Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Chapter 43: Luoxia Bridge
When Zhishao saw Wang Shanbao coming home again, she frowned and didn't want to pay any attention to her. She just sorted out the rice paper that Jia Cong had written on.

Ever since Jia Cong got into trouble, she had become very depressed and just waited patiently for him to come back. She usually just found things to do in the house to pass the time.

In the past, when he saw Wang Shanbao's wife, he would still exchange a few words with her, because many matters in the East Courtyard were in the hands of this old woman, and he didn't want the Third Master to suffer any loss, so he had to get along with her on the surface.

But Jia Cong had been away for a long time due to the accident, which diluted Zhishao's fear and she also lost some of her former alertness.

When Wang Shanbao saw her like this, he became furious.

In addition, he had just been scolded by the master, and half of his face had been exposed. He made up his mind to show off today and make this bitch obey him.

"The master has told you to pack up and go to the upper room to do some work today. You don't have to mess around in this room anymore. It will be empty later anyway."

Zhishao was shocked. To transfer a maid, the master had to ask for it personally. It was probably what Madam Xing talked about last time. There was actually such a master in the world.

Not knowing whether her son was alive or dead, she became concerned about the maid in her son's room. She felt extremely disgusted. Now that the Third Master was missing, she couldn't stay here for even a moment.

Seeing that Zhishao was still stunned, Wang Shanbao said to the two maids he had brought with him, "Help her put her in order and take her away as soon as possible. This will end the matter."

Zhi Shao took a few steps back and said, "I can't leave. I'm waiting for the Third Master to come back. He'll need someone to serve him when he comes."

Wang Shanbao's face was pulled, and he shouted with spit flying: "Stop dreaming about the spring and autumn of your mother. It's been a few days, and there is not even a ghost. Your depressed master will never come back!"

When Zhishao heard this, her face turned pale and her whole body trembled like a sieve.

She had been suffering for so many days because of Jia Cong's accident. She was already on the verge of collapse, and now it was as if something in her heart was broken.

Because of Zhishao's retort, Wang Shanbao's temper was also provoked. In the past, when Jia Cong was still around, she had some tolerance, because she knew that Jia Cong had recently been appreciated by the second master.

Now that everyone is gone, what does she have to worry about? The two maids he brought with him are his confidants, so she can speak without restraint. All she has to do is scare that little bitch.

"You damned girl, you are bewildered. Did you see that your short-lived master looks like her lowly mother and fall in love with him? I advise you to give up this idea as soon as possible.

Don't even mention that he's dead. Even if he's not dead, a prostitute like this who has given birth to a pervert is destined to suffer in this mansion. It's better for her to die early and be reborn sooner..."

Zhi Shao was so angry that her voice trembled, and her pretty eyes reflected an unprecedented anger: "Shut up, you are not allowed to curse the Third Master like that!"

Seeing that she dared to talk back, Wang Shanbao became even more arrogant and moved closer to her, almost poking her finger in the face.

"What if I curse him? He's already dead. The eldest wife has made preparations for him. Second Master Lian just sent a servant to the funeral shop to pick out a board for him..."

Wang Shanbao was speaking viciously when she suddenly heard Zhishao's shrill scream, which frightened her.

Before she could react, Zhishao pushed her while crying. Her strength was so great that Wang Shanbao took a few steps back but couldn't stop, and she bumped her head against the sharp corner of the desk.

This desk was found by Zhishao and Jia Cong from the storage room. The corners were broken and had many uneven wood chips. Wang Shanbao's wife just happened to bump into it.

The two old women standing at the door only heard Zhishao's shrill scream, followed by a muffled bang.

When he rushed into the house, he saw Zhishao standing there with a pale face and lifeless eyes, while Wang Shanbao was lying on the ground with blood all over his face, and it was unknown whether he was dead or alive.

The two old women were stunned by the scene before them. They looked at the usually pretty and well-behaved maid, who today looked as scary as if she was possessed by an evil ghost.

They watched Zhishao rush out of the room in a daze and did not dare to reach out to pull her back.

“Oh no! Someone’s been murdered…!”

Cries of terror rang out in the granary. The two maids did not dare to touch Wang Shanbao, whose face was covered in blood, and stumbled to report to Jia She and Mrs. Xing. Jia She, who had heard the news, did not care about Wang Shanbao's life or death, but only ordered the servants and maids to chase and capture Zhishao.

Suddenly, the East Courtyard was in chaos, people were running around, and the lights were swaying.

Guo Zhigui was driving his carriage past the black tarmac gate of the East Courtyard when he saw a slender figure rushing out of the gate and disappearing into the darkness. The figure looked somewhat familiar.

After a while, many servants and old women came out of the black oil gate, each holding a lantern, and some holding ropes, and hurriedly chased after the figure just now.

Guo Zhigui grabbed a servant he knew and asked, "What's going on? What's going on again?"

"Zhi Shao from Master Cong's room killed Wang Shanbao and ran away. The master asked us to bring him back."

Guo Zhigui was stunned for a moment. How could Zhishao kill someone in that state? He often heard his mother say that the Third Master loved Zhishao the most. No, I have to go and see for myself.

Zhishao ran all the way in a daze, not knowing where she was going. She only heard the sound of water in front of her. It was the Liuyang River that ran across the eastern city of Shenjing.

The river is wide and full of turbulence. It connects to the Grand Canal to the south, and its tributaries to the east are said to flow all the way into the sea. It is an important waterway connecting the capital city to the outside world.

A rainbow-like stone bridge spans the river. This Luoxia Bridge is the longest stone arch bridge in Shenjing City.

Zhishao staggered up the bridge steps, and a group of servants and old women from the East Courtyard followed her to the bottom of the bridge.

The lights of seven or eight terrifying lanterns flickered around like a ghostly fire urging people to die.

Guo Zhigui watched Zhishao run to the middle of the bridge and stop. He stood there staring blankly at the rolling rivers and mountains under the bridge. The night wind blew her dress fluttering.

Guo Zhigui suddenly felt something was wrong. Those servants and old women were rushing to the bridge in a hurry. If they didn't catch the man back, the master would not know how to suffer.

Zhishao looked at the figures rushing under the bridge and the lights swaying randomly, and felt dizzy.

"Don't even mention that he's dead. Even if he's not dead, a prostitute like her who gave birth to a pervert is destined to suffer in this mansion. It's better for her to die early and be reborn soon..."

"...He's a dead ghost, and the eldest lady has made preparations for him... She sent a servant to the funeral shop to pick out a board for him..."

Wang Shanbao's vicious words echoed in her ears.

She smiled bitterly: The Third Master is gone, why should I stay in that yard and be bullied by others!

Guo Zhigui watched Zhishao raise her foot and step over the bridge railing, and then her figure fell into the river like a meteor.

When he rushed to the middle of the bridge, he shouted loudly towards the bottom of the bridge, but it was of no use.

The servants and old women shone their lanterns together under the bridge and saw a cloud of beautiful hair floating on the water. An undercurrent came and the hair disappeared without a trace.

The group of people searched along the river bank like headless flies, but it happened to be high tide and the water flow of Liuyang River was more turbulent than at other times, so it was impossible to find the item.

When the news reached the East Courtyard, Jia She and Mrs. Xing were both panicked.

Originally, the death of a maid was not a big deal, but this maid was really forced to death. The old lady always valued dignity and family tradition, so it would be a big deal if she heard about it.

The couple asked everyone in the yard to keep their mouths shut, and sent the housekeeper and servant to look for it downstream overnight. They worked until dawn, but still found nothing.

(End of this chapter)