Passing Away

"Yun Wan inside?"

Lu Zhengliu looked at Ge Bao'er and asked with a glimmer of hope.

He so wished she would say "no"!

Ge Bao'er just smiled; the oil drum had already fallen to the ground, leaving a dark stain.

Lu Zhengliu's eyes gradually turned cold, then red.

"Help... help... help..."

Someone was banging on the door from inside!

Lu Zhengliu rushed over, the wooden door was already scorching hot, and he felt a burning sensation on his skin as soon as he got close.

"Locked!"

The door was locked from the outside; no wonder the people inside couldn't get out!

Lu Zhengliu couldn't break the copper lock even with brute force. He kicked the door open, and flames shot out, almost burning him.

"Father, Father..."

Lu Chang'gong crawled out on his hands and knees, his back already on fire!

"Chang Gong! Chang Gong!"

"Water! Water! Where is the water?!"

Lu Zhengliu gritted his teeth and got the child out first. His aunt came over with a bucket of water and poured it on Lu Chang'gong, extinguishing the fire.

Lu Chang'gong lay on the ground, his hands burned and trembling with pain.

"Save my mother... Save my mother..."

He tugged at Lu Zhengliu's sleeve, pleading.

"Yun Wan... Yun Wan, she—she's inside?"

The door to the Buddhist hall had just been opened when the fire inside burned even brighter, making it impossible for anyone to enter!

The older and younger sisters-in-law hurriedly splashed water and urged, "Sir, please move aside! The fire is about to burst!"

They were afraid something Lu Zhengliu, so they gave him a push.

Lu Zhengliu staggered backward, staring blankly at the gradually burning Buddhist hall.

Ge Bao'er was also stunned.

With a fire this big, Lin Yunwan... there's no way she could have survived!

She looked at Lu Chang'gong on the ground, pursing her lips in confusion. Lu Chang'gong wasn't there when she left; when did he go in?

Why wasn't he burned to death too?!

Ge Bao'er thought to herself, "This is infuriating."

It would be best if she and her son died together, then no one would be able to threaten her Qing anymore.

"She... she's finally dead..."

Ge Bao'er breathed a sigh of relief and then smiled.

Lu Zhengliu stared coldly at her, then reached out and grabbed her neck. He didn't even know what he was doing; his eyes were bloodshot and looked like they were about to pop out of their sockets.

"You bitch! You killed Yun Wan!"

"Ah..."

Ge Bao'er called out softly, then fell silent. Her delicate face flushed crimson, as if she were being strangled!

"I... I... I am... the Di Daughter the Duke Xingguo's Residence..."

"Brother Azhen... you... you... are you really going to... strangle me..."

Duke Xingguo's Residence?

Lu Zhengliu out of his daze, slowly loosened his grip, and looked at her in disbelief.

When did Ge Bao'er find out her true identity?

Did she take advantage of her still-unconfirmed status to attack the mistress?

"You bitch!"

"You vile woman! You set fire to the mistress—"

Lu Zhengliu slapped her hard across the face.

"Cough, cough, cough."

Ge Bao'er fell to the ground, dizzy and lightheaded, spitting out a mouthful of blood. It was unclear whether she had bitten her tongue or was bleeding from her throat, but her mouth tasted of blood.

"Stop!"

Old Madam Lu and Nanny Yan rushed over together. Upon hearing the sound of the gong and seeing smoke rising from the nunnery, she didn't even ask what had happened and immediately came over.

Something really happened!

"What murder of the mistress! Zhengliu, Zhengliu!"

Old Madam Lu pointed to the oil drum next to her and said, "Can't you see? The oil hasn't even been poured in yet! The fire started from inside!"

She was panting as she spoke.

The Lu family members are almost here. If they were to be branded as having plotted to murder the matriarch...

The thought alone made her anxious.

How could this happen! Ge Bao'er is incredibly audacious!

Old Madam Lu glared angrily at Ge Bao'er on the ground.

She acted as if nothing had happened, got up from the ground, wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, and sneered, "Sir, instead of taking your anger out on me here, you might as well go find the Jade Pendant."

"With so many people around now, what if someone secretly finds the Jade Pendant and hides it..."

