Chapter 151: Sister Sister Xiaodie Beaten to Death [Many Thanks for Everyone's Support

"Mm! But all of these are merely our speculations; we have no evidence whatsoever. Even if we were to tell Da Da Niangzi or tell the Old Lady, there would be nothing we could do."

"Are all the people in Lin Qin's Pavilion this clever and formidable?" Sister Sister Xiaodie said.

"Sister Xiaodie, they are not clever; they are cunning and vicious," Wei Wei Shuyi continued. "Such people do not act without purpose; so why did Lin Qin's Pavilion previously mistreat us?"

"I recall you telling me that starting a while ago, when you went to the main kitchen to collect supplies, you were required to sign and affix your fingerprint?"

"Yes, it has been like this since last autumn. With that Guan Guan Pozi there, the allotment given to our courtyard has never been the full amount, yet she still insisted I affix my fingerprint. If not for Wei Xiaoniang's instructions, I would have long ago gone to Da Da Niangzi to lodge a complaint."

After hearing Sister Sister Xiaodie finish, Wei Wei Shuyi sat in silent thought, deducing and reasoning.

As she thought, Wei Wei Shuyi looked at Sister Sister Xiaodie; gradually, a clear train of thought formed in her mind, yet once she figured it out, she felt a pang of panic in her heart and a weakness in her limbs.

Sister Sister Xiaodie also noticed Wei Wei Shuyi's gaze and demeanor; she hurriedly supported Wei Wei Shuyi and asked, "Wei Xiaoniang, what have you realized?"

Wei Wei Shuyi lowered her head and sighed. "Help me inside to sit for a while."

Upon entering the room, Wei Wei Shuyi sat on an embroidered stool and gazed silently at Sister Sister Xiaodie; unsettled by the stare, Sister Sister Xiaodie hurriedly asked, "Wei Xiaoniang, what exactly is wrong with you?"

Wei Wei Shuyi sighed again with a desolate air and said, "Sister Xiaodie, how long have you been with me?"

"Wei Xiaoniang, when I was bought by the human trafficker, I was the same age as the Sixth Miss," Sister Sister Xiaodie replied. Seeing Wei Wei Shuyi's condition, she quickly squatted down, grasped Wei Wei Shuyi's hand, and said, "Wei Xiaoniang, why are your hands so cold! You are currently with child! Whatever the matter, do not hide it from me; if you hide it from me, I will immediately return to my second uncle's home!"

Somewhat frustrated that she could not figure it out, Sister Sister Xiaodie cried out with a tearful voice, "Wei Xiaoniang! Do not be like this!"

"Although all these years we have been nominally mistress and servant, Wei Xiaoniang, you have treated me no worse than a biological elder sister. Wei Xiaoniang! Do not be like this; I am afraid in my heart!"

Looking at Sister Sister Xiaodie, whose eyes were filled with tears, and feeling the warmth of Sister Sister Xiaodie's palm, tears also welled up in Wei Wei Shuyi's eyes.

"Wei Xiaoniang, if you do not speak, Second Girl will truly return to my wretched second uncle's home! As for what Elder Brother Zhu said about removing us from the slave registers, I will not go either!"

Wei Wei Shuyi reached out to wipe the tears from Sister Sister Xiaodie's cheeks and said, "Very well, listen to me."

Hearing these words, Sister Sister Xiaodie stopped crying and broke into a smile.

"Find a stool and sit as well," Wei Wei Shuyi said.

Once Sister Sister Xiaodie was seated, Wei Wei Shuyi took a deep breath and said, "I have been thinking about many things just now; perhaps the purpose of their mistreating us was you."

Sister Sister Xiaodie was stunned, blinking her eyes as she said, "Me?"

Wei Wei Shuyi nodded and said, "Suppose that day it had been Xiao Xiao Xiaotao who was splashed with a body full of water, and I, unable to swallow my anger, went to Da Da Niangzi to lodge a complaint; what would have happened?"

"Da Da Niangzi would certainly seize upon this incident to manipulate Lin Qin's Pavilion," Sister Sister Xiaodie said.

"And you?"

"Me? I might have spoken out about how we have been mistreated these past days, or I might not have."

Wei Wei Shuyi looked at Sister Sister Xiaodie and said, "Most likely you would not; you are the most obedient to my words, but tomorrow..."

