Chapter 69: Past Events (Part 1)

  The lady did not expect Yohua to come over and was taken aback.

  Mrs. Cai said: "Just now I saw that the aunt didn't bring the second young lady over, and I was wondering about it. It seems that the second young lady is thinking of her elder sister-in-law."

  The lady smiled and said, "Those two sisters have always been the best of friends. Yao Hua is meticulous, everyone has to worry about her." She paused for a moment, "I'll go take a look."

  Madam just stood up and walked to the door, and saw Yao Hua leading Chu Xiao over.

  Yao Hua stepped forward slowly, greeted Mrs. Cai and asked how she was doing, then turned to the elder lady: "The sedan chair from our mansion is coming over, so I came along with it." Her face calm and composed, she spoke with ease, making everything sound reasonable and logical.

  The old lady nodded, "Your elder sister was just looking for you and mentioned it to me, go take a look at her quickly."

  Yao Hua quietly responded and apologized to Mrs. Cai, "I'll go take a look at my sister and come right back."

  Mrs. Cai smiled and ordered the maid to follow and send Yaohua over.

  The big wife turned her head to look at Rong Hua and said, "Otherwise, you can also follow them, you sisters can chat together."

  Ronghua glanced at Yao Hua who had come prepared, and smiled slightly. "I'll still stay with my mother on this side." It was a place of disputes, the farther she stayed away from it, the better.

  Yao Hua nodded and followed the maid after she had finished dressing.

  Mrs. Lai and Mrs. Cai went back into the house to talk, while Rong Hua sat quietly on the side listening. After about a cup of tea's time, sure enough, a maid came in and walked over to Mrs. Cai's side, whispering a few sentences in her ear.

  Mrs. Cai's face suddenly showed a hint of abnormality.

  The maid finished speaking and stood aside waiting for orders.

  Mrs. Cai turned her head to look at the elder lady, a smile on her face but with a hint of stiffness, "The eldest daughter-in-law wants to follow you back home and stay for two days."

  The old lady's face stiffened upon hearing this, earlier Shu Hua hadn't said she wanted to go back and live there, how could it suddenly... become awkward on her face. "This child, I'll go talk to her, with a body like that, not properly resting..." She paused then continued: "This child is just a bit stubborn, making the madam laugh."

  Mrs. Cai hurriedly smiled and said, "Mother-in-law, what are you talking about? I'm also worried about my daughter-in-law's health, fearing that the back-and-forth travel will be detrimental to her condition. Otherwise, there's no problem with whenever she goes back."

  Although it was obviously Shu Hua who was in the wrong, Mrs. Cai still spoke up for her, leaving Eldest Madam embarrassed and at a loss for words, she could only stand up and say: "I'll go take a look, this child is not being taken care of properly, what's going on."

  Ronghua also quickly stood up and followed the old lady into Shuhua's room.

  Rong Hua walked and pondered, wondering what exactly Yao Hua had said to her elder sister that would cause such a reaction. Hurrying back to the Tao Manor, she couldn't help but wonder what was going on. Could it be... Rong Hua faintly guessed a few things.

  Several people walked into the Shu Hua courtyard, where a young maid was already waiting anxiously. Seeing Madame Cai arrive, she hastily stepped forward to lift the curtain, and the elder lady entered the inner chamber. She saw Shu Hua sitting on the edge of the bed, already dressed with the help of the maid. The elder lady then looked at Yao Hua, who stood beside Shu Hua with red-rimmed eyes and a pale face. Chu Xiao was standing off to the side, her head bowed in fear.

  The other maids in the house were even more cautious, standing aside and afraid of making a mistake.

  Shu Hua's face was even paler than before, her complexion like gold paper, and she was having trouble breathing. When she saw Mrs. Cai and the elder madam approaching, she had a young maid support her as she trembled and struggled to stand up, then went forward to pay her respects to them with great difficulty. "Mother, I'd like to return to my maternal home for a visit. I'll be back tomorrow."

  Mrs. Cai looked at Shu Hua deeply, usually when Shu Hua had an idea, she would ask for her opinion in a probing manner, but today she spoke out directly, having made up her mind. Especially with the determination in Shu Hua's eyes, it seemed as if nothing could shake her resolve.

  She might not be able to achieve anything even if she insisted on intercepting, and it would only make everyone look bad. Mrs. Cai thought for a moment and didn't mention anything else, only revealing her concern, "I'm fine here, but can your body take it?"

  Shu Hua nodded, "Don't worry, Mother." She took a long deep breath.

  The old lady saw that Shu Hua's face was really not looking well, and she couldn't bring herself to scold her, so she tentatively discussed with her daughter, "You should take good care of yourself first, when your body is a bit better, I'll come over to pick you up and stay for two days."

  Shu Hua forced a smile, "I'm just going back to see Father, I'll be back early tomorrow."

