Chapter 220: The Sacrifice
Old Madam Cui flew into a rage, and the entire room fell silent.
Xue Yueying pouted and reluctantly quieted down.
“What your Third Aunt said is quite right.”
The Old Madam sighed, stroking her prayer beads.
These past two days, dealing with Xue Sui’s affairs had left her unable to eat or sleep, and many more white hairs had appeared at her temples.
“A family should be united, supporting and protecting each other. Even if there are dissatisfactions, they should be discussed behind closed doors. After all, we are a family of prestige and wealth; if we act like squabbling crows, won’t others laugh at us…”
As she spoke, she trembled and placed her hand on her knee, slowly taking out a sandalwood Buddha charm wrapped in yellow cloth from her embrace.
“This is a talisman I obtained from Xiangguo Temple before I was married. The Abbot blessed it, and it is very effective…”
After a slight pause, she surveyed the female relatives, who had various expressions on their faces.
Finally, her gaze landed on Madam Qian.
“Third Madam, go find Eldest Brother. Tell him it’s this old bone begging him to quickly find a way – even if the law is strict, it should allow flesh and blood to see each other. If he refuses, then kowtow to him for me and beg him to be accommodating…”
Upon hearing this, Madam Qian’s expression finally improved, and she quickly agreed, “Your daughter-in-law has noted it and will certainly handle it properly.”
The Old Madam nodded, rubbing the mottled Sanskrit script on the Buddha charm, tears welling up in her cloudy eyes.
“When you see Sixth Girl, give this to her and tell her that her grandmother longs for her safe return every day. Tell her to take good care of herself, to turn misfortune into fortune, and to get through this ordeal.”
–
The dungeon was bone-chillingly cold, and the smell of mildew mixed with the stench of blood assaulted the senses.
Madam Qian followed the jailer through the dark, narrow corridor, listening to the intermittent coughing sounds from the end, each one like a dull knife scraping at her heart.
Upon seeing Xue Sui curled up in a pile of straw, she couldn’t help but gasp and rush to the wooden bars.
“My Sixth Sister, what suffering have you endured! Your face is as pale as paper; has someone mistreated you?”
“Why has Third Aunt come?” Xue Sui curved her lips and managed to prop up half her body.
“Hurry and don’t move, be careful not to hurt yourself!” Madam Qian stood outside the wooden fence, speaking as she took out two gold leaves and handed them to the jailer, “Please trouble the officer to fetch some hot water.”
“Third Madam. You only have the time it takes to drink a cup of tea,” the jailer said, accepting the money and nodding, his voice muffled.
“Make sure to be quick!”
Madam Qian agreed and hurried across the threshold, lifting her skirt and squatting down.
Touching Xue Sui’s cold wrist and then her feverish forehead, tears immediately streamed down her face.
“Heaven have mercy, how can you endure such suffering in prison? Sixth Girl, you’ve clearly fallen ill from enduring this…”
Xue Sui softly comforted her, “Don’t worry, Third Aunt, it’s just a cough.”
Madam Qian choked back a sob again.
Just then, the jailer brought hot water, and she quickly stopped speaking.
After the jailer left, she tightly grasped Xue Sui’s hand and lowered her voice, asking, “Sixth Sister, tell Third Aunt the truth, Consort Xiao’s death, was it really…”
Xue Sui slightly turned her head, her gaze warily scanning her surroundings, then coughed softly twice.
Madam Qian understood that someone might be eavesdropping. She immediately had her maid open the food box, her hands trembling as she lifted the padded lid to reveal the dishes inside. She deliberately raised her voice.
“The mildew smell in this dungeon is overwhelming. Hot dishes and hot meals can at least suppress the foul air… Third Aunt brought you lotus leaf chicken, crab roe tofu, and your favorite osmanthus candy steamed new chestnut flour cake… Eat more.”
After speaking, she leaned close to Xue Sui’s ear and whispered, “Your Third Uncle has been asking people everywhere about your matter, his lips are almost worn thin, but he’s hit a wall everywhere… If it weren’t for the Old Madam’s great compassion today, strictly ordering your father to make arrangements, Third Aunt wouldn’t have been able to see you… Sixth Sister, you’ve been wronged…”
Xue Sui gently shook her head, a smile pulling at the corners of her lips.
“I’m fine, this little bit of hardship is nothing.”
Madam Qian’s eyes instantly welled up with tears, and she held Xue Sui’s hand, “Your Third Uncle said you have a way to save yourself – Sixth Sister, tell Third Aunt, what can we do?”
Xue Sui resolutely shook her head.
“Don’t do anything. The best strategy now is to not argue or contend, and let them think I’m helpless.”
Madam Qian seemed to understand but not understand. She nodded, then shook her head, tears welling in her eyes and her voice catching.
“Seeing you suffer like this, Third Aunt’s heart is like being cut by a knife. I must do something for you…”
Xue Sui adjusted her prison clothes, a gentle smile appearing on her pale face.
“Then please trouble Third Aunt to relay a message to Jinshu: the weather is getting colder, remember to move the pigeon coop from the corridor into the warm pavilion. Remember to open the windows for ventilation and don’t let the charcoal fumes suffocate it.”
Madam Qian nodded tearfully, “These small matters are on Third Aunt’s shoulders, you can rest assured.”
–
On the day Consort Xiao was buried, Zhuque Street was draped with ten miles of white silk.
Paper money fluttered like snow as the sixty-four-bearer nanmu coffin slowly moved along the imperial road.
Li Huan, dressed in mourning clothes, walked alongside the coffin, his robes billowing in the north wind like a soul-summoning banner.
