After Zi Yan’s death, only Bai Zhi and Mo Zhu were the closestyatous left by Li Wei Yang’s side. Everyone from the start thought she wouldselect two high-ranked yatous from others, but who would have thought afterhalf a month had passed by, she still hadn’t make a move. Even though theyatous and mamas were surprised, they didn’t dare to ask. Because there weremore things to do in the residence, Mo Zhu requested from Li Wei Yang andselected Qin Fang and Hong Luo to serve tea and help around. Since Qin Fang hadserved in Da Furen’s residence and she was particularly clever, Mo Zhu had beenwatching her attentively, being frightened that she was a spy sent by Da Furen.As for Hong Luo, because she was accounting manager Liu’s daughter, who wasawaiting to marry and wasn’t connected to any of the masters in the entireresidence, they didn’t keep a close eye on her especially when she wasdependable and honest. She didn’t speak much and gradually won their trust andbegan doing more work in the residence.
Tonight, it was Bai Zhi and Hong Luo’s shifts.
Li Wei Yang was thirsty before bedtime and instructed someone tobring tea over. Bai Zhi really liked Hong Luo, this reserved yet hardworkingyatou, and had the intention of letting her reveal her face to the master. Inthe future once she was released, their master can bestow more to her so shesent her to serve tea to Xiaojie.
Hong Luo lowered her head and Li Wei Yang inexplicably looked ather arm. It wasn’t a big deal if she didn’t see it but with a glimpse, Li WeiYang noticed an oddity from her wrist.
Hong Luo usually dressed plainly, besides the mandatory jewelry,she doesn’t wear other special ones, but today, a jade bangle appeared on herwrist.
It wasn’t a big deal, but it was odd that she hid the jadebangle under her sleeves. If Li Wei Yang didn’t lean in closer, this jadebangle wouldn’t have been seen by anyone.
Li Wei Yang had seen countless jewelry so she naturallyrecognized this bangle was not ordinary. The whole bangle was made of greenjade, not a speck of defects could be seen and it was brightly shining in thedark.
She remembered that Mo Zhu had said before that Hong Luo’sfather was a small manager in the accounting room and she also had two olderbrothers waiting to marry so they promised her off to someone, hoping theycould have more gifts for her brother’s marriages. This kind of family wouldbuy such a valuable jade bangle for their daughter?
Numerous thoughts flashed across Li Wei Yang’s mind and in theend, not a single trace of change appeared on her face as she laid down asusual, turned her body. She listened to Hong Luo quietly retreating yet hereyes were still wide opened.
Was she too suspicious, perhaps, it was gifted by her futurein-laws?
The next morning after waking up, Li Wei Yang had on a normalexpression when she saw Hong Luo and then found an excuse to send her out. Shethen called Mo Zhu and Bai Zhi to inquire, Mo Zhu replied: “Hong Luo’s motheroriginally promised her off to someone but for an unexplained reason, themarriage was called off. So her father begged the housekeeper to let Hong Luostay in the residence to help out.”
Bai Zhi became more vigilant because of what happened to Zi Yan:“Xiaojie, do you suspect Hong Luo ……”
Li Wei Yang shook her head, it was only a valuable jade bangle,what could this prove?
But Hong Luo’s monthly allowance was little and she didn’t havemuch chance to leave the Li residence. She wasn’t missing anything at herplace, if this bangle wasn’t stolen then where could it come from?
Li Wei Yang said: “You both pretend like you know nothing, ifthere’s nothing wrong with her, then that’s good, but if there’s a problem, itmust be handled with evidence.”
Honestly speaking, she didn’t wish to see a second Zi Yan appearbut things were like this in the world. The more you didn’t want something tohappen, there was a higher possibility that it would.
Compared to Zi Yan who had lots of loopholes, Hong Luo grew upin the Li family; her work was steady and keen and she was seen as a cleveryatou. But the smarter she was, the easier it was for her to becomeoverconfident. If she didn’t wear the jade bangle, Li Wei Yang wouldn’t havediscovered. But in this world, once a woman sees a valuable and beautifuljewelry, even if they had to hide it underneath their clothing, they wouldstill wear it for the feeling. Hong Luo is after all a woman, she couldn’t bearthe pain of simply looking at the beautiful jewelry so she took a risk.