  This is a tactful refusal.

  Yao Hua stood by silently, and Mrs. Dai knew there must be a reason for this, but with so many people in the house, she didn't dare ask, and seeing her beloved daughter's condition, she felt heartbroken, really couldn't bear to go against her daughter's wishes anymore, and could only turn around and smile apologetically at Mrs. Cai.

  Mrs. Cai said: "Since it's like this, let the eldest daughter-in-law follow her mother-in-law back home for a few days."

  The lady was naturally very grateful, "How can this be good."

  Mrs. Cai smiled and said, "Mother-in-law is being polite again, we're all parents with sons and daughters, how could we not understand?" She instructed the maid, "The things are secondary, but it's essential to bring all of Madame Dai's usual medicines, don't be careless."

  The maids responded.

  Shu Hua's personal maid, Miao Tong, busied herself arranging for the maids to pack up their things. The mistress and Mrs. Cai sat for a while longer before standing up and saying: "It's getting late, I'll head back first and come visit you again another day."

  Mrs. Cai said a few polite words and personally escorted the elder lady to the second gate, as Shu Hua followed along, the Hou Mansion arranged another carriage, the elder lady wanted to help Shu Hua get on the Hou Mansion's carriage, but Shu Hua's legs were weak, the elder lady struggled to support her alone, Rong Hua hurried over to assist.

  Ronghua helped Shuhua up, but as soon as Shuhua saw who it was, her eyes became sharp as knives and she coldly pulled her hand away, using all her strength to push Ronghua back.

  Dazzled and confused, I stood there in a daze.

  Miao Teng, who was standing aside, hastily came over and helped Madame Wang support Shu Hua into the carriage.

  Rong Hua and Yao Hua brought Mu Jin and Chu Xiao to sit in the second carriage.

  Yao Hua sat quietly, not saying a word. Rong Hua thought about Shu Hua's attitude earlier and felt a bit surprised in her heart. Earlier, Shu Hua was still very affectionate towards her, but suddenly her attitude changed.

  It was as if she had become an enemy. She hadn't done anything wrong, the only possibility being that gentle second miss sitting next to her...

  The car started moving forward, and Mrs. Dai pulled Shu Hua's hand, asking in a low voice, "What's wrong? Why do you want to go home suddenly?"

  Shu Hua's face turned even uglier, her throat felt stuffy, she coughed violently twice, and her hands shook uncontrollably.

  The old lady hastily comforted, "How can this be," tightly grasping Shu Hua's disobedient hand, "How did you get sick? What exactly happened? You're going to worry me to death."

  Shu Hua took two deep breaths, revealing a mocking smile. "Mother, don't worry, I won't die until things are clear. Even if I do die, I'll die with a clear conscience." The last two words seemed to use up the last of her strength, sharp enough to pierce her own throat.

  After saying these words, Shu Hua closed her eyes and leaned softly against the carriage.

  The big wife looked at her daughter with a heartache. Shu Hua's whole person was like being covered with a layer of dust, becoming dull and lifeless, losing all vitality.

  Finally arrived at the Tao Mansion, the mistress ordered the servant, "Quickly go and bring over a sedan chair."

  The old lady got off the carriage first and then helped Shu Hua onto the sedan chair.

  Madam Chen saw Shu Hua, her face surprised and delighted, hurriedly smiled and greeted Shu Hua, "Young lady is back." Looking at Shu Hua's expression and then at the tense face of Madam Tai, a bad premonition arose in her heart.

  The landlady asked: "Is the yard where Shu Hua used to live still clean?"

  "Clean, clean! The maids sweep every day!"

  The lady said: "Quickly go and call a few maids to attend to her over there."

  Mrs. Chen nodded and went off to make arrangements.

  The sedan chair was carried into the courtyard where Shuhua used to live. Miaotong called out twice before Shuhua opened her eyes, looked around and asked, "Where is this?"

  The old lady bent down and said in a soft voice: "Foolish child, isn't this the house you used to live in?"

  "Previous home." Shu Hua seemed to recall the scene when she was not married, and a faint smile appeared at the corner of her mouth. In an instant, she withdrew her smile and asked, "How did you get here?"

  "Everything is ready inside, you go in and rest first, there's still a long way to go tomorrow, taking care of your body is important."

  Shu Hua smiled self-deprecatingly and looked at the old lady, "Where is Fourth Aunt? Take me to Fourth Aunt's place, I want to see Fourth Aunt."

  The big wife was taken aback and never thought that Shu Hua would go see Fourth Aunt.

  "What's she doing? She's ill, be careful not to catch her illness."

  Shu Hua half-closed her eyes, "Either call her over or I'll go there."

  The old lady couldn't help but get anxious, "You naughty child, why don't you listen? What are you trying to do? Is there something you can't tell me?"

