Chapter 130: Unforgotten Past (Middle)

  The lady is somewhat distressed, she didn't want to lower her head, originally it was a matter of course, but now it has become like this.

  A concubine became a first-rank lady, and she still had to smile in front of the concubine. Who knew what kind of taste was in her heart after knowing that Ronghua had been granted the imperial edict? All her efforts over the years in the Tao family were all in vain.

  Shu Hua's position in the Zhao family is unstable, and Yao Hua is like this, an eighth miss born and raised outside the mansion has gained such great benefits.

  Her life's blood was like that unborn child, what else could she think of...

  This time when something happened at home, she didn't want to ask the concubine-born daughter for help. She thought that the relationship with the Zhao family had been maintained for so long and would be useful sooner or later, but unexpectedly...

  As for that matter, she didn't want to let the concubine know either. After all, the fifth miss was also a concubine. As for how that corpse ended up like that, she was the most clear about it in her heart. For several nights, she couldn't sleep well, and one night, when the maid came to cover her with a quilt, she gave her a fright. In a daze, she thought someone from Shun Tian Fu had come to take her away, but all the charges were pinned on her head. It took half a day for her to realize that she was being haunted. But this was what worried her most in her heart. What kind of person was Tao Zheng An? Over the years, whenever something happened, wasn't it always pushed onto her? If Shun Tian Fu really found out something, Tao Zheng An would only abandon her.

  Now if this matter were to fall into Ronghua's hands, what if something went wrong in the middle and Ronghua found out about past events? How would that be? Ronghua is not her own flesh and blood, how could she have the same heart as her, it's like handing over her own handle to Ronghua. If she had any other way, she wouldn't let the concubine-born daughter touch this matter no matter what.

  Today she will let people stop Rong Hua, just because she is afraid that Rong Hua knows too much.

  Seeing Madame's behavior, Old Madam couldn't help but sneer in her heart. She had known this day would come, so why did she have to take Xiao Ba's life back then?

  The old lady and the big wife were talking, when a message was sent from the Yi Cheng Hou Fu, Ya Qin hurriedly went outside to listen to the news, and the Yi Cheng Hou Fu sent an old woman to deliver the message.

  The old woman said: "There's something at home, and Da Nai won't be able to come back today." She also told Ya Qin the reason.

  Yaqin said: "I'm afraid I need you to come with me and tell my wife, this is a big matter that I don't dare to mention lightly."

  The old woman had made up her mind on the way, so she pushed it off, "There's still something at home, I need to go a bit further to get some medicine back, but there's no time. It would be best if you could let them know, miss."

  Yaqin said: "How can this be good? It's not that I'm unwilling, but there is no such reason in the mansion."

  The old woman thought carefully and couldn't think of anything else, so she had no choice but to enter the mansion with Ya Qin.

  Yaqin went into the house and reported, "The messenger from the Yi Cheng Marquis's estate said that Big Uncle is ill and Eldest Miss cannot return to the estate." She then repeated everything the old woman had just said.

  The old lady glanced at Ya Qin and let Ya Qin call the people from Hou Fu to the east room.

  The old woman entered the house, and the old lady asked Yakun to pour tea. The old woman couldn't sit still and said, "There are other things that haven't been done yet, so I'll take my leave of you, Auntie and Madam."

  The old lady said: "Master has always been healthy, but what's wrong with this illness?"

  The old woman's face stiffened, and she said the words she had prepared earlier, "I'm afraid this time is a bit unusual, otherwise I wouldn't have asked Big Nai to stay behind and take care of things. I've already invited a doctor, and if there's any news, I'll definitely come back and report it."

  The old lady nodded and let Rui Qing give the reward money to the woman. The woman pushed it away twice before finally accepting it.

  The old lady said: "I heard that there is some medicine that can't be found? Why don't you tell me, our house also has some prepared."

  The old woman said, "I've troubled you, Auntie. I've already spoken with the people at the pharmacy and they may have taken some of it back already. In a little while, I'll be going to that other house further away, where the medicine has been prepared."

  The old lady nodded.

  The old woman made her bow and took her leave.

  Rong Hua entered the courtyard of the old lady, just as she met the old woman. The old woman had seen Rong Hua once before and naturally knew her, so she hurried forward to pay her respects in a dignified manner.

  Ronghua nodded, and the old woman continued on her way.

  Rong Hua entered the house, and the old lady came out of the side room. Seeing Rong Hua, she asked kindly: "Has Mrs. Jiang sent her off?"

  Ronghua nodded, "Madam Chiang said she would invite me to attend a gathering at their residence in two days."

  The old lady's face suddenly smiled more deeply, pulling up Rong Hua's hand. "This matter still needs you to take care of it, let's go back and discuss it later, see what's good."

  Rong Hua agreed.

  The old lady then went into the inner chamber with Ronghua to see Madame Wang.

  The old lady is still lying in bed and can't move.

  The old lady took a look at the big lady, and the big lady finally came to her senses and talked to Ronghua. After two or three sentences, she looked at Ronghua's outfit, with a delicate peony on her head, a bi xi hairpin, a gold-inlaid jade pendant tied with silk tassels, a pink lotus summer shirt, and a deep blue chrysanthemum-embroidered skirt. She looked very bright and beautiful.

  The old lady stared at these in a daze, and Ronghua came forward to ask her a few questions kindly. She didn't hear clearly, but just nodded randomly. Ronghua had someone bring up the stew pot again, on which was painted a kite picture with different characters: a boy holding a kite laughing, a servant girl holding fruit standing aside, women chatting and laughing in the pavilion, a happy family scene.

