Spring flowers.

Chapter 28 White Cloth
The person on horseback gently put Wei Yishang down.

Wei Yishang looked up, her eyes glazed over.

"Ye Mingzhen, you..."

At that moment, time seemed to stand still, and everything around seemed to freeze instantly.

"You're welcome and safe."

Ye Mingzhen's thin lips parted slightly, his face as radiant as a peach blossom. A ray of sunlight shone down, making him appear like a celestial being descended to earth, radiating a touch of brightness.

"Why are you here?"

Having regained her composure, Wei Yishang wondered why Ye Mingzhen had suddenly appeared.

"Just a coincidence."

Ye Mingzhen glanced at his ally and said, "Madam Ye, take care."

"..."

Wei Yishang watched him leave without saying another word.

She turned around and looked at her horse, which had been hit twice: once by a knife that seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, and once by Ye Mingzhen's arrow that had saved her.

"Miss, are you alright...?"

Cui'er, who had been knocked unconscious in the car, woke up, got out of the car, and saw that her young mistress was standing there unharmed.

"Someone wants to harm us..."

Wei Yishang took the knife and told the coachman to find a place to bury the horse.

The character "Wei" is engraved on the hilt of the knife.

At this moment, two bodyguards brought someone with them. Following Wei Yishang's instructions, no matter what unexpected events occurred along the way, their first priority was to capture the murderer.

Wei Yishang glanced at it and saw it was Wang San, a lowly servant in Wei Mohan's room.

"Take him back to the manor and lock him up properly. I'll deal with him after I've finished my business," Wei Yishang instructed the guards.

This place is not far from Goumen Village. Wei Yishang and Cui'er, along with the driver, walked forward.

Although the country has revitalized trade, the situation of the poor has not improved. Migrants still exist, ordinary people suffer from the exploitation of corrupt officials, and many children drop out of school early to help support their families.

When Wei Yishang saw these things, she felt a sharp pain in her heart.

Perhaps the opening of trade was merely a golden road for royalty and nobility, but for ordinary people, it meant nothing more.

Class and social standing—these are facts that those flowery words about hard work can never conceal.

Despite its fame, Xiang Sheng Ji was merely a place for wealthy people to shop and relax.

Compared to the extravagant spending of wealthy families, children from poor families spend all their time struggling to survive.

An old woman appeared ahead, and Wei Yishang stepped forward and asked, "Grandma, could you tell me where Zhao Sheng's family lives?"

The old man was very wary of Wei Yishang's attire.

"Who are you? What do you want with her?"

Wei Yishang said kindly, "I am the daughter of Zhang, whom she served."

Seeing the old woman's expression, Wei Yishang asked curiously, "Has anyone else come to ask?"

“I don’t know any Zhang family. Just walk a little further ahead, there’s a woman with a white cloth hanging down, that’s her.”

After the old man finished speaking, he went to wash his clothes.

A white cloth? Could something have happened to Granny An's family?
Thinking of all this, Wei Yishang quickened her pace.

Ahead, by the roadside, stood a low, single-story house without a courtyard wall. A white cloth strip hung at the door, giving it a desolate appearance; there wasn't even anyone standing at the door to greet guests.

Wei Yishang entered the door, where a large character "奠" (meaning "offering sacrifice") was written.

A coffin lay across the inside.

"This is……"

Seeing that someone had arrived, the weeping women looked up. An old woman stood up and said in a harsh voice, "We will pay back all the money we owe! Can't you let us send them off in peace?"

Wei Yishang had a general idea of ​​what was going on: Granny An was not doing well and was in debt.

"I've come to see Granny An. I'm the daughter of Zhang, her former master, from the Wei family." Wei Yishang glanced at the group of women, and seeing one with a kind face, she stood up upon hearing her voice. "It's the Wei family again! Haven't we suffered enough at their hands?!" the old woman snapped.

"Sister, don't worry about it, I'll take care of it." The kind-looking woman stepped forward.

"Granny An, I am Wei Yishang."

Wei Yishang bowed deeply to Granny An.

"Shang'er!" Granny An exclaimed in surprise, "This will not do!"

"The kindness of raising me is impossible to repay." Wei Yishang held Granny An's hand and asked softly, "Granny An, what exactly is this coffin?"

“It’s my son…” Granny An was overcome with grief when she spoke of this.

She couldn't cry anymore, and only then did Wei Yishang notice that Granny An's eyes were swollen and dark red.

"Condolences..."

Wei Yishang was at a loss for words, and simply held An Mama's hand. She knew that the pain of losing a child was beyond compare.

No amount of comforting words can touch the heartache of the deceased's family at this moment.

“Miss, let’s talk inside…” Granny An wiped away her tears and tried to lead Wei Yishang into the inner room, but was stopped by her elder sister.

"The Wei family, how dare they show their faces here? They've ruined you like this, and we haven't even settled accounts with them yet!"

"Elder sister, those things have nothing to do with Chang'er."

Granny An glanced at the eldest sister, then pulled Wei Yishang into the inner room.

The inner room contained only a kang (heated brick bed), a table, and three low mounds.

"Miss, my place is simple, please don't mind." Granny An wanted to pour water for Wei Yishang, but couldn't find the kettle.

Funerals in the family are always complicated.

"No need, Granny An. I just came to ask you some questions."

"Tell the young lady everything that this old servant knows."

Seeing the gentle look in Granny An's eyes, Wei Yishang inquired about the illness of the First Madam, Madam Fang.

"The First Madam's... that strange illness is really... her skin is red, swollen and ulcerated. Later, she used the ointment given by the Master, and she got better, but it didn't cure the root cause."

"Was that after Aunt Lin entered the house?"

"Back then, your mother and Lin entered the family one after the other. Xu was demoted to a concubine, so it's hard to say..."

Do you know the name of that ointment?

Wei Yishang had a general idea of ​​what was going on.

"One day, I saw the packaging paper, which seemed to be called something like Ice Hockey Cream."

Wei Yishang was taken aback.

She remembered hearing Zhang Juren mention some folk remedies before. This "Ice Playing Cream" was meant to make people lose weight, but it would also cause infertility.

If that's the case, why would Madam Fang be willing to use this?

"Are there any famous doctors in the capital who can cure this skin ulceration?" Wei Yishang asked Granny An.

"Yes, we even invited him to the mansion to treat the First Madam. He's the Doctor Ji from the clinic next to Xiang Sheng Ji."

“I understand, Granny An. I will pay off your debts for you. If you’d like, pack your things and come help me at my shop these next few days. You don’t need to go back to the Wei family, but I want you to stay by my side.”

“Young lady…” Granny An knelt down, “This old servant is willing to follow you…”

Granny An wept uncontrollably, her tears a mixture of sorrow, pain, and gratitude, as she poured out all the hardships she had endured over the years.

“Granny, the First Madam knows you know these things, so she probably didn’t give you a good arrangement and instead kicked you out.”

"How do you know these things, young lady..." Granny An was surprised.

"Don't worry, nanny, good days will come."

Wei Yishang's gaze suddenly shifted as she looked at Granny An. "Granny, do you know why my mother resents the Wei family?"

Granny An was taken aback, then sighed.

(End of this chapter)