At that moment, a gentle voice broke the silence: "Since you were a maid of the Zhai family and shared such a history with Zhai Yaozu, why are you afraid of the Han family?"
Xiao Jingxi's voice was pleasant, neither too warm nor too cold, always carrying a certain special rhythm when he spoke. It could bewitch people at critical moments and also jolt them out of their emotions.
Ren Yaoqi lifted her eyes and looked at Old Woman Luo, who had snapped out of her memories."When I was young, I was neither pretty nor clever, yet the young mistress never looked down on me. She even allowed me to learn to read alongside Limiang and the others. As we grew older, the young mistress arranged for Limiang to serve the master, promising that if she bore a child, she would be elevated to concubine. Chun'er was betrothed to the son of the chief manager of the spice shop, and the young mistress also found a match for me—the only son of the head steward in the kitchen. She even said that when Chun'er and I married, she would raise us to first-rank maids so we could have a grand wedding. She was a good person." Old Woman Luo murmured softly, "But then the Liao people came, disrupting everything and wasting all the careful plans she had made for us."
Old Woman Luo sighed, a faint sound tinged with sorrow. "We were all terrified when we heard those words and dared not confront the master's brother-in-law. Only after he and his wife left did we dare to come out. None of us spoke a word; we simply took the young master and hid. As for where to go, we disagreed. Limiang insisted on taking the young master to Jiangnan, to the young mistress's maternal family. Chun'er and I, having grown up in the Zhai Family since childhood, hoped to wait for the Zhai clansmen to return and seek justice for the young master, even though we had heard that the other Zhai clansmen had all died when they encountered the Liao people during the southern migration. At that time, with the Prince of Yanbei about to fight his way back, Chun'er and I were reluctant to leave our homeland lightly. After all, no one knew what the situation was like at the young mistress's maternal family, and with only a few weak women and the young master, the journey would be unsafe. The young master was still alive, and if the Zhai clansmen returned, he would need to stay with the Zhai Family. But Limiang was adamant. After much deliberation, Chun'er and I thought of how well the young mistress had treated us and decided that taking the risk to seek help from her maternal family for the young master was worth it. Yet, at this critical moment, disaster struck."Old Woman Luo's voice trembled even more violently as she reached this point: "That day, Chun'er and I went out to find food. When we returned, we discovered that the uncle and his wife had come with people searching. We wanted to go back to notify Li Niang and the young master, but unexpectedly, they had already fled. Chun'er and I also hid, and the uncle and his wife had no choice but to leave empty-handed. We knew they must have come for the young master, so we went out quietly to search for Li Niang and the others. Because we had lived together for a long time, we had come to understand each other somewhat. On the second day, Chun'er and I finally found Li Niang, but Nanny Liu was nowhere to be seen. However, the young master had fallen ill with a high fever. When Li Niang saw us, she said nothing and calmly instructed me to fetch some water from outside, while telling Chun'er to stay and start a fire. The place to fetch water was quite far. As I was walking back with the water, I noticed Li Niang standing not far behind me, waiting. I found it strange and was about to go up and ask her why she had left the young master unattended when I saw something dripping from her sleeve—it was blood. For some reason, I felt afraid and stopped in my tracks. Unexpectedly, Li Niang suddenly lunged at me. She was holding a dagger, and the dagger was still dripping with blood. I desperately dodged, but Li Niang seemed to have gone mad. She cursed us for being ungrateful and said she would kill us all. At first, I was stunned, but later I realized that Li Niang suspected us of leaking the young master's whereabouts and wanted to kill us. Because I had done some rough work as a child, while Li Niang had been raised with the young mistress since childhood, she wasn't as strong as I was. So, after she wounded my arm, I managed to escape. It wasn't until I had fled far away that I remembered Chun'er hadn't come out. Recalling the blood-dripping knife in Li Niang's hand, my fear grew even stronger. Chun'er was my sister, my own younger sister. I couldn't abandon her, so I decided to sneak back and look for her, hoping she might have escaped by chance. But when I returned to the original spot, all I saw was Chun'er's body. She lay on the ground with three stab wounds in her chest, her eyes wide open in death. Li Niang and the young master were nowhere to be seen."
