Yun Chu Ling

Chapter 129: One Year of Mourning

The Xie residence summoned a physician.

Carrying his medicine chest, the physician hurried into Anshou Hall.

With just one glance at the Old Madam, the physician knew she was beyond saving, yet he still checked her pulse before sighing and shaking his head.

Yun Chu lowered her eyelids.

She had originally intended to use Xie Shiwei to deal a heavy blow to Xie Shi'an, but instead, the Old Madam had lost her life.

In her previous life, the Xie family had reached the pinnacle of success. The Old Madam enjoyed a peaceful old age, and when she passed away, the entire capital came to pay their respects, making her funeral a grand and glorious affair.

In this life, before the Xie family's rise to prominence had even begun, the Old Madam had already returned to the earth.

"Old Madam!"

Yuan Shi stumbled in and threw herself onto the Old Madam's body, weeping loudly.

The concubines also arrived with their children, kneeling before the Old Madam's bed. Maids and elderly servants followed suit, their mournful sobs filling the room.

Yun Chu wore an expression of grief on her face, but she found herself unable to shed a single tear.

Had the Old Madam ever done anything to her? It seemed not, yet upon careful reflection, the Old Madam's influence could be traced in every incident.

The Old Madam, who had devoted her life to upholding the Xie family's interests and regarded their honor and disgrace as her utmost concern, had died at the hands of her own great-grandson. One could only wonder what her final thoughts had been...

Yun Chu turned and walked out of the Old Madam's Anshou Hall.

Standing in the courtyard, she calmly instructed several steward matrons: "You handle the Old Madam's funeral arrangements. Be efficient."

The matrons wiped their tears and quickly rose to attend to the matters.

Yun Chu looked toward Xie Jingyu, who sat silently weeping on the courtyard steps, and said, "Perhaps you should set aside your grief for now. I've just inquired—the Old Madam died after being pushed and falling by Wei Ge'er. How do you intend to handle this?"

Xie Jingyu looked up at Yun Chu. The feeling of looking up at her made him deeply uncomfortable. He wanted to stand, but his left leg refused to cooperate.

Forced to remain seated on the steps, his voice was low, cold, and hoarse: "That wretched creature is nothing but a scourge while he lives. Get a rope and strangle him!"

"To raise a child without teaching him is the father's fault. That Wei Ge'er has become like this is inextricably linked to you, his father," Yun Chu replied. "With the Old Madam's passing, as the only grandson in the capital, you are required by custom to observe a year of mourning. You won't need to attend court during this year, so stay home and properly educate Wei Ge'er. He's only eight years old—still young. With proper guidance from you, his father, you can certainly steer him onto the right path!"

Xie Jingyu's heart sank heavily.

He had actually forgotten such an important matter as the mourning period!

His official career had already been facing difficulties recently. After a year of mourning and returning to court, where would there be any place left for him?

The Old Madam had always been so healthy and robust—why did she have to die at this particular time!

He could no longer afford to indulge in sorrow and tears. All he wanted now was to seize Xie Shiwei, give him a severe whipping, and then strangle him to be done with it!

Xie Ping, kneeling nearby, wiped her tears.

Fortunately, she was only a great-granddaughter and didn't need to observe mourning. But even if she had to, it wouldn't matter—her marriage to the Anjing Prince was scheduled in just one month, falling within the hot mourning period when weddings could still proceed normally...

Xie Zhongcheng, who lived at the estate, didn't return to the Xie residence until the next morning.

Before he even reached the main gate of the Xie residence, he could hear many neighbors gathered at the Xie family's entrance, discussing among themselves.

"Old Madam Xie was always so healthy and spry—how could she be gone just like that?""Had you not heard? Before dawn today, I overheard the servant hanging white lanterns at the Xie residence saying it was the Second Young Master of the Xie family who caused the Old Madam's death!"

"Heavens, isn't Xie Second the one who broke the fingers of Marquis Xuanwu's heir? He actually killed his own grandmother?"

"What kind of family raises such a child? Causing trouble is one thing, but murder? And he's only eight! What will become of him when he grows up?"

"Didn't the Xie family manage to marry the legitimate daughter of the General's mansion by concealing the existence of an illegitimate son before marriage? It's no surprise that such crooked-minded people would raise a murderous monster!"

"The legitimate daughter of the General's mansion was deceived into this marriage, then diagnosed as infertile. It's hard not to suspect the Xie family orchestrated this, just to make her willingly raise their illegitimate son!"

"Like begets like!"

"Damn it, the Xie family is utterly disgusting!"

Some returning market-goers couldn't contain their anger, pulling vegetables and eggs from their baskets to hurl at the Xie residence's name plaque.

Thud after thud, the entrance to the Xie residence became a complete mess.

"Stop this at once!" Xie Zhongcheng emerged from his carriage, roaring furiously. "Guards, drive away these meddlers!"

The onlookers spat toward the Xie residence's gate before gradually dispersing in small groups.

Fuming with rage, Xie Zhongcheng had only known his mother passed away, unaware Xie Shiwei was responsible.

Storming into the courtyard, he saw white funeral banners and lanterns everywhere, everyone dressed in hemp mourning clothes. The main hall had been converted into a funeral parlor, with a coffin placed centrally. Most Xie family members knelt weeping in the hall, burning paper offerings.

Suppressing his anger, he entered, offered incense to the Old Madam, knelt to burn paper money, then stood. "Where is that wretched boy?"

Yuan Shi looked up, her voice hoarse. "Jingyu locked him in the woodshed."

Mention of Xie Jingyu made Xie Zhongcheng frown. "Where is Jingyu? Why isn't he in the funeral hall?"

"Jingyu has fallen ill." Yuan Shi covered her mouth, sobbing. "His head aches, and his left leg is completely useless—he can't even walk. I decided to let him rest in his room."

Xie Zhongcheng's mind was in turmoil. How could even Jingyu fall ill? So young, yet his left leg paralyzed—it sounded alarming.

Turning, he saw Yun Chu entering the funeral hall and said coldly, "The Old Madam has passed, why weren't you in the funeral hall either?"

Yun Chu lifted her eyelids. "Is Father-in-law questioning me? Very well, I'll kneel in the hall burning paper and kowtowing, while Ping Jie'er handles the funeral arrangements."

Xie Zhongcheng's face darkened.

He'd merely asked, and his daughter-in-law retorted sharply. Was she beyond questioning?

But he dared not say more, lest Ping Jie'er actually take charge of the funeral and make the Xie family the city's laughingstock again.

"That wasn't my meaning," he softened his tone. "Now the whole town is saying Wei Ge'er killed the Old Madam, severely damaging our Xie family's reputation. What should we do about this, Chu'er?"

As Yun Chu prepared to speak, a servant's voice came from the entrance: "Madam Lin has arrived!"

Seeing Lin Shi enter alone, Xie Zhongcheng's expression darkened once more.Though General Yun had returned to the capital and the legitimate son Yun Ze was also at home, they only sent a woman to offer condolences—this was clearly looking down on the Xie family!

Lin Shi entered the mourning hall with a cold expression and offered incense.

Originally, she had come with Yun Silin, but just as they stepped out, they overheard many people discussing the affairs of the Xie family—truly shocking.

If what the commoners on the streets said was true, she dared not leave her daughter in this wolf's den. Naturally, she would not let the general come to lend the Xie family any face either!