Chapter 249: Chapter 249: For the Cui Family’s Descendants, There Is Nothing That Can’t Be Endured
Cui Yun is the Second Young Master of the Marquis Mansion, is it really his original sin?
Shen Hua dared not think further.
The girl even felt that no one was good. She pursed her lips and went to look at Xue Tuan.
No one knew how long it had been, but Ji Huo quietly left.
Xue Tuan was personally buried by Cui Yun.
All those bottles and jars it left behind, as well as all the small accessories, were buried in the ground along with it.
Right under the crooked tree in the Sui Courtyard.
After this was done, Cui Yun went to the main courtyard study to see Old Master Cui.
His numb recounting of Ji Huo’s words was exactly the same as he had heard. Cui Yun spoke without his usual languor, only with a dead solemnity.
Old Master Cui remained silent for a long time, collapsing disorderly into his armchair.
The air grew even more stagnant.
No one knew how much time had passed before Old Master Cui stood up.
Old Master Cui gave a bitter smile: "Weizhen."
"Our Cui family can no longer withstand even a slight turmoil. I need you to support the entire Cui family. This is an order. You must be even more outstanding than your father and brothers."
Cui Yun closed his eyes: "Yes."
Latter on, the news of the death of the father and son of the Cui family spread far and wide.
How could this be kept from Qiao Si? The Marquis Mansion was thrown into chaos as well.
Qiao Si’s pregnancy was disturbed.
She clutched her belly, feeling something sliding down between her legs.
Marquis Yangling Mansion hung white lanterns high, with mourning banners pasted, and the mourning hall with funeral flags set up. They just waited for the two coffins to return home.
The house doors were tightly shut, and the intermittent moans of pain from Qiao Si faintly emerged.
Emperor He sent Eunuch Ying with all the Imperial Physicians from the Imperial Hospital.
Cui Xuan barely caught her breath, feeling cold all over her body despite the intense summer heat.
Bowls of blood were carried out of the room one by one.
Cui Yun stood in the courtyard. He vividly remembered when Qiao Si was first diagnosed with pregnancy. The Cui family rejoiced greatly, and he wrote a letter to Cui Bai. The reply he received was:
——Weizhen, you are going to be an uncle.
——Your brother is often away, it seems you will take on the responsibility of teaching.
In just a day, Cui Yun’s world completely collapsed.
One hour.
Two hours.
Night fell.
Cui Xuan dared not disturb the inside, she could only desperately cover her mouth with a handkerchief and cry silently.
The premature birth and the unstable fetal position made the birth naturally difficult.
Time slowly slipped away.
At dawn, just when everyone lost hope, an extremely weak cry came from inside the room.
It was a girl.
Shen Hua was closest to Cui Xuan. She heard her crying and laughing as she murmured: "Bai is the one who cares most for Ah Si, he must protect the safety of both mother and daughter."
The newly born Cui Rong lay in the cradle, breathing faintly, a tiny bundle that even without the Imperial Physician mentioning it, any discerning person could see was unlikely to live long.
The Imperial Physician and medical woman stayed in Marquis Yangling Mansion for fear of accidents, but now they absolutely could not allow any accidents to happen, and Eunuch Ying, picking out the nicest words to say, repeatedly offered congratulations.
He quickly returned to the palace to report the matter.
Shortly after, Crown Prince Ji Zhui and Fourth Prince Ji Wang arrived together, following their imperial decree. Behind them came various supplements and rewards.
Except for Qiao Si, her daughter, and the fainted Dowager Cui, the people of the Cui family knelt down to receive the decree.
The content was simple.
Emperor He had lost a beloved officer and was immensely sorrowful. He hoped that the household of the Cui family would restrain their grief.
Furthermore.
Cui Yang was posthumously granted a fief and a rank, Princely Heir Cui Bai was posthumously appointed as the Huaihua Middle Lang General. His daughter Cui Rong was honored as Commandery Princess, and Cui Yun inherited the title. Madam Cui Xuan of the household and Qiao Si were granted the status by the imperial decree.
After reading the imperial edict, Ji Zhui personally helped Old Master Cui to stand.
