Chapter 77 Deer Were the Way They Were Before, While People Weren’t

When Yamen heard about the case from Sheng Family, they could hardly believe it!

Usually, when it came to domestic affairs like this, even if people got killed, only the wife’s family would report the case to Yamen after discovering something went wrong. They had never heard about a case that was reported by the husband’s family before informing the wife’s family of it!

Old Fang told them explicitly that Senior Master Sheng was determined to place righteousness above family loyalty, but people in the Yamen had a meeting after Old Fang left. They were all suspicious of Sheng Lanci, “No one is capable of hurting his own child! No matter how upright and principled Senior Master Sheng is, how is it possible that he leaves no chance for his own son to live? Maybe Eldest Master Sheng was fed up with his brother’s love affairs and his malpractices. So, he decided to take this opportunity to encourage Senior Master Sheng to get rid of Sheng Lansi in case he continues to squander family assets.”

Some people in the Yamen also defended for Sheng Lanci, “Eldest Master Sheng is not a stingy person. Given Senior Master’s favoritism shown to the eldest branch, one would say if he could not tolerate his brother, would Second Master get to live till today? As to Senior Master Sheng, he would not tolerate things like this, because he is a man of decency. Did you all forget what Seventh Miss of the third branch in Sheng Family said? A few days ago, on Senior Master Sheng’s birthday, she said in public Second Master was beaten hard by Senior Master Sheng, because he made a fuss over a mistress!”

“It’s perfectly justified for people to beat their sons!” Most people shook their heads, “Who hasn’t been beaten up by his own father? However, how many fathers will have the heart to let their son die? Only brothers, half-blooded brothers, in particular, will make a father this heartless!”

People in the Yamen were having a quiet discussion, of which Sheng Family did not know at the moment.

Ever since Senior Master Sheng reported the case to Yamen, the whole Sheng Family fell into chaos. At first, Old Madam Ming fainted in the hall, because she could not take such a heavy blow. Then, Sheng Weirao, who finally made her resolution come true, felt relieved and passed out after kowtowing to her grandfather!

With two of them lying in the hall, all the other women had to look after them. Madam Feng and Madam Xiao went to take care of their mother-in-law, while Sheng Weiqiao and Gongsun Yingjiang came to Sheng Weirao!

All the men in the hall were not relieved. Given the look on Senior Master Sheng after making up his mind, even if he did not faint on the spot, he would probably get sick!

Sheng Lanci had not returned yet, and Third Master Sheng Lanzi got mentally prepared to look after his father.

Besides, Madam Bai had a ten-year-old child, who was Fifth Childe, Sheng Weixing. Although he was taken care of by the servant and did not go to Jinxue House to call for justice for their mother’s death with his sister, he should be comforted as well.

“Servants can take good care of everyone. You just need to make sure that servants don’t get slack at their work.” As the eldest daughter-in-law, Madam Feng usually bore the mission of attending to domestic affairs. She got terribly busy because of the situation. Finally, she spared some time to warn her daughter, “When Weirao wakes up, tell her, don’t say anything stupid or do anything silly!”

Sheng Weirao said clearly that as long as justice was given to Madam Bai, she did not care to live at all.

However, Madam Feng would not want anything to happen to her niece, who suffered many a setback. After saying that to her daughter, she remembered something else and frowned. Madam Feng took these two girls to a corner where no one else could see them, and she said with a low voice, “Whatever you heard about your Second Aunt’s death was speculation. We have to wait until the Yamen to investigate and sort it out. She died in the second branch. In case Weirao feels sad when she wakes up there, I suggest that she stay at Zhuying Mini Villa with you for some days instead of going back to Huafei Mansion! Anyways, you still have spare rooms, and it won’t take long to clean up!”

Then, she looked at Gongsun Yingjiang and said with a deeper voice, “My daughter is not very shrewd. During her stay with her sister, I hope you could help her!”

Madam Feng said they should wait for Yemen to investigate and sort it out, but in fact, she believed that Madam Bai was murdered, and Sheng Lansi was the murderer. The reason why she entrusted Gongsun Yingjiang to help the sisters was twofold. Firstly, she wanted Gongsun Yingjiang to look out for people who murdered Madam Bai in case Sheng Lansi or the killer on his demand murders Sheng Weirao to vent his anger, after learning that it was Sheng Weirao’s persistent pleading got Senior Master Sheng made up his mind to report the case despite his wife’s opposition.

