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Last time on Grafting Life: The fall of the Jia Family is accelerating.
Chapter 64 – Red Chamber (64)
Zhou Rui’s wife hurriedly shoved it into her sleeve and said, “This is not anything good, do not tell others. If they learn about it, you will be beaten to death.”
Foolish Girl had never seen this before and said directly, “I do not dare.” Then she kowtowed and ran away.
Madam Xing glanced at Zhou Rui’s wife and said, “What is it, why frighten a fool girl like that?”
Zhou Rui’s wife glanced at Madam Wang and did not dare to take it out. Everyone knew that Bao Yu was the only man living in the garden. She feared that this came from Bao Yu’s courtyard. These servant girls dared to do anything in order to seduce him. In reality, what Xi Ren said today about having Bao Yu move out of the garden was a good thing.
Madam Wang did not understand, but Zhou Rui’s wife was not a stupid person. She would have her reasons for not taking it out. She said with a smile, “Such minor matters, have Zhou Rui’s wife take care of it. I am going to visit Bao Yu, and will not go inside with Mistress.”
Madam Xing was not willing. If Zhou Rui’s wife concealed it, it would definitely have to do with Bao Yu. She said with a smile, “These may be places in the garden we cannot attend to. If something is wrong, the servants should not hide it. That child just now said the evil spirits were fighting. Let me see.”
Madam Wang could not keep on refusing. She looked at Zhou Rui’s wife. “Did you hear? Eldest Mistress wants to see.”
Zhou Rui’s wife could only hand the item over, her expression embarrassed.
Madam Xing looked at it, was given a fright and shoved it at Madam Wang, saying, “Look at this, what dirty things.”
Madam Wang took a look and paled. She would also think of Jia Bao Yu. She hurriedly stood up and said, “I will go ask Feng-yatou. Only she is a young wife. This will not be anyone else.”
Madam Xing sneered. She knew that Madam Wang was throwing Wang Xi Feng out to cover for the problems of her son. She would see if Wang-shi would protect her son or her niece today.
Wang Xi Feng was in her room, watching Qiao-jie sketch and playing with Gui-ge’er while Xiao Hong stood at the side.
A young servant girl came to report that the Eldest Mistress and Second Mistress had come. Wang Xi Feng was curious. Why did these two Buddhas come to visit her?
She handed Gui-ge’er to Xiao Hong to hold and told Qiao-jie to go play with her wet nurse before going out to welcome them.
Madam Xing showed a bit of joy at the misfortune and amusement for watching this. Madam Wang had a black face as she threw the pouch at Wang Xi Feng. “I thought you were a good one, but now such dirty things have occurred.”
Wang Xi Feng was not like she was in the past, when she obeyed Madam Wang’s words, and cared about how Madam Wang thought of her. She saw Madam Wang push the crime to her, and was not willing. She changed expression and said, “Mistress, what is this? In these two years, I rarely leave the courtyard, and do not touch the matters of the household. Let me see, what kind of crime is this which has caused Mistress to be so angry.” She picked up the pouch and flipped it, examining it. Then she laughed disdainfully, “Such a thing is not worth much. Even as badly off as I am, I will not use something like this. This must be an item of a servant girl. However, these servant girls are grown, and many of them should be let out.” If they were let go now, it may be their good fortune.
Madam Wang immediately blushed red. She said this belonged to a servant girl. Why would a servant girl have this? It could only be from Bao Yu’s courtyard. Maybe Bao Yu could say who it belonged to.
She did not think that Wang Xi Feng would be so tough now and not leave her any face.
Madam Xing smiled and said, “Since it is these ambitious servant girls, they should be investigated. If they are not good, just let them go.”
Madam Wang put away the pouch and said, “It may be one of the concubines.”
“I only have Ping’er. That Qiu Tong was given by Eldest Mistress, and has not entered my courtyard. Eldest Mistress must know her character. As for Ping’er, she would not do such a thing.” Wang Xi Feng said coolly. The silver for daily expenses would pass through Ping’er’s hand. She would not want such crudely made things.
She did not say anything, but this was the meaning.
“Investigate! Investigate thoroughly! See who is so daring to let outsiders come in.” Madam Wang looked angry and spoke with steel, but with her words, she absolved Bao Yu.
“Then Eldest Mistress and Mistress can send people. I will have Ping’er go and investigate,” Wang Xi Feng glanced at Madam Wang and said.
Wang Bao Shan’s wife, Zhou Rui’s wife, and Ping’er led people and opened the gates to leave after locking up the garden.
Zhou Rui’s wife said, “It is late. How about going to see Fourth Miss first. We can finish early and Fourth Miss can rest.”
Ping’er thought this was because they wanted to secretly send someone to the Red Harmony Courtyard to report, why bother to act like this? Why pull in Fourth Miss? Fourth Miss was very pitiful. She did not have a father or a mother. Her brother and sister-in-law did not care for her. She was also young. People should not bully her like this.
According to Zhou Rui’s thoughts, after the investigation, the ones who would have problems would be people like Second Miss and Fourth Miss who did not have any background or favor from their parents.
Zhou Rui’s wife would not say anything about Bao Yu. Third Miss was in charge of the household right now, and she was never a soft person. When she got tough, no one dared to offend her. The miss of the Xue Family was a guest, and the niece of the mistress. They could not seriously investigate her.
