The best course of action now is for the Crown Prince to produce a legitimate son as soon as possible.
The thought of her legitimate son reminded her of her two deceased grandsons, which fueled her hatred for Emperor Hui.
Emperor Hui was suffering on top, and Duke Cheng'en was suffering on the bottom; they both wished the other could become their "ancestor."
At noon, Hua Zisheng went to the Xie and Earl's residences to announce His Majesty's decree: "Grand Secretary Gu and his wife, Lady Xie, have met with misfortune. I am deeply saddened by their passing and have ordered the Living Buddha Yuanji to perform a ritual. The Earl's and Xie's residences are forbidden from displaying mourning banners. We await the resurrection and return of Grand Secretary Gu and his wife."
This imperial decree left both the matriarchs of the two households completely bewildered.
Madam Xie asked, "Steward Hua, what does this mean? Can Living Buddha Yuanji really bring my granddaughter and grandson-in-law back to life?"
Hua Zisheng comforted her, "Madam, whether it's possible or not, it's all His Majesty's will, isn't it?"
"Yes," said Madam Xie, tears streaming down her face.
The dead cannot be brought back to life; Your Majesty is simply heartbroken and has lost your mind.
The entire Xie mansion was filled with weeping once again. Madam Xie the Second cried out that Heaven was unjust, that such good people as the eldest daughter and son-in-law had died so young. She fainted from crying and several maids carried her back to her courtyard.
Several maids helped the old lady back to Wutong Courtyard. The old lady roused herself and instructed the various households: "The eldest young lady and her husband were poisoned because they were loyal to the court and were hated by villains. Gather all the strength of the Xie family and cooperate with His Majesty to eliminate the traitors!"
Xu received the news of Xie Zhaozhao and Gu Shaoyu's deaths that morning, and at first she didn't believe it.
However, the Wutong Garden was filled with weeping, and Xie Anfeng and the old lady's grief was genuine.
Overjoyed, she clasped her hands together in prayer.
Unexpectedly, Xie Zhaozhao was killed by thieves!
Then her enormous dowry would have gone to the Earl's mansion, but unfortunately, that good-for-nothing Gu Chengyan was stripped of his right to inherit the title. Otherwise, the dowry would have ended up in Xiangxiang's hands sooner or later.
No, she had coveted the dowry she had spent half her life, only to have it fall into the hands of that scoundrel, Madam Tu. She had to find a way to give it to her daughter.
Right now, the Earl's mansion doesn't even have a leader to manage things, so it wouldn't be difficult for a skilled thief to steal from it.
While everyone is in chaos right after the death, let's pick out the valuables and take them first.
Borrow two experts from the palace and inform Xiangxiang to smash open Xie Zhaozhao's dowry storeroom tonight!
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