Chapter 16: The God of Plague!

“Has she settled down over there?”

“Mhm, after tossing and turning for half the night, she’s finally quieted down.” Hong Lai helped Yu Qiuping loosen and gently tidy her long hair. “That woman, honestly... *hehe*, she clearly doesn't know her place, yet she acts as if she’s returned to be the eldest young lady again.”

Yu Qiuping sat on an embroidered stool, staring at her sallow reflection in the mirror, momentarily lost in thought.

She was plain-looking. Since childhood, she had never been as exquisite as Yu Pianpian, nor was her complexion as fair and lovely. Consequently, she had always harbored deep insecurities.

She had originally thought that Yu Pianpian’s snow-white skin was a rarity in this world, but to her surprise, upon meeting Yu Linlang today, she saw that although the girl had an unremarkable face, her skin was like congealed fat—smooth, translucent, and delicate—giving the impression of an exquisitely beautiful bone structure.

*If only my skin were like that...*

“Eldest Young Lady?”

Yu Qiuping snapped back to reality. “Is there still no news regarding the pear paste from Yu Yan Workshop?”

Hearing this, Hong Lai’s face immediately fell into a grimace. “Miss, I have people stationed there every single day, but alas, that pear paste is simply too sought after. Ever since someone spent five thousand taels to snatch up a single bottle half a month ago, not a second bottle has been seen on the market.”

“The reputation of the pear paste is growing by the day. I heard that even the nobles in the capital can't get enough of it, let alone having it transported all this way to us.”

“I feel that even if we were lucky enough to encounter a bottle, we wouldn't have enough silver to buy it.”

Yu Qiuping slammed a box of rouge heavily onto the dressing table. “I told you to have people keep an eye on it, so just do it. Enough nonsense. I know how to handle the silver.”

Yu Qiuping stretched her slender neck, staring at the sallow figure in the mirror, and said softly, “There will be a way. Soon.”

...

“Coming, coming! What are you banging for? I'm coming!” Early in the morning, the gatekeeper ran to unbolt the door, looking utterly bewildered by the noise.

Two workers were seen struggling to squeeze a large Huanghuali wood screen through the entrance.

“Hey, you? Who are you?”

Jiujin gave the gate a forceful push and stepped ahead of the workers into the doorway. “Move it in, move it all in.”

“Hey, you! You!”

“Forget the 'you,' move aside. A good dog doesn't block the path.” Jiujin unceremoniously pushed the gatekeeper aside and directed the group to carry the items inside.

In addition to the large screen, several others were carrying or lugging timber and tools into the house.

“Hey, hey, hey!” Mother Hu, who had rushed over at the sound, was startled by the commotion. She hurried forward to stop them. “Jiujin, girl, what are you doing? How can these outsiders just wander into the back courtyard?”

“Fine then, go find some coarse laborers to help carry these things to my Miss's courtyard.”

“Jiujin, this is—”

“What's there to be fussy about?” Jiujin waved her hand impatiently. “I’m in a hurry to get to the kitchen to prepare breakfast for my Miss! Hurry up and call more people to help move this.”

Helpless, Mother Hu quickly pulled a young servant to go fetch some coarse laborers, while she followed behind Jiujin, calling out incessantly, “Miss Jiujin, the kitchen has its own protocols; if you need anything, you must inform us in adv—”

As the two stepped into the kitchen's back courtyard, they saw a crowd gathered in a circle.

Mother Hu immediately glared and shouted, “Are you all just idling here? Is the Old Madam and the Eldest Madam's silver ear and lotus seed soup finished? Is breakfast ready?”

“Mother Hu,” the kitchen manager said, rubbing his hands as he stepped forward. “It’s not that we aren't working, but the kitchen door has been locked from the inside. None of us can get in.”

Mother Hu reached out and pushed; indeed, it wouldn't budge.

“Then what are we waiting for? Find some tools and pry the door open!”

“No need for all that trouble.” Jiujin strode forward. “I'll do it!”

