Chapter 4 Lies

"What did you say in Beisan Hutong?" Gu Yunjin asked persistently.

Hua Mei's smile froze on her face. She had never been there, so how could she come up with an answer?

But now that the words were out, she had to continue, "When I saw Madam Qi, she was a bit flustered upon hearing that the young lady had fallen into the water. She discussed with the people around her about coming to see the young lady.

But the next moment, Madam Shen came out and said that Madam Xu was feeling unwell and asked Madam Qi to go see her immediately.

Upon hearing this, Madam Qi had no choice but to go to Madam Xu. She asked me to tell the young lady that since she had woken up, she should rest well and she would come to see her when she had the time."

Among the brothers in the General's Mansion, Gu Yunjin was referred to as "Sixth Brother" by the Xu family. The Madam Qi mentioned by Hua Mei was Gu Yunjin's sister-in-law, Madam Wu.

Starting a lie was difficult, but once she started, the rest came out smoothly.

After finishing her story, Hua Mei nodded emphatically, presenting an appearance of complete truthfulness.

Deep down, she felt a sense of satisfaction. Gu Yunjin and the Xu family were at odds, so naturally, she would have grievances against Madam Wu, who listened to the Xu family. Adding to that, the loyal and devoted Madam Shen, this story, when it reached Gu Yunjin's ears, would become "Madam Wu originally intended to come and see her, but was stopped halfway by Madam Xu for no reason," which would surely infuriate Gu Yunjin, even if she didn't show it on the surface.

Thinking about the cold words Gu Yunjin had said to her before, Hua Mei felt even more pleased.

Let her be angry!

A young lady struggling to survive in the Xu family, acting good or bad on the outside, wasn't it still up to people like them to have the final say?

"Have the time?" Gu Yunjin frowned. "I didn't realize my sister-in-law was so busy that she couldn't even come to see me just a few steps away."

"My child," Madam Yang embraced Gu Yunjin tightly, patting her back gently while comforting her, "your sister-in-law has to manage the household, so she must be busy. Don't be angry with her. You've suffered enough, and your aunt is truly heartbroken for you. Listen to your aunt, I'll have the doctor come later to give you some calming and warming medicine. Although it's spring, the pond water is still cold. You must take care of yourself. Your health is the most important thing."

Madam Yang spoke with genuine concern, and Gu Yunjin didn't interrupt her, looking up at her from her embrace.

If Gu Yunjin had to say, Madam Yang's features were kind, and just by looking at her face, one would feel close to her.

Even though Gu Yunjin knew the complexities in Madam Yang's heart, she couldn't detect any hint of insincerity in her tone. Even the corners of Madam Yang's eyes were tinged with red, showing genuine concern for Gu Yunjin.

This level of sincerity was probably why Gu Yunjin had never doubted Madam Yang before.

In everyday life, Madam Yang had been exceptionally kind to her.

Gu Yunjin's birth mother had passed away early, and she didn't like Madam Xu, so she had come to rely heavily on the gentle Madam Yang, who reminded her of her mother. In fact, she was probably the only female elder who had been "good to her."

Her second aunt, Madam Wei, showed a hint of caution and distance in her care, unlike the straightforwardness of Madam Yang.

Gu Yunjin silently thought that Madam Yang was really good at acting. When it was time to show care, no one could find fault with her. She was completely different from the Madam Yang who would look down on and disdain her in the years to come.

"My child, did you listen to what your aunt said? Why aren't you responding? Did the fall into the water scare you?" Concern filled Madam Yang's eyes. "Don't scare your aunt."

Gu Yunjin's eyes flickered as she replied, "I'm fine. I've heard everything you said, Aunt."

Although it was more like one ear in and the other out.

Even though Madam Yang's words seemed to be for Gu Yunjin's benefit and to speak up for Madam Wu, Gu Yunjin could sense that Madam Yang had understood her nature.

Madam Yang never spoke ill of Madam Xu to her, even though their stepmother-stepdaughter relationship had completely deteriorated. But those words, when they reached Gu Yunjin's ears, were not kind.

