Chapter 30: Chapter 29 Intelligence_1
Nanny Wan looked at Lu Tong, "Miss also knows about the Ke Family?"
"Who in Shengjing doesn’t know the Ke Family’s great name?" Yin Zheng feigned surprise, "It is said that even the Grand Preceptor’s Mansion uses ceramics from the Ke Family’s kiln, how glorious that must be. So Nanny was working in the Ke Mansion, how respectable."
"We’re all but servants, what respectability is there to speak of?" Nanny Wan humbled herself with her words, but her expression betrayed a hint of pride.
Lu Tong gave a faint smile.
Of course, Nanny Wan was no ordinary servant.
Her husband, Wan Fu, was the personal attendant of Ke Chengxing.
Wan Fu had followed Ke Chengxing for about twenty years, which meant that Wan Fu had witnessed Lu Rou’s marriage into the Ke Family. After Lu Rou’s death, it was impossible for Wan Fu not to know the inside story.
Lu Tong had originally planned to start with Wan Fu, but given his cautious nature and the lack of an opportunity to approach him, she had no choice but to turn her attention to his wife, Nanny Wan.
Once Nanny Wan revealed her identity and found out that Yin Zheng was from the same hometown, she started to speak more freely and intimately. Talking about today’s purchase of plum blossoms, she rambled on, "Without these plum blossoms, the flavor of the cakes won’t be right, and if the mistress asks and gets angry, I’m afraid I’ll be in for another scolding."
Lu Tong had finished placing all the Golden Needles and was sitting in the chair waiting for them to take effect. Hearing this, she smiled and asked, "Isn’t Lady Ke known for being gentle and tolerant? Why would she fuss over a few plum blossoms? Nanny, you might be worrying too much."
"Gentle and tolerant?" Nanny Wan laughed out loud, "Where did Miss hear such a thing? That person couldn’t be further from the words ’gentle and tolerant’."
Lu Tong’s gaze flickered with doubt, "Not so? I’ve heard that Lady Ke is virtuous and a rare beauty. Could it be that others have deceived me?"
Nanny Wan looked at her and was about to speak when she suddenly remembered something and lowered her voice, "Perhaps Miss also heard right, but the Lady Ke people talk about might be the one before."
"The one before?"
"Yes, the previous Lady Ke, she was truly outstanding both in character and appearance. Unfortunately, she didn’t have much luck. She didn’t last long after entering the family. The current one just lucked into her place." Nanny Wan seemed to hold some dissatisfaction with the new wife of the Ke Family, her words laced with resentment.
Without showing any emotion, Lu Tong asked, "She didn’t last long after entering the family? Did she fall ill or something?"
"Yes," Nanny Wan sighed, "Somehow, she just developed a madness, even though she had been perfectly fine before. Perhaps not wanting to be a burden on Master Ke, she took her life in a moment of despair by jumping into a pond. Such a good person, she was kind to us servants. It’s such a shame."
She genuinely seemed to regret Lu Rou’s death, but that caused Lu Tong’s gaze to grow intense.
Madam Ke had said that Lu Rou had thrown herself into the pond out of fury and shame for failing to seduce the Grand Preceptor Qi’s son. On the other hand, Nanny Wan said that Lu Rou had developed madness and did not wish to burden Ke Chengxing, leading to her suicide.
The inconsistencies in their statements indicated that Nanny Wan was unaware of the matters related to Grand Preceptor Qi.
Why would Madam Ke keep such matters from the servants, unless there was a hidden reason?
Judging from Nanny Wan’s manner, she clearly didn’t know the truth, and it was likely that her husband Wan Fu had not disclosed anything to her either.
The more they concealed, the more suspicious it became.
Lu Tong glanced at Nanny Wan, then suddenly smiled again, "So Master Ke remarried not long after the previous wife’s death? This suggests that men truly are fickle."
"Isn’t that the truth?" Nanny Wan sighed empathetically, "The lady passed away in June, and by September, they were already preparing the bridal gifts for the new lady. Even we servants felt disheartened."