With that, she planted a foot against the double wooden doors. Everyone heard a loud *crack* as the wooden bolt snapped, leaving them staring at each other in shock.

Under Mother Hu's repeated urging, the kitchen manager and his crew stepped through the door one after another, only to let out a series of terrified screams.

Jiujin immediately spotted a woman's corpse lying on the ground, her face deathly pale and her eyes staring vacantly at the sky.

An entire section of her abdomen was missing, and her insides had been hollowed out.

“*Gag!*” The kitchen workers swarmed out of the door, huddling in the corner to retch violently.

Mother Hu and the kitchen manager, their faces ashen, retreated from the doorway with trembling legs, forcing themselves to remain calm. “Quick, quick! Go inform the Madam immediately. Something has happened in the kitchen.”

...

Yu Qiuping was awakened early in the morning by various thumping and banging noises, and in her anger, she threw her jade pillow.

Hong Lai opened the door, intending to shout at whoever was on the other side, but instead saw Yu Linlang's maid holding a plane, turning to give her a smile.

She instantly fell silent, involuntarily taking a step back.

She couldn't help but feel that this Miss Linlang, who had returned home yesterday, and her maid were both quite eerie, looking almost ghostly.

Jiujin picked up a polished door and window, inspecting it closely before nodding in satisfaction and turning to install it.

Her hands and feet were incredibly fast; early in the morning, she had already installed all the new doors and windows. She tested them with copper bolts; even with her brute strength, it was difficult to push them open from the outside.

“Miss, it’s mostly done.” Satisfied, Jiujin packed her tools and went inside.

Yu Linlang was sitting by a small copper stove at the table eating morning noodles. Seeing Jiujin enter drenched in sweat, she hurriedly handed her a handkerchief.

“I told you to finish eating before working. There's no rush.”

“It's fine.” Jiujin casually grabbed a water cup and took a gulp. “You eat quickly, Miss. They might send someone to question us any moment now.”

Yu Linlang nodded. She had already learned from Jiujin that a murder had occurred in the kitchen's back courtyard.

Fortunately, the master and servant had come fully prepared this time, bringing their usual tables, chairs, cabinets, beds, bowls, and stoves.

Using the small copper stove to quickly boil some noodles was fast and convenient.

Just as they had finished eating and were getting up to pack their things, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from outside the small courtyard.

The person arriving was Mother Zhao, the dowry maid serving the Madam.

Yu Qiuping hurriedly led her maids to greet her, asking with a smile, “Why have you come so early, Mother Zhao? Does Mother have instructions?”

Mother Zhao’s expression was solemn. “The officials from the Bureau of Criminal Investigation have arrived. The Master requests that all the young ladies go to the main hall's back chamber to await questioning.”

The Bureau of Criminal Investigation? Questioning?

Yu Qiuping looked stunned; she was clearly unaware of the homicide in the kitchen.

“Where is Miss Linlang? Come out quickly so you can go together.”

Yu Linlang walked out of the east wing and exchanged a glance with Yu Qiuping.

“Let's go, Miss Linlang. Bring your maids along. Do not keep the Madam waiting.” Compared to her kindness yesterday, Mother Zhao's attitude today was distinctly arrogant.

If even Yu Qiuping sensed that Mother Zhao seemed to be targeting them, how could Yu Linlang fail to notice?

Hong Lai and Lü Cai exchanged looks, wearing expressions of utter confusion.

Mother Zhao pursed her lips and led Yu Linlang, Yu Qiuping, and the others toward the front courtyard.

Upon reaching the front courtyard, Mother Zhao led them around to the back chamber. As soon as they entered, a furious shout of "Plague God!" rang out.

A floral porcelain cup suddenly shattered at Yu Linlang's feet.

“Miss.” Jiujin quickly reached out to steady her arm.

Yu Linlang slowly raised her head to look. She saw a beautiful woman in her thirties sitting upright in a grand armchair, glaring at her with eyes full of rage.

(End of Chapter)