Funeral Arrangements
Discussion Hall of the Wuding Marquis Residence.
The Lu family members were all seated inside, waiting for news from the Buddhist hall.
The head steward entered, sweating profusely, and said to Old Madam Lu and Lu Zhengliu, "... The Eldest Young Madam has been found."
Old Madam Lu hurriedly asked, "How is she? Is she... is she..."
Is he still alive?
Everyone wanted to ask, but no one dared to say it aloud.
The head steward bowed his head and shook it sadly, saying, "The Eldest Young Madam is no longer alive."
After saying that, she covered her face with her sleeve and started crying.
Both Wei Shi and Zhu Qing nearly fainted upon hearing this.
Old Madam Lu was stunned for a long time.
"Dead..."
How could her granddaughter-in-law be dead!
He shouldn't have died now!
After the initial shock, Old Madam Lu felt a complex mix of emotions; her death was so ill-timed! Even if it had been just six months later...
What should we do now?
How could she explain this to the Lu family, the Lin Family, and everyone else?
"Zhengliu."
When Old Madam Lu looked over, her grandson's head was already bowed as low as it could go.
As the saying goes, a man doesn't easily shed tears; this is because he's heartbroken to the extreme!
Soon, the first maidservant in the Discussion Hall began to weep, followed by a second, a third... and gradually, everyone was crying.
Zhu Qing and her two maids cried the most bitterly, and the Matron and maids outside who were following orders also cried loudly.
"Eldest Young Madam, Eldest Young Madam!"
"Eldest Young Madam, Young Madam..."
The servants knelt in the snow and kowtowed.
Old Madam Lu also wiped away her tears, her heart filled with hatred for Ge Bao'er. She whispered to Nanny Yan, "That bitch, how dare she... how could she be so bold!"
What should we do now?
Wei Shi's eyes instantly swelled from crying, and she sobbed as she came over and said, "Old Madam, please bring Yun Wan back quickly!"
She shouted at the top of her lungs, "How am I supposed to answer when the Marquis asks about Yun Wan! My ill-fated, good daughter-in-law—"
She cried so hard she couldn't breathe.
Nanny Yan cried and pleaded, "Madam, please stop talking and bring Young Madam back!"
Wei Shi turned to leave, Lu Zhengliu stood up and said in a hoarse voice, "Mother, I'll go get her."
He absolutely had to... he absolutely had to see her one last time.
Wei Shi nodded, then sat down weakly. Once she felt better, she asked, "Old Madam, when will the funeral for Yun Wan be held?"
Old Madam Lu pursed her lips, unable to come up with a solution.
If a funeral is announced, the Lin Family must be informed. How can the Lu family ask the Lin Family for help? Wouldn't that just be asking for trouble?
Where did the Jade Pendant from the Duke Xingguo's Residence's mansion go?
"Let's talk about it after Zhengliu brings the person back!"
At least they got the Jade Pendant first, and if they could really establish a marriage alliance with the Duke Xingguo's Residence, the Lu family would have someone to rely on. Otherwise, if they went against the Lin Family, the Lu family would not have fared well.
Lu Zhengliu quickly brought "Lin Yunwan" back.
He could no longer lift his head. His once radiant wife had become a dark, cold corpse; only her clothes and the hairpin in her hair vaguely revealed what she looked like when she was alive...
Unable to hold back her tears, Wei Shi asked, "Yun Wan, she..."
I really want to see her; after all, she's my daughter-in-law whom I've known for over seven years.
Zhu Qing also stood up; her belly was already showing.
Lu Zhengliu pulled Wei Shi aside and stopped Zhu Qing as well, his voice barely audible. "Don't go. They're already burned beyond recognition..."
Zhu Qing felt a pang of pain in her heart, her face turned pale, and she sobbed, calling out, "Young Madam... Eldest Young Madam..."
The two maids Xiliu and Tong Liu, cried and said, "Concubine, you're pregnant, please take good care of the baby in your belly!"
