Chapter 476 The Death of Lin Ruhai
"Was I wrong? I shouldn't have led you down this path... If I had let you marry and have children like a typical young lady, perhaps things wouldn't have turned out this way..."
Just when Daiyu's condition was at its most critical, a piece of bad news came from overseas: Lin Ruhai suddenly fell ill and passed away while inspecting the three new prefectures.
When the news reached the village on the outskirts of Beijing, Yuan Hongqu could barely hold the thin sheet of paper.
Looking at Daiyu, who was fast asleep on the bed, her heart ached.
"I can't... I can't tell her yet..." Yuan Hongqu murmured to herself, clutching the letter tightly in her hand.
However, the truth will eventually come out.
Three days later, Daiyu suddenly awoke from her deep sleep, experiencing inexplicable chest pain and tears streaming down her face.
"Granny..." she asked weakly, "But...what happened to Father?"
Yuan Hongqu knew she couldn't hide it any longer, so she slowly revealed the devastating news. After hearing the news of her father's death, Daiyu was stunned for a long time, then suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood and fell straight backward.
"Yu'er!" Yuan Hongqu was terrified and hurriedly caught her.
This time, Daiyu was truly at her wit's end.
She didn't eat or drink for three days straight, just staring blankly at the top of the tent and weeping, as if her soul had gone with her father.
"This can't go on..." Yuan Hongqu said to Lan Su, her eyes red. "We have to think of a way..."
Just then, a large number of people suddenly arrived outside the village.
The first to arrive was the Tenth Prince, who had traveled day and night from the border and was covered in dust.
"Let me see her," he said in a hoarse voice. "Perhaps I can persuade her."
The Tenth Prince sat by Daiyu's bedside and said softly, "Yu'er, your father's greatest worry is you. When he was in Xin Sanzhou, he often praised you to others, saying that you were better than him and had accomplished many things that he had not been able to finish. If you go with him like this, how can he rest in peace in the afterlife?"
Daiyu's eyelashes trembled slightly.
Next came Baochai.
Despite the Xue family's busy business, she made a special trip from Jiangnan, bringing with her some of Lin Ruhai's favorite snacks.
“Sister Lin,” Baochai said softly, “Your uncle was most concerned about you when he was alive. He often said that being able to see you grow into such an outstanding woman was the greatest pride of his life.”
She opened the food box, inside was osmanthus cake, Lin Ruhai's favorite: "This is made according to Uncle's recipe. Take a bite, just to... taste it for him."
Daiyu's tears fell silently.
Most surprisingly, Grandmother Jia also came in person, supported by Lady Wang.
An eighty-year-old man, leaning on a cane, walked shakily to the bedside.
"Yu'er..." Grandmother Jia wept, "Your father is gone, but your maternal grandmother still loves you. If anything were to happen to you, how would your maternal grandmother live?"
Daiyu finally burst into tears: "Grandmother..."
At this time, many more people came from outside the village.
They were all salt farmers and salt stewards who had received kindness from Daiyu. Hearing that Lord Lin was seriously ill, they came to visit him on their own initiative.
Although they could not enter the village, they all knelt outside the village to pray for blessings.
"Lin Qingtian must get better!"
May the Salt Guanyin live a long and healthy life!
She felt a chill run down her spine when she recalled the ending in the original novel where Daiyu died after shedding all her tears.
Is it possible that no matter how hard she tries, she cannot escape the shackles of fate?
Lan Su rushed over upon hearing the news and was heartbroken to see Yuan Hongqu in such a state: "Why blame yourself, sir? Yu'er's achievements over the years are evident to all. If we let her live a mediocre life, that would be a disservice to her."
“But she is now…” Yuan Hongqu choked up, unable to speak.
“She will be alright,” Lan Su said firmly. “I have already sent messages overseas to search for a miraculous cure. No matter what, we must save her.”
When the news spread, people who had received Daiyu's kindness came to visit her.
Representatives from various ethnic groups in Shixin Prefecture traveled thousands of miles to bring precious medicinal herbs; overseas prefectures sent their best physicians; even salt merchants who had been punished by Daiyu secretly sent tonics.
