Transmigrated Genius: Fragile Heiress Reigns Supreme-Chapter 762 - 763: Mourning (Part 3)

Xiqiu hadn’t really asked about it and shook her head: "Fourth Master hasn’t mentioned it, but the weather is getting hotter..." It shouldn’t be too long.

After talking with the Grand Dowager for a long time, the sound of firecrackers was heard at the door, indicating that the offerings had been sent out. The Grand Dowager rubbed her forehead, appearing very tired, and stood up: "You rest!" Xiqiu then asked Biwu to escort the Grand Dowager back.

Ruan Jingliu encountered the Grand Dowager head-on and saluted her. The Grand Dowager nodded: "Just now Miss Qiu was still talking about you, go in quickly." 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Ruan Jingliu acknowledged and after sending the Grand Dowager out, she entered the room. Upon seeing her, Xiqiu asked, "Where have you been? You’ve been gone all day and night, and no one seems to know where you are..."

"It’s nothing." Ruan Jingliu’s eyes shifted: "I was just feeling unwell and rested at home." Clearly, she was withholding something.

Seeing her like this, Xiqiu didn’t press further. Ruan Jingliu added, "Lady has passed away?" She said this while sitting down at the foot of Xiqiu’s bed.

"She passed yesterday before nightfall." Xiqiu replied indifferently. Ruan Jingliu nodded upon hearing this and didn’t bring up Lady again, never having a good impression of her, and felt there was no need to say more. The person who should have died long ago had gone, and everyone was a bit relieved.

"Is the clinic doing alright?" Xiqiu gently patted Zhi and asked. Ruan Jingliu replied, "It’s alright. Sixth Master Luo has secured a deal in Baoding..." She paused, looked at Xiqiu, and smiled: "Do you know who introduced it?"

Xiqiu was startled and asked, "Who?" Ruan Jingliu smiled and said, "Second Master Tong."

"Second Uncle?" Xiqiu looked at her in surprise: "When did Sixth Master Luo get in touch with Second Uncle?"

Ruan Jingliu was not really interested in business matters and only heard bits and pieces. She replied, "I heard Fugui made the connection. They even went to Baoding in between. If you want to know the specifics, you should invite Sixth Master Luo back to ask him."

No wonder Siliu later sent a message through someone, saying there was urgent business and she would be out for a while, only to come back later. So Fugui had gone to Baoding without her knowing.

But that was not surprising. Second Master was different from First Master. First Master was cautious and liked to play it safe, but Second Master was aggressive. He wouldn’t take the long road if he could find a shortcut, and it was expected he wouldn’t stay put in Baoding. Like how he started a private school for poor students, even sponsoring them for examinations...

"Let’s not talk about these things." Ruan Jingliu thought for a moment and said, "I might have to leave for a while these days, and can’t come often. Take care of yourself, and if anything happens, wait for me to return before talking about it."

She didn’t mention where she was going! Xiqiu found it strange and looked at Ruan Jingliu with suspicion, feeling she had been acting secretively these days. Ruan Jingliu chuckled at her expression: "Why are you looking at me like that? Don’t worry, I’ve always been well-behaved and wouldn’t do anything harmful. It’s just that some past matters need dealing with, and it will take some time and effort. But I’ll be back in a month."

Xiqiu still didn’t believe it, so Ruan Jingliu smiled and said, "I promise there will be no trouble." With that, she lowered her head to play with Zhi, talking to him.

"Take care of yourself." Since she didn’t want to say more, Xiqiu didn’t ask further and could only say this. Ruan Jingliu nodded and said, "Yes."

Inside the Tong Mansion, the mourning hall hung with white curtains and lanterns, housed a red coffin. The fire of the Long-lasting Lamp flickered in the wind. Inside the coffin, Lady wore a bright red shroud, her face thickly coated with powder, and the eyes that were usually bright were tightly shut now. Her hands lay at her sides, still tightly clenched into fists as if trying to grasp something, unwilling to let go...

Isn’t lifelessness just like this moment? First Master stood in front, looking at his wife, recalling the years when they supported each other through life; despite the bumps, life was flavorful. When did their love and familial bond change? He couldn’t say, only feeling that the person lying in front felt unfamiliar, yet the pain in his heart from missing a part was still as prominent.

He sighed, moved his fingers a bit as if wanting to touch Lady’s face.

Both in her maiden home and in the Tong Mansion for decades, Lady had always been vibrant, capable, and regardless of the matter, nothing seemed beyond her reach. She insisted on holding everything in her hands, always underlining her importance and status... But what was once savvy and capable had now faded into death, what was once invincible couldn’t escape death’s grasp. First Master stood there as if he understood something, yet his face only grew more bewildered.

Feifeng... We’ve come to this, right or wrong between us doesn’t matter. I only wish you a peaceful rebirth, just hoping... we will not meet again.

Tong Xiyan knelt before the mourning hall, wiping her tears with a handkerchief and crying her heart out. Whenever she thought that Lady’s death was linked to her, she couldn’t let it go. If she hadn’t been so useless, if it hadn’t been because of her, how could Tong Xiyang have said such venomous words, and how could he have angered his mother to death?

Thinking of this made her clench her teeth in hatred, despising Tong Xiyang and even more so herself!

Madam Jiang came over and gently urged Tong Xiyan: "Fourth Miss, you should take it easy. Mother has been ill for so long and suffered so much. To say something unfilial, her passing spares her further suffering, freeing her from the pain... If you can’t let go, you should better your days, so Mother’s spirit will be at ease."

Tong Xiyan couldn’t listen, collapsing into Madam Jiang’s arms and crying loudly.

Across from them, the more pitiful scene was of Tong Xiyu, kneeling and weeping. It seemed her life was headed towards a wrong path the moment Lady passed. The three-year mourning... even thinking about it filled her with despair. She strived hard to improve, wishing to be like Sixth Sister, outstanding and poised, no matter in public or private. She studied etiquette, read diligently, learned embroidery, but everything seemed to turn into a huge irony today.

In three years, she’d be sixteen!

Tong Xiyu covered her face with a handkerchief, leaning against her maid’s shoulder, almost fainting from crying. Outside the mourning hall, Madam Luo was helping Madam Jiang and Nanny Qiu to greet the guests. Madam Xia was still in confinement and couldn’t show up, while Madam Mei had fallen ill from an excess of emotion last night. So only she could lend a hand to Madam Jiang in the household.

"Has Third Miss come back?" Madam Luo asked quietly to Sujin beside her.

Sujin shook her head and answered softly: "I haven’t seen her. I heard from the maid who went to deliver the news last night that Third Miss wouldn’t even let her in. She only spoke about Lady’s death from outside, then was met with Third Miss’s manic laughter from the courtyard, chilling her to the bone, and she hurried back without stopping."