Is this truly a great honor for the entire family, or is it a sigh of pity from the imperial family towards the Cui Mansion?
Cui Yun looked dazed.
"Second Young Master," Ji Wang said gently.
"Ji Huo said you were also injured? Father is even more furious upon learning this, and the Ministry of Justice will investigate this matter thoroughly."
"You are well learned, just need to pass the examinations for an official title—"
Before Ji Wang could finish speaking. Cui Yun knelt down again towards the Imperial Palace: "Cui Yun gives thanks for the imperial grace."
"The valorous deaths of my father and elder brothers of the Cui family, yet I, Cui Yun, who lacks talent and virtue, pale in comparison. The living grieve, Rong is indeed young right now, she absolutely must not encounter any mishaps, only by personally taking care can I be most at ease, and can comfort the spirits of my father and brothers in heaven."
He refused the ladder to heaven offered by the imperial family.
In the following years, the members of Marquis Yangling Mansion never set foot outside, the main gate firmly closed.
The Cui family had no one serving as officials at court, and gradually declined. Until Emperor He, disregarding the courtiers, made an extraordinary promotion for Cui Yun.
Meanwhile, Shen Hua was leaning on the cradle, looking at Cui Rong.
She had been stifled in Qiao Si’s womb for too long, her skin was now purple and slightly swollen.
Cries so faint they were almost inaudible.
Who would have thought such a little girl could stir up so much trouble in the future.
For Qiao Si to rest easier, Cui Rong was settled in a side room nearby.
After sending away the two princes, Cui Yun then entered like a soul lost. He carefully grasped those small, soft hands.
He said.
"Your Daddy named you Rong, hoping that when you grow up, you’d become a girl as attentive and gentle as your Mama."
"Stay strong, for a scion of the Cui family, there’s nothing we can’t bear."
Shen Hua felt bitter inside upon hearing this.
Cui Yun laughed low, his laugh bitter: "Don’t be scared, Rong, your Second Uncle will protect you."
For the first half-month after Cui Rong was born, Cui Yun took care of her tirelessly. After her condition improved a little, Cui Yun coughed up blood, enduring the discomfort, he then sought out the Third Elder. He took him to the pear garden.
The pear garden was remote, yet most suitable for recuperating.
After feeling his pulse, the Third Elder was shocked.
"How could the Second Young Master only come now?"
Once the Gu Worm leaves its original host, it grows several times larger within a day. And it specifically targets the heart.
This Gu Worm’s ferociousness multiplies by ten every hour, disgustingly recurring.
If one’s body is weak, they might not survive half a month.
This situation was much harder to handle than when it was in the cat.
"I will begin the procedure for the Second Young Master right now."
He reluctantly disclosed: "If we are to avoid harming the body, I estimate it would take three years of repeated procedures to completely cleanse it."
Cui Yun detested him.
His brows filled with coldness: "I am giving you one night. If you cure it, leave; if not, no need to stay alive either."
"But that would require flaying and cutting open the chest to completely drain the blood, the Gu Worm will come out with it, all blood must be cleaned of poison by the Gu King before being transfused back."
This is the legendary secret technique that changes one’s color upon hearing.
Ji Qing asked: "Is there a risk to life?"
"No."
The Third Elder said fearfully: "But even so, meticulous recuperation will be needed for half a year, and during this half-year, you cannot rest on a bed. This is the fastest method."
Cui Yun was silent for a moment: "Begin."
Shen Hua was frantic at one side.
"Half a year is for recuperation, three years is also for recuperation, it’s not like we are urgently rushing to reincarnate because death is near."
Yet, on one side, in order to detoxify from the Gu, Cui Yun had already removed his outer robes, followed by his inner clothing.
Shen Hua glanced at him, and then looked down at her own, after a side-by-side comparison, she derisively scorned Cui Yun in a feigned composed manner.
"Really flat."
Subsequently, propriety made the girl flush with bashfulness and leave the room. But outside in the courtyard, she saw Sanqing Taoist.
Shen Hua swept over towards him, encircling him without restraint.
Sanqing Taoist merely smiled: "Miss Shen, there’s me here, you should go back."