Chapter 48 Chapter 48 She is obviously a wild cat.

On the second day of the twelfth lunar month, Zhong Qi's coffin arrived in Beijing. The mourning hall was set up in a specially built ancestral hall at Duanling Mausoleum. The emperor ordered all officials to suspend court for two days to pay their respects.

There was a heavy snowfall in the capital that night.

At daybreak, Nie Xiangyi stood before the city gate, determined to welcome the coffin. Having been trapped in the mansion by Xie Zhi for so long, she hadn't left the house in ages.

Xie Zhi still followed her, making her feel like a prisoner under guard.

Actually, her situation was much better than that of the prisoners. Xie Zhi would order people to buy her fashionable jewelry and clothes, the latest novels and plays, and delicious snacks and delicacies.

In the past, Nie Xiangyi would have been delighted that Xie Zhi treated her so attentively.

But now, when she thought that all this was just a superficial effort for her uncle, she felt bored and resentful.

Snow gradually fell on her shoulders, and was brushed away by Xie Zhi behind her.

She turned her head and glanced at Xie Zhi silently, then gathered her cloak and said, "Your Highness, there is really no need for such a scene as your grandfather's funeral is today."

Xie Zhi's hand hung on her shoulder for a moment, then he retracted it and tucked it tightly into his sleeve.

Soon, Zhong Lingyu and her husband Xue Moxun also arrived at the city gate. She looked at Nie Xiangyi with red eyes, said nothing, and simply reached out and held her cold hand.

When the sun rose, Nie Xiangyi saw the funeral procession coming from afar, all white, like the snow that had accumulated at night.

Suddenly, tears began to roll down her cheeks, silently, each drop hitting the snow, melting into a small pit.

How she wished to see her grandfather coming in with the dim morning light, riding a tall horse, and then telling her with a smile that everything was a misunderstanding.

But now he just lay quietly in the coffin, without any breath.

When I saw him off last time, he was still standing in front of me, alive and well. But now, when we meet again, we are separated forever.

The funeral procession was getting closer, and she heard Zhong Lingyu beside her calling out "Father" while trying hard to hold back her tears.

She then called out "Uncle".

Her uncle looked much more worn out than when she left. He looked at the two of them, opened his mouth slightly, but hesitated to speak, and finally let out a sigh.

The wind dried the tears, freezing them on her face until they stung. Nie Xiangyi was completely oblivious, her expression as empty as a ghost's.

They followed the funeral procession and went to Duanling together.

Duanling is the imperial mausoleum. The emperor specially allowed Zhong Qi to be buried in Duanling and also established a special shrine for him, which can be said to be of great importance to him.

All the officials had been waiting there for a long time, and then the emperor personally attended the funeral to mourn, recalling the past years of fighting on the battlefield, praising his hard work and great achievements, and expressing his deep sorrow.

Everyone praised the good relationship between the ruler and his subjects, and felt grateful that Zhong Qi died a worthy death.

Nie Xiangyi only felt irony and hypocrisy.

The mourners, both civil and military, did not disperse until evening. According to traditional customs, Zhong Qi's body had to remain in state overnight before being buried the following day.

"I have to keep vigil for my grandfather." Nie Xiangyi had no intention of returning home with Xie Zhi. This time, Xie Zhi did not stop her, but simply said, "I'll accompany you."

Accompany? He was just treating her like a cricket in a golden cage. Nie Xiangyi just wanted to sneer.

Zhong Lingyu vaguely felt that the atmosphere between the two was quite strange, and could not help but step forward and bow, "Your Highness, my father and I would like to speak to Ah Si alone for a while."

Xie Zhi pursed his lips and finally retreated to the door.

"Ah Si, what's going on between you and His Highness? I've heard rumors that you're getting a divorce."

Nie Xiangyi looked at her, her expression filled with guilt and sadness. Before she could say anything, tears were already falling.

"Cousin Lingyu, it's my fault! I was disobedient... I killed my grandfather..." Guilt washed over her, nearly drowning her. "If I hadn't insisted on marrying His Highness, my grandfather wouldn't have been killed by that treacherous person!"

