Chapter Thirty-Five: The Truth

  "It's not like it can't be done." Lin Zhaoyan suddenly spoke up in a light tone, analyzing the situation amidst Liu's surprised expression: "If it was really Yifan who suffered a loss, Second Aunt would definitely not admit it. But don't forget, Second Aunt didn't get her way either, and Yifan didn't suffer any actual harm. Plus, in this matter, Second Aunt is also a victim. I'm afraid she's even more angry than us, it's just that she doesn't know how to say it to us."

  "What can she say? If she says anything, the relationship between the two families will be completely broken." Liu's cold smile, in her heart, had long been resentful of Lu.

  "So, we need to find that servant girl and first get another person to confess. At that time, we won't be afraid of not being able to get the second aunt to confess. The second aunt has a grudge and won't just sit there waiting for death. The two will mutually destroy each other's alibis, and we'll watch from the sidelines as they do so, reaping the benefits."

  Liu gazed at Lin Zhaoyan's eyes with increasing astonishment and carefully recalled the scene, still feeling an inexplicable fear.

  It turns out that this girl is so clever, but she has been silently enduring for so many years, and what she gets in return is just a peaceful and smooth life?

  Lin Zhaoyan dodged Liu's inquiring gaze and said, "Then let me see Manhua now!"

  Manhua was locked up for a night, and under the pangs of hunger and cold, she was more terrified than ever. When she was released, her face was deathly pale, like an autumn leaf trembling in the wind, ready to fall at any moment.

  But she made herself stay calm, her feet numb as if filled with lead, yet every step was taken with utmost stability.

  It wasn't until she saw Lin Zhaoyan and Man Shuang waiting for her outside the door that she finally burst into tears, with tears falling uncontrollably.

  "Alright, alright, don't cry anymore, it's fine." Lin Zhaoyan hugged her and gently patted her back to comfort her.

  Manhua finally choked back her tears.

  "Zisu was driven out by the lady of the house, I'm afraid his life is in danger." She said her first words since they met.

  Lin Zhaoyan felt heartbroken, although she had a bad relationship with Lin Ruoyan, but these few maids were actually very close privately. The other day when Lin's mother's daughter Hui Niang got married, all the maids went to attend the wedding banquet.

  Who would have thought, things have changed and people are gone.

  "Let's not mention her for now, I've already asked someone to brew a calming tea, let's head back and talk about it later." Although Zi Su's death would eventually be known, she couldn't bear to let Man Hua suffer another blow in this situation.

  Manhua nodded and the three of them went towards the Xiangxiang Pavilion.

  After drinking a cup of calming tea and re-washing herself, Manhua had also completely calmed down.

  She gave Lin Zhaoyan a detailed report of last night's events.

  "When I arrived at Master's place with Zisu, Hongying and Fuxiang were nowhere to be found. Although we felt surprised, seeing Master drunk and confused, still shouting for heat, we could only use a wet handkerchief to help him cool down. Not long after, someone came to say that Sister Hongying had fallen in the corridor and hurt her leg, asking us to go and help. I thought to myself, Master has always been close to Fifth Miss, but I'm not familiar with him, so it's probably better for me to go and help, leaving Zisu to take care of him. Zisu didn't object, who knew that I couldn't find Sister Hongying in the corridor at all, instead, I met her and Fuxiang on my way back, they said someone had called them too, but it turned out to be nothing. We only felt something was off when we rushed back... "

  Lin Zhaoyan already knew what was going on behind her back, so she signaled her to stop, and a hint of tears flashed in her ink-colored eyes.

  This move of "borrowing a tiger's power to leave the mountain" is truly wonderful!

  Hong Ying is the red person in front of Old Lady Lin, and she has a good relationship with Lin Ruoyan. She often speaks for her in front of Old Lady Lin. When something happens to her, Lin Ruoyan will definitely not sit idly by, but as a young lady, she cannot go to help herself, so she must have sent the maid over.

  Zi Juan was not at home with a cold that day, even if she were, she would probably have been sent out on an errand.

  Lin Ruoyan is generous and open-minded, never bothering with trivial matters. She has a deep affection for Liu Wenyuan, unlike her usual cautious and evasive nature.

  Moreover, no one would have thought that this was a conspiracy. No one would have thought that Lu would harm his own niece.

  Even if it were her, without any prior unease, she wouldn't have left before the banquet ended, so why would she think that much.

  If she hadn't stopped Lin Ruoyan last night, it would have been...

  Lin Zhaoyan felt more and more frightened as he thought about it.

  Inevitably, I thought of Lu Yan Zhi.

  Although she still rejected Lu Yan's inexplicable closeness, in her heart, she didn't feel that repulsed anymore.

  After all, he helped her.

  "Then can you see clearly what that maid looks like?" Lin Zhaoyan withdrew his thoughts and asked lightly.

  Manhua shook her head, "It was Zi Su who went out, I was in the attic at that time and didn't know anything."

  Lin Zhaoyan nodded and asked again, "Earlier I told you to pay attention at the Weeping Flower Gate. Did you see a strange maid wearing a blue jacket?"

  Manhua nodded repeatedly, "Yes! Yes! I saw her familiar face and even spoke with her!"

  Lin Zhaoyan's face suddenly lit up with joy, "What did she say? Does she have any distinguishing features?"

  Manhua thought for a moment and said, "Actually, she didn't say much to me, just that she was a maid from the second madam's hometown. As for her appearance, it's quite ordinary, oh, wait! I remember she had a red beauty mark at the corner of her mouth, so I took a few more glances."

  "Red beauty mole?" Lin Zhaoyan looked at Man Shuang, "Do you remember which maid in the mansion has a mole on the corner of her mouth?"

  Man Shuang thought for a while and said anxiously: "I don't know."

  Lin Zhao didn't rush either and said: "Let's go back and report to Mother and Ruo Yan later, they have a wide network of connections in the mansion, they should know more than us."

  As expected, Liu's wet nurse Lin Mama said after hearing it, "If you want to talk about someone with a red mole on the corner of their mouth, I do know one person, but she is not a maid, rather it's Tang Mama who sweeps the stables in the outer courtyard."

  Liu was reminded of this and immediately said, "Isn't that the person Madam Wan brought from her hometown? Because they were not clean-handed and I wanted to drive them out of the mansion, but Madam Wan cried to Master and they were let off lightly, being sent to the outer courtyard to sweep the stables."

  Mrs. Lin nodded, "The lady is right, it was indeed Mrs. Tang."

  Lin Ruoyan snorted: "So it was her! That old thief even stole things from my room! This kind of person should be beaten to death with sticks! And that cheap woman, Wan Niang, still cried in front of Father and said she had a good reason, that it was for treating her daughter's illness! Pfui!"

  "Ah, girl!" Liu's wife glared at her with dissatisfaction, "With a mouth full of filthy words, is this the kind of behavior a young lady from a good family should have?"

  Although she also hated Wan Niang, and had scolded her as a lowly person in her heart many times, whether or not she said it out loud made all the difference.

  "Wait a minute," Lin Zhaoyan immediately spoke up, "But that's not right. Manhua said it was a young and beautiful woman, it can't be Mrs. Zhou."

  Lin's mother smiled and said to Lin Zhao: "Fourth young lady, it's time for me to speak now."

  Everyone looked up to her.

  Thank you Huihui ~ sister, passionate love ^^, the sky has a hint of blue reward ~