"Fifth Miss, what's wrong?" Steward Sun personally drove the carriage today. It was originally Luo Zhizheng's order. Otherwise, why would a steward like him come here personally to drive the carriage?
Yu also looked at Yao Niang, wondering why she was like that.
Yao Niang said, "I heard someone calling for help outside. As the saying goes, saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda. I think we should go and take a look."
Yu and Shi Yu, who were sitting in the carriage, agreed: "Yes, Steward Sun."
Steward Sun thought that the women were generally soft-hearted, so he immediately followed the order and went. Yao Niang lifted a corner of the curtain and prepared to go down to take a look, but she saw Steward Sun hurriedly running over and said, "Fifth Miss, that person has already died and cannot be saved."
Did Lu Xiao die of suffocation? No, he lived to be more than 20 years old in his previous life.
When getting off the carriage, Yao Niang saw Madam Lu at a glance. She burst into tears. She didn't know why Yao Niang's eyes were also sore. Yu Shi originally had a son and a daughter. When Jinghao was a child, he almost couldn't grow up, so she was very worried.
"Please give ten taels of silver to my sister-in-law for her funeral," said Yu.
Yao Niang also added ten taels of silver. No matter what, they were husband and wife in their previous life, so they should show some consideration. Mrs. Lu was still the same as in her previous life. Although she was only the wife of a general, she knew the etiquette and specially put down her son to express her gratitude.
Yu said, "Don't be polite. Just bury him properly."
Yao Niang looked at Lu Xiao lying on the ground from a distance and felt that something was not right, because why was he only over five feet tall? You should know that when she and Lu Xiao got married, Lu Xiao was over eight feet tall, almost nine feet tall, which was also the reason why Cheng Yun and Cheng Ze were both very tall. But why was he only over five feet tall now?
Even if it can grow more, it is impossible to grow that much taller in just a few years.
She was a person of action, and thinking of this, she pushed through the crowd and went forward to look at Lu Xiao's body. Yu tried to pull her away, but saw that her face turned pale.
"What's wrong?" Yu felt a little regretful. Her daughter was still young, and being hit by a dead body was no joke.
Yao Niang shook her head and smiled palely: "No, nothing."
Is it Zhuang Sheng’s dream butterfly?
So is her so-called past life real? The real Lu Xiao is completely different from the Lu Xiao she knows, so is her so-called rebirth real?
…
Inside Mandarin Hall
Yu frowned, "If I had known that, I should have sent some money over that day. Yao Niang accidentally saw a dead body and has been lying in bed for two days. It seems like she was hit by an accident."
"No, it will be fine in a few days." Luo Zhizheng felt a little regretful.
In the past, their daughter was always chirping, but they were happy. Now that their daughter had been lying down all day, they were very worried. Yu Shi didn't think much of it before, but today she found that her husband couldn't even eat dinner. Instead, she said, "Grandpa, don't worry about the children. Just eat well."
"I don't need it. You should finish eating quickly."
Bai Ying wiped the sweat off Yao Niang's forehead. Yao Niang was sweating all over and her mood calmed down a lot: "I'm fine, you don't have to stay with me."
The voices of her parents came from outside. Yao Niang was about to get out of bed, but was held down by Yu Shi who came in: "No need, just lie down well. It's not convenient for your father to come in, and he is also worried about you."
"My parents are here, how can I not get up?" Yao Niang breathed a sigh of relief for some reason.
Yu touched her forehead and found that she was not feverish. She felt relieved and asked her, "You usually look healthy. How come you are like this? Are you okay? Do you want me to come over and sleep with you?"
Yao Niang smiled and said, "It's okay, mother, you don't have to worry."
I thought that the things in my past life were a thing of the past after my rebirth, but now I feel that they have become unforgettable memories. What can I do? Many things in this life are different and can never be returned.
Fortunately, her parents and younger brother are still there, and her life has become completely different.
After all, Yao Niang was open-minded and she was full of energy after lying down for two days, but Luo Jingrou started to get sick. In this life, Yao Niang would not be as stupid as she was in her previous life. She worried about her illness, visited her often, and was said badly behind her back. In the end, she was even tricked by Luo Jingrou.
