Chapter 84
Wen Quan and Pei Lingjun were both away from their residences. The government offices had become noticeably busier these past few days, with Wen Tao leaving early and returning late every day.
A light autumn rain was falling in the middle of the night, and the cold made people shiver.
Wen Tao had just returned from the government office, worrying about the extra three thousand taels of silver that had been collected. The people of Longhu Village had been much more well-behaved lately and hadn't caused him any trouble at such a crucial time. It seemed they had been frightened.
He patted the raindrops that splashed onto him in frustration. In the dead of night, the servant holding the umbrella beside him suddenly turned around and exclaimed in surprise, "Master, why do I see someone running over there?!"
Although there is no curfew in Anyang, it's so late at night, who would go out?
As the man wearing a rain hat ran closer in the rain, the servant holding the umbrella suddenly widened his eyes, "Master, it's Li Er from the medicine shop!"
"Master, something terrible has happened! Aunt Zhou is dying!"
Li Er suddenly knelt on the ground, his pale face turning ashen.
"What did you say?"
The people at the pharmacy had informed him countless times that Zhou Yun's condition was serious and he couldn't find the time to visit her, but he never imagined it had become so serious that she was dying.
But Wen Tao arrived too late.
Zhou Yun has already left.
Wen Shu rushed over late at night and cried by Zhou Yun's side all night.
Wen Tao rubbed his tired temples, glanced at the pale, bloodless person on the bed, and waved his hand, saying, "Bury him."
Wen Shu's eyes were red from crying as she knelt and begged him, "Father, please let Mother stay a few more days!"
Wen Tao looked at his daughter, who resembled Zhou Yun, and sighed, "The birthday banquet of Grand Tutor Ji Jing is in a few days. We can't bring bad luck on them. Let's not keep the body here. I'll be at peace if we bury her as soon as possible."
The sleeve in her hand was suddenly pulled away, and Wen Shu fell to the ground in a disheveled state, crying silently.
First, Wen Shu's wedding didn't happen, and all the red silk in the mansion was quickly removed that day. Now, white banners have been hung up so quickly.
Wen Tao forbade Zhou Yun's funeral from being held in a grand manner; only the side courtyard where Wen Shu and Wen Ji lived within the Wen residence was adorned with white banners.
Zhou Yun was taken directly from the medicine shop and placed into a coffin, while Wen Shu and Wen Ji knelt on the prayer mat and watched helplessly.
"Sister..." Wenji suddenly burst into tears. The young man hadn't cried in countless years, but now, disregarding the gazes of those inside, he awkwardly embraced Wen Shu. "Sister, I'm so sad..."
“Wenji, Mother is gone. We who are alive must look forward.”
Wen Shu stroked his back, and the two siblings burst into tears.
There were no outsiders in the hall that was being used as a temporary mourning hall, but Wen Shu was still kneeling and whispering, “At dusk, Mother will be taken out of the city. You must rescue Mother before midnight today. I have arranged for people to wait outside the ancestral hall. They will take you to a safe place.”
"Sister! Aren't you coming with us?"
Wenji looked at her with a panicked expression.
Wen Shu smiled gently, "If the two of us disappear together, it will attract too much attention. Don't worry, I will leave as soon as possible to reunite with you."
Even when a concubine in the Wen family died of illness, the funeral was not this grand.
The First Madam hastily assigned two nannies to supervise the work, and didn't even show up herself in this freezing weather.
The old woman led a dozen or so strong servants to carry the coffin, while Wenji led the group ahead.
The small group of people left the city in a miserable and dejected manner, without making much of a fuss.
Wen Shu sat listlessly in the mansion, and Han Xiang also felt distressed; the entire side courtyard was devoid of any vitality.
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