Chapter 293

Chapter 298: Old Acquaintances (Part 2)

Wells in households were usually located beside the kitchen, in the backyard.

A man jumping into a well?

Eleven Lady fixed her gaze on Lu Yonggui: "Chief Steward Niu’s nephew jumped into a well?"

Though Lu Yonggui was seldom at the estate, he kept himself informed of all matters, big and small. When he saw Amber at Ciyuan Temple that day, he knew the matter could no longer be concealed. Upon returning to the estate, he heard his younger brother boasting about how the lady had summoned him and how he might soon rise to prominence like Yang Huizu. Coupled with the Third Young Master’s family leaving in high spirits and Eleven Lady taking over the household management without any resistance or upheaval, Lu Yonggui realized that this fourth wife was no ordinary woman. Moreover, he was in charge of the vast estate left behind by Eldest Miss. Though she had readily handed over the management to Luo Zhenxing, who knew what she truly thought?

He understood too little about the woman before him and had no way to gauge how much she already knew.

Even if he wanted to extricate himself, he first needed to clear any misunderstandings with her and ensure she was pleased—after all, a steward from a noble household could not establish his own business without the support of his former employer, and offending them would make life impossible.

If she was a boulder, he was merely an egg—no, perhaps not even an egg, but a quail’s egg.

Lu Yonggui dared not gamble—not with his future, nor his brother’s prospects.

So, he chose to calmly recount the facts: "The man was pulled from the well, so naturally, he had jumped in."

A shiver ran down Eleven Lady’s spine.

The matter was far more complicated than she had imagined, but it only strengthened her resolve to clarify Lu Yonggui’s stance.

"What about the accounts from the Hangzhou shop?" she asked, her voice cool.

She saw Lu Yonggui’s hands briefly clench before relaxing again.

"A sum of money reportedly went missing. Since Da Mao was the one handling it, Chief Steward Niu resigned to take responsibility."

"Did the money disappear before or after Da Mao’s death?"

"What?" Lu Yonggui looked up at Eleven Lady.

"Did the money go missing before or after Da Mao died?"

"After."

How… convenient.

First, his fiancée was violated by the elder master... then Da Mao jumped into the well, and Chief Steward Niu resigned...

She remembered when she first arrived at the Luo household. All three Luo households were in Yuhang observing filial mourning. Though Second Wife and Third Wife privately criticized the elder wife’s methods, the elder wife had married in after Old Madam Luo was bedridden and unable to manage the household. Within two years, she assumed control of the household. Moreover, Old Madam Luo had been ill for seven or eight years, during which the elder wife attended to her dutifully. When the old master passed, all three sons were away on official duties, and it was the elder wife who saw him off. Even the second master and third master had to show respect to their elder sister-in-law, let alone their wives.

Now, hearing Steward Lu’s words, it was clear this involved the transition of power within the Luo family.

"So, Wu Xiaquan’s wife took over Chief Steward Niu’s position?"

"No." Lu Yonggui knew Eleven Lady had grasped the unspoken implications. His eyes flickered with fear.

This Lady Yongping had not even reached her *coming-of-age ceremony* yet!

He laid his cards on the table: "First, a steward who had served the late old master took over for a while but performed poorly. Then another steward who had served the elder master was appointed, but he mishandled several duties. The elder wife recommended Xu Deping to Old Madam, but before he could take over, he died in a fall from his horse. Old Madam then summoned Chief Steward Niu and asked him to recommend someone. He suggested Chief Steward Wu. After taking over, Chief Steward Wu made some minor mistakes at first but handled major matters competently. Old Madam confirmed him in the position. Moreover, with the elder master squandering money like water in his official post, Chief Steward Wu always managed to balance the books. That was how he secured his position."

Eleven Lady recalled how, when she first came to Yanjing from Yuhang, Wu Xiaquan’s wife had asked her to deliver food to Lu Yonggui.

"Steward Lu, are you and Wu Xiaquan close?" she asked tactfully.

"Though Chief Steward Wu came with the elder wife’s dowry retinue, her favorite was Xu Mama’s late husband, Xu Deping," Lu Yonggui explained. "When Chief Steward Wu first came to the Luo household, he learned accounting from my father. Though they lacked a formal master-disciple bond, the relationship was much the same. Hence his closeness to my brother and me. Later, it was thanks to Chief Steward Niu’s recommendation to Wu Xiaquan that we were able to accompany the Eldest Miss to the Yongping Marquis’ estate."

So that's why the two concubines said the Lu brothers' move to Yongping Marquis' residence was entirely due to Steward Niu's efforts?

Eleven Miss asked, "Does Wu Xiaquan know that the two concubines came to the capital to look for Steward Lu?"

Lu Yonggui replied, "I don’t know."

His reply was quick and blunt.

People usually adopt such a tone under two circumstances—either to conceal something or because they are completely at ease with nothing to fear.

So which was it?

Eleven Miss smiled faintly and said, "The two concubines have settled in Ciyuan Temple. I take it Steward Lu’s happy with this setup?"

Lu Yonggui lowered his head even further. "Compared to other temples, Abbess Jining of Ciyuan Temple actually knows her stuff. I just figured the two concubines could find a place to settle in their later years."