Upon hearing this, Zhong Lingyu quickly covered her mouth and whispered, "Ah Si! This is a serious matter! Stop talking nonsense!"

As she spoke, she looked around to see if there was anyone around, then slowly let go of her hand.

"Asi, how do you know that your father was murdered? Who told you? But Your Highness?" Zhong Qianyue asked her with a frown.

He said this in a low voice, his tone filled with dissatisfaction, "How could His Highness tell you all this? Isn't that disregarding your safety?"

"I noticed it myself." Nie Xiangyi just shook his head, his eyes determined, "How could my grandfather be the kind of person who would easily commit suicide!"

Zhong Qianyue was speechless.

He watched his niece grow up in Shanzhou, and he knew that she was simple-minded and honest and didn't understand the situation, but he didn't expect her to guess all this.

Everyone was speculating about the current situation, but she was the only one who believed in her grandfather.

Zhong Qianyue sighed deeply, "Ah Si, nothing has been decided yet, please don't spread it."

His attitude made Nie Xiangyi more convinced that her grandfather's death was a man-made disaster, and she couldn't help but ask all the questions in her mind.

"Uncle! How did my grandfather die? Who killed him? If you have any doubts, why don't you report it to the emperor?"

Zhong Qianyue's once high-spirited face was now even more weathered by Zhong Qi's sudden death. The grief on his face seemed so helpless that he simply waved his hand silently.

"This matter involves a struggle for the throne. Without solid evidence, how could the Emperor believe it so easily? Moreover, whether to believe it or not is entirely up to the Emperor."

"Is it the Crown Prince? Or His Highness?"

"Your Highness has no reason to take action." Zhong Qianyue shook his head slowly, "The Zhong family is already tied to him."

Although he never explicitly said that it was the crown prince, he was the only one who benefited the most from Zhong Qi's death.

"Ah Si, you really don't need to blame yourself, nor do you need to divorce His Highness over this." Zhong Qianyue looked at her with the kindness of a father. "Possessing a treasure is a crime. As long as the Zhong family holds military power, they will never escape this struggle."

Nie Xiangyi bowed his head. They naturally didn't know, and there were other unspeakable reasons.

She pinched the corner of her clothes, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Uncle, my mother's death back then...maybe she was murdered..."

Zhong Qianyue's eyes suddenly shook.

He had a very good relationship with his sister since childhood. At that time, Zhong Qi was away on the battlefield and his mother died early. Throughout that year, he and his sister depended on each other for survival.

A cruel look appeared in his eyes. "Is it Jiang?"

Nie Xiangyi nodded, then shook her head, "It was... the Imperial Concubine who ordered Jiang to do this."

"Noble Concubine?" Zhong Lingyu was also startled. "Why is it her? What does she have to do with my aunt?"

"The prince told me this himself."

Zhong Qianyue frowned tightly, "Why would the Crown Prince tell you this? Is he trying to show goodwill?"

Zhong Lingyu shook her head. "He wants to drive a wedge between Ah Si and the Third Prince. If this matter is exposed and Ah Si and the Third Prince divorce, our Zhong family will definitely reconsider our position."

Nie Xiangyi's eyes were red as she fought back tears, "But... His Highness also knew about this, but he kept it a secret from me."

Zhong Qianyue was silent for a long time.

Nie Xiangyi's words undoubtedly made the complicated situation even more confusing and difficult to see through.

"Ah Si, these matters are of grave importance. Do not spread them!" He looked at Nie Xiangyi solemnly. "Also, in these times of uncertainty, it's best for you and Lingyu to stay in the capital! The fact that they were able to kill my father quietly in Shanzhou proves that Shanzhou is no longer safe. The struggle is brutal, and I'm afraid... I can't protect you..."

Zhong Lingyu looked anxious, "What about my father's safety..."

"I'll be careful."

At the hour of Mao the next day, before daybreak, the body was taken up for burial, and all officials arrived.

