Zhao Jiaqi helped Li Meilan sit on a chair. Seeing her genuine remorse, coupled with the pain of losing a loved one, she couldn't help but feel pity for her.
"Shuya is gone. I don't think she would want to see you two so heartbroken over her. After handling the funeral arrangements, you two must pull yourselves together. You still have a son to care for you. From now on, think twice before you act. Stop using those despicable means. This is not the capital, and you are not a noble family with centuries of history, nor are you wealthy. If something goes wrong, no one can protect you. Sister-in-law, listen to my advice!"
Li Meilan nodded vigorously, her eyes filled with tears of regret.
Zhao Jiaqi did not tell Li Meilan that Murong Sheng intended to avenge Shuya.
Both of them knew that once Li Meilan found out, the entire inner city would know. Her mouth was as loose as the waistband of cotton trousers.
After more than half an hour, Fan Zehao and Huangfu Xu finally returned, with Huangfu Xian trailing behind them, wobbling from side to side.
Fan Zehao walked directly to her side and sat down, saying softly, "The King's Mansion's steward is currently handling the funeral arrangements for the Princess of Xiaoyao. Your body is not well and you cannot bear to see such things. I will take you back to the manor. I will come to pay my respects again during the funeral."
This was not a request for his wife's opinion, but a command.
The hanged person carried too much resentment. His wife was a soul from another world, and her body was frail. She could not see 'unclean' things. If he hadn't returned late today, he would never have let her come to this place.
After speaking, he looked at Murong Sheng with a hint of apology. "Brother, I apologize. We are leaving now."
"You may go. Shuya was a junior. How could elders stay for her mourning? I am already immensely grateful that the Princess and the King could come today."
Fan Zehao and Zhao Jiaqi did not speak, only nodding in sorrow.
After they left, the Prince of Xiaoyao went to see them off but was stopped by Murong Sheng.
"Prince of Xiaoyao, please stay. This commoner has a matter that requires the Prince's indulgence."
Huangfu Xu, seeing that he had lost his daughter and was heartbroken, did not argue with him. He raised his arm and said, "Speak!"
"This commoner knows that Shuya committed many wicked deeds during her life. She is not fit to be a consort. I wish to ask the Prince to allow this commoner to take Shuya's body back and bury her in the Murong family's ancestral tomb."
When Huangfu Xu heard him say this, the discomfort in his heart lessened. However, seeing his age and the fact that he was mourning his child, a feeling that was already unpleasant, he decided not to humiliate him further.
"Although Murong Shuya was not fit to be a consort, this King has not bestowed a divorce letter upon her. At the time of her death, she still held the status of a consort. If you bury her in the Murong family's ancestral tomb, it will surely have a negative impact on your family's reputation, and people will speculate about the Princess's past. Furthermore, the Murong family's ancestral tomb does not house married-out daughters."
Huangfu Xu pointed out the crucial issue with a single sentence, leaving Murong Sheng with nowhere to hide.
"This King has already chosen a place with excellent feng shui and has ordered the construction of a mausoleum. The burial will take place the day after tomorrow and will not be delayed. It is only that she cannot be buried with this King in the future. Apart from that, this King will bestow all the honors she deserves."
Murong Sheng let out a turbid sigh, lifted the hem of his robe, knelt, and kowtowed. "Thank you, Your Highness."
Huangfu Xu's lips curled into a mocking smile, and he turned away coldly. "You don't need to thank this King. If you want to thank someone, thank your elder brother and sister-in-law."
Besides, he could not afford to lose face. If the matter were to be investigated by those with ulterior motives, his reputation would be ruined throughout the entire Yun Kingdom.
Soon, an obituary was issued in the inner city, stating that the Princess of Xiaoyao had passed away due to a severe illness. All places of entertainment in the inner city were closed for three days.
The obituary was issued at noon, and by the afternoon, the entire inner city was draped in white.
