The doors and windows of the mourning hall were wide open, and the cool night wind rushed in, blowing the white gauze curtains swaying, making the white lanterns sway, and also blowing the incense ashes and paper money scraps into the air.
The two coffins were pitch black and lay across the sky like a mountain.
The family suffered a great change. Marquis Jingyang died of depression and illness before he could live to see his old age. His eldest son died from poisoned wine given by the emperor and did not have a good end... It's really creepy when you think about it.
Suddenly a strong wind blew over, and the white curtains in the hall blew up layer by layer, making a fluttering sound.
"Tsk, oh my, that's scary!" Several servants who were accompanying the night watch were trembling, their hair standing on end, and they deliberately huddled together, no one dared to be alone.
In such a place, Jiang Yushu fell into a deep sleep, her eyebrows and eyes were picturesque, her jade-white face was rosy and pink, and she looked quiet and charming.
Guo Honglei bent down and watched, his tiger eyes sparkling, and he sighed and thought to himself: Last night in the bridal chamber, neither of us had the heart to watch the wedding ceremony; tonight, while keeping vigil, you finally thought it through and stopped crying and trying to commit suicide, which saved me a lot of worry.
He even took the initiative to talk to me just now, which is really rare.
I recall that before we got married, I visited you several times, intending to have a frank and detailed conversation, but you always used illness as an excuse to avoid me and refused to meet me.
I originally thought that there was still a long time to go, and we could talk in detail after getting married and gradually eliminate the grudges in each other's hearts.
However, unexpectedly, my brother caused a terrible disaster, and the Guo family collapsed in an instant. The future was bleak, so I didn't dare to promise my family a prosperous and peaceful life.
After all, Guo Honglei was only seventeen years old. Besides feeling guilty towards his wife, he was overwhelmed with worries and mixed emotions. He couldn't see the way forward, and three days later he could only bite the bullet and protect his family by heading north to Xicang.
Suddenly, footsteps were heard outside the door. Guo Honglei quickly straightened up and turned around to see the maids Juan'er and Biyue, one holding a bedding and a cloak, and the other holding a tea tray.
"Second Young Master, please have some tea." Juan'er came forward.
Guo Honglei waved his hand and said, "Put it aside for now."
"yes."
Bi Yue glanced around, looking at Jiang Yushu sleeping on the low couch in surprise, and asked with concern, "It's cold at night, would you like to add a cloak, young master? The bedding is arranged by the old lady. She told you not to stay up two nights in a row, be careful not to tire yourself out, and take a rest when you feel tired."
Guo Honglei picked up the cloak and ordered, "Put the bedding in the east wing."
"Yes." Bi Yue twisted her waist and went to the ear room carrying the bedding.
Jiang Yushu was curled up on the low couch, and her body suddenly felt lighter, as if she was suspended in the clouds, so light and floating. She was so scared that her heart jumped and she opened her eyes suddenly!
"Did you get scared?" Guo Honglei held his wife sideways, stepped steadily over the threshold, and walked along the corridor towards the side room. "Don't be afraid, it's me."
Jiang Yushu had just recovered from her shock when she realized she was wrapped in a dark blue cloak. She asked half-consciously, "Where are we going?"
"Here." Guo Honglei stepped into the side room, placed the person on the couch, and whispered, "It's windy in the mourning hall. I don't think you can walk any more. Why don't you rest here?"
Juan'er and Biyue stood beside the couch, the former standing with her hands hanging down, while the latter twisted her belt.
Jiang Yushu yawned with her hand covering her mouth, patted her cheeks, sat up suddenly, and accidentally dropped a silver hairpin on the ground.
Guo Honglei helped pick it up and noticed his wife's eyes light up. She said happily, "Hey? I just noticed that when they searched our house today, the officials didn't search us. They didn't take away the jewelry we were wearing! I guess they showed mercy." As she spoke, she touched her head, ears, waist, and hands, and said happily:
"Look, hairpins, earrings, jade pendants, bracelets, rings. I'll find a way to pawn them and exchange them for money for the journey. By the way, are you allowed to take money to Xicang? Will it be confiscated?"
