Hypnotized into dreams, one sees the deepest secrets of the hypnotized. At this moment, Li Man’er, following Cui Shi's dream, traveled back to more than ten years ago.
The scene, both familiar and strange, was the Tie Dan Hou Mansion of more than ten years ago.
Li Man'er guessed that the person who came must be closely related to Ning Shi's death. She wanted to see who it was.
Cui Shi did not show much happiness, but rather furrowed her brow, as if she had swallowed a bitter fruit.
“Old Madam?”
Cui Shi immediately said, “Invite the person in!”
Du Mama hurried away again, and Li Man’er did not move.
She had entered Cui Shi's dream, so in the dream, the closer she was to Cui Shi, the clearer she could see things.
After waiting for a moment, Du Mama brought someone in. For some reason, Li Man’er could not see the person's face clearly, only seeing that her skirt was褚色 (chu se - russet colored) and revealing a pair of deep green thick-soled shoes beneath.
“Your servant greets Old Madam.”
Cui Shi looked up at Du Mama, who, understanding, sent away all the servants standing and attending inside and outside the room.
In the height of summer, the doors and windows of Song He Tang were tightly shut.
More than ten years ago, Cui Shi met someone secretly here. Ten years later, Li Man’er entered Cui Shi's dream and relived this secret conversation.
“Aunt, you don't need to be so formal. Please sit down quickly.”
Aunt?
Li Man’er was very curious and tried hard to look at the person, but found she still couldn't see her clearly. She only vaguely saw that the person was wearing a green top and had styled her hair as a married woman.
However, Li Man’er remembered her voice. This person had a somewhat heavy nasal tone but spoke fluent official Mandarin, which shouldn't be an accent issue.
Could it be that she was unwell, perhaps suffering from rhinitis or something similar?
“Old Madam, there's no need to be so polite.” The other person spoke again, “Now that the eldest madam is due to give birth soon, my master has sent me to ask Old Madam, when will we make a move?”
Make a move?
Li Man’er's eyes narrowed. She had finally waited!
However, this person seemed very cautious, only referring to her master, making it difficult to determine her identity. Usually, a wet nurse of this age and status would be a confidante of the mistress. From this alone, the other party's master was likely a woman. Of course, it was also possible that this was a deliberate ruse to confuse.
“Uh…” Cui Shi was about to speak when she received a warning glance from the other party and immediately swallowed her words.
Li Man’er watched from the side, frowning and wishing she could click her tongue in annoyance. It was truly frustrating that she stopped talking at such a crucial moment.
However, from this incident, it could be seen that the other party was excessively cautious, and her identity was likely quite special.
“I will not forget what I promised your master. However, the new bride has only been married for a little over a year. If she were to die soon after giving birth, it would perhaps not be appropriate and would damage the reputation of our Tie Dan Hou Mansion. The Ning family is not an ordinary merchant family, and Ning Shi was favored in her home. It might be difficult to explain to the palace!”
“Old Madam, wealth and honor are sought in danger.”
Cui Shi still shook her head, “Aunt, you should also know that Ning Shi cannot die while giving birth to a child. Whether she gives birth to a boy or a girl, if we want to get our hands on her dowry, it will not be easy.”
To die while giving birth to a child. They actually had such a vicious thought!
Li Man’er was also in the dream. Although angry, there was not much she could do. She could only calm herself and analyze who this aunt was sent by.
Could it be from the palace?
“The child is so small, wouldn't it be easy for you to tamper with it?”
Cui Shi was silent for a moment, then couldn’t help but ask, “Mama, may I ask why Ning Shi must die?”
The aunt smiled lightly, “Does Old Madam also want to follow in Ning Shi's footsteps?” The words were spoken lightly but made one's heart clench.
“Not at all, Old Madam. I won't ask anymore.”
The person then said, “Don’t ask what you shouldn’t, lest you end up like Ning Shi, losing your life so carelessly. Old Madam, don’t forget, you still have leverage in the master's hands. If Old Madam doesn’t want to end up disgraced, it’s best to do as our master wishes.”
Li Man’er was very close to Cui Shi. She clearly saw the fleeting murderous intent in Cui Shi's eyes.
Mist reappeared, and the dream scene changed.
Ning Shi had already given birth. Although it was a daughter, Cui Shi was not displeased in the slightest and took very good care of Ning Shi.
This was Li Man’er's first time seeing Ning Shi. She looked somewhat like the original host, a refined beauty, but alas, her beauty was destined for a tragic fate.
The scenery before Li Man’er's eyes continued to change with Cui Shi's dreams, finally arriving at the day that marked the turning point in Ning Shi's life.
Cui Shi's younger stepsister and Guo Shi, under the guise of holding the baby, stuffed something into the swaddling clothes. Unfortunately, all of this was only seen by a very few people; most did not see it.
In the crowd, it seemed someone exchanged glances with Cui Shi from afar. Cui Shi deliberately nodded slightly at that person. Li Man’er followed Cui Shi's gaze and saw a face that was somewhat familiar yet somewhat strange. She wondered why it was her.
The dream scene collapsed like a shattered mirror, and a huge vortex sucked Li Man’er's consciousness out. She woke up.
The incense had burned out, and Cui Shi also woke up.
The hypnotized person cannot remember what happened. Cui Shi only felt that some time had passed and had no idea she had been asleep, let alone that she had taken Li Man’er back through events from over a decade ago.
Li Man’er had connected all the fragments. She felt she was getting closer to the truth.
“Old Madam, you have done so many wicked deeds, are you not afraid of retribution?”
“Retribution?” Cui Shi said hoarsely, “I don’t understand what you’re talking about! If you, an unfilial person, are not afraid, why should I be?”
Li Man’er stood up, “As long as people do evil, they will surely receive retribution. Look at the present: your son is paralyzed from a stroke, half-dead. Your grandson can hardly support the family. You yourself do not have long to live. You tell me, is this not retribution?”
Cui Shi ground her teeth in hatred, “It’s all because of you, all because of you.” Did she not fear it? Had she never thought that she was experiencing backlash? But she could not admit it.
“If I had known this would happen, I should have…”
“If you had known, you should have let my mother and me die together, is that it?”
Cui Shi’s eyes widened in fear, but she quickly calmed down.
“I am very curious, what hold did that person have over you that made you so obedient, even willing to personally kill your own daughter-in-law?”
Cui Shi’s pupils trembled, “What nonsense are you talking about? I don’t know.”
This is a classic case of protesting too much.
“Old Madam’s memory seems to be failing. How about I help you recall? More than ten years ago, when my mother was about to give birth, Du Mama brought someone to find you.” Li Man’er smiled slightly, “She was wearing a green top and a russet skirt. Do you remember?”