Chapter 135 – Making A Ruckus At The Mourning Hall
Chapter 135 Making a Ruckus at the Mourning Hall
No one expected that Qu Moying would break down in tears.
The ladies who followed her exchanged suspicious glances at the sight of her kneeling on the ground with her head hanging low, her cries choking with sobs. Throughout their way here, they thought that Qu Moying was just putting on a show, the mourning wail, but her main agenda was to meet Yue Wenhan, her cousin.
Yue Wenhan was young, handsome, and held quite a high position for someone his age. The Emperor thought highly of him too. Now that Qu Moying was no longer engaged, it was possible that she had taken a fancy on him. Qu Qiuyan and Xiao Haitang speculated even more, such as the fact that the so-called paying respect might just be an excuse.
Could it be that Qu Moying really came to pay her respects to Earl Ling’an?
There was another person in the mourning hall who looked at Qu Moying in shock. A trace of surprise flashed through his eyes, but he quickly hid his emotions. He knelt on the ground beside Qu Moying and began to cry softly.
Now that two people were crying, the others had to cry too. They wiped their eyes forcefully, even if there were no tears. It didn’t look nice for them not to shed a single tear when others wailed vigorously.
After the wails lasted a while, Ji Yuanxing spoke first, “Cousin, please comfort Fourth Lady Qu. It will be bad for her health to continue crying.”
Qu Moying’s cries weren’t very loud, but her silent sobs sounded like a little beast in despair, and those who heard it couldn’t help but feel sorry. Seeing her weak body kneel on the floor without moving, they inexplicably felt pity for her.
Everyone knew that it wasn’t good for Qu Moying’s health if she kept crying.
“Fourth Lady Qu, please get up. You’ll get sick if you go on like this.” Xiao Haitang, who had long gotten tired of wailing, wiped her eyes, walked to Qu Moying, and reached out to help her up.
Yu Dong hurriedly stepped forward to block Xiao Haitang’s hand. “Miss Xiao, thank you for your concern. Our miss will be fine.”
When they came, Qu Moying had told Yu Dong not to let anyone interrupt her cries. She only wanted some more time and privacy to pay her respects.
Although Yu Dong did not understand why his miss cared so much about Earl Ling’an, whom she had never met before. He suspected that it might be because of the Crown Princess. He heard that Crown Princess treated Qu Moying very well. It was Crown Princess who found the doctor who treated her eyes. Qu Moying probably felt sad because Crown Princess’s entire family has now passed on.
A maid dares block her?! Xiao Haitang’s expression turned gloomy. However, it was Qu’s Mansion’s maid, so she couldn’t act up. She turned back to look at Qu Qiuyan.
Qu Qiuyan wiped the corners of her eyes, looking like she was very sad. “Yu Dong, Moying is too emotional. Hurry and help her up. Moying is weak to begin with, what would you do if she really was overwhelmed and faint?”
She was also the Qu’s Mansion’s young lady, so it was natural for her to reprimand a maid.
However, Yu Dong didn’t even look at her. He only bowed to her quietly and stood beside Qu Moying, separating Xiao Haitang and Qu Moying.
This seemingly defiant action upset Qu Qiuyan so much that she was about to lose herself. Knowing that this was not the right time, she forcefully suppressed the anger in her heart.
Taking a few steps forward, Qu Qiuyan went to the other side of Qu Moying and comforted her softly, “Moying, don’t be too sad. Take care of yourself. He’s passed. The people left behind are the most important.”
As she spoke, she reached out to help Qu Moying up.
She was the Qu’s Mansion’s young lady, so Yu Dong could not directly stop her.
Qu Moying slowly raised her head. Her eye veil was wet. Yu Chun hurriedly went forward to help Qu Moying up, avoiding Qu Qiuyan, who also wanted to help Qu Moying.
As Qu Moying stood straight up, everyone looked at the corner of her lips in shock. A faint bloodstain appeared on the corner of her mouth where she bit her lips. It was visible on her fair skin, adding another layer of sorrow to the mournful mood.
No one noticed that Ji Yuanhai, who was kneeling on the ground and crying, raised his head and looked at Qu Moying in shock. Then, without anyone noticing, he lowered his head and continued to cry.
“Miss,” Yu Chun panicked and said hurriedly.
Qu Moying reached out to take out a handkerchief and gently pressed the corner of her lips. She shook her head. “I’m fine.”
“Miss, your veil is wet. I’ll change one for you,” Yu Chun said and took out a clean veil from her pocket.
Qu Moying nodded. She took Yu Chun to a corner and stood facing inside. Yu Chun took off the wet eye veil for her and changed a new one. Then, Yu Chun spruced up Qu Moying’s appearance before Qu Moying turned around.
When Qu Moying turned around, the people behind her looked at her with questions in their eyes. No one expected that Qu Moying would be so sorrowful. The few people in the mourning hall quieted down after a while, their querying glances wandering about Qu Moying.
For a moment, the hall was very quiet.
Suddenly, a loud noise came from the entrance. Originally, they thought it was not a big deal, so no one in the mourning hall paid attention to it. Unexpectedly, the sound became louder and louder. They could faintly hear the sound of someone crying.
