Chapter 149 She never forgave me.
After leaving the palace, Bai Xiuming led his subordinates to the Lü family.
When he arrived, there was a lively scene outside the Lü family's gate.
It is said that Lord Lü recently kicked his second daughter out of the house, and his second daughter, Lü Ruxin, is kneeling outside the door, crying and begging her father for forgiveness.
The gates of the Lü family's residence were tightly shut, and no one came out to investigate.
A number of onlookers stood nearby, pointing and whispering, but no one stepped forward.
Lu Ruxin had been kneeling outside the Lu residence for two hours. She knew that this was not a good time, but if she came later, it would be too late.
Her parents are only blaming her now because of her sister's death, but she believes they will eventually soften. Even if they have a grudge now, they will get over it with time.
She absolutely cannot lose the protection of the Lü family, whether for her future or for her two children.
Bai Xiuming was not interested in the Lu family's domestic affairs. After dismounting, he led his men toward the main gate of the Lu residence. After passing by Lu Ruxin, he suddenly stopped and turned to look at the person kneeling on the ground.
Lu Ruxin had already recognized the official robes of the Mingjing Division, and now she dared not say another word, for fear of getting into trouble she shouldn't have.
She felt a chill run down her spine from Bai Xiuming's gaze, but he ignored her and walked straight to the gate of the Lü residence.
Feng Yang stepped forward and knocked on the door. After a short while, the gate of the Lü residence opened. The gatekeeper didn't dare to announce their arrival and led them directly into the residence.
The gatekeeper led the way, and Feng Yang asked in a low voice, "Sir, is there something wrong with the woman outside the gate?"
If nothing unusual happens, his family probably won't even give him a glance.
"...There are some problems."
Feng Yang was still wondering what serious crime the other party had committed, but his master remained silent.
Bai Xiuming's fingers rubbed the hilt of his knife a few times. Lü Ruxin's appearance was seven or eight parts similar to the ghost he had seen outside A Chan's house that day.
Even he himself wouldn't believe it was a coincidence.
The Lü family probably didn't expect to be approached by the Mingjing Guards. When Lü's father saw Bai Xiuming in the mourning hall, he looked a little nervous and subconsciously stood in front of the coffin.
His expression was tense, and he asked with some wariness, "Lord Bai, what brings you here today?"
"By order of His Majesty, I have come to examine the body of your daughter."
"There's nothing wrong with my daughter's body, you don't need to examine it!" Upon hearing Bai Xiuming's words, Lu's mother seemed to be provoked, and her gaze towards them was filled with intense hostility.
Mr. Lü stopped his wife, who was losing control of her emotions, and said to Bai Xiuming with deep regret, "My wife is too heartbroken. Please forgive her, Lord Bai."
"Lord Lü, you are too kind. Please be lenient. I will investigate further and report back to His Majesty."
Father Lü was also unwilling for his daughter's body to be touched by outsiders, but he knew that the person in front of him was a favorite of the Emperor, and he should avoid offending him if possible.
Besides, how could he dare disobey His Majesty's orders?
After hesitating for a moment, he finally nodded: "Alright, please be careful, Lord Bai."
"Then I'll trouble you all to wait outside."
"Can't we stay in the mourning hall?" Mr. Lü asked hesitantly.
"I'm afraid that won't work. I'd appreciate Lord Lü's cooperation." Seeing Bai Xiuming's firm attitude, Lü's father had no choice but to have everyone leave the mourning hall.
The door to the mourning hall was closed, and the faint sound of Lü's mother crying could be heard from outside, but this did not affect the people inside the mourning hall at all.
After everyone who was not involved left, Bai Xiuming raised his chin, signaling them to open the coffin.
Two Mingjing Guards stepped forward and pushed open the coffin lid. Bai Xiuming ordered one of the Mingjing Guards behind him to step forward. He glanced at the corpse in the coffin, took out a pair of black gloves from his waist pouch, put them on, and then put his hand into the coffin.