"I was terrified, afraid that Li Niang would suddenly return to kill me. After hastily burying Chun'er, I hid and never dared to show my face again. I kept thinking: Chun'er and I hadn't leaked the young master's hiding place, and Li Niang couldn't have either. That left only Nanny Liu. After the uncle appeared, Nanny Liu had never shown herself. I didn't want to take the blame, so I thought of confronting Nanny Liu. I remembered that Nanny Liu had a daughter who married into Li Family Village, not far from White Crane Town. She had once mentioned to me that she wanted to seek refuge with her daughter and son-in-law, so I went to Li Family Village."Nanny Liu closed her eyes, her aged voice seemingly suppressing a terrifying emotion: "Nanny Liu did indeed return to her daughter and son-in-law's place, but I never imagined I would witness such a scene again. Nanny Liu, along with her daughter, son-in-law, and their entire family of six, were all dead. Lying on the ground were also a three-year-old child and an infant still in swaddling clothes. The dagger that Liniang had used to try to kill me was plunged into the chest of the three-year-old child. I finally realized that Liniang had truly gone mad. With Nanny Liu and Chun'er both dead, there was no one left to prove my innocence, but even if someone could, Liniang likely wouldn’t listen. I was terrified, utterly terrified. At night, I would always dream of Liniang standing by my bedside, dagger in hand. Yet, from that day on, I never saw Liniang or the young master again."
"I often wondered afterward, how could Liniang, in that state, raise the young master properly? Children are innocent; they learn what they are taught. Under Liniang’s guidance, the young master would surely grow up with hatred in his heart, seeking revenge. I am a coward, afraid of death, and didn’t want to be dragged back into these grudges. Not long after, the Prince of Yanbei indeed fought his way back, and many who had fled earlier gradually returned. Fearing that Liniang might still be around, I hid in the countryside, scraping by for a few years. Later, I heard that many estates were hiring laborers, so I found work on one. Unexpectedly, a few years later, that estate was coincidentally bought by that maternal uncle’s family. By then, I had already signed a deed of sale and couldn’t leave even if I wanted to. At that time, that maternal uncle was no longer the man he once was. He had made his fortune from the mines he owned and had become a rising noble in Yanbei. Fortunately, their family owned many estates, and the masters rarely showed their faces. After living in fear for some time, I eventually stayed on, and that’s how I ended up remaining all these years."
By the time Old Woman Luo reached this point, the outline of the story had become largely clear.
That maternal uncle must have been surnamed Ren.
Ren Yaoqi curled her lips into a smile, tinged with both mockery and bitterness. So, the selfishness of the Ren Family was not without reason; it was rotten from the very roots.
Ren Yaoqi no longer knew how to feel about it. At this moment, she even thought that Zhai Yaozu’s return to take revenge on the Ren Family was justified. Debts must be repaid, and blood debts demand blood.
Unfortunately, her great-grandfather and great-grandmother were long dead, and her parents had done nothing wrong. Even if the sins of the father were to be visited upon the children, it shouldn’t fall on their heads.
The so-called truth that had haunted her for two lifetimes was now laid bare before her, bloody and stark, leaving her feeling utterly powerless.
"Is the current residence of the Ren Family the ancestral home of the Zhai Family from back then?" Ren Yaoqi’s voice remained calm and detached.
Old Woman Luo glanced at Ren Yaoqi and nodded.
"That property changed hands twice in between, so no one mentions the Zhai Family anymore."
Ren Yaoqi almost felt like applauding her great-grandfather's audacity and greed. To have caused the deaths of an entire family and then dared to move into their ancestral home—no wonder the Ren Family ended up in such a state.
In her view, the Ren Family's residence had excellent feng shui—in fact, it was too excellent. Not every family had the fortune to live there, as the Zhai Family and the Ren Family of her previous life had already served as cautionary examples.
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