Chapter 707: Dealing with the Funeral
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Yu Youyao suddenly held her grandmother’s hand. “Grandmother, did you hear that? Cousin is back. Cousin is back. He’ll be here soon. Hold on a little longer…”
“He’s back. It’s good that he’s back…” Old Madam Yu raised her heavy eyelids and lifted them forcefully, forcing herself to take her last breath.
She couldn’t feel at ease without seeing Linghuai!
Fortunately, Linghuai had returned.
As the Mid-Autumn Festival was approaching, the moon was like a round plate, illuminating the sky. A tall black horse rushed into the city gate that was about to close like an arrow.
Just as the soldier guarding the city was about to shout at him to stop him, a copper token made an arc in the air. He caught it and took a look. The words “Yue Fei” were engraved on the token. By the time he reacted, the tall black horse had already run far away. From afar, there was a series of pattering noises, like rain hitting banana leaves.
On the day he left the capital, Zhou Linghuai received three letters personally written by Old Madam Yu from Yin San. He had a feeling that something might happen to the Yu Residence.
Otherwise, Old Madam Yu wouldn’t have sent the letters to him.
These three letters were very likely to involve some secrets of the Yu Residence, so Zhou Linghuai did not open them. He kept them close to him, planning to open them after returning to the capital and seeing Matriarch.
Therefore, when Zhou Linghuai received Yu Youyao’s “family letter” earlier and saw that Old Madam Yu was sick, he sensed that something was amiss. After completing his second deal with Harmon, he simply stopped pretending and returned to the capital at full speed.
He even thought of an excuse.
King Yue Fei had found a Daoist doctor with superb medical skills. He had returned to Youzhou this time to treat his leg. As he was not sure if he could be cured, it was not appropriate to tell others in advance.
He had been gone for three to four months. After treating his leg for so long, he could still make an excuse.
As it was near Mid-Autumn Festival, there were lamps hanging under the eaves along the street. The lights snaked all the way like a long dragon. On the cold street, only the lights were bright and clear. There were no pedestrians.
The horse galloped all the way. The sound of its whip whistled in the night wind.
With a whoosh, the sound of hooves gradually stopped. The horse stopped in front of a vermilion door. A row of lanterns hung under the eaves on both sides, illuminating the words “Yu Residence” on the top of the door clearly.
Zhou Linghuai dismounted and strode up the stone steps, knocking hard on the knocker of the side door.
After a while, the lacquer door was pulled open, and a smart head poked out from the crack. As the doorman yawned, he asked, “Who is it?”
It was already nine o’clock.
“It’s me.” The night wind was a little cold, and Zhou Linghuai’s voice was also a little cold.
The doorman was shocked. When he took a closer look, he was overjoyed. “Young-Young Master is back. Just now, Eldest Miss sent a message that after Young Master returns, he should immediately go to An Shou Hall…”
As he spoke, he pulled open the side door.
Zhou Linghuai’s heart skipped a beat. He threw away the reins of his horse and strode into the house.
The doorman subconsciously darted out and picked up the reins from the ground. He was a little stunned. Young Master’s legs were inconvenient. Usually, he had to take a carriage and went out in a wheelchair.
But were was the carriage? Something was wrong!
The doorman suddenly turned around and saw Young Master’s legs.
Young Master’s legs had recovered?
The doorman was stunned.
Something bad had happened to Matriarch. Eldest Master had invited Imperial Physician Hu into the residence overnight. Imperial Physician Hu had only said that Old Madam’s day had arrived and that the family should prepare for her funeral tonight.
When Xie Zongshen and Madam Yao received the news, they quickly rushed to the main house with Yu Shanyan and his children.
The servants in the residence did not dare to sleep anymore. They were all waiting in their respective courtyards.
Zhou Linghuai went all the way from the front courtyard to An Shou Hall.
He was wearing a black outfit, and his sheepskin boots stepped on the green bricks. He was like a strong cheetah as he strode forward, shocking the servants along the way.
Young Master was back.
Young Master’s legs had recovered.
Young Master had returned to Youzhou for so long. It turned out that he had gone to treat his legs.
Without any delay, this news spread throughout the entire Yu Residence.
As soon as Matriarch Yu arrived, bad news spread. After that, she kept using the ginseng to hang on until her last breath. The people from the Second
Mansion of the Yu Residence were all waiting in the outer hall, but Matriarch Yu was unwilling to see anyone. She only asked Yu Youyao to guard her and kept calling out her grandnephew’s name. It seemed that she would die with grievances if she did not see Zhou Linghuai.
Not long ago, Nanny Liu had returned from the government office. She had taken the divorce letter and asked someone to send Madam Yang back to the main family overnight. Madam Yang did not make it home and died halfway.
As Divine Physician Xie was related to witchcraft, he was tied up by Chang An and locked up in the Qingqu Courtyard.
Her clueless daughter who believed in witchcraft had her hair cut by Matriarch and was locked up in the woodshed. She had to be sent back to the clan tomorrow morning.
Now, even Matriarch…
Too many things had happened in a day. Until now, Yu Zongzhengs mind was in a mess, and his heart was filled with regret and self-blame.
Thinking back to what happened before, he rushed to Matriarch’s house.
Old Madam lay on the bed with a sallow face, “I’m the one who forced you to marry Roujia. Whether you hate me or resent me, just target me. Roujia didn’t let you down. It was our family who harmed her life. If you still have any conscience, even if you don’t believe that Yao Yao is your biological daughter, don’t harm her. Otherwise…” Lying on the bed, the weak Old Madam’s eyes suddenly widened and revealed a fierce expression. “Even if I die, I won’t let you off.”
Yu Zongzheng thought of Xie Roujia, who had fallen to the ground and was covered with blood after being pushed by him back then. Then, he thought of the Niatriarch who had vomited blood from anger at noon. The familiar scene almost made him break down on the spot.
Yu Zongzheng looked at his second brother in confusion.
All of this was Second Brother’s fault.
It was Second Brother who coveted Eldest Sister-in-law and ignored his other relationships.
It was his mother who insisted that he marry Madam Xie.
In the house, Old Madam Yu woke up and held Yu Youyao’s hand. “Call the younger ones over. I’ll take a look at them.” She sighed. “I’m afraid I won’t be able to wait for your cousin.”
Yu Youyao stood up and quickly called them over.
In the main room, there were Yu Youyao, Yu Shansi, and Yu Qingning. In the
Second Mansion, there were Yu Shanyan, Yu Shanxin, Yu Shanli, Yu Shuangbai, Yu Lianyu, and Yu Fangfei.
Old Madam Yu’s turbid eyes immediately saw Yu Shansi. “Brother Si, come here! ”
Yu Shansi walked to the bed with red eyes and took the ginseng soup from Nanny Liu’s hand. ‘Grandmother, I’ll feed you some medicine. After eating the medicine, you’ll recover…”
“Good grandchild.” Old Madam Yu opened her mouth in relief. After taking a mouthful of medicine, she stopped eating. “I’ve been drinking medicine for most of my life. I can finally rest.”
Yu Shansi cried on the spot.
Old Madam Yu held his hand. “It’s the fault of the father if he doesn’t teach his son well. Your mother isn’t a loyal wife, so it’s not your fault. Your Cousin Zhou and Mr. Xian Yun are old friends. Mr. Xian Yun is going to Youzhou to open an academy. Your big sister said that she wants to send you to Youzhou to study and cultivate virtue with Mr. Xian Yun. There’s no better life path.” At this point, she sincerely encouraged him, “You have to work hard..”