The noble young master felt a pang of regret, and whispered to himself, "Don't worry, the same imperial decree won't confiscate your property twice. As far as I know, families like ours are allowed to take some money with them when they are exiled, but they are not allowed to use the money for personal gain. After all, exile is a punishment."
Jiang Yushu nodded and thought silently.
"You rest, I'll go keep watch."
"Wait!" Jiang Yushu looked around and asked, "Is this the bed they made for you? It's yours. I'm going back to my room."
Why should there be such alienation between husband and wife? Guo Honglei said calmly, with a straight face, "What's mine is yours."
"But you've been busy for two days. Even the strongest need a rest. You'll be busy tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, so you should get some sleep." Jiang Yushu tried to get up from the bed, but her husband grabbed her shoulders and forced her down! She was stunned and struggled subconsciously, but she was powerless and couldn't move.
"You——" She rubbed her shoulders that were hurt by being pressed, feeling a little embarrassed.
Seeing this, Guo Honglei hastily withdrew his hand, said "I'm tired and will rest by myself", and walked away quickly.
Bi Yue bit her lip and couldn't help but say to the person lying there, "It's windy in the mourning hall, and the Second Young Master is wearing very thin clothes."
Jiang Yushu came back to her senses, smiled slightly, took off her cloak and handed it over, "Send it to him."
Bi Yue took it and quickly ran to the mourning hall.
The other maid stood obediently. Jiang Yushu thought for a moment and said gently, "Juan'er, come, let's sleep together."
“This, this…”
Jiang Yushu moved to the inside and said, "I'm timid and scared. I don't dare to sleep alone. Come up quickly."
"Yes." In fact, Juan'er was even more afraid. When she thought of the two coffins in the mourning hall next door, she felt creepy and lay on the bed gratefully.
Jiang Yushu lay on her back and asked slowly, "How old are you?"
"Slave Servant Sixteen."
"Where are Xiaotao and Biyue?"
Juan'er answered crisply, "Sister Tao is eighteen, and Biyue is seventeen."
Jiang Yushu hesitated for a moment and continued to ask, "How many years have you all been serving the Second Young Master?"
"Less than a year."
Jiang Yushu was stunned for a moment, then asked in surprise, "So, which maids took care of the Second Young Master before?"
"There weren't any before. The Second Young Master studied with the Marquis since he was young, and also practiced martial arts with his master, learning the 'Six Arts of a Gentleman'. He was very busy. The Marquis was afraid that he would be distracted, so he didn't allow young maids to stay in his room. It was not until the Young Master got engaged that the Marquis allowed three of us to serve him personally."
"I see." Jiang Yushu closed her eyes and thought: The Marquis probably saw that his eldest son was spoiled, so he had no choice but to teach his second son strictly himself.
After a moment, she gently reminded: "Juan'er, if the emperor issues an edict, we will all become criminals. There will be neither 'young madam' nor 'slave maid'."
Juan'er was loyal and said firmly: "I am a family-born child. Several generations of my family have relied on the Marquis' Mansion for their livelihood. I will never forget the kindness I have received! I am willing to serve you forever. I only ask that you take me in."
"You are the Second Young Master's maid. It is not up to me to decide whether you stay or go." Jiang Yushu was speechless and sighed, "It's hard for you to be so loyal."
"You are the young lady, so the maids in the young master's room are naturally under your charge. Young lady, please leave me here." Juan'er was so tired that she fell asleep soon after touching the pillow, her breathing steady.
Jiang Yushu tossed and turned, carefully considering: without money, you can't move forward, this principle is applicable everywhere.
I heard that the exile is full of dangers, and Xicang is a frontier area, barren and desolate. How can you survive there?
In addition to travel expenses, you also need some money to settle down.
After much deliberation, he could only try to borrow... beg from his father. Having served as an official for twenty years, reaching the rank of a third-rank official in the imperial court, he should have a certain amount of financial resources.
Jiang Yushu felt guilty and ashamed, but she had to make plans for her life. She could only comfort herself: Although the core had changed, the shell was still his daughter. Once the difficulties were overcome, she would repay the favor.
So she looked forward to her father coming to visit again, because the gatekeepers forbade anyone in the Guo family to go out.
