Chapter 168 – An Unusual Coffin
Chapter 168 An Unusual Coffin
No one had expected that a concubine would be so determined. When everyone saw her fiercely rush towards the coffin, they knew that she would lose her life.
It seemed there would be blood at the funeral!
A figure flashed out from the side and quickly blocked in front of Concubine Xiang. Both of them retreated a few steps and heavily crashed into the coffin behind them. The coffin made a few heavy sounds, and both of them fell to the ground.
“Yu Dong!” Qu Moying exclaimed and took two steps forward. Unfortunately, it was inconvenient for her to walk. She did not know where to step on, and she missed her step and stumbled forward.
Ji Hai, who was standing at the side, reached out to pull her. Yu Dong, who fell to the ground, could not care about himself. He hurriedly held Qu Moying’s legs, so that she would not fall on the spot.
“Fourth Lady Qu, please be careful.” Ji Hai said in a low voice.
Qu Moying held the coffin and stood still. She pressed one hand on the coffin. Her heart was beating fiercely, but her hand was holding the coffin steadily. She raised her pale face and looked at Xiao and Ji Youran. The corners of her lips were pale after being bitten. “Princess Ji, Second Madam Xiao, why don’t you listen to what Concubine Xiang has to say? If my uncle really has any last wish, even if we have to report it to the Emperor, we should do it.”
“Fourth Lady Qu, this is Ji Family’s family matter.” Ji Youran had a livid face.
Xiao stared at Qu Moying, and a trace of anger flashed in her eyes. “What do you mean by this, Fourth Lady Qu? Do you really have to make a scene at the mourning hall in Earl Ling’an’s Mansion?”
“Princess Ji, Second Madam Ji, although my uncle’s surname is Ji, I am also related to his wife, Yue, and the Crown Princess by blood. Since this is my uncle’s last wish, it should naturally be announced to the public. As for whether this concubine is talking nonsense or not, I see that she is even not afraid of death, so how can it be false!”
Qu Moying said word by word.
Just now, when Ji Hai spoke, she knew that things were going to be bad. She immediately brought Yu Dong forward to prevent Concubine Xiang from committing suicide. Fortunately, she had stepped forward in advance. Otherwise, Concubine Xiang would have really crashed into the coffin just now, which would have taken her life.
Now, since it was the right time, she could naturally stand up to speak.
Her hand was pressing on her father’s coffin. If she was still Ji Hanyue, she could hold onto the coffin as they walked from the mansion to the graveyard. But right now, she was Qu Moying.
The hand pressing on the coffin was holding it tightly. Her pale and tender fingers pressed on the upper board of the coffin, creating a dark mark. Her fingertips were holding it hard as if there was a great deal of pressure.
At this time, Concubine Xiang had also recovered, and she cried loudly, “I have the evidence left behind by Earl Ling’an. It is his last wish.”
“You are talking nonsense. How could Earl Ling’an leave behind any last wish!” When Xiao saw that the situation was not good, she shouted anxiously and her forehead began to sweat.
“Why couldn’t he leave behind any last wish? I am his concubine. I know that he once left me a letter.” Concubine Xiang explained loudly.
“Where… where is the letter?” Xiao stuttered.
This time, not only was Xiao’s face pale, even Ji Youran’s hands were trembling. The two of them looked at each other and saw the horror in each other’s eyes.
Ji Yongming left a letter? When did this happen? Why didn’t they know anything about it? What did Ji Yongming write in the letter? How did it end up in Concubine Xiang’s hands? At that time, Concubine Xiang was still in the temple hall. How could she have the chance to see Ji Yongming?
“Concubine Xiang, what nonsense are you talking about? You caused Aunt Luo to be unable to see Uncle for the last time. After that, you were locked up in the temple hall and were not released until now. How could you have the chance to see Uncle? And where did Uncle’s letter come from?”
Ji Youran could not help but retort.
The Ji Family’s elders looked at each other and did not speak for a while. This matter was too shocking. Could it be that there were really some hidden facts underlying this matter?
“Earl Ling’an did leave me a letter. If you do not believe it, you can directly investigate it.” Concubine Xiang cried, “I received a spoken message from Earl Ling’an before, which said that he wanted to have an heir. He also specially left me a letter. This letter is now at where he lived. If you do not believe it, you can go and search for it now.”
“Princess Ji, since there is a will from Earl Ling’an, it is better to go and have a look.” Ji Hai said at this time. As long as she did not directly mention the Crown Prince, there were some things he could say, even if the one opposite him was Princess Ji of Eastern Palace.
Several elders looked at each other and nodded. They really couldn’t tell if this matter was true or not. The best way was to see if the thing she mentioned was there.
Some of the Ji Family’s relatives also nodded. At this time, no matter what they said, it seemed inappropriate. The best way was to go along with Earl Ling’an’s intention.
Although Xiao and Ji Youran were unwilling, they had no choice but to agree at this time.
The group of people brought Concubine Xiang to the yard where Earl Ling’an used to live.
Only Qu Moying and Yu Dong were left at the mourning hall. She did not leave. She pressed her hand on the coffin, and her eyes under the eye veil were cold and ruthless. After a long time, she restrained the cold hatred in her heart and slowly relaxed her hands.
