The Marquis's residence was so large that a cloud-shaped notice board was hung at the second gate for summoning and sending messages.
The third tone indicates a happy occasion, while the fourth tone indicates a funeral.
If the clapper is struck four times at this moment, it must mean that Madam Gu has passed away.
"Clatter".
Hongmian's chopsticks fell onto the blue bricks.
But nobody cares about that right now.
Hongye quickly shoveled a few bites into her mouth, saying, "Eat quickly, or you won't be able to eat it later."
"Oh," Hongmian quickly grabbed a handkerchief to wipe her chopsticks clean, and then hurriedly ate her rice. She had been busy since morning and was very hungry.
I'm afraid the messenger will arrive soon.
While eating, Hongye muttered, "I thought I could last for a couple more days. Fortunately, Cuiming has been urging me day and night these past two days, and I've even prepared clothes. Otherwise, I would have been really panicked."
Qin Yuan sighed.
It felt like something had finally arrived.
A moment later, an old woman with a white cloth tied around her waist rushed over and shouted as soon as she entered the courtyard, "Madam, something terrible has happened! The Sixth Madam is gone!"
The maid didn't dare stop her and let her in.
Upon seeing Qin Yuan, he kowtowed and said, "Madam, the Sixth Madam has just passed away."
Qin Yuan stood up and said, "I understand. Has anyone notified the Old Madam and the Seventh Miss?"
The old woman said, "Someone has already gone. The two young masters and young ladies are in the Sixth Madam's courtyard. The concubines will be taking the young masters there later. Please give your instructions, Madam."
Qin Yuan asked, "Did Granny Zhao send you?"
The old woman nodded.
"Go back and tell Granny Zhao first. I'll change my clothes and go over there. Let Granny Zhao and Aunt Huang put in some extra effort to prevent everyone from getting too upset from grief."
The old woman left.
Qin Yuan then led her maids back to Wutong Garden, changed into plain clothes and jewelry, and hurriedly went to the Sixth Madam's courtyard.
As soon as I entered the courtyard, I heard crying.
The maids and servants were all kneeling and wailing in the corridor. The door of the main room was wide open, and all the curtains along the way were hung up. Qin Yuan went straight to the inner room and saw that the eight-treasure gold-embroidered curtains on the canopy bed were hanging high. Madam Gu had already changed into her burial clothes and was lying flat on the bed, motionless.
A group of aunts and children were kneeling on the ground, with several small ones being held in the arms of their wet nurses.
Everyone is crying.
Qin Yuan's scalp tingled slightly.
Aunt Huang, who had been sobbing, quickly stood up and wiped her tears when she saw her arrive, saying, "Madam is here, our Madam... oh..."
At this moment, nothing else is appropriate to say; it seems that only crying is suitable.
Qin Yuan also wiped her eyes with a handkerchief, and the ginger juice made her tears fall. She said softly, "Please accept my condolences. We still need your help with the funeral arrangements for Sixth Sister-in-law. You also need to take good care of so many children. Please don't neglect anything."
Aunt Huang lived in the Sixth Madam's courtyard and had a higher status than the other concubines. She immediately said, "What Madam says is true. Zhao Mama and I just helped the Sixth Madam change her clothes. When we thought of how good she had been to us, and then saw her suffering from illness like this, we couldn't bear to be sad."
She started crying again as she spoke.
The three children born to the Sixth Madam were crying their hearts out. Qin Yuan stepped forward, feeling somewhat troubled, unsure which one to help.
Fortunately, at that moment, Old Madam Gu and Gu Baozhu arrived, each holding one of the children and calming them down.
Qin Yuan held the thin and frail Lan Jie'er and frowned, saying, "This child's health was damaged by smallpox, so she needs to be nursed back to health slowly. I guess she hasn't been able to rest properly these days because she's worried about Sixth Sister-in-law's health. Look at her pale and thin face, she can't cry anymore."
Madam Gu hugged Kang-ge'er and sighed, "It's not just Lan-jie'er, Kang-ge'er and Fu-ge'er have both moved to the main room and they've lost weight. After all, she's my own mother, how can I not worry about her?"
Qin Yuan thought for a moment and said, "Now that Sixth Sister-in-law has just passed away, it might not be convenient for Lan-jie to stay in this courtyard to recuperate."
Madam Gu said, "No need to say anything more, send Lan'er to the main room to be cared for as well."
Qin Yuan gently patted Lan Jie'er, who was sobbing, and coaxed her softly, "How about Auntie takes you to the main room now?"
"No, I want to stay here with my mother."
Lan Jie called softly, trying to break free.
Qin Yuan quickly said, "Okay, okay, okay, we'll stay here with your mother. Just don't cry. You're not fully recovered yet, and crying too much will hurt your health. Your mother doesn't like you being sickly."
Lan Jie sniffled and asked in a daze, "Auntie, will my mother never open her eyes again to talk to me or hold me to sleep?"
Qin Yuan suddenly felt a lump in her throat and tears streamed down her face.
When her aunt passed away, she was a little older than Kang Ge'er. She watched her aunt slowly breathe her last, and from then on, no one wholeheartedly protected her or cared whether she had enough to eat or wear.
Madam Cui was wary of her aunt's beauty and didn't want to see her overshadow Qin Wan, so she was quite harsh on her. If it weren't for Qin Jijiu's mediation, life would probably have been even more unbearable.
"Lan'er, you have your grandmother and aunt to protect you, don't worry, your aunt will take good care of you from now on."
Lan Jie'er shrank and trembled like a thin kitten into Qin Yuan's warm embrace, sobbing, "Auntie, I'm so scared, I'm so tired, I'm afraid that if I close my eyes, I'll never see my mother again."
Qin Yuan gently patted her back and said softly, "Good child, if you're tired, take a nap. You're weak, and you're tired from crying. You'll feel better after a rest."
Lan Jie leaned softly against her chest, closed her eyes, and remained silent.
Seeing this, Madam Gu gently instructed, "Yuan'er, take Lan'er back to the main room to rest. Let Lao Liu make arrangements here, so as not to frighten the child."
Qin Yuan thought for a moment and said, "Okay."
As she carried Lan Jie'er outside, she ran into Sixth Master Gu and Marquis Gu entering the courtyard from outside.
Sixth Master Gu asked, "Third Sister-in-law, how are the preparations going inside?"
Qin Yuan said, "Granny Zhao and Aunt Huang have already changed Sixth Sister-in-law's clothes. Aunt and the children have all arrived. Lan'er is weak and tired after crying, so I'll take her back to the main room to rest first. Everything has been prepared these past few days, so just give the instructions to pack it up. Hongye, Hongmian, and Mozhu will stay here to help. For matters outside, just ask Steward Han."
Sixth Master Gu bowed respectfully and said, "I've troubled Third Sister-in-law with everything."
Qin Yuan quickly stepped aside, saying, "Sixth Brother, there's no need for such formalities. This is simply what I should be doing."
Lord Gu said, "Sixth brother, go inside and make arrangements quickly. Baozhu can't handle things, and Mother is getting old and has to take care of the children. I'm afraid she won't be able to manage."
Sixth Master Gu responded and went into the inner room.
Lord Gu stood still, his hands behind his back, his eyes fixed on Qin Yuan with a dark expression.
Qin Yuan glanced at him. In just one day and one night, Lord Gu had become much more listless and decadent, as if he had been drained of his life force by a demon. His whites were filled with blood vessels, and his dark circles were almost reaching his cheekbones. His beard had sprouted up like bamboo shoots after a spring rain, covering his chin and cheeks.
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