Chapter 91 Settled (Below)

  Mugun was busy in the house, "Hurry up and prepare the meal, Miss should be back by now." As soon as the words fell, Hongyu entered the house and saluted Mugun, "Sister, Jinxiu sister asked someone to come and say that Eighth Miss is eating at Eldest Madam's place."

  Mù huāng yǒu xiē chà yì.

  English Translation:

  Wooden window has some doubts.

  Hongyu whispered in Mugen's ear: "I heard that someone from the Xue family is coming to see the madam later."

  Her eyebrows slightly raised, so it was like this.

  Madam ate very little, Ronghua put down her bowl and chopsticks and repeatedly advised her to eat more. Madam then ate a bit more. After dinner, she let the maid take away the bowls and chopsticks, and Ronghua accompanied Madam to change clothes.

  The lady watched Yung Hua busily, Yung Hua slightly pursed her lips, lowered her eyebrows and eyes, these days she had been serving soup medicine in front of her bed, respectful and gentle without any mistakes.

  The old lady's attitude had already been tested, and in the past two days, she heard that the old lady had given Hongyu and Hongying to Ronghua. Those two maids were left by the old lady for Yaohua, could it be that Yaohua was not taken care of? ... Just thinking about this, Madame's cheek twitched involuntarily, not wanting to lose face in front of her stepdaughter, Madame covered her cheek with her hand and turned around to instruct Ronghua, "You go down first."

  As soon as Ronghua left, the old lady had someone support her to go see Yaohua. Seeing Yaohua's condition on the bed was unavoidable and heart-wrenching. Thinking of her two daughters' situation made it even harder for her to bear. Fortunately, Yaohua's illness seemed to be improving. The old lady softly comforted Yaohua, "You focus on recovering from your illness, no matter what, there's still me and Old Lady. We'll definitely find a good outcome for you, just put your mind at ease."

  Yao Hua's face was pale, and she nodded slightly, speaking in a soft voice, "Mother should rest well, I don't need to worry too much about this side. As long as Mother is fine, I can be at ease. How is sister doing? I haven't heard the maids mention her these past few days. Mother shouldn't tell sister about my affairs."

  The old lady complained: "You child, you always think for others." As she thought of her daughter's character and the hardships she had endured, her heart was moved and her face twitched again.

  Yao Hua saw something was wrong and hastily got up to ask, "Mother, what's going on?"

  The lady just covered it up, "What's the matter, it'll be fine in two days." She said and didn't stay long, letting Chunyao support her to walk out. Just as they reached the door, they heard a shout from inside, "Miss, you can't..."

  The old lady quickly turned around to look, and saw that Yao Hua was barefoot, standing on the ground with her shoulders shaking constantly, and still saying: "I'll see Mother off." It was such a reluctant farewell.

  The old lady couldn't help but walk back, and both mother and daughter shed tears after this scene.

  Mrs. Tai was talking to Yohua on this side, and Ronghua sent Yanhua back to the house and heard Jinxiu reminding the little maid in the house, "There are many people coming over these days, you should pay more attention."

  Jinxiu seemed overly tense, Ronghua glanced at Jinxiu, whose face had no hint of a smile, extremely serious, with furrowed brows and a hint of worry. Ronghua called Jinxiu into the warm pavilion, Jinxiu hastily spread out the black fox fur for Ronghua to sit on, and handed over the brazier.

  Rong Hua had Jinxiu sit beside him, and ordered Mugen to keep watch outside. Only then did he ask Jinxiu, "What's been going on these past few days? I see that your mind is unsettled."

  Jinxiu bit her lip and raised her head, "Miss, I'm afraid. You said, won't someone be in a hurry to use some means to deal with Miss?"

  "What did you say? What did you hear?"

  Jinxiu shook her head, "No, I just think it's always good to be cautious. What if Miss loses something in her room or finds something extra, and we can't explain ourselves when questioned."

  Mu Ge listened outside and then entered the house, "I said Jinxiu was thinking too much, with so many eyes watching, who would dare to put anything in our house."

  Jinxiu wanted to say something else, but after glancing at Mugen, she didn't say it out loud. "It's always better to be careful."

  Ronghua looked at Jinxiu's expression, her heart sank, and she thought for a moment. "Let's be more careful these few days, just as Jinxiu said. Especially my personal belongings are all locked in the cabinet, and I need to pay attention to things brought by others. The inner room is absolutely not allowed to be entered by outsiders, not even our own rough and simple servant girl."

  Mu Jin nodded and went out.

