Yu Ming helped Zhao Yun into the Pear Fragrance Courtyard. The aster flowers in the courtyard were in full bloom, as white as snow. A gentle breeze blew, and the petals danced lightly. It was truly a beautiful early summer scene.
Zhao Yun stared at the aster flowers, slightly lost in thought. She unconsciously reached out and gently stroked a drooping aster branch, silently praying that Li Huai'an still harbored feelings for Zhao Rou.
Hearing footsteps, Le Kui lifted the bamboo curtain and came out. Seeing that it was Zhao Yun, she quickly bowed and greeted her, "Greetings, young mistress."
Zhao Yun hummed in agreement.
Le Kui held up the curtain at the front, and Yu Ming helped Zhao Yun in. They saw Zhao Rou doing her makeup in front of the mirror, with a hint of worry in her eyes. Although they hadn't seen her for half a month, her complexion was better than before.
Upon seeing Zhao Yun arrive, Zhao Rou quickly stood up to greet her, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes: "Sister, what brings you here?"
Zhao Yun smiled slightly, took Zhao Rou's hand, and said gently, "Third Sister, I have something I'd like to talk to you about alone."
The two sat down at a small table by the window. Zhao Yun first inquired about Zhao Rou's recent situation, then changed the subject and said softly, "Third Sister, do you know how the Young Master is doing in Chaoyang County? Has he sent any letters?"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Rou's expression changed slightly, and she said softly, "Sister, the young master... has not sent a letter."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Yun's expression changed drastically.
“I always thought Li Huai’an treated my third sister differently from others. But, but he’s been gone for quite some time now; he should have reached Chaoyang County and found his maternal grandparents’ home. He, he…”
Is he really going to abandon the two sisters?
"Li Huai'an!" Zhao Yun gritted her teeth in anger. Even the honorific was gone.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Rou's expression turned serious. She looked up at Zhao Yun, her eyes filled with doubt and confusion: "Big sister, what do you mean by this?"
Zhao Yun looked at Zhao Rou with a dazed expression, and tears suddenly fell from her eyes.
"Third sister, we, we..." Her shoulders trembled slightly as she sobbed softly.
Zhao Rou wasn't stupid. She'd been staying indoors these past few days, and hadn't received a single word or letter from Li Huai'an. A sense of unease crept into her heart. But she was weak-willed and dared not face the truth.
But now, Zhao Yun has laid out this truth right in front of her, and she can no longer run away from it.
"Big, big sister, don't cry." Her lips trembled as she looked at her still flat stomach and revealed the truth she had been hiding.
"When Liu Mei pushed my elder sister, I already had a miscarriage." She lowered her head, her shoulders trembling violently. "I was afraid of losing the young master's heart because of this, so I had Le Kui arrange for a doctor beforehand..."
"You, you..." Zhao Yun raised her head in disbelief, staring intently at Zhao Rou. The other woman had miscarried because she had saved her. She was also thinking that Zhao Rou had been hiding in Lixiang Courtyard for more than a month, ignoring everything that had happened in the Duke's Mansion, leaving her pregnant elder sister to run around. It was really a bit unreasonable.
It turned out that she had miscarried.
Zhao Rou looked back at Zhao Yun. She thought to herself, if her older sister had spared even a little attention for her, she would surely know that she had been taking medicine to nourish her body for the past month, not medicine to nourish her pregnancy.
How could that be? The eldest sister didn't even know that her own sister, the second sister, was allergic to almonds, let alone that she was just an illegitimate child.
Zhao Yun left in disappointment.
Zhao Rou stood at the courtyard gate, gazing for a long time. Just as she turned to go back into the courtyard, she suddenly caught a glimpse of an unfamiliar man out of the corner of her eye.
"Come here!" she said gently.
"Greetings, Aunt Zhao." Li Afu walked briskly over, and bowed deeply upon reaching her.
"Are you new here? Do you recognize me?" Zhao Rou frowned. She hadn't left the hospital for the past month.
Li Afu lowered his eyes and answered honestly, "I have only been in the manor for two days, but the young mistress has pointed out all the important people in the manor to me." He seemed to be recalling something, and after a moment he answered, "At noon, I passed by Pear Fragrance Courtyard and saw Aunt Zhao, so I remembered her."
Zhao Rou nodded. "She's quite clever." She waved her hand. "Go on with your work!"
Li Afu acknowledged and withdrew, but in his heart he secretly pondered that although Aunt Zhao seemed gentle, her demeanor revealed a tenacity that could not be ignored.
As a newcomer, he naturally understood the principle of avoiding trouble in the Duke's mansion, so he quickened his pace and continued to complete his work.
But in his heart, he was thinking that he would have to break into the study again that night. However, this time he would need Zhao Yun's cooperation.
Zhao Rou returned to the house, gently stroking her lower abdomen, her face filled with sorrow. A small life had once been nurtured there, but now only emptiness and loneliness remained.
Li Huai'an's ruthlessness chilled her heart. The fact that Li Huai'an abandoned her and her elder sister to seek refuge with Bai Wei in Chaoyang County for his own safety was even more unbelievable to her.
Such a man is a virtuous gentleman in the arms of a woman. But when trouble comes, he only cares about himself, neglecting his wife and even his unborn child. In his heart, there is only his own benefit and desire, like a selfish wolf that only struggles desperately for its own survival, without caring about those around it.
Such a man, such a man, actually coveted my second sister for so many years!
Zhao Rou found it all laughable. How could such a spineless man as Li Huai'an be worthy of her second sister! Truly, like father, like son!
She closed her eyes and prayed silently, wishing to find a good man in her next life and stay with him until they grow old together.
Zhao Rou made up her mind that she could no longer stay in the Duke's mansion.
She glanced at the deep night and decided to go to Zhao Yun the next day to discuss leaving the Duke's mansion.
That night, at the hour of Hai (9-11 PM), the lights suddenly came on in the silent Lotus Courtyard, followed by Yu Ming's urgent shouts, "Young Madam—Young Madam, what's wrong—"
The maids and servants in the mansion, those on night patrol, those guarding the study, and those emptying chamber pots, all rushed towards the Lotus Courtyard following the sound.
Taking advantage of this moment, Li Afu quietly slipped into the study. Today, Yu Ming used both kindness and severity to inquire about Li Zan's daily habits from the servant guarding the study.
At noon, when he received the silver box for Zhao Yun, he also received a message from that person. He roughly knew where Li Zan's evidence was kept.
Inside the study, the candlelight flickered, illuminating Li Afu's tense yet determined face. He tiptoed around the bookshelves, his gaze quickly sweeping over each row of books and ornaments, finally settling on an inconspicuous little cabinet near the window.
According to the clues provided by the master and Yu Ming, Li Zan's unspeakable secret should be hidden there.
Li Afu took a deep breath and carefully opened the cabinet. Sure enough, there was an exquisite wooden box hidden inside. He was overjoyed and slowly moved the box. The bookshelf next to him made a dull thud and slowly moved to one side, revealing a secret passage that could only accommodate one person at a time.
Li Afu's heart raced, but his hands remained steady as he gently pushed open the hidden door.
The passageway was dimly lit, with only a few faint oil lamps barely illuminating the way ahead, and a musty, damp smell filled the air. He pressed his ear close to the wall and vaguely heard faint breathing, but after listening again, he heard nothing.
He calmed down and carefully made his way along the narrow, dark passage.
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