Chapter 185: An Unexpected Passing
Chapter 185: Chapter 185: An Unexpected Passing
The Grandmaster’s expression froze. He closed his eyes, utterly exhausted.
Liang Wan came to her senses and shook her head at Gu Yu, gesturing for her to leave first.
"What... what happened?" The Grandmaster had opened his eyes, his breath much weaker.
Gu Yu glanced hesitantly at Liang Wan. Seeing no objection, she finally said, "He died of illness."
Liang Wan shot to her feet, staring at Gu Yu, speechless.
’Died of illness, just like that?’
Gu Yu said, "The messenger didn’t get to see Chancellor Cao. He overheard it by chance."
Chancellor Cao’s health wasn’t the best—a result of constant stress and overwork—but it was hardly poor enough to cause a sudden death from illness.
Liang Wan, not wanting to betray her emotions, simply helped the Grandmaster lie back down slowly. "Get some rest."
"Alright." The Grandmaster lay flat and glanced at her. "There are a few things I want to say to you."
Seeing this, Gu Yu tactfully withdrew, stepping outside the door.
There was no one else in the room