Chapter 206 - Prince of Yi Committed Suicide

When the whole family of Prince of Chengyang were exiled, all the possessions were confiscated.

Afterwards, Commandery Princess Yishui died of a difficult labor. Jian Limiao submitted the petition. With the help of Empress Su, he touched Emperor Xianjia. When the punishment was changed to guarding the imperial tomb, a small portion of possessions were returned, most of which were the dowries of Elder Lady Duanmu back then.

Now the dwelling where Elder Lady Duanmu settled down with her grandchildren was one of the properties.

This place was obviously deserted for a long time. Although Elder Lady Duanmu had sent servants to clean the place after gaining the permission from the Empress Dowager to seek medical advice in the imperial capital, Song Yixiao, who walked into the place in a fur coat, still felt the overwhelming chill and couldn’t help shivering.

She frowned and pondered, “I’m afraid that even a healthy person cannot stand living in this place, let alone Elder Lady Duanmu, who is old and with wandering arthritis.”

However, it was not the time to say that. She could only keep it in mind.

It was one of the grandsons accompanying Elder Lady Duanmu here who came out and received them on the behalf of her. Of course, he was the son of a concubine’s son, who was named as Lu Heyu, a 16-year-old man. Tall of stature, he looked a bit like Jian Xubai. Handsome as he was, he still lacked experience, for he was born after the family were made to guard the imperial tomb.

Even though Jian Xubai and his wife kept calling him “Cousin” and expressed their intention of intimacy not only in words but also on the face, he was still inevitably reserved. Apart from exchanging pleasantries, he only said, “Grandmother is at the back hall.”

Then he was engrossed in leading the way quietly.

Song Yixiao tried to engage him in a small talk but Lu Heyu was so nervous that he almost bumped against the pillar. As such, she hastened to shut up.

Gladly, the house was not big. Very soon, they arrived at the back hall where Elder Lady Duanmu stayed.

It was under the Elder Lady’s order that Lu Heyu went to received them, so he directly conducted them into the hall without asking for further instructions. The hall was simply furnished. Beneath the boxwood screen carved with colored glaze was the micalex bed with a drum stand and engrave designs. On the bed, there was a small table. A vase of flowers, a horsetail whisk and the tea-things were placed on it.

By the table, an old woman, wearing a green one-piece dress with curved interlock branch lotus decoration, was sitting up straight with her sleeves held up.

“Greetings, Grandaunt!”

“Greetings, Grandaunt!”

Song Yixiao took a quick glance and only saw nothing but a woman sitting in the seat of honor with grey hair. Against the red plum blossoms in the vase, the hair appeared as white as frost and snow. Then in a hurry, she went forward and curtsied with her husband.

“Let’s drop the formalities!” She just bent down when she heard an amicable voice, “Have a seat first!”

The couple expressed their thanks and sat down on the right side of the Elder Lady. Then the servants served the tea to them. It was then that Song Yixiao finally had the chance to secretly observe this highbred grandaunt with a rough fate.

She looked a few years older than the Empress Dowager. Her hair was all white. Even at a closer distance, no black hair was found. Yet, on her old face, she had a pair of calm and profound eyes.

Even the hardships of the past 21 years couldn’t leave any trace in her eyes.

“This is Xubai’s wife? I’ve heard of you on the way here. What a dignified girl!” While Song Yixiao was observing Elder Lady Duanmu in secret, the latter was also looking at her openly. Elder Lady Duanmu said in an unhurried tone with to-the-point kindness, “Your demeanor kind of resembles Lord Song back then. After all, you are his legitimate granddaughter!”

Song Yixiao replied hastily, “Grandaunt, I’m so flattered!”

Actually, she felt that the grandaunt was indeed a woman with the extraordinary bearing. As a saying went, as food changes one’s constitution, so one’s environment changes one’s bearing. Song Yixiao, who was reincarnated from the previous life, couldn’t agree on this more. Apart from the rarely seen exception, all the extraordinary demeanor and bearing must be the outcome of either imperceptible influences or strict long-term training.