Luo Jingrou was born competitive, so this Chinese New Year was certainly different as she opened her own business. She tried her best to get things done perfectly, and thus put in all her effort. By the end of the Chinese New Year, she had a minor ailment, but it turned into a serious problem as she kept procrastinating.
Most people would think like Yao Niang, they would finish one thing at a time and would not think so much every day, but she thought about it all day long. Like Yao Niang, she would not socialize if she did not want to, and would not let others gossip about her. She would focus on the big things and ignore the small things. She would focus on embroidering Yu's portrait every day, and do everything else based on her interests, and she would not care what others said.
Luo Jingrou's body was originally weak, and she had traveled a long way from Huguang, but now she couldn't get up.
Yu took Fan and Zhu to visit the patient. On the way, Yu said to her two daughters-in-law, "When you go, don't mention too much. Just let her rest well. She is still young. Think about it. Your aunt passed the imperial examination this year. In a few days, she will take the palace examination. If she scores high, she will be the wife of a Jinshi. She should be happy."
The meaning was to say more good things. Fan knew that, as she was Jingrou's sister-in-law, so she immediately said, "Don't worry, Madam. We will definitely persuade Third Sister well."
They all thought that Luo Jingrou probably had a blocked blood circulation, which was why she fell down due to dizziness. They were all women who had given birth, and they all knew how weak their bodies were after giving birth. Even Fan had a back pain problem because of giving birth.
But after seeing Luo Jingrou's expression, everyone was shocked.
Luo Jingrou used to look quite elegant and noble, and she was well-dressed and had the right makeup, so she looked like a young lady. But now she has a face as pale as gold paper and a blue forehead.
Even Yu couldn't bear it any more: "Third Madam, what's wrong with you? Have you asked a doctor to come over and take a look?"
Luo Jingrou smiled and nodded: "I have already asked someone to see me. I have had this disease since I was a child. I am afraid it cannot be cured this time. Madam and sisters-in-law do not need to worry about me."
She was actually afraid in her heart, afraid that she would really die while others were still alive and well...
But she couldn't really play weak in front of Yu and the others, because none of her sisters had a good relationship with her. Shi Yu and Yao Niang were in the same group, one of them had a fiancé who had passed the imperial examination, and the other's husband was the third prince, both of whom lived better than her. If the news spread back, they would only feel sorry for themselves.
Now she doesn't need anyone to pity her.
I don't want anyone to laugh at my joke.
Yu said, "We brought some herbs with us, but how can you do it alone? Why don't we ask someone to come and take a look? I know a doctor named Liao, he is an expert in gynecology."
Luo Jingrou declined, but Yu still asked someone to bring Luo Zhizheng's invitation and invite Doctor Liao over.
Doctor Liao took a look at Luo Jingrou and knew that she was weak and it was not conducive for her to have children. However, she gave birth to several children without any interval. How could she not fall ill with such a body?
When both Qi and blood are empty, it's like a hot water pot. All the hot water has burned out and it would be strange if the pot is not burned through.
Fan privately advised Luo Jingrou: "Sister, it is rare for your aunt to pass the imperial examination at such a young age. If you pass the palace examination, you will be a Jinshi. Everyone is so jealous of you. You must take good care of yourself."
"Yes, he finally passed the exam, but it's a pity that I'm afraid I won't be able to see it." A smile appeared on Luo Jingrou's pale face.
She understood what Doctor Liao had said just now. She could no longer bear children in her current condition. If she could not have children, she could not have sex and would even have to take medicine all year round.
It was hard to imagine that she smelled of medicine and couldn't be married to Wang Zongmu. Could she bear to become like that? It would be better to leave the regret behind when she was young and beautiful, rather than being an old-faced woman and being despised by others.
Especially since her husband is in his youth, a young scholar, and has a prominent family, but she has become a sickly, yellow-faced woman. How could she accept that?
It would be better to die early.
Mrs. Fan said, "Don't say that. Doctor Liao is a famous doctor. You will be fine. Besides, you still have An Ge and Song Jie. Can you bear to abandon them?"
"Sister-in-law, I know my own health. If I am not well in the future, I don't want to leave An Ge'er and Song Jie'er in the Wang family. He will definitely remarry. I leave these two children to you." Luo Jingrou pleaded with Fan.