Secondly, it was for the same reason Sheng Lanci allowed Gongsun Yingjiang to come to Sheng Family, which was for her to look out for Sheng Weirao in case this vengeful girl hurts Sheng Weiqiao!

Gongsun Yingjiang knew it very well in her heart and nodded solemnly, “Rest assured, grandmother. I will take good care of my aunt!”

Madam Feng stroked Sheng Weiqiao’s earlock and left hurriedly.

Sheng Weiqiao looked gloomy and took Gongsun Yingjiang back to the second branch. After Sheng Weirao fainted, she wanted to return to the second branch immediately with her cousin. However, because Madam Feng wanted to talk with her, she asked Xiquan to arrange servants to take Sheng Weirao back to the second branch. Madam Feng only spared some time to talk with her daughter after taking care of Old Madam Ming with Madam Xiao.

Her plan to leave immediately got delayed. When Sheng Weiqiao and her niece rushed to Huafei Mansion, they found the whole place was tranquil and still under Xiquan’s order.

Lvjin stepped forward and tapped the door gently. It opened immediately.

The elder maid Baozhuang, who used to serve Madam Bai, opened the door. Sheng Weirao’s servants were either injured or died when they were in exile on the sea. After Sheng Weirao returned, Madam Bai was so concerned about her daughter that she let her favorite and capable maid serve her daughter. Sheng Weiqiao was not surprised to see Baozhuang here. Baozhuang looked haggard. Her glittering eyes were red and a bit swollen, and apparently, she just cried earlier.

After the door was opened, seeing Sheng Weiqiao and her niece, she curtsied to Sheng Weiqiao promptly, “Second Miss Sheng!”

Then, she gave a curtsy to Gongsun Yingjiang, “Miss Sun!”

Sheng Weiqiao told her to forego salutes and whispered, “How is Sister Rao doing now?”

“Miss was very fragile lately!” Tears filled in Baozhuang’s eyes when she heard the question. She turned her head on one side to wipe her tears, and choked with sobs, “Earlier she used up her strength to go to Jinxue House. Given the injury on her forehead, I think she was wounded badly! Seeing that she has not woken up yet, Aunt Xiquan went to find a doctor herself. When she finds one, the doctor will surely visit Old Madam first. I don’t know how long it will take for him to come here.”

Sheng Weiqiao looked solemnly and said to her, “My mother said Second Aunt just passed away. She is worried that this place will remind Sister Rao of her mother, and that will do no good for her to recover. She asked me to take Sister Rao back to Zhuying Mini Villa. The doctor hasn’t come yet, and you can pack Sister Rao’s luggage right away and make preparations for moving!”

Baozhuang was stunned by these words. Her haggard face revealed a hint of secret joy. She did not dare to follow her Miss to Jinxue House earlier, but she knew whatever Sheng Weirao said or did at Jinxue House probably was spread among the entire family.

Baozhuang learned that Sheng Weirao even uttered words like she didn’t care about her grandmother’s life in public. So, even if Old Madam Ming did not punish her for such unfilial words, her future was doomed already!

As an elder handmaid of both Madam Bai and her daughter, she knew her life would not end well!

Surprisingly, Madam Feng ordered Sheng Weirao to be taken to the eldest branch and live with Sheng Weiqiao. Even though she was only going to stay there for a brief time, not permanently, this arrangement indicated that the eldest branch took pity on Sheng Weirao and wanted to protect her.

Given the status of the eldest branch in this family, their attitude meant that Sheng Weirao and her maid had a chance to revive!

“Rest assured, Second Miss Sheng. I’ll call some help to pack stuff for Miss!” Baozhuang pulled herself together and said gratefully, “You and Madam Feng showed great kindness to Miss and her mother. As their maid, I’ll never forget your benevolence!”

She meant every word she said there, but Sheng Weiqiao only sighed, “We’re a family. What’s the point of saying this? As long as you take good care of Sister Rao, my parents and I will not forget your contribution.”

