Chapter 32 Disruption at the Funeral Hall "As expected, one wants to look good in mourning clothes, huh... "
Staring at the belt that she herself had embroidered, Lin Zhi felt a ringing in her ears and could no longer hear anything. Yet she remained motionless, stiffly supporting her aunt beside her.
Lin Shaowan reacted even more strongly, reaching out shakily but not taking the blood-stained belt; instead, she gripped the prince's wrist tightly.
"Do not be rude..."
The palace eunuch frowned and was about to step forward when Xiao Ting gestured for him to step back with a look. "Madam Pei, these are General Pei's... belongings."
"The young general was ambushed by fleeing soldiers on his way back to the capital and fell off a cliff to his death."
“I sent men to search for it, but they couldn’t find the body; they only brought this back.”
Xiao Ting's voice was suppressed with sorrow, and his expression was full of sympathy.
But Lin Shaowan disregarded social hierarchy, her eyes red as if about to bleed, and grabbed Xiao Ting's wrist, refusing to let go: "Your Highness, my son hasn't even come of age yet... How could he, how could he die like this?"
"He sent a letter home just two weeks ago, saying he had returned in triumph!"
The mother's heart-wrenching words touched everyone present, leaving them with a heavy heart.
Especially Lin Zhi.
Besides her aunt, Pei Mingli was once the kindest person to her in the Pei family. But now, all that once dashing young man is left with is this cold, lifeless sash.
Guilt and grief tormented Lin Zhi, causing her internal organs to ache. She could only numbly hold onto her aunt, feeling guilty and wondering if she had done something wrong.
If she hadn't initially sought refuge, perhaps her second cousin wouldn't have returned to the capital early, nor would he have accepted the appointment.
Lin Shaowan clutched her belt in anguish, arching her back as she cried until she was completely exhausted, almost knocking over the frail Lin Zhi beside her.
Pei Lang, who was standing next to the Crown Prince, frowned slightly, stepped behind the two of them, supported the grief-stricken Lin Shaowan with one hand, and steadied the pale-faced Lin Zhi behind her back with the other.
Upon hearing the devastating news at home, Pei's father, though pale-faced, had to maintain his composure: "Your Majesty, I thank you for your concern. I hope you will forgive my wife for her offense."
Xiao Ting stepped forward and helped Lord Pei up. Staring at the graying hair of this once-conquering general, he sighed softly, "Lord Pei, you flatter me."
"General Pei sacrificed his life for the court. I will propose to my father that he be posthumously honored, and I will also prepare a cenotaph for the general and give him a grand funeral."
Please accept my condolences.
Pei Lang frowned, feeling Lin Zhi trembling beneath his palm, but he couldn't do anything in front of everyone, so he only instructed Chun Tao and Xia Ying to take good care of her.
Pei Lang walked to his father's side and lowered his voice to say, "Father, I'm afraid Mother might be too upset to handle what happened today. I'll take care of the Crown Prince and the funeral arrangements. Why don't you come back to the manor with Mother and Azhi first?"
As a high-ranking official in the court, Pei's father had heard some rumors about his son's situation, but his worst-case scenario was that he was seriously injured. He never expected that he would die a gruesome death.
Pei's father seemed to age ten years in an instant. He patted Pei Lang's shoulder with his rough hand, turned around, and mounted his horse. However, after struggling to sit up, he closed his eyes and collapsed.
"Father!"
"Husband!" Upon seeing this, Lin Shaowan also fainted.
The Pei family was thrown into a panic, but fortunately Pei Lang was there to keep them calm. Seeing this, Xiao Ting narrowed his eyes slightly and told Pei Lang to focus on family matters and not to go to the palace to meet the emperor.
Fortunately, Pei's father was strong and healthy, and he regained consciousness after the doctor gave him a few acupuncture treatments. However, Lin Shaowan was extremely heartbroken, crying repeatedly after waking up, and fainting several times.
After seeing the doctor off, Pei Lang looked at all the people dressed in white mourning clothes, pinched his throbbing brow, and felt a tightness in his chest.
Although he had a grudge against Lin Shaowan, Pei Mingli was, after all, his father's bloodline and his younger brother. Even he had never intended for Pei Mingli to die, but...
"Young Master, Madam has woken up and insists on coming to keep vigil for the Second Young Master."
Pei Lang frowned in dissatisfaction: "Father is still unable to get up, and I have to take care of all the affairs of the manor. How can I have the mind to take care of her?"
The servant who came to deliver the message looked troubled, but dared not refute it.
Pei Lang was unwilling to waste his time on Lin Shaowan. Now that his plans had been disrupted, he had no time to care about her grief. "Since you are serving in the mansion, you should understand who is in charge of this Pei family."
"Get out of here."
"Yes! Young Master, please calm down..."
The servant was so frightened he almost tripped and fell, and ran away in a panic.
Pei Lang slowly let out a sigh of relief, but the thought of how many things still awaited him in the manor made him feel irritable again.
"Prepare all the incense, candles and paper money in advance, and especially keep an eye on the braziers so they don't tip over."
"Is your household short of money or something? Are you trying to get a beating by buying something like this to deliver?"
"While the master and mistress are not around, hurry up and buy some better ones."
Pei Lang stopped in front of the mourning hall, where he saw Lin Zhi, dressed in plain white clothes, calmly instructing the servants. Her voice was steady and unchanging, as if this were just an ordinary matter.
"Chuntao, tomorrow some nobles from the palace and prominent families from the capital may come to offer their condolences. Go and check if there is enough good tea in the manor. Also, tell the kitchen staff not to make any mistakes."
Lin Zhi looked around and saw that almost everything she could think of and needed to think of was there. Her numb heart finally began to ache faintly.