As she spoke, she seemed to realize that her words were inappropriate, and she quickly changed the subject to talk about herself. She complained about her son learning to gamble with bad influences and often angering Wan Fu, then shifted to how the new lady managed the household strictly, imposing frugality from top to bottom. She even mentioned how Madam Ke loved sweets and would eat several boxes of them daily.
She rambled on for who knows how long until Nanny Wan suddenly felt that the pain in her ankle had lessened. Looking down, she saw that the swelling had mostly subsided.
Lu Tong removed the Golden Needles from her ankle one by one and then applied a warm cloth to the area. Nanny Wan got up and walked a few steps, her face suddenly brightened with joy, "It really doesn’t hurt anymore!"
Yin Zheng smiled, asking for credit, "I told you, my lady’s medical skills are excellent. She wouldn’t deceive you."
After Nanny Wan had put on her shoes and socks and couldn’t stop praising, she thanked them again. Yin Zheng refused to accept her silver, pushing her towards the door with a smile, "Nanny, you said we’re from the same hometown, so there’s no need for thanks. It’s fate that we met at the flower market today. Don’t mention such worldly things; just come by and chat with us when you have the time."
Nanny Wan was still inclined to express her gratitude, but seeing that it was getting late and worrying that the plum blossoms she had left outside would wilt, she joked with Yin Zheng for a bit before picking up her basket and leaving.
After Nanny Wan had gone, Du Changqing, who was lying on the desk, looked at Lu Tong and muttered, "I didn’t expect you to actually know acupuncture. But after all that hustle, you didn’t even take a copper coin, Doctor Lu truly sees money as mere dirt."
Without paying any attention to him, Lu Tong lifted the felt curtain and went straight into the inner courtyard of the medicine shop.
Yin Zheng glared at him and followed him in.
Getting an unwarranted glare, Du Changqing was so annoyed that he stomped his feet, "Why are you angry at me? It doesn’t make any sense."
Lu Tong entered the small courtyard and walked towards the inner room.
The windows were open; the plum tree branches were gnarled, casting shadows on the window frames, like a simple and elegant painting.
Yin Zheng followed in and closed the door, then looked at Lu Tong’s expression, "Miss."
"You heard it," Lu Tong said calmly. "Nanny Wan mentioned that Lady Ke passed away in June."
But the people of Changwu County said that Lu Qian received the news of Lu Rou’s death in March.
Perhaps, that was not an unfortunate letter bearing news of Lu Rou’s demise.
It could be, for instance...
A letter begging for help.
Yin Zheng thought for a moment, "But judging from what Nanny Wan said, she didn’t know the details of Lady Ke’s illness. She also mentioned that, before the new lady entered the Ke Mansion, Madam Ke was so afraid of upsetting the new bride that she replaced all the old staff from the original lady’s courtyard. Miss, are we going to look for those old staff members now?"
"No need," Lu Tong said.
If they had been replaced, it meant the Ke Family wanted to hide the truth. It was likely that those who knew the truth were no longer alive. And those who had managed to survive probably only knew part of the story and wouldn’t be much help.
They would have to start with the people around Ke Chengxing.
Lu Tong fell silent for a moment before asking, "Today, Nanny Wan mentioned that Wan Fu’s son had become addicted to gambling a few days ago?"
Yin Zheng nodded, "Yes, I heard that because of it, that son was beaten twice. But now he seems to have become obedient and is staying at home dutifully studying."
Lu Tong gave a noncommittal "Hmm," then asked, "Yin Zheng, do you know how to gamble?"
"I do," Yin Zheng nodded without hesitation, "Back in the brothel, we had to learn everything from the zither and chess to calligraphy and painting, along with chicken fights and drinking games. Not only do I know how to gamble, sometimes to swindle those foolish young masters out of their silver, I also had to know how to cheat and set traps..." She paused suddenly, glanced at Lu Tong, "Miss, are you thinking of..."
A breeze came through, causing the plum branches outside the window to sway.
Lu Tong gazed at them intently for a while before shifting her gaze away.
She said, "Yin Zheng, I’d like to ask for your help."