Du Yongzhi dared not look at his father’s face and mumbled an agreement.
There was a loud noise from the table. Du Ruohai’s palm turned red, and his eyes appeared bloodshot.
Du Yongzhi glanced at Huo Yuan, lowered his head, and said softly, "Father, Auntie Mei passed away due to a sudden illness... Ah, Father, Father, what happened to you..." Du Yongzhi hurried forward to check on Du Ruohai, who was gradually collapsing.
Du Ruohai fainted, and the chair he was sitting on fell over with him, making a dull thud.
The younger members of Duke An’s Mansion were suddenly flustered and gathered around.
"Quick, send for the imperial physician ——"
"Where is the old lady, bring the old lady here too."
"Water, get some water first..."
Huo Yuan watched them with a cold gaze, then left...
At night, a large cypress coffin for eight pallbearers was brought to the Baoguo Temple in the western suburbs of the Capital. The coffin, with its betel nut patterns and purple sandalwood scent, made a sound like jade when knocked upon, indicating that a member of a wealthy family had passed away.
The people who carried the coffin said it was delivered by Young Master Huo for the monks in the temple to perform a seven-day memorial service. After seven days, a burial site would be selected.
Although the elder of the temple led a worldly life, he had heard of the Huo family and knew what kind of person Young Master Huo was. Therefore, as soon as the coffin arrived, he arranged for the senior monks in the temple to hold a chanting ceremony for the soul in the coffin...
Huo Yuan did not tell Lady Du about Lady Mei’s death. The Mu family was just going through a lot of trouble. Mu Zhongqing was still in prison, and although Wen’er had woken up, she was constantly complaining of headaches. He thought that Lady Du was already worried enough about the situation, and if she learned of Lady Mei’s death, she might be so upset that she would harm her unborn child. So, he kept it a secret, planning to discuss it with Mu Zhongqing when he returned.
At night, Huo Yuan stayed at Bishui Villa. The villa was vast, a seven-compartment large mansion with dozens of smaller courtyards and a total of a hundred rooms. Huo Yuan allocated the Huifang Garden in the east courtyard for the Mu family to live in, while he lived in the Zhaixing Tower in the west courtyard.
Before sleeping, Nanny Li from Old Lady Huo’s side came over. After seeing Huo Yuan, she said that Aunt Bi from the mansion was ill, and the old lady wanted him to go back and check on her.
As for the Aunt Bi mentioned by Nanny Li, Huo Yuan found her instinctively repulsive. She had once been his nominal cousin, fostered in his family. They grew up together, but Huo Yuan did not regard her with the fondness generally associated with childhood sweethearts. If she had behaved herself as his cousin, he would have cherished and spoiled her just as he would his own younger sister. He would have helped her find a considerate husband and given her a bridal dowry sufficient for a lifetime. She could have lived a carefree life.
Unfortunately, this cousin had lofty ambitions. She would rather be a concubine in the house of the richest man in the Great Jin than be the official wife of any of the humble men of his choosing. Her willingness to demean herself had dissolved his feelings of affection for her. Now, in his eyes, she was not the cousin who grew up with him, but a scheming woman who curried favor for personal gain. His household was already full of such women, and she was not worth an extra glance.
Therefore, even when his mother protected her and continuously tried to create opportunities for them, he never let her get her way.
Just like now. She had done this countless times before. Knowing full well it would not yield results, she still persisted stubbornly. She really thought he would visit her out of regard for their shared childhood!