Chapter 505: Not Right (2)
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
“Then Ah Qin…” Gu Yunzhen twisted her slender fingers and became even more uneasy.
“The two families are only exchanging invitations. It’s not too late.” Gu Yanfei couldn’t help but look at the curtain in front of her. She looked at the mandarin ducks playing with the water lilies embroidered on the curtain.
“As long as it’s not a betrothal gift.”
“Juan Bi, get someone to tell the concierge that when Jiaoniang comes later, just let her in,” Gu Yanfei instructed.
Juan Bi obediently agreed and lifted the curtain to leave.
The house was exceptionally quiet. Outside the window, the sound of the wind rustling the trees could be heard.
Gu Yunzhen was still a little uneasy and was still thinking about Lu Qin when she heard Gu Yanfei ask her casually, “Big Sister, didn’t you say that you used too much goat milk in the kitchen last time? Have you found out the problem?”
Speaking of this, Gu Yunzhen perked up and nodded. “1 found it.”
“An old woman in the kitchen with the surname Peng admitted that she stole it. She said that she had just had a grandson at home. Her eldest daughter-in-law didn’t have milk, so she got greedy and stole goat’s milk.”
“I’ve verified it. Her daughter-in-law indeed just gave birth last month. I fined her half a year’s worth of wages and asked her to change to the garden for cleaning. I also got someone to send a jar of goat milk to the Peng family every day in the future.”
The kitchen job was a lucrative one for everyone. Old Madam Peng’s transfer from the kitchen to the garden was equivalent to a demotion, causing her to lose more than half a year’s worth of wages. Gu Yunzhen had punished her like this to serve as a warning to others.
After saying this, Gu Yunzhen thought of something and hesitated. “But…”
But what?! Gu Yanfei was intrigued by her.
At this moment, another gust of wind blew in from the window, carrying a few remnant leaves, and happened to land by the sisters’ skirts.
Gu Yunzhen pursed her lips and looked out of the window at the dancing flowers and trees. Then, she hesitated and said, “Recently, I’ve heard the cries of babies at night in the residence…”
Gu Yanfei raised her delicate eyebrows.
There were only two families living in the residence, so there was naturally no baby.
Gu Yunzhen rubbed her handkerchief, her gentle face revealing a hint of surprise. She swallowed her saliva and said slowly, “Three nights ago, I tossed and turned, unable to sleep. I simply got up and went for a walk in the small garden alone. Suddenly, I heard the sound of a baby crying.”
“I remember it was not long before the clapper sounded.”
The reason she couldn’t sleep that night was actually because she had read a script before sleeping. After sleeping, she was still thinking about the plot of the script and couldn’t sleep.
Gu Yunzhen cleared her throat as if nothing had happened before continuing, “Later, 1 also told Mother about this, but she didn’t believe me. She said that it was a cat meowing. She even said that female cats howl like this at night in the spring. It sounds like a baby’s cry.”
Therefore, even Gu Yunzhen didn’t know if she had heard wrongly.
“Do you know where that sound came from?” Gu Yanfei touched her chin and asked thoughtfully.
Gu Yunzhen raised her hand and pointed through the window. “It’s not far from the west gate of the small garden.”
The small garden was located in the north-west corner of the Marquis Mansion. Compared to the large garden, it was too remote and had a small layout. Not many people went there usually. The Jiahui Courtyard was backed by a small garden and was only separated by a small bamboo forest.
“Later, 1 also looked in that direction during the day. There was only a pavilion and a rockery there. Thinking about it again, it’s quite cold at this time of the night. If there’s really a baby, he’ll probably freeze to death.”
“Maybe 1 really mistook the sound of a cat for a baby…” Gu Yunzhen smiled and looked around. “Yanfei, Qing Guang is a female cat, right? I heard that gem-faced civets and tortises are usually female. Has Qing Guang been meowing at night recently?”
The gem-faced civet was the elegant name of a calico cat, and torties was another name for a tortoiseshell cat.
“…” Gu Yanfei had an indescribable expression on her face. She advised kindly, “Big Sister, don’t let Qing Guang hear this.”
She raised her right hand in a claw-scratching gesture. “It’ll scratch you!”
“Qing Guang won’t.” Gu Yunzhen immediately forgot about the baby’s night cry and praised Qing Guang eloquently. She said that it never bit or scratched anyone, and was even obedient when she cut its nails…
“By the way!” Gu Yunzhen thought of something and clapped excitedly. “I happened to get a small screen. It’s very cute. It’s suitable to be placed beside the sunny cathouse..”