Chapter 510: Matriarch Qi’s Death
Wu Qingniao looked at Lu Sheng with hostility. After hearing Qi Dongjing’s words, the hostility dissipated, but there was more jealousy.
Matriarch Qi was a little embarrassed. She did not expect this girl to be Chu Sihan’s wife.
Chu Sihan walked back to Lu Sheng with a faint smile.
Qi Dongjing nodded perfunctorily at Matriarch Qi before leaving with Chu Sihan and the rest.
The hall fell silent again. Other than Old Master Qi, no one dared to look at Matriarch Qi.
“I knew that Dongjing knows his limits, right?”
Old Master Qi said lightly, “As the saying goes, birds of a feather flock together. I know very well what kind of person my grandson is.”
As he spoke, he glanced at the Wu family meaningfully and strode away.
How could the Wu family and Matriarch Qi not understand the hidden sarcasm?
Matriarch Qi was so angry that she nearly fainted on the spot. The Wu family looked embarrassed.
“What’s with those people?”
When they returned to Qi Dongjing’s courtyard, Shi Yi asked curiously.
Qi Dongjing smiled bitterly. “They’re just a bunch of unimportant people.”
“People from the Old Madam’s side?” Chu Sihan asked faintly.
Qi Dongjing nodded. “Yes, the Old Madam might feel that she doesn’t have much time left and wants to find a backing for the Wu family.”
When the few of them heard that, they immediately understood and smiled.
“Ignore everything else and drink first.” Qi Dongjing pointed at the two jars of wine on the table and smiled. “This is the capital’s most famous Peach Blossom Wine. I specially got someone to go to Peach Blossom Alley to buy it. Although that Bing Ji is not a good person, there’s really nothing to say about this wine.”
When they heard his last sentence, they chuckled.
Speaking of which, Lu Sheng had stayed in the capital for half a year, but she did not see Bing Ji again.
One had to know that she had only been here for a short while in the past, but she could see her a few times.
Perhaps because the Crown Prince had lost his power, Bing Ji had also become low-key.
“I heard from Brother Chu that Miss Lu likes this Fried Peach Blossom Fish, so I specially asked the kitchen to make it. Miss Lu, eat more.”
Lu Sheng smiled and nodded. “Thank you, Young Master Qi!”
Chu Sihan picked one up and tasted it. Seeing that it was indeed delicious, he gave it to Lu Sheng.
Yun Ting sat closest to the wine jar. He opened the red seal and poured a cup for everyone.
“I heard from Sisi that Miss Lu has been having nightmares again recently? What happened?”
When Yun Ting passed Lu Sheng a wine glass, he asked.
He had no choice. His wife always nagged about Lu Sheng. He would remember it even if he did not want to.
“Have you asked the doctor?” Shi Yi asked worriedly.
Lu Sheng smiled faintly and shook her head. “It’s not a serious illness. There’s no need to worry.”
Speaking of this, Chu Sihan frowned.
Last year, Lu Sheng had a few nightmares, but she recovered later.
It had been better for more than half a year, and the relapse had started recently.
She invited the doctor to take a look, but he said that there was no problem.
Now, Lu Zhou and the State Minister were still in seclusion. He could not tell the reason either, so he was quite worried.
However, Lu Sheng always looked indifferent.
If he had not seen her wake up in the middle of the night every day, he would have thought that she was really fine.
Actually, Lu Sheng was quite gloomy herself. If she had to say that she was stressed, she was not. She ate and drank every day, and did not feel sad.
She did not know what these nightmares were about.
After filling their stomachs, they accompanied Qi Dongjing for a while in the garden before preparing to leave.
“When are you returning to Huang Yang Town?”
When he sent them to the door, Qi Dongjing asked.
Chu Sihan said coldly, “In two days. I still have to go to the Prime Minister’s Mansion tonight.”
Qi Dongjing nodded. “Let me know when the time comes. I’ll send you off.”
If possible, he wanted to return to Huang Yang Town with them.
After all, that was a place that he had lived for a few years. Moreover, it was more comfortable than living in the Qi Mansion.
Chu Sihan nodded slightly.
After watching the group leave, Qi Dongjing, who was about to walk back, turned back and saw Wu Qingniao standing not far behind him.
He frowned slightly and initially wanted to ignore her. However, she suddenly walked forward and blocked his path.
“Cousin, you’re going back?”
Wu Qingniao did not know what to say. She came over only to speak more to Qi Dongjing.
Everyone from the Wu family had returned, but Matriarch Qi left her alone.
She even instructed her to get closer to Qi Dongjing.
