The daily life of a concubine's daughter

Chapter 406: Bad News One After Another

The Duke of Zhenguo was an official appointed by the imperial court. He was merely observing mourning, not dismissal from office. Therefore, his death alarmed the prefect of Nanjing.

Shi Jizheng explained the whole story, his face flushed, "... Sir Hu, please report the truth to the court."

Prefect Hu did not dare to be careless and asked the coroner to perform an autopsy, but he did not open the body because the Shi family would never agree to it.

The coroner said based on his experience: "The Duke did die from a head injury and excessive bleeding. However, he seemed too thin, as if he had a burning liver..."

He looked up at the people in the Shi family, all of them were thin, and General Shi Jizhen also showed signs of being angry. Thinking about the bad things about the Shi family and the deaths of several people within a month, he gave up the suggestion of performing an autopsy.

This Duke Zhenguo must have died half from a broken head and half from being angry to death.

Fu Nanjun was ashamed, covering her face with her sleeves, and said with tears in her eyes, "It's my fault for not taking good care of him. My father-in-law was not in good health to begin with, and he has been bedridden since the Dragon Boat Festival. He didn't get up until my second uncle accidentally fell into the well. Who knew that he would lose his parents, wife, and daughter one after another.

It was already a heavy blow. On the way back to Nanjing, he lost his appetite and could not sleep well. Halfway through the journey, his fourth uncle announced that he would return to Beijing to serve as a eunuch in the palace. The father-in-law was even more troubled. Coupled with his poor diet, he became increasingly thinner.

Yesterday, yesterday, I received a letter from my grandfather saying that my aunt was not dead, but had eloped with the fifth prince. The fourth prince rushed to the northwest and caught the two of them red-handed. I was so shocked that I lost my mind and hurriedly reported to my father-in-law, asking him for advice. I never expected that my father-in-law fell off his horse in a fit of rage and died!

It's all my fault. I shouldn't have told my father-in-law the bad news. Damn it!"

After saying that, Fu Nanjun rushed headfirst into the coffin of the Duke of Zhenguo.

Shen, who was standing by, was quick to pull her back in time, holding her arm tightly, and advised: "What does this have to do with you? If you want to blame someone, blame those unworthy descendants. They are doing nothing and bringing disgrace to the family. You worked hard to serve them, how can you be wrong? If you are wrong, don't we all deserve to die?"

Le Anning held her breath and finally relaxed slowly.

So suspenseful!

She almost lost her sister-in-law!

She was planning to live with her elder sister-in-law for the rest of her life.

She will not remarry, because her husband is not as reliable as her sister-in-law.

Le Anning realized it later and started crying.

Fu Nanjun beat his chest, tears streaming down his face: "Second Aunt, I feel really bad about this!"

Rong endured the shame of her son Shi Mingkui being exposed as a eunuch, and together with Shen, she persuaded Fu Nanjun to be more open-minded.

The Shi family can't afford any more deaths.

As long as Fu Nanjun is alive, the old tutor of the Fu family can still take care of the Shi family and pass on the news in time. If she is gone, the Shi family will be even more isolated and helpless.

Fu Nanjun cried and blamed herself, and finally fainted from crying.

Shen ordered someone to help her away.

Magistrate Hu, who had finally digested several big melons, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and reluctantly said, "The matter is clear. I will write a memorial to report this matter to the emperor. Please accept my condolences.

By the way, where is the prince? Why can’t I see him? The Duke has passed away, and the prince should also submit a petition to inherit the title.”

Shen looked at Rong, who could only say awkwardly, "My son is so rude. He wanted to go back to the capital to be... to be a eunuch. The prince went after him. I hope he can get him back."

The third master Shi Jian'an was about to speak, but when he saw his wife answering, he closed his mouth, still lowered his head to wipe his tears, and murmured: "Brother, brother, why did you die? What should we do with this family in the future?"

No one paid any attention to him.

The Shi family dealt with Magistrate Hu and sent him off properly, and then began to send out the obituary to relatives and friends.

