Chapter Seven: Miss Yunqiao, Shall We Go?

Upon hearing this, Jin Xin and Yin Xin immediately knelt down and said, “Mistress, that day I was on my way to the kitchen to fetch some pastries for you when I encountered Sister Qinglian.”

Yin Xin frowned, carefully recalling the events of that day, and slowly said, “That day, Sister Qinglian asked me to follow her to organize the storage room. At first, I did not want to go, but she seemed particularly anxious and insisted on pulling me along.”

“I thought there was nothing urgent on your side at the time, and the pastries were just the daily allowance, so it wouldn’t matter if I was a little late. So, I followed her. Mistress, I truly did not expect…”

Recalling that day filled Yin Xin with deep regret.

If she hadn’t been pulled to organize the storage room by Qinglian, perhaps such an incident would never have happened to the mistress.

Luo Yunqiao furrowed her brows, pondering over the maid Qinglian.

“Are you talking about the second-rank maid who serves beside your mother?” Luo Yunqiao’s voice came softly as she rubbed the silver bracelet on her left wrist, reflecting carefully.

“Yes. Sister Qinglian seemed very flustered that day. She summoned me to the storage room, but while tidying, she appeared distracted. When I wanted to leave, she wouldn’t let me go,” Yin Xin added the details she recalled. “Looking back now, she must have been trying to trap the mistress by keeping me there.”

“But after that day, she vanished completely, as if she disappeared from the estate once the mistress met with the accident.”

Luo Yunqiao thought deeply for a moment before asking, “What about the other maids and servants who used to serve here? Where are they now?”

Surprised that Luo Yunqiao would ask such a question, Yin Xin sighed and said, “After the mistress’s accident, master drove her to the Zhao Jue Temple. All the maids, matrons, and servants in our courtyard were given reasons and sold off. Jin Xin and I survived only because our parents worked as stewards in the household.”

“That’s not right. Besides Jin Xin and me, those closest to the mistress have all died. The second-rank maids were the ones sold off. Thinking about it this way… Mistress…”

Yin Xin grew more anxious as she spoke and quickly looked toward Luo Yunqiao.

Luo Yunqiao raised a hand to silence her, stopping her from saying more.

“It’s getting late; we should rest. Don’t speak recklessly about today’s matters. The deaths of those maids and matrons must have been mere coincidence. After all, you two are unharmed!”

With that, she patted the shoulders of the two maids.

Lying on the soft bed, it all seemed like a dream—the events she endured at Zhao Jue Temple—but the pain in her body reminded her incessantly that everything before her eyes was but a superficial illusion.

The entire Marquis’s Mansion was ignorant and filthy. Now, she needed to first secure the protection of the matriarch of the Luo family and then slowly gather evidence. This grudge must be avenged.

A night of sound sleep.

***

Early the next morning, Luo Yunqiao stayed by the old matriarch’s room, attending to her.

She carefully helped the matriarch put on her final coat, smoothed the edges of her garment, and supported her to the dining table.

“You’re still ill yourself; why come to serve this old woman?” The matriarch tilted her head, motioning for Luo Yunqiao to sit beside her.

“Grandmother, your granddaughter is here to serve you so you may enjoy the happiness of family,” Luo Yunqiao replied.

“Never seen anyone so eager to serve others,” the matriarch said, eyeing the breakfast dishes, some of which she had never encountered before.

She withdrew her gaze and said, “If you put this kind of care into your father, mother, and brothers, they wouldn’t be so partial in doting on Zhen.”

Luo Yunqiao remained silent.

After a brief pause, she rose to ladle a bowl of clear soup for the matriarch, carefully blowing on it to cool before setting it before her.

“Grandmother, please try this tofu soup. At your age, your digestion is delicate, and this light and savory soup aids in maintaining health.”

Listening to Luo Yunqiao’s explanation, the matriarch took a small sip, then two more before setting the bowl down.

She took the handkerchief handed by a matron and wiped the corner of her mouth.

“Not bad cooking!” The matriarch’s tone was cold. “But you are the legitimate eldest daughter of the Marquis’s Mansion; there’s no need for you to do such chores yourself.”

“I am an old woman who may not live much longer. In the end, you will have to rely more on your parents and brothers.”

The matriarch patted Luo Yunqiao’s hand.

Luo Yunqiao said nothing but the slight upward curl of her lips gave the illusion of a smile—upon closer look, it was clearly a sneer.

Seeing this expression, the matriarch sighed inwardly, understanding that the son and daughter-in-law had indeed wounded this child’s heart.

Luo Yunqiao lowered her gaze slightly; she was not an unwise girl but was compelled by circumstances.

“Grandmother, your granddaughter does not care to meddle in others. Even if I offer my true heart, some people would not even glance at it and would think me a flatterer. But you, grandmother, you understand my true intentions.”

“Instead of wasting my sincerity on those who do not cherish it, it is better to give it to those who truly understand me.”

***

“How do you know that I am one of those who understand your heart?” The matriarch chuckled silently.

After breakfast was cleared away, Luo Yunqiao stayed at the matriarch’s side.

She had intended to accompany her for lunch as well, but an unexpected visitor arrived.

“Matriarch, Nurse Tian from madam’s side has come. She says madam requests the young lady’s presence at her meal,” Matron Qian reported.

The matriarch waved her hand gently. “Go see your mother. After all, she is your blood relative.”

Luo Yunqiao originally did not want to go, but since the matriarch said so, she no longer objected. “I will go at once. Tomorrow your granddaughter will come again to pay respects.”

She rose, allowed Yin Xin to drape a cloak over her shoulders, bowed to the matriarch, and then withdrew slowly.

In the courtyard of the matriarch’s residence stood a finely dressed matron—Nurse Tian, who served Luo Zhou, the mistress.

Luo Yunqiao approached, though Nurse Tian was from Luo Zhou’s side and often treated her with disdain.

“Miss Yunqiao, you are truly hard to summon. Second Young Master and Miss are waiting for you in madam’s courtyard. Let’s hurry!” Nurse Tian’s tone was unpleasant.

Luo Zefeng and Luo Yunzhen are here too?

Upon hearing this, Luo Yunqiao curled her lips, revealing a hint of mockery.

She had known that if it were ordinary, Luo Zhou would never bother to remember her; evidently, someone else was the one thinking of her.

What a wonderful mother indeed—she could not stand to see her relax even a little.

In that case, she would go see what grand spectacle those two had prepared today.

“Miss Yunqiao, let’s hurry!”

Luo Yunqiao’s gaze swept over Nurse Tian, watching her smug and petty demeanor, and she inwardly sneered. The servants of the famed Jing’an Marquis Mansion truly lacked discipline!