Her meaning was obvious. To put it bluntly, compared to others, the Old Madam preferred to let her marry Qi Dongjing.
Qi Dongjing looked up at the sky and looked at her again. He scrutinized her silently.
Wu Qingniao was good-looking, but not beautiful. At most, she was a pretty girl from a humble family. When she smiled, she had two dimples on her cheeks. She was quite cute.
Most importantly, she looked a little similar to Qing Huan. There was even a ‘Qing’ in her name.
How could he not know what the Old Madam was thinking?
She must have felt that he liked such girls, which was why she chose Wu Qingniao out of so many people in the Wu family.
Little did she know that the more she did this, the more he could not forget Qing Huan.
“I won’t marry you. Or rather, I don’t like anyone in your Wu family. Don’t waste your energy.”
After speaking, he ignored Wu Qingniao’s stunned expression and walked past her without turning back.
Wu Qingniao bit her lip and stared at Qi Dongjing’s back view. Her expression was a bit gloomy.
“Miss Wu, go back to the Wu family.”
After Qi Dongjing left, a nanny walked out from a corner.
This person was Matriarch Qi’s nanny.
“Nanny Ding, what… what do you mean?”
Wu Qingniao stared at the person in disbelief.
“I’ve already prepared the carriage for Miss Wu. Go back to the Wu family tonight.”
Nanny Ding sighed softly and shook her head. She turned to leave.
“Impossible!” Wu Qingniao pulled her back and said angrily, “The Matriarch made me stay. What right do you have to chase me away?”
Nanny Ding frowned and gently pried her hand away. She said lightly, “You’re right. I indeed don’t have the right to decide whether you should stay or go. So, you should understand who sent you back to the Wu family.”
Wu Qingniao was slightly stunned before reacting belatedly.
Seeing that she still looked indignant, Nanny Ding said lightly, “Second Young Master doesn’t like you.”
She left after saying that.
She had watched Qi Dongjing grow up. She had once persuaded the Matriarch about the matter back then. Unfortunately, the Matriarch hated Qing Huan’s mother too much, so she could not listen to anyone.
After so many years, Matriarch Qi was actually very regretful that her relationship with her grandson had become like this.
However, it was too late for regrets. She also knew very well that her grandson would never forgive her in this lifetime.
Wu Qingniao was the person who resembled Qing Huan the most. The reason why she wanted to pair her with Qi Dongjing was firstly because of the Wu family, and secondly, because she felt that Qi Dongjing would more or less pity Wu Qingniao when he saw her.
Who knew that she was overthinking?
Qi Dongjing hated her. Why would he like the Wu family?
“You sent her away?”
Seeing Nanny Ding return, Matriarch Qi coughed heavily and asked unreasonably.
Nanny Ding said in a low voice, “She should be leaving now.”
“Sigh—”
Matriarch Qi sighed heavily. She looked up and mumbled, “What a sin. If I had left that child behind back then, it wouldn’t have ended up in such a situation.”
She coughed heavily again.
“I’m afraid I can’t last much longer with this illness. Old Master doesn’t like the Wu family, and Jinger doesn’t like the Wu family either. Once I leave, it’ll probably be even more difficult for the Wu family in the future.”
After all, it was her maternal family. She naturally hoped that they could lead a good life.
However, it seemed like none of this made sense now.
Unfortunately, there was no medicine for regret in this world.
“Cough, cough, cough—”
She coughed heavily and spat a mouthful of black blood on the ground. Her gaze gradually became absent-minded.
“Matriarch!”
Nanny Ding was shocked and hurriedly shouted to the outside, “Quick, summon the imperial physician.”
When the servants in the room heard that, they hurriedly shouted and ran out.
“You’re here?”
The Matriarch stared in front and smiled faintly. “I know you blame me. It’s time for me to leave. I can’t repay what I owe the both of you.”
“Matriarch!”
Nanny Ding stared ahead and realized that there was no one there.
She did not know who Matriarch Qi was talking to, but from her expression, she knew that she was nearly gone.
Regardless of Matriarch Qi’s personality, she was still her master and she had treated her extremely well.
Seeing that she was about to die, she could not help but cry.
“Go and get Jinger here.”
Matriarch Qi patted Nanny Ding lightly.
Nanny Ding nodded. She was about to get up when she was pulled back.
“Don’t go. He won’t come even if you call for him. Ask someone to call the Old Master over. You stay here and talk to me.”
Nanny Ding hurriedly got someone to call the Old Master. She held Matriarch Qi’s hand and kept talking to her.
On the other side, Old Master Qi, who heard the commotion, had just entered when he heard Nanny Ding shout, “Matriarch!”