How could she not feel pain? This was someone who was as close to her as a brother, and now he was gone without a trace, not even leaving behind a complete corpse.
Staring at the large character "奠" in the center, Lin Zhi still felt dazed. How could the person who had sent a letter just a few days ago be gone just like that?
Numbness in her fingertips made Lin Zhi stagger two steps. She turned around, wanting to find something else to numb herself, but when she looked up, she saw Pei Lang standing not far away, staring at her. The young man's face was also tinged with a faint sorrow, and his usually sharp black eyes softened for once.
The moment their eyes met, Lin Zhi felt a lump in her throat, her delicate brows furrowed, and the defenses she had managed to build crumbled. Only when she was embraced in Pei Lang's warm and firm arms did Lin Zhi clutch his clothes and burst into silent sobs.
She had lost her composure and poise.
Feeling the dampness on his chest, Pei Lang gently stroked the girl's long hair, unconsciously tightening his grip on her shoulders as he stroked her back.
He said it over and over again: "I'm here."
Now everyone in the Pei household is in a state of panic, and only the two of them can still rely on each other.
"Cousin, is it all my fault? If it weren't for me, Second Cousin wouldn't have..."
Lin Zhi felt a pang of pain in her heart, but suddenly someone lifted her face up and said, "Lin Zhi, this matter has nothing to do with you."
Staring at Pei Lang's extremely serious face, tears welled up in Lin Zhi's eyes, blurring her vision. Pei Lang raised his hand and wiped them away.
"Pei Mingli's fate has come to an end; it has nothing to do with you."
"Moreover, there seems to be more to this matter than meets the eye. I will investigate thoroughly and will not let the person behind this get away with it."
Upon hearing this, Lin Zhi gripped Pei Lang's collar even tighter: "Won't you be in danger too? Won't you end up like my second cousin?"
Pei Lang was taken aback. He looked down at Lin Zhi, who was looking up at him. Her clear, beautiful eyes were full of worry and concern for him.
Something seemed to gently bump into his cold, hardened heart. Pei Lang closed his eyes and placed a light kiss on her forehead: "No, don't worry."
"I can't bear to die because you're here."
Lin Zhi's tears were still hanging on her pointed chin, but she felt much more at ease.
The following morning, a palace eunuch brought an imperial edict posthumously conferring honors upon Pei Mingli, and even the funeral was to be held in a grander scale than was customary.
Dressed in pure white, Lin Zhi helped her frail aunt to her feet after expressing her gratitude. Her eyes were full of worry. Since receiving the bad news yesterday, her aunt had not eaten or drunk anything, and she was afraid that her condition was not good.
Even my uncle, who is usually strong and healthy, has become quite haggard; I'm afraid my aunt will be even more unable to bear it.
Lin Zhi watched as Pei Lang and her uncle personally escorted the palace eunuchs out of the Pei residence, and couldn't help but whisper to persuade her, "Aunt, you should have some congee."
"You'll be staying here with your second cousin later, and your body won't be able to handle it if you don't eat or drink."
Lin Shaowan was initially reluctant, but she couldn't resist Lin Zhi's persuasion. With red eyes, she stood up shakily, squeezed Lin Zhi's hand tightly, and said in a trembling voice, "Azhi, now you are my only relative in this world."
Lin Zhi's heart skipped a beat. Looking at the white hair that had grown overnight at her aunt's temples, she felt a pang of sorrow. Her aunt had been incredibly kind to her, but she still had something she was hiding from her aunt.
However, it is not appropriate to say these things at this time.
“Aunt is right. Aunt is the only family Azhi has left.”
Lin Shaowan gave her a deep look before reaching out to be helped away by Yu Shu.
Turning around to look at the empty coffin, Lin Zhi walked over in silence, reaching out to touch the cold coffin, her heart filled with countless emotions.
"Cousin, if you were still here, you would forgive me, right...?"
"I am indeed late. I hope Brother Mingli will not blame me in the afterlife!"
Lin Zhi had barely finished speaking when she heard an arrogant male voice coming from behind her. The familiar tone made her heart clench as if it were being squeezed. She turned around nervously and saw that the person was indeed Lu Jue.
"...When did Young Master Lu receive permission from Marquis Lu to leave the mountain?"
Lu Jue stared intently at Lin Zhi, who was dressed in mourning clothes. She was already beautiful and outstanding, but now, with her eyes red and moist, she had an even more aloof and elegant beauty.
"Indeed, one must wear mourning clothes to look beautiful. Miss Lin, you look even more beautiful than before after just a few months."
Lin Zhi felt a lump in her throat, gripping the coffin beside her, unsure how to respond to Lu Jue's flirtatious behavior.
"...This is a solemn place for mourning; I hope Your Highness will behave with respect!"
Looking away, Lu Jue reached out and grabbed three incense sticks, lit them on the candle, and then blew them out in one breath without any reverence. The wispy incense smoke enveloped his face, making Lin Zhi's heart pound with fear, not understanding what he was trying to do.
Lu Jue walked up to Pei Mingli's memorial tablet, casually holding the incense stick in his hand, and said, "Brother Mingli, you really had a short life. You were able to survive on the frontier battlefield, but you died on the way back to the capital."
"It seems even God doesn't want you to have a good life."
"Well, it's all good now that you're gone. I'll gladly accept this beautiful cousin as my own."
These shameless words completely shocked Lin Zhi. Her face turned cold, and she wanted to order someone to throw Lu Jue out, but Lu Jue just threw the incense in his hand on the ground and sneered disdainfully.
"Instead of having the energy to call for help, you should save your energy to serve this young master."
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