Volume 1 Chapter 66: Withered (Part 2)

  The old lady cried, and others thought of Yuanniang's young age, who was in her prime but was about to be gone, couldn't help but feel the impermanence of worldly affairs, and followed suit in crying.

  Or perhaps it was maternal instinct, but Tongge felt scared and burst into tears.

  The wet nurse hurried forward to comfort him, and a woman also came forward to wipe away his tears.

  The brother hit the woman's hand and lay down in his mother's arms.

  The woman looked embarrassed and muttered as she retreated to the corner of the wall.

  "Brother Yun, Aunt Qin wants to wipe your face!"

  The lady heard this and suddenly lifted her head to look at the woman.

  The woman was in her thirties, of medium build, wearing a pale pink dress with a floral pattern, her face as smooth as a silver plate, her eyes like apricot kernels, white and clean, making people feel very comfortable when they looked at her.

  Thinking of her pale and haggard daughter, and looking at the plump and rosy face of the woman who had given birth to a bastard son, the lady felt even more heartbroken and cried out louder.

  The little brother was so scared that he hid in his mother's arms and stared at his own grandmother.

  Yuanniang listened, and tears silently fell onto her pillow.

  "Madam Luo, don't cry!" A gentle voice consoled the madam, "Fourth Madam has always been strong and resilient. Over the years, she must have encountered countless dangers and difficulties, but she's always managed to pull through. I believe this time too, Fourth Madam will be able to turn misfortune into good fortune."

  The lady raised her head, and it was actually that maid.

  She then smiled slightly at the old lady and went to persuade Lady Feng: "You cry like this, you'll scare Rong'er too. You have to think of the child as well."

  The big wife's face turned red, covering her mouth and forcing herself to hold back tears.

  Old Mrs. Tai listened and also wiped away her tears: "What Old Mr. Lei said is true."

  The people outside listened, and the crying gradually subsided.

  "......It's getting late, I still have to go back and report to the Empress Dowager."

  Madam Tai personally escorted Old Master Lei to the door. When they reached the entrance, Old Master Lei stopped in his tracks: "How dare I trouble you!" He insisted that Madam Tai not see him off any further.

  The Fifth Mistress volunteered to help Eldest Mistress see off the guests.

  "That's great." Old Master Lei said with a smile, "It's been a long time since we've seen the County Master of Danyang too."

  The old lady saw this and exchanged a few pleasantries with Mr. Lei, then had the fifth madam see him off in her place.

  After Old Master Lei had gone far away, a group of people surrounded Madame and went back into the house.

  As soon as he entered the door, a little maid reported: "The second lady has arrived!"

  Everyone turned around and saw the second lady wearing a brightly colored dress hurrying in.

  "Mother, are my younger brother and sister all right?" Her eyes were red and swollen as if she had been crying. "I just received a letter..."

  The old lady wiped her eyes: "Originally didn't want to disturb you..."

  The second lady hurriedly said: "I know that mother is worried about me being heartbroken, but I am also worried about fourth brother and sister, afraid that you will be heartbroken...... Are you okay?"

  "Good boy." The old lady held onto the second wife's hand, "I'm fine, I'm fine."

  The second lady supported the old lady into the house.

  Everyone went into the inner room, and saw Nangong lying in Yuanniang's arms. Yuanniang's thin and bony hands were placed on her son's head, and she was whispering something to Nangong.

  Everyone looked on with sorrow.

  "Fourth brother and sister." The second lady choked back a sob as she stepped forward and greeted Yuan Niang.

  "Second Aunt is here!" Yuanniang's gaze shifted slightly, but she didn't look at anything in particular, and instead assumed a posture of tilting her head to listen.

  The second wife's tears fell ceaselessly.

  The maids brought over the embroidered stools.

  The elder lady, the second lady, and the third lady sat around Yuan Niang, while others stood on one side.

  Mother quietly instructed her fourth brother: "Go and play with Sister Jing... Mother will talk to Grandmother, Great-Grandmother."

  The young master saw his mother as usual and obediently followed the wet nurse away.

