The Chief Secretary of the Prince’s Mansion sought out the Royal Physician.
“You’ve just examined the Princess Consort?” the old man asked, stroking his beard.
If the Princess Consort was truly ill, it would provide a good excuse if anyone criticized her for not paying respects.
The Royal Physician nodded.
“How is the Princess Consort’s health?”
The Royal Physician hesitated slightly before replying, “She’s a bit deficient in qi and blood. I’ve prescribed some medicine to nourish her. There’s no need for concern, Chief Secretary.”
The old Chief Secretary silently plucked out a whisker.
Deficient in qi and blood? That’s as good as saying she’s not ill at all!
Seeing the Chief Secretary’s expression, the Royal Physician hurriedly reassured him, “You needn’t worry. The Princess Consort is fine.”
The Chief Secretary: “…”
The old man waved his hand dejectedly, “You may go about your business, Royal Physician.”
The Royal Physician left, utterly perplexed.
From the Prince to the Chief Secretary, why was everyone acting so strangely?
The Marquis of Yining’s household soon learned that Jiang Si would not be coming to pay respects. Those in the know had mixed feelings about this news.
Although Su Dajiu understood Jiang Si’s actions, he hadn’t expected her to be so resolute.
The person was already dead. Shouldn’t she at least come and pay respects for the sake of her grandparents’ face?
As the Princess Consort of Yan, Jiang Si was the most prestigious relative of the Marquis of Yining’s household, and many people were watching her. How would others react to the Prince Consort’s niece not coming to pay respects when her aunt had passed away?
On one hand, it would be seen as a loss of face for the Marquis of Yining’s household. On the other hand, the niece might also be criticized for lacking proper etiquette.
Su Dajiu grew worried about his niece’s future: if she was so inconsiderate, her glory might be short-lived.
The funeral hall of the Marquis of Yining’s mansion was arranged solemnly and majestically. Madam You’s son and daughter knelt to one side, dressed in hemp mourning clothes, their eyes already swollen from crying.
When Jiang Ancheng brought Jiang Yi and Jiang Zhan to pay their respects, Su Qingxue embraced Jiang Yi and wept bitterly, fainting from excessive grief.
The funeral hall was thrown into chaos.
“Uncle, I’ll accompany Elder Cousin to rest in the back,” Jiang Yi said to Su Dajiu as she supported Su Qingxue.
Jiang Yi was kind-hearted. Although she despised You shi who now lay in the coffin, she didn’t transfer that hatred to Su Qingxue.
Su Dajiu felt somewhat comforted, thinking: Compared to Jiang Si, this niece Jiang Yi is much more considerate.
“Go ahead, and console your cousin well,” Su Dajiu said, then turned to glance at his two concubine-born daughters with a stern face. “You two go to the back as well.”
Second Miss Su Qingxue and Third Miss Su Qingyu hurriedly got up and flanked Su Qingxue as they left the funeral hall.
Jiang Ancheng said to Su Dajiu, “My condolences.”
Su Dajiu was inwardly startled. He carefully observed Jiang Ancheng and saw genuine concern in his brow. A thought occurred to him: Could it be that Jiang Ancheng still doesn’t know the truth about his sister’s death?
Su Dajiu’s guess was correct. At this moment, Jiang Ancheng was indeed still in the dark.
This had been discussed by Jiang Si and her siblings after leaving the Marquis of Yining’s mansion that day.
Their father’s love for their mother ran too deep. If he learned the truth, he might not be able to bear it and do something drastic, like storming into the Marquis of Yining’s mansion with a knife to kill You Shi.
Since the Marquis of Yining’s household had already tacitly agreed to let You Shi pay with her life, why dirty their father’s hands?
After waiting for a few days, news of You shi’s death indeed came.
At this point, fearing that Jiang Ancheng might destroy the funeral hall, Jiang Yi and Jiang Zhan decided after discussion to simply wait until later to tell him.
Jiang Ancheng had endured the pain of losing his wife for many years, so he sincerely sympathized with Su Dajiu, who had lost his wife in middle age. He patted Su Dajiu’s arm and consoled him repeatedly.
Su Dajiu couldn’t help but glance at Jiang Zhan.
Jiang Zhan nodded reluctantly.
