Zhu Shan quickly pulled Xia Qi into the house, closed the door, and turned back to ask, "Besides you, did anyone else see it?"
Xia Qi shook her head and said, "No! I was the only one collecting seashells on the beach at the time."
Zhu Shan asked suspiciously, "How did you know it was Lord Ma who jumped into the sea so late at night?"
“I’ve seen Lord Ma twice since he returned to Jiangcheng, and I’m quite familiar with his current appearance. However…” Xia Qi scratched his head, looked into the inner room, and said, “I couldn’t sleep all night. After thinking it over, I decided I had to come and check. If Lord Ma is home, then I must have been mistaken. But if it really was Lord Ma who jumped into the sea, then I definitely have to come and tell you!”
Zhu Shan asked, "Have you told anyone about this?"
Xia Qi said, "No, it's not confirmed yet. I haven't dared to tell my family. I came to find you as soon as I got up this morning."
Zhu Shan breathed a sigh of relief, but a look of sadness appeared on her face. She sighed and said, "You didn't see wrong, it was my husband who jumped into the sea."
Xia Qi exclaimed in surprise, "You know?"
“I only found out yesterday. He left me a suicide note.” Zhu Shan pointed to a room inside and said, “I stayed up all night in the mourning hall last night. The things haven’t been unpacked yet.”
"Madam Ma, please accept my condolences." Xia Qi sighed softly, then asked with some confusion, "Lord Ma was perfectly fine, why did he want to die?"
Zhu Shan said, "You outsiders don't know, he only looked fine on the surface, but he was actually always sick. His illness had dragged on for too long and he couldn't bear it anymore, so he chose to take his own life."
As she spoke, Zhu Shan covered her face and wept, sobbing, "I advised him to live a good life and not to think too much. I am younger than him, and I will take good care of him."
Xia Qi said sadly, "Madam Ma, you've really worked too hard."
Zhu Shan said, "He is my husband, so I should serve him well for the rest of my life. This is what I should do."
Xia Qi said with admiration, "Although Lord Ma returned from Yanchuan, during his tenure in Jiangyang, he loved the people like his own children, was honest and upright, and did many great things that benefited the people. Why should his funeral be so simple? I believe that once people in Jiangcheng know of his death, more than half of the people will come to pay their respects."
Zhu Shan quickly said, "This is his own idea. He wants me to keep everything simple, not only by not making it public, but also by not informing the Ma family's relatives."
"He said this would save money..."
Xia Qi clasped his hands together and said respectfully, "Lord Ma is truly a good official and a good person."
"Yes!" Zhu Shan nodded emphatically and said, "It's a pity... I couldn't serve him more."
Xia Qi walked over to Zhu Shan and said emotionally, "Then, Madam Ma, what are your plans for the future?"
Zhu Shan said, "Since we're already in Jiangcheng, let's stay here. I can survive on my own."
"Madam Ma, you are too kind to Lord Ma. If you need anything at home in the future, just let me know and I will help you if I can."
Zhu Shan looked Xia Qi up and down, and asked in confusion, "May I ask who this young lady is?"
Xia Qi said earnestly, "My family are merchants from Qinhuang County in the west. My uncle came to Jiangcheng early and did some small business. Now that I'm grown up, I've come to the east to broaden my horizons."
Zhu Shan asked, "May I ask what kind of business your family does?"
Xia Qi smiled and said, "Our Qinhuang County is different from the East. It has fallen into decline. My family is in the jewelry and jade business. Although we can't compare with the people in the East, our Xia family is quite powerful in Qinhuang."
Zhu Shan suddenly had an idea. He went over and put his arm around Xia Qing's arm, and smiled and said, "Old Ma is not in good health. My relationship with him was already destined. No matter how sad I am now, it will still be the same."
"But you..." Zhu Shan said seriously, "Your respect for Old Ma is truly touching. Especially since you rushed here to inform me. I'll remember this kindness. From now on, don't call me Mrs. Ma anymore; how about we address each other as sisters?"
Xia Qi exclaimed in surprise, "How can that be?"
"How could I not!" Zhu Shan walked over to Xia Qi and hugged her, saying, "I'm a little older than you, so I'll be your older sister!"
"I……"
"What's wrong? Are you looking down on a widow like me?"
"This..." Xia Qi was moved and hugged Zhu Shan, saying, "Then you'll be my older sister from now on!"
"Hmm!" Zhu Shan asked with a smile, "What's your sister's name?"
"My name is Xia Qi."
"The Xia family of Qinhuang must be a prestigious family in Qinhuang," Zhu Shan speculated.
Xia Qi said modestly, "It's alright. Most of my ancestors were merchants, and some were officials in Dajing."
Zhu Shan nodded and said solemnly, "You're new to Jiangcheng. Although I don't have the same connections as your uncle, I can still take you around to get to know Jiangcheng. Feel free to come find me anytime in the future."
"Thank you so much, sister!"
For two consecutive days, Xia Qi went to see Zhu Shan every day. The two went shopping and had meals together, and Xia Qi would also talk to Zhu Shan about her feelings.
Seeing Xia Qi's open and honesty, Zhu Shan, in order to get closer to Xia Qi, also talked to her about some of his own feelings, and gradually the conversation turned to Qi Bainian.
That day, the two arrived at Jinghai Lake. Xia Qi said that this was the place where Ma Tiezhou jumped into the sea. Zhu Shan knelt sincerely on the shore, facing Jinghai Lake with great sadness.
Xia Qi sighed, "Sister, the deceased are gone, but the living must go on. You must take good care of yourself so that Lord Ma can rest in peace."
With tears in her eyes, Zhu Shan said, "I understand the principle, but how easy is it to put it into practice? These past few nights, I've been thinking about him all night long, and I haven't been able to sleep at all."
"I guessed it from your dark circles."
Xia Qi shook her head, took Zhu Shan's arm, and said, "I have some ideas, but I don't know if they're appropriate. Would you like to hear them, sister?"
Zhu Shan said, "From the moment you came to deliver the message, I knew you were a good person. You are my sister, and there's nothing I can't tell you."
Xia Qi mimicked Zhao Cheng's manner when he was trying to persuade people, and said with a serious expression and heavy eyes, "If you want to get over this, you can't do it on your own. My family said that the best way to get over a sad relationship is to start a new one."
"Sister, since you and Lord Qi are so in love, why don't you go and find him?"
Zhu Shan's eyes lit up, and he sighed, "Although Lord Qi is on good terms with me, she does have a wife after all."
Xia Qi said seriously, "He has a wife, but he hasn't taken a concubine... Sister, to be honest, since Lord Qi killed Miao Shang, Madam Miao must be resentful towards him. If you go to him now, as long as you handle it well, you might not only get a concubine, but even replace Madam Miao!"
"Sister, this is the best opportunity, time waits for no one!!"
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