"The Sixth Miss is an obedient child and would not speak of it either," Sister Sister Xiaodie said.

Wei Wei Shuyi shook her head and said, "These past few days she has become familiar with Jing Ge'er of Hou Fu, won a pitch-pot game against the noble ladies of Hou Fu, and furthermore Li Le Gong before Da Da Niangzi; right now her spirits are high, and she believes she has gained face before Da Da Niangzi, so she would definitely speak of it."

"So what if she speaks of it? If they can act, can we not speak?" Sister Sister Xiaodie asked, frowning.

"Even if we speak, so what? As you just said, whenever we collect supplies we must sign and affix our fingerprints; with black ink on white paper, if they claim the goods were issued, can you deny it? Will the Master believe your words, or will he believe your fingerprint?" Hearing Wei Wei Shuyi's question, Sister Sister Xiaodie lowered her head and said, "He would certainly believe the evidence of black ink on white paper."

"You, Liu Sister Xiaodie, collected the full allotment; on the main kitchen's accounts, the goods were issued. Since Minglan and I did not use them, where did those goods go?" Wei Wei Shuyi continued to ask.

"They went... they embezzled them! Where else could they have gone?" Sister Sister Xiaodie said, her face a mask of confusion.

Wei Wei Shuyi shook her head and said, "On the accounts, Guan Guan Pozi has already handed the goods over to you, Liu Sister Xiaodie... Since Minglan and I did not use them, then the goods are in your possession."

"Wei Xiaoniang, this... this, how could it be me?"

"With black ink on white paper, the evidence is conclusive; even if it is not you, it will be treated as you. At that time, when we seek out Da Da Niangzi, Da Da Niangzi, wishing to manipulate Lin Qin's Pavilion, finds her mouth stopped up by this evidence and loses face! How will Da Da Niangzi view us then? How will the Master view Da Da Niangzi, and how will he view us?"

Somewhat frightened, Sister Sister Xiaodie said in a low voice, "Da Da Niangzi would certainly say we are fools, while the Master would have a fierce quarrel with Da Da Niangzi and would also think that Wei Xiaoniang you..." Speaking thus, Sister Sister Xiaodie glanced at Wei Wei Shuyi.

Wei Wei Shuyi nodded and said, "The Master would then assume we colluded with Da Da Niangzi to jointly slander Lin Xiao Niang! Clearly we have suffered such a great loss, yet we cannot open our mouths; and even if we do open them to speak, no one will believe us! I am carrying the Master's child; if Da Da Niangzi and the Master are angry and take their frustration out on me, they will not impose any punishment on me, but to quell their anger, what might they do?"

Biting her lip and trembling, Sister Sister Xiaodie said, "Guan Guan Pozi from that day would be my fate."

"Sister Xiaodie, if you were beaten to death, what would become of me?" Wei Wei Shuyi asked softly, glancing at her own belly.

Tears welled up in Sister Sister Xiaodie's eyes again as she said, "Wei Xiaoniang, you would be extremely distraught..."

"Yes, extreme grief in a pregnant woman easily leads to miscarriage. Even if pleading for mercy spared your life, you would still be driven out of the Sheng family; as for me..."

Seeing Wei Wei Shuyi hesitate to speak, Sister Sister Xiaodie asked, "Wei Xiaoniang, what is it?"

Wei Wei Shuyi exhaled; not knowing what she thought of, she smiled and said, "Clip away the wings, then pierce the heart; with arms entirely gone, the body will not last long."

Looking at Sister Sister Xiaodie, Wei Wei Shuyi touched Sister Sister Xiaodie's face and explained:

"You are my wings and my arms; beating you to death might cause me such excessive grief that I miscarry. If I do not miscarry, then when the time truly comes to give birth, I will have one foot already in the gates of hell, and my life will be held in another's hands. If I die, they will give me a shabby coffin and give my younger sister three taels of silver, and that will be the end of it..."

Having finished speaking, Wei Wei Shuyi looked at the bowl of porridge on the table, smiled with self-mockery, and said softly, "If I continue eating like this... Alas! Truly a formidable scheme."

"Wei Xiaoniang, look at what you are saying! How can you still smile? Trap after trap; if we are not careful, we will fall right into their schemes!" Sister Sister Xiaodie asked worriedly.

