To Hold One’s Joy

hapter 12-1: The Truth

The question startled Sheng Jia Yu. She couldn't help but glance at Sheng Jia Lan, and doubts arose in her heart. Indeed, Ermei clearly mentioned having a headache and wanting to return to her room for rest. She had even declined her invitation to visit the rouge & gouache shop. So why did she suddenly appear by the lake?

The morning light outside the window was beautiful, and it was the busiest time in the mansion. How could someone be dragged to the lake without being noticed? Moreover, it wasn't just any ordinary maid but Sheng's second Miss.

Sheng Jia Yu's doubts deepened, and she gazed at Sheng Jia Lan, calling out, "Ermei." Sheng Jia Lan, who had just been struck by Hongdou, had disheveled hair and a pale complexion resembling scattered petals blown by a strong wind—pitiful and embarrassed.

Despite the embarrassment, she maintained a straight posture as she knelt and spoke softly, "I wanted to rest after parting ways with Dajie, but I suddenly noticed that one of my pearl earrings was missing. In a hurry, I retraced my steps along the path to search for it, and that's when I saw Luo Sheng still sitting by the lakeside--"[1]

The more Sheng Jia Lan spoke, the lower her voice became. Those in the room couldn't help but notice a gourd-shaped pearl pendant hanging from her left earlobe while the right was empty.

Sensing everyone's attention, Sheng Jia Lan lightly bit her lip and continued, "This pair of earrings was a precious gift from my birth mother, and I cherished them dearly..." Sheng Laotaitai glanced at her eldest daughter-in-law while Sheng Dataitai held her teacup with an unchanged expression.

Sheng Dataitai and Sheng Dajiu had a marriage based on mutual respect rather than deep affection. After giving birth to Sheng Dalang, she let one of the maids to serve Sheng Dajiu, and that's how Sheng Jia Lan was born.

Although she had never treated Sheng Jia Lan's birth mother harshly, it was impossible for a woman to like her husband’s concubine. She (the maid) was more like a dispensable decoration. Unexpectedly, that maid was short-lived, she died of illness when Sheng Jia Lan was nine.

Sheng Jia Lan is a sensible child and has been a good companion for Jia Yu. After all these years, it was natural for Sheng Dataitai to have developed some affection for Sheng Jia Lan. Still, it was hard for her to openly took Sheng Jia Lan's side when it involved the troublesome Luo Sheng.

Sheng Jia Yu suddenly realized, "No wonder Ermei was in such a hurry to come back and search for it. Did you find it?" Sheng Jia Yu had always treated Sheng Jia Lan as her own biological sister, so upon hearing Sheng Jia Lan's response, she momentarily set aside her doubts and became genuinely concerned.

Sheng Jia Lan appeared sorrowful and shook her head slightly, saying, "I haven't found it yet." Just then, Caixia, Sheng Laotaitai's maid, entered and reported, "Laotaitai, Zhu'er (another maid) just handed this earring to me, saying she found it on the stone steps at the entrance."

Caixia held a delicate pearl earring in her palm. Upon closer inspection, everyone realized it was the same earring that Sheng Jia Lan had been missing. Sheng Jia Lan's eyes lit up, and she exclaimed happily, "This is it!"

Sheng Jia Yu breathed a sigh of relief for her sister, and then a thought crossed her mind. She turned her head and sneered at Luo Sheng, saying, "Luo Sheng, you see? Ermei came back here to search for her earring, and instead, you caused harm to her!"

"Bah!" Hongdou interjected, leaping forward and pointing her slender finger directly at Sheng Jia Yu, almost touching her nose. "It's obvious that Erguniang went to the lake to harm my Miss. I saw it with my own eyes. Are you so foolish as to make excuses for a villain?"

Never before had there been such an arrogant and impudent maid in the Sheng Mansion. Sheng Jia Yu's face turned livid with anger. "Like servant, like master. Zumu, do you believe the words of such a brute and insolent maid?"

"Me? Rude and insolent?" Hongdou retorted, placing her hands on her hips. The sight amused Luo Sheng and almost made her laugh.

Luo Sheng then respectfully bent her knees before Sheng Laotaitai and said, "Waizumu, what you should consider is not whether to believe a maid's words but whether to believe me or not."