To Hold One's Joy / Happy - Chapter 9 : Coincidence

Once Sheng Jia Yu and Sheng Jia Lan departed, the petals trembled, and a man leapt down from the tree.

"Cousin Sister Luo is as intimidating as ever!" exclaimed Third Young Master Sheng, who overheard Luo Sheng's conversation with her maid. Fear washed over him as he wiped his face.

His mood was far from pleasant. After downing a pot of wine early in the morning, he had dozed off in the tree, stirred only by a faint noise from the lake.

Though he initially intended to extend a polite greeting, Third Young Master Sheng shivered, shook his head, brushed off the petals and leaves clinging to him, and swiftly made his escape.

Upon returning to her room, Luo Sheng's maid, Hong Dou, hesitated before asking, "Miss, do you think saying that will actually lure the snake out of its hole?"

With a calm expression, Luo Sheng gazed out at the banana tree outside her window and replied, "We have to give it a try."

She couldn't assure that others would act as she wished, it was likely that the venomous snake that had already attacked would strike again if given the chance.

Hong Dou tilted her head, perplexed by Luo Sheng's approach. "Why is it so complicated? You never used to overthink things like this."

Luo Sheng turned her gaze back to Hong Dou, a slight smile playing on her lips. "Oh? How was I back then?"

She used to be a vibrant girl full of bright smiles, but now her eyes were dark and deep, her smile lacking warmth, making her appear cold.

This sight tugged at Hong Dou's heartstrings as she watched her young lady. Remembering how reckless Luo Sheng used to be-having come close to danger and even drunk Mengpo soup-Hong Dou noted how much more cautious and alert she had become.

Determined to uplift her spirit, Hong Dou waved her hand dismissively. "I didn't think about it before. I used to believe the Second Cousin was terrible. You could have just stripped her, beaten her, and tossed her on the street."

Luo Sheng's eyes flickered with intrigue. "I did something like that?"

"Well, sort of," Hong Dou replied vaguely.

"Please, tell me more."

Hong Dou hesitated, biting her lip. "I worry that mentioning it will upset you, Miss. It was that time a certain little troublemaker in the mansion got a bit too flirty with Young Master Si..."

Luo Sheng interrupted, "Who's Young Master Si?"

Hong Dou pressed her palm to her forehead, visibly distressed. "Miss, you've forgotten about Young Master Si. He's the male concubine you brought back while shopping."

At that moment, the typically composed Luo Sheng's expression twisted with disbelief.

Male concubine?

Reflecting on this chapter of Luo Sheng's past, she couldn't help but feel that her status as a princess was somehow trivialized.

"Never mind, let's not dwell on it. Please check if the two little maids have returned with news," Luo Sheng suggested, seeking to regain her composure.

Hong Dou set a plate of candied fruit in front of her with a smile. "You'll feel better if you have some candied fruit. I'll go check now."

As the young maid turned to leave, Luo Sheng found herself lost in thought for a moment. She picked up a candied fruit and placed it in her mouth. The sweet and sour plum didn't bring her any joy.

Staring at the fruit on her fingertips, her mind drifted further back in time.

She recalled a time when she crafted green plums into flower shapes, turning them into candied treats to please her mother. Now, stuck in Jinsha County, she was just Miss Luo Sheng.

After hinting at her concerns to Hong Dou, Luo Sheng felt uneasy about casually speaking of Zhennan Palace to others.

From Hong Dou's lack of knowledge about Zhennan Palace and the soldiers she had seen surrounding it that night, Luo Sheng had formed her own suspicions regarding her family's fate.

Yet, she was not willing to surrender her hope-she needed to find out for herself!

Chilled and lost in thought, Luo Sheng's fingers slipped, causing the plums to tumble back onto the dish.

Just then, Hong Dou entered hurriedly, accompanied by two other maids.

The two maids hurriedly greeted Luo Sheng, and unlike their panic from the day before, there was a hint of excitement in their demeanor today.

It seemed that money really does open doors; it often makes things easier.

"Just tell me what's going on," Luo Sheng said directly.

One young maid quickly spoke up, "Miss, I looked into it. Miss Qian is the daughter of Master Qian, who made a marriage arrangement for her with one of his students last year. But she fell for the Second Young Master Su and refused to go through with the engagement. Now that her wedding is approaching and her parents are insisting, she... hanged herself."

The other maid, eager not to lose credit, interrupted, "I had my brother investigate too. Besides what Qing Hong mentioned that's common knowledge, he discovered something else."

Luo Sheng regarded the maid who spoke with a calm demeanor.

The maid rushed to share the information, "My brother heard it from the Qian family's coachman. He said Miss Qian ran into the Second Young Master Su on the road and was so smitten that she chased him all the way to the Su Mansion before she finally stopped."

At that point, the maid giggled, "There are many young ladies in Jinsha County who secretly admire the Second Young Master Su, but it's rare for someone like Miss Qian to chase after him so openly..."

The maid beside her pulled her back suddenly, "Han Cui!"

Han Cui quickly realized that the young lady in front of her had done something even more shocking than Miss Qian had.

Oh no, how could I forget that while speaking so quickly!

The young maid's face turned pale, and she looked at Luo Sheng with trepidation.

However, Luo Sheng maintained her calm expression and instructed Hong Dou, "Give Han Cui two taels of silver."

Hong Dou complied without hesitation.

After receiving her reward, Han Cui's demeanor brightened.

Qing Hong watched enviously as Han Cui clutched the silver ingot.

Two taels of silver was enough to cover her salary for several months.

"Give another tael to Qing Hong," Luo Sheng added and then gestured for the two maids to leave.

Once outside, the two maids who had just been rewarded exchanged incredulous looks.

Han Cui marveled, "Is it really this easy to earn four taels of silver?"

With two taels yesterday and two today, that amounted to more than her salary for half a year.

This was money she didn't have to share with her parents.

As Qing Hong rested her chin on her hand, she looked back at the door and muttered, "Why do I feel like Miss isn't so... terrible?"

Han Cui scoffed, "Is it just because she gives us money?"

Qing Hong cautiously tucked the silver ingot away and rolled her eyes, "Is it wrong to criticize our mistress? Besides, it's not just about the money..."

She couldn't quite articulate why she felt that way.

Inside the room, Hong Dou felt no regret over the money she had distributed. Instead, she sighed and remarked, "Miss, you're being more mindful with money now than ever."

Luo Sheng frowned.

Is giving two or three maids seven or eight taels of silver really being mindful with money?

Hong Dou quickly reassured her, "Miss, didn't you notice? While we might not have much in terms of possessions, we do have plenty of money."

The Grand Commandant had given her a substantial amount of banknotes when he saw her off, but sadly, none of her previous shopping companions or maids were allowed to come with her, except for Hong Dou.

Thinking of Kou'er, another maid who had nearly cried her eyes out before they left, Hong Dou felt a wave of relief wash over her.

Luo Sheng wasn't particularly concerned with how much money Miss Luo had and waved her hand dismissively, signaling Hong Dou to leave.

As the door closed softly, the sound echoed in the quiet room.

Luo Sheng sat at the square table, lost in thought.

Miss Luo took her own life over the Second Young Master Su, and so did Miss Qian.

It's chilling how similar their fates were. She pressed her lips together, dipped her fingers in the tea, and scrawled two words on the table.

Those words were Su Yao.