She really had no choice. She had originally planned to let Yao Niang become Wang Zongmu's second wife, but Yao Niang was already the prince's consort. It was impossible for her to be the successor, and she couldn't do anything to Yao Niang.
Fan thought this was an ominous sign and could only force a smile and say a few words to comfort her.
Luo Jingrou knew that Luo Shizhen's affairs had no impact on Yao Niang, and she was vaguely disappointed. If a woman was abandoned by the royal family, she would never be able to marry again in the future.
It's a pity that the secret thought in her heart did not come true, and now Luo Shizhen is gone.
She no longer had any help in framing Yao Niang. Yao Niang rarely interacted with her and did not even come to their house during the Chinese New Year. She was unable to set up a trap. Luo Jingrou felt like she was fighting a battle between a trapped beast and a helpless beast.
Yao Niang heard Fan, who was visiting the patient, mention Luo Jingrou. She whispered to Yao Niang, "You see, what your third sister said makes me feel a little ominous, but I really don't know what to say. She is still so young, it is impossible for her to..."
"Don't worry, sister-in-law, the third sister will be fine."
Without her as a scapegoat in this life, Shi Yu had already been engaged, so she couldn't use her many tricks. In fact, Yao Niang couldn't figure it out. She didn't have any serious illness and could live.
Fan probably didn't know the actual reason, and Erzhen followed the whole process, so she whispered a few words in Yao Niang's ear.
當然和未出閣的姑娘家說不能再生育這種事情，固然是難以啓齒，但爾珍知曉五姑娘不是旁人，因此并不敢隐瞞。
瑤娘聽了這話一時沒想到不能行房，只是想起前世羅敬柔就是差不多二十歲左右過世了，但聽太醫的口吻，只是好生将養還是可以的，那羅敬柔又何必存了死志呢。
白英端了銀耳湯過來，瑤娘含笑吃了一碗，白英就道：“這銀耳湯養顏，太太也說讓您常常常喝呢。”
“我已經喝的夠多了，這些補品日日都喝。”瑤娘笑着搖頭，她有時候都不太想吃，但是這好歹是娘的一片心意。
“看您說的，這女人誰不願意自己好看啊。咱們這樣的人家，哪位姑娘不是如此，您看三姑娘在家時，恨不得拿燕窩漱口。”白英道。
瑤娘這才像突然想起了什麽似的，女人都是愛美的，前世羅敬柔也是如此，即便身體消瘦，形容枯槁，但見人時依舊全幅妝容，甚至每次見林緯南時都要重新梳妝，不能容忍自己有半點疏忽。
像羅敬柔怕的不是死，更怕的是自己容顏衰退。
這種想法常人一般不會如此，就像羅時貞就是明明白白的想詐錢，什麽都顧不了，像她就是想要有地位給娘親弟弟撐腰，甚至時雨作為庶女就想嫁給同樣的書香門第。
但是她們平日都只是為各自的目标，而不是無端端害人，羅敬柔從十二歲，和自己無冤無仇就想着害自己，前世更是在最後明明知曉她想嫁給同齡人，非要讓她嫁給林緯南，還要百般覺得自己是高攀了，所有人都感謝羅敬柔的安排，但所有人都知道她不如羅敬柔。
她就是想讓她活成一點缺點都沒有，所以常常九句真一句假，連郁氏到後來知曉了她有問題，都無法挑出她的錯誤來。
甚至羅至正對她這個大女兒很是不錯，主動留女兒在自己家長住，對女婿當親兒子一樣培養。
這個人活的太假，以至于她想留在所有人心目中的印象是最好的，絕對不容易大家看待她是個不受寵的怨婦。