What is most touching is that the people of Jiangnan spontaneously prayed for Daiyu's well-being.
Temples and Taoist monasteries are bustling with worshippers, and countless people kneel and pray to heaven to bless their "Salt Guanyin".
That day, Daiyu's condition suddenly worsened, and she coughed up blood incessantly.
The imperial physicians all shook their heads and sighed, hinting that preparations for the worst were being made.
Yuan Hongqu nearly collapsed; she held Daiyu tightly, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Yu'er, you can't leave... There's still so much I haven't told you..."
Perhaps it was divine intervention, or perhaps it was the prayers of the masses that moved heaven and earth, but just when everyone was in despair, Daiyu's condition suddenly took a turn for the better.
That night, she slowly awoke, looked at the haggard Yuan Hongqu, and whispered, "Granny... I dreamt of Father..."
Yuan Hongqu was overjoyed: "Yu'er! You're awake!"
Daiyu smiled weakly: "Father said... he's proud of me... he said the Lin family has been officials for generations, and no one has ever been able to benefit so many people like me..."
Yuan Hongqu burst into tears of joy: "Yes! You have completed your father's unfinished work, of course he is proud of you!"
Upon hearing this, a glimmer of life finally returned to Daiyu's eyes.
Upon seeing this, Yuan Hongqu immediately took out the most precious medicinal herbs from her spatial storage and prepared a decoction overnight.
Lan Su also used her internal energy to clear Daiyu's meridians, while the Tenth Prince stayed by her bedside without leaving her side.
With everyone's meticulous care, Daiyu finally survived the most dangerous period.
Although still weak, she was finally able to eat some rice porridge.
That day, she forced herself to sit up and said to Yuan Hongqu, "Granny, I want to go to the new three prefectures... to see my father off on his final journey."
Yuan Hongqu shook her head with heartache: "How can your body withstand such a long journey in your current state?"
“I must go.” Daiyu’s gaze was firm. “My father only has me as his daughter. I cannot let him go alone.”
The Tenth Prince immediately said, "I'll go with you. We'll take the best official boat and travel slowly."
Baochai also said, "The Xue family's merchant ships are in Tianjin Port. They have everything on board, making it the perfect place to recuperate."
With everyone's help, Daiyu embarked on her journey to the new Three Prefectures.
The official ships deliberately slowed down, traveling only half a day each day, and spending the rest of the time docking for rest and repairs.
Two months later, they arrived at the new three prefectures. Daiyu's health improved considerably after recuperating on the ship.
Lin Ruhai's funeral was held with great solemnity.
Not only did the people of the three new states come to see him off, but representatives from overseas states also came.
At the funeral, Daiyu did not cry.
She stood quietly before the coffin and placed an official seal in her father's hand—the seal of the Salt Commissioner that Lin Ruhai cherished most during his lifetime.
“Father,” she whispered, “I have completed the work you left unfinished. Rest in peace, Yu’er will be fine.”
On the way back, Daiyu's mood calmed down considerably. She began to sort through her father's belongings, preparing to compile a collection of his writings.
Seeing that she was gradually emerging from her grief, Yuan Hongqu finally breathed a sigh of relief.
That day, she handed a jade pendant to Daiyu: "This was left to you by your father."
Daiyu took the jade pendant and saw four characters engraved on it: "Benefiting all living beings".
"This is..." Tears welled up in her eyes.
“Your father said before he died that this was his greatest wish,” Yuan Hongqu said softly. “Now that you have accomplished it, he can rest in peace in the afterlife.”
As Daiyu stroked the jade pendant, she suddenly felt a surge of energy throughout her body.
Yes, she can't give up; there's still so much for her to do.
After returning to the capital, Daiyu established the "Ruhai Scholarship" at the Women's Academy to specifically support impoverished students.
She then compiled and published her father's articles, naming it "Lin Gong Zheng Yao" (Essentials of Lin Gong's Governance), which became essential reading for later officials.
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