He had the urge to destroy the funeral hall as well and felt sick like he had swallowed a fly when paying respects to You shi earlier. But remembering his elder sister’s repeated persuasion, he could only endure it.
His fourth sister was carefree and unrestrained, simply not coming at all. He couldn’t help but envy her.
Never mind, You shi had already paid with her life. His mother’s death ultimately couldn’t be blamed on the other members of the Marquis of Yining’s household. The one to blame was the true culprit who caused his mother’s death – Princess Rongyang.
Thinking of this, Jiang Zhan lowered his eyes to conceal the fleeting murderous intent, touching the position of the sword at his waist.
Jiang Ancheng was completely unaware of his son’s mood. He sighed and asked Su Dajiu, “How did it happen so suddenly?”
Su Dajiu’s face showed sorrow, but his eyes were indifferent: “It was an acute illness.”
“It’s truly unexpected…”
“Indeed, who could have imagined?” Su Dajiu raised his hand to press the corners of his eyes.
Who could have imagined that You shi would harm his sister and then come to harm his mother? He had shared a bed with such a venomous woman for nearly twenty years!
Su Qingxun’s eyes were red as he looked at Su Dajiu, his doubts snowballing in his heart.
Mother had been in good health, how could she suddenly pass away?
They said it was an acute illness, but his father’s grief somehow seemed not deep enough, and his grandparents’ reactions were too calm…
Just then, Su Qingxun heard Jiang Ancheng ask, “Has Si’er not arrived yet?”
Su Qingxun couldn’t help but look up.
Su Dajiu was taken aback by the question and replied, “The Prince’s mansion sent a message saying the Princess Consort wasn’t feeling well…”
Upon hearing this, Jiang Ancheng’s heart immediately became anxious. He turned to ask Jiang Zhan, “Didn’t you three visit your grandmother together a few days ago? How was your fourth sister then?”
Jiang Zhan could only make something up: “Fourth Sister did look a bit unwell at the time…”
Jiang Ancheng glared at Jiang Zhan, “Then why didn’t you say anything when you returned? Had I known, I would have sent someone to check on your fourth sister.”
What use was such a son?
Jiang Zhan silently rolled his eyes.
There was his elder sister too, why was he the one being scolded?
Su Dajiu’s mouth twitched.
No wonder his niece was so willful, it turned out she was spoiled by her father.
Su Qingxun listened silently, but his thoughts were elsewhere: His cousins had visited just days before his mother passed away, yet Cousin Si hadn’t come to pay respects to his mother. Could there be some connection?
The more he thought about it, the more he felt there was something hidden. If not for the many watchful eyes in the funeral hall and the constant stream of visitors, he would have wanted to ask for the truth immediately.
More people came to pay their respects, and Su Qingxun suppressed his chaotic thoughts, mechanically bowing to return the salutations.
In the inner room, Su Qingxue had regained consciousness and was quietly sobbing while holding Jiang Yi’s hand.
Jiang Yi sighed and consoled her, “Elder Cousin, the dead cannot be brought back to life. Please try to restrain your grief.”
Su Qingxue wiped her tears, “Cousin, I understand, but I can’t help it… My heart aches so much…”
Jiang Yi drew Su Qingxue into her arms, silently patting her shoulder. She couldn’t bring herself to offer more words of comfort.
To be honest, it was they who had firmly demanded that You shi pay with her life.
But she didn’t regret it.
Although she wasn’t as formidable as her fourth sister, she knew that the revenge for a murdered mother was irreconcilable, with no room for forgiveness. At this moment, to abundantly console Su Qingxue’s grief over losing her mother would seem somewhat hypocritical.
Jiang Yi was a sincere person, so she could only stiffly pat Su Qingxue to show her comfort.
“Elder Cousin, why hasn’t Second Cousin come?” Second Miss Su Qingxue suddenly asked.
Jiang Yi glanced at Su Qingxue and replied coolly, “Hasn’t the Prince’s mansion sent a message?”
Su Qingxue hadn’t expected to be rebuffed by Jiang Yi and fell silent awkwardly, but her heart was greatly relieved.
With her birth mother dead, she no longer had to worry about being punished by her for messing up the matter with her foolish second brother.
It was truly satisfying.