Despite that, as the living environment changed, one might still be affected.

Only those who really imprinted the demeanor of nobleness into their essence could maintain elegant and graceful regardless of different situations after declining from the top of the wealth pyramid and experiencing humiliation for more than 20 years.

Of course, Song Yixiao could only hide her admiration for Elder Lady Duanmu in her heart. If she voiced it out, it would be an offense for the latter.

Therefore, after replying with humble words, Song Yixiao also complimented Lu Heyu, “He is such a man of striking appearance with prudence and uprightness.”

“The kids who accompany me here this time were born when we arrived at the imperial tomb, so they haven’t seen much of life. Please bear with them!” Elder Lady Duanmu just smiled. Clearly, she knew well how her grandson was, saying, “He is merely honest and obedient!”

It sounded self-deprecating, but Song Yixiao felt that she meant something else. Hence, she pondered for a while and wanted to respond when footsteps suddenly came from outside. Then a girl’s bright voice came, “Grandma! Grandma! I heard that Cousin Xubai and his wife were here? How come no one asked me to meet them?”

Shortly after that, a girl about Song Yixiao’s age walked inside in light steps. The girl looked pretty with crescent eyebrows, phoenix eyes and fair skin. Only with one glance, people could tell that she was related to the imperial family by blood, because she looked even more like Jian Xubai’s sister than Nie Wuying. Her clothes showed her less satisfactory living condition, but her face didn’t reflect any fear but loveliness and brightness.

She paid respects to Elder Lady Duanmu first and then said with a smile to Jian Xubai and Song Yixiao, “Cousin, is this your wife? I’ve heard that she is a beautiful and highly-gifted girl. It is such an honor to meet her with my own eyes today. She is worthy of the name indeed!”

“I’m so flattered. You are so adorable and I like you too!” Song Yixiao had a small talk with her at ease. Then Elder Lady Duanmu stepped in and introduced, “This is Shen Qimo, my granddaughter. Her parents passed away early so she has been raised by me.”

Then she turned to Shen Qimo, “I asked you to keep an eye on He’ai. Why are you out now?”

“He’ai took the medicine just now and has fallen asleep. I didn’t want to disturb him so I came out for a walk.” Shen Qimo’s disposition was different from that of Lu Heyu. She was not self-abased before Jian Xubai and Song Yixiao and also had the courage to respond to her grandmother’s blame, “Then surprisingly, I heard from the servants that Cousin Xubai and his wife were here, so I came here to say hi.”

Jian Xubai was shocked, “Grandaunt, He’ai is sick?”

No wonder only the dull cousin, Lu Heyu came out to receive them while the respectively graceful cousin, Lu He’ai didn’t show himself.

Elder Lady Duanmu took a glance at her granddaughter unhappily and said, “He got a cold last night. This morning we have sent for a doctor and he should be fine.”

“It is just that he coughs a bit heavily.” Shen Yimo seemed to ignore her gaze and then suddenly interrupted, “After He’ai fell asleep, I heard him coughing!”

“Then why did you come here?” Without looking at her this time, Elder Lady Duanmu only said calmly, “What if you get Xubai and Yixiao sick too?”

Sensing the anger in her tone, Shen Yimo gave a frightened look and said in a low voice, “I’m sorry!”

“Leave!” Elder Lady Duanmu waved her hand. After Shen Qimo left, she said to Jian Xubai and Song Yixiao, “I’ve been ignorant of disciplining the juniors since I got the wandering arthritis at an early age. The three grandchildren who are here with me always behaved well when we were guarding the imperial tomb. Unexpectedly, they showed their true colors when they just arrived here. Please forgive them!”

Before Jian Xubai and his wife answered, the Elder Lady said, “I won’t rake up the past. The family properties returned to us due to the kindness of the Empress Dowager and His Majesty are not as many as we had in the prime time, but they are enough for us to live a well-off life. It is the infinite royal graciousness that grants us, the descendants of a sinner such an end. If we dare to ask for more, it will be not only greedy but also a shame on the Lu Family!”