After that matter, Hong Luo carefully recalled that night’sexpression and her body was suddenly drenched with sweat. She didn’t dare wearthat bangle again and she put in all her efforts to serve Li Wei Yang.
Three days later, Bai Zhi came to report: “Xiaojie, Nubi hasbeen secretly keeping a close eye on her, but she is very prudent in her workand she doesn’t interact with outsiders, there is nothing unusual.”
Li Wei Yang nodded and said: “Perhaps she became aware.”
Bai Zhi was stunned, she anxiously said: “Could it be that Nubiwasn’t careful enough and revealed our intentions?”
Li Wei Yang shook her head, she said: “Even the cleverest fox willeventually reveal its tail, let’s wait longer.”
Li Wei Yang was right, after waiting for three days, Hong Luodidn’t notice any unusual behavior from Xiaojie and believed she wasoversensitive, so she finally took action.
That night, Bai Zhi and a mama who were responsible for guardingthe night caught Hong Luo sneaking around. Bai Zhi ordered people to stuff hermouth and then personally brought her in front of Li Wei Yang.
Li Wei Yang looked at Hong Luo’s trembling body and laughed: “Whyare you so frightened?”
Bai Zhi approached forth and then pull out the cloth stuffed inHong Luo’s mouth. Hong Luo immediately said: “Xiaojie, what did Nubi do wrong?”
Li Wei Yang saw that she deliberately put on an expression as ifnothing had happened, she calmly smiled and said: “I’ve treated you well, whydid you betray me?”
Hong Luo tightly pursed her lips, she didn’t speak one word yetcold sweat endlessly rolled down her forehead.
Li Wei Yang knew Hong Luo couldn’t be compared with Zi Yan whodidn’t have any experience with fights; Zi Yan had just arrived from Ping Chengand she had read many plays so she still had dreams of becoming a phoenix. ButHong Luo was raised in the Li family residence so she knew the outcome of Nubisthat participated in the inner fights within the family wouldn’t end well andthus wouldn’t end their future because of tiny temptations. Da Furen must havehad something of Hong Luo in her hand and then gave her threats andpromises.
Pondering up to here, Li Wei Yang softly spoke: “Hong Luo, youhaven’t passed fifteen yet this year, a height of one’s youth. I oftenlamented, lamented the tragic end of beautiful women. Even more, I lamented thelives of women, once we take a wrong step, we waste our whole life. So as awoman, we must learn to cherish ourselves. Hong Luo, don’t just be concernedabout what’s present now, you must think about your long future!”
Hong Luo astonishingly looked at Li Wei Yang, her face whitenedand her body was still like a wooden carving.
Li Wei Yang sighed, Bai Zhi said: “Hong Luo, Xiaojie is givingyou a chance to be honest with her, she is doing you a favor. I saw you justnow obviously burying something, I’ve already sent someone to dig it out. Whydon’t you tell us honestly, this is a chance for you atone for your crime witha good deed.”
Hong Luo’s expression changed unpredictably, she watched Li WeiYang’s clear like water eyes and remained silent.
Li Wei Yang gradually said: “Hong Luo, you are prudent, yourwork is clean. I’ve been thinking of you highly; two days ago Bai Zhi evenmentioned promoting you to a first-level yatou but why do you want to demolishyour future? If I fall, you are my yatou, where else better can you go?”
Hong Luo lowered her head, for a long time, she didn’t say aword.
Li Wei Yang knew she was struggling on the inside, she didn’tpress her. Only the silent hourglass could be heard as a grain of sand crawledpast.
96Normal0falsefalsefalseEN-USZH-CNX-NONE /* Style Definitions */table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; 12.0pt; Calibri; mso-ascii-Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
Hong Luo was already drenched with sweat. When she finallyopened her mouth to speak, she almost couldn’t hear her own voice: “Nubi iswrong, Xiaojie, please point Nubi to a path of livelihood.”