Basins upon basins of hot water were carried into the room. Qi Jinxuan's screams grew more and more shrill. The elders waiting outside the room were terrified and paced back and forth anxiously.
After a long while, the noise from inside the room gradually died down. Everyone turned deathly pale with fright. The midwife pushed the door open and everyone rushed forward. They saw the midwife with tears in her eyes, trembling as she said, "It's over... both the mother and the child are gone!"
Hearing this, everyone's hearts sank. Qi Jinlan's soft sobs reached everyone's ears.
Suddenly, a faint cry of a baby came from inside the room. The midwife at the door changed her expression, slapped her thigh and said, "Thank goodness! The young master has been saved!"
Everyone was overjoyed.
Qi Jinlan, who was slumped on the ground in tears, was stunned when she heard the baby's cry. Then she crawled and stumbled towards the child in the imperial doctor's arms.
Pin Hao didn't care about etiquette anymore. He rushed into the room quickly and headed towards the child.
Cui Huan stood at the door and took a look at Qi Jinxuan, who had died on the bed. She sighed silently in her heart. She had thought that Miss Qi would show at least a bit of remorse before she died, but unfortunately she was wrong. Qi Jinxuan still didn't think she was wrong until her death. Miss Wei's years in the Qi General's Mansion were all in vain.
At night, after seeing off the imperial doctor with a generous red envelope, everyone scrambled to cook rice soup and fed the little baby bit by bit.
Fortunately, the elders were there. They had some experience in raising children.
Jing Zhe and Pin Hao had a thin coffin sent over and buried Qi Jinxuan at the back mountain of Lanshan Temple that night, next to the tomb of General Qi.
Early the next morning, Ruan Niang came to check on the premature baby. After a careful examination, she reported to everyone, "Although the baby is a bit weak because of premature birth, there's nothing seriously wrong with him. With careful care in the future, he will surely be no worse than others!"
Ruan Niang asked the elders to take good care of the newborn baby with all their might. The elders were all kind - hearted people. They felt pity for the child who was born without parents, so they immediately nodded in agreement.
Ruan Niang took Cui Huan out of the villa. Seeing that there was no one around, she said seriously, "Cui Huan, I have something to tell you. Miss Wei had a brief moment of lucidity last night and talked to us for a while, then she fell asleep. When we went to wake her up almost at dawn, we found that she had passed away."
Cui Huan felt as if she had been struck by lightning. She could hardly believe her ears. She asked in shock, "How is that possible! She drank the medicine sent by the emperor. Wasn't she getting better? How could she die?" Cui Huan refused to believe it. She got on the carriage and whipped the horse all the way to the Su Mansion.
White couplets were posted at the gate of the Su Mansion. Even the big red lanterns at the door were all replaced with white ones, swaying in the cold wind of February.
Cui Huan's mind was blank. She rushed inside in a hurry. In the main hall, there was a newly - painted coffin. Cheng Hao was kneeling outside, burning paper money while crying, "Miss Wei, wuwuwu... don't leave me, wuwuwu... Without you, how can we live, wuwuwu..."
Uncle Li, Luo Xunlong, Yu Haiming, Old Brother Qin and Lin Baiwan were also standing there, looking sad and silent.
Cui Huan felt a rush of blood to her head. Her legs could hardly support her. She crawled towards the coffin step by step. She looked at the person lying in the coffin and then burst into tears.
Lying in the coffin was Wei Dongling's slender body, with a dull and lifeless face.
Cheng Hao seemed to be startled by Cui Huan. He wiped his tears and stepped forward to persuade her, "Sister - in - law, I know you have a deep affection for Miss Wei, but now, we can only mourn and move on."
Cui Huan couldn't listen to Cheng Hao's persuasion. She hugged the coffin and cried hysterically. She almost fainted. Finally, Luo Xunlong came and carried her back to the room.
In the afternoon, after a brief discussion, everyone agreed that they didn't need to disturb the elders. It was better to bury her earlier and let her rest in peace.
Cui Huan was very puzzled. Logically speaking, as a princess of the current dynasty, Miss Wei's body should be sent back to the palace. After the mourning and grand burial ceremony, she should be buried in the imperial mausoleum. Why did it seem that everyone wanted to bury her simply without disturbing the palace? This was unacceptable!
Everyone tried to persuade her. Miss Wei didn't really care about the identity of a princess anyway, and her death was so tragic. Why make a big fuss and bury her in the imperial mausoleum? It's better to keep everything simple!
Cui Huan refused to agree no matter what. She shook her head and cried. Miss Wei was only seventeen years old and died tragically under the thugs' knives. Her death was already extremely憋屈. Now everyone even wanted to hold the funeral quietly. If Miss Wei knew this in the underworld, she would surely be sad! Cui Huan felt extremely blocked in her heart. She gritted her teeth and said angrily, "Stop talking! Keeping everything simple is definitely not okay! Anyway, I have to let Miss Wei leave in style!"
At this time, the half - closed door creaked open. Cui Huan looked up quickly. She saw a thin man being supported by a servant and walking in tremblingly. The thin man was wrapped in a big cloak, and everyone couldn't see his face clearly. But everyone knew the person supporting him. It was Tian Qi!
Everyone was shocked. So this emaciated man who needed someone to support him when walking was Yu Zixi? Ruan Niang and Uncle Li glanced at each other and remained silent.
Cui Huan stood up with red - rimmed eyes and walked towards Tian Qi. With a sobbing voice, she complained, "Why did you come so late? Miss Wei... she's already..."
The emaciated man slowly lifted his cloak, revealing a haggard face. With tears in his eyes, he slowly walked towards the coffin step by step.
Uncle Li and the others originally thought that if they saw Yu Zixi again, they would beat him up until his own mother couldn't recognize him. But now seeing his gaunt figure and that he could hardly walk steadily, they felt a bit soft - hearted. They couldn't say a single word of blame.
Yu Zixi looked extremely haggard. After being seriously injured and just recovering from a serious illness, he seemed to have aged ten years. He tremblingly supported the coffin and looked down at Wei Dongling lying in it. Tears fell one by one and he almost fell down.
Seeing this, Tian Qi rushed forward in a panic to support him.
Cui Huan stepped forward and grabbed Yu Zixi's lapel. With tears and sobs, she said, "Miss Wei was looking for you like a crazy person. Where the hell were you? If you had come one day earlier, at least you could have seen her one last time!"
Yu Zixi lowered his head and sobbed. He couldn't say a single word.
Seeing that Cui Huan was holding on to Yu Zixi, Luo Xunlong immediately came over, picked her up and comforted her in a low voice, "Mr. Yu must be extremely sad at the moment. Let him be quiet for a while." Then he picked up Cui Huan and stepped back.
Yu Zixi tremblingly touched Wei Dongling's hair. Big tears fell from his eyes. He said tremblingly, "Dongling, I'm late... Dongling, don't leave me..."
Yu Zixi's tears dropped one by one onto Wei Dongling's face, sliding down her smooth forehead and slowly falling into her hair.