Contentment with modest wealth

Chapter 397 Patio
Yingzi followed the carriage to the private residence, and then led the servants to carry the vegetables to the kitchen courtyard. People passed by from time to time along the way, but upon closer inspection, they all turned out to be familiar faces from the Yan family. Thus, she gradually calmed down and methodically directed the unloading of the vegetables.

The stewardess said, "In case the young master has any last-minute requests, the carriage returning to the manor will have to wait until after the banquet. Miss Zi, please sit down for a while and have some tea."

"Just remember not to go near the small garden on the west side. The eldest young master is hosting Lord Lu there to discuss important matters."

"What is it?"

"How would I know?" The cook slapped her thigh. "Miss Zi is with Grandma. If you don't know, how could I possibly know?"

Yingzi remained silent.

She glanced to the west and saw that there were many figures there. People were bringing tea and water in from time to time, and there were many guards with swords on their shoulders walking around outside.

She pinched her hands together and turned back to say, "This house is usually uninhabited. I'll just take a walk around here and won't disturb the young master."

"That's good. As long as we stay away from the banquet hall, it's fine!"

After answering hastily, the cook immediately went back to her work.

Yingzi stood at the hospital exit, looked around, and then walked towards the deserted east side.

Even though she could tell from Lu Ying's expression that tonight's private banquet was unusual, she couldn't act rashly. Lu Ying only had her and Granny Li by her side who could help her. If anything happened to her this time, Lu Ying would be even more isolated and helpless.

Since there's nothing to do in the east, why not go and explore? Maybe we can find some other clues.
No one lives in this house on ordinary days, but flowers and trees are planted in all the places where they are supposed to be. At this moment, night birds fly through the woods, and the sound of their wings is particularly loud in the quiet courtyard.

Fortunately, there was a lantern every so often along the way; although it was dim, it was enough to see.

Perhaps that's why they didn't encounter many people along the way. Only from time to time, guards with knives would move around under the distant walls of the mansion. They would glance in their direction, look around, and then look away before continuing to linger.

Finally, we reached the end of the covered walkway. From here, we either turned back or continued to the left. If we went right to the end, that would be the west.

She paused in silence for three breaths, glanced back, and lingered under the eaves.

The house was so quiet that you could hear voices coming from the direction of the banquet hall, as the cook had mentioned.

In fact, if she simply walked through this winding corridor, she would reach the foot of the banquet hall wall. She hesitated for a long time, unsure whether she should go forward.

"Ah..."

As they were pacing back and forth, a soft groan of pain came from nearby.

She stopped abruptly, looked around, and when the sound of weeping came again, her gaze was drawn to a door with light shining through a crack to her side.

It was a small building with the door ajar but unlocked. Lights were on inside, but no one could be seen.

She looked around and saw that almost all the courtyards were dark except for this one.

Yingzi stood for a moment.

Then he went up and pushed the door open.

The creaking sound from the door broke the quiet night. Lu Jie stopped holding the teacup, glanced at Yan Liang, and then looked down.

The door downstairs opened, and the lights from the four corners of the courtyard shone on the person who entered, making her features stand out clearly.

Lu Jie paused slightly in his hand holding the cup, causing ripples to spread across the seven-tenths full cup of tea.

Yan Liang said, "It's Ying Zi. It seems Uncle Lu has already recognized her."

Lu Jie took a deep breath and put the cup down. Ying Zi had already entered, and upon entering, she immediately looked down at the pillar, her face instantly filled with terror!
Lu Jie's brow twitched slightly as he walked to the window.

Once people get close, their view is completely unobstructed.

Upon seeing this, his gaze suddenly froze!
Yingzi stared straight at the pillar in front of her, so shocked that she forgot to breathe.

Inside the door was a courtyard, and the lanterns in the four corners not only illuminated the outlines of the houses on all four sides, but also lit up a person tied to a pillar!

She was thin and ragged, her head hung low, her hair was scattered like tattered rags, and she was on the verge of death.

If she hadn't slowly raised her head after hearing the noise, she would have looked almost like a dead person!
"Bitch!"

Ying Zi was filled with shock and fear when the man let out a hoarse curse, his dim eyes suddenly widening: "I'm just waiting to take your lives, and you still dare to come!"

The man was covered in wounds, but his face was still intact. Ying Zi's expression changed when she saw him clearly: "Yun Dou?!"

After the incident that night, Yingzi and Granny Li were still detained until they were released after being questioned by Yan Liang.

She learned about Yun Dou's situation from Lu Ying, meaning she hadn't actually met Yun Dou throughout the entire ordeal. She only knew that Yun Dou had been imprisoned, and no one, including Lu Ying, knew whether she was alive or dead.

At this moment of trepidation, how could Yingzi not be startled to suddenly find her tied up here?
"How did you get here?" she asked, looking at you with surprise. "When did you arrive? Didn't they say this place is usually uninhabited?"

"Why should I tell you?" Yun Dou sneered. "You framed me, and I wish I could skin you alive and tear your tendons out. You still expect me to tell you?"

Yingzi actually hated her too.

Back when Madam Jin was still alive, Yun Dou often whispered in Madam Yan's ear on her behalf. As a result, Lu Ying was not favored by her mother-in-law, and even the maids of the third branch of the family were bullied when they went out.

Whenever she had no choice but to go to the main courtyard, Yun Dou would always make things difficult for her.

But Yingzi knew in her heart that Yundou had taken the blame for Lu Ying this time. To actually see her lose her life for this would inevitably cause her some sense of sorrow for her fellow human.

She chose to avoid the question: "Why do you hate me so much? I haven't offended you."

After saying that, she quickly walked back to the door.

This is a dangerous place; she needs to leave quickly.

"That old Zhang, he didn't even lock the door after he finished eating!"

Just as I reached the threshold, I heard voices outside.

Yingzi immediately pulled her left foot back after taking a step forward.

The moment her feet touched the ground, the sound of chains rang out!

The two doors, which had been slightly ajar, were suddenly locked from the outside with a bang!
Yingzi panicked and instinctively reached for the door, but Yundou behind her said, "Go ahead and knock! Let them know you sneaked in here!"

“The Lu family is the real murderer. As her personal maid, you secretly sneaked into my place as a suspect. This can be considered premeditated murder to silence me!”

Yingzi suddenly pulled her hands back!
She turned around, clenched her fists, took a deep breath, and then walked back.

"Who told you our grandma was the murderer? She wasn't!"

"What's the use of denying it? Heaven knows, earth knows, you know, and I know!" Yun Dou's eyes were filled with boundless hatred. "What are you pretending for in front of me? If Madam's spirit comes to claim your life, you'll be included!"