Meaning, Steward Lu had played a role in securing the two concubines' acceptance by Abbess Jining.

"I heard the two concubines donated five thousand taels of silver as incense money to Ciyuan Temple. Does Steward Lu know about this?"

Lu Yonggui looked up, his face filled with astonishment.

Eleven Miss’s eyes held a hint of disdain.

Without money to grease the wheels, how could a lowly steward like Lu Yonggui from the marquis' household possibly gain an audience with Abbess Jining? If he said he didn’t know, she wouldn’t buy it.

Seeing this, Lu Yonggui could only smile bitterly. "At the time, the two concubines brought three thousand taels in silver notes to me, saying three of them needed to settle in Ciyuan Temple. Abbess Jining initially agreed but later returned the money after learning the circumstances. The two concubines then personally went to see Abbess Jining. I waited outside. They spoke with the abbess in the side chamber for over half an hour before she agreed to let them stay."

Three of them?

Now it was Eleven Miss's turn to be astonished.

Her thoughts spun.

Lady Yang, knowing her time was limited, had tried to mend the relationship between Ten Miss and elder madam, but the elder madam wouldn’t have it. With no other options, Lady Yang used her savings to send the two concubines away from the Luo family with Ten Miss. The two concubines then thought of Lu Yonggui and brought Ten Miss to the capital.

What happened afterward? Did Ten Miss choose to return to the Luo family, or was she persuaded by the two concubines?

Only Ten Miss could answer that!

Eleven Miss saw the door curtain twitch.

Remembering she still had to accompany elder madam to the Zhongqin Earl's residence later, she lifted her teacup. "I was merely curious about some past matters. I might need to ask Steward Lu more later."

By Eleven Miss’s tone, Lu Yonggui knew this matter was far from over.

But how much curiosity Eleven Miss had about the past was beyond his control. He muttered a reply, bowed, and left.

Eleven Miss instructed Amber, "Bring Liu Taiping, Liu Yuanrui's son, to me."

Amber acknowledged and left, after which Eleven Miss began meeting with the female stewards.

When her business was concluded, Eleven Miss summoned Liu Taiping, who had been waiting under the eaves.

"Do you know of a man named Lu Yonggui in the second young master's household?"

"Yes!" Liu Taiping replied. "We’re all from the Luo family. Folks talk about him a lot, saying he’s sharp and good with money."

"So, do you know him?"

"I don't know him!" Liu Taiping answered honestly. "But I know Brother Yongfu. He works in the stables. Last time my mother went back, he insisted on hitching up a carriage for her."

"Did your mother take it?"

Liu Taiping flushed red and stammered for a long time without answering.

It was surprising that Liu Yuanrui, normally so eloquent, had such a simple-minded son.

Eleven Miss chuckled and had someone give him a handful of candy. "Lu Yongfu's elder brother Lu Yonggui has returned. He manages the second young master's business and is often away. I'm worried he might not serve the second young master properly. While he's in Yanjing, you'll temporarily follow him, helping with serving tea, doing laundry, and other chores. But wherever he goes, who he meets, and what he does when he's indoors—you must report every detail to me. Can you do that?"

"I can!" Liu Taiping nodded eagerly but then looked puzzled. "But... what if he doesn't let me follow him?"

"Tell him it's my instruction."

Liu Taiping nodded repeatedly.

Eleven Miss gave him a handful of coins and had Song Mama escort Liu Taiping to Lu Yongfu.

Amber asked, "Should we send someone to secretly keep an eye on him, Madam?"

"No need," Eleven Miss said. "I just want to make my position clear. Lu Yonggui is clever. Once he figures it out, he'll come to see me on his own!"

Eleven Miss returned to her courtyard and changed into a burgundy Hangzhou silk wide-sleeved jacket embroidered with golden peonies. She put her hair up in a high bun, adorned with a southern pearl headband, and went to see the elder madam.

The elder madam was wearing a black Hangzhou silk jacket with golden gourd (symbolizing prosperity) and double-happiness patterns, styled her hair in a round bun, and wore a jade hairpin and jade bangles.

Noticing Eleven Miss wore only a headband, she told Madam Du to fetch her pair of southern pearl bracelets. "The pearls are as large as those on your headband—they'll match perfectly."

Eleven Miss politely declined.

The elder madam smiled. "At my age, I like things that sparkle. Keeping them in a chest is a waste—better to give them to you." Suddenly remembering, she added to Madam Du, "I think I also have a pair of southern pearl ear studs. Fetch those for the fourth madam too." Then she beamed at Eleven Miss. "Wearing matching ear studs with the headband today would look too rigid. Keep them for another occasion. Just wear the bracelets today."

Grateful for the elder's kindness, Eleven Miss no longer refused and thanked her with a smile.

Madam Du brought over a rectangular red-lacquered box. Inside was a bracelet—though it was a foot long, it could be worn as a necklace.

"Let me put it on you," the elder madam said, winding the southern pearl bracelet around Eleven Miss's wrist seven or eight times like a bangle. Paired with the wide sleeves of her jacket, it radiated quiet elegance with every movement.

Eleven Miss loved it and thanked the elder madam again.

The elder madam was delighted too, looking her over like a child pleased with a newly dressed doll.

Eleven Miss helped the elder madam into the carriage.