Chapter 121: The Beginning and End of Love (Part 1)

  On the chaotic burial mound, so many graves were dug up, and it wasn't until the government opened the coffin to examine the body that Tao's fifth young lady was found. If there is such a coincidence, she doesn't need to be reborn, those who harmed her will get their due punishment.

  A peasant woman can file a lawsuit at the county government office, how could she forget where her daughter was buried?

  Obviously someone did it on purpose, but who is this person?

  Ronghua thought of everyone, it wouldn't be someone from the Tao family. If this were to be discovered by the authorities, it would not be beneficial for anyone in the Tao family. The reputation of a married woman would be damaged, let alone an unmarried one, so it's even more impossible that it was Yaohua.

  Among those who knew at the time...

  Apart from her and Tao Zheng'an, who else? Jinxiu went back to tell her that the rumors in the mansion were that Madame had been kicked by Master and fell off the kang, not only breaking her hip but also having a miscarriage. What does a miscarriage mean for a woman? Madame has waited so many years, just wanting a healthy son, and finally got such an opportunity, but it's gone now.

  Is Madame going to this extent just to avenge Tao Zheng'an? Rong Hua immediately denied this idea, no matter how Madame was, she would not do such a thing, let alone the fact that it was Madame who brought people to poison her back then, which did not bring any benefit to Madame at all.

  Just by looking at Chen's mother's flustered appearance, one can guess Madame's current mood.

  Who else could it be? Those women the mistress brought that night were all in cahoots with her, if someone wanted to curry favor, they wouldn't have waited until today.

  Rong Hua's face was unpredictable.

  The old lady said: "I called you back also want to inform you."

  Rong Hua recalled his thoughts, "Even if they had dug up Fifth Sister's remains, it should have been the people from Shun Tian Fu who came to apologize, so why did they seal off Fifth Sister's house instead?"

  The old lady sighed, "I don't know how the remains were dug up, nor do I know how they were identified as your fifth sister. The main thing is that the skeleton of those remains was black."

  Rong Hua involuntarily let out an "ah" and her heart suddenly started racing, her fingers also clenched up.

  It's true, what she had thought about countless times in her heart was finally revealed to the world.

  "What should I do? And there's also the matter of Gu Ying..."

  The old lady wore a dark yellow jacket, her face was gloomy, "It just so happens that two things happened at the same time. Shun Tian Fu is probably going to ask your father some questions, but we don't know what will happen yet. Just because of a skeleton, they think it's your fifth sister, this is not convincing." She paused and continued: "I said earlier that we should find a good place to bury your fifth sister properly, but your father was afraid that her illness was contagious and would affect the reputation of your unmarried sisters in the future, so she was secretly buried in the chaotic burial mound."

  "I've made an agreement with your father that after all of your sisters get married, we'll give your fifth sister a proper burial. After all, she's still a child of the Tao family and deserves to have a formal tombstone so people know who is buried here."

  The old lady's few words made Rong Hua's eyes suddenly moisten.

  Although the words were said well, it was not done that way. Even if she had committed a crime in her previous life, she should not have been killed so easily with QiQi, and then buried randomly in a mass grave.

  The Tao family has been wealthy and noble for so many years, it's time they got what was coming to them.

  "Grandma said so, is someone harming our Tao family?" Yunhua asked intentionally.

  The old lady who was calm and composed in her daily life also couldn't help but stiffen her face, "Nor do we know who it is, we'll have to wait until the Shuntian Prefecture presents the evidence before we can understand a thing or two."

  Was she afraid that when she was buried, she would have something on her that could prove her identity? Otherwise, four years had passed, and the corpse had long since become unrecognizable, so how could anyone tell who it was.

  Ronghua and the old lady were talking when they heard someone outside say, "The young mistress has returned."

  Shu Hua rushed in and anxiously called out to the old lady, "Grandma, I heard that..." But when she saw Rong Hua also in the room, she suddenly stopped talking.

  Shu Hua walked forward and greeted the old lady.

  Ronghua also bowed to Shuhua.

  Shu Hua's eyes were complex, and some words reached her lips but were held back because of Rong Hua being by her side.

  The old lady said: "I've already told your eighth sister, you sisters should all have a rough idea, just in case the mother-in-law asks, you can all say something."

  Shu Hua said, "Why did the second sister insist on bringing Fa Xiu to practice? Just dig up a corpse and say it's someone from our Tao family. What kind of logic is that?" As she spoke, her throat itched and she couldn't help but cough.

  Shu Hua covered her mouth and shrugged a few times, then raised her head with a pale face, speaking in a much softer tone. "There are so many corpses on the burial grounds, who can distinguish them? It's not right to falsely accuse our Tao family like this." She looked at the old lady, "Don't worry, Grandmother, Xuan Huang is acquainted with the Prefect of Shun Tian, we'll just need to spend some silver to bury that corpse and it will be over. As for Gu Yin, don't even put him in your heart, I heard Father say that once his case goes through the trial, he will definitely be convicted, who would listen to his nonsense?"

  The old lady couldn't help but shake her head, if everything were as simple as Shu Hua thought, she wouldn't have to be in such a hurry.

  Gu Ying is not an ordinary citizen, just mention his previous errand in the Department of State Affairs, and what he says will be remembered by someone.