“My lady! Do you want to take a rest? I’ll bring the wheelchair over!” Yu Dong sensed Qu Moying’s strange behavior and asked carefully.
“I’m fine! I’m not too tired!” Qu Moying shook her head. Her hand was still pressed on the coffin and she did not let go. Her heart was full of grief. She was now Qu Moying, no longer the Ji Hanyue from before. She could not hold onto the coffin when it was being sent out. At this time, she was unwilling to leave, as if her father was really lying inside.
Although Yu Dong saw that she was acting strange, seeing that she was so persistent, he did not try to persuade her anymore. He just carefully waited on the side. If he found something wrong with his lady, he would immediately help her.
The mourning hall quieted down. After what happened just now, everyone followed Concubine Xiang and left. The servants who were going to lift the coffin were also taken out, leaving only the two people who did not seem to be the closest. It could be seen that the so-called family love in Earl Ling’an’s Mansion could not compare to his “will”!
“Yu Dong, give it a push and feel it.” After a long time, Qu Moying finally restrained the sadness in her heart and said to Yu Dong with a heavy expression.
“My lady, give it a push? Are we going to investigate something?” Yu Dong looked at the coffin in front of him and asked in surprise.
“Give it a push.” Qu Moying slowly let go of her hand and said to Yu Dong.
“Okay!” Seeing that she was so determined, Yu Dong went forward to take a look. He pushed hard at a corner of the coffin. The coffin was very big, but he could still push it this way.
After pushing it a little, he looked at Qu Moying. Qu Moying nodded at him again, and Yu Dong pushed it twice more.
Just now, the coffin was already askew because he and Concubine Xiang crashed into it. At this time, no one would notice it if it was a little more askew. Just now, these people’s attention was all on Concubine Xiang’s words. No one cared how much the coffin was askew.
“My lady, I… I feel that something is wrong. It seems that there is no one inside.” Yu Dong hesitated for a moment. He looked around and saw that there was no one around. Then, he lowered his voice and said with a slightly pale face.
In fact, he had this feeling when he crashed into the coffin earlier. When his body crashed into the coffin heavily, it didn’t feel like there was something inside. Or rather, it didn’t feel like there was someone inside. It felt very empty.
If there were someone inside, some voices would be heard. But no matter whether it was just now or now, there seemed to be no voice at all. This kind of feeling was very strange.
Yu Dong originally didn’t dare to say this, but since his lady had repeatedly expressed so, Yu Dong said this. After he finished speaking, he felt that it was absurd and hurriedly shook his head to deny it. “My lady, it’s not. I have sensed it wrongly. It might be that the coffin is more tightly packed inside.”
Now, when he said this, he was even more unsure.
Qu Moying looked at the coffin in front of her sadly. It seemed that her father was indeed not inside. Originally, there was still some hope in her heart. Although she knew that it was unlikely, she still had some hope.
“It’s okay. Maybe you made a mistake!” Qu Moying shook her head lightly and said in a weak voice. She closed her eyes. When she opened them again, they were clear and as cold as ice water.
“Let’s head out!”
Yu Dong hurriedly went forward to help Qu Moying. Ever since his lady went into the mourning hall, Yu Dong felt that she was somewhat different.
The wheelchair was still under the stairs. Qu Moying sat on it and Yu Dong pushed her out to Earl Ling’an’s yard.
The matter was arranged by her. Granny Zhou was also sent by her. Even the place where her father kept private letters was also told to Granny Zhou by her. Naturally, the letter was also forged by her. Qu Moying had long learned to imitate her father’s handwriting. Now, forging a letter was a piece of cake for her.
As for the seal, she had already carved her father’s personal seal with a radish. Ji Hanyue had studied calligraphy very well. Even when she was young, she knew how to carve a seal. Her father’s seal was carved by her. The seal that the young Ji Hanyue had carved was a bit stiff. There were some flaws in the corners, and it was very inconspicuous. However, people who were familiar with her knew this. Even if a professional copied this seal, it would still be discovered fake because of these small flaws.
She had only taken a few steps when she suddenly saw a eunuch rushing over. When the eunuch saw Qu Moying, he asked with a bit of arrogance, “Have you met Princess Ji?”
“I met her just now,” Qu Moying said indifferently.
The eunuch looked her up and down a few times, but he did not recognize her. He thought that she was one of those Earl Ling’an’s Mansion’s relatives who had no high status. Thus, his expression became more and more arrogant. “Where is Princess Ji now?”
“Princess Ji should be resting.” Qu Moying said vaguely. She already understood that the eunuch was sent by Pei Luo’an. It seemed that Ji Youran had already asked Pei Luo’an for help. However, it seemed that she did not describe it clearly. Pei Luo’an sent someone to inquire about it, but she did not want Pei Luo’an to appear at this time.
“Did you see which direction she went?” The eunuch asked unhappily.
“It should be that way.” Qu Moying casually pointed at a direction. That direction was the deepest part of the inner yard, while Earl Ling’an’s residence was at the place where the outer yard and the inner yard intersected.
The eunuch ignored her and left in a hurry. When she saw that the eunuch had gone far away, Qu Moying asked Yu Dong to slowly push her to Earl Ling’an’s residence. At this time, they should have found the letter and announced the content. It was too late for Ji Youran to ask Pei Luo’an to stop this matter…
“Let’s go and see Old Lady Ji!”