He pressed on Lü Ruhui's limbs for a moment, then pried open the corpse's mouth, examined the teeth, and put the gloves away.
After standing up, the guard from the Mingjing Division said to Bai Xiuming, "My lord, this lady undoubtedly suffered from bone marrow before her death. Her body did not decay because she ingested stone nectar. Some doctors in the countryside use stone nectar as a side treatment for bone marrow disease, intending to make the passing of patients who are terminally ill less painful."
Bai Xiuming nodded slightly after hearing this, then asked, "So, she died of natural causes?"
"Yes, apart from the fact that her body was not incorruptible, there was nothing unusual about her corpse."
"I understand, you may leave now."
The man stepped aside, and Bai Xiuming walked to the coffin, looking down into it. Without a doubt, this was the face he had seen at A Chan's door on the Lantern Festival.
He stared at the corpse in the coffin for a long time, then suddenly stretched out a finger and tapped the corpse's forehead.
In the dimly lit mourning hall, the two candles that had been burning on the offering table suddenly went out, and a blurry figure emerged from the corpse.
The effects of the incense and candles had completely dissipated, and without special means, it would be impossible to summon Lü Ruhui's soul.
At this time, her soul is still alive. If nothing unexpected happens, her soul should completely leave this world after the funeral.
Lu Ruhui's ghost floated above her own corpse. She saw a room full of people dressed in official robes, then looked at Bai Xiuming, bowed slightly, and said in a faint voice, "Greetings, Your Excellency."
"Lü Ruhui?" Bai Xiuming asked.
"yes."
"How did he die?"
"I died of illness." Without Bai Xiuming pressing her for details, she recounted her experiences before her death: "On the fourth day of the month, I drank some stone syrup. At that time, I felt that my time had come, and then I never woke up again."
Where does the magma come from?
"It was bought privately by a woman. The cup that held the stone paste should still be in my house. I'll trouble you to deal with it, sir."
"Did anyone coerce or entice you to take the limestone?"
"No, this woman's illness is incurable. It is fortunate that she was able to die so easily."
After asking the questions, Bai Xiuming suddenly asked her, "Do you have any last wishes? Or is there anyone you want to see?"
Her cooperation saved Bai Xiuming a lot of trouble, and if she needed it, he would naturally lend a hand.
Lü Ruhui smiled and shook her head: "Thank you, sir, but my wish has been fulfilled."
She has achieved the result she wanted and has no more attachment to this world.
She knew her parents were outside the door, but there was no need to see them.
Seeing her answer so readily, Bai Xiuming said nothing more. He raised his hand and touched the forehead of the corpse. Lü Ruhui's soul gradually became blurred. She knew that the time for her departure had come.
Just then, a commotion suddenly broke out outside, and the door to the mourning hall was opened from the outside.
When Liu Xiangze rushed in, Lü Ruhui glanced at him, and then the blurry figure completely disappeared.
"Ruhui!" Liu Xiangze stumbled towards the coffin, reached out and grabbed at the air, but caught nothing, and then fell to the ground because of his unsteady steps.
He looked quite miserable. At Bai Xiuming's signal, Feng Yang stepped forward and helped him up, even brushing the dust off his official robes.
"Is Lord Liu injured?"
Liu Xiangze ignored Feng Yang and turned to Bai Xiuming, his tone full of pleading: "Lord Bai, you summoned my wife, didn't you? Please let her see me. It won't be long; I only need to say a few words to her."
Looking at Liu Xiangze, whose expression was filled with despair and sorrow, Bai Xiuming slowly said, "I'm sorry, Lord Liu, your wife's soul has already left."
“She’s gone…” In that instant, it was as if all the energy and spirit had been drained from Liu Xiangze. He gave a bitter laugh and murmured, “So she never forgave me at all. She will never forgive me…”
Outside the door, the Lü family members stared blankly in the direction where Lü Ruhui had disappeared. They had all seen it; she hadn't looked at them once since.