Ji Yuanxing showed displeasure on his face. He turned his head and was about to instruct the young servant behind him when a woman in mourning clothes suddenly rushed in. He was immediately filled with anger and scolded, “Where did you come from? Guards, take her away! This is Uncle’s funeral! It’s not for just anyone, and especially not for someone who know no rules!”
The servant behind him nodded and hurriedly went over to pull the woman. Suddenly, the woman raised her head and snapped sternly, “I dare you!”
The young servant was shocked and quickly retreated.
“Concubine Xiang?” At this time, Ji Yuanxing also recognized the person in front of him and exclaimed in surprise. He waved to the young servant and gestured at him with his eyes. The young servant took two steps back, then turned around and ran inside to report.
Although Concubine Xiang was a concubine, she was a senior in the family. Concubine Xiang was well within her rights to be at Ji Yongming’s mourning hall.
“First Young Master, why did you prevent me from coming in to see Master Ji for the last time? Surely, there’s nothing off about his death?” Concubine Xiang raised her pale face and glared at Ji Yuanxing in anger.
She used to work for Yue. Back then, the people of the second branch had always been respectful when they saw her. Later, she volunteered herself to stay in the temple hall after the incident, but she still had her own imposing demeanor. Now, aided by her strong presence, her bold and confident question made Ji Yuanxing unsure how to answer.
Concubine Xiang was not Qu Moying. Qu Moying was a relative, but not a blood relative. She was related to Yue by blood but had no direct relationship with Earl Ling’an himself. So it was reasonable to refuse her request to see Earl Ling’an’s body, especially considering that she was of a younger generation.
Concubine Xiang was different. She was Earl Ling’an’s woman, so it would be reasonable if she wanted to see him. The only drawback was that she was a concubine.
At this moment, Ji Yuanhai had stopped crying. He wiped his tears and stared at Concubine Xiang with a pair of swollen eyes.
When Concubine Xiang joined their family, he was still young and not very sensible. In the past, it was impossible for him, the son of a concubine of the second branch, to have any interactions with the concubine of the first branch. He had only seen her from afar.
The Concubine Xiang then was in high spirits and lively. Now, she looked totally different as she was old and haggard.
But from the way she spoke and her appearance, he could tell that she was Concubine Xiang.
Qu Moying turned her eyes to Ji Yuanhai and looked at him quietly. This child was not an impulsive person. Although he was young, he had his own considerations between his demeanor and situation. He was wise and mature for his age.
“Concubine Xiang, how can you say that? Eldest Uncle died of illness. Everyone knows that. He was sick for a long time, and because of Crown Princess… he couldn’t take it anymore. Concubine Xiang, you have been in the temple hall all this time. Who instigated you to come here?”
Ji Yuanxing reacted quickly. Despite a moment of silence, he quickly asked back.
He knew that Concubine Xiang had locked herself up in the temple hall, and she would continue to do the same in the future. She should not be able to come out. Grandmother and Mother were behind this, but it was also her own intention to remain in the temple hall. So what’s different now?
It was impossible for Concubine Xiang to come without a reason. Did she hear something?
Who was the one who told her the news?
And it happened so timely. His eyes swept past the young ladies present. Finally, his gaze fell on Xiao Haitang. His cousin, Xiao Haitang, was the only one who knew about Concubine Xiang in this mansion. However, it was impossible that his cousin would take Concubine Xiang out of the temple hall at a moment like this.
Who was it then?
“First Young Master, no one instigated me. I just wanted to see Master Ji. He lived his life a hero, but his wife and children can’t be present here at his funeral. I’m his concubine. Now, only I am present send him to the other side. However, I didn’t even get to see him one last time before he passed away. It is not too much to see him now, right?”
Concubine Xiang asserted. She had always been a capable person, and now she asked with even more reason and confidence.
“Concubine Xiang, I… can’t make the decision on this matter.” Ji Yuanxing couldn’t refute her, could only delay.
“Who can call the shots here?” Concubine Xiang said, unwilling to give in.
“Grandmother, of course,” Ji Yuanxing braced himself and answered, hoping that Grandmother could come over quickly. Concubine Xiang was his uncle’s concubine. His hands were tied in matters around her, so it was best for his grandmother, or at the very least, his mother to take care of her. After all, his mother was the first wife of the second branch, so a concubine couldn’t go against her.
“First young master, I just want to see Master Ji one last time. Is this too much? Why are you refusing my request? Was it because he died unnaturally? Is that why you don’t let me see him?” Concubine Xiang wiped her tears and rebuked furiously.
“For the past three years, I have been wholeheartedly praying for him in the temple hall. I wished for Master Ji, Crown Princess, and Third Lady to be safe and sound. I didn’t expect that not only did something happen to all of them, but I can’t even see Master Ji one last time. Now that the first branch is gone, everything now belongs to the second branch now. Can’t you let me see him one last time?”
The more Concubine Xiang spoke, the angrier she became. Her eyes were sorrowful and filled with despair. Outside the mourning hall, there were people coming to pay their respects. When they heard the commotion inside, they couldn’t help but stop. The mourning hall’s door was wide open. Even though it was a bit far, they could clearly see everything that happened in the mourning hall. They could also hear Concubine Xiang’s angry rebuke. For a moment, the people who came to pay their respects exchanged curious and puzzled glances.
It was as if a new door had been pushed open, leading everyone’s thoughts to a direction that they had never thought of before. It went straight to the main point of the matter…
But it was a terrifying thought…
