CHAPTER 435: CHAPTER 435: ENJOYING THE COOL

This place is remote, and hardly anyone comes here usually.

The well is deep, and when Mrs. Li fell in, her head hit the wall of the well, making her see stars.

With a splash, Mrs. Li thrashed around a couple of times and then fell silent.

Lv Xiu felt a bit guilty.

After all, this was the first time she had killed someone in her life.

Even though it was at the behest of the Old Madam.

But after spending a few years in Qihao Hall, she’s grown accustomed to seeing the masters cause trouble and the maids taking the blame.

Once the matter is exposed, it would be her, this maid, who would be doomed.

However, she dared not disobey the Old Madam’s orders.

She and Hongxiu were both promoted to senior maids.

Hongxiu was lucky; she won Mrs. Wang’s favor and suppressed her.

Now that the Old Madam is trusting her more, she must seize this opportunity to trample Hongxiu beneath her feet.

Lv Xiu had ambitions to climb higher but, after all, her courage was still lacking, fearing being discovered.

She looked around for a while, confirmed that no one noticed, and quickly ran away.

She didn’t notice a little maid hiding behind a big tree nearby, covering her mouth tightly to stop herself from screaming.

What Mrs. Wang said was indeed true.

The Old Madam had Lv Xiu doing something bad.

But this woman was a maid from Qingqiu Garden, and she hadn’t offended the Old Madam, so why did she want her dead?

It’s one thing to want her dead, but why do it secretly?

After making sure Lv Xiu had run far, the little maid, with some courage, went to the well.

Mrs. Li might have regained her senses and was shouting for help.

The little maid looked at her, "Stop shouting. If you attract people, you’ll die faster."

Saying this, the little maid lowered a bucket.

"Hold onto the bucket, I’ll find someone to pull you up," said the little maid.

After saying that, she turned and ran away.

Mrs. Li clung tightly to the wooden bucket, blood streaming down her forehead, her vision still dark, and her head throbbing with pain.

The little maid ran like the wind to the garden.

There, a maid was moving peonies, and the little maid whispered a few things to her before heading back to Qihao Hall.

After the little maid left, the maid in the garden moved the peonies to a different spot and headed towards the northwest corner of the Prince Mansion.

Liushuang Garden.

It was the courtyard of Aunt Ding, the birth mother of the Second Master.

Inside, Aunt Ding was talking with the Second Madam.

Neither of their expressions looked good.

The entire Duke Chong’s Mansion...

No!

There’s no one in the entire Prince Zhenbei Mansion who doesn’t covet the title.

Previously it was a Duke title, now it’s a princely one.

Such a big piece, who wouldn’t want it in their own bowl?

It was just unexpected that the Old Prince, seriously ill, would pass the title to the Prince when he was made a Prince, catching them off guard.

"At least the First Young Master was made the Heir, and Princess Nanzhang was named as a concubine," said Aunt Ding.

Mentioning this, the Second Madam couldn’t help but laugh, "This time Princess Nanzhang has completely lost face."

For so many years, Princess Nanzhang relied on the Empress Dowager and the Duke Mansion to look down on everyone.

The Third Madam dared to voice some complaints, while the Second Madam dared not utter a word.

No one expected the high and mighty Princess Nanzhang to become a concubine while they are the legitimate wives.

Even with a noble status, she is still a concubine.

Thinking about Princess Nanzhang taking out a golden hairpin to commit suicide—

The Prince Mansion is fated not to remain calm after this.

Outside, footsteps could be heard approaching.

A little maid stood outside the bead curtain and said, "Aunt, a little maid from the garden is here, saying there’s an urgent matter to report."

"Let her in," said Aunt Ding.

Soon, the little maid from the garden came in.

"What happened?" Aunt Ding asked.

"The Old Madam ordered Lv Xiu to kill Mrs. Li from Qingqiu Garden," the little maid reported.

"Mrs. Li is in the well right now, still not dead."

The Second Madam was a bit baffled.

Qingqiu Garden?

Isn’t that where Lady Chi lives?

How could the Old Madam send someone to kill Mrs. Li?

The Second Madam looked at Aunt Ding.

Aunt Ding’s eyebrows tightened, unable to relax.

Although she rarely leaves the courtyard, she knows the Old Madam wouldn’t do such a thing for no reason.

No idea what leverage Mrs. Li had over the Old Madam.

But it certainly was not a good thing.

"Quietly pass the message to the Heir’s wife," Aunt Ding said.

...

Qihao Hall.

The Old Madam sat on the Arhat Couch, fiddling with Buddha beads, her lips moving occasionally, seemingly chanting Buddhist Scriptures.

Lv Xiu walked up, and the Old Madam glanced at her.

Lv Xiu’s face was pale with an abnormal flush.

The Old Madam knew the task was done.

As long as Mrs. Li was dead, this matter would be easily handled.

...

Agarwood Pavilion, inner room.

The weather was sultry, and Su Jin was leaning on a small couch, with Xingxing teaching her how to tie knots.

Bored, seeing that Xingxing’s knot tying was beautiful, Su Jin also felt itchy to try.

But once she actually started, she realized how clumsy she was.

After much effort, at least she managed to piece something together.

Su Jin touched the tassel, becoming more satisfied with each look.

Outside, a little maid came in and said, "Heir’s wife, someone has delivered a letter to you."

A letter?

Su Jin raised an eyebrow slightly.

Xingxing was excited; the young lady had never received a letter from anyone before.

"Quick, bring it in," Xingxing said.

The little maid walked in through the bead curtain, handing the letter to Su Jin.

Xingxing quickly took it, opened the letter, and handed it to Su Jin.

Su Jin accepted the letter, opened it, and glanced at it.

Then, her mouth corner twitched wildly.

Calling it a letter is less appropriate than calling it a simple drawing.

The drawing was very simple.

It depicted a well, a small path, and Qingqiu Garden.

Beside the well was an arrow, with the words: Mrs. Li is soaking inside.

"What is Mrs. Li doing soaking in the well?" Xingxing asked puzzledly.

"Cooling off?"

Su Jin, "...."

Su Jin was struck by Xingxing’s way of thinking.

Though she couldn’t figure out who sent her such a letter.

Her intuition told her it was not simple.

Plus, since it involved Mrs. Li, Su Jin paid more attention to it.

No matter how scorching the sun was, she decided to check it out.

In case it was a trap.

Su Jin called more maids to follow her.

Just reaching the garden, she felt something was off, the maids seemed to be looking for someone.

Xingxing spotted Xique with sharp eyes and called out.

Xique ran over.

Her forehead was covered with tiny beads of sweat glistening in the sunlight.

Xingxing handed her a handkerchief, "Wipe your sweat."

"What are you looking for?" Xingxing asked.

"Looking for Mrs. Li, the Old Madam just sent someone to look for her, very urgent, but we don’t know where she went," Xique said.

Isn’t Mrs. Li in the well?

Xingxing looked at Su Jin.

Su Jin furrowed her brows slightly.

Mrs. Li staying in a well?

The Old Madam urgently looking for her?

Something seemed to flash through Su Jin’s mind, too fast for her to grasp.

"I’ll go find Mrs. Li first," Xique said.

She walked in that direction.

Su Jin moved her feet towards the well.

After a few steps, her eyes flashed as she said, "Why do I hear cries for help from over there?"

Xingxing gasped.

She perked her ear.

Heard nothing.

"Ah!"

"I hear it too!" Xingxing realized and said.

"Let’s go check it out," Su Jin said.

Several searching maids stopped, "Let’s follow and take a look."