She pointed at the wet nurse and scolded her.
"You fool! It's one thing to be clumsy on ordinary days, but to be so careless at Luhe Hall! You don't even take the things the Empress bestowed upon you seriously. If you implicate the Old Madam, I will be in grave danger!"
Granny Wu's face turned pale.
She had almost forgotten about it.
If you can use carelessness as an excuse to lose a reward from the palace once, what about the second time?
If they were charged with disrespect, the entire General's Mansion would be in serious trouble.
Not to mention, the incident happened in the old lady's courtyard.
"Tomorrow is the general's big day, why did something have to happen at this crucial moment? He's really a worry!"
Aunt Ru said anxiously.
"Lead the way! I'll find it myself!"
With each word she spoke, Granny Wu's face grew more and more unpleasant.
Indeed, the day of the Ministry of Justice's trial was just around the corner, how could something like this happen so coincidentally?
Maybe it's Biluo's maid. She's Jiang Wan's confidante. What good intentions could she possibly have?
It must be Xingzhiyuan's doing, trying to target their Luhetang... She can't let Jiang Wan succeed!
"Madam, there must be a thief who has infiltrated. I know all the servants in this courtyard. I'll go myself!" Granny Wu said sternly. "I want to see who is trying to harm Lu Hetang!"
After saying that, she led her people away aggressively.
Aunt Ru watched her walk away, pushed aside the food box on the table, and headed towards the door.
The maidservant, puzzled, asked, "Madam, what are you going to do?"
"Such a big thing has happened, of course we must report it to the old lady."
Aunt Ru arrived at the Buddhist hall.
When the matriarch was worshipping Buddha, the servants who were originally guarding the door all kept a distance, as if they were avoiding something.
Aunt Ru rushed in, and the servants gasped in surprise, but it was too late to stop her.
The Buddhist hall was filled with incense smoke, and the matriarch of the elders knelt on a prayer mat in the middle.
She was furious at Aunt Ru's sudden intrusion.
"Who let you in!"
"Madam, Zhao'er's jade ruyi is missing, I am truly terrified..."
The matriarch remained motionless for a moment before turning around. Her movements were stiff, and her face was pale and ashen, making her look quite unwell.
Aunt Ru even doubted that she had seen it wrong.
Before she could speak, the matriarch had already stood up and said angrily, "If you've lost something, go find it! What's the use of coming to me crying and wailing like a banshee!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly remembered that the jade ruyi was a gift from the Empress.
The matriarch frowned: "How could something bestowed by Her Majesty the Empress be so easily lost?"
Aunt Ru said anxiously, "Who knows? It was only the time it took for the wet nurse to feed her baby, and the bird's nest that Miss Biluo brought hadn't even been finished, and it's already gone..."
The matriarch was taken aback: "Biluo...people from Xingzhi Academy have been here?"
That would probably be more complicated than it seems.
Her face darkened, clearly indicating that she had the same thought as Granny Wu.
This matter may have been deliberately framed.
Jiang Wan had always kept to herself in the mansion, so why would she send bird's nest to Aunt Ru, and even send it to her Deer and Crane Hall?
She asked, "Does Madam Jiang often bring you food?"
Aunt Ru shook her head: "I am not familiar with Madam Jiang, it seems... this is the only time."
The matriarch of the elders said decisively, "Fool! She's trying to scheme against you, and kill two birds with one stone by dragging me into this too!"
Aunt Ru then showed a look of surprise.
"Really? Madam Jiang is very kind. She even asked the Empress for this jade ruyi on my behalf."
Hearing her say that, the matriarch became even more certain.
How could Jiang Wan possibly have such good intentions as to ask for a reward on behalf of a concubine?
This must be her scheme!
"There's no time to lose, take me there quickly."
The matriarch immediately walked towards the door.
Jiang Wan is the most cunning girl; she might have some other schemes and tricks up her sleeve, which Wu Mama might not be able to handle.
Aunt Ru nodded, but after taking only two steps, she cried out "Ouch!" and fell on the threshold.
"My ankle... I think I twisted it." She looked pained and said to the maid, "Don't worry about me, hurry, take the old lady first."
The matter was urgent, and the matriarch of the family couldn't spare a thought for her, so she hurriedly left with her maid.
The two figures disappeared through the doorway.
As soon as the curtain closed, Aunt Ru slowly raised her head. The anxious look on her face disappeared, and her eyes were filled with calmness.
She stood up and took out a rectangular pear wood box from her sleeve, which she had taken from the bottom of the food box when no one was looking.
Following the directions Jiang Wan had given her, she tiptoed towards the Buddhist hall…
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