Baozhuang agreed respectfully.

While they were talking, other maids entered the room. Sheng Weiqiao suddenly stood still, looking at these maids suspiciously.

They were four maids, including Baozhuang. Sheng Weiqiao was familiar with them because they used to serve Madam Bai, including Baozhuang, Baoyue, Baoli, and Baoqin.

All of them looked pale and upset, spreading their arms and not knowing what to do.

Sheng Weiqiao knew that they were bought by Madam Bai into this family from human traffickers. Now Madam Bai suddenly died, and it was understandable that they were flustered.

However, frowning and standing still, she motioned Baoyue and the other maids to the corridor. She said, “Why are you all here? Shouldn’t you attend to Second Aunt?”

Sheng Weiqiao was in a terrible mood when she uttered those words. Rumors had it that Madam Bai treated her servants harshly and often took her anger out on her servants. However, Madam Bai was their master. Shortly after she died, all four maids did not attend to her. Instead, they all swarmed to Sheng Weirao. Weren’t they acting snobbish?!

“Second Miss, you misunderstood!” These four maids were chosen by Madam Bai, a grumpy madam, which meant they were not stupid and could discern Sheng Weiqiao’s thoughts based on her expression and words. They explained to her hurriedly, “We were sent by Madam two days ago to serve Third Miss, and she is our master now! Madam Bai found herself new maids. If we were to leave Third Miss for Madam, new maids would have nothing to do!”

Sheng Weiqiao eased her expression and nodded, “So, that explains it! You are Second Aunt’s closest confidants. How would it be possible for you to miss the point?”

After clarifying the matter, she returned to the inner room again. She saw Sheng Weirao lying on her back in the tent. Her face was pale, and her breath was nearly imperceptible. Fortunately, her condition was stable.

Sheng Weiqiao stood there silently and confirmed that her cousin would not wake up for the time being. She asked Baoyue and Baoli to guard her cousin and brought Baozhuang and Baoqin outside to discuss how to pack Sheng Weirao’s stuff.

Both Baozhuang and Baoqin wished that they could empty the entire Huafei Mansion and move to Zhuying Mini Villa and live there forever.

Apparently, this was an unlikely scenario. Even if Sheng Weiqiao did not mind having her sister live with her, Sheng Lanci couple would not be willing to have their niece stay that long.

Thus, Baozhuang and Baoqin hid their inner thoughts and said. “It’s summer now. Usually, clothes won’t take up much space. We can start by packing a few dresses, but we need to bring those two sika deer tied outside the house back to the garden. Third Miss likes them very much. Madam Bai asked someone to bring a pair two days ago to divert Third Miss from stress and lighten her mood.”

Hearing this, Sheng Weiqiao suddenly remembered that she learned for the first time that there were deer in the garden from Shen Jiuniang, her elder cousin.

At that time, Shen Jiuniang described delightfully that those deer would “eat cakes on our hands and even pick the flowers we threw out, which is so much fun”. Where was she now?

Or, was she still alive?

She was lost in thought for a moment, and then asked sadly, “There is deer outside? We didn’t see them when we came.”

Baozhuang pointed to a direction, “They are over there. The door of the little courtyard below was blocked by the wall, and that’s why you didn’t see them. Madam thought they were livestock, after all. No matter how we tried to wash them, they still reek of animals’ odor. So, they are kept from the yard. Since they were docile and quiet, they were brought here and tied outside. Thus, Third Miss can play with them whenever she sees fit.”

“The left and right branches are not far from here.” Sheng Weiqiao nodded, “You can start packing the most commonly used items of Sister Rao. You can come back and take the rest a few days later.”

Speaking of which, Sheng Weixing thought of Sheng Weixing. Although he did not suffer as much as Sheng Weirao did, the loss of mother would still be a massive blow to this 10-year-old Fifth Childe. She asked, “Right, how is Fifth Brother? Is anyone accompanying him?”

Just when Baozhuang was about to answer, the sound of footsteps from outside interrupted her. A little maid, under the age of 7, rushed to them while holding up her dress, “Aunt Xiquan brought a doctor with her!”

Hearing this, they ended the conversation and hurried to the doctor.