The strange reactions of these people made Bai Xiuming realize something: Achan's talk of going back to see her family one last time, although it really was just visiting her family, was not a heartwarming story at all.
"The body has been examined, and there are no abnormalities in your daughter's body. The funeral and burial can proceed as scheduled," Bai Xiuming said to Lü's father, gathering his thoughts.
After a long pause, Mr. Lü finally spoke: "Okay."
Bai Xiuming left with his subordinates, leaving behind only the heartbroken Liu Xiangze and the Lü family.
No matter who leaves this world, life will always go on.
On the third day after Lü Ruhui's funeral, several guests came to Achan's house.
Standing in front were an elderly couple, accompanied by a middle-aged man, and several maids behind them.
The people all looked unwell, as if they hadn't had enough rest for a long time; their eyes were dark and red.
Achan did not welcome them into the house, but stood at the door and asked, "What brings you here?"
“Miss Ji, we are Ru Hui’s family.” It was the elderly woman who looked very haggard who spoke.
A knowing glint flashed in Achan's eyes, but her tone was not warm: "So you're a member of Boss Lü's family. My apologies."
Seeing Achan's coldness, and recalling the news she had heard before, Lu's mother realized that Ru Hui had spent her last New Year's Eve at Ji Chan's house, and that the other party must know about Ru Hui's relationship with her family.
She lowered her eyes, and her nose stung with tears again.
If it weren't for their prejudice and cold treatment, why would Ru Hui refuse to spend even her last New Year with them?
Whenever they think of these things, they only feel heartache and guilt.
Now they finally understand that some regrets are destined to be irreparable for a lifetime.
There won't be a next chance.
Mother Lü wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and handed a brocade box to Achan: "Miss Ji, Ru Hui said in her will that she was taken care of by you and Madam Chen before she died. These things are specially left for you."
Achan took the brocade box and opened it under the watchful eyes of the Lü family.
On top was a land deed, the one for the shop next door. Below the deed was the Yushan furnace that Achan had once coveted.
She glanced at the incense burner, then looked up at the silent members of the Lü family, and stuffed the brocade box back into Lü's mother's hands, saying, "Madam Lü, these things are too valuable; you should take them back."
Mother Lü shook her head repeatedly, refusing the brocade box that A-Chan offered: "This belongs to Ru-Hui, not us. She has the right to give it to anyone. Please accept it without worry, Miss."
Ah Chan held the box and remained silent for a while before saying to Father Lü beside her, "This is the Yushan Furnace."
Father Lü stared wide-eyed at Achan in disbelief. He knew, of course, how rare the Yushan Furnace was.
Ah Chan looked at the incense burner in her hand, her tone remaining calm: "When Boss Lü acquired the incense burner, I asked her about the price. She said her father loved incense, and this incense burner was to be given to him as a New Year's gift."
Father Lü swayed, but was caught by Second Brother Lü.
"What else did she... say?" asked Mr. Lü.
"That's all. I always thought she had already given the incense burner away."
Mr. Lü suddenly raised his hand to cover his face, and couldn't help but sob, "She gave it to me, she originally gave it to me."
But on that day, he didn't even glance at the New Year's gift she gave him. Instead, in front of the whole family, he berated her mercilessly.
When she left, she scattered all the New Year's gifts on the ground, only taking the brocade box on top.
Presumably, the brocade box contained the Yushan Incense Burner.
She carefully prepared a gift and presented it to him, but he treated it like trash.
What on earth did he do?!
In the end, the Lü family left the brocade box to Achan. As Achan watched the elderly couple walking away with faltering steps, she suddenly understood why Boss Lü had made that choice.
As Boss Lü once said, they weren't bad people, they just didn't treat her well enough.
If Boss Lü were still alive, whether it was verbal abuse or favoritism, it would just be a common conflict in countless households.
But she died.
Those who are alive are left with endless regrets.
They will probably never be able to escape the guilt they feel towards their biological daughter for the rest of their lives.
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