The Elder Lady’s eyes were still peaceful but her tone was full of firmness, “I came back this time mainly to seek for medical advice. It is fair enough to say that I’m busy enough with my own affairs. My grandchildren haven’t seen much of life. As you saw, they are not good at dealing with interpersonal relationships.”

Therefore, “Since we’ve met today, we had better live on our own. Leave us alone just in case of bringing trouble for both of us!”

After saying that, she picked up the tea bowl and directly asked them to leave.

Shockingly, just after Shen Qimo showed up and played some tricks, Elder Lady Duanmu, without any gentleness and amiability anymore, just sent the guests off. Jian Xubai and Song Yixiao, surprised off guard, were considering hastily how to react when Elder Lady Duanmu ordered Lu Heyu casually, “See your cousin and his wife off. Then shut our door and decline seeing visitors. We shall not meet any visitors but the imperial doctors!”

Lu Heyu was reserved but he was obedient to his legitimate grandmother. Hence, without hesitation, he walked over and reached out his hand to see them out. Song Yixiao and Jian Xubai looked at each other and found that Elder Lady Duanmu had ordered the maid to escort her back to the inner chamber. As a result, they had to leave resignedly.

“Qimo said that simply to let us send for a doctor or send something to him, which was what we should do. If Grandaunt was disgruntled, she could have scolded her, but she just drove us away. Besides, judging from her tone, she doesn’t want us to come again…” In the carriage back home, Song Yixiao wished to speak but stopped on a second thought.

She sincerely felt that Shen Qimo’s behavior was no big deal. After all, it was Shen Qimo’s cousin who was sick. Even if Shen Qimo said that not out of concern for her cousin but for the purpose of asking for money, shouldn’t Duke of Yan pay for that?

After all, even putting aside the identity of Elder Lady Duanmu, given that she sent Aunt Yun to detoxicate Jian Xubai, he had every reason to take her to Duke of Yan’s mansion and serve her.

She saved Jian Xubai’s life!

Even if Elder Lady was born out of an influential family and couldn’t stand the words about owing a debt of gratitude and hoping to recompense it, she could just scold a bit. However, she even asked Jian Xubai and Song Yixiao to leave. Inevitably, Song Yixiao would feel worried that it was a deliberate act of Elder Lady Duanmu to make a fuss!

In fact, she just didn’t mean to be close to Jian Xubai and his wife!

In other words, in the current fight for the throne, Elder Lady Duanmu didn’t select the Crown Prince but Prince of Wei or Prince of Zhao, so she hoped to keep Jian Xubai and his wife at a distance.

That Shen Qimo mentioned Lu He’ai’s coughing happened to be an excuse for her to distance herself from Duke of Yan!

At the thought of Jian Xubai, whose life had been saved by her before, being put into a dilemma once this elder lady sided with Prince of Wei or Prince of Zhao, Song Yixiao couldn’t help frowning!

Jian Xubai also felt vexed and thought for a while before saying, “Grandaunt was too angry just now. When we arrive at the mansion later, you go back first and I will pay a visit to Uncle Limiao.”

He hedged and said, “The place where Grandaunt lives is not suitable for recuperation. How about asking her to live in our mansion for some time when Uncle Limiao persuades her?”

“I also find the house too cold and unsuitable for Grandaunt and the cousins,” Song Yixiao pondered and said, “Moreover, if they stay in Duke of Yan’s mansion, it will be convenient for us to look after your cousins. I’m just wondering whether your grandaunt will agree on that.”

“Let’s give it a shot!” Jian Xubai thought of the neatness of what Elder Lady Duanmu said just now, pinched his eyebrows and sighed, “Otherwise, no matter how skillful the imperial doctor is, she won’t get better as she lives in that place!”

Song Yixiao was about to nod her head when a guard suddenly arrived by the carriage on a horse, reporting in a low voice, “Your Highness, something serious happened!”

Absorbed in Elder Lady Duanmu’s matter, Jian Xubai replied casually, “Yes?”

“His Highness Prince of Yi… He committed suicide!”

The couple in the carriage were startled!