This baby looks like a boy, so Old Madam Lu said, "Go back and rest first, and don't come over unless it's absolutely necessary."
Zhu Qing didn't want to leave, but for the sake of the child in her womb, she had no choice but to go.
"This concubine takes her leave."
Two maids helped her walk away.
Upon returning to the Rain Apricot Pavilion, she saw someone in the opposite Side Room —none other than Ge Bao'er!
The Marquis's Residence had lost its mistress; it was impossible not to hold a funeral.
With Hall of Longevity, Ge Bao'er will no longer be able to stay there.
The Old Madam then placed the person in the Rain Apricot Pavilion.
Zhu Qing glared hatefully at the window opposite, clutching her handkerchief and gritting her teeth. "Don't think that just because she killed Young Madam, she can become Young Madam! Dream on!"
She calmed down and, with her pregnant belly protruding, said, "Eldest Young Master is burned; let's go see him."
He gave a cold laugh, his eyes filled with malice, and said, "And the Second Young Master."
She wants to go see them all!
Zhu Qing put on a thick cloak and went to Lu Chang'gong's Courtyard.
He was carried back with burns and stayed in the inner courtyard, where the maids took care of him personally. The servants in the Front Courtyard were no match for the maids' attentiveness.
When she arrived, she heard crying coming from inside the house.
The maid Qianru such a big incident, she managed to keep the young master's Courtyard in perfect order.
As expected of someone Young Madam chose; their abilities are most evident in crucial moments.
"Concubine, what brings you here?"
Qianru wiped away her tears and greeted them politely.
With red eyes, Zhu Qing asked, "How is the Eldest Young Master? I've come to see him."
Qianru said sadly, "I've already applied the medicine, but I'm in so much pain I can't sleep, so I'm awake right now."
Although he was awake, he was still a young master, and it wasn't really appropriate for a Concubine like her to go in.
However, Qianru said, "The Eldest Young Master Concubine is dressed neatly. If you'd like to go and see him, then go in and take a look."
Zhu Qing nodded and followed Qianru inside.
The Eldest Young Master had lost a lot of weight. He sat leaning against the bed, his left hand wrapped in thick gauze, his expression blank. He clearly looked extremely heartbroken!
"Eldest Young Master."
Zhu Qing burst into tears as soon as she opened her mouth. In this mansion, only she and the Eldest Young Master were truly close to their Young Madam.
To put it bluntly, now only she and the Eldest Young Master are on the same side.
Lu Chang'gong treated Zhu Qing politely. "Concubine."
He lowered his head slightly, as if speaking to an elder.
Zhu Qing nodded and said, "Eldest Young Master, I've come to say a few words to you. If you can still hear me, please listen."
"Please speak, Concubine."
Zhu Qing wiped away her tears and said, "It's not that I'm heartless, but Young Madam has passed away. You were her only Legitimate Son. You must think about Young Madam funeral arrangements. Young Madam's dowry, Young Madam maids, Young Madam funeral, Young Madam family..."
Each and every one of these matters requires their joint efforts to handle.
Lu Chang'gong was extremely grateful.
"Concubine, you truly care about Mother. I've remembered everything you said. Thank you, Concubine."
"Please take care of yourself, Concubine."
With tears in her eyes, Zhu Qing nodded and said, "Eldest Young Master, I am relieved to see you so strong."
After explaining these matters, she didn't linger and took her leave to visit Lu Changzong.
Lu Changzong used the excuse of taking care of his elder brother to avoid going to the Discussion Hall.
Zhu Qing understood. She said to the two maids, "Everyone says that Concubine Ge killed Young Madam. The Second Young Master is scared!"
She sneered, "He'll not only be afraid, he'll also hate! He'll hate Concubine Ge for killing his stepmother!"
She wanted to make Ge Bao'er wish she were dead!
No matter how extraordinary her status is!