  Ronghua kept Jinxiu behind, went to the green silk room at the back of the inner chamber and looked deeply at Jinxiu for a few moments before saying: "I thought you would not hide anything from me."

  Jinxiu raised her head to look at Ronghua, and under Ronghua's gentle gaze, she still twisted the handkerchief tightly. "Miss has saved my life, what can't I say to Miss?" She said, raising her head to look at Ronghua, "I'm just afraid that Second Miss will think of something to harm Miss."

  Ronghua knew Jinxiu was wary of Yaohua, but didn't think it would go this far.

  "Miss, you don't know, our family's Fifth Miss might not have died from a sudden illness."

  Rong Hua's face changed color despite her calm demeanor, she hadn't expected that someone around her would know about what happened back then.

  Ronghua walked outside and took a look, personally closing the partition, then returned to pull Jinxiu to his side, carefully asking Jinxiu, "How did you know?"

  "This was a few years ago. That day, coincidentally, my mother fell ill and I took a day off to go back and see her. It was late at night when I returned to the inner court. As I walked towards the mansion, I saw someone hastily coming out of the library. I carefully identified that it was the second young lady. Just as I thought about going forward to pay my respects, I noticed that the second young lady's expression was urgent and I left a mark in my mind. So I hid and avoided her. After a while, the second young lady disappeared from view. Just when I was about to come out, I saw the old master holding a lantern and hastily coming out to look for someone, with a hairpin in his hand."

  "When night fell, the mistress sent us away early. She and Chen's mother were talking in the house. I plucked up my courage to sneak forward and eavesdrop. I heard the mistress say that Fifth Miss was having an affair with a man, and this matter had been discovered by Master. Yesterday, Master gave Mistress a hairpin to identify, and Mistress found someone to take a look. They said it looked like Fifth Miss's but didn't dare disturb the people in Fifth Miss's room, so they asked Second Miss to confirm again. Second Miss also said it was Fifth Miss's."

  Jinxiu glanced at Ronghua, feeling that the eighth young lady's face was getting darker and darker. "I certainly know that hairpin is the one Second Young Lady lost, but I didn't think she would frame Fifth Young Lady."

  Ronghua's hands trembled uncontrollably as she listened, and it was actually like this - she had a yearning, curious, and simple heart, learning the golden orchid hairpin exchange with Yaohua. They secretly exchanged hairpins behind others' backs, never expecting that on the day they exchanged hairpins, the witness to their oath of mutual loyalty would be used for such a purpose. Only Ronghua and Yaohua knew about this matter, and even if the first wife asked, she wouldn't know how to respond.

  Jinxiu didn't notice Ronghua's emotions and continued to say, "Madam also said that it was probably the fifth young lady. The fifth young lady often goes to the library, Madam reported this matter to Master."

  "The old master said that the hairpin of the noble lady who came today, which was placed in the book pavilion, had been moved by someone. Let Madame ask clearly if it was the fifth young lady who moved it. If all this is true... then let Madame deal with the fifth young lady. Madame sneered and said these words didn't need to be asked, it must have been the fifth young lady who liked the hairpin and had ideas about it. It's all because the old master has spoiled the fifth young lady, now look at her, she's having an affair with a man and stealing other people's things, which one isn't a shameful thing for the family? Since the old master has already said such words, just follow them. Then let Chen Mama find several trusted servants who don't often enter the mansion to go together to the fifth young lady's room."

  What happened next, no one knew better than her. So that night, the old lady led the servant girl over and gave her a poisonous drink, and she died unknowingly. She had long thought that just because of the crime of having an affair with a man, she would not be executed, but now Ronghua could vaguely guess from Jinxiu's words that it was Yaohua who moved the phoenix hairpin and stole into the library to eavesdrop on something, and when discovered, she dropped the hairpin and framed her.

  The father didn't want to investigate the theft himself, so he used her private affair with a man as an excuse and let the first wife investigate. The first wife had long regarded her as a thorn in her side and didn't ask many questions before deciding on her guilt.

  Yao Hua's actions could protect herself and also get rid of her at the same time. Yao Hua thought that after she died, she would naturally marry Zhao Xuan Huan, but forgot that under the drive of interests, everyone looked good on this marriage, and in the end, it was Shu Hua who married Zhao Xuan Huan.

  After so much thought and calculation, what was finally obtained was a futile effort, no wonder Yao Hua would fall seriously ill.

  If she hadn't been reborn into this world, she probably would have spent her entire life guessing who the murderer was.

  Jinxiu said: "Now Miss is going to marry into the Hou Mansion, I always feel that Second Miss will not let things go easily."

