Lu Tong followed the Ke family servant through the mansion gate, while Yin Zheng remained outside.
Upon entering the gate, she was directly confronted by a peony terrace. The Ke family residence had a very large garden with flowers blooming beautifully. Walking into it was like entering a flower grove, with the entire courtyard filled with fragrance.
Lu Tong lowered her eyes.
Lu Rou was allergic to flower pollen—whenever she got close to fresh flowers, red rashes would appear on her face and body. The Lu household never had a single flower in sight. However, Lu Rou loved flowers very much, so their mother would make many artificial flowers from fabric scraps and place them in porcelain vases to add some color.
But the Ke family seemed to have no such concerns—flowers of every variety competed in beauty, with hundreds of blooms vying for splendor.
Upon reaching the main hall, an elderly woman sat on a rosewood chair. She had a long face with sharp, downward-slanting eyes and thin lips covered in rouge. She wore a lychee-red robe with trailing grape vine patterns, heavy gold gourd earrings hanging by her ears, dressed with exceptional wealth but appearing somewhat harsh at first glance.
After a moment, Lu Tong bowed lightly to Old Madam Ke: “This humble woman Wang Yingying greets Old Madam.”
Old Madam Ke said nothing, looking down at Lu Tong with a scrutinizing gaze.
This was a young girl wearing a light brown hemp garment that had been washed until it was nearly white, with an inconspicuous patch at the elbow—quite shabby. Old Madam Ke’s gaze fell on the white gauze covering Lu Tong’s face, and she frowned slightly: “What are you wearing a veil for?”
“Yingying contracted an acute illness on the journey to the capital, and the red rashes on my face haven’t completely faded yet.” Lu Tong said softly: “I dare not offend Old Madam’s eyes.”
Old Madam Ke saw that there were indeed traces of red rashes on her exposed neck, felt moved, and waved her hand: “Then stay farther away.” Her tone was completely impolite.
Lu Tong obediently stepped back two paces.
Nanny Li beside her put on a smile, massaging Old Madam Ke’s shoulders while asking Lu Tong: “Where is Miss Yingying from?”
Lu Tong replied: “This humble woman is from South Jiangsu.”
“South Jiangsu?” Old Madam Ke looked her over once. “Never heard of the Lu family having any relatives in South Jiangsu.”
“Sister Rou’s mother was Yingying’s maternal aunt. Yingying went to South Jiangsu with her parents when she was young. When mother was weak and father was critically ill, my maternal aunt mentioned that she would treat Yingying as her own daughter, and if there were difficulties in the future, I should go to Changwu County for help.” Speaking to this point, Lu Tong’s voice carried just the right touch of sorrow: “Now that my parents have passed away, Yingying finally made it to Changwu, only to learn that my aunt had already…”
Old Madam Ke felt relieved—just as Nanny Li had said, this Wang Yingying was indeed a poor relative come to take advantage. She was probably trying to swindle some money here.
With this thought, she lost patience and said: “Since you came looking for the Lu woman, you should know that Lu woman died of illness long ago. The Ke family no longer has such a person. Moreover,” she smiled without warmth, “you say the Lu woman was close to you like sisters, but we never heard the Lu woman mention such a person. Who knows if what you’re saying is true or false?”
“Old Madam need not worry. Yingying once lived in Changwu County for a period, and all the neighbors know this. Old Madam can send someone to Changwu County to inquire—one question will reveal the truth.”
Old Madam Ke was momentarily speechless, and Nanny Li beside her immediately spoke up: “Miss, the late madam has already passed away. Even if you wanted to seek refuge, our young master has already married a new wife, and his matrimonial bond with the Lu woman has ended. For an unmarried woman to remain at the Ke family would be unclear and improper. If word spread, it would also damage your reputation.” She thought this reasoning was very sound—which girl didn’t care about her reputation? Even if one wanted to take advantage, one had to weigh whether it was worth it.
Lu Tong’s gaze flickered slightly.
A new wife…
Lu Rou had only been dead for a year, yet Ke Chengxing had already remarried.
Her fingers hidden in her sleeves clenched slightly, but her face showed a gentle smile: “Yingying knows my position is awkward and naturally wouldn’t dare remain at the Ke family. I already told the gatekeeper earlier—this trip is to retrieve my cousin’s dowry.”
At these words, the room fell quiet.
After a long moment, Old Madam Ke slowly spoke: “What did you say?”
