Contentment with modest wealth

Chapter 155 Why did she have to die?
After everyone had left, Lu Jia returned to her canopy bed.

The kitchen and Granny Du's residence in the southwest corner are separated by only a row of houses, but they are not on the same road.

Qinghe and Fuxiao entered the house, and there was only a cook dozing off by the stove while tending the firewood.

Qinghe coughed and said, "I'm sorry to disturb your rest, madam. Our young lady would like to have some sweet dumplings. Please make room for a stove..."

After saying that, he casually slipped a string of cash into his hand.

Fifteen minutes later, Zhi Mu had already returned to Yi Xia Courtyard.

Immediately afterward, Qinghe Fuxiao returned with glutinous rice balls.

"I've inquired, and sure enough, there are only two old women on night watch around Granny Du's residence. They both stay under the side gate. If there's any noise near the well, they can hear it, but they might not be able to see it."

Lu Jia thought for a moment: "Whether they can see it or not, the Jiang family will only feel at ease after verifying her results."

"—Let Yinliu do it."

……

Mr. Jiang is not sleepy tonight.

It had been almost two hours since I returned from Du Mama's residence, but there was still no news of an operation starting.

Could it be that Granny Du has other intentions?

"Mrs!"

The curtain was lifted, and the person rushed into the room, panting, and arrived at Madam Jiang's side: "Granny Du went to the well!"

Jiang immediately stood up, her eyes gleaming: "And then what?"

"She reached the well and sat down again..."

Madam Jiang frowned and turned to instruct the maid who was keeping watch by her bedside: "Go and take a look."

The maidservant obeyed and went out.

Jiang had arranged for someone to keep an eye on Du Mama's courtyard the whole time, just to prevent any mishaps.

Although Granny Du was obedient and had no other choice but to work under my command, when a person faces life and death, it's hard to guarantee that they won't have other ideas.

They had already reached the well, but were still hesitating. What were they hesitating about?
As long as they haven't fallen into the trap, we can't rest easy.

The maid quickly arrived at the west side.

This well is in the courtyard next to where Granny Du lives.

On the other side of the courtyard was a passageway leading to the main kitchen. But this well was usually only used for watering flowers, so not many people came here.

At this moment, a person is sitting by the well.

On a pitch-black winter night, the lanterns on all sides illuminated the shadowy figures by the well, making them appear like ghosts.

The cold wind blew back and forth, and the maidservant unconsciously wrapped her clothes tighter.

Just then, a sound came from ahead. The maid looked up and saw Granny Du shivering in the wind, then stand up, let out a shrill scream, and plunge headfirst into the well...

The maid's waist stiffened, and she stumbled back several steps.

Then, her teeth chattering, she walked to the well, held up her lantern, and shone it into the well's opening. There, at the dark bottom, water was splashing and bubbling! ...

As Jiang was rubbing her temples under the lamp, a scream suddenly rang out, causing her to involuntarily open her eyes and stand up abruptly.

Scream, yes!
She had previously instructed Granny Du to do it!
Before she could even reach the door, the maid, her face ashen, scrambled to her bedside: "Madam, Granny Du, Granny Du is gone!"

Jiang's eyes flashed like lightning: "You saw it with your own eyes?"

"I saw it with my own eyes! She cried by the well for a while, and then finally jumped in!"

The maid was still trembling. The well was always deep, and even though they were prepared, the impact of seeing a living person fall in headfirst was something that not everyone could easily bear!
Jiang looked out the window and said in a deep breath, "Excellent! Now, all of you, take lanterns and call a few more people to surround them!"

The scream was indeed quite loud; it was impossible to ignore. Soon, lights came on in all the rooms one after another.

Lu Jie, who had just fallen asleep in the study, opened his eyes.

Even the second and third houses, separated by the courtyard wall, have started to make noise.

The lights at Qixia Courtyard were on the last to come on, but it was only about half a cup of tea's time.

As the entire Lu mansion was brightly lit, a clamor arose.

Only after the commotion had spread far and wide, and the stewardess rushed over to report it, did Madam Jiang step out of her room and hurry toward the place where the incident had occurred.

The stewards and their wives all put on their clothes and entered the west courtyard, where they gathered around the well and began to discuss amongst themselves.

When Jiang arrived at the gate, she happened to run into Zhou and Wu, who came from next door after hearing the commotion.

"What happened? I heard that something happened to Granny Du?" the sisters-in-law asked each other.

"I don't know yet," Jiang said hurriedly as she walked towards the courtyard. "Where is she?"

"Reporting to Madam, the person is still at the bottom of the well. It's pitch black, so we can't go down. We have to wait for the people from the outer courtyard to come in before we can retrieve them!"

Su Zhixiao's family members hurriedly came to greet them.

Jiang looked at the well opening surrounded by people and walked up to it.

Many torches have been lit around the well, their light faintly illuminating the area below.

The bottom wasn't clear, but it was still clear enough that the garment floating above was exactly what Granny Du had worn the night before.

Jiang, whose face was backlit, subtly curled the corners of her lips, then lowered her expression and looked up: "How could she try to kill herself over something so trivial? I clearly comforted her last night, telling her to think of it as going home to retire early. How could she possibly want to die?"

"Check your surroundings carefully, see if there's anything suspicious!"

This clearly indicated that he was suspected of murder, and those present immediately took action!
……

The commotion outside the courtyard was growing louder. Lu Jia paced back and forth inside the house, waiting for Yin Liu, the last one to return.

Fu Xiao strode in: "...Everyone who was supposed to come has been alerted by Madam Jiang. When I returned, the people in the outer courtyard had already taken ropes and were preparing to retrieve the body."

Lu Jia stopped: "What about the master?"

Fuxiao said, "Tonight, Longxiang from the main house is keeping watch in the study. The study is in the outer courtyard, so she might not be able to hear any news."

Lu Jia knew that Longxiang had a crush on Lu Jie, but with Jiang Shi keeping a close eye on her, she hadn't succeeded in her previous life. What a coincidence that Jiang Shi was willing to let her go to keep watch tonight.

Ultimately, we still don't have enough manpower.

I wonder how things are going with Yinliu?

If she fails, all the commotion tonight will be pointless.

This made her think of Qin Zhou, who had always helped her in the past. If Qin Zhou were here now, she could ask him to bring Lu Jie to the scene at any time.

"Girl!" Speak of the devil, and he appears; at that moment, Yin Liu leaped in through the window like a gust of wind.

Lu Jia quickly went to greet him: "Where is he?"

"Don't worry! I just handed it over to Changfu while things were in chaos! I didn't alert anyone!"

Lu Jia breathed a sigh of relief.

She glanced at the several scratches on her wrist and grabbed it, saying, "You're injured again?"

Yin Liu hid her hands behind her back: "I just accidentally brushed against it when I climbed out, it's nothing."

"Apply some medicine," Lu Jia instructed, then added, "You and Qinghe stay here and try to invite the master. Fuxiao and Zhimu, come with me."