  Rong Hua nodded, Yao Hua would not give up easily. Not only did she not marry into the Zhao family, but also didn't take a step back to marry into the Hou Mansion. Instead, she married that man with the surname Gu. Hadn't Yao Hua wasted her efforts all these years?

  Although the old lady was clever, she was already advanced in years after all. Yao Hua had grown up by her side, how could such a close relationship be abandoned just like that?

  Yao Hua's "illness" has always been so timely, making everyone in the mansion sympathize with her and willingly make arrangements for her. But this time... Yao Hua's eyes showed a hint of determination, yet she couldn't just let things go as they were.

  The wooden door was pushed open and someone entered the house, "Madam Xue has arrived, let Miss go over."

  Ronghua changed her clothes and came into Madame's room.

  Madam Xue and the elder madam were sipping tea while listening to Second Madam Xue, who said: "I don't know which Daoist priest came to our estate and talked for a long time, saying that the plum blossoms in our estate are blooming beautifully, and recently there will be good news. Today I arrived at Elder Madam's place and saw that the plum blossoms have also bloomed here. Tomorrow we should ask that Daoist priest to explain what this means."

  Mrs. Xue and the elder lady both smiled. Then they saw Ronghua come in, and Mrs. Xue the second even burst out laughing, Ronghua stepped forward and paid her respects.

  Mrs. Xue said: "It's been just a few days since I saw Miss Ba, and she looks even more beautiful."

  Blushed and smiled modestly.

  Several people were talking when someone outside said, "The second master has returned."

  "Let Brother Hong come in and pay his respects to both madams."

  As he spoke, Hongge lifted the curtain and came in, first paying his respects to the two Madame Xue, then bowing to Mrs. Wang and Ronghua.

  Hong Ge sat on one side, and Mrs. Fang asked: "Why so early today?"

  Hong Ge replied straightforwardly: "At the end of the year, after the final exam, the doctoral supervisor looked at the exam papers and let us go back."

  The landlady asked: "How was the exam?"

  Hong Ge didn't say anything and handed the scroll in his hand over to Madame.

  The lady opened it and saw that she had been awarded first prize, and immediately a smile appeared on her face.

  Mrs. Xue saw something and smiled: "The first wife is blessed, the second master will definitely make a name for himself in the future."

  With such praise, Mrs. Xue's face lit up with a smile, and the atmosphere in the room was very pleasant. Mrs. Xue occasionally glanced at Ronghua beside her, who also exchanged occasional words with Mrs. Xue.

  Madam Xue nodded repeatedly, and Ronghua also often lowered her head and smiled.

  The lady had several times wanted to bring up Yao Hua, but the words reached her lips and she couldn't open her mouth.

  Mrs. Xue asked about Ronghua as soon as she entered the door, and no one mentioned Yaohua from start to finish. Last time Liao went to see Mrs. Xue, I don't know what they said, but the Xue family actually avoided Yaohua like this.

  After a while, Mrs. Xue and Second Lady Xue got up to bid farewell, and Eldest Lady, Hong Ge, and Rong Hua escorted the two ladies out of the second gate.

  The lady said: "I'm going to Old Lady's place, you all go back on your own"

  Hong Ge glanced at Rong Hua beside him, and as soon as the old lady left, he could stay behind and talk to Ba Jie. Although this was what he had planned in his heart, it was all dispelled by a single glance from Rong Hua, who took a step forward and said: "Mother, I'll go with you to see Grandmother."

  The old lady hesitated for a moment and nodded in agreement, "Bring your exam papers with you, let your grandmother be happy too."

  Ronghua gazed at the back of Mrs. Tao and Hongge, a faint smile on her face. After all, Hongge was the only child of the Tao family, and Yaohua would eventually marry out. In the past, Hongge had been too young to understand how to get close to his grandmother, but that would change from now on. Although Yaohua had grown up by her grandmother's side since childhood, she had ultimately disappointed her. From now on, only Hongge, who was still young and could be cultivated emotionally, remained.

  If Hongge could take the initiative to get close, it would be even more different. In the future, the Tao family will still have to rely on him for his academic "small achievements".

  Mrs. Dai led Hong Ge into the main house of Qian Xi Residence.

  The old lady was talking to Rui Qing in the house, saw the big wife came with a smile on her face, and then saw Hong Ge, the smile deepened, and hurriedly asked the two to sit down.