甚至願意為了這個形象，提前死都行。
大抵前世羅敬柔有自己這個陪襯，這輩子自己不上鈎，她就把孩子們想送到羅家。
這個人實在是太極端了！
只是，她自以為自己死了可以在所有人心中留下好印象，殊不知人死如燈滅，像她即便被人陷害抓奸，也從沒有想過要死，人只有活着才有許多可能。
她一個被人罵癡肥醜陋的女人，最後成了一品燕國夫人，其容貌出色，不知道多少人羨慕自己，誰還記得忠靖侯原配羅氏是何樣？
連忠靖侯續娶的鐘氏，都占據了她的位置，時日久了，除了當事人，誰還會記得呢？
但這件事情瑤娘還是得和郁氏說一聲，以免她措手不及，郁氏卻比想象中的更淡漠一些，她反而勸瑤娘道：“你不必為她難過，她自己要死別人也攔不住。有些事情你就當不知曉，越是無人在意，也許她還不會死了呢。”
“況且，她還有兒女，并非你說的那麽荒謬。”
如果是郁氏本人，她是無法理解，就因為可能會容顏衰老，可能會被丈夫嫌棄就死的人。
瑤娘撇嘴，這世上的人看似被拘束在條條框框中，實際上還是不一樣的。
殿試名單出來，王宗沐果不其然，這次就真的考中進士了，羅至正兩位女婿都中了進士，當然喜不自勝。
衆人準備去王家道喜的時候，羅敬柔先撐着病體出來招呼了一二，一直到晚上王宗沐回來，羅敬柔都表現得十分溫柔。
“恭喜你，可惜今日我身子骨不好，不能去看你了。”
想到這裏，羅敬柔覺得王宗沐這種意氣風發，更讓她覺得自卑，原本她是驕傲的，家世她比王宗沐好，王宗沐好幾年未曾中進士，她在王家一衆媳婦裏，甚至可以藐視衆人。
可現在，男人出息了，她卻已經是粉褪花殘，勢必還要為丈夫挑選更美貌年輕的女子服侍她，日後不過當個擺設而已，還得看丈夫的眼色。
她憑什麽這般？
王宗沐喝的醉醺醺的，很是少年氣盛，忍不住拿着妻子的手放在唇邊，羅敬柔卻抽出手來：“我還在病中呢？”
“是是是，都是我的不是了。”王宗沐還是笑着。
羅敬柔讓人上了一碗醒酒湯，忍不住道：“相公，今日月色極好，我從未彈琴給你聽，今日彈給你聽，好嗎？”
王宗沐本就是個性情中人，雖然見她神色蒼白，有些體力不支，本欲開口拒絕，可看到她眼神中的堅定忍不住點頭。
平心而論羅敬柔雖然疏懶了幾年，但一曲《相思曲》仍舊十分動人，王宗沐聽了十分不忍，但見一曲罷落，羅敬柔泣血在古琴旁。
王宗沐立即酒醒了。
……
羅家人是五更時分接到報喪的信的，郁氏吓了一跳，羅至正也是不可置信，：“敬柔還那麽年輕，怎麽就……”
瑤娘白日還想到此事，沒想到次日羅敬柔就死了。
王家的人都在湖廣，王宗沐乍然得意，卻因為妻子死亡，不得不請求不授差事，請求回鄉。羅家人也幫忙去治喪，見到安哥兒和頌姐兒都覺得悲苦。
羅至正看着王宗沐，知曉他至情至性之人，但見妻子之亡，忍不住道：“姑爺，你放心，是我的女兒沒這個福分。你還有安哥兒和頌姐兒這倆孩子，要打起精神來了，将來等你返京，我定會為你安排。”
因翁婿二人都是性情中人，王宗沐平日就和羅至正處的很好，今日聽岳父一言，忍不住眼淚打濕了雙襟。
昨夜妻子一襲白衣，命喪在古琴旁，仿佛白鶴泣血一般。
郁氏也帶着瑤娘等人一邊幫忙裝殓，一邊哭。
大家都沒想到羅敬柔死的這麽快，聽聞昨夜還在彈琴，一曲琴罷，她人就沒了。大概，她以為自己以這種方式能永遠留在王宗沐心裏。
而郁氏範氏考慮的是其她問題了：“姑爺方才說要帶安哥兒頌姐兒回家守孝，三姑爺也不過二十來歲，這般年輕，絕對要續弦的。不如咱們派幾個人跟着，家生子再……”
瑤娘在她靈前燒紙，燒完紙時，她默默的想，三姐姐，你平日成日想着算計一切，卻終究是個懦弱的人……
算計來算計去，居然把自己也算計進去了，你大概也沒有想到你才死，你的位置就有人惦記了。
這幾日的沖擊着實很大，原本是她前世丈夫的陸宵和她認得的陸宵完全不同，甚至還死了，還有前世害她最多的羅敬柔，竟然就這麽死了。
明明經歷過這一切，又仿佛是沒經歷過一樣。
人生真的很無常，她如此想着。
郁氏讓範氏打點羅敬柔喪事裝殓的事情，郁氏則打點王宗沐返回湖廣的事情，瑤娘就幫郁氏的忙，她本就年輕，記性非常好，辦事情雷厲風行，無論什麽事情都能梳理出來，一時，家中細務倒是都由她管着了。
甚至羅至正回來之後，所吃的香茶也由她親自調，他難得對郁氏誇女兒：“瑤娘管家倒是管的極好。”
“老爺毋須這般誇她。”郁氏心中很高興。
羅至正喪女之後，又有一番不同的看法了，他道：“女子其實相貌、管家這些都不重要，最重要的還是心性如何。”
“老爺為何如此說？”郁氏不明白。
羅至正何等聰明，他雖然面上在勸女婿，但私下把女兒身邊的人一一找過來問過，很快就知曉是怎麽回事了。
無論是男人還是女人，一定要心性強才行，這點瑤娘就比敬柔強。
世人都知道三皇子興許會步衡王老路，但她從之前就對三皇子青睐有加，許配給三皇子之後，從來就沒有任何哀怨之色。
人生本來就是一場豪賭，每一步都是走在刀尖。
……
端午節前，郁氏因為羅敬柔的事情，又去慈恩寺替她做了一場法事，瑤娘當然也跟着去了。她今日穿着很是素淡，微風吹來，更比尋常多了不同的意味。
她們還要為羅敬柔點一盞長明燈，瑤娘進去之後，又看到了陸宵的長明燈，不免又避開衆人，找了知客僧道：“這個人是我上次路上遇到，聽到他呼救，正欲下馬車時，卻已經援救不及，如今既然看到了，我這裏還有十兩，你替他常常續着吧。”
知客僧卻不收錢，瑤娘正欲問為何，卻見此時有一男子進來，知客僧指着那人道：“姑娘，這位少爺已經給了銀錢點了長明燈了。”
瑤娘擡眸一看，不是宸王殿下又是誰。
高玄策一時也懵了，他是得知了陸宵的死訊，到底自己前世借用他的身份，于是私下特地過來替他做個道場，哪裏知曉遇到了瑤娘。
