Chapter 462 - 383: The Final Great Battle Is Finally Coming
Chapter 462: Chapter 383: The Final Great Battle Is Finally Coming
Xiao Mo lowered his head and said nothing as he listened to Xia Qingke speak.
Xia Qingke turned her head to look at Xiao Mo.
"Mo’er, thank you.
If you hadn’t brought Yichuan back, he would have made a terrible mistake.
If it weren’t for you, who knows how badly the reputation of our Xiao Mansion, loyal for five generations, would have been tarnished.
If not for you, I don’t know how I could ever face our ancestors in the afterlife."
"What I did was nothing," Xiao Mo said, shaking his head. "On the contrary, what you have done for the Xiao Mansion, Aunt, is more than enough."
"Is it enough? It was merely my duty as the Princess Consort of Prince Zhenbei..."
Xia Qingke smiled faintly.
"Mo’er, from now on, the Xiao Mansion will depend on you... I trust that with you here, the Xiao Mansion will never fall into decline. But it will be very, very tiring for you. This will be a heavy burden."
Xiao Mo wanted to say something more, but he didn’t know how to begin.
"Enough of this. It must be boring, chatting with an old woman like me. Mo’er, could you ask your mother to come? I’d like to see her one last time..." Xia Qingke’s gaze was pleading as she looked at Xiao Mo, as if afraid he would refuse.
"Actually, Mother is already here. She wanted to see you," Xiao Mo said.
"Oh, that’s wonderful. Have her come in, quickly." A flicker of joy passed through Xia Qingke’s eyes.
"Yes."
Xiao Mo walked out.
By now, a crowd had gathered at the door to the room of the Lady of the Xiao Mansion.
Among them were the ladies from the various branches of the Xiao Family, the wives of court ministers, and other noblewomen with whom she had been close.
"Frost King."
Upon seeing Xiao Mo emerge, the crowd bowed in unison.
"There is no need for such formalities." Xiao Mo returned a simple bow, then said to his mother, "Mother, Aunt seems to have something she wishes to say to you."
"Mm."
Zhou Ruoxi nodded and went inside.
Xia Qingke and Zhou Ruoxi spoke for a very, very long time—even longer than she had spoken with her own eldest son.
As for what the two of them discussed, no one knew, but Xiao Mo and the others could mostly guess.
A full four hours later, Zhou Ruoxi finally walked out of Xia Qingke’s room. Xiao Mo saw that his mother’s eyes were red, as if she had been crying for a long time.
Xia Qingke then called many other friends and relatives into her room.
It was not until the sun had set that everyone finally dispersed.
In the evening, after a simple meal, Xia Qingke sat up and had her maid, Huan Ying, help her with her hair and makeup.
Once she was dressed and her makeup was done, Xia Qingke leaned against the headboard, said she wanted to sleep for a while, and asked the maid to leave her.
Sometime after ten o’clock that night.
Huan Ying came in carrying a basin of water and said softly, "Madam, let me help you wash up."
But Xia Qingke did not answer. She was simply leaning against the headboard with a smile on her face, completely still.
"Madam?"
Huan Ying’s eyes trembled. A terrible premonition rose in her heart.
"Madam!!!"
The basin of water fell from Huan Ying’s hands, splashing across the floor.
Huan Ying collapsed by the bedside, crying her heart out.
In the quiet of the night, only a lone tree swayed gently.
...
「The next day.」
News of the death of the Lady of the Xiao Mansion spread throughout the entire Imperial City.
The Sovereign of Qin personally came to the Xiao Mansion to attend the funeral.
The funeral was conducted with the highest honors, second only to those for an Empress.
After Xia Qingke’s passing, Zhou Ruoxi became the matriarch of the Xiao Family.
In truth, Zhou Ruoxi did not want the position of the Xiao Family matriarch; she had grown accustomed to a quiet, leisurely life.
But before she passed, Xia Qingke had spent a long time persuading Zhou Ruoxi, who finally agreed.