  After saying a few words, Brother Hong handed the test paper to the old lady to take a look. The old lady narrowed her eyes and took the test paper to a slightly distant place to carefully examine it. She praised Brother Hong, "Indeed, you've made progress." She invited Brother Hong to sit next to her, and the grandfather-grandson pair chatted for a long time, even the big wife couldn't get a word in edgewise.

  The topic is inseparable from those things about Tao's ancestors.

  The Tao family had produced many successful candidates in the imperial examinations, and the old lady's enthusiasm for talking about it was undiminished even though she had spoken of it before. Hongge listened with great interest.

  After counting to the end, the old lady said: "Your great-grandfather was a winner of the Imperial Examination, but that's all in the past. In the future, the Tao family will still rely on you."

  Hong Ge nodded, "Don't worry, Grandma."

  The old lady smiled and patted Hong Ge's head, "Good boy."

  Hong Ge seemed to remember something, his face suddenly sank, "I went to see Second Sister, Second Sister's illness doesn't seem to be getting better, can we change to another doctor for treatment?"

  Hong Ge mentioned Yao Hua, the old lady frowned and showed a sad expression in her eyes. "This Mr. Wang who has been treating your second sister's illness for the longest time, I think he is the most clear about it, so I still invited him over."

  Hong said: "In the past few days, I don't know which doctor prescribed medicine for your second sister. If it's effective, why not invite him over?"

  "The imperial physician from the palace, your elder sister had invited him previously. This time we went to invite him but it's unclear when he will arrive."

  Hong said: "I was just thinking of going to see Big Sister, and I'll ask that imperial physician along the way."

  The old lady said: "How can that be? Your elder sister is also ill, and I heard that this is how it was contracted."

  Hong said, "I'll just go take a look first. If Eldest Sister's condition is good, I'll bring it up and have the doctor come over again. If Eldest Sister asks, I'll say let the doctor check if Second Sister has fully recovered. If Eldest Sister's condition isn't good, I won't mention it."

  The old lady thought for a moment, "Alright, if your elder sister asks, just tell her that the medicine prescribed by your second sister has been finished. Ask the doctor to come and change the prescription, and then open a few more doses of medicine to stabilize it."

  Hóng Gē nodded.

  The lady hesitated, "Mother, Hong Ge is still young after all."

  The old lady said: "He's not young anymore, boys can come and go as they please at the age of twelve. Now Hong Ge is already eleven years old. Besides, it's just going to see what his sister has, what's the big deal?"

  It's settled then.

  Hongge ate dinner before coming out of the old lady's house, then he shook off the maids and went to Ronghua's courtyard.

  "Sister," Hong Ge said, pulling Rong Hua's hand into the pavilion, "the old lady praised me and even gave me a jade pendant. She said it was something our grandfather used to wear." As he spoke, he took it off from his waist and showed it to Rong Hua.

  Jade represents auspiciousness and good fortune, it is the most important thing to wear on one's body, let alone it being an heirloom from grandfather.

  Ronghua's smile deepened and he asked again: "What else did you say?" As he spoke, he picked up his tea to take a sip.

  But was snatched away by Hong Ge, who begged: "Sister, let me have a drink first"

  Rong Hua smiled and said: "Your tea will be brought up in a moment."

  Hong Ge lifted the lid of the bowl and drank from it, "What's the big deal if I drink from sister's?"

  "After drinking tea, Hong Ge continued: "Grandma mentioned my second sister. I said that the most important thing for my second sister now is to rest and recover from her illness, if not, we can invite several more doctors to take a look. Grandma said there's no good doctor anywhere, so I took the opportunity to suggest going to Yi Cheng Hou Fu to see my older sister." After finishing speaking, he smiled and looked at Rong Hua, "Indeed just like sister said, grandma agreed, and also asked me to go visit second sister later and ask if she has anything to say to big sister.""

  Ronghua smiled, "How will you put it to your elder sister?"

  Hong Ge grasped Rong Hua's hand and said, "Of course I will listen to sister."

  Ronghua took out a book from the cabinet and handed it to Hongge, "And another thing, you should go later when Dajie's husband is there, quietly without making any noise..." She whispered clearly in Hongge's ear.

  "Brother Hong raised his eyebrows, 'If he still has a sister in his heart, he definitely won't have that kind of thought.' He said with a smile, 'Sister can rest assured.'"

  P.S: There are 100 more pink additions inside, and I'll continue to code tonight. I don't know if I can add 120 more, if it's too late, I definitely won't be able to update...

  It's suggested to arrive at the table too late.

  In addition: Although it was not explicitly stated, it is already settled.

  What will be the outcome of Hong's trip to the Marquis' residence?