  Yuanniang closed her eyes in exhaustion.

  Old Lady was startled, Second Lady hurried forward to take Madame Yuan's pulse.

  Yuanniang suddenly opened her eyes: "I'm tired, I want to sleep for a while."

  Everyone heard her say that and didn't dare ask anything more. They left the inner chamber in twos and threes, leaving only Madame Wang and Lady Xing guarding the house.

  The second lady asked Yao Huang with some concern: "What did the old lady eat today? Is there still mutton milk at home, and send a bowl to the old lady and the eldest lady to nourish their spirits."

  Just as Yao Huang was about to speak, a servant came in and reported: "The young master has returned!"

  Madam just said "please come in quickly", and then saw Xu Lingyi wearing a three-product big red official uniform walking in hastily.

  His expression was solemn: "How is Yuanniang?" As he spoke, he strode towards Yuanniang's bedside.

  At just one glance, Xu Lingyi's face changed greatly.

  He has seen too many people on the brink of death in battle...

  Standing silently in front of the bed for a while, Xu Lingyi finally asked Mrs. Tai softly: "What did she entrust?"

  As soon as he finished speaking, the room fell silent.

  Madam Tai let out a soft sigh and said, "Yuanniang wants her eleventh sister to help take care of Gege."

  Xu Lingyi turned her head and looked at the crowd in the room with a solemn expression, saying "I understand".

  The old lady saw Old Mother Qiao's body tremble slightly.

  She felt a sudden pang in her heart.

  That night, Mrs. Xu stayed at the Xu's house. The next day, before dawn, someone from the Xu's household came to knock on the door of the Luo's house.

  "The lady has left!"

  Although she had been prepared for it, when the words actually reached her ears, she still felt a sense of astonishment.

  Her husband had not returned from the examination hall, and Fourth Uncle Luo Zhen Sheng was also someone who could neither shoulder nor lift anything. Looking at the old master again, he seemed to have aged ten years in an instant, sitting there stupidly, without saying a word... There was no one to take charge of the household.

  The old lady had to ask the servant: "When did the madam leave? Was she calm when she left?"

  "It was at dawn that he passed away. The two young masters and the fourth master, as well as the young lady, were all by his side, watching over him until the end."

  The old master listened, with tears shining in the corners of his eyes.

  The old lady sighed and called Wu Xiaquan to accompany the manager to have breakfast: "...... Family affairs, I've entrusted them to you, go as you please."

  Guan Shi followed Wu Xiaquan's family.

  The old man covered his face and began to cry.

  Old Lady Dai was startled. But after all, she was the daughter-in-law, and there were some things that couldn't be said, so she hastily ordered someone to call Sixth Aunt: "…Old Lady has left. You take good care of Father at home, I'll take Fourth Master and the three young ladies to pay their respects."

  Sixth Aunt hastily wiped away a few tears and then went over to persuade Old Master: "You must learn to be resigned to fate... Eldest Mistress is already heartbroken, if you have any more troubles or worries, what will become of this family?"

  She persuaded the old master while returning to the house with the old man.

  The old lady went back to the house, changed into a white mourning dress, and ordered Hang Mama to quickly report to the three young ladies. Then she sent someone to report the death to the second and third masters.

  Wu Niang heard this and pulled Xing Lin who came to report the news, asking: "Sister, is there anything you want to leave for me?"

  Xinglin said evasively, "I heard that when Eldest Madam passed away, Master Hou and several young masters and misses were all present."

  The fifth daughter couldn't help but feel some disappointment and worry.

  If the Luo family didn't have anyone sitting in Yuanniang's position, then Qian Gongzi's official career would lose a reliable person...

  When Shi Er heard that Yuan Niang had died, she coldly smiled and said to the maid who came to inform her: "She left quite quickly!"

  That maid nodded and muttered, not knowing how to respond properly.

  The eleventh girl was stunned for half a day after hearing it.

  She thought of Yuan Niang's gentle smile when they first met, and the self-deprecating smile in the small courtyard... it seemed so familiar, yet so strange.

