Chapter 18: Vigil
Yu Shengsheng clearly remembered that the blood on the cloak was from Grandma Wu.
When she went to see Grandma Wu wearing her cloak, Shen Zhiyuan had not yet brought the dog.
But does it matter?
unimportant.
Yu Shengsheng looked at Ruzhu dimly. Ruzhu was twitching, crying, and regretting, as if she was the one who was suffering endless pain at this moment.
The dancing torches in the yard reflected Yu Shengsheng's pale face, which was as fragile as porcelain and as cold as porcelain.
The gazes of the crowd were like sharp blades, cutting into her heart, breaking it into pieces one by one.
She sighed softly. There was no point in saying more. Just like a year ago, there was no way to change the outcome.
Just as he was about to speak, a burst of hurried footsteps came closer and rushed into the yard.
The shout was like a bolt of lightning.
"My Lord, Mrs. Wu has admitted that she killed your dog!"
Aunt Zhao, who was beside the old lady, came into the yard and shouted loudly.
Su Zhiyi was surprised: "Why?"
Yu Shengsheng's voice sounded at the same time: "Impossible!"
Mrs. Zhao glanced at her calmly and said to Su Zhiyi with concern, "My princess, please accept my condolences. Mrs. Wu spilled soup all over you before and was punished by the old lady. Later, she stole some snacks and was beaten with a stick. She thinks everything is because of you, so she is resentful and is waiting for an opportunity to take revenge."
Su Zhiyi shook her head gently, her hands trembling slightly, looking at the dog's corpse, too sad to speak.
Su Yanshu's voice was as cold as ice: "Where is that old villain now? I didn't hit him lightly last time."
"Mrs. Wu knew she was guilty, so she went to kneel in the old lady's courtyard. The old servant was afraid that she would disturb the old lady, so he temporarily detained her in the ice room."
The ice room is a special room built by wealthy families to store ice. The ice used in summer is taken from there.
Although it is summer now, the temperature inside is like winter.
Yu Shengsheng felt like she had fallen into a cold pond. Grandma Wu's injuries had not healed yet, and her legs were not in good condition either. Now she was locked up in an ice room. How much suffering must she endure!
Su Yanshu snorted coldly and looked down at Yu Shengsheng: "It's hot in summer, isn't it a bargain for her to let her stay in the ice room? This ungrateful and resentful slave must pay for Ayi's dog's life."
Yu Shengsheng's heart shrank fiercely, and she felt as if a knife was cutting her: "No, no. I admit that I killed the dog, and it has nothing to do with Grandma Wu."
Su Yanshu glanced at her calf and said, "You? Aren't you afraid of dogs? You just swore solemnly and aggrievedly that it had nothing to do with you."
Yu Shengsheng clenched her hands: "I lied."
"Say it again."
"I lied. It's up to the Second Young Master to punish or kill me. I have no complaints." She paused. "Granny Wu is old. If she is killed for this, it will affect the Second Young Master's reputation."
Su Zhiyi raised her voice: "Sister, I know you care about Mrs. Wu, but how can you use your reputation to threaten my second brother?"
A chill flashed in Su Yanshu's eyes.
His younger sister once quarreled with others in the street and her face turned red with anger because she accidentally heard others say that he was "the prince's dog" and "not very knowledgeable, and mainly relied on scheming and flattering".
He felt touched and distressed, and comforted her that it was okay and that she shouldn't take such words to heart.
But what did she say at that time? She said that my second brother was the most learned and virtuous person in the world, as noble as the clouds in the sky.
She also said that her second brother's reputation was more important than her life.
Now, he was threatening his reputation for the sake of an old country woman.
Su Yanshu's voice was slow, like a tough thread slowly tightening Yu Shengsheng's heart.
"Since you admit it, you will bear the consequences."
"If you admit your mistakes, you should show your sincerity. Snowball is the descendant of a famous dog. Since he died in vain, you should give him a proper burial. You should keep vigil for him for one night."
Yu Shengsheng looked up at him in disbelief.
He asked her to keep vigil for the dog?
Madam Su also reprimanded: "Yanshu, what are you talking about? How can you let your sister guard the dog's body?"
"How can this be so shameful?"
Su Yanshu's voice was calm, but unquestionable: "Mother, don't forget that Snowball was given to Ah Yi by Shen Zhiyuan. He was a famous dog. He was on the battlefield and once bit an enemy general to death."
"If the Shen family knew about this, I'm afraid it would be difficult to explain."
Mrs. Su was stunned for a moment. When she looked at Yu Shengsheng again, although she couldn't bear it, she didn't argue anymore.
"Shengsheng, I'm sorry for wronging you."
"If you dare to do it, you must dare to take responsibility. There is no grievance." Su Yanshu stepped forward and looked directly at Yu Shengsheng. "If you want Mrs. Wu to come out sooner, then do it."
Yu Shengsheng stood there, the night wind blowing in from all directions, wrapping her up in it.
The wind on a summer night is warm, but Yu Shengsheng only feels bone-chillingly cold, and the chill seeps into her internal organs inch by inch.
She barely suppressed the slight trembling of her body and swallowed the bloody smell in her mouth.
"good."
Once things were settled, everything was quickly prepared.
Yu Shengsheng resisted the urge to vomit and suppressed the impulse to throw the dog away. With trembling fingers, he put the dog into the small nanmu coffin and closed the coffin lid with his own hands.
Incense and candles were lit in the mourning hall, and the aroma was billowing. Everyone else left, leaving Yu Shengsheng in front of the copper basin, continuously throwing paper money into it.
She had no expression on her face, not a tear in her eye, and her movements were mechanical and repetitive.
She was forced to admit to things she had not done, again and again.
What's even more ridiculous is that she even had to keep vigil and burn paper for a dog.
Mrs. Zhou dragged her legs over and took the paper money from her hand.
"Miss, take a break, I'll come."
Jin Baobao grabbed all the paper money and said, "Will a dog spend the paper if you burn it for him? This is too much."
The flames shot up and reflected in Yu Shengsheng's dark eyes.
This humiliation must also be engraved in my heart.
After a night of hard work, the day finally dawned.
Nanny Zhou found out that Grandma Wu was finally released back into the yard, and she finally breathed a sigh of relief.
My worried, tense heart relaxed a little and I just felt the aches all over my body.
Nanny Zhou helped her stand up and move around, and then she heard the sound of a wheelchair.
Su Zhiyi looked at the bruises under her eyes and felt distressed: "Sister, don't blame me for not pleading for you last night. You know my second brother's temper. Although he is a scholar, he always keeps his word. If I plead for you, he will only get angrier."
It turns out that she knew it too.
Yu Shengsheng lowered her eyes, with a flash of sneer in them. In the past, every time Su Zhiyi "pleaded" for her with good intentions, he would push her into an even more embarrassing situation.
At first, she did not have any hatred towards Su Zhiyi. As Su Yanshu said, when Su Zhiyi exchanged with her, he was also a baby and there was no way he could influence her.
Although she is not her biological sister, Su Zhiyi is brave and smart, and has military merits. She thinks this girl is really outstanding and is willing to get along well with her.
It turns out that it was just wishful thinking.
No, it should be said that Yu Shengsheng is also reluctant now.
Seeing that Yu Shengsheng didn't say anything, Su Zhiyi stretched out her hand and Ru Jian handed something into her palm.
"I remember this hairpin. It seemed to be something that Madam Zhao had worn in her early years. Later, it was given to Madam Wu as a reward. Now it has become the murder weapon that killed Snowball."
She raised her hand, and the hairpin drew a cold silver arc and fell into the copper basin, accurately and steadily.
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