  As for what Dahu said about her son-in-law knowing the prefect of Shuntian, Old Lady looked at Shuhua and knew that she was a bit impatient by nature. She hesitated slightly before saying: "Let Xuanhuang go ask the prefect of Shuntian, if it can be settled with some silver, then that's good. If not, wait for your father to come back and let your son-in-law discuss it."

  Shu Hua nodded.

  The three of them chatted for a while longer before Shu Hua stood up and headed back to the mansion.

  The old lady reminded her again, "You must have a good talk with Xuan Huan, if he is not convenient to take the lead, we will think of other ways. You also don't want to pressure him too much, there are some things that men outside understand that women don't."

  Shu Hua nodded in agreement and then led the people away.

  Ronghua sat for a while before bidding farewell to the old lady. In the end, the old lady didn't even ask her to mention this matter to Prince Hou, wanting to see if he could help or not.

  It's embarrassing to bring it up, and I don't know how to get her to tell His Lordship in a way that's suitable.

  It's embarrassing for the Tao family to let others know about this kind of thing.

  Even a ferocious tiger does not eat its own cubs.

  She was after all the new daughter-in-law who had just joined the Xue family and couldn't grasp the temperament of Lord Hou. Just then, Shu Hua mentioned the matter of the Prefect of Shuntian, so Old Madam entrusted this matter to Shu Hua.

  Ronghua walked out of the old lady's courtyard, and the peonies in the backyard had already bloomed. Ronghua stood under the tree. A few years ago, when she was still the fifth young lady, she would often admire flowers with her sisters in the garden, and the servants would bring fruit and snacks. She remembered that once, Shuhua had someone bring a kind of fruit wine brewed by the women in the mansion to drink. The wine tasted sweet and slightly spicy, and after a few cups, they would feel a slight intoxication, a feeling of being carefree and at ease. The sisters' conversation became even more casual and unrestrained.

  The young lady who lived in the inner chamber did not often have such a proud moment, but later when the matter was known to the elder mistress, she still called her over and scolded her severely, while Shu Hua took all the blame upon herself.

  At that time, she felt that some big sisters who were usually domineering might also be good sometimes.

  She returned to the mansion as Miss Eighth, and her elder sisters had all married. The remaining young ladies in the mansion each had their own thoughts, and they hadn't had a good conversation together for a long time, nor had they felt such a deep familial bond again.

  Moreover, she had long lost confidence in them and only kept this affection for Hong Ge.

  Ronghua sighed and waited for Hongge to come back, then pulled him outside to sit down.

  "Sister," Hong's eyes suddenly lit up, "You're saying that someone really dug out... Fifth Sister's corpse? So to say... Isn't it... Isn't it..."

  Looking at Hong's appearance, it was clear that this matter had nothing to do with him. She thought so too, bribing a peasant woman and making some obvious evidence to make people suspect the Tao family wasn't an easy task, how could Hong, a child, do it? She was thinking too much.

  Ronghua patted Hongge's shoulder, "You just focus on studying well and don't think too much about other things. The mansion might have some visitors in the next little while, I'm telling you this to let you know not to speak carelessly."

  Hong Ge's face was puzzled, "Why? If I take the opportunity to tell the people in the government office... maybe we can catch the person who harmed my sister..."

  "It's not that simple." Without solid evidence, it's useless to say anything, let alone the fact that Hong Ge was still young at that time and didn't witness her being harmed. The people from the government office would reveal loopholes as soon as they were asked.

  "Just listen to me, sis." Rong Hua patiently explained to Hong Ge, "Besides, if the Tao family bears such a crime, it's not just Father and Eldest Auntie who will be affected, we'll also have to live with shame for the rest of our lives."

  Ronghua smiled bitterly and was reborn into the Tao family, wanting to make those who harmed her pay the price, but she was still restricted everywhere. At least with this opportunity, she could take a glimpse of past events, letting her know what reason led Tao Zheng'an and the eldest lady to kill her, and what exactly Yao Hua had overheard.

  Rong Hua finally managed to persuade Hong Ge, and the siblings reluctantly parted ways, with Hong Ge sending Rong Hua off on a horse carriage.

  Rong Hua got on the bus and suddenly remembered Hong Ge's academic affairs, "How is it going in school?"

  Hong Ge's face fell.

  Rong Hua sighed.

  Just about to put down the curtains on the car, I happened to see a somewhat familiar figure peeking around in the corner.

  Ronghua calmly and quietly said to Hongge: "I'll come back again when I have time."

  Hong Ge nodded and took a step back, and the horse carriage slowly moved forward.

  The horse carriage went a bit further, Rong Hua glanced at Jinxiu beside him, "You get off and take a look." As he said that, he pointed out the location of the person he had just seen to Jinxiu.

  Jinxiu nodded in agreement and quietly got off the carriage.

  ……

  Miao Tong waited outside for Zhao Xuan Huan and hurriedly went forward to pay his respects, saying: "Master, the mistress is waiting for you inside."

  Upon hearing this, a faint smile appeared at the corner of Zhao Xuan's mouth.

  As soon as Zhao Xuanhuan entered the door, Shuhua warmly approached him, helped him change his clothes and brought a towel to wipe his face.

  Ronghua looked at Zhao Xuanhuan with a hint of caution, but Zhao Xuanhuan still had an indifferent expression as if lost in thought. Shuhua felt a growing sense of unease.

  When Zhao Xuan Huan sat down to read a book, Shu Hua hastily sent all the maids in the house away.

  Recently been busy, indeed many things at home, busy until now just wrote a chapter.