Ping Le followed behind the hearse, her eyes red and swollen from crying, emitting sobs like a broken string.
The shops on the street were closed, and the entire world was drowned in the mournful music.
Wen Jia stood by the window of a pavilion in Misty Rain Tower, holding Niu Niu, dressed in plain clothes, her black hair like ink.
She watched the funeral procession snake by like a white paper dragon, her expressionless.
Little Niu Niu tightened her grip on Wen Jia’s hand.
“Mother, Aunt Ping Le is crying so sadly…”
Wen Jia’s expression sharpened. She stared intently at Ping Le’s pale, pained face behind the coffin and pressed Niu Niu’s small face against her chest.
“Don’t look.”
“Mother, why…”
“She’s not crying for her mother; she’s crying for her lost reliance.”
Niu Niu didn’t understand and looked up at her.
Wen Jia clenched the handkerchief in her hand until her fingertips turned white.
“Dong Xu, take Niu Niu back to the mansion first…”
–
Lu Mansion.
The white banners at the entrance were soaked by the autumn rain, and the large character “mourning” looked like tear streaks under the washing of the rain.
Despite the recent mourning in the mansion, it was eerily quiet.
The sound of the funeral music for Consort Xiao’s grand ceremony reached them. Madam Lu bit her lower lip and collapsed onto the coffin, weeping and beating it.
“My child, you were clearly framed. Mother couldn’t save you, so she might as well go with you…”
A maid held her back firmly.
“Madam, you mustn’t! If the young lady couldn’t rest in peace, and you injure yourself, what will happen…”
Madam Lu looked at the paper money drifting from across the street, flying all around her head. Suddenly, she lost control, embracing the coffin and weeping heartbrokenly.
“My child died unjustly, yet the court only allows a simple coffin and a modest funeral, not even allowing white lanterns to be hung. What a cold and heartless world this is, where is justice…”
“Madam…” The maid tightly grasped her sleeve, tearfully advising, “Master said the young lady is suspected of a serious crime. His Majesty’s grace in allowing her burial is already a great honor. If there is any further disturbance, I fear even the Old Duke will be in a difficult position…”
As she spoke, the sound of a carriage could be heard through the rain.
Madam Lu looked up and saw a black lacquered carriage slowly approaching, splashing through puddles.
A corner of the carriage curtain was lifted, revealing half of a pale face…
“Madam, please accept my condolences.”
Wen Jia’s voice was low, as if steeped in autumn dew.
Madam Lu’s pupils contracted, and she asked with a sob, “Is Your Highness here to mock the Lu family?”
Wen Jia gently stroked the white flower at her temple, her voice, mixed with the sound of the rain, was exceptionally cold.
“Madam, you misunderstand. This Palace is here to offer condolences for your late daughter.”
Madam Lu’s body trembled slightly, her eyes full of wariness, “This humble wife did not know that the Princess had any acquaintance with my Xi’er?”
Wen Jia pursed her lips slightly, “This Palace feels it is unfair to Second Young Lady Lu – she was gentle and kind her entire life, never even touching a blade, yet she was used as a knife, a sacrifice in a conspiracy. And the one who truly poisoned her is still at large…”
Madam Lu suddenly looked up, staggered forward, and grabbed the carriage curtain.
“What exactly does Your Highness know? How did my Xi’er die?”
Wen Jia’s eyes held pity as she looked at Madam Lu’s bloodshot eyes, “Before the Mid-Autumn Festival, your daughter returned from Princess Ping Le’s mansion, was she not in a daze? Was that agarwood bracelet on her wrist a gift from Princess Ping Le?”
Madam Lu’s fingertips trembled, as if she had realized something.
“Your Highness means…”
“This Palace said nothing.” Wen Jia suddenly pulled the curtain from her hand, her tone slightly cool, with a sigh.
“I simply do not wish for the Grand Tutor’s lifelong reputation to be tarnished by his granddaughter’s unjust case, ultimately leading to a desolate end where his later years are disgraced…”
The curtain fell with a thud.
The carriage rolled through the accumulated water and rumbled away.
Madam Lu watched the green-gray carriage disappear into the rain, her body weakening as she stumbled back a few steps, hatred burning in her eyes.
–
Xue Sui had been in prison for seven days.
The autumn rain was continuous, and the damp straw pricked her back painfully. The leftover food sent by the jailer was already cold.
She had a high fever, her lips were dry and cracked, and her whole body oscillated between chills and burning heat…
She hadn’t been sick in a long time.
She felt groggy and confused.
In a daze, someone poured bitter medicinal juice into her mouth. Her throat burned fiercely, and the scent of pine mixed with the taste of rust pierced her nostrils, suddenly reminding her of the snowy night under the rockery at Pu Ji Temple.
“Li Zhao…”
She opened her eyes in a daze, instinctively grabbing the man’s sleeve, only to touch a hand full of warmth.
“The dungeon is cold and damp, why are you wearing so little?”
The man’s voice was low and hoarse, brushing past her ear.
By the flickering firelight, she saw large stains of medicine soaking his dark brocade robe. His handsome face was half-lit and half-shadowed by the oil lamp, his brow sharp, and the corners of his eyes still tinged with red.
Xue Sui swallowed the medicine juice in her throat and suddenly jolted, a chill running down her back.
“Crown Prince, you shouldn’t have come…”
Li Zhao gripped her wrist, his burning palm covering her forehead. He suddenly let out a low laugh, his eyes churning with an almost frenzied obsession.
“I still like it when you call me by my name.”
Is it windy where you are?
The wind in Chengdu tonight is absolutely incredible, whistling past…
