Chapter 12-1: The Truth
The question startled Sheng Jia Yu. She couldn't help but
glance at Sheng Jia Lan, and doubts arose in her heart. Indeed, Ermei clearly
mentioned having a headache and wanting to return to her room for rest. She had
even declined her invitation to visit the rouge & gouache shop. So why did
she suddenly appear by the lake?
The morning light outside the window was beautiful, and it was
the busiest time in the mansion. How could someone be dragged to the lake
without being noticed? Moreover, it wasn't just any ordinary maid but Sheng's
second Miss.
Sheng Jia Yu's doubts deepened, and she gazed at Sheng Jia
Lan, calling out, "Ermei." Sheng Jia Lan, who had just been struck by
Hongdou, had disheveled hair and a pale complexion resembling scattered petals
blown by a strong wind—pitiful and embarrassed.
Despite the embarrassment, she maintained a straight posture
as she knelt and spoke softly, "I wanted to rest after parting ways with
Dajie, but I suddenly noticed that one of my pearl earrings was missing. In a
hurry, I retraced my steps along the path to search for it, and that's when I
saw Luo Sheng still sitting by the lakeside--"[1]
The more Sheng Jia Lan spoke, the lower her voice became.
Those in the room couldn't help but notice a gourd-shaped pearl pendant hanging
from her left earlobe while the right was empty.
Sensing everyone's attention, Sheng Jia Lan lightly bit her
lip and continued, "This pair of earrings was a precious gift from my
birth mother, and I cherished them dearly..." Sheng Laotaitai glanced at
her eldest daughter-in-law while Sheng Dataitai held her teacup with an
unchanged expression.
Sheng Dataitai and Sheng Dajiu had a marriage based on
mutual respect rather than deep affection. After giving birth to Sheng Dalang,
she let one of the maids to serve Sheng Dajiu, and that's how Sheng Jia Lan was
born.
Although she had never treated Sheng Jia Lan's birth mother
harshly, it was impossible for a woman to like her husband’s concubine. She
(the maid) was more like a dispensable decoration. Unexpectedly, that maid was
short-lived, she died of illness when Sheng Jia Lan was nine.
Sheng Jia Lan is a sensible child and has been a good
companion for Jia Yu. After all these years, it was natural for Sheng Dataitai
to have developed some affection for Sheng Jia Lan. Still, it was hard for her
to openly took Sheng Jia Lan's side when it involved the troublesome Luo Sheng.
Sheng Jia Yu suddenly realized, "No wonder Ermei was in
such a hurry to come back and search for it. Did you find it?" Sheng Jia
Yu had always treated Sheng Jia Lan as her own biological sister, so upon
hearing Sheng Jia Lan's response, she momentarily set aside her doubts and became
genuinely concerned.
Sheng Jia Lan appeared sorrowful and shook her head
slightly, saying, "I haven't found it yet." Just then, Caixia, Sheng
Laotaitai's maid, entered and reported, "Laotaitai, Zhu'er (another maid) just
handed this earring to me, saying she found it on the stone steps at the
entrance."
Caixia held a delicate pearl earring in her palm. Upon
closer inspection, everyone realized it was the same earring that Sheng Jia Lan
had been missing. Sheng Jia Lan's eyes lit up, and she exclaimed happily,
"This is it!"
Sheng Jia Yu breathed a sigh of relief for her sister, and
then a thought crossed her mind. She turned her head and sneered at Luo Sheng,
saying, "Luo Sheng, you see? Ermei came back here to search for her
earring, and instead, you caused harm to her!"
"Bah!" Hongdou interjected, leaping forward and
pointing her slender finger directly at Sheng Jia Yu, almost touching her nose.
"It's obvious that Erguniang went to the lake to harm my Miss. I saw it
with my own eyes. Are you so foolish as to make excuses for a villain?"
Never before had there been such an arrogant and impudent
maid in the Sheng Mansion. Sheng Jia Yu's face turned livid with anger.
"Like servant, like master. Zumu, do you believe the words of such a brute
and insolent maid?"
"Me? Rude and insolent?" Hongdou retorted, placing
her hands on her hips. The sight amused Luo Sheng and almost made her laugh.
Luo Sheng then respectfully bent her knees before Sheng
Laotaitai and said, "Waizumu, what you should consider is not whether to
believe a maid's words but whether to believe me or not."
[1]
T/N: I think she was implying that Luo Sheng was the one who pushed her into
the lake
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