It turned out that Gu Chengyan and Gu Zheng were taking Tu's remains back to their old house when a group of masked men suddenly appeared as the carriage carrying Tu's coffin approached Ouyang County.

Without saying a word, they attacked the two brothers and the servant who was driving the carriage.

Gu Chengyan thought they were highway robbers, so he immediately took out his silver bag, hoping to avoid further trouble by paying money.

Unexpectedly, after accepting the silver bag, the other party forced them aside, poured tung oil all over the coffin, and set it on fire.

Gu Chengyan was frantic, but the coffin and carriage were made of wood, and a lot of tung oil had been poured on them. There was no water source nearby, and the flames were soaring into the sky, making it impossible to save them.

The fire grew even bigger when the spring wind blew.

What's even more despicable is that those masked men placed two unopened jars of tung oil next to the coffin. When the fire started, there were two loud "booms" as the oil jars exploded, shattering the coffin and the corpse into pieces.

The two brothers could only watch helplessly as Tu's body was blown into pieces, burned to ashes, and then blown away by the wind, leaving no trace of her remains.

After watching the coffin completely turn to ashes, those people immediately rode away.

Having no way to report the crime, Gu Chengyan and Gu Zheng could only return to the Earl's mansion in remorse.

Gu Boyu told Gu Zheng to get up, and said while covering his head, "I understand. You two go back and rest for a bit. I'll think about what to do."

The news that Tu Shi had been reduced to ashes could not be kept secret and quickly spread throughout the Earl's mansion, and Lu Shi also learned of it.

She couldn't smile.

Even if Madam Tu was reduced to ashes, and even if Aunt Yue died without a complete body or a burial place, she still didn't get away with anything good.

Her two daughters contemplated suicide every day. She tried to persuade and care for them daily, but ultimately she was at a loss as to what to do.

Even now, Gu Zhongyu still doesn't know the truth.

The wicked are dead, but the living are still suffering.

After sending Gu Zheng and Gu Chengyan away from the Earl's residence, Gu Boyu did not remain dejected for long before immediately summoning Steward Zhang.

"Xiao Zhang, move all the tung oil you bought the other day to my study."

Butler Zhang had a particularly bad feeling. He hesitated and asked Gu Boyu, "Lord, why are you putting so much tung oil in the study? It's getting hotter and hotter. It's not safe to have so much tung oil in the house."

Gu Boyu said nonchalantly, "I have a use for you. Don't nag me, just move over quickly."

For some reason, Butler Zhang felt uneasy.

After the tung oil was all moved, Gu Boyu arranged it around the study. At first glance, the tung oil jars looked quite like wine jars.

He clapped his hands in satisfaction, and then saw his servant walk in and whisper, "Master, the eldest young master is looking for Concubine Yue and the young mistress."

Gu Boyu asked, "Where did he look for it?"

"First we went to the mulberry garden, then to the Fanghua Garden. The maids at the Fanghua Garden said that the young mistress had gone back to her parents' home, but the eldest young master didn't seem to believe it."

Gu Boyu nodded: "Understood."

Gu Chengyan searched the courtyard, but no one knew where Aunt Yue had gone. The servant said she might have gone to the Crown Prince's residence.

He asked Xie Xiangxiang where she had gone, and everyone said that Madam Xu had taken her away, along with her dowry.

He went to check the storeroom, and sure enough, it was empty; even that old hag, Granny Wei, was gone.

Gu Chengyan immediately went to Ci'en Temple.

"Grandmother, where did Madam Xie go? Why were all her dowry taken away?"

Gu Chengyan said with a gloomy face, "Who gave her permission to leave? Grandmother, how could you let her take her dowry with her?"

The old lady was furious and said through tears, "Isn't it all because you're useless? In your current state, we can't stop her from divorcing you."

“If I don’t release the divorce papers, and the Xie family dares to take her in, I will file a lawsuit against the Xie family in court,” Gu Chengyan said sinisterly. “The dowry will be returned to me exactly as it was taken away.”

The old lady couldn't help but say, "I also disagree with the divorce, but your father insisted that she leave, and I couldn't stop him."

Upon hearing that it was Gu Boyu who had decided to let Xie Xiangxiang go, Gu Chengyan angrily retorted, "My wife! What right does he have to grant me a divorce?"

Since it was his unreliable father who caused this, Gu Chengyan went to find Gu Boyu with a sinister look on his face.

The old lady then realized she had almost gotten herself into trouble with her mouth and shouted, "Don't go looking for your father. He's had a hard time too, and the family is already in enough chaos."

Gu Chengyan would never listen to him.

Gu Chengyan went to Gu Boyu's courtyard. Shi Xiu arrived at the Bo Mansion, where a carriage was waiting at the gate. He wanted to see Aunt Yue.

Steward Zhang was so angry that his face turned red. He said to Shi Xiu, "Eunuch Shi, you should go back first. Our young master is back today. They should have a word with him."

Shi Xiu said bluntly, "When is it not good to say something? His Highness the Crown Prince is waiting!"

Butler Zhang cursed inwardly, "You damned bastards! How dare you openly seduce my young master's concubine like this? And then threaten him when you can't get her? What kind of bullshit prince is this!"

But he couldn't say it out loud. He cupped his hands and pleaded in a low voice, "Eunuch Shi, something terrible has happened at home. Something terrible happened to the coffin of the aunt on the way. Lord Gu and the eldest young master are very worried. Please be patient. Tomorrow, the eldest young master will definitely explain to you in person."

Shi Xiu didn't pick up anyone, nor did he gain any benefit. He couldn't just leave like that; it would be too embarrassing.

He then said, "Then call the eldest young master out and have him speak to me."

Butler Zhang wouldn't dare. He knew better than anyone where Aunt Yue was, and he was keeping it a secret from the young master.

He said in a low voice, half-threateningly, "Eunuch Shi, you should go back first and give me some face. After all, Aunt Yue is the eldest young master's aunt. We should wait until the eldest young master has discussed it before making a decision."

Shi Xiu gritted his teeth and said, "Give you face? Who do you think you are? You think you deserve our face?"

Young Steward Zhang, being young and impetuous, retorted without hesitation: "Eunuch Shi, I have already explained to you, why are you being so aggressive? No matter what, Consort Yue is still the eldest young master's concubine, not your Crown Prince's concubine."

Shi Xiu was speechless. Yes, he came to pick up someone else's woman and acted so arrogantly. Did he want to invite the censors to impeach him? Besides, even if the Earl's family had split up, the third son was still Grand Secretary Gu!

Shi Xiu flicked his whisk, snorted, and turned to leave.

After seeing Shi Xiu off, Butler Zhang's heart began to tremble again. Had he gotten himself into big trouble?

Aunt Yue has completely disappeared from the Earl's mansion today, now that the manure cart has been gone. What should be done next?

He hurried to the Earl's courtyard to discuss the matter, and saw Ping An waiting at the gate.

"What are you doing here?" Butler Zhang had no chance against Shi Xiu, but he was quite confident against a servant like Ping An.

Ping An whispered, "Butler Zhang, the young master is arguing with the old master."

"Oh," the housekeeper Zhang immediately thought of Xie Xiangxiang, who had been divorced, and Aunt Yue, whose bones had been crushed and ashes scattered, and quickly turned to leave. "You keep watch over her."

He took two steps, then turned back and asked, "Where are the Earl and the Eldest Young Master arguing?"

"The Earl took the eldest young master to the study."

In short, the housekeeper's worries were amplified, and his heart began to pound uncontrollably.

He thought of the dozen or so barrels of tung oil in the study, clutched his chest, leaned against the stone drum by the door, and felt a little breathless.