allonlinenovel Chapter 120 The Death of Chi Guiying
Chapter 120 The Death of Chi Guiying
Their threats to report to the authorities were merely a last resort, born of momentary anger.
If they really go, they are definitely in the wrong!
The Lü family neither mistreated nor abused the concubines. Even if all the concubines went to the Prefect Wang's office together, they would not get a good result. Therefore, they all looked like defeated chickens and said helplessly.
"Are we sisters destined to live like this here?"
"Sigh, if I had known this would happen, I should have gone home back then. Marrying a merchant would have been better than climbing into this fake high society!"
In twos and threes, they all started crying.
Seeing that the atmosphere was just right, Hua Wanzhi slowly began to speak.
"Ten thousand taels is certainly an astronomical price, but if it's thirty or fifty thousand, I'm sure the sisters can afford it. Why don't we wait until the young master's anger subsides a bit in the next few days, and then I'll go and sound him out?"
"If it's really worth 30,000 to 50,000 yuan to leave, I'd be willing."
The concubine who had been making the most noise earlier declared that she was still young, had only been married for a few months, and hadn't wasted her prime years, so she figured she might as well lose money, as long as it would avert disaster.
Seeing this, the others gritted their teeth and agreed.
With four or five people leaving, they could easily raise over ten thousand taels of silver. The Lü family wasn't exactly wealthy, but this amount of money was enough for them to live a stable life for a few years. So, after thinking it over, Hua Wanzhi pretended to be a good person and gave the money to her "sisters" one by one.
Seven or eight days later, after her persuasion, the young master Lü Yi also "gave in," giving her a silver note in one hand and a letter of release for his concubines in the other. The concubines felt the pinch, but at least they gained their freedom.
They left in a hurry that afternoon, having packed their bags and belongings well in advance.
Holding the 180,000 taels of silver notes, Hua Wanzhi officially began her life as the young mistress of the Lü family. For this occasion, Lü Yi specially arranged several tables for her and drafted a new marriage certificate, officially elevating her from a concubine to a wife before the Crown Prince and He Lingyi's wedding.
As for the previous young mistress of the Lü family, she was sitting discreetly in a carriage at the moment, her hair styled back to how it was when she was a young girl, but with nothing on it except for a peach wood hairpin.
Her entire outfit was remarkably simple and clean.
They searched her clothes thoroughly before finally letting them leave.
Sitting next to him was Chi Guizhao, who remained silent, and Wenxia, the maid who had bravely endured the miscarriage. Behind them were two trunks for storing clothes, and in front of them was a groom.
The horses' hooves clattered, and the carriage moved further and further away from the Vice Minister's residence.
Chi Guiying kept silently reciting in her heart: As long as the green hills remain, there will always be firewood to burn.
In the eyes of the maid Wenxia, as long as her mistress is well, she is well; therefore, the bond between mistress and servant is genuine.
Once outside the city gates, Chi Guizhao, who hadn't spoken for a long time, finally uttered a few words with a hint of sadness.
"Second sister, is there any chance we'll ever have to come back to Bianzhou?"
Chi Guiying glanced at her good-for-nothing younger brother, snorted coldly, and said, "You're lucky to be alive. You'd better pray day and night that Aunt Zhao is carrying a girl. If it's a son, what future do you think you'll have in the Vice Minister's mansion? Even if he's an illegitimate son, he'll be a favored one, a million times better than you, the legitimate son who was sent back to your hometown!"
The power of words made Chi Guizhao's already fragile heart even more sensitive.
Seeing the Third Young Master like this, Wenxia felt a little sorry for him, but as a maid, she herself was not even sure of her own future. If she were to pity her master at this time, she would probably be the one to be laughed at.
So he silently watched as the scenery outside changed from bustling crowds to vast fields, heading back to his hometown.
On the seventh day of their journey, they were already several hundred li away from Bianzhou City.
The group remained safe throughout their journey. Since they didn't appear to be from a wealthy family, no one approached them to inquire about their whereabouts.
That night, they missed the inn where they could stay overnight and had to stay at a farmhouse.
After giving them some loose change, the kind-hearted peasant woman boiled some hot water for them to wash up. Everyone was exhausted from their journey, so after washing up, they all went to sleep.
I slept exceptionally soundly that night.
In her dream, Chi Guiying seemed to have returned to the time when she was the favored second daughter of the Vice Minister's mansion, pampered with fine clothes and delicacies. Her reputation for virtue also helped her get a good marriage after coming of age, which was the Qiao family she had longed for.
Wearing a bright red wedding veil, she became pregnant not long after entering the Qiao family.
Life was getting better and better, but one day someone came to the door. When she saw that the visitor was Qianchun, the maidservant of her eldest sister, she was too lazy to greet her.
“Tell her to stop bothering me all day long. What does it have to do with me that Father won’t accept my older sister who was divorced? If she continues like this, then I won’t be polite!”
"Yes." The maid asked Xia arrogantly as she left the room, chasing away Qianchun and saying many unpleasant things before leaving. Qianchun had no choice but to leave.
Not long after, news came that the eldest sister had hanged herself.
Chi Guiying remained unmoved, touching her protruding belly. This was her fourth son since marrying into the Qiao family. Everyone said she was blessed with good fortune.
Yes, she wants to grow old with General Qiao.
How could they possibly have the leisure to care about their elder sister and niece Lü Yan, who died in the Imperial Uncle's mansion?
A smile played on her lips, and her chest gradually stopped heaving...
Half an hour later, the peasant woman outside the door covered her mouth and nose and came in to check the breathing of each of them. After confirming that the master and servants were all dead, she sent the message out.
Immediately afterwards, the body was taken away by a group of men in black. As for the place where the farmer lived, it was razed to the ground before dawn, and no one ever saw anyone living there again.
Snow falls, carpeting the ground in crimson.
The entire Eastern Palace went to great lengths to welcome the Crown Princess into the palace.
Red silk was hung on every visible carved beam and painted rafter, and all the servants, from top to bottom, had changed into red brocade jackets for a festive look.
Unlike ordinary weddings, the Crown Prince waited in the Eastern Palace the entire time, only appearing when He Lingyi's wedding procession arrived at the gate.
Inside the golden phoenix carriage, He Lingyi, dressed in a phoenix and peony wedding gown, looked extremely noble.
The floral appliqué features a phoenix pattern, with blush applied to the cheeks and a touch of gold leaf around the lips and teeth—this is the national ceremony of the Great Long Dynasty.
With her hands folded on her knees, the phoenix crown, inlaid with ninety-nine pearls, weighed down on He Lingyi's temples, causing a slight ache. However, upon hearing Eunuch Xia Jing's call from the doorway, she sat up even more upright, not daring to be negligent in the slightest.
"Welcome the Crown Princess to the Eastern Palace."
As soon as he finished speaking, the golden phoenix carriage stopped. He Lingyi placed his hand on the hand of the maid Rouge beside him and got up to get out.
Once she stood still, when she saw the Crown Prince, who was dressed in the same golden embroidered dragon pattern as her, standing in front of the East Palace gate, He Lingyi's heart suddenly started racing.
Having lived two lives, this is truly my first time getting married.