  For some reason, Shiyi's eyes were brimming with tears.

  She didn't know whether she was grieving for herself or for Yuan Niang...or for both of them.

  When the eleventh daughter and fifth daughter, tenth daughter went to grandma's place together, Mother Zhang had just bought paper money and incense sticks. Grandma was still waiting for the second house and third house. Seeing them coming, she asked in a hurry: "Have you eaten breakfast?"

  Everyone shook their heads.

  Old Lady hurriedly instructed the kitchen to make some buns and pancakes: "...when Second Aunt and Third Aunt arrive, we will leave immediately after eating. If there is any leftover food, you can bring it along on the horse carriage."

  The eleven-year-old girl saw that her grandmother was only in her early twenties, but she did things with great order and discipline, and she admired her very much.

  Everyone had eaten halfway when a little maid ran in: "The second lady and the third lady have arrived."

  The second house came with the second lady and third grandma, seven daughters. The third house only came with the third lady. Everyone met, couldn't help but sigh and lament, tears streaming down their faces.

  The second lady urged: "It's getting late, let's hurry up and go! If we're late, people will gossip, it's always bad."

  Everyone got on their own horse and galloped towards the Lotus Flower in a mighty and majestic manner.

  On the road, Eleventh Sister saw through Tenth Sister's lifted curtain that there were two or three groups of people following their carriage at a steady pace. At first, she was a bit puzzled, but soon came to her senses.

  It turns out everyone was heading in one direction...

  After the horse carriage passed Tai Chi, it was already a vast expanse of whiteness.

  As soon as they entered the Yongping Marquis's estate, they saw that from the main gate to the inner courtyard door, all the doors were wide open. The mourning hall and the memorial tablet had already been set up, and the servants were all dressed in white robes with a straight collar, either standing beside the temporary tent or hurrying back and forth to attend to their duties.

  As soon as they saw the Lao family's carriage, a servant immediately came out to greet them and called for the maid who was in charge of receiving guests to take them to the inner courtyard.

  Before entering the courtyard, Eleventh Sister had already heard the sound of Younger Brother's crying.

  "Welcome!" greeted the wan Mrs. Three.

  The old lady nodded and introduced the third wife to the second house and the third house.

  Everyone had made their bows, and Third Lady's eyes were already brimming with tears: "Quickly go in and take a look!"

  The old lady responded with a "yes" and followed Third Madam into the inner chamber.

  Yu Nuang slept on a Luohan bed, wearing the nine-pearl hairpin of a first-rank lady, dressed in a large red chang pao, with an expression of peacefulness and a gentle complexion, as if she had fallen asleep.

  She had a lamp oil on her head, and four or five unfamiliar women were sitting around her feet, crying softly. Jun Ge and Zhen Jie, as well as a boy of about ten years old, all wearing mourning clothes, stood beside Yuan Niang. Zhen Jie and the boy both lowered their heads to wipe away tears, only Jun Ge, with his mouth open, wailed loudly.

  The eleventh girl looked and tears suddenly welled up in her eyes.

  Everyone including Grandma Dai was in tears.

  At this moment, the room was filled with sobs.

  Someone suddenly said: "Second Brother, your eleventh aunt has arrived."

  "Big Brother heard this and cried even harder. While crying, he sobbed: "I want my mother, I don't want Aunt Eleven.""

  Everyone's eyes were on Eleven Girl.

  Some people looked at each other in dismay, some seemed to be thinking deeply, and some were shocked beyond words... The atmosphere became somewhat eerie.

  Eleventh Sister was shocked. At the same time, she didn't hide her emotions, wanting to tell everyone about her astonishment. But in her heart, she couldn't help but mutter: How could Brother Jun say such a thing...

  Fortunately, the third wife was very clever and saw that the atmosphere was not right. She immediately called the servant girl to send them to the first wife's place: "They are now resting at Lijing Xuan. I suppose all of you ladies, madams, and misses must be missing them terribly."

  The old lady was indeed thinking of the old madam.

  After thanking them, everyone followed the guide's wife to Lijing Xuan.