Digging Up the Grave

"Sir, please say something! Is it... is it her?"

Lu Zhengliu remained silent, as if he had lost his soul.

Ge Bao'er was deathly pale.

He doesn't seem to be faking it. Qing'er must have seen Lin Yunwan too. It's impossible for the father and son to have mistaken each other at the same time!

"It really is her... She... wasn't she dead?"

Ge Bao'er was puzzled.

She found it absurd and exclaimed, "I clearly saw it! It was burned to a crisp! Impossible! Impossible!"

Lu Zhengliu had been frowning ever since he returned.

He didn't know how there could be so many similar people in the world.

He suddenly remembered something, stood up, and walked outside.

Ge Bao'er stopped him. "Where are you going?"

Lu Zhengliu pushed her away and said, "I'll go check on her."

Ge Bao'er sneered, "According to you, she's now Princess Consort. You want to visit the Princess Consort at Prince Huan's Residence? Aren't you crazy enough?"

Lu Zhengliu ignored her.

Ge Bao'er later learned that Lu Zhengliu had not gone to the Prince Huan's Residence, but had instead instructed the coachman to go to the area around the Lin Family's ancestral graves.

"Yes. She's already buried in a coffin, we'll find out if we dig her up, won't we?"

She waited patiently for news at the mansion.

The news quickly spread throughout the Capital.

"I heard that Prince Huan Consort and the deceased Di Daughter of the Lin Family look very alike."

"You've seen it?"

"Never seen anything like it! It's all over the Wuding Marquis Residence. It's caused that Marquis of Wuding to have a fit of hysteria at the Duke Xingguo's Residence!"

"Pshaw. I don't believe it."

Zhu Qing also heard some rumors.

Lu Chang'gong had just returned with Mu'er by his side. She usually didn't gossip with Lu Chang'gong, but this time she couldn't help but ask, "Eldest Young Master, have you heard the rumors circulating in the manor?"

"Yes, I heard you."

Lu Chang'gong carried Mu'er to the corridor, not even letting her walk up the steps.

Zhu Qing let Tong Liu carry Mu'er inside to get some water first, then asked Lu Chang'gong, "Eldest Young Master, what do you think? That Prince Huan Consort, she really is..."

"My mother is dead."

Lu Chang'gong said calmly.

Zhu Qing nodded, "I know, our Young Madam passed away a long time ago." She sighed, "If she really were our Young Madam, I'd be happy."

Lu Chang'gong glanced at her, and asked casually, "If it really is Mother, Concubine, don't you resent Mother for leaving you?"

"What kind of talk is that, Eldest Young Master?"

Zhu Qing sighed, "The Young Madam were to come back to life, let alone being the Prince Huan Consort, even if she were Nine Heavens Immortal Maiden, I would only have the heart to worship her and kowtow to her."

Lu Chang'gong smiled faintly, bowed slightly, and said, "Concubine, I'm going back now."

"Take care, Eldest Young Master."

Zhu Qing knelt down to see him off, then turned and went inside to take care of Mu'er.

Adorned in gold and silver, Mu'er sat on the couch, drank water, and ate pastries, like a delicate young lady.

Zhu Qing was delighted and pinched her cheek, saying, "You! If you had been born earlier, you might have been registered under Young Madam's name. You would truly be a legitimate daughter."

Mu'er put down the pastries and said gently, "Mother, Mu'er has had enough. Has Elder Brother left?"

"They're gone."

Zhu Qing then tied a knot for Mu'er, smiling as she said, "Look at this Jade Pendant, isn't it wonderful? None of your brothers are worthy of using it except you."

Mu'er blinked and asked, "Why?"

Zhu Qing smiled before saying, "Because we have Mother, your Elder Brother, and our Young Madam..."

During the years that Lin Yunwan was away, Ge Bao'er also caused trouble for the mother and daughter.

But if Ge Bao'er has methods, doesn't she have them too?

Ultimately, it was the man who was in charge. She captured Lu Zhengliu's heart, and the Eldest Young Master was exceptionally successful, managing both the Front Courtyards, living a very comfortable life.

\

"Digging up graves?"

Qi Lingheng put the teacup lid back on, his expression slightly somber.