But if they did not find anything, they would appear to have slacked off. They had to find something to show that they had investigated well.
Also, today, if the Eldest Mistress had not made a fuss, it would not be like this. Zhou Rui’s wife may want to cause trouble for the eldest branch.
She would just see how Wang Shan Bao’s wife would deal with this.
As expected, Wang Shan Bao’s wife said, “There is no reason to go far when there is something near. We are about to reach Red Harmony Courtyard now, we can start investigating here.”
Ping’er’s lips curved and she said, “It is the same no matter where we start. We have to go through it all.”
She appeared to not be partial to anyone, but she did not speak up after Zhou Rui’s wife but did so after Wang Shan Bao’s wife. This was intriguing.
Zhou Rui’s wife glanced at Ping’er and thought, this servant girl was like her missus, not an easy person to fool.
Wang Shan Bao’s wife was a bit satisfied. In the end, she was a member of the eldest branch, and at key times, she would side with the eldest branch.
So she smiled. “Then Red Harmony Courtyard.”
It was late in the day, and Jia Bao Yu had gone to rest. Ping’er said, “Softly, we can wake the grannies at the door, but do not wake Bao Yu. If something goes wrong, no one can bear the consequences.”
Zhou Rui’s wife glanced at Ping’er again. This girl was not careless at all in her conduct. Just after siding with the eldest branch, she gave the second branch face. But she spoke the truth.
The granny guarding the door opened the door, and the group went to the main room.
Qing Wen usually slept light, and if there was any noise outside, she would wake up. Hearing that something had happened, she put on a robe and woke up. Her movements were soft and slow. Hearing the sound from inside, she sneered at the inner room. Do not think that she did not know what was happening inside.
Zhou Rui’s wife feared that Bao Yu would be disturbed and softly asked Qing Wen who opened the door. “Has Second Master Bao fallen asleep? Where is Xi Ren?”
Qing Wen answered, “They likely are asleep.” She glanced inside and said, “Xi Ren and Bi Hen are inside with Bao Yu.”
Zhou Rui’s wife stilled and she said, “No need to disturb Bao Yu. If they are inside, then never mind.”
Wang Shan Bao’s wife said, “It is fine if they are inside, we just have to look at their boxes.” She called Qing Wen to call the servant girls and then to inspect their box of possessions.
The servant girls of Red Harmony Courtyard were not used to this treatment and did not obey, making a fuss. Xi Ren came out of the room and appeared to be dressed neatly.
“If you want to inspect, start from me. My box is inside.” Xi Ren smiled and said softly, “Sister-in-law Zhou, just come in with me to look, be quiet and you will not disturb Bao Yu.”
Wang Shan Bao’s wife said, “Then we will go in to see.”
She actually followed Xi Ren inside. There was a blanket on the couch. Clearly, Xi Ren was sleeping on the couch. The one sleeping with Bao Yu inside behind the bed coverings was Bi Hen.
Zhou Rui’s wife looked deeply at Xi Ren. This servant girl must have lost favor with Bao Yu. Otherwise, she would not want to borrow someone’s knife to kill their enemy.
As expected, Xi Ren’s movements when she opened her box were not quiet at all.
Bi Hen said, sleepily, “Is there a mouse in the middle of the night? Making such noise every night. Do you not want people to sleep?”
Xi Ren said, “Since you are awake, then get up. Mistress has sent people to inspect.”
Then, there were sounds from inside. Bi Hen came out of the bed, dressed in underclothes, with hickeys on her neck and arms.
Even though Zhou Rui’s wife already knew, she could not help but change expression. Wang Shan Bao’s wife looked at Bi Hen and then tisked.
Ping’er was outside the door, and looked deeply at Xi Ren. She heard Qing Wen mutter by her ear, “If someone dares to take a bite of the monk Tang’s flesh, she will eat them alive.”
This was referring to Xi Ren. Ping’er heard the words, and her heart shook.
Wang Shan Bao’s wife pushed the shivering Bi Hen out of the inner room. No one knew if Bao Yu was faking sleep or truly asleep. When Bi Hen was pulled out by Zhou Rui’s wife, she kept on looking at the bed covering, but there was no noise from inside.
Of the servant girls, only Bi Hen and She Yue’s boxes had two handkerchiefs with blood. Without needing anyone to say, they all knew that Bao Yu had relations with the two of them. These were likely their virgin blood.
Ping’er looked at Xi Ren. She saw Xi Ren looking at She Yue with a shocked gaze. She sighed softly. Xi Ren and She Yue were the closest, and she believed that She Yue was the most honest. She would only leave Bao Yu in She Yue’s care when she was not present, and no one else. She never would have expected She Yue and Bao Yu to get together.
At this time, Ping’er could not help but think of what Qing Wen had said in secret.
“…… Bi Hen serves Bao Yu to bathe. For some reason, the bath would take four hours, water everywhere, even on the mat……”
“…… Not even a ceremonial exchange of wine, but they are drunk…… They dare to keep it a secret, but I know……”
It seemed that Qing Wen was the person with the keenest eyes in the courtyard. She dared to speak so of others, and she did not fear others speaking so of her. It could be seen that while she was a bit pretty, she was still an innocent girl.
- Grafting Life Chapter 63 – Red Chamber (63)
- Grafting Life Chapter 65 – Red Chamber (65)
- Grafting Life Chapter 66 – Red Chamber (66)
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