The funeral of the Duke of Zhenguo was carried out in a hasty manner. The Shi family was busy burying the old Duke, the Lady Dowager, Zheng and Shi Mingwei first.

In order to wait for Shi Mingwu to return, the Shi family deliberately slowed down their journey. Before arriving in Jinling, Zheng's coffin had already given off a foul odor, and there was also a faint foul odor coming from the other three coffins.

When Shi Mingwu, Shi Mingmo and Shi Lingyun rushed back to Nanjing, it was the seventh day after the death of the Duke of Zhenguo.

The three men were exhausted, tanned and thin. When they heard the bad news about the Duke of Zhenguo, Shi Mingwu fainted on the spot, Shi Lingyun burst into tears, and Shi Mingmo was also stunned.

They haven't had time to tell the Duke of Zhenguo the bad news from the northwest!

Fu Nanjun served her husband diligently, but perhaps due to the heavy blow and deep worry, Shi Mingwu developed a high fever that night.

In the middle of the night, the Changfang area was as busy as a vegetable market.

The doctors, maids, and masters of the Shi family were all coming in and out in a hurry.

In the middle of the night, Shi Mingwu woke up, opened his eyes, and saw Fu Nanjun dozing off beside his bed with his forehead propped up. He felt warm in his heart, and his lips, which had become white, opened and closed, making a hoarse sound:

"water!"

Fu Nanjun was a light sleeper. She nodded her head and woke up in time. She found her husband awake through her hazy eyes and exclaimed in surprise: "My Lord, you're awake!"

As he finished speaking, clear tears flowed from his tired eyes.

She excitedly held Shi Mingwu's hand and cried with joy, "You scared me to death!"

Fu Nanjun has lost a lot of weight. The fat on his face has disappeared and he is almost skin and bones.

Shi Mingwu felt sad and distressed. His wife had always been strong. She had never been so weak, nor had she ever suffered so much.

Before he left Beijing on Lantern Festival, his wife was rude to him. She was also indifferent to him during the first few days after he returned. Now she is dependent on him, cries for him, and worries about him, but it is because several lives are involved.

"I'm awake. I'm fine. I want some water. Don't be afraid, Nanjun. I'm here. Don't be afraid."

Fu Nanjun nodded repeatedly and hurried to pour water. When he was carrying the water, it accidentally spilled and a few drops fell on Shi Mingwu's face.

She hurriedly put down the bowl, raised her sleeve to wipe the water drops on Shi Mingwu's face, then helped him up and fed him water.

Shi Mingwu took two sips and asked, "Why is the water bitter?"

Fu Nanjun couldn't stop crying. She continued to feed him carefully, fearing that he would choke. She choked and said, "You couldn't take the medicine, so Mingzhen and Mingying pried open your mouth and forced it in. Your mouth is full of medicine, how can it not be bitter?"

Shi Mingwu met his wife's gentle and affectionate eyes, said nothing more, drank half a bowl of water, pushed her hand away, and only then did the sweetness slowly return to his mouth.

He leaned back on the pillow, raised his burning eyelids, drew up the quilt, and asked with difficulty, "Father is gone?"

Fu Nanjun then told the whole story of how the Duke of Zhenguo died suddenly, crying and blaming himself as he spoke.

Shi Mingwu held his wife's hand, feeling heartbroken but unable to blame her: "Father's death has nothing to do with you, don't blame yourself. It was us brothers and sisters who acted recklessly and angered father to death. Nanjun, you've worked hard."

Fu Nanjun burst into tears, leaned on Shi Mingwu's shoulder, and said softly: "Husband, you must not get into trouble again, I can't hold on any longer."

She didn't complain about Shi Mingzhu at all.

Shi Mingwu was relieved that his wife had finally grown up. At this moment, he didn't want to hear anyone mention Shi Mingzhu, whom he had abandoned. After comforting her for a while, he asked, "Did father leave any last words before he died?"

Fu Nanjun wiped her tears and said, "When the master passed away, only the second master, Mingzhen and Mingchen were by his side. I have never had time to ask the master's last words, so I will ask them to ask."