The next morning, Yan Yu had already stopped breathing for several hours. The Princess Consort only instructed Xia He to go to the front courtyard to inform them, while she herself took Ling Xiu to prepare Yan Yu's body for burial.
The room where Yan Yu was imprisoned was originally an unused room where the maids usually rested, and it was simply furnished. The Fujin remembered that it was here yesterday that Lingxiu and her men forcibly fed Yan Yu poison.
"Madam, let me take some people inside to tidy up. Please wait here for a moment, so as not to offend you." Lingxiu noticed the hesitation in Madam's eyes.
"No need, I'd better go see her." The princess lifted the bottom of the flowerpot and stepped over the high threshold.
Perhaps because someone had just died, the air seemed to freeze. The only sound in the room was the clattering of flowerpots on the bluestone floor.
The Fujin, supporting Lingxiu's hand, walked to the bed where Yanyu was "sleeping." The gauze curtains had been lowered, and the person inside seemed to be asleep.
"Madam, we servants are starting to calm down. Please sit over there," Lingzhi said carefully, seeing the sadness in Madam's expression.
"Is the coffin ready? Go and have someone carry it to the door. We can't just carry it out like this. Considering she gave birth to Hailan, we should prepare her body according to the standards for a concubine," the Fujin instructed.
Meanwhile, a newcomer arrived in the South Courtyard—the former "Fifth Prince." Lanqin personally arranged a room for the child, and his former wet nurse and maid also came along, living with him in the room next to Wuxiha's.
The Fourth Prince remained somewhat silent throughout the night, showing little enthusiasm for helping the Fifth Prince with his preparations. He simply accompanied Wuxiha and followed Lanqin in making arrangements.
When Lanqin woke up early in the morning, she suddenly told Fourth Master that she had thought of a name for the child, which would be "Xi Chen".
"Why is he called that?" Fourth Master still had some lingering doubts. Although Yan Yu's matter had nothing to do with this child, his existence would constantly remind him that he had once been deceived by a princess.
“My lord,” Lanqin said, “this child is destined for you. Consider that you will have many children, but this one is not related to you by blood. I don’t know what the future holds for this child, but I feel he is blessed to have come into your household after leaving his parents, like a rare star.” Lanqin understood that this child would surely make the Fourth Master uncomfortable, but abandoning him would be tantamount to a death sentence. Since giving birth herself, Lanqin had developed a maternal compassion for her other children. Therefore, she couldn’t simply watch this child be abandoned without doing anything.
"Fine, if you want to adopt it, then keep it," Fourth Master said.
“Master, Ushiha not only has her father who loves her now, but she will also have an older brother who will love her in the future. How happy she is! I’m not saying that Ushiha doesn’t have other brothers, but it’s rare to find a brother who grew up with her.” Lanqin tried to untangle the knots in the Fourth Master’s heart.
"Good, I think so too. As you said last night, Yan Yu will be confined to Zhanghua Terrace forever, and no one is allowed to see her." Fourth Master pulled back the mosquito net, and Nianxue and Xicha had already entered.
Lanqin smiled and got up as well.
"Why aren't you sleeping in today?" Fourth Master opened his arms and let Nianxue button up his robe.
"Master~~" Lanqin said coquettishly, and then asked Xicha to help her change her clothes.
After getting dressed, the two ordered water to wash up. Lanqin had already planned out most of their daily breakfasts, ensuring that Niu Baoquan could have a different meal every day for seven days. This was thanks to Lanqin writing down the names and recipes of all the 21st-century dishes she could remember.
Seeing that both masters had gotten up, Si Hua had already gone to the kitchen to give instructions.
As soon as the two sat down, a small tatami table for breakfast was brought up.
Just then, Su Peisheng suddenly came in from outside the house. Seeing that Fourth Master and Lanqin were preparing to have a meal, he hesitated whether to speak.
When Fourth Master was in the South Courtyard, he basically ate and slept here as well. Just now, Zhao Quan from the front courtyard came specifically to say: Yan Yu committed suicide out of fear of punishment, and his body has been collected. We would like to ask Master how to bury him.
"Say what you have to say, Eunuch Su," Lanqin said, seeing Su Peisheng's hesitant and silent demeanor.
"This servant will wait until Master and Consort have finished their meal before we talk about it. Anyway, it's a settled matter, so it won't matter if we wait a little longer." Su Peisheng understood. He thought to himself that Yan Yu was not favored by the Fourth Prince when she was alive, and now that she's gone, it's just a matter of saying goodbye. Is there any need to be in such a hurry? It's better to wait until the two masters have finished their breakfast before we talk about it.
"Nonsense, then you're just keeping me hanging on. Speak!" Fourth Master picked up a crystal soup dumpling and put it in his mouth.
Seeing that the Fourth Master had spoken, Su Peisheng had no choice but to bow and say, "This morning, someone from the main courtyard came and said that Princess Yan Yu has committed suicide out of fear of punishment."
Lanqin was drinking millet porridge when she heard this. Upon hearing this, she had a thought: Yan Yu shouldn't have committed suicide. Given her personality, she would never die until the very last moment. How could this be?
The Fourth Prince didn't react much, but paused for a moment before saying, "I originally thought of keeping her in Zhanghua Terrace forever, but it seems there's no need for that anymore. Pass on my message: bury her according to the rules for concubines. Let the Fujin handle it."
It's still a lower rank. Yan Yu was a princess, but now, after her death, she can only be buried as a concubine. That is to say, there will be no funeral for her, and no one will come to mourn her. They will simply find a good place for her to be buried like an ordinary wealthy family. She is not qualified to be buried in the royal mausoleum.
After receiving the message, Su Peisheng withdrew.
“Master, Yan Yu’s personality shouldn’t allow her to commit suicide, so why would she?” Lan Qin said.
“It seems I was too late. I should have sent someone to deliver the message immediately when you pleaded with her yesterday. She must be having second thoughts; it seems this is her fate. Qin’er, if you hadn’t pleaded, I wouldn’t have shown leniency,” said the Fourth Master.
"I know. I'm just a little surprised. Since she's already gone, there's no point in saying anything more. Hailan is so pitiful, her mother is gone," Lanqin said.
"The Fujin is her own aunt and will raise her well. Having such a cruel mother is not necessarily a good thing for Hailan." The Fourth Prince was clearly not shocked by Yan Yu's death. Since last night, she had been no different from a dead person in his heart.
"My lord, I have a request, I wonder if it is permissible?" Lanqin put down her chopsticks and said.
"When did you start speaking so hesitantly? Just say what you mean." Fourth Master was used to speaking frankly with Lanqin, and seeing her being so tactful made him feel a little uncomfortable.
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