When the last coffin nail fell dully and the coffin was carried into the underground palace by the servants of the Taichang Temple, Nie Xiangyi's confusion seemed to suddenly become real.

From then on, there was no such person as my grandfather.

"Grandfather!" The tears that had been silent all this time finally burst forth at this moment. She ran straight to the coffin, wailing loudly, "Don't abandon me!"

"Close the tomb--" With a heavy sound, the stone door closed.

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.

As Xie Zhi was leaving, he was suddenly stopped by an official, seemingly with something to report. Nie Xiangyi didn't wait for him, but continued on his way.

She didn't want to go back home, didn't want to face Xie Zhi all day, and didn't want to be like a captive cricket.

But now, she doesn't know where to go.

"Sister Ah Si." Pei Jue suddenly called her, his voice calm, "My condolences."

Nie Xiangyi hummed softly.

The two walked closely together out of the cemetery.

"Sister Ah Si has lost a lot of weight."

Nie Xiangyi just forced a smile at him, "It's human nature to encounter misfortunes."

"I heard that Sister A'si seems to want to divorce His Highness."

Hearing him mention this, Nie Xiangyi didn't know what to say and just nodded silently.

Pei Jue smiled gently, "I guess Your Highness would not agree."

Even he knew that Xie Zhi was unwilling to divorce for the sake of the Zhong family's military power. Nie Xiangyi lowered her eyes and said nothing.

"For royal family members, any divorce requires cancellation of the household registration with the Ministry of Revenue and the seal of the Divine Strategy Department," Pei Jue said. "Most importantly, my sister's marriage was arranged by the Emperor, and the Emperor's personal approval is required before the divorce can be final."

Pei Jue's words made Nie Xiangyi feel like a bird tied with a chain. It seemed that she could not go anywhere, and her final fate was to stay in the cage obediently.

"It's just a divorce letter." Nie Xiangyi's eyes were stubborn and unwilling to give in. "If your heart is not here, it's useless to force it to stay."

Her words made Pei Jue's eyes sparkle, and he couldn't help but turn his head and ask her, "Sister Ah Si, do you still want to return to Shanzhou?"

Nie Xiangyi was a little confused.

She wanted to go back to Shanzhou because her maternal grandfather lived there. But now that her maternal grandfather had passed away, her uncle also said that Shanzhou was dangerous and asked her to stay in the capital.

She shook her head and said, "I'm not going back to Shanzhou."

But, do I have to stay with Xie Zhi like this and continue to be resentful of him forever?

Such days made her tired and exhausted.

"I don't want to stay here either."

Pei Jue looked into her eyes intently and suddenly said, "If you want to leave, Sister Si, I can help you."

He was not unaware of Xie Zhi's movements.

For a month straight, he stayed indoors, never leaving his house. Even official business was relayed by Ling Zhu. Meanwhile, he had never seen Nie Xiangyi again.

When Sang Yi saw her again this time, she was like a flower about to wither, and her eyes had long lost the vigorous and strong vitality they once had.

If he hadn't ordered his officials to hold Xie Zhi back today, he probably wouldn't have been able to say a word to her.

He knew that Xie Zhi treated her as a bird to be kept.

But she is clearly a wild cat.

Xie Zhi watched the two of them walk out of the cemetery with a cold expression, his expression suddenly darkening. He wanted to step forward, but was stopped by the official in front of him. He frowned and said coldly, "I don't have time for your nonsense right now."

He quickly stepped forward while the official looked stunned.

Pei Jue looked at Nie Xiangyi's stunned expression and repeated firmly, "If you want to leave, I can help you."

Nie Xiangyi's eyes flashed for a moment, and then became confused, "But where can I go..."

Her maternal grandfather was gone. Her home was gone. She couldn't go back to Shanzhou, but she couldn't leave the capital either.

Where else can I go?

"If you trust me, Sister A'si, I have a good place for you to go." Pei Jue suddenly smiled.

"On the seventh day when your soul returns, I will wait for you here."