"I thought of a few sentences I heard at Shou'an Hall; moreover, none of these plots succeeded, and you are still well," Wei Wei Shuyi said.

Hearing these words, Sister Sister Xiaodie nodded. "Mm! Fortunately, it was Sister Seeing Qingcao who suffered that incident, which broke their trap. She did not contract any wind-cold illness either. Wei Xiaoniang, I also understand now why you previously instructed us to swallow our grievances and hold our tongues."

Wei Wei Shuyi nodded, looked at Sister Sister Xiaodie, and said, "Call Minglan and Xiao Xiao Xiaotao over; I will explain the details to them. You stand watch at the door."

"Wei Xiaoniang, the Miss and Xiao Xiao Xiaotao are both clever and quick-witted, but are they not too young? If we tell them, will they understand?"

"Just call them over."

In the afternoon, Xu Xu Pingmei returned to Wuyi Lane.

By the time she departed, she still had not seen Xu Xu Zaijing return to the Sheng family.

However, as they were exiting the Sheng family gates, the coachman driving the carriage remarked from the front that the guards of Hou Fu were all stationed in the surrounding area.

Inside the carriage,

Ren Ren Yiniang, sitting to one side, spoke of Wei Wei Shuyi's affairs: "Lady, in my observation, that Wei Wei Xiaoniang's expression clearly showed more surprise than anything, and later even some disbelief. I suspect that most likely someone previously told her she needed to take much more nourishment, which caused this."

Xu Pingmei touched her own belly and said, "If it is true, then we have indeed accumulated virtue through good deeds; but how did that boy Xiao Wu manage to perceive it?"

Sister Qingzhi, sitting on the outermost seat, said, "Miss, in my view, Mama Fang's manner when advising Wei Wei Xiaoniang suggests she also perceived something. It is just that Lin Lin Qinshuang is the Sheng family Master's favored concubine, so those in the Old Lady's courtyard dare not say too much."

Ren Ren Yiniang said, "This is inherently a matter where no handle can be grasped; it is not as if poison was administered."

All women in the carriage, and all aware of the inner details, sighed in sympathy for Wei Wei Shuyi.

Upon entering the Bai family residence in Wuyi Lane,

they arrived at the main hall where Bai Shi was seated; Xu Xu Pingmei and Bai Shi exchanged greetings, and then Xu Xu Pingmei took a seat to the side.

At this moment, Bai Shi was also somewhat troubled; watching the Bai family parasites about to be taken down by the Imperial City Bureau, she was worrying about whom to put in their place.

The Wu family was mostly out at sea; while they could spare some manpower, it was still not quite enough.

Taking a sip of the tea handed to her by Guan Guan Pozi, Bai Shi glanced at Xu Xu Pingmei and said, "What's wrong, Ping'er? Why the long face?"

After hesitating for a moment, Xu Xu Pingmei poured out the entire story of Wei Wei Shuyi; hearing it, Guan Guan Pozi's breathing grew heavy as she exclaimed, "Such a poisonous scheme! To think a woman would use childbirth itself to plot murder!"

Bai Shi said, "To stand firm in the inner quarters, one needs people and one needs money; Wei Wei Shuyi lacks both." As she spoke, Bai Shi looked at the list on the table, and a glint of inspiration appeared in her eyes.

After speaking a few more words with Xu Xu Pingmei, she told Xu Xu Pingmei to go eat something.

After dinner,

Bai Shi let Xu Xu Pingmei and the Gu siblings go play, while she walked in the garden together with the head of the Bai family.

Speaking of Wei Wei Shuyi's plight, Bai Shi said, "Father, do you think we could invite the Wei family of Chuzhou to come and join our merchant house?"

Bai Bai Wanshu gently stroked his beard, mused, and said, "Alas, truly events are hard to predict; who could have foreseen such a sequel? Will they come?"

"If we send someone to explain Wei Wei Shuyi's situation in detail to Wei Wei Yuyi, I feel Wei Wei Yuyi will surely come to Yang Zhou; then you can assess her husband, and if he is a good man, since they also need to find a livelihood, would that not be perfect for both sides?"

"Hmm, what you say is true; was this matter first reported by Brother Jing?" Bai Bai Wanshu asked.

