Good Ending: She Swears She Will Not Let Him Die!

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law both bowed in front of the Guanyin Statue. Mrs. Lu helped Madam Wu stand up. "Madam, you specially remembered my birthday, and I finished the whole bowl of longevity noodles. Did you have a good meal at noon?"

Madam Wu looked lovingly at her. "At noon, Lian Xiao’s wife accompanied me."

Mrs. Lu smiled gently. "I don’t interact much with her, but I have heard from people below that she often comes to see you. Such a filial child, no wonder Madam likes her."

Madam Wu laughed, deep wrinkles at the corners of her eyes. "She is sensible and smart. You know, I like smart people who understand with just a little guidance."

"It seems Mrs. Shi’s praise for her was not misplaced then. Madam, it’s worth having asked for this imperial decree."

"Isn’t it," Madam Wu patted Mrs. Lu’s hand. "Your sister-in-law also praises her."

Mrs. Lu nodded. "Sister-in-law has had a hard time these past few years, so getting a good daughter-in-law is like finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel."

Madam Wu glanced at her, noticing there was no hint of reluctance in her words, only genuine happiness for Mrs. Zhou, which made Madam Wu’s heart ache again.

Mrs. Zhou still has hope in this life, she can look forward to holding grandchildren and great-grandchildren, but Mrs. Lu has nothing left.

Mrs. Lu’s days are like Aunt Qiao’s, with nothing to look forward to.

Thinking about it this way, Mrs. Xu is slightly better off.

Mu Liankang has been missing for many years. Although Madam Wu herself believes the outcome isn’t hopeful, as long as he hasn’t been officially declared dead, there is room for self-deception.

But Mrs. Xu is not one for self-deception. She wavers between hope and resignation over the years, aging even faster than someone like Mrs. Lu who has nothing.

Thinking of her daughters-in-law, Madam Wu couldn’t help but sigh deeply.

"Qingming is coming soon," Madam Wu said.

Mrs. Lu lowered her eyes, her long lashes trembled. "I heard from my second sister-in-law that the monks for the ceremony have been invited."

"This is important," Madam Wu sighed.

In the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, a religious ceremony is held each year during Qingming and Zhongyuan to offer prayers for deceased family members and soldiers killed in battle.

Du Yunluo was also aware of it.

During the days of the ceremony, everyone in the mansion wears mourning clothes. Buddhist chants fill the air, everything organized and orderly.

In her rest, Mrs. Xu didn’t return to her own room but went to Shaohui Garden nearby.

Du Yunluo had received such a precious gift from Mrs. Xu during the formal family meeting; having no major conflicts with Mrs. Xu in either past or present lives, she welcomed her visit.

Mrs. Xu was weary, and lay down fully clothed on the couch in the West Attic. She hesitated several times before finally speaking, "Lian Xiao’s wife, bring me that bracelet so I can take another look."

Du Yunluo agreed, personally fetched it from the inner room, and handed it to Mrs. Xu.

Mrs. Xu held the jade bracelet, looking at it repeatedly, her eyes gradually reddening. After a long sigh, she said, "Every year at the sacrificial ceremony, I am so confused. I don’t know where my Lian Kang is, whether I should set up a memorial tablet or burn paper money for him. I just don’t know."

As Mrs. Xu spoke, tears fell silently. Holding the jade bracelet tightly to her chest with both hands, she said, "If he hadn’t disappeared, I would have given this bracelet to my daughter-in-law already, wouldn’t I?"

Du Yunluo’s throat choked, and she sniffled to hold back her own tears.

She didn’t know how to comfort Mrs. Xu, and perhaps at this moment, Mrs. Xu didn’t need any comfort from anyone; maybe a good cry would be better for her.

Mrs. Xu cried quietly for a long time, until her tear ducts were dry and no tears fell. She finally returned the jade bracelet to Du Yunluo, her voice hoarse, "Keep it, since it’s given to you, take good care of it."

Du Yunluo nodded, instructing Lian Qiao to bring in some water.

Mrs. Xu washed her face and lay back on the couch, closing her eyes to rest.

Du Yunluo got up to leave.

"Lian Xiao’s wife, give birth to a male heir for the mansion early; one generation to the next, someone can offer incense to Lian Kang," Mrs. Xu’s voice came from behind.

Du Yunluo’s hand, about to lift the curtain, paused in mid-air. She slowly turned her head, only seeing Mrs. Xu’s back.

Du Yunluo bit her lower lip tightly.

Mrs. Xu resented Jiang Yunuan; she didn’t even want Jiang Yunuan’s descendants to kowtow to Mu Liankang decades later.

Exhaling slowly, Du Yunluo said, "Aunt, I understand."

Mrs. Xu didn’t respond.

Du Yunluo walked out of the room, standing under the veranda, looking up at the sky.

The Qingming Festival rains fell continuously; the drizzling spring rain seemed never-ending.

Jin Rui had gone to the front street, as the Xue family was also paying respects to their ancestors; she went back to bow her head.

Jin Lan did the same, the maids and matrons serving in Shaohui Garden all took the chance to return home, hurrying there and back, not daring to linger.

Only Lian Qiao had no home to return to; she bowed to the sky in the garden, considering it thorough.

At lighting time, Lian Qiao searched here and there but couldn’t find Cangzhu.

Jin Rui said, "Perhaps there’s a delay at her home?"

"Probably just lazing around at home," Lian Qiao shook her head.

Lian Qiao thought Cangzhu would return before lockup, but as the lights in the master’s room were about to be turned off, Cangzhu was still missing.

"Where do you think she could have gone?" Lian Qiao muttered to Yu Zhu.

Yu Zhu pursed her lips. "Who knows her. Tomorrow morning, send someone to her house to find her. For the lady, there’s no keeping this secret, so don’t even try to cover for her."

Lian Qiao frowned. "I wouldn’t cover for her."

At dawn, Lian Qiao was already up, seeing Madam Ma stretching under the veranda. She approached and whispered, "Cangzhu didn’t return all night. Could you please go and check at her home, Mommy Ma?"

Madam Ma was startled. "I went to bed early last night; I didn’t know this happened—Cangzhu dares not return for a night? This really is turning the world upside down. Young miss, I’ll go to her house right away, but if we can’t figure it out..."

"Follow the rules," Lian Qiao said flatly.

Seeing Madam Ma set off, Lian Qiao busied herself.

Not long after, there was movement in the main house; Mu Lianxiao pulled aside the curtain and came out, and Lian Qiao curtsied to greet him.

Less than fifteen minutes later, Madam Ma was back, panting heavily.

Lian Qiao was taken aback, looking her over. "Mommy Ma, why are you back so quickly?"

"Oh, it’s not good!" Madam Ma’s plump body heaved with her breathing, clapping her hands on her thighs. "Cangzhu is gone!"

"Gone?" Lian Qiao exclaimed, eyes wide. "What do you mean gone?"

Could it be what she feared?

Madam Ma murmured a Buddhist prayer. "She’s dead!"

The voice wasn’t suppressed, loud enough for the maids and matrons nearby to hear, their faces turned pale as they gathered around.

Mu Lianxiao heard it too, raising his voice to ask, "Who just said is gone?"

Madam Ma swallowed, trembling. "Princely Heir, it’s Cangzhu from our courtyard who’s gone.

She didn’t come back all night, so when it got light, Lian Qiao asked me to go to her house and check.

I hadn’t even reached the second gate when I saw quite a group gathered near the small garden well, all of them flustered.

I asked and found out someone had drowned in the well. I gathered my courage to look, and the clothes were what Cangzhu wore yesterday."