Behind the scenes, however, Huangfu Xu had arrested Shuya's lover and imprisoned him in the manor's dungeon. As for the lover's entire nine generations of kin, they inexplicably died from falls, or were crushed to death, or burned to death in fires.
Not a single person died a natural death. If one were to say it was strange, then their deaths all had witnesses. If one were to say it was normal, then all of them died.
Finally, the common people offered a saying: this family was possessed by evil spirits. It wasn't that they wanted to die, but that the King of Hell wanted them, and was calling their souls.
Hearing the widespread and eerie rumors, Zhao Jiaqi truly found these common people adorable. As for who was behind the scenes, she guessed it could only be Huangfu Xu and Murong Sheng.
"Su Ya, have you finished packing everything?"
"Reporting to Madam, everything is packed and ready. However... the carriages of the Prince of Xiaoyao and the Prince of Xian are outside the manor. This servant noticed that they seem to know we are going out. They have brought a cart full of food, and even cooking pots. A total of three carts of goods!"
Zhao Jiaqi's lips twitched almost imperceptibly. These two persistent bothers were destined to cling to them.
"Madam, when this servant came in, I saw General Xiao Ce also carrying a rucksack. I assume he is also one of the accompanying personnel!"
Su Ya's statement was not entirely certain because his name was not on the list, so she was suspicious that Xiao Ce had been temporarily hired by the master for protection.
When she heard the name Xiao Ce, Zhao Jiaqi suddenly recalled something her husband had mentioned to her a few days ago.
She turned to look at Su Ya and coughed lightly. "You are not getting any younger. Do you have someone you fancy? If so, this Princess can grant you a marriage and personally see you married off!"
She had few trusted people around her. Chunfen was married, and Su Ya was now being pursued. She really needed to bring two more maids with her this time to train them, so that when Su Ya got married, she would still have capable maids.
When asked about marriage, Su Ya's face instantly flushed red, and she shyly shook her head. "Madam, this servant is already twenty-five years old. I have long passed the prime age for marriage. Those remaining are either remarried or younger than this servant. This servant feels it is good to live like this, being able to serve Madam at all times is this servant's fortune. As for getting married, let's forget it."
Zhao Jiaqi smiled gently at her. As the saying goes, which maiden doesn't yearn for romance? Although her age was this, it wasn't too old.
"This time when we travel, keep your eyes wide open. Whether it's a guard from our manor, a general, or a stable hand, if you fancy anyone, feel free to come to me. Don't miss out on a husband who truly cares for you!"
Being teased by her Madam like this, she suddenly felt embarrassed and wished she could burrow into a crack in the ground.
"Madam is actually teasing this servant!" The shyness of a young maiden was fully displayed on her face, which made Zhao Jiaqi burst into laughter.
Outside the door, the newly promoted head maid, Jasmine, entered the room and bowed. "Your Highness, Madam Zhang has arrived and is waiting in the side hall."
Madam Zhang. Zhao Jiaqi was a bit dazed for a moment. After thinking for a while, she realized it was Bai Lu who had arrived.
She was so used to hearing Bai Lu's name that she almost forgot she had married the ruffian Zhang Heng.
"Su Ya, go and tell the master that I will go to the front hall as soon as I am done here. We should leave the manor early before the sun rises higher."
This would also avoid the travel party growing larger. As for the matters between Junjun and Yingxiong within the manor, let their family resolve it themselves.
In the side hall, Bai Lu saw her Madam arrive and, like a close friend, greeted her with a smile. "Madam, did you call me here with good news?"
Seeing her beaming and her eyes sparkling, Zhao Jiaqi's mood couldn't help but improve.
"You are my god of wealth. Of course, I have good news for you. However, it will be another strenuous task for you."
Bai Lu helped her sit down. She didn't take the strenuous task to heart at all and hurriedly asked, "As long as it's a profitable endeavor, what does hardship matter? As long as I can count silver, I won't feel bitter even if I have to go to the ends of the earth!"
Zhao Jiaqi chuckled and tapped her forehead. "Little money grubber!"