Chapter 75: GENERAL’S SON IS BACK
The carriage stopped in front of the residence of the Mo Family as getting down slowly was rather someone quite familiar.
Soon, loud murmurs were heard as the huge residence door dashed open with a bunch of servants rushing out to greet this figure.
"The young master is back!"
"The young master is back!" Different servants announced as the entire Mo residence was literally in chaos at this moment.
Quickly stepping outside to welcome their young master, Eunuch Su bowed in respect, "Welcome, Young Master Shen. Your presence has been longed for since your departure."
The eunuch bowed as Mo Ying stared at him quietly as he looked at the outfit he had on. It was white, as though he was mourning.
His gaze then flashed towards the other servants who were bowing their heads. They were also dressed in white.
Frowning, he asked, "Eunuch Su, why is everyone dressed in white... what’s going on? Did someone pass away?"
He asked as Eunuch Su started to sweat nervously, the servants secretly glancing at each other, no one daring to say a word.
"W-well... Umm... Huhh..."
Stepping forward, Fuhan, with his usual cold expression, said with his deep voice, "The young master asked a question, why aren’t you responding?"
"They aren’t responding because they are too scared to break the sad news to you, brother." Suddenly a female voice was heard as stepping out of the gate was a very, very familiar woman.
Dressed in a white hanfu was a tall woman, her hair packed with a single hairpin as a dry smile was plastered on her lips as she saw Mo Ying.
"Brother, you’re back... welcome... you look better than I had expected," she said calmly as Mo Ying’s frown deepened upon seeing her.
"Mo Lan, what exactly is going on here... You are dressed in white as well, who in the world died?" Mo Ying got sick of asking.
"Why don’t you come inside and I’ll answer your question. Help the young master in," she ordered as she turned around and walked inside, causing Mo Ying to roll his eyes in annoyance.
She still hadn’t changed, his annoying, power-hungry elder half-sister, Mo Lan.
Stepping inside, Mo Ying and Fuhan followed behind her as they both stopped in surprise, staring at the entire residence which had been decorated in white fabrics.
Turning towards them, Mo Lan finally broke the news. "Father is dead, Mo Shen! He died last night."
Mo Ying froze on the spot. His breath hitched, and for a moment, he thought he had misheard her. His father, dead?
His fingers clenched tightly by his side as his sharp gaze locked on Mo Lan. "What... did you just say?"
Mo Lan’s dry smile faded slightly. "You heard me clearly. Father passed away last night. The physician said it was a heart attack. Everything happened so suddenly."
Fuhan, who stood beside Mo Ying, was also shocked to hear the news.
Mo Ying took a slow step forward, his jaw tightening as emotions he couldn’t quite name flashed across his face. "How? He was perfectly fine before I left. Don’t tell me a man like him simply dropped dead overnight."
"Believe it or not, that’s what happened," Mo Lan replied calmly, though there was a flicker of something strange in her eyes, something that didn’t sit right with Mo Ying.
The servants lowered their heads even further, afraid to breathe too loudly.
"Where is he?" Mo Ying’s voice was low but carried a sharp edge.
"In the ancestral hall," Mo Lan said, motioning for him to follow. "He’s been laid in his coffin, awaiting the funeral rites."
Mo Ying brushed past her, his boots echoing against the marble floor as he made his way toward the hall. The closer he got, the heavier his heart became.
When he entered, his steps faltered.
There, lying inside a carved blackwood coffin, was the old patriarch of the Mo family, the General of Xuen Empire. His once-strong figure now looked frail and cold, hands folded across his chest.
Mo Ying’s throat tightened. He had his disagreements with the old man, plenty, in fact; at some point in his life, he hated him, but he never wished death upon him.
He slowly knelt beside the coffin, his fingers gently touching the edge. "Father..." he whispered, voice barely audible.
Fuhan stood quietly behind him, eyes lowered in respect.
After a long silence, Mo Ying stood and turned to Mo Lan, who was standing by the door with that same faint, unreadable smile.
"When exactly did this happen?" he asked again, his tone heavier now.
"Late last night. Around the third watch," she said smoothly. "By the time the physician arrived, it was already too late."
Mo Ying’s eyes narrowed. "And where were you?"
Mo Lan blinked, feigning confusion. "Where else would I be? At home, of course. I came as soon as I heard."
He didn’t respond, but his instincts screamed that something wasn’t right.
Mo Lan scoffed slightly as she folded her hand, walking closer to Mo Ying. "Don’t tell me you’re suspecting I have anything to do with the old man’s death? Mo Shen, even though I hated him, I still haven’t forgotten that he’s my father... What would I gain from taking his life?"
"What won’t you and your mother gain from taking his life? After all, what you both have been doing since you stepped foot into this house is draining and sucking every single life here."
"MO SHEN!" Mo Lan shouted. "You can say all you want about me, but don’t you dare mention my mother’s name with that mouth of yours!"
She pointed as Mo Ying stared at her, his eyes not leaving hers. The both of them gazed at each other with death glares.
It was as though them arguing like this was quite common, as Fuhan and even the servants didn’t find this surprising; they all just sighed.
Just then, the voice of a woman was heard. "Even in front of your father, you both still fight like fools! HAVE YOU BOTH NO RESPECT FOR YOUR DEAD FATHER!?"