As if not seeing her sinister gaze, Lu Tong spoke in a soft, delicate voice: “My maternal aunt once intended to formally adopt Yingying, so Yingying can be considered half a member of the Lu family. Since the young master’s matrimonial bond with my cousin has ended and they’ve become strangers, and since my cousin bore no children, her dowry should naturally be returned to the Lu family. Yingying can manage it on their behalf.”
“It has always been the custom that when a wife dies of illness, the husband’s family should return the deceased wife’s dowry.” Lu Tong raised her eyes, feigning surprise: “With the Ke family’s wealth, surely you wouldn’t be reluctant to part with my cousin’s small dowry?”
Her voice was unhurried and her manner gentle and soft, yet it was like pouring hot oil on fire, instantly igniting Old Madam Ke’s fury.
Old Madam Ke slammed the table: “Dowry? What dowry did she have? A poor scholar’s daughter marrying into our family was already reaching above her station! If not for my son’s fondness for her, why would the Ke family form such a marriage alliance and invite ridicule from others! She was nothing but a fox-faced seductress, if not for…”
Nanny Li beside her coughed once.
Old Madam Ke suddenly stopped speaking. Meeting Lu Tong’s gaze, she suddenly sneered coldly: “You keep saying you were close to that sister of yours—why don’t you go inquire about what kind of thing your sister was?”
Lu Tong looked at her calmly.
“After the Lu woman entered my Ke family, she didn’t conduct herself properly as a wife. Relying on her looks, she openly seduced the young master from Grand Tutor Qi’s mansion in the shop. She didn’t consider her own worth—how could Young Master Qi fancy a woman like her? She had no shame herself, and after being rejected by the Grand Tutor’s son, she ran out disheveled. Only after the incident did she realize she had lost face. Unable to bear it, she jumped into the pond. But she made my Ke family the laughingstock of the capital!”
Speaking to this point, she became even more agitated: “The entire Lu family—not one good person among them. That brother of hers was a troublemaker who was caught by the authorities after arriving in the capital—theft and rape. They call themselves a scholarly family, but the whole clan are thieves and whores—not one good person! They deserved to die!”
Old Madam Ke pointed at the peony terrace outside the door: “If she hadn’t jumped into the water and polluted the feng shui of my new residence, why would I need to spend so much money filling the pond and planting peonies instead? Such a pity for my pond of newly bloomed red lotus…” She pointed at Lu Tong again, her voice particularly shrill: “If you want to find a dowry, go ask your sister for it. The Lu woman entered our door empty-handed. The Ke family providing her with food and clothing was already the height of benevolence. Even if you take this to the authorities, I’m not afraid. Let’s see whether the magistrate believes you family of thieves and whores, or believes our Ke family!”
The woman finished speaking in one breath, her chest heaving violently. Nanny Li quickly stepped forward to pat her back and help her breathe. She drank two mouthfuls of fragrant tea before catching her breath, glaring at Lu Tong: “What else do you want to do? Why don’t you leave quickly? Do you plan to shamelessly stay at the Ke family?”
Lu Tong lowered her eyes: “Yingying understands.” She turned and walked toward the hall exit.
Perhaps the commotion had been too loud—just as Lu Tong reached the main hall, she bumped into a young woman face-to-face. This woman had a pretty oval face with very white powder and makeup, eyebrows drawn sharp and upturned, wearing a jade-blue horse-face skirt, appearing somewhat fierce. Her voice was also slightly high-pitched. Her gaze swept over Lu Tong suspiciously before looking toward the hall: “Mother, this is…”
Mother…
Lu Tong’s heart stirred. Old Madam Ke only had one son, Ke Chengxing. This woman… was Ke Chengxing’s newly married wife.
Old Madam Ke coughed lightly: “Just a distant relative.”
Lu Tong’s gaze lingered for a moment on the flower hairpin in the woman’s hair before quickly moving away. No longer paying attention to what was behind her, she walked out of the hall without looking back.
Outside the Ke residence, Yin Zheng was pacing back and forth anxiously. Seeing Lu Tong emerge, she hurried forward: “Miss, how did it go?”
Lu Tong said nothing, only urging: “Let’s go.”
Yin Zheng didn’t understand what had happened, glanced at the Ke family’s gate, and hurriedly followed Lu Tong as they left.
After passing through the alley below Fengle Building, Lu Tong suddenly stopped and tore off the white gauze from her face, revealing a face covered with rash-like spots.
“Miss,” Yin Zheng studied her expression, “should we find someone else to ask…”
“No need to ask anymore.” Lu Tong spoke coldly: “My sister was murdered.”