Water drop
Lin Xu closed his eyes for only a short while, and perhaps the medicine was taking effect, but he quickly drifted off to sleep.
She was already leaning back in the chair, which was no more comfortable than a soft cushion or a bed. When she was gently woken up, she felt some pain in her neck and back.
What she saw was Zhu Ling's anxious face and pleading eyes as she looked at her. She gently rubbed her aching shoulders, subconsciously repeating Zhu Ling's words:
"...The murderer has been found?"
Zhu Ling nodded and lowered her voice:
“Indeed, I have now secured Fu’er at Zhi Yuan’s old house. Would you like me to take you there to see her, Miss?”
Lin Xu glanced at Zhu Ling, who had a sincere expression, and then sighed softly, "You are steady and composed. Although you are still young, you are the most appropriate and calm among the people in Luoya Residence. Now that even you are so nervous, it is clear that Fu'er must have said something very important."
She slowly stood up, looking at the two parrots resting cuddly in the birdcage hanging high above, pursing her lips and lowering her brows in silence.
Zhu Ling was so anxious that sweat broke out on her forehead again. After all, Fu'er was young and wouldn't listen to advice. If she threw a tantrum while Zhu Ling was away, what would happen if this crucial witness was lost?
Lin Xu glanced at the anxious Zhu Ling and said softly, "Then take me to see her."
Luoya Residence is located in the backyard of the Lin family mansion. The main hall is not far from the servants' quarters, and the two arrived in no time.
Zhu Ling strode forward and lifted the bamboo curtain in front of the door, only to find the room spotless and clean, with no trace of Fu'er to be seen!
She hurriedly looked around, but there was no trace of her, not even the bundle that Fu'er had secretly hidden on her body.
Zhu Ling's vision went black, and she thought it was Fu'er who had sneaked out after she left. In her anxiety, she saw Lin Xu frowning and quietly looking around.
Her gaze fell on a very slight scratch on the ground, and a tiny, shimmering bead beside it.
Lin Xu bent down and picked up the sparkling bead. It was a rose quartz of excellent quality, with a delicate texture and a pale pink luster. She examined the pink bead between her fingers carefully, remaining silent.
Zhu Ling, who had been sniffing the air in the room since entering, finally hesitated and asked, "Miss... is there a faint, strange fragrance in this room?"
A subtle, mellow fragrance lingers in the room. As a gentle breeze drifts in through the half-open curtains, a hint of sandalwood is added, making the overall scent pleasant and refreshing.
Seeing that Lin Xu did not refute, Zhu Ling was stunned for a moment. In an instant, all sorts of thoughts came back to her mind, and she hurriedly said:
“Miss, just now Fu’er also said that she smelled a delicate fragrance that day, a very unique scent that is not often found in the servants’ quarters. But just now, when I was here, I didn’t smell this sandalwood scent at all…”
Her words trailed off; she dared not speak further. Lin Xu merely curled her lips into a slight smile, her expression growing increasingly cold and aloof.
He appeared completely confident, as if he had already made up his mind.
.
On this rare sunny day, the storms and rains that followed the summer solstice had swept away all traces of the storm, and Gao Youyi was in high spirits. She then ordered a lotus-viewing banquet to be carefully arranged in the back garden.
This was the first time she had hosted a family banquet since becoming the mistress of the house, so she naturally took care of everything herself, ensuring that the arrangements were meticulous and appropriate. In addition, due to a series of major events that had recently occurred in the mansion, this banquet was also a way of showing concern for Madam Qi's pregnancy and comforting Lin Xu after his setback.
After returning home from court, Lin Fu changed into casual clothes, wearing an apricot-colored robe with gold lettering, which made him look exceptionally refreshed. Seeing Lin Xu smiling and in a cheerful mood, he felt relieved as well.
Since punishing Qingwu a while ago, he knew he had wronged his daughter and had been trying to make amends. However, Lin Xu seemed to be deliberately avoiding him, not only leaving early and returning late these days, but also frequently missing his morning and evening greetings. He just wanted to bridge this gap as soon as possible, so when Lin Xu smiled at him, which was a rare occurrence, he was in a great mood and immediately drank the wine in his cup.