However, on the day of the funeral, Jiang's father did not come;
On the day of the funeral, Jiang's father still didn't come.
On the third day, which was the last day that the Guo family stayed in the capital, the sun was setting and Father Jiang still hadn't come!
"Why hasn't father come yet?" Jiang Yushu was anxious and worried, pacing around in the bedroom. "Did something unexpected happen?"
As soon as the voice fell, Juan'er, who had volunteered to inquire about the news, returned and excitedly reported: "Young Madam, Lord Jiang came to see you!"
Jiang Yushu's brows immediately lit up, she lifted her skirt and approached to ask, "Where is the person?"
"Just after entering the door, he went to the front hall."
Jiang Yushu asked as she walked, "Where is your second young master?"
"He is greeting Master Feng." Juan'er replied.
After a while, Jiang Yushu walked out of the second gate and met her elders in the small garden.
"Father!" She trotted over, panting, and said happily, "Your daughter greets you. Why did you come just now?"
"I promised Honglei something and have been busy these past two days." Jiang Shisen's eyes were kind, but he frowned and said, "You're already married. Your words and actions should be calm and dignified. Running away rashly is just a sign of disrespect."
The blood relationship between father and daughter is precious. Even if their hearts were changed and their ideas were incompatible, Jiang Yushu was willing to be close to her father. She wiped her sweat and replied sadly, "You haven't come for the past two days. I'm leaving for Xicang tomorrow morning. I don't know if we'll see each other again in this life. I was so anxious that I didn't care about my manners."
"Nonsense! Why can't we meet?" Jiang Shisen's beard trembled. He concealed his heartache and walked forward with his hands behind his back, comforting him, "Although the Guo family has been implicated because of the prince, embezzling military funds is not a crime that can never be reversed. As long as we wait for the general amnesty, you will be innocent."
Jiang Yushu asked hurriedly, "When will the court grant amnesty to the entire nation?"
"God knows only the earth. Just be patient and wait."
Seeing the father and daughter strolling in the garden, Xiao Tao knelt and said, "Young Madam, I will make tea."
"Um."
Jiang Shisen glanced around and saw that there was no one around. He asked suspiciously, "Last time, it was not convenient to ask in front of everyone, but now I want to ask: Where are the servants who gave you a dowry?"
Jiang Yushu answered truthfully, "Because my daughter committed suicide, my mother-in-law blamed the servants for not taking good care of her. So, she ordered my people to learn the Guo family's rules first. So... my daughter won't be able to see them for the time being."
A personal maid, they grew up together and were very close, and she knew the original owner better than Jiang's father.
She was very nervous and worried that she would be exposed.
"You shouldn't have done that. You shouldn't have tried to commit suicide out of spite. You're so willful, no wonder your mother-in-law is so angry." Jiang Shisen said earnestly, "Honglei is talented, steady, and reliable. He's worthy of your lifelong trust. Don't act so foolishly anymore."
——His father-in-law arrived, Guo Honglei hurried to greet him. When he took the tea tray from the maid and arrived, he heard his father-in-law praising him. He couldn't help but stop and curled the corners of his mouth.
But then he heard his wife complaining:
"Outsiders don't understand, but doesn't your father also understand why his daughter wants to commit suicide?" Jiang Yushu suddenly had an idea and took the opportunity to pry, saying aggrievedly, "You are always wise and must know that your daughter is being wronged. Yushu dares to swear to the heavens: If I have done such a shameful thing as deliberately seducing my sister's husband, I will be struck by five thunders and die a miserable death!"
"Why are you doing this?" Jiang Shisen turned his face away, twirling his beard in annoyance. "Now that things have come to this, why bring up the past?"
Jiang Yushu stared intently at her father, carefully analyzing his expression. She feigned resentment and said quietly, "It was because I suffered injustice and felt that I had failed my cousin's love that I committed suicide out of despair."
"Alas." Jiang Shisen sighed deeply. "Father knows that you and Wenfeng were childhood sweethearts, in love, and even engaged. It's hard for me to let go of this for a moment. But now you are Honglei's wife. No matter what, you must forget Wenfeng and follow Honglei wholeheartedly!"
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