A Fu nodded and said, "Young Master Yi said so. The eldest son of the Lu family went to the Lin Family's ancestral graves, wanting to dig up Lin... to take a look."

Before Qi Lingheng could get angry, he quickly said, "Your Prince Princess Consort Your Young Master Yi also said that he consulted a feng shui master several years ago, who said that the old grave had bad feng shui, so the grave was moved."

"Even if the Lu family dug through the entire ground, they still wouldn't be able to find the grave."

Qi Lingheng and Lin Yunwan said, "Yun Yi is really meticulous in his work."

Lin Yunwan nodded.

In fact, there was no human resemblance inside the coffin at all; even if it were dug out, Lu Zhengliu wouldn't recognize it.

But if he actually digs up the grave, that would be really disgusting.

"I never expected him to be so insane."

Qi Lingheng gave a faint smile.

Now all we can do is dig up their graves to find their loved ones' bodies. Why didn't you do this sooner?

A Fu chuckled inwardly; why did he seem to detect a hint of smugness in the Prince's voice?

Cuiqin came in and said, "Your Prince, Your Princess Consort, and the Duke of Duke Xingguo have arrived."

The couple exchanged a glance, Qi Lingheng stood up and said, "Let's go see him together."

Lin Yunwan nodded and went with him.

After their conversation, Qi Lingheng first dismissed them and then discussed with Lin Yunwan, "What do you think of those two brothers from the Duke Xingguo's Residence? Are they sincere? Can they appease you?"

Lin Yunwan thought for a moment and asked, "I know a little about the Inner Residence affairs of the Duke Xingguo's Residence, but I don't know anything about the Duke Xingguo. Could you tell me about him first?"

Qi Lingheng explained simply, "The Duke guards the border and is devoted to his duty, but he has a terrible temper. I've heard that the Chen family members are somewhat arrogant outside. However, they are still quite well-behaved in front of Imperial Father and me."

Lin Yunwan nodded, understanding the situation.

She said calmly, "I wasn't really angry. Family matters are family matters, and national matters are national matters; let's handle each one properly."

The Lu family needs to be taught a lesson, but there's no need to implicate the entire Duke Xingguo's Residence.

How to deal with the families of dukes and marquises was a matter for the emperor to worry about.

Qi Lingheng readily accepted good advice.

Lin Yunwan instructed A Fu, "Since the Duke Xingguo's Residence has come to apologize, let's accept the gifts for now."

"Yes."

A Fu led his men out and collected the items.

\

News of what happened at the Duke Xingguo's Residence has spread, and the Emperor and Empress have heard about it.

Qi Lingheng instructed his men to dress up Qi Zaijun and send him to the palace in a carriage.

Qi Zaijun was a little unhappy. "Father, are you sending Jun'er to the palace again? I want to sleep with Mother Consort."

Qi Lingheng assisted in managing the affairs of the Six Ministries in the Capital, and sometimes did not return to his residence.

Qi Zaijun will be able to sleep with Lin Yunwan.

Qi Lingheng grabbed his son by the back of the collar and urged him to leave, "Go bother your imperial grandparents, don't bother your mother."

"Snort."

Qi Zaijun obediently boarded the carriage, tilting his head back. "My son will be back in a few days."

Qi Lingheng his hand, signaling A Fu to quickly send the little monkey away.

Emperor Jingshun was overjoyed to see Qi Zaijun.

A Fu said with a smile, "The Young Heir Apparent has been longing for the palace ever since he got home, so the Prince sent me to bring some more."

Emperor Jingshun, holding his grandson, sat down on his seat and asked Qi Zaijun, "Is it true?"

Qi Zaijun smiled broadly, "Imperial Grandfather, Jun'er has missed you so much."

Emperor Jingshun laughed heartily.

He rewarded Prince Huan Consort with gifts and casually asked A Fu, "How has the Princess Consort been lately?"

A Fu lowered his head. "The Princess Consort is very well."

"Um."

Emperor Jingshun gave a faint reply and asked no further questions, then took Qi Zaijun to Empress Zhao's palace.

As a father-in-law, he couldn't be bothered to pay attention to those baseless rumors.