Thinking of what had happened to Cao’er, it was still unknown if she had swallowed the medicine herself.
Liu’er did not dare to say anything else.
At this point, Yu Youyao understood that regardless of whether Mu Jin was looking for the short sword or not, she should not interfere in this matter.
Mu Jin had made a mistake and was punished by her grandmother. However, she would still be a member of the main courtyard. In name, she would still be Madam Yang’s servant girl.
Although she was in charge of the household, as Madam Yang was her stepmother, she still had to avoid involving Madam Yang.
In this world, there was no daughter who brazenly interfered with her mother.
Not to mention, now that someone had died while she was managing the household, it was even more difficult for her to get involved. If she was not careful, she would be in trouble.
Yu Youyao felt a chill in her heart. “Have you investigated everything?”
Liu’er nodded. “When the old maids in the servants’ room realized that Miss Mu Jin was no longer breathing, they immediately reported it to Old Madam. Old Madam interrogated the servants who had come into contact with Miss Mu Jin today and confirmed that Miss Mu Jin had eaten the rat poison herself.”
Yu Youyao did not say anything for a long time. She stared blankly at the fine powder on the plate.
Although she had eaten the rat poison herself…
However, there was still a way to explain how and how she had eaten it.
After her grandmother asked about Mu Jin’s death, she did not plan to investigate further.
The death of a little girl was an insignificant matter.
However, if anything was involved, it would be a huge matter that concerned the family’s reputation.
When wealthy families encountered such a matter, most of them would settle it peacefully. This concerned human lives, so it might cause a huge commotion.
Yu Youyao’s breathing tightened as she asked hoarsely, “Why didn’t you come over earlier to report?”
According to Liu’er, it had been some time since Mu Jin had died. Now that she was helping to manage the family, she shouldn’t have delayed reporting until now.
Liu’er lowered her head and quickly explained, “Old Madam has instructed that Eldest Miss is young. Such a messy inner residence issue shouldn’t stain your hands. She asked me to tell you after it’s settled.”
Yu Youyao came to a realization. It was indeed not good for a daughter who had yet to marry to get involved in these private matters of the inner residence.
Logically speaking, Mu Jin had swallowed the rat poison because she hadn’t thought it through. This was the best situation.
Mu Jin had signed a contract to sell herself. Whether she lived or died was the Yu Residence’s business.
However, when she thought about how Mu Jin’s life had been lost just like that, Yu Youyao felt a little uncomfortable.
No matter what Mu Jin had done in the past, no matter if her death had anything to do with Madam Yang, Mu Jin had served Madam Yang for more than ten years. They had been master and servant for many years. Even if she did not make any contributions, she had worked hard. She did not expect to end up like this.
The coldness of the human heart was inevitable.
Yu Youyao closed her eyes and left the incense room. She returned to her room to change her clothes before bringing Liu’er to the servants’ room in the side courtyard of the main courtyard.
Now that someone had died in the house, Grandmother had already ordered someone to guard the door of the servants’ room early in the morning. She had also informed the other servants. Everyone did their jobs obediently and did not dare to bring this up.
Although Mu Jin had made a mistake, it was not a huge mistake. Old Madam was not a harsh person. Even if Mu Jin was matched with someone, she would not have an outcome that was too bad. She could continue to live in the outer courtyard.
How could she have taken it too hard and swallowed the rat poison?
Previously, Mother Yang and Steward Zhou had almost been sent to the government by First Madam because of their greed for the money in the residence. It was only when Eldest Miss had stepped forward that the two of them had a way out.
Mu Jin used to be First Madam’s most capable person. She was such a dignified person. However, she had died silently.
Seeing Eldest Miss coming over, the two old maids quickly opened the door.
Yu Youyao entered the courtyard, where her grandmother sat with a dark expression.
Yang Shuwan sat at the side and lowered her head to wipe her tears. “Why is this girl so stupid? Even if she’s in the outer courtyard and has a partner, she can still continue to serve in the residence. Why did she take it so hard and swallow the medicine just like that?”
She kept mentioning that Mu Jin had made a mistake and only mentioned that Old Madam Yu had punished her. If those who did not know the truth heard this, they would think that Old Madam did not give her a way out and forced her to death.
Old Madam Yu closed her eyes and twirled her prayer beads. When she saw Yu Youyao coming over, she opened her eyes. “You’re still young, so don’t interfere.”
She sighed inwardly.
Someone like her, who had lived for most of her life, had seen everything. However, every time she saw a dead person, she would panic from the bottom of her heart, and she couldn’t sleep for a few days.
How could a half-grown child like Yao Yao be calm after seeing a dead person?
Yu Youyao nodded and asked about Mu Jin’s death.
Initially, she had only come over to take a look. After all, she was in charge of the house now. There were many things that she could not avoid.
Old Madam Yu also sighed. “… I originally thought that she was getting on in years and had more thoughts. Furthermore, she was a girl who had made a mistake, so I planned to carefully find someone who could let her live a good life in the outer courtyard for her to settle down with. I didn’t expect this girl to be so stubborn.”
Yu Youyao understood immediately.
If she was casually matched with someone, why would she need to search? Her grandmother also wanted to help her find a good family, so she delayed this matter.
Old Madam Yu twirled her prayer beads and said softly, “What a sin!”
Yu Youyao’s eyes flickered as she said in a low voice, “Grandmother, who were you planning to pair Mu Jin with?”
Old Madam Yu said, “He’s Carpenter Zhao’s son from the outer courtyard. He’s an honest and sincere person. He’s just turned 20 this year, three years younger than Mu Jin. It’s said that when a woman is three years older, she can hug gold bricks. Carpenter Zhao’s family has an ancestral carpentry skill that they have to use in the residence. With this skill, his future won’t be bad. I originally planned to look for Carpenter Zhao in two days to talk about this. Who knew…”
He was indeed a good person!
After her cousin entered the residence, the carpentry work in The Green House was also done by the Zhao father and son. They had good skills and they did their best. It was obvious that her grandmother had put in a lot of effort.
Yu Youyao held her grandmother’s hand. “She’s not blessed then.”
Carpenter Zhao was useful in the residence. No matter where a craftsman was, he would be valued. He was better than a maidservant who served tea. When Mu Jin went to the outer courtyard, she could also live a decent life. How could it be worse than being in the main courtyard?
As the grandfather and granddaughter spoke, they ignored Yang Shuwan, who was lowering her head and wiping her tears.
Yang Shuwan couldn’t even cry.
She had delayed and refused to hand over the butler’s key, not only because she really did not want to hand it over, but also because the matter with Mu Jin had yet to be resolved. She was worried that after Yu Youyao took charge of the family, she would not be able to interfere in this matter.
After making some arrangements, she handed over the butler’s key.