12dz Chapter 116 Madam Guo is Gone
Chapter 116 Madam Guo is Gone
After Hai Bohou explained, Chi Guiwan's body went limp and collapsed.
Fortunately, Qiao Er was supporting her, but seeing his wife so heartbroken, he felt bad too, so he comforted her.
"I'll take you to offer incense to your mother-in-law another day, to comfort her spirit in heaven."
Chi Guiwan nodded, unable to say anything else, but He Lingyi's thoughts were not just about losing Madam Guo. If Chi Guiying and Old Madam Chi were added, three lives would be lost, and it would be strange if the Lü family could not be destroyed!
After the homecoming banquet, Chi Guiwan and Qiao Er returned to the Zhenguo General's Mansion.
But they had only been inside for a short time when Madam Qiao came up to them and said something with a solemn expression.
"Just now, a letter from the Vice Minister's residence arrived, saying that Madam Guo, who was recuperating at the estate, has passed away."
"So fast?"
Not to mention Chi Guiwan, even Qiao Er thought it was a bit of an exaggeration.
"You've only been married for three days, and this news is really inappropriate. But you must be careful. Although Guo is your stepmother, she is also your sister-in-law's mother in name. Filial piety is paramount, and you cannot be disrespectful. I have prepared everything. Hurry up and go to the Vice Minister's residence for the funeral."
Madam Qiao, as the eldest sister-in-law, was truly thoughtful. Chi Guiwan's originally panicked thoughts were gradually put into practice according to her arrangements.
She was dressed festively in the morning, but by evening she was dressed in plain clothes.
When the couple returned to the Vice Minister's residence, everything was dressed in white mourning clothes.
Madam Guo's coffin was placed in Lesheng Courtyard. She had endured more than three months since she was injured in July, but she still couldn't wake up and died amidst the machinations of many.
Her face was made up, which concealed the appearance of being deficient in blood and energy.
The clothes that used to fit her perfectly now look thin and forlorn.
The funeral was very elaborate, and it was clear that Minister Chi had put a lot of thought into it. After all, she was his second wife, with whom he had been together for more than ten years, so it was only natural for him to shed a few tears.
Therefore, as soon as Chi Guiwan entered the door, she saw his pretentious sorrow and his numb and dazed third brother, Chi Guizhao, beside him.
The house was filled with mourning maids, and the atmosphere was extremely heavy for anyone who came. But when Chi Guiwan saw this scene, she felt extremely disgusted.
She vaguely remembered some things from her childhood when she attended her mother's funeral. She was also dressed in white and cried sadly amidst the mournful cries of the crowd.
"Father-in-law, please accept my condolences. This happened far too suddenly."
Her husband Qiao Er's words interrupted Chi Guiwan's train of thought. She looked intently at her father, Chi Yunjing, and saw that he was putting on a very good show.
"Well, it wasn't sudden. Guo was somewhat lucid at first, but after hearing about Second Sister's situation, she couldn't catch her breath and passed away. Her last words were that I must seek justice for Second Sister. I've already submitted this petition to Magistrate Wang. I'd like to see how the Lü family tries to extricate themselves in the face of a life!"
Chi Shilang's intentions are crystal clear.
He didn't want to put on an act in front of his eldest daughter and son-in-law anymore. Seeing this, Chi Guiwan glanced at her third brother, Chi Guizhao, with a hint of worry and asked a question.
"Mother is gone, my second sister is also in trouble, and my third brother used to be raised by my grandmother, but what should we do now?"
“He is, after all, a son of the Chi family, and I, as his father, would naturally not harm him. However, my second sister said that after this matter is over, she wants her younger brother to go back to their hometown with her to chant sutras and pray for Guo’s family. I thought it sounded good, so I agreed.”
Upon hearing this, even the dim-witted Chi Guiwan understood that Zhao Yiniang, the favored concubine, must have been behind it all. She wondered if Madam Guo, if she knew in the afterlife, would be heartbroken that her child had been ostracized and had no future.
But she was never close to her third brother. Asking him one question was the limit; she wouldn't care about anything more.
Chi Guizhao looked up at his older sister Chi Guiwan, hesitated, and finally lowered his head silently. Two tears slid down to the ground without a sound.
The Chi family was not very large.
Old Mrs. Chi only had one son, Chi Yunjing, so there were no other relatives to help. Chi Guiying and Chi Guizhao, the siblings, should have taken the lead in the funeral arrangements, but one was "seriously injured" and the other was "stupid," so the final burden had to be placed on the shoulders of Chi Yunjing and Chi Guiwan.
Chi Guiwan is already married, so she only comes to help during the day.
Even after nightfall, they still had to return to the Zhenguo General's Mansion. Qiao Er specially took a few days off to help her with some trivial matters, so the rumors outside were that the couple were treated very well.
They say the eldest daughter's filial piety moved heaven and earth, and that the Qiao family's son-in-law was kind-hearted and hardworking.
In short, the good reputation that Madam Guo and her husband had for their funeral went to them, while the rest was a disaster for Madam Lü.
Guo's letter in blood accused the Lü family of being immoral and incompetent, claiming that they had forcibly taken the second daughter of the Chi family before marriage, forcing them to marry off their daughter. The news spread like wildfire, as if someone was helping to amplify the accusations behind the scenes. Soon, the Lü family was severely scorned by the public.
Lu Yi hadn't even gotten out of bed yet when his steward came to report that the lions in front of the gate had also been smashed.
Upon hearing this, he was no longer sleepy and immediately got up from the comfort of his concubine's embrace.
"Husband, where are we going?"
"My mother is still in jail, so naturally I need to go out and try to get her released before the New Year. Otherwise, our family will definitely not have a good New Year!"
The concubines were newly brought in a few days ago. They had a lot of private wealth and were happy to serve their mother-in-law and the concubines in the palace. Now that the mistress had been sent back to her parents' home, the position was vacant. As a result, the concubines were doing their best to climb up the social ladder, but they were not very aware of the rumors circulating outside.
Therefore, I thought that the Lü family was an easy tree to climb!
He quickly took out a thick stack of silver notes from the cabinet next to his bed, handed them to Lü Yi, and then said considerately.
“My husband is right. In the past, the old lady cared for me a lot. Now that something like this has happened, I am also heartbroken. I can’t help with anything else, but I can still do my best to share your burdens.”
This merchant family is incredibly generous, far better than Chi Guiying, who fought with her mother-in-law. He now has great faith in his sister's abilities in the palace, always feeling that it's just for show for the Chi family, which is why he kept his mother locked up for so long.
If he were truly to be punished, he wouldn't have delayed indefinitely. Therefore, he took the silver note, put his arm around the woman, and said happily.
"Once Mother is rescued, I will give you a great reward. If your womb cooperates and you can conceive our Lu family's eldest son soon, then you will definitely have a chance to become the wife!"
Upon hearing this, the concubine was overjoyed and snuggled into Lü Yi's arms.
It can only be said that Lü Yi, who had been pampered by his mother and elder sister all his life, seemed completely oblivious to the impending doom.