Chapter 671 Forbidden Land
When Lin Yuesha arrived at the Zhuang family mansion, she first went to pay her respects to Zhuang. Although Xiangye had told her that Zhuang's condition was not good, Lin Yuesha was still greatly surprised when she saw her in person.
In the ninth month of the lunar calendar, the autumn heat in the capital was at its peak. Around noon, some people who were afraid of the heat even used ice basins to cool down. In Zhuang's room, the heat was overwhelming, and Lin Yuesha almost couldn't breathe.
“Miss Yue Sha, our lady is afraid of the cold and dislikes the dampness in the room, so we have already lit the charcoal brazier for heating. Please bear with us.”
Lin Yuesha and Zhuang Shi barely exchanged a few words before Zhuang Shi, feeling unwell, had to have her personal maid escort Lin Yuesha to the guest courtyard.
"Sister Xiangye, I'm fine, it's just that Aunt Zhuang seems to be sick. Hasn't she called a doctor to come and see her?"
Lin Yuesha pretended to talk to Xiangye, but she gave Qingxing a wink, signaling Qingxing to memorize the layout of the mansion.
Although it is unknown where Zhuangshi hid the letter, something so important, serving as irrefutable evidence of Zhuangshi's betrayal of Madam Qi, would certainly be kept in a secure place.
"well."
Xiangye shook her head. The doctor had been called, but said that the lady was very weak because she had vomited blood due to the sudden blow and excessive worry, and needed to recuperate.
For some reason, her mistress couldn't drink the medicine and often became absorbed in her own world, occasionally letting out a few roars that startled the maids and servants.
She always says things like, "You bitch, how long are you going to torture me?"
Xiangye kept quiet about these details, only saying that Madam Zhuang couldn't eat, always feeling that her mouth had no taste and she had no appetite.
"Miss Yue Sha, Madam would like to eat the pickled vegetables you make."
Xiangye was a little embarrassed to bring it up. Now that Lin Yuesha was the daughter of the Lin family, her mistress would use seniority to pressure people into making requests, so she couldn't give money and could only owe her a favor.
"I'm going to the main kitchen later. Does Auntie have any dietary restrictions? Sister Xiangye, could you make a list for me?"
Lin Yuesha smiled in response, but in her heart she was thinking that she didn't want Zhuang's favor; she might as well give him money.
The residence of a high-ranking official of the second rank was very large. In order to have peace and quiet, Zhuang moved from the main courtyard to the quietest side courtyard. Xiangye had to lead Lin Yuesha around.
"If you can't find the main kitchen, just ask a cleaning maid or a rough-working old woman to lead the way."
As Xiangye walked, she gave Lin Yuesha a brief introduction.
Lin Yuesha had visited the Zhuang family mansion before and had a vague impression of it.
Passing by the garden, Lin Yuesha saw a house in the corner of the garden that was quite different from the other buildings.
“Miss Yue Sha, that’s a small Buddhist hall that our lady donated money to build. She usually goes there to copy scriptures and chant sutras. On the first and fifteenth of each month, she goes outside the city to make donations and stays in the side hall of the small Buddhist hall when she returns.”
Xiangye explained that Zhuang was a devout Buddhist who had been visiting the small Buddhist shrine more and more frequently lately.
"Sister Xiangye, does Aunt Zhuang have any taboos?"
Lin Yuesha pondered for a moment, then took Xiangye's hand and said sincerely, "You know I come from the north and have never seen the world. My grandmother is very afraid that I will bring shame to the Lin family, and I don't know much about the rules."
"Miss Yue Sha, please don't worry."
Xiangye immediately comforted her, "Madam is kind and generous, with the heart of a bodhisattva. Even if you are a little lacking in manners, it doesn't matter. Our household doesn't concern itself with such things."
After Xiangye finished speaking, she stared in the direction of the small Buddhist shrine, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping herself.
"Sister Xiangye, I'm really afraid I'll make a fool of myself if you don't give me some pointers."
Lin Yuesha handed Xiangye two pearl hairpins and said, "Give the other one to Sister Liuya."
Liu Ya and Xiang Ye are Zhuang Shi's head maids and are highly trusted. If Lin Yue Sha can get on good terms with them, she might be able to find out some clues.
“Miss Yue Sha, you always say you don’t understand etiquette, but that’s just you being modest. At least in terms of social interactions, you do a better job than other young ladies from high-ranking families.”
Having received the benefits, Xiangye became even more enthusiastic, and Lin Yuesha was very thoughtful, not forgetting Liuya as well, so the two of them wouldn't haggle over the benefits they received.
"Madam has a good temperament and doesn't usually scold the servants. However, there is one thing: the small Buddhist shrine in the garden is a forbidden area in the mansion, and no one but Madam is allowed to enter."
Seeing that no one was around, Xiangye quietly reminded Lin Yuesha.
"I see..."
Lin Yuesha expressed her understanding and said regretfully, "Sister Xiangye, as you know, Qin Shi is gone. I was hoping that, if possible, I could copy scriptures with Aunt Zhuang..."
"Absolutely not!"
Xiangye was so frightened that her face almost turned pale. Just a few days ago, a maid in the manor saw the lights on in the Buddhist hall and went in out of curiosity, only to be caught red-handed by the madam.
Zhuang almost strangled the maid to death, and later found a pretext to sell her off.
Even if she were sold, Xiangye wouldn't be afraid, because she had heard that the maid's body had been found in a mass grave.
Behind the scenes, Xiangye and Liuya discussed this matter, and neither of them was entirely baffled.
Xiangye came from the Zhuang family in the north. She had only been with the Zhuang family for three years. She had seen the Zhuang family go mad and hear the nonsense they were spouting. She thought that her mistress had killed the master's child in the past and had become a Buddhist to atone for her sins.
In fact, it was quite normal for wives of high-ranking families to harm the unborn children of concubines. It was just that Zhuang Shi was too kind-hearted, which became an unresolved knot in her heart.
Xiangye led the way, and as they passed a corner in the garden, a man and a woman were sitting on a bench next to the rockery.
The man, dressed in white with a handsome face, stared blankly at the fishpond in front of him, while the woman sitting next to him turned her head and looked at him.
"snort."
Xiangye pouted and hummed softly.
"It's Wan Jun."
Lin Yuesha knew Zhuang Wanjun; they were both from the north and were fairly familiar with each other. However, after learning about Zhuang's actions, Lin Yuesha hated Zhuang Wanjun and couldn't like her either.
The Zhuang family brought their niece to the capital to find a marriage for Zhuang Wanjun.
"Miss Yue Sha, there are some things I'm not sure if I should say."
Xiangye pulled Lin Yuesha aside and found a secluded corner, whispering, "Please forgive my indiscretion, but please don't be fooled by Miss Biao. She may seem timid, but in reality..."
Xiangye sneered. Fang Shi had lost two lives, and she had actually seen Zhuang Wanjun setting off fireworks at the back gate that night to celebrate.
Firecrackers make a loud noise and easily attract the attention of everyone in the household, but fireworks do not.
That day, Xiangye went out to buy incense and candles for Madam Zhuang, and returned quite late, otherwise she wouldn't have witnessed this scene.
Some people may appear honest and simple on the outside, but that's just a disguise; they are actually quite cunning and shrewd.
Even though Zhuang Wanjun was the lady's niece, she was still a step too far off and couldn't marry into one of the top families in the capital. She was neither good enough for a high-ranking family nor good enough for a low-ranking one, and she wasn't particularly attractive. Even with the lady acting as matchmaker, it wouldn't be easy for her to find a good family.
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