Besides, in the current Xiao Mansion, only Zhou Ruoxi had the standing to become the family matriarch.
「Seven days later...」
According to the customs of the Qin Kingdom, after the seventh day of mourning for Xia Qingke, all funeral rites were concluded.
Xiao Shi left the Capital City and headed for the border between the Qin Kingdom and the Jin Kingdom.
He had been stationed at the border all this time, keeping a close watch on the Jin Kingdom.
As for Xiao Yichuan, with his mother and his full-blooded brother both deceased, and with Xiao Mo now supporting the Xiao Mansion, he no longer had many attachments to the Mortal Dynasty.
"Third Brother, don’t see me off any further. This is where I leave," Xiao Yichuan said, turning around outside the Imperial City.
Xiao Mo stopped. "Eldest Brother, I wish you a safe journey."
"With you in the Xiao Mansion, I have nothing to worry about. I probably won’t be coming back, but as I’ve said, if there is anything I can do to help, send a message by Flying Sword to the Shaking Mountain Sect." Xiao Yichuan clapped Xiao Mo on the shoulder.
"Thank you, Eldest Brother. I wish you smooth cultivation," Xiao Mo said with a respectful bow.
"You too, Third Brother. Be sure to take care of yourself."
Xiao Yichuan and Xiao Mo each drank their parting wine.
Although Xiao Yichuan appeared nonchalant, Xiao Mo knew that his mother’s death had dealt his eldest brother a heavy blow.
’I wonder if this will become his Heart Demon,’ Xiao Mo thought.
After Xiao Yichuan had flown far into the distance, Xiao Mo sighed and returned to the Imperial City.
Because the matriarch of the Xiao Family had passed away, Xiao Mo was required to observe a three-year mourning period, during which he could not marry. This made Xiao Mo feel a pang of guilt toward Qin Siyao.
However, Qin Siyao never mentioned the wedding. She took care of Xiao Mo’s daily needs, and her cooking had improved immensely. Not only was it edible now, but it even tasted quite good.
Even though Qin Siyao didn’t bring it up, Xiao Mo felt he needed to explain things to Siyao; otherwise, he would feel uneasy.
"Siyao, about our wedding..." Xiao Mo began one day as they were having lunch together.
"It’s alright, my love."
Qin Siyao smiled and shook her head, placing a piece of pork rib in Xiao Mo’s bowl.
"I know what you’re going to say.
But there’s no rush for our wedding.
Madam Xia has just passed away, and you are in mourning. It wouldn’t be right for us to get married now.
Besides, the situation at the border is critical, with a great war on the verge of breaking out. How could I let you be distracted by a wedding?"
"I’m sorry..." Xiao Mo said guiltily.
"I already told you, there’s no need to apologize."
Qin Siyao put down her bowl and chopsticks, stood up, and then sat down in her beloved’s lap.
"Besides, you’re not getting out of this wedding, you know.
Because I will remember it forever.
Forever and ever."
"The way you say that sounds a little scary, Siyao," Xiao Mo said, wrapping his arm around her slender waist.
"Scary?" Qin Siyao playfully tapped the spot between Xiao Mo’s eyebrows. "Then you had better remember this wedding, because I have no intention of letting you go."
"I know," Xiao Mo said with a smile.
"Your Highness, Princess Consort..."
Just as Xiao Mo and Qin Siyao were sharing this intimate moment, a maid walked into the courtyard.
Qin Siyao quickly stood up from Xiao Mo’s lap and turned away shyly.
"What is it?" Xiao Mo asked.
"The Eldest Prince is waiting outside the courtyard. He says His Majesty summons you to the Imperial Palace," the maid said.
"Did the Eldest Prince say who else was summoned?" Xiao Mo frowned.
The maid nodded. "The Eldest Prince said that Prime Minister Li, General Xiahou, the Lord of Martial Peace, and other high-ranking military commanders have all been summoned..."
"I understand. Tell the Eldest Prince I’ll be there shortly."
Xiao Mo’s expression grew solemn.
The final great war.
It was finally coming.