Although they felt something was off, the people present weren't the type to meddle, so they just treated it as a formality, quickly finished their condolences and prayers, and went home.
Holding incense sticks, they bowed deeply three times to the memorial tablet before firmly inserting the incense sticks into the incense burner.
Zheng Quchi quietly burned paper money to the side. When someone came to greet him, he would stand up to greet them and return the greeting.
She felt that now that things had come to this, even if it was fake, she had to go all the way. It wasn't that she didn't want to cry a few words, to be sentimental, and to match the atmosphere of the event, but she just couldn't squeeze out any tears, and she couldn't let go of her pride, so she simply pretended to be quiet and numb.
After all, according to everyone's understanding, "Yuwen Sheng" has been dead for quite some time. Even if his family is still very sad, they should have recovered by now. Now that his body has been won back from Julu Kingdom, all that's left is to hold a decent ceremony and funeral for him, just going through the motions.
While dealing with the guests, Zheng Quchi would occasionally glance at Fu Rong with a look that seemed to say, "I'll settle scores later," making Fu Rong feel a chill run down his spine and want to cry but having no tears.
Hmph, she's even worse at acting than him. Her own general died and she didn't even shed a tear. And what about the old steward, Chang Yue? How could a loyal old steward not squeeze out a couple of crocodile tears to mourn his master at this time?
She had seen through them all. Before, she hadn't suspected anything and hadn't thought their behavior was particularly illogical. But now, looking at them again, it was clear that they all knew the inside story, including Wang Zebang and Wei Yao...
She narrowed her eyes, thought for a moment, but couldn't quite tell whether they had been acting in the past or had been kept in the dark like her. However, she was certain that the two of them knew the truth right now.
Ever since that day at Yixiu Hall, when they stood behind Yuan Xingzhou with an ambiguous attitude, she should have noticed something. Although they have been inquiring about her every day and sending all kinds of tonics and medicinal meals, they have not been seen. It is obvious that something is wrong.
Why didn't they come even at a time like this? Could it be that they received a message from Fu Rong and were too guilty to come because they were afraid of being questioned by her?
So you only kept it from her, right?
The problem is, she thought about it all night and still couldn't understand why Yuwen Sheng did all this.
Why did he fake his death?
Where is he now? If he did all this just to pull off something big, is it possible that he's actually always been by their side, never really gone...?
Scenes suddenly flashed through her mind. She had carefully reviewed everything that had happened last night. After much thought, she had a suspect in mind, but she was still lacking crucial evidence.
Later that evening, as expected, the Yuwen family arrived. However, none of the people in the General's Mansion went out to greet them. Judging from their hostile demeanor, the old steward Chang Yue's eyes sharpened.
"Steward Chang, go and handle the other matters. I'll take care of them," Zheng Quchi said, stopping him.
Chang Yue originally planned to go and deal with those monsters and demons from the Yuwen family, but unexpectedly, his wife planned to go alone.
He worried that his wife was unaware of how troublesome the Yuwen family was: "Madam, apart from the head of the family, the other branches of the Yuwen family are all commoners. Over the years, they have gained some power under the protection of the General's Mansion, and they have become arrogant and ignorant. They have caused trouble outside and incurred huge debts, so they have set their sights on the General's Mansion."
Zheng Quchi had long suspected that these people were morally deficient and could not be good people.
"I know, it's alright, Butler Chang, I can handle it."
Seeing that his wife understood everything and still intended to resolve the matter personally, Chang Yue stopped trying to stop her. He planned to have two loyal servants keep a close eye on the situation, and if they found out that the servants had bullied his wife, he would not let them off the hook.
The people from the Yuwen family went through the motions of offering incense and bowing to the memorial tablet and the deceased, but their eyes kept glancing in Zheng Quchi's direction, a look that made people very uncomfortable.
After the worship ceremony, the elderly Yuwen Gui, along with his descendants, came before Zheng Quchi. He leaned on a cane, his face covered with wrinkles of age, and a few dark spots appeared at the corners of his eyes. When he squinted at people, his eyes revealed a hint of malice and gloom.
Those behind him disregarded the current situation and began to interrogate him.
“Zheng, how dare you deceive us? You are not pregnant at all.”
Yuwen Gui also looked dignified. He tapped his cane on the ground, and the crisp sound attracted the attention of those around him. Other guests who came to pay their respects heard the noise and looked over.
"I am Yuwen Gui, the patriarch of the Yuwen family, and also Yuwen Sheng's great-grandfather. I heard that you were pregnant with Sheng'er's posthumous child, so even though I am an old man, I had to come and visit you. Who would have thought that it was all a lie?"
"Who said I'm pregnant?" Zheng Quchi was taken aback for a moment, then said innocently, "I didn't lie to you. You can't just accuse me based on hearsay, can you?"
Seeing that she refused to admit it, the middle-aged man behind Yuwen Gui angrily pointed at her and said, "You—what a sharp-tongued woman, so ill-mannered, still so rude in front of your elders."
Zheng Quchi said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "I respect you as my elders and have been tolerant of you in every way, but today is the day of my husband's mourning. If you cause trouble here, don't blame me for being rude."
Upon hearing her words, the middle-aged man's face immediately showed a mocking smile: "Your husband? Ha, don't be ridiculous. You and Yuwen Sheng have no registered marriage contract. No one will recognize your identity. You are just a woman who uses a guise to swindle and deceive. Do you have a marriage contract? Does the Yuwen family recognize you?"
They deliberately chose today to break off relations, not on a whim, but premeditatedly. Their aim was to completely ruin Zheng Quchi's reputation in front of everyone, sever his ties with Yuwen Sheng, and make it so that once the General's Mansion became ownerless, these collateral relatives could take over it without any problem.
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