Chapter 371: A Grand Coffin

Chapter 371: A Grand Coffin

Boom, boom, boom. Clang, clang, clang.

The whole Imperial City buzzed with excitement as people thronged the streets to welcome the victorious army of the Ningyang Marquis.

A striking coffin headed the procession, and as it passed by the Marquis's Mansion, it was carried in amidst the fanfare of music.

Meanwhile, Cheng Qi and the other survivors, summoned by imperial decree, entered the palace.

At this moment, in the Marquis's Mansion.

Lady Qin stirred and opened her eyes groggily.

"What’s all the commotion about?"

She glanced around, bewildered, at the square room, where a cluster of children surrounded her.

"Grandmother! You're awake!"

"An'er, Hao'er, what brings you two back?" Lady Qin smiled as she saw her two beloved grandsons.

Cheng Bingan and Cheng Binghao exchanged a glance, and Cheng Bingan said, "We’re here to check on you."

"With all your studies at the academy, why take the time to visit me? I'm fine." Lady Qin seemed her usual self, as if nothing had happened.

But that was exactly what worried them!

Ever since Cheng Yunshuo’s actions had left her fuming and she stormed back, she had been in a deep sleep for two whole days.

She had been kept alive with ginseng soup, and today the noise outside was so loud that it woke her up.

She seemed to have wiped the whole incident from her memory.

"Grandmother, it's good that you're fine," Cheng Bingan said, "Just rest easy; we’re all here with you."

"Why all this resting? I need to stretch my legs." Lady Qin called for her maid to help her up, "Speaking of which, where’s your mother? What’s Jun'er up to?"

"Mother... she stepped out for some errands."

"And your father?"

"Father... he’s out too." Cheng Bingan answered carefully, watching Lady Qin's expression, afraid she might remember something.

And the next moment, Lady Qin's face immediately showed anger, "That ungrateful son of mine!"

Oh no, she’s remembered everything.

"Grandmother!" Cheng Bingan rushed to calm her down, fearing she might get angry again.

But the next moment, Lady Qin shouted, "Your grandfather’s due back in the Imperial City any day now, and he’s still gallivanting around!"

Though Lady Qin had forgotten much, she still recalled that the old Marquis was expected back around this time.

"Nanny Wen, what’s today’s date? Where’s the Lord Marquis?"

Nanny Wen hesitated, fearing a wrong word could spell disaster. She quickly looked to the eldest son, Cheng Bingan, for help.

Cheng Bingan said tactfully, "Grandmother, Grandfather's return has been delayed a bit, and he will be back later."

"What’s the delay? Why is he coming back later?" Lady Qin was full of worry and displeasure.

Cheng Bingan hated lying; it made him more anxious.

At this moment, Cheng Binghao said, "It’s the Emperor’s command, telling Grandfather and the others to enter the Imperial City later on an auspicious day."

Hearing this, Lady Qin’s doubts vanished, "So it's the Emperor's decree."

"In that case, we’ll just have to wait a little longer," she said with a smile as she stood up, then added, "But we can't delay. Nanny Wen, did you prepare the dried meat and snacks I asked for last time?"

"Everything’s ready, Madam."

"That’s your grandfather’s favorite. I’ll go check; we can’t afford any mistakes."

Lady Qin headed for the door, and just as she reached it, a young boy came running in, crying.

"Outside, there’s a coffin...!"

Cheng Bingzhi, pale and scared, ran to Lady Qin.

Hearing his words, Lady Qin asked curiously, "What official is outside?"

"This big, this big, a huge coffin..." Cheng Bingzhi gestured wildly.

Lady Qin said disdainfully, "Useless! What official scared you like that?"

"I, my grandfather, he’s such a big official..."

Lady Qin: "...Your grandfather is back?"

Inside, Cheng Bingan and the others had just come out, and Cheng Bingzhi, catching his breath, said.

"Yes! He’s lying in that coffin! It’s huge!"

Everyone: "..."

Lady Qin: "!!!"

When Lu Lingyun returned, the Marquis’s Mansion was in chaos again.

A crowd was coming in and out of Lady Qin’s courtyard.

She learned from the servants that Lady Qin had discovered the old Marquis’s death, rushed to the main gate in a frenzy, and cried over his coffin until she fainted.

Now she was barely breathing, and half the doctors in the Imperial City had come to save her life.

Hearing this, Lu Lingyun was overwhelmed, "Who told Madam about the Lord Marquis’s death!"

From the crowd, Cheng Binghao ran over, "Mother, it was that fool Cheng Bingzhi!"

Cheng Bingzhi was surrounded by a group, crying with snot and tears, "I didn’t mean to, why are you hitting me!"

Cheng Bingzhi was beaten by Cheng Binghao and the other two.

His bottom, still sore, was now hurting all over.

"Mother, I want my mom, mom save me!"

Lu Lingyun: "..."

Lu Lingyun didn’t want to deal with that bungler and turned around hurriedly to attend to Lady Qin’s matters in her courtyard.

"Young mistress, the Lady Marquis is in grave danger, and we dare not treat her. We should summon the imperial physician!"

Seeing this, Lu Lingyun changed into her official attire and hurried to the Imperial Medical Bureau to summon the imperial physician.

While Lu Lingyun was busy running around, the back courtyard was in disarray.

The concubines were all extremely anxious.

Li Bihan was especially distraught after learning that her son had been beaten again today.

She truly wished to take advantage of this moment to reclaim her children, but Cheng Bingzhi and Cheng Lanying were surrounded by the maids and nannies arranged by Lu Lingyun, who now prevented her from approaching the children.

Witnessing this, her anxiety grew, especially upon seeing Cheng Bingzhi being beaten.

These people truly didn’t treat her son as a young master of the Marquis's Mansion!

Why didn’t the servants even try to intervene?

After her initial panic and anger, she realized that the only one in the entire Marquis's Mansion who could protect Cheng Bingzhi and Cheng Lanying was Cheng Yunshuo.

Everyone else treated them as insignificant.

If Cheng Yunshuo truly became a monk, their future in the mansion would be unbearable!

As for taking the children and leaving?

That was absolutely impossible. Not only was Li Bihan penniless, but even if she fled with some money, without the protection of the Marquis's Mansion, she and her children couldn’t survive on their own.

She had no choice but to stay in the Marquis's Mansion.

Thinking of this, Li Bihan, who had been restless for days, decided to act. She must persuade Cheng Yunshuo to return.

"The Lord Marquis sacrificed himself for the country, the Lady is critically ill, and the Crown Prince is determined to become a monk. How can this be allowed!"

"We must not let the Crown Prince become a monk. Someone must persuade him!"

"But who can persuade him now?"

Qiu Ling and Ling Long anxiously discussed.

At that moment, a voice spoke up.

"I know someone who might be able to talk sense into the Crown Prince!"