A stew of the Red Chamber

Siqi was a fiery and impulsive person. Knowing that the key to breaking the deadlock lay with her young mistress, she immediately returned to the three small main rooms in the east corridor.

After dismissing Xiuju and Xiaolianhua, she knelt down with a thud and told Yingchun the whole story, kowtowing heavily and saying, "Please, Miss, for the sake of our relationship as mistress and servant, go and beg the Second Madam!"

I thought that, given my young lady's personality, she would definitely refuse immediately, but to my surprise, Yingchun remained silent after hearing this.

She quickly lowered her head and said in a mournful voice, "If there is any other way, this servant would never dare to trouble you, Miss..."

Before she could finish speaking, Yingchun sighed, "So be it! Since they are innocent, out of consideration for our past relationship as master and servant, I cannot stand by and watch them die."

At this point, she changed the subject, saying, "However, you know my situation, and besides, it's only your side of the story. I can only ask my second aunt for help, but I can't guarantee anything for you!"

Lin Daiyu's assessment of Yingchun: "Tigers and wolves are lurking on the steps, yet she still talks about cause and effect."

I think she's weak-willed; she's in a dire situation, yet she's still talking about karma and retribution.

But if Yingchun were truly that kind of person, she wouldn't have confided in Madam Wang on her last trip home: "I don't believe my fate is so bad!"

If someone who studies chess doesn't understand any strategy, then all their years of hard work have been wasted.

All her forbearance and evasion were merely her judgment based on the circumstances.

Even with Lin Daiyu's intelligence and resilience, she still couldn't achieve a good outcome.

Yingchun, a girl who lost her mother and was not loved by her father, was raised in the second wife's household. The more she did and the more she fought for, the more mistakes she was likely to make!

Under normal circumstances, she would naturally prefer to avoid trouble.

But as she cried to Lady Wang when she returned home for the last time, Jia She sold her to Sun Shaozu for five thousand taels of silver. She also lamented that she had lost her mother at a young age and was fortunate to have spent a few years of peaceful life with her aunt.

Complaining to Lady Wang about Jia She and Lady Xing is a kind of pledge of allegiance.

Where is there any sign of weakness or escapism?

It can only be said that she regarded Madam Wang as her lifeline, but Madam Wang failed to live up to her expectations.

Nowadays, although the time and events are different, they can still achieve the same effect.

Moreover, he can also bestow favors upon Siqi.

However, since family members know their own affairs, she could only mention it briefly to Madam Wang. Let alone make any promises, she had to be careful with her words, even when pleading for leniency.

Therefore, let's be upfront about the unpleasant aspects.

But Siqi saw Yingchun as her only lifeline, kowtowing repeatedly and saying, "If you're willing to plead with the Second Madam, I'll be eternally grateful. From now on, whatever you need me for, I'll go through fire and water without hesitation!"

Yingchun had no choice but to help her up and say some comforting words before saying, "It's too late today! It wouldn't be appropriate to bother her. Let's find an opportunity to go tomorrow when no one is around at Second Madam's place!"

Siqi knew this was inappropriate, so she chatted with Yingchun for a while before helping her to bed.

He spent the whole night in the corridor under the canopy bed.

Early the next morning.

Accompanied by Yingchun and Lady Wang, they went to pay their respects to Grandmother Jia morning and evening. After returning, they seized the opportunity and went to Rongxi Hall.

After bowing and exchanging polite greetings, Yingchun glanced at the servants inside the room, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping herself.

After Madam Wang dismissed the servants, she carefully repeated Siqi's words, and finally added, "I lost my mother when I was young, and fortunately I have been taken care of by you, Aunt. As mistress and servant, I hope you will take pity on her filial piety!"

At this point, Siqi took the initiative and knelt down on the ground with a thud.

Yingchun was pleading for herself after all, so how could Siqi remain uninvolved?

Upon hearing that she was to plead with Wang Qing, Lady Wang instinctively wanted to refuse. However, Yingchun's willingness to expose the family's dirty laundry and reveal Jia She's shameful deeds filled her with a secret pleasure, making it difficult for her to refuse directly.

He then deflected the blame, saying, "Although yesterday's matter was a family affair, the act of impersonating a thief did alarm Qing-ge. The old lady gave instructions for Qing-ge to handle it, so I couldn't interfere."

Yingchun pursed her lips and gave Madam Wang an apologetic look, saying, "I'm sorry to have troubled you, Auntie!"

Siqi panicked and hurriedly kowtowed.

Seeing this, Madam Wang could only comfort him, saying, "You don't need to worry. Qing-ge'er is very perceptive. Even if he doesn't know the inside story, he probably won't let them suffer an unjust accusation. Why don't you go back and wait? They might only be locked up for a few days before being released!"

Her words weren't entirely perfunctory.

Whether they were instructed by Jia She or Madam Xing, the three of them were clearly pushed out to take the blame.

But Siqi refused to believe it.

Seeing the displeasure on Madam Wang's face, Yingchun quickly pulled Siqi aside and said, "Since Madam Wang says so, let's wait for news first, and not add to Madam Wang's troubles."

Siqi knew she was not qualified to plead with Madam Wang, and fearing that going too far would be counterproductive, she had no choice but to get up and leave with Yingchun.

Back in the room, Yingchun comforted him, "Don't be too anxious. Brother Qing is a steady and reliable man, and even the Second Master praises him highly. Auntie said so, so she must have her reasons. Why not wait a few days? Perhaps there will be a turning point."

Siqi's eyes lit up upon hearing this.

She still habitually relies on path dependence.

Feeling that Jia She was trying to cover up his own misdeeds by pushing his family members out to take the blame, and that the old lady had been kept in the dark, she was so angry that she handed the people over to Wang Qing for severe punishment.

Judging from what Lady Wang said, it was clear that Grandmother Jia was letting Wang Qing handle the situation as he saw fit, rather than ordering him to deal with it severely.

Thinking of this, she immediately knelt down again: "This servant begs you, young lady, to plead with Master Qing to show leniency!"

"You're talking nonsense!" Yingchun said in a deep voice. "There's a difference between inside and outside the family. How can I go to him to plead for you? Even if I were to run into him, it would be in front of the old lady, the madam, and the sisters. How could I plead for you then?"

If it were anything else, mentioning it in public would be fine, but since it involved Jia She, she had to be extra cautious.

Siqi knew she was being forced into this situation, but since it concerned the safety of her family, she had no choice but to bite the bullet and plead desperately.

Yingchun sighed and said, "Last time, when the Xue family had such a big fight with him, Brother Qing didn't make things difficult for him. Why don't you have your family go and sound him out?"

No difficulties were encountered?

Siqi thought to herself, "Even though Aunt Xue begged the old lady and the madam, she was still locked up for a night."

They've never even met in person, so why should they go to him to plead for them?

No, although my family has never met Uncle Qing, I did meet him once.

And last night he was so confident that he would definitely rescue the person. If he were to leave the problem to his family now, his grandmother and mother might not think much of it, but his aunt would definitely become suspicious.

If I don't tell my aunt, I'm afraid my mother and grandmother might not care about my cousin's life or death. Only by asking for help myself can I get all the necessary considerations.

Perhaps, given her status as a head maid, Master Qing might still be able to give her some face.

Having made up her mind, she quickly said, "What you say is absolutely right, Miss. I was just being too concerned. Let's wait a few days."

……