Gao Youyi's hair was styled in a high bun, forming an extremely serene and elegant updo. She wore a light blue brocade dress with purple azalea patterns and gold embroidery, making her appear even more luxurious and poised than before, gradually exuding the air of a matriarch. Her eyes were clear as autumn water as she smiled:
"Sir, please drink slowly. Although this pine needle brew is clear in color and full of pine aroma, it is quite intoxicating."
Liang Zhengyuan was seated right next to Lin Xu. He took a bite of the lotus seed pod and dried tangerine peel stewed abalone in front of him and immediately found it delicious and fragrant. He then secretly winked at Lin Xu, signaling her to have more.
Lin Xu covered her mouth and chuckled, knowing that her cousin was just trying to amuse her, so she took a sip herself. Sure enough, the salty and fresh flavor of the abalone and the fragrance of the lotus seeds complemented each other perfectly, making it even more delicious and leaving a lingering aftertaste.
Qi Shuang'er slowly curved her lips into a smile, a faint blush rising on her cheeks, making her appear even more tender and charming. Since becoming pregnant, she had been pampered every day, becoming even more spoiled and alluring than before. In addition, her luxurious attire today, with a brocade shawl that accentuated her snow-white skin, made her even more alluring.
"Yuan Lang hasn't been to the martial arts training ground for a while now, has he found something new to do?"
Liang Zhengyuan took the hot tea handed to him by the maid, slowly skimming off the floating leaves from the cup before raising his eyes and speaking seriously:
"However, it just so happens that the martial arts instructors are on holiday, and I've been feeling unwell lately with a headache and fever, so I'll just rest for a few days. Thank you for your consideration, Auntie."
Madam Qi smiled sweetly, her lips curving slightly. "You still need to rest well if you're not feeling well. Otherwise, what if Yuanlang, who is in the prime of his life, develops a chronic illness from a minor ailment?"
She also scooped up a small spoonful of the shrimp soup in front of her, savored it carefully, and then spoke softly:
"I heard that Yuan Lang has only been in the martial arts arena for a short time and has already won first place. He is truly a young hero. I wonder which young lady will be lucky enough to marry such an outstanding young man in the future?"
Liang Zhengyuan is four years older than Lin Xu and is now eighteen years old, in the prime of his life. Moreover, he comes from a prestigious family in Hecheng, so he should be matched with a good family. Lin Fu is usually busy with government affairs and has never paid attention to this matter. Now, after hearing what Qi said, he has come to some understanding.
Liang Zhengyuan was young and charming, and always had a smiling and good-natured attitude towards everyone in the mansion. Moreover, since Qi Shi was an elder, he was even more amiable. But now, however, he had a very rare cold expression, eating lotus seeds by himself and remaining silent.
Seeing that Liang Zhengyuan was clearly unhappy, Lan Yue, who was sitting at a distance, sipped her lukewarm tea and spoke slowly:
“The nights have been filled with storms and torrential rain lately, and even the flowers that were in full bloom have withered overnight. Today is a rare sunny day, and I see the lotus flowers swaying in the garden, which is a perfect complement to this lotus banquet.”
Lin Xu gazed at the bonsai made of lotus pods beside the cup, its verdant green hue captivating his eyes. Gentle blue waves rippled in the sky-blue glazed porcelain bowl, adorned with delicate lotus blossoms, creating a scene of pristine beauty, serene and serene.
"My mother's ingenuity today, with just a handful of clear spring water, is enough to keep the whole summer alive. Her intentions are truly remarkable."
When Gao Youyi saw Lin Xu's praise, her temples flushed red, and she said with a charming smile, "Xu'er has a sweet tongue, but I don't have such a delicate mind. It's just that Lan Yue has been helping me with her heart."
Lin Fu was a learned man with a great love for refined pursuits, and naturally cast a few approving glances his way. He and Gao were newlyweds, and although they were a second marriage, they were remarkably compatible, and their marriage remained harmonious for over a month.
The banquet was held in the scenic back garden. After a hearty meal, some people were still in high spirits and suggested taking a walk by the rockery.
