Chapter 110: Aftermath

Chapter 110: Aftermath

In the council hall of the Marquis of Wuding's mansion.

The members of the Lu family were all seated inside, waiting for news from the temple.

The steward came in, sweating profusely, and reported to Old Lady Lu and Lu Zhengliu, "…We have found the lady."

Old Lady Lu quickly asked, "How is she? Is she still... still..."

Is she still alive?

Everyone wanted to ask, but no one dared to voice it.

The steward, with his head lowered, sadly shook his head and said, "The lady has passed away."

After speaking, he covered his face with his sleeve and began to cry.

Wei Shi and Zhu Qing, hearing this, nearly fainted.

Old Lady Lu also stood stunned for a long while.

"Dead..."

How could her daughter-in-law be dead!

She shouldn't have died now!

After the shock, Old Lady Lu was filled with an indescribable emotion. It was such an untimely death! If only it had been delayed by half a year...

What to do now?

How could she explain this to the Lu family members, to the Lin family, and to outsiders?

"Zhengliu."

Old Lady Lu looked over; her grandson’s head was hanging as low as it could go.

As the saying goes, 'a man sheds blood, not tears.' This was a sign of utmost grief!

Soon, the first maid in the council hall began to cry, followed by a second, then a third... Gradually, the hall was filled with weeping.

Zhu Qing and her two maids cried the hardest, and the old women and maids outside who heard the orders also burst into loud sobs.

"Lady, lady!"

"Lady, grandmother..."

The servants knelt in the snow, kowtowing.

Old Lady Lu also wiped her tears, seething with hatred for Ge Baor. She whispered to Mrs. Yan, "That wretched woman, how could she be so audacious!"

What to do now?

Wei Shi's eyes swelled from crying, and she came over sobbing, "Old lady, please bring Yunwan's body back quickly!"

She cried out, "What will I tell the marquis when he asks about Yunwan? My poor, unfortunate daughter-in-law—"

She was so distraught she could barely breathe.

Mrs. Yan, weeping, urged, "Madam, please stop, let's bring the lady back first!"

Wei Shi turned to leave, but Lu Zhengliu stood up, his voice hoarse, "Mother, I will go."

He must... must see her for the last time.

Wei Shi nodded weakly and sat down, then after calming down a bit, asked, "Old lady, when will we hold the funeral for Yunwan?"

Old Lady Lu pressed her lips together, unable to decide.

Holding a funeral meant informing the Lin family. How could the Lu family broach this topic with them? It would only bring trouble!

And where had the jade pendant from the Xingguo Marquis Mansion gone?

"Let's wait until Zhengliu brings back the body!"

Fortunately, she had obtained the jade pendant first. With a connection to the Xingguo Duke's Mansion, the Lu family would have a support, especially against the Lin family.

Lu Zhengliu quickly brought "Lin Yunwan" back.

He couldn’t lift his head in sorrow. His once radiant wife had turned into a charred, icy corpse. Only her clothes and hairpin faintly resembled her appearance in life…

Mrs. Wei couldn't help but cry out, "Yunwan... she..."

She longed to see for herself; after all, she had been her daughter-in-law for over seven years.

Zhuzing stood up as well, her pregnancy now noticeable.

Lu Zhengliu, holding Mrs. Wei back and stopping Zhuzing, spoke in a voice barely above a whisper, "Don't go. She's been burned beyond recognition."

Zhuzing felt a sharp pain in her heart, turned pale, and sobbingly called out, "Grandma... Sister-in-law..."

The maids Xieliu and Tongliu, crying, said, "Auntie, you are pregnant, please be careful with the child in your womb!"

This pregnancy seemed to bear the signs of a male heir, so Old Lady Lu advised, "You should go back and rest. Don't come here unless it's necessary."

Zhuzing didn't want to leave, but for the sake of her unborn child, she had no choice.

"I shall take my leave."

The two maids supported her as she left.

Upon returning to the Yuxing Pavilion, she saw that someone had moved into the opposite room – none other than Ge Baor!

With the death of the lady of the house, the marquis mansion inevitably had to hold a mourning period.

With the hustle and bustle in Shoutang, it was impossible for Ge Baor to stay there.

So, the old lady had her moved to Yuxing Pavilion.

Zhuzing stared hatefully at the opposite window, clenching her handkerchief and grinding her teeth, "Don't think that by causing grandma's death, you can take her place! Dream on!"

Calming herself, Zhu Qing, with her pregnant belly, said, "The eldest young master has been burned; let’s go see him."

She smiled coldly, her eyes harboring a sinister look, "And the second young master too."

She was determined to see them both!

Zhu Qing donned a thick cloak and went to Lu Changgong's courtyard.

He had been brought back with burns and was kept in the inner courtyard, attended closely by the maids, who were more meticulous than the young male servants of the outer courtyard.

Upon her arrival, she heard sobbing from inside the room.

Maid Qian Ru was capable of handling responsibilities. Despite the tragedy, she kept the young master's courtyard well-organized.

She truly lived up to the selection of the old lady, proving her worth in critical times.

"Auntie, why are you here?"

Qian Ru, wiping away her tears, greeted her politely.

Zhu Qing, with red eyes, asked, "How is the eldest young master? I came to see him."

Qian Ru sadly replied, "He has been given medicine, but he's in pain and can't sleep. He's still awake."

Though awake, being a young master, it wasn't really appropriate for an auntie to enter his room.

But Qian Ru said, "The eldest young master is properly dressed. If you’d like to see him, you may go in."

Zhu Qing nodded and followed Qian Ru inside.

The eldest young master had lost a lot of weight and was sitting up in bed, his left hand wrapped in thick bandages, his expression numb. Clearly, he was suffering from deep sorrow!

"Eldest young master."

Zhu Qing started crying as soon as she spoke. In this mansion, only she and the eldest young master were truly close to the old lady.

To put it strongly, now only she and the eldest young master were in the same boat.

Lu Changgong treated Zhu Qing with courtesy, "Auntie."

He slightly bowed his head as if speaking to an elder.

Zhu Qing nodded and said, "Eldest young master, I've come to speak a few words with you. If you can listen, please do."

"Please speak, auntie."

Zhu Qing, wiping her tears, said, "It’s not that I am heartless, but now that the old lady has passed, as her only legitimate son, you must consider her affairs. Her dowry, her accompanying maids, the funeral arrangements, her family..."

All these matters required their joint attention.

Lu Changgong was very grateful.

"Auntie, you truly consider my mother’s well-being. I will remember all that you have said. Thank you."

"Please take care of yourself, auntie."

Zhu Qing nodded tearfully, "Seeing you so strong, young master, I am reassured."

After discussing these matters, she didn't linger and left to check on Lu Changzong.

Lu Changzong, using the excuse of caring for his brother, had been hesitant to go to the council hall.

Zhu Qing understood and said to her two maids, "Everyone is saying that Auntie Ge caused the old lady's death. The second young master is frightened!"

She sneered, "He should not only be afraid, but also filled with hatred! He should hate Auntie Ge for causing the death of his legitimate mother!"

She was determined to make Ge Baor's life a living hell!

What was so special about her anyway!