  Shu Hua took a deep breath, "Call Fourth Aunt over, I want to ask her," she raised her head, and her eyes seemed to have a cold lake of ice, "If you don't call her over, I'll go ask myself." As she spoke, she used all her strength to prop herself up, and somehow managed to stand up straight, then walked forward on her own.

  The big wife had never seen Shu Hua like this before, and was also startled by the resolute expression on her face. She didn't know what Shu Hua wanted to ask Si Niang about either.

  He hastily called out to those around him, "What are you staring at? Don't you go and help Miss up?"

  After inquiring about the whereabouts of Fourth Aunt, Shu Hua's face turned soft and she didn't sit down anymore. She supported herself and walked all the way to the courtyard where Old Lady was resting. Without saying a word to anyone she saw, she rushed towards Fourth Aunt's house and pushed open the door with one hand.

  Liu'er in the house was startled, and looked towards the door. She saw Shu Hua's face with an extremely frightening expression. Before she could even go forward to pay her respects, she heard Shu Hua say coldly: "All of you get out."

  Everyone had to retreat, and Shu Hua turned around and closed the door.

  Liu'er was at a loss for what to do when she heard the old lady coldly ask, "Is she dead?"

  Liu Er didn't react until half a day later, "Fourth Aunt... no... nothing..."

  "It's been several days since the rice didn't stick to my teeth, and now I can hardly speak. If this continues, I'm afraid...". Just as Liu'er said this, she noticed a faint smile at the corner of Madame's mouth.

  What's going on? What did Shu Hua ask Siyi about?

  Madam immediately thought of Yao Hua and turned around, but didn't see her. She called out to Chunyao beside her, "Quickly go and call the second young lady over." Just as she finished speaking, a loud voice came from inside, "I'm asking you! Is it really true? You... quickly... tell me." The voice grew weaker towards the end.

  Thinking of Shu Hua's illness, Mrs. Zhang hurriedly stretched out her hand to push the door, but it was blocked by Shu Hua from inside and couldn't be pushed open no matter what. Seeing that no one came to help, a surge of anger rose in Mrs. Zhang's heart, "What are you staring at? Quickly open the door for me."

  The crowd suddenly came to their senses and rushed up to push open the door.

  With great difficulty, she finally opened the door and stepped into the house in one stride.

  Everyone was shocked by the scene inside, the eldest sister tightly grasped Fourth Aunt's hair and pulled it non-stop, Fourth Aunt's face was covered with tea leaves and water, the teacup was thrown on the bed.

  The big wife went forward to see Shu Hua and comforted her: "You're going to die, why bother with her?"

  Liu'er saw the appearance of Fourth Aunt and couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy, so she whispered: "Fourth Aunt has been unable to speak for a long time, Miss. Whatever you ask her, she won't be able to say anything." As soon as she finished speaking, she felt a sharp pain in her lower abdomen and stumbled backward several steps. Then she heard the mistress's stern voice saying: "You insolent slave, who gave you permission to speak?" She also ordered two servant women: "Take her away and teach her some discipline!"

  Liu'er was so frightened that her soul flew away, and just as she was about to kneel down and beg for mercy, her body had already been twisted by the two old women.

  Shu Hua was still unwilling, and with a sudden pull, she pulled the fourth aunt up violently. The fourth aunt, however, was like a dead person, tightly closing her eyes and not making a sound.

  Shu Hua saw this, and it seemed like a hot surge of something had rushed into her chest. That thing dispersed and charged into her brain, "Boom"! Everything in front of her turned black, and she didn't know anything anymore.

  Seeing Shu Hua softly falling down, Mrs. Tai was stunned for a moment, and when she came to her senses, she shouted loudly: "Quickly come, quickly come."

  The entire Tao mansion was thrown into a state of panic.

  Shu Hua didn't know how long she had been in the darkness, when suddenly she heard someone say, "Okay." Shu Hua slowly opened her eyes to see her mother's frightened gaze.

  Shu Hua only felt a burst of metallic ringing in her ears, she forced herself to open her mouth and called out, "Mother."

  Mrs. Tan saw Shu Hua's tears flowing non-stop, and she kept opening her mouth to call out to herself, so Mrs. Tan hurriedly leaned in to listen. Shu Hua opened her mouth again and closed it, speaking for half a day before Mrs. Tan finally heard clearly that Shu Hua was calling out her own sister's name.

  The old lady said: "Your eighth sister is on this side, wait for you to be well and then call her over to talk."

  Shu Hua on the bed shook her head.

  Madam Zhao looked back and saw that Shu Hua had managed to utter a few words: "Zhao... Xuan... Huang, Rong... Hua..."

  Zhao Xuan Huan, Rong Hua.

  The lady was taken aback all of a sudden.

  It's late, but there are many words.

  Sorry, sorry.