After a while, Nanny Ding and the servants’ cries could be heard in the room.
Old Master Qi stopped in his tracks and closed his eyes. He sighed faintly.
Not long after Lu Sheng, Chu Sihan, and the rest returned to the courtyard, they heard the news that Matriarch Qi had left.
This news shocked both of them.
After all, Matriarch Qi did not look like she was leaving today.
One could only sigh at the unpredictable world.
When they returned to the Qi Mansion, Qi Dongjing had already changed into mourning clothes.
He looked very quiet, and one could not tell if he was happy or sad.
Seeing their arrival, he even came out to receive them personally. His voice was also faint.
When they came out after offering incense, he even sent them out personally.
Chu Sihan patted his shoulder lightly and did not say anything.
Qi Dongjing did not know what expression he should put on now.
With the Old Madam’s death, all the grudges in the past were settled.
He would definitely be sad. After all, that was his biological grandmother. When he was young, she doted on him a lot.
If she had not been so heartless back then, he would not have hated her and blamed her.
“Brother Qi, my condolences!”
Shi Yi went forward and patted his shoulder. He persuaded him softly.
“My condolences!”
Yun Ting said softly.
Fu Sisi and Yu Mingyue stood at the side and did not speak. Lu Sheng stood beside Chu Sihan and did not say anything.
At this time, it would be better to talk less.
Chu Sihan and Lu Sheng, who had initially planned to return to Huang Yang Town in two days, had no choice but to stay for a few more days.
After returning from the Qi Mansion, the two of them washed up and went to the Prime Minister’s Mansion.
As Lu Sheng did not like that gloomy atmosphere, even though the two of them had stayed in the capital for more than half a year, the number of times they went to the Prime Minister’s Mansion could be counted on one hand.
Usually, when they went, they would chat with Prime Minister Fu, Mdm Fu, Matriarch Fu, and the rest before leaving after having a meal.
However, it was said that a lot of people would come today. As to who they were, Lu Sheng did not know yet.
Since General Qi’s mother had passed away, Prime Minister Fu and Mdm Fu naturally had to attend the funeral.
Hence, when the two of them reached the Prime Minister’s Mansion, Prime Minister Fu and Mdm Fu had just returned from the funeral.
“Sister Sisi, why didn’t I see Sister Yiyi today?”
Fu Sisi and Yun Ting arrived earlier than Lu Sheng and Chu Sihan.
When the two of them entered, they heard a lady asking Fu Sisi.
“How would I know?”
Fu Sisi’s tone was not good.
The person was stunned. Then, she laughed dryly and retreated.
“Han Er and Xiao Sheng are here!”
Matriarch Fu had sharp eyes and saw the two of them.
The duo walked forward and bowed to the Matriarch. Only then did they get to know the rest of the Fu family under the Matriarch’s introduction.
Fu Xianyun and Yu Linglong were still in Huang Yang Town and had not returned.
It was said that Fu Yiyi was married to a prince in the capital. Moreover, he was a playboy.
They heard that she had a miscarriage not long ago and was resting now, so she did not come over.
“Cousin-in-law, I heard you came from the countryside?”
A girl sitting beside the Matriarch spoke. She looked innocent, but there was disdain in her eyes.
Lu Sheng looked at her with a smile.
The Matriarch had previously introduced her as Matriarch Fu’s granddaughter and Chu Sihan’s cousin.
Lu Sheng could not understand why Chu Sihan’s cousins were so annoying.
Of course, Fu Sisi was an exception.
“So what if she’s from the countryside? Is her status lower than yours?”
Without waiting for Lu Sheng to speak, Fu Sisi spoke first.
Yun Ting looked at her dotingly, but did not intend to persuade her.
Prime Minister Fu and Mdm Fu were a bit embarrassed, but they did not say anything.
“Grandmother, look at Cousin Sisi. I was just asking Cousin-in-law. Why did she have such a big reaction?”
The girl shook Matriarch Fu’s arm and complained aggrievedly.
“Alright.”
Matriarch Fu glanced at her unhappily and said lightly, “You talk too much.”
Sun Zhi felt a little aggrieved. Her grandmother had always protected her in the past. Why was she saying this about her for an outsider today?
She pouted and glared at Lu Sheng.
Not only did Lu Sheng not blame her, but she even grinned at her happily. Sun Zhi was so angry that she rolled her eyes on the spot.
Like Fu Yiyi, she liked Chu Sihan.
However, in terms of self-awareness, she was better than Fu Yiyi.
However, when she heard that Chu Sihan married a countryside girl, she was more or less indignant.