Lin Xu gladly accepted the invitation and walked slowly behind the crowd. Lan Yue, dressed in a light green auspicious cloud dress, was graceful and ethereal. She walked a few steps beside Lin Xu. At the head of the group were Lin Fu and Gao Shi, who seemed a little drunk. One could vaguely hear Lin Fu reciting poetry.
The two walked slowly at the back of the group, chatting and laughing, before turning behind a jagged boulder beside the artificial hill. Lan Yue gently lifted her skirt, about to climb the steps, when she suddenly heard a clear voice behind her.
"—Fur is dead, you no longer need to wait for her message."
Lan Yue trembled, her foot almost missing its mark as she stepped out. She slowly turned her head, her face turning deathly pale.
"...What are you saying, Miss? I don't understand."
Lin Xu stood at the bottom of the steps, his deep, dark eyes appearing even clearer and brighter in the shade of the boulder.
Her lips slowly curved upwards into a perfect arc, and her crimson-blue brocade robe with scrolling grass patterns and gold trim added a touch of solitude to the dim light.
Lin Xu looked at Lan Yue's gradually paling face and her awkward smile, and slowly spoke, word by word:
"The cherry-pink rose stone beads had a very faint cypress scent, and Fu'er's testimony pointed directly to the person who splashed ice water on Qingwu that day, causing her death, and that person also had a strange fragrance. Gao Youyi was sent to an ancient temple in the mountains to recuperate from a young age, and she usually loved sandalwood, agate, prayer beads and other Buddhist objects, which was common knowledge in the mansion. When I woke up that day, I was still in a daze, but it was my mother who told me personally when she visited me that there was another secret behind Qingwu's death, that she was harmed by the maid in the same room. All the signs clearly point directly to my mother."
Having just recovered from a long illness, a gentle breeze blew by, causing her to cough lightly a few times. She covered her mouth with her handkerchief before continuing:
"However, such a large amount of evidence seems too much of a coincidence."
Lin Xu paused, his eyes filled with unfathomable coldness as he looked at Lan Yue.
"So it's clear you've put in a lot of effort this time. If it succeeds, you'll achieve three things at once. First, you can find out if I, Lin Xu, am intelligent enough to believe your elaborate schemes. Second, you can frame my mother. If I'm too eager to avenge Qingwu and listen to Fu'er's one-sided story, I'll develop a grudge against my mother. As for the third... that's your true purpose in this scheme."
If I, Lin Xu, am not as stupid as others say, then I will only think that someone is framing my mother. As Fu'er's former mistress, Qi Shi is determined to kill Qingwu. If I suspect her, I will fight Qi Shi to the death to avenge Qingwu.
—And you, Lan Yue, can then reap the benefits without lifting a finger.
Lin Xu looked at Lan Yue, whose expression was becoming increasingly tense, and spoke in a voice as icy as ice seeping through a cold winter river, relentlessly pressing her for an answer.
Lan Yue remained expressionless, her lips pressed tightly together, her eyes lowered, and after a long while, she said calmly:
"That's an interesting line of reasoning. But why does Miss think it's me?"
She had long since been promoted to the rank of concubine, but she still maintained the title she had when she was a servant.
Lin Xu sighed softly, looking very tired.
“I never doubted you before. After all, you always suffered humiliation at the hands of the Qi family but never fought back. You seemed so gentle and pitiful. Who would suspect you? — But your plan was very ingenious, with only one loophole.”
She gently raised her hand, casually fiddling with the jagged rocks beside her. The crevices in the rocks were sharp, bearing the marks of time and weathering. Her eyelashes appeared even thicker in the light and shadow filtering through the cracks, like raven-blue feathers, trembling slightly in the wind.
"The Gao family comes from a prominent family and has spent half their lives in seclusion in the mountains. They are also straightforward and outspoken. Even if they hate someone, they will only speak sarcastically, but they would never devise such a meticulously planned scheme. I pretended to punish Zhiyuan, and you secretly watched from the sidelines. When you thought the time was right, you deliberately let Fu'er be seen by Zhuling, so that Zhuling would believe it was real and become even more convinced that it was Xintan who kidnapped Fu'er."
She finished speaking slowly, her eyes fixed firmly on Lan Yue's nowhere-to-hide gaze, her words devoid of any emotion:
"Am I right, Lan'er?"
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