Chapter 283 Lu Zhaoruo Witnesses Abao's Tragic Condition
Outside the Grand Princess's residence.
Lu Zhaoruo stood before the vermilion-lacquered gate with its copper rings, the faint morning light illuminating her pale face.
She composed herself and said to the gatekeeper, "Please announce my arrival. I am Lu Zhaoruo from Yunshang Pavilion, and I request an audience with Lady Yunxiu."
Upon hearing the voice and seeing that it was her, the gatekeeper and servant dared not be negligent or look directly at her, and bowed, saying, "Please wait a moment, madam."
He then turned around and quickly walked through the porch to find the servant on duty at the second gate.
The servant at the second gate whispered, "Understood."
He hurried towards the inner courtyard, and upon reaching the hanging flower hall, he found the maid on duty in the inner courtyard.
Upon hearing this, the maidservant's expression hardened, and she nodded, saying, "I will go and inform Sister Shiliu right away."
After speaking, he hurried to the courtyard where Lady Yunxiu lived, and saw her head maid, Shiliu, giving instructions under the eaves. He then approached her and whispered his message.
Inside the room, Yunxiu was putting on flowers in front of the mirror when she caught a glimpse of Shiliu quietly entering with a strange expression. She immediately understood what was going on.
She lightly stroked the hairpin with her fingertips, a smile playing on her lips: "Oh? You came quickly. It seems that cat really is her darling, her Achilles' heel."
Shi Liu stepped forward and asked in a low voice, "Your Highness, shall we lead her inside immediately?"
“No rush,” Yunxiu said slowly, pinning a gold hairpin to her hair, her eyes gleaming with a playful, cat-and-mouse-like glint. “Let her wait outside the door a little longer. She needs to know that after repeatedly making excuses to come to the mansion, it won’t be so easy for her to see me today.”
"yes."
Shiliu understood and went out to relay the message.
Outside the mansion gate.
As the sun rose higher, the vermilion gate remained tightly shut, motionless.
Lu Zhaoruo stood quietly, her shadow stretching long and thin on the bluestone slab.
Her palms were slightly sweaty, and her hands unconsciously clenched in her sleeves.
She knew perfectly well that this was Yunxiu's deliberate attempt to intimidate and humiliate her.
But the thought of Ah Bao's uncertain fate forced her to suppress all her anxiety, and she silently prayed in her heart: "Ah Bao, please hold on... wait for your mother to come and get you."
In the courtyard.
Inside the iron cage, A Bao huddled at the bottom of the cold bars. His once snow-white and fluffy fur was now hardened by dried blood and pus, clinging tightly to his flesh.
Each of its faint breaths aggravated its wounds, bringing waves of tearing pain.
Those four originally pink paw pads had been repeatedly pierced by silver needles, becoming a bloody mess. Every slight movement felt like stepping on burning coals.
The back and sides of the abdomen, which were scalded by boiling water, had large patches of skin peeling off, red and swollen, and were excruciatingly painful to the touch.
It was barely breathing, but its bright green pupils were unusually clear as it stared intently at the direction of the courtyard gate.
It cannot faint.
It must wait until its mother.
It wanted to tell its mother about their conspiracy, and even more importantly, to tell her that the woman named Lin Yingyu was in cahoots with Yunxiu! Yunxiu was the cannibalistic backer behind her!
About an hour.
Yunxiu took a nap before slowly instructing Shiliu, "Go and bring the person in."
Shi Liu hesitated for a moment, then whispered, "My lady, should we let the cat out of the cage first?"
Yunxiu glanced at her and said dismissively, "Why should we release it? My mother already asked me to apologize to her, which is a huge favor. As for this cat..."
A cruel, triumphant smile curled at the corner of her lips: "I want Lu Zhaoruo to see with her own eyes what her precious darling looks like now!"
A moment later.
Lu Zhaoruo followed the maid who had been beaten and scolded by Yunxiu and was ordered to lead the way, passing through many corridors.
Seeing that the maidservant kept her head down and shoulders hunched, looking anxious and even her gait was filled with fear, she deliberately slowed her pace and walked alongside her, speaking in a very soft voice: "Thank you for leading the way, sister. May I ask how I should address you?"
The maid trembled slightly upon hearing the voice, glancing quickly at Lu Zhaoruo with a sense of flattery, before hurriedly lowering her head and whispering, "This servant... my humble name is not worth mentioning, Madam, you may call me Cattail."
Cattail.
It is a metaphor for someone of humble origin and lowly fate.
Lu Zhaoruo's sharp gaze swept over the still-fading red marks on Chun Tao's cheek and the several purplish bruises on her wrist that were faintly visible through her sleeve. She understood immediately and softened her tone: "Sister Pucao, you've worked hard. There are many rules in this mansion, and it's not easy to get things done. I hope you... will take good care of yourself."
Upon hearing this, Chun Tao's eyes suddenly reddened. She hurriedly pressed her sleeve to her eyes and whispered, "Thank you, thank you for your concern, Madam..."
She dared not say much, but in her heart she felt a genuine affection and pity for this Lady Lu who, even in danger, did not forget to care for her servants.
The two walked in silence into the courtyard.
As soon as she stepped into the courtyard, her gaze was fixed on the center of the courtyard, as if she had been nailed there.
There, a cold iron cage stood out starkly.
And in the cage, that small figure that was once snow-white and lively, but is now a bloody mess, its fur stuck together with blood and scabs, almost unrecognizable, is none other than her Abao!
"Ah Bao!"
A piercing sob, filled with extreme pain, suddenly burst from her throat.
Lu Zhaoruo's blood seemed to freeze instantly, and all her forced composure crumbled the moment she witnessed this horrific scene.
Her face was ashen, and she almost stumbled to her knees in front of the iron cage. Her trembling hands passed through the cold bars, but remained suspended above A Bao's body, hesitant to lower them.
It was covered in wounds, and she couldn't even find a place to touch it, for fear of aggravating its pain.
“Ah Bao… I’m here… I’m here…”
Her voice was broken and tears streamed down her face.
A Bao's bright green pupils were dilated from the intense pain, but a faint light gathered the moment he saw Lu Zhaoruo.
It tried its best to force a smile, as if to offer a comforting one, and said weakly, "Mother... don't cry... Abao is alright... it's just... Abao is foolish... he's caused trouble for Mother again... he's dragged Mother into this..."
Lu Zhaoruo burst into tears, shaking her head desperately, her heart aching beyond measure.
Even in this state, its Ah Bao was still blaming itself.
But if she hadn't offended Yunxiu, why would she have taken her anger out on an innocent cat and tormented it to this extent?
A piercing hatred, mixed with overwhelming self-reproach, instantly overwhelmed her.
What a vicious person!
With her last ounce of strength, Abao spoke urgently and haltingly in a voice barely audible to her: "Quickly... Mother, hurry... This is a trap..."
"Yunxiu... is in cahoots with Lin Yingyu..."
"They...they're going to light poisoned incense at 'Tingzhuxuan'...to harm you..."
"He'll die after five days of inhaling it... Lin Yingyu... is an accomplice..."
Are Lin Yingyu and Lady Yunxiu in cahoots?
Is someone lighting poisonous incense at Tingzhuxuan?
Lu Zhaoruo was utterly shocked!
Afraid that he hadn't explained things clearly enough, Abao tried his best to tell Lu Zhaoruo everything Lin Yingyu had said.
Before Lu Zhaoruo could think further, a lazy yet cold voice came from behind her, carrying undisguised sarcasm: "You really have no manners at all. You don't even know to bow to me, the Lady of the County?"
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