在外一時見着未婚夫，瑤娘有些害羞，正欲請安，高玄策趕緊道：“羅姑娘不必多禮，你在此處做什麽？”
Without making a single move, Gao Xuan turned the guest into the host.
Yao Niang said, "Today I am holding a ceremony for my third sister, and I came here to light a long-burning lamp. I never expected to see this person's lamp. A few months ago, I went out with my parents and saw this mother named Lu Xiao crying for help. I wanted to help her, but I didn't know that she had already died. I happened to see her here, and I didn't expect that you came here for her as well."
So that's how it was. Gao Xuance saw that her eyes were clear and she didn't seem to be panicking, so he quickly praised her, "You really have a kind heart like a bodhisattva, you are really like a pearl and jade. This Lu Xiao used to be my horse boy, how could I know that he died suddenly? It just so happened that I went to play chess with the abbot here, and that's when I heard about his story."
I didn't expect the Prince to be so kind and beautiful. Yao Niang nodded and said, "You are the one with the heart of a bodhisattva."
As the two talked, another gust of wind blew through the hall. Gao Xuance saw that Yao Niang had a gentle expression all the time. He knew that although she cared about Lu Xiao, it was entirely out of compassion. Otherwise, Lu Xiao was completely different from his previous life. There was no change on her face. Of course, even if she was reborn, he would dispel her doubts.
Therefore, he smiled slightly, took off his cloak and put it on her himself. Yao Niang was reserved as a girl, so she naturally took a step back. Gao Xuance smiled and said, "When you walk out the door and see your maid, just throw the cloak away. It would be bad if it gets caught in the wind. Go back quickly. It would be bad if you get separated from your family."
Yao Niang's heart warmed. Apart from her own mother, no one else was so considerate of her! She pursed her lips and glanced at Gao Xuance, who seemed to be watching her with concern. She felt a little sweet and intoxicated in her heart.
When Yao Niang really left, Gao Xuance called his followers over and said, "You should tell the Lu family that Lu Xiao is my stable boy."
Ma Tong's identity was of course fake, but since he had lied, he had to cover up such a small lie.