The Lu family's attempt to steal a chicken backfired spectacularly; they lost every single member.

Old Madam Lu's heart tightened. Forgetting about the blame, she hurriedly told Lu Zhengliu, "Hurry up and help put out the fire, find the people, find the Jade Pendant. We need to see them alive or dead—"

Lu Zhengliu didn't hear the word "corpse" and turned away.

Old Madam Lu whispered to Nanny Yan, "Tie her up and take her back!"

Looking at Lu Chang'gong on the ground, he said, "Help the Eldest Young Master back to see Physician."

Hearing Lu Chang'gong still muttering "Save Mother," her heart sank.

The Buddhist hall has been burning for so long, is her granddaughter-in-law still alive...?

"Finally, they're gone."

With the help of neighbors and members of the Lu family, the fire in the Buddhist hall was extinguished. Everyone on the street woke up, and the patrolling commander and his soldiers also came over.

Those who were not involved left at dawn.

Lin Yunwan sat in the carriage leaving the Capital, her face also showing signs of exhaustion.

She had no idea that Chang Gong would suddenly appear, nor did she know he would do such a thing!

The coachman stopped the carriage on the official road to rest. Not long after, A Fu arrived with his men and exchanged a few words with Qi Lingheng in another carriage.

Qi Lingheng nodded upon hearing this, dismounted from the carriage, and said to Lin Yunwan, "Madam, there's no need to worry. Your adopted son is safe and sound."

The men A Fu sent mingled among the people putting out the fire and witnessed firsthand how the Lu family took Lu Chang'gong away.

I also saw that Lu Chang'gong's injuries were not vital, and that he had become a witness to "Lin Yunwan's " burning to death.

It was truly the icing on the cake in this massive fire.

With his testimony, no one will doubt that the person who died was not Lin Yunwan.

After all, no son would mistake his own mother, nor would he doubt the words of a ten-year-old child.

Lin Yunwan closed her eyes and silently uttered "Amitabha."

Thankfully, Chang Gong is alright!

She opened her eyes and couldn't help but want to talk to Qi Lingheng: "That child is incredibly brave!"

Qi Lingheng smiled and said, "Courageous and resourceful, a rare find."

Lin Yunwan's smile was forced.

If it were someone else's child who was so brave and resourceful, she would definitely praise them. But when it's her own child, it really doesn't feel right.

"Alright. The child is fine, Madam, you can go to Jiangqian with peace of mind."

Lin Yunwan said, "Thank you, Your Prince."

Qi Lingheng nodded, paused, and then said, "Time is of the essence, and there's no time to find a more suitable identity for Madam. The Di Daughter of the Lin family —for now, Madam will have to make do."

Lin Yunwan quickly replied, "How could I feel wronged! If it weren't for you, how could I be living an upright life? I'm so grateful to you."

Qi Lingheng said gently, "If Madam needs anything when she arrives in Jiangqian, she can have Xiruo go find my maternal uncle first."

"I have not yet bid farewell to my Imperial Father Empress, so I cannot see you off any further."

Lin Yunwan didn't want to trouble him any further, saying she could go by herself and that he shouldn't worry about it.

But there was one more thing on her mind.

"I wonder what favor Your Prince would like me to do for you?"

As a woman Inner Residence, and now having lost her status as the legitimate Di Daughter the Lin Family, what else can she offer Prince Huan?

Qi Lingheng smiled but remained silent.

Lin Yunwan immediately realized that the Prince had never wanted her to help him at all! He had only said that because he was afraid she wouldn't appreciate it!

"My Miss Lin, until we meet again."

Qi Lingheng smiled slightly and congratulated Lin Yunwan on her new identity: an unmarried woman of marriageable age, Lin Yun Wan.

Lin Yunwan bowed to him gratefully and said goodbye.

The maid Xiruo lowered the carriage curtain and instructed the driver to continue along the official road.

Lin Yunwan leaned against the carriage, pinching the purse at her waist. When she fled the Lu family and left the Capital, she took nothing with her except the Jade Pendant with the leopard's tail.

Even if she "dies," she cannot allow the Lu family to rise again by relying on the Duke Xingguo's Residence!