"Brother Jing only asked the medical lady accompanying Ping'er to check her pulse; it is best if nothing is wrong, after all, the old lady of the Sheng family is advanced in years, and she does not wish for anything else to happen to the Sheng family. Who would have known..."

"Very well; since my Zhao'er has spoken of this, Father agrees; send someone to convey the message."

"Father is so good."

Guan Guan Pozi followed behind, watching with a face full of joy; before the head of the Bai family, this Da Da Niangzi of the Hou Fu was still just a child.

The Sheng Family

Shou'an Hall,

The Old Lady listened to Fang Mama's words: "Brother Jing said he went hunting and got covered in dust; he asked me to tell you that he will not be coming over tonight."

The Old Lady looked at Fang Mama's somewhat uneasy expression and said, "What is it? Look at your face."

"Miss, I noticed that when Brother Jing returned with the Xu family personal guards, his aura was so intense that..."

Glancing at the Old Lady, she continued, "... it was somewhat like those personal guards from when your grandfather returned home several decades ago."

Hearing Fang Mama's words, the Old Lady frowned and sank into thought, saying, "How many years has it been? I recall that at the time, the master of the mansion said you were struck by the killing intent radiating from that group of personal guards just back from the battlefield, and you fell ill for a while."

Fang Mama nodded.

"Sister Suqin, are you implying that Brother Jing did not go hunting this afternoon but went to kill someone? How old is he!"

Fang Mama forced a smile and said, "Brother Jing is still filial; he feared disturbing you, and even considered this."

The Old Lady nodded: "Go, have Cui Cui Ruan send some calming incense over."

When Cui Mama delivered the incense to Xu Xu Zaijing, Wang Shi was discussing the upcoming birthday banquet for the Old Lady with Hua Lan,

"Sigh, Hua'er, nowadays I truly hope your grandmother's birthday arrives quickly; I simply cannot wait to see the looks on those people's faces!" Wang Shi said.

"Mother, you should restrain yourself a bit; whatever happened with the Gao family, you must absolutely not speak of it outside, or else we will offend people and the loss will outweigh the gain."

"Good, good, good! Hua'er, I think your dowry needs to be even more substantial; this Hou Fu ranks higher than a Count's manor."

"Mother, I was talking to you about Grandmother's birthday, why have you turned the topic back to me! My younger brothers and sisters need it too."

"They are them, but you are my first child."

Linqi Pavilion,

Lin Lin Qinshuang happily looked at the characters Mo Lan had written, then glanced at Chang Feng's, and instantly became somewhat unhappy.

Seeing Zhou Zhou Xueniang enter, Lin Lin Qinshuang asked, "How did it go?"

"News came from the kitchen; Sister Sister Xiaodie from the side courtyard said that Wei Wei Xiaoniang found the porridge very good, and if there is any next time, please ask the kitchen to save some for them."

Lin Lin Qinshuang poked the daydreaming Chang Feng with her finger, then moved to the outer room.

Zhou Zhou Xueniang followed after,

"Has your husband made contact with her second uncle?"

"Wei Xiaoniang, rest assured; contact has already been made. When the day is nearly right, he will surely return home to mourn."

"Hmm, good. By the way, why has the Master not arrived today yet?"

"The young servant returned saying there is much business at the yamen; he will not be coming back for these two days."

"Hmm, in two days is the birthday of the old woman at Shou'an Hall; I hear invitations have already been sent out. Go have the shops in the city send over a few more bolts of fabric; I want to make a new set of clothes for my Mo Lan."

"Yes, Wei Xiaoniang."

Fourth mark of the Xu hour (around 8:00 PM)

Most of the Sheng family had already blown out their candles and entered their dreams.

The side courtyard,

The courtyard gate was barred and tightly shut; two figures walked silently within the yard,

and each time someone passed the courtyard gate, they counted once; only after counting to twenty did the two figures return to their room.

The next day

The main kitchen once again sent some dishes suitable for nourishing a pregnant woman to the side courtyard.

When the kitchen woman went to collect the food boxes, Wei Wei Xiaoniang in the courtyard even rewarded her with a few coins, saying the dishes were delicious.

Knowing clearly yet having to pretend not to know while writing is truly painful.

Failed to write ten thousand characters today,

The author will perform 'frozen like a dog' for everyone.

If there are any typos or awkward passages, readers are requested to kindly point them out.

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(End of Chapter)