  The pattern on the top is very vivid, especially the kite, which flies in the light blue sky with a slight shake, as if it was blown by the wind and swayed slightly.

  "Mother," Rong Hua called out, and then the old lady came back to her senses.

  Ronghua said, "My daughter returned from the palace, and the Empress Dowager rewarded her with some tonic. I brought back two portions for my grandmother and mother. I just instructed the kitchen to stew two bowls, Mother, try some."

  Ronghua serves Madame with supplements.

  She was eating what looked like bird's nest, but it was completely different from what she usually ate. The old lady looked at Ronghua's slender and delicate white fingers, earlier she wanted to ask if the words of Shuntian Prefecture were reliable, now seeing Ronghua's radiant appearance, she knew that those words were useless, and swallowed them hard.

  Ronghua is indeed different from before, and being illuminated by Ronghua's brilliance makes one feel dull and gloomy.

  The maids in the house all retreated, and the old lady said first: "Ba Lian, how do you think this matter should be handled?"

  Rong Hua thought for a moment, "I don't know if my granddaughter is right or not. Previously, Fifth Sister was buried in the chaotic burial mound because of her serious illness and there was no other choice. Now that several years have passed, it's time to find a good place to rebury Fifth Sister."

  "Your meaning is to rebury that skeleton? If it were your fifth sister's skeleton, it would be fine, but it isn't. How can this be?"

  Ronghua said: "Since it was the fifth sister who was buried there, but now even her bones can't be found, why not make a righteous grave and bury all the surrounding bones well?"

  The lady was taken aback, "What did you just say?"

  Rong Hua said: "The things of the fifth sister have all fallen everywhere," otherwise, how to explain that seal? How can the dead bones still be found intact? If we want to bury at home, we must build a big tomb in the place where the fifth sister is buried. After a pause, he said again: "Even if it's troublesome, it's worth it. The fifth sister is always the daughter of the Tao family, how can she be buried anywhere?"

  The lady was startled by these words, what did they mean? Was she being blamed? The lady looked up at Ronghua, but Ronghua didn't dodge or evade, her eyes had a few points of determination.

  The old lady's eyes sparkled, "What Ronghua said also makes sense. Originally, our Tao family's daughter was supposed to be reburied three years later, but who knew this would happen again."

  The lady could only temporarily hold back her anger, "What about the Shun Tian Fu?"

  Rong Hua said: "I'll go back and think of a way."

  The old lady still wanted to ask, but the old lady changed the subject and asked Yonghua kindly, "Didn't you ask how I was doing at the Xue's house?"

  Ronghua smiled slightly and replied shyly to the old lady, "This time I'm back, there's something else I need to discuss with Grandmother, Father, and Mother."

  The old lady smiled kindly and said, "Your father may not be able to come back tonight, you might as well tell us first, so we can have an idea."

  Ronghua then said: "At home, a school was set up, and a Western teacher was specially invited. Now all the other brothers are studying outside, and the invited teacher only teaches Seventh Master. I think that Hongge and Seventh Master are about the same age..."

  The old lady looked at the old granny and smiled: "I don't know who I've invited."

  Ronghua said: "It's a Mr. Wu Duanfan. I heard he used to teach several young masters."

  The old lady smiled, "In the past few years, everyone was eager to attend school, but in recent years, they are willing to invite a private tutor at home... This matter is not urgent, I'll discuss it with your father tonight..." She paused for a moment, "I think it would be best if the Xue family agrees. The school is also located at the Xue's house, and having you take care of it on weekdays is reassuring."

  Ronghua nodded, "My granddaughter thinks so too."

  The old lady said: "Wait until after dinner to go back. Your sixth sister has also returned, hasn't she? I should have invited Lord Hou over too."

  Ronghua smiled.

  A few people chatted with Mrs. Dai in her house for a while, then let Mrs. Dai rest. The old lady and Ronghua went to the old lady's house together, and also called Yanhua over.

  A few people sat down, and Old Lady Rui called out to Qing, "Go get Second Miss as well, let the sisters have a good chat."

  Rui Qing smiled and agreed, then hurriedly went to invite Yao Hua.

  The old lady asked Yan Hua, "Why haven't you seen Liu Gu Ye?"

  Yan Hua glanced at Rong Hua and then smiled awkwardly, "He's at home"

  "When I read books, I didn't let him follow me."

  Rong Hua heard this and paused for a moment with the teacup in her hand, then looked up at Yan Hua.

  Just now you said your sister's husband was at the door, how come you say he didn't come now?

  Yan Hua said: "Mother's intention is for me to serve mother at home for a few days and fulfill my filial piety."

  When Mrs. Meng was "ill", why didn't the Meng family say such things? It's just that at this time, Yanhua was sent back to her mother's house, and Ronghua couldn't help but feel a chill in her heart, thinking of Yanhua's flustered appearance when she first entered the door, and also said that there were people outside waiting for her to respond.

  If it's really Shuntian Fu's case, won't the Meng family give up on bringing Yan Hua back?

  Rong Hua met Yan Hua's slightly reddened eyes as she thought of this.

  ……

  Mrs. Tao lay in bed, and the servant who had been sent to inquire at the Yu Cheng Hou Fu returned and said: "I couldn't find out anything, that familiar old woman just hemmed and hawed and said that someone in the mansion was injured, and several doctors were invited over, and Madame Cai ordered no one to mention this matter."