Chapter 318

Chapter 318: Haunted What must a person be like to despise their own biological daughter so deeply? Cui Lingrong couldn't understand it. Lou Wanxian said she didn't know either. The suspicions in her heart couldn't be spoken directly to Cui Lingrong, so she could only speak in circles. "Sigh, my mother is kind to everyone except me. Earlier when something happened with Zhao Susu, my mother asked me to go inquire about it. Logically speaking, she and my aunt were mortal enemies, so she should have hoped for Zhao Susu's downfall. But instead, she showed concern for Zhao Susu." Lou Wanxian smiled as she spoke. "I'm truly sorry about today—I didn't entertain you well. I'll come to your door to apologize another time." "Don't take it to heart. I know this wasn't your intention." Cui Lingrong reassured her. Lou Wanxian forced a faint smile. After she saw Cui Lingrong off, Mama Zhou came over. Seeing Mama Zhou didn't surprise Lou Wanxian, and it further confirmed the suspicions in her heart. "Miss, the Madam did this for your own good today," Mama Zhou said. "That Cui woman does have some connections, but no matter what, she's a divorced woman who still goes out and shows her face in public. Who knows what other intentions she might have." Lou Wanxian said, "Mama Zhou, what intentions could she possibly have? Even if she remarries after a mutual divorce, that's only natural and proper. The Emperor encourages widows to remarry—how is it that in your mouth, this seems like something shameful?" The years of warfare had caused the population to plummet drastically. Although there were still some places that placed great importance on chastity. However, the Emperor heeded the suggestions of those below him and no longer awarded chastity arches, forbidding anyone from preventing widows from remarrying. Of course, remarriage after mutual divorce was no longer a rare occurrence either. But for the great households, remarriage was still uncommon. Mama Zhou was momentarily at a loss for words. "You... why must you oppose the Madam? That Cui woman isn't anyone to you. If you cut off contact with her, the Madam won't be angry anymore. Isn't your mother-daughter relationship more important?" "Mama Zhou, did Mother send you to say these things, or to scold me?" Lou Wanxian saw Mama Zhou pause, knowing that Mama Zhou hadn't said anything too harsh. "Actually, I've never understood why Mother only dislikes me. Later I thought about it—perhaps it's because I'm not much like Mother." Mama Zhou furrowed her brows. "What are you saying, Miss? You were born of the Madam—how could you not be like her?" "Then why is it so?" Lou Wanxian asked. "Take today, for example. Even if Mother doesn't like Cui, she should have considered my face and told me afterward that Cui is no good. And you heard it too—when I moved to my new residence, she wasn't happy about it. Today she targeted Cui—was it because she looks down on me, or because Cui has offended someone?" Lou Wanxian kept her eyes fixed on Mama Zhou. But Mama Zhou couldn't answer. Her mistress had intended for her to come and discipline the young lady, but she had accepted the young lady's money and thought it better to ease the tension between mother and daughter. "You see, you can't answer either." Lou Wanxian suddenly smiled. "Actually, Mama Zhou, you have the answer in your heart. Since you already know, don't try to persuade me. I'll have the self-awareness not to invite Mother to such occasions next time. Let her stay at the Lou residence and rest well." Just wait and see how Zhao Susu dies, Lou Wanxian thought to herself. Mama Zhou couldn't persuade her. When she returned to the Lou residence and was questioned by the Madam, she said in a low voice, "Madam, could Miss Xian have found out about something?" "That matter is known only to you and me. If you don't speak and I don't speak, who would know?" Madam Bai shot Mama Zhou a sharp look. Mama Zhou quickly said, "This servant certainly won't say anything. It's just that Miss Xian's words are hard to fathom." "What's so hard to fathom? It's just that I made her lose face, so she's unhappy. That damned girl—she's just like her mother, that slut. Neither of them is any good. She says I treat her differently—I already regret not killing her back then!" Madam Bai watched Lou Wanxian's fortunes rise and felt deeply unsettled. Her original intention had been to raise Lou Wanxian crookedly, to take revenge on her legitimate elder sister. Later, when it came time for Lou Wanxian to be betrothed, she deliberately found a mother-in-law who was difficult to get along with. But unexpectedly, Lou Wanxian was so lucky that even with Zeng Peng's lame leg, he could still become an advisor at Prince Wu's manor. That single fact alone had infuriated Madam Bai for a long time. Mama Zhou hesitated. "Madam, Princess Consort Rong is already dead. Perhaps... perhaps you should let it go. Miss Xian will be your daughter for the rest of her life. If you treat her well, she can support the Lou family in the future." It wasn't as if they could swap her back. "What are you saying? She's not my daughter—why should I treat her well?" Madam Bai grew more agitated as she spoke. "I'm telling you, she won't have a good life. Even if my elder sister is dead, the better she does, the worse Susu becomes. I don't know what Prince Rong is doing with himself, letting people bully Susu like this!" Madam Bai was consumed with anxiety day and night for her biological daughter. If not for Cui causing trouble, how would outsiders speak ill of her Susu? Now, everyone in Bianjing knew that Susu had poor conduct and was a woman with a vicious heart. She had swapped her daughter with the Rong Prince Mansion, hoping her daughter would live a good life there. But before long, the good life had ended—her daughter's first husband died, and she was remarried to the useless Song Shulan. Madam Bai was utterly dissatisfied with this. She thought for a moment, then beckoned Mama Zhou closer. "Do as I say—send someone to find Lady Cui. Isn't she running a school? Well then..." Mama Zhou didn't think her mistress's plan was a good one. "But madam, if it's discovered..." "As long as you do it properly, how could it possibly be discovered?" Madam Bai began to question Mama Zhou. "What's gotten into you today? Time and again you speak up for outsiders. Surely you don't want to see Susu bullied for the rest of her life?" Madam Bai's heart ached for her daughter, and she resolved to do something for her. Since her mistress had given the order, Mama Zhou had no choice but to comply. A few days later, trouble struck at the school. A roof beam came crashing down—two craftsmen were lightly injured, and one had his leg crushed. Another day passed, and someone heard weeping in the night. The next day, they dug up animal bones from the earth, as if someone had performed some kind of ritual there. Panic spread among the workers. None of the craftsmen dared to continue, believing the site was haunted. When Cui Lingrong received the news, she went there immediately. The moment she arrived, the craftsmen crowded around her. "Boss, last night I heard it clearly—first a woman's crying, then cats and dogs howling." "Yes, yes, I heard it too. Could something be buried here?" "Surely there's no tomb underneath?" "I can't do this anymore, boss. It's too terrifying." "Me neither. I haven't slept these past few days. This ghost must be trying to drive us away. If we don't leave soon, it might come for our lives!" ... The craftsmen were all frightened. But Cui Lingrong didn't believe there were truly ghosts causing mischief. She had someone lead her to the pit. Just as she crouched down to examine it, Xie Yunting's voice suddenly came from behind her. "This pit was clearly dug recently. The dog bones still have flesh on them—they're not old." Xie Yunting said. "Everyone, don't panic. This isn't ghosts—someone is deliberately causing trouble!" "Causing trouble? Who would do that?" The craftsmen didn't understand. Their boss was running a school not to make money, and it didn't interfere with anyone's business. Why would someone come to cause trouble? Cui Lingrong furrowed her brow. Hearing Xie Yunting's words, she too felt something was off. Who could it be?