Leaning on the pillow, Du Yunluo half-closed her eyes.
Zizhu had actually left the mansion.
Was it really a coincidence prompted by her in-laws, or was there more to the story?
If Zizhu really did push Cangzhu, then taking this chance to leave the mansion made sense.
The point of contradiction is still with that bracelet. How did Mu Yuanjing’s golden bracelet end up in Zizhu’s hands?
If it was given by Mu Yuanjing as a reward...
Du Yunluo didn’t believe Mu Yuanjing was such a "generous" person. Although she wasn’t in want of gold and silver jewelry, she wouldn’t dismantle a set of bracelets to reward someone as distant as Zizhu.
Since Mu Yuanjing hadn’t given it away as a reward and a bracelet was missing, why didn’t she shout about it? And how could she wear bracelets that weren’t a set?
Questions arose one after another.
Zizhu would push Cangzhu into the well over the bracelet. It seemed that the story behind this bracelet was intriguing.
Du Yunluo was pondering this when Jin Ling arrived.
Jin Ling, familiar with the place, entered the west side room and greeted Du Yunluo.
Seeing this, Hong Jinbao’s family left the room.
Du Yunluo had Jin Ling sit on a stool and softly asked her, "Zizhu, the eldest daughter of the Li Family, has she been brought back? Is she said to be getting married?"
Jin Ling nodded, "She was brought back at the beginning of the month, and has been staying in since then, busy preparing her dowry. I heard Aunt Li say that the auspicious day is set for the end of this month. The groom’s family is a steward’s son from the fourth wife’s dowry shop."
Du Yunluo nodded slowly.
The groom’s family being part of the Marquis Mansion, the marriage needed to be arranged quickly, otherwise the reason for Zizhu returning home would have been false.
Du Yunluo whispered to Jin Ling, "It’s feared that Cangzhu’s death is related to Zizhu. Hongfu said that Cangzhu had sought Zizhu out over that golden bracelet.
Probe her, find out what Cangzhu said to Zizhu that forced her to act so harshly."
Jin Ling bit her lower lip, "Aren’t you afraid that Zizhu might report to the second wife?"
"She wouldn’t dare," Du Yunluo laughed, "She’s afraid of the second aunt, she wouldn’t dare say a word, or her own life would be forfeit."
The golden bracelet had an unclear origin. If Zizhu went to report, how would she explain Du Yunluo’s suspicion of her and the bracelet issue?
Stolen? That would mean she’s dishonest in her actions and, working as a maid in Mu Lianyu’s courtyard, where could she possibly steal it from!
The Lian Family would only think of one reason: Mu Lianyu must have given it to her.
Zizhu, just a cleaning maid, had accepted Mu Lianyu’s bracelet; the Lian Family would likely tear her to shreds.
Jin Ling picked up on the hint and said, "If Zizhu really did push Cangzhu, how do you intend to handle this, Madam?"
Du Yunluo took a deep breath and resolved, "That depends on the bracelet. Why was Aunt’s bracelet in Zizhu’s hands? That’s crucial."
Jin Ling returned to Willow Tree Alley.
The Li Family was just a few steps away from her home, and Jin Ling took a pair of embroidered shoes from her box and, after instructing Ying’er, went to the Li Family with them tucked under her arm.
The door was open; she stepped inside and sweetly called, "Aunt."
Aunt Li was in the courtyard doing laundry. Hearing the voice, she looked up and quickly stood up, wiping her wet hands on her clothes, "Yun Qi’s wife, what brings you here today?"
"Didn’t you say a few days ago that you didn’t know what pattern to embroider on Zizhu’s wedding shoes?" Jin Ling took out the shoes from her pocket, "I just found these, so I brought them for her to see."
Aunt Li was overjoyed and thanked her repeatedly, "Everyone in the alley knows Yun Qi’s wife, you’re a skilled embroiderer. For you to help our eldest daughter, it’s such a blessing! Come, come, I’ll take you in. She’s inside doing embroidery work."
Jin Ling followed Aunt Li into the west room.
"Eldest daughter, Yun Qi’s wife is here to talk to you about the embroidered shoes. You should learn from her." Aunt Li said, and then to Jin Ling, "I haven’t finished my laundry, please make yourself at home."
Aunt Li left, and Jin Ling turned her gaze to Zizhu with a faint smile.
Zizhu’s hand trembled slightly as she held the embroidery needle, feeling extremely uneasy.
"Are you feeling guilty seeing me?" Jin Ling moved a stool and sat beside Zizhu.
Zizhu nearly pricked her finger with the needle; she looked up in astonishment, "Why should I feel guilty..."
Jin Ling laughed, "Because, just like Cangzhu, I’m one of the Madam’s people."
Hearing Cangzhu’s name, Zizhu did prick her finger, and she gasped in pain, quickly lowering her head to suck on the bleeding finger.
Jin Ling sneered, "If you’re that timid, how did you dare do such a thing? If the mansion finds out, you’ll deserve to be beaten to death."
"I didn’t!" Zizhu said with a pale face, meeting Jin Ling’s calm gaze, she could hear her own heartbeat, "I didn’t..."
"You didn’t what?" Jin Ling looked directly at her, "You didn’t take Mr. Si’s belongings? Or didn’t push Cangzhu?"
Zizhu couldn’t speak, she curled up, trembling.
Jin Ling continued, "Zizhu, it’s me asking now, not the mammas from the mansion. Do you understand what that means?"
Zizhu was stunned.
"I’ve seen that golden bracelet; Aunt showed it to me. I recognized it; it belongs to Madam." Jin Ling said in a low voice, "With the Princely Heir and Mr. Second not in the residence, and the second lady and Madam in the middle of handing over control, no one wants to air dirty laundry now. The Madam doesn’t want to embarrass the second lady either. Cangzhu has been dead for almost two months; what can be brushed under the rug will remain there, as long as you tell the truth."
Zizhu frowned, looking at Jin Ling with confusion, shaking her head, "Brushed under the rug? Can a matter of life and death be swept away?"
"Why not?" Jin Ling laughed, "Which family’s backyard hasn’t had such incidents? If the Madam really wanted you to pay for Cangzhu’s life, just that golden bracelet would be enough to ruin you. Don’t forget, many in the alley have seen it."
Zizhu shivered, initially scared to death, but now she suddenly calmed down, and her mind became clear.
She knew Jin Ling was absolutely right.
It didn’t matter how Cangzhu died; if the Madam wanted to deal with her, the golden bracelet alone was sufficient.
In the alley, not only Jin Ling had seen it, many other girls had too; she couldn’t deny it.
"Does the Madam want to spare me?" Zizhu lifted her eyes and murmured.
Jin Ling neither nodded nor shook her head, "If the scandal really comes out, it wouldn’t look good for anyone."
Zizhu bit her lip, "Perhaps the Madam wants to use me against the second lady?"
A sharp look flashed in Jin Ling’s eyes, and she burst out laughing, "Madam against the second lady? Why? Would the Old Madam turn a blind eye? Zizhu, you think this was said because the bracelet’s origin is enough to strike against the second lady?"
"I..."
Jin Ling stood up, looking down at Zizhu, "Remember, Madam gave you a chance. Since you won’t tell the truth, wait for the mansion’s mammas to come and take you away.
Cangzhu may have had her faults, but she was still a maid of Shaohui Garden. Since she died, an explanation must be given to her parents."
"You just said it could be brushed under the rug!" Zizhu said urgently.
"It can be brushed under, depending on what you do." Jin Ling said coldly.