Chapter 315: Apology
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Li Yu received the invitation and rosewood box that Ji Xiang had sent in. She opened it and saw a stack of banknotes inside. She picked them up and took a rough look. Thinking of what Zhou Jia had said, she said to Ji Xiang, “Forget it, let them in!”
“Yes, Madam,” Ji Xiang agreed with a bow.
Madam Lin was wearing a purple-red embroidered dress and her hair was tied into a peony bun. Her makeup was exquisite and she was wearing vermilion jade. She did not look like her husband had entered the prison and she was here to apologize and beg for mercy.
Granny Tang helped the haggard Old Madam Wang in with Gu Yu. Behind the two of them were Granny Han, and two maidservants.
When she arrived at the main courtyard, Old Madam Wang was stunned to see Madam Li sitting at the head of the hall. She was wearing a dark red soft silk shirt and an embroidered dress of the same color. She was wearing a pair of thin embroidered shoes. Her hair was only tied into a bun and she had a jade hairpin that was completely green. She was wearing earrings of the same color and looked calm.
Old Madam Wang looked at Madam Li and thought to herself that she was Jinniang’s daughter. Back then, she chose Jinniang because she liked Jinniang’s calm appearance.
Madam Lin looked at Old Madam Wang’s expression and knew that Old Madam
Wang had recognized Madam Li as Jinniang’s daughter. Thinking of how Old Madam Wang and her son had bypassed her and decided on Jinniang, she couldn’t help but hate them in her heart.
Li Yu saw that Old Madam Wang was stunned for a moment after looking at her. Then her expression evolved into one of excitement. She understood that Old Madam Wang knew Mother Li and the two might have an extraordinary relationship. It seemed that she planned to acknowledge her.
Old Madam Wang suddenly had confidence in today’s apology. She endured her excitement and walked up to Li Yu. She bowed and said, “Madam Li, I apologize to you on behalf of my good-for-nothing son!”
With that, without waiting for Li Yu to speak, she said to Madam Lin, “Madam
Lin, you and Zheng’er are husband and wife. Come over and apologize to
Madam on behalf of Zheng’er.”
Li Yu looked at the haggard Old Madam Wang, who was standing at the side, and said, “Old Madam Wang, please sit.”
“Thank you, Madam.” Old Madam Tang helped Old Madam Wang sit down.
Li Yu glanced at Madam Lin. “Old Madam Wang, Madam Lin, our family could only be safe and sound under the desperate protection of the guards. If I had been kidnapped by that inhumane murderer, what would have happened to me? You know very well that I have a question in my heart. I don’t have any grudges against Master Wang in the past. Why did they send someone to harm me? Could it be because Madam Lin looks a little like me? Does Madam Lin know the reason?”
Madam Lin glanced at Li Yu. She muttered softly, “Why are you pretending? Don’t you understand why? Poor Ah Yue’s life is still unknown. My master has also been arrested by you, but we still have to swallow our anger and apologize to you.”
Madam Lin held it in indignantly for a long time before bowing. “Madam, please forgive us.”
Li Yu looked at her and Granny Han, who was standing behind her, for a while, and said coldly, “I hope this is the last time.”
When Old Madam Wang heard this, she felt relieved. She stood up and bowed. “Madam, I swear there won’t be another one.” Old Madam Wang looked at Li Yu and hesitated for a moment. “May I ask where Madam’s mother is from?”
Li Yu shook her head and said, “I only know that my parents got married after meeting each other during their escape. Later, they went to Clearwater Town in Green Mountain County and settled down in West Mountain Village. I’ve never heard my mother mention her family background. ”
“May I ask if Madam’s mother’s surname is Lin and her maiden name is Jinniang?” Old Madam Wang stood up excitedly. “Madam, my daughter-in-law’s twin sister, Jinniang, was lost with her family when she fled. Jinniang looks exactly like Madam Lin, and you look so similar to her. I wonder how your mother lost her family.”
When Madam Lin heard Old Madam Wang’s words, she held the gourd jade pendant in her hand and her heart pounded.
“My mother’s surname is indeed Lin, but she never mentioned her family to us.” Li Yu glanced at Madam Lin. “I heard from my aunt that my mother fell into the mountain stream for some reason back then. Fortunately, she was discovered and saved by my father, so she survived. After she woke up, she said something about somebody harming her. From then on, she never mentioned her past.”
After saying that, Li Yu looked at Madam Lin and thought to herself that if
Madam Lin found out about this, she might send someone to West Mountain Village to gather information. As long as they keep an eye on Madam Lin, they would know who harmed Mother Li back then.
Madam Lin’s mind buzzed. She glanced at Granny Han behind her and lowered her head, thinking, What should I do? So she knows everything!
Old Madam Wang glanced at Madam Lin and thought to herself if it was possible that Madam Lin and Granny Han did harm Li Yu’s mother? Li Yu glanced at the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law as she drank her tea.
Old Madam Wang tactfully bade farewell. When she reached the courtyard, she didn’t even look at Madam Lin before getting into the carriage and leaving.
Granny Han glanced at the gloomy Madam Lin and carefully helped her into the carriage.
Madam Lin leaned against the car and thought about Li Yu’s words and Old Madam Wang’s gaze. She felt that her life would not be easy.
Old Madam Wang returned home and went to Old Master Wang’s courtyard. She dismissed the servants and sat in front of Old Master Wang. “Do you know that we married a vicious woman? She was even capable of murdering the twin sister of the same mother could, but she’s also the mother of Brother Kun and Brother Peng. The Wang family married such a woman, and Zheng’er is a muddle-headed person. What will happen to Brother Kun and Brother Peng if we divorce her? What if we’re wrong…” Old Madam Wang looked at Old Master Wang, whose mouth and eyes were crooked, and suddenly couldn’t continue.
After Madam Lin and the others left, Li Yu called Ji Xiang over. “Ji Xiang, hand over the matters in your hand to Ruyi and go back to Yunzhou City to quietly keep an eye on the Wang family. I think Madam Lin will send someone to West Mountain Village to ask for information.” Li Yu recalled the way Madam Lin looked at the old woman behind her. “You can keep an eye on the old woman who accompanied the Lin family today. She might know about what happened back then.”
Ji Xiang nodded and asked, “Got it. If she goes to Green Mountain, will I follow
Li Yu nodded and said, “Follow her and capture her. Ask her the truth.” Ji Xiang bowed and left the manor.
The rain finally stopped after noon. Shui Sheng, Little Loach, and the other boys drove the ducks and geese towards the ditch barefooted with buckets, dustpans, and fish baskets.
When they reached the ditch, the duck geese splashed into the water and swam happily.
Shui Sheng and the others saw that the originally clear stream had turned yellow. Below the drain of the paddy field, there were still fish floating on the water. Maizi and Shui Sheng jumped into the water, picked up the basket of fish, and began to fish. Maizi lifted the basket and saw five or six two-finger-wide carps and a few fat loaches. Maizi laughed and said, “Little Loach, come and see. Your brother has been picked up by me!”
The little stutterer ran over to take a look. “You really… did.”
“Maizi, how could you catch my brother?” Little Loach smiled and grabbed two loaches to throw them into the water.
“Don’t… don’t.” The little stutterer pulled Little Loach anxiously. “Feed… chicken, lay eggs.”
Maizi and Little Loach saw that the little stutterer was so anxious that his face was red. They patted and imitated him. “Don’t… throw it away. Lay… eggs..”