Chapter 673 Deep Waters
Lin Yuesha and Zhuang Wanjun went to the main kitchen and were immediately stunned by the abundance of ingredients inside. On the shelves next to them, there were also fish, shrimp and various seafood preserved with ice.
"Miss Lin, thank you for running around. Xiangye just came to the main kitchen and told us that you can choose any of the ingredients you need. If you need anything else, this old servant will go and buy more."
The kitchen staff were very humble. They worried about the lady's meals every day, making all sorts of nourishing dishes. Basically, whatever was sent over was returned untouched.
For nearly two months, Madam Zhuang had not had a proper meal. If this continued, her body would not be able to take it.
"The food I make requires precise control of the heat, so let my maid help me tend the fire."
Lin Yuesha sought information from Zhuang Wanjun, not wanting anyone else to overhear.
"Then you go ahead with your work. This old servant is in the tea room next door. If you need anything, please have a maid call me."
After the steward finished speaking, he left with the cook, leaving Lin Yuesha to fend for herself in the kitchen.
Zhuangshi simply had no appetite and couldn't taste anything in her mouth. Her body was severely depleted, so she couldn't eat spicy or stimulating foods and should focus on nourishing her body.
Lin Yuesha took out a small bag she had brought with her, which contained dried sea cucumbers that she had brought from Yingcheng.
Making a trip to cook for that vicious woman Zhuang, with all the benefits going to Old Madam Lin while Lin Yuesha had to pay out of her own pocket, was a losing proposition no matter how you looked at it.
"This is... a sea worm?"
Zhuang Wanjun asked uncertainly from the side.
"You have a good eye, but this is called sea cucumber, the ginseng of the sea. It's especially nourishing when cooked with millet porridge."
Lin Yuesha introduced the benefits of sea cucumbers and then asked, "Did you often go to the beach when you were at home?"
"Not very often, I've been there a few times."
Although the North is not as prosperous as the capital, it is more simple and honest. The girls I know are relatively simple and not so cunning.
When Zhuang Wanjun arrived in the capital, her aunt, Zhuang Shi, took her to a flower-viewing banquet. Only a few young ladies from minor official families were willing to talk to her, but they kept asking about her family affairs, which made her seem somewhat opportunistic.
Lin Yuesha was cooking millet porridge and chatting idly with Zhuang Wanjun.
"Sister Yue Sha, it's so good that you've come to my residence. You can keep me company and talk to me."
With her aunt Zhuang Shi acting this way, Zhuang Wanjun felt it inappropriate to go out alone to visit others. Apart from her maid, she had no one to talk to.
Every night after dark, Liu Ya would come to warn her not to go out, and especially not to go to the garden, because her aunt was going to copy scriptures in the Buddhist hall.
She was confused. Would it conflict with her aunt going to the Buddhist temple to sit in the garden?
"Yes, Sister Xiangye told me that the Buddhist hall is a forbidden area in the mansion."
Lin Yuesha's eyes darkened, and she said, "I haven't had a chance to go out lately. I was thinking of going to the Buddhist hall to copy a scripture and dedicate the merit to the Qin family..."
"I've heard that people who die a violent death will turn into vengeful ghosts."
Zhuang Wanjun stroked her chin. Just the night before last, she heard that her eldest cousin was admiring the moon in the garden, so she wanted to go out of the yard to create a chance encounter. However, when she sneaked into the garden, she did not see her eldest cousin. Instead, she saw her aunt burning paper money and muttering to herself.
Because she dared not get too close, Zhuang Wanjun couldn't hear clearly, but the general idea was that her aunt was sending paper money to the deceased, hoping that the person would be reincarnated soon.
"It should be Fang Shi, after all, she died such a tragic death."
It was possible that Fang would come back to cause trouble for her aunt. She suggested that the mansion find a Taoist priest to exorcise the ghost. Her aunt, Zhuang, stared at her with a cold look in her eyes and ultimately said nothing.
“I heard that Fang and Aunt Zhuang have a harmonious relationship. When Aunt Zhuang went back to her hometown for a funeral, Fang managed the household.”
Lin Yuesha found it incredibly ironic; it just goes to show that what goes around comes around. She now felt like she was aiding and abetting the evildoer even as she prepared food for Zhuang Shi.
If it weren't for searching for letters from that year, Lin Yuesha would never have set foot in the mansion, even if it meant offending people.
She was not only wronging the murdered Madam Qi, but also wronging the pockmarked woman by serving food to such a heinous person as Zhuang.
"No, there are some things you don't know the inside story."
Zhuang Wanjun helped Lin Yuesha knead the dough and asked her maid Huan'er to keep watch at the door. She said, "Back then, my eldest cousin was engaged to a young lady from an imperial censor's family. Later, for some reason, that young lady drowned while boating on the lake. Not long after, my aunt arranged for my eldest cousin to marry a woman surnamed Fang."
Moreover, Fang was on the boat when the young lady fell into the water, which Zhuang Wanjun found too coincidental.
"My older cousin was heartbroken because of this, and even considered never marrying. He said that he was guilty of sins and would bring misfortune to his wife and children."
Zhuang Wanjun disagreed. Her eldest cousin was well-read and had the kindest heart. No man could tolerate Fang's childlessness for several years, but he was still tolerant of it, and so was her aunt.
The more Lin Yuesha dug, the deeper the water became. Bai Youran said that the drowned censor's daughter was pushed in by Lin Yue'e. As for the truth at the time, whether it was related to the Fang family, there was no way to verify it now that the dead had passed away.
As for Lam Yuet-ngor, she certainly wouldn't tell the truth.
Lin Yuesha couldn't get any more information from Zhuang Wanjun. She only knew that Zhuang had been acting strangely lately and seemed a bit crazy, while the maids and servants remained tight-lipped about it.
We have to thank the Lin family for keeping quiet about the situation. After Qin's death, the drama between Lin Shusheng and Qin Nanyan has become a hot topic recently, which has effectively diverted the suspicions caused by Zhuang.
After teaching Zhuang Wanjun how to make square pastries with salted egg yolks, Lin Yuesha returned to her room and began to plan.
Zhuang invited her to visit, but she would only stay for ten days to half a month at most. So, her time to act was very limited.
"The Zhuang family moved out of the main house and lived in a secluded side courtyard. I really couldn't find a reason to go to the main courtyard."
Lin Yuesha was at a loss. She imagined that if she were Zhuang Shi, she would definitely hide the letter in a secret place, either deceiving herself and hiding it from her thoughts, or she would only feel at ease if she saw it every day.
Given Zhuang's personality, the latter is highly likely.
"Miss, your analysis makes sense."
Lin Yuesha has clear logic and can put herself in others' shoes, which Qingxing greatly admires.
At home, the only place Zhuang Shi went to every day was the Buddhist hall, where she copied scriptures daily.
"Even if my analysis is correct, it's useless if I can't find an opportunity."
After arriving at the Zhuang residence for two or three days without any news, Lin Yuesha couldn't even see Zhuang Shi, which made her a little anxious.
If we don't take the initiative and wait for the right opportunity, that opportunity may not come anytime soon.
Lin Yuesha was worrying when Bai Cha came to report, "Miss, Miss Zhuang brought a maid with an unfamiliar face to deliver an invitation to you. I heard that the maid is from the Wei family."
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