Chapter 201: Chapter 201: Bad News (5)
Tong Xihua nodded silently, without speaking, while Lady held her hand and whispered in her ear...
The Grand Dowager sat with a stern face on the chair, looking at Xiao Yanyi and said, "Have you found out how he died?"
Xiao Yanyi responded, "Those sixteen people went to Fujian and were killed on the way. It was Ren Jun who sent a message through someone, saying a friend of his, who works in river transport, fished their bodies out of the river. When he saw they had the mansion’s token on them, he informed Ren Jun. Ren Jun, upon seeing the bodies, confirmed they were from the outer court of the Marquis Mansion. He brought people to collect the bodies of those sixteen, and then went to find Fourth Brother. When he couldn’t find Fourth Brother, he came to me."
Madam Tian squinted her eyes and said, "The servant who came back to report is named Xiao Shan. He woke up last night and said the Marquis led a team of forty-eight people to sneak attack a camp holding the pirates’ supplies. However, someone leaked military secrets. When they passed a place called Beheading Slope, they were ambushed by a group of masked men in black clothing. Hundreds of them, all experts, came with murderous intent, killing mercilessly. He tried to protect the Marquis to escape, but the Marquis pushed him into the river, saying he couldn’t leave his soldiers to die alone and told him to come back alive and report the death!" After saying this, Xiao Yanyi paused for a moment, his voice heavy and without a trace of emotion, "He also entrusted him to bring back a Jade Pendant belonging to the Big Brother’s wife. Before I came, I delivered the Jade Pendant to Sister-in-law."
Tears rolled down the Grand Dowager’s cheeks. Xiao Yanyi sat beside her on the chair and hugged her, saying, "Mother, Big Brother said he failed the father’s trust, and has no face to return to see Ning!"
The Grand Dowager held Xiao Yanyi and wept bitterly, while Nanny Wu also wiped tears from her eyes on the side.
At the main gate of the Marquis Mansion, white flags fluttered in the wind. Despite the usual solemnity, there was a sense of coldness and desolation with the ongoing flow of guests and visitors.
A little servant of the Marquis Mansion stood by the gate, leading the alighting officials inside!
In the quiet, suddenly, from among the lined-up officials’ crane-topped glass-roofed carriages, came a cry of surprise. Everyone stopped and looked back, and saw a black-roofed carriage rushing in from afar, kicking up a cloud of dust. People jumped aside in surprise as the carriage approached, staring at it in a daze.
Through the misty air, the driver flicked a whip, and its sharp sound pierced the crowd as the carriage abruptly stopped at the main gate of the Marquis Mansion. The driver, clad in black with a black veil covering his face, leaving only his sharp eyes exposed, lightly jumped down the carriage and uncovered the curtain as everyone watched in shock and confusion.
A man in a black robe appeared before the crowd. As the robe moved, the person in the carriage stepped outside. When everyone saw the person’s face clearly, they gasped in disbelief to see a man with a beard-covered face, showing no features other than a pair of slender phoenix eyes. He strode towards the Marquis Mansion’s main entrance with heavy steps, making pounding sounds that resonated in everyone’s ears.
Only then did they realize he was cradling a person in his arms. Dressed in a golden battle robe stained with blood, face obscured, but sharp-eyed servants of the Marquis Mansion immediately recognized it as the battle robe the Marquis wore when he went to war!
"Fourth Master!" Someone pushed past others, exclaiming as they rushed to meet him, falling to their knees and crying, "Marquis!"
Fourth Master Xiao paid no heed, and strode towards the main entrance. The officials at the gate moved aside to make way, and with the mansion gates wide open, Fourth Master Xiao strode inside with a sweeping motion of his robe!
"Miss, Fourth Master is back!" Pingqiao rushed into Xiao Yanzheng’s room, grasping her hand by the bed and said, "Fourth Master is back and brought the Marquis back too!"
Xiao Yanzheng sat up immediately, clutching Pingqiao’s hands to confirm, "Fourth Brother brought Eldest Brother back?"
Pingqiao nodded repeatedly.
Xiao Yanzheng quickly got up and said to Pingqiao, "Help me dress quickly, I must see!" Pingqiao hurriedly helped her find the jiaao and overcoat to wear, quickly styled her hair and just then Xiqiu came in through the curtain, seeing Xiao Yanzheng getting up, and asked, "What’s going on?"
Xiao Yanzheng hurriedly ran outside, "Fourth Brother brought Eldest Brother back, I must go see."
Xiqiu froze, wondering if Fourth Master Xiao had been gone so many days just to retrieve Xiao Yanji?!
Worried about Xiao Yanzheng going out alone, she accompanied her to the Grand Dowager’s place. There they saw the Grand Dowager seated in the central hall, her three sons lined up kneeling before her, in front of them, Xiao Yanji lay peacefully in his battle robe. This was Xiqiu’s first and last sight of Xiao Yanji!
The room was silent, no one made a sound. Xiao Yanzheng entered and immediately pounced on Xiao Yanji, "Eldest Brother!" She took a handkerchief to wipe the blood-stained face of Xiao Yanji but couldn’t clean it because it had been too long. Xiao Yanzheng frantically wiped, "Eldest Brother, you always loved cleanliness, why become so careless now!"
The Grand Dowager also began to cry, leaning back in her chair as her tears fell silently!
Xiqiu quietly walked over to stand beside Tong Xihua, holding back sobs finally let loose by Xiao Yanzheng’s heartbroken cries, prompting everyone to break into loud wails!
Raising her eyes, Xiqiu looked to Fourth Master Xiao. His head hung low, beard already half an inch long, face full of dust, even with several wounds seeping blood, his clothes wrinkled and dusty... She had heard from Xiao Yanzheng that Xiao Yanji’s remains would take about twenty days to reach the Capital, yet Fourth Master Xiao took only four to bring him back. She couldn’t imagine how he could have shortened a twenty-day journey to just four.
"Marquis!" Suddenly, a cry came from outside, and Xiqiu saw Marchioness Xuanning push away the person supporting her and rushed into the main hall, shoving past Fourth Master Xiao and Xiao Yanyi to throw herself onto Xiao Yanji’s body, wailing aloud.
This was the first time Xiqiu had heard her voice in days!
But Fourth Master Xiao, amidst the heartbreaking cries, suddenly stood up and left without a word!
The body was brought back to the room where the Marquis resided in life; after cleaning and preliminary preparation, officials from the Astronomical Bureau arrived, selecting a date for the final rites in three days, and to lay in state for forty-nine days!
Xiqiu learned the next day that Fourth Master Xiao had sat alone in Xiao Yanji’s study all night, and the next morning he and Xiao Yanyi were receiving guests in the outer court.
The next day the Imperial Decree arrived, posthumously conferring Xiao Yanji the title of First-class Brave and Loyal Marquis and General Rongwei, with rites to be buried as a Commandery Prince!
Such an honor is unprecedented!
With the court’s attitude clear, the Marquis Mansion became lively again, with almost all officials in the Capital coming to offer condolences. Three days later, for the final rites, Lady’s offerings of three sacrificial animals also arrived, both the Princes in the palace and the Empress Dowager also sent offerings of three sacrificial animals. Xiqiu, who was supposed to return with Lady, stayed due to Xiao Yanzheng’s illness relapse.
Lying on the bed, Xiao Yanzheng sighed after taking the medicine Xiqiu fed her, "The Ministry of Rites withheld the memorial!"