At the moment, Gu Yunjin wasn't buying into Madam Yang's approach.

Stepping out of Madam Yang's embrace, she said, "Aunt, what you said isn't right. You are hosting guests from various mansions today. Naturally, you can't get away. How many people and matters are there in Beisan Hutong? What could my sister-in-law be so busy with? Hua Mei went to deliver the message. How could they not know that I had been unconscious for over an hour? They just chose to ignore me."

Madam Yang's embrace felt empty, and her heart sank.

Gu Yunjin's words, although seemingly satisfying Madam Yang, still left a bitter taste in her mouth.

How could this girl, after just drinking a few mouthfuls of pond water, turn everything she said into ice?

Despite her confusion, Madam Yang said, "Let's not dwell on that. Let's have the doctor come first. Hua Mei, go and fetch her."

Hua Mei agreed and turned to leave, intending to find a maid from the Orchid Garden to summon the doctor. But as she raised her head, she saw several people hurrying into the garden.

Leading the group was Madam Wu.

Hua Mei stood still, realizing that she hadn't been to Beisan Hutong at all, and she hadn't allowed anyone else to go either. How could Madam Wu have come?

This was not good!

If Madam Wu went in and spoke to Gu Yunjin, wouldn't all her lies be exposed?

But Hua Mei couldn't stop Madam Wu. With a start, she turned and walked along the corridor towards the east wing. As long as she didn't confront Madam Wu directly, she could still get away with it.

Hua Mei had barely taken a few steps when Mrs. Wu strode straight through the courtyard and grabbed her.

"Hua Mei, I heard that Yun Jin fell into the water? Where is she? Is she okay? Did you just come out of her room? Hurry, take me in to see her," Mrs. Wu urgently exclaimed.

Before Hua Mei could gather her thoughts, she was pulled into Yun Jin's room by Mrs. Wu.

Yun Jin was listening to Yang speak some meaningless words when she suddenly heard Mrs. Wu's voice, and she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Finally, she's here. I've been waiting for her impatiently.

"Sister-in-law," Yun Jin called out to her, "Are you done with your business in North Third Alley? Coming to see me at this hour, do you want to wait for the midwife to take my pulse and then go back with her to report to my wife?"

Mrs. Wu was taken aback.

Just now, Old Lady Chen went to North Third Alley to pass on a message, and the news was quite distressing!

She said that Yun Jin was carried back to Lan Yuan completely drenched, her face as pale as a sheet, and when she finally woke up, she urgently wanted to find her family. Hua Mei had promised to deliver the message, but she didn't even bother to pass it on.

Yun Jin was extremely heartbroken, and she pleaded with several people, but none of them were willing to help. It wasn't until she was leaving the mansion today that she could finally convey the situation. Otherwise, Yun Jin might have cried herself to death.

These few words made Mrs. Xu extremely anxious, but her health was truly not good, and she was afraid that her presence would only further upset Yun Jin, so she urged Mrs. Wu to go instead.

Although Mrs. Wu was not fond of her younger sister-in-law, she couldn't bear to see her suffer. Without any delay, she came.

Little did she know that as soon as she entered, she was met with a barrage of scolding. She wanted to tell Yun Jin that it wasn't that they didn't want to come, but rather that the Xu family didn't want to call them, but she couldn't say such things in front of Yang.

Mrs. Wu smiled and said, "There was nothing urgent at home, so when I heard that you fell into the water, I hurried over."

"Just heard?" Yun Jin raised an eyebrow and pointed at Hua Mei, "Hua Mei, didn't you say that you went to North Third Alley to tell Sister-in-law that I fell into the water two hours ago, and she wanted to come, but was called back by Madam. What's the truth behind this?"

Hua Mei's face turned pale in an instant.

She wasn't stupid; she understood what was going on.

Yun Jin wasn't really asking her; she already knew the truth and deliberately had Mrs. Wu brought here to confront her.

She had underestimated Yun Jin, and she had just fabricated a story to deceive her.

Now, Yun Jin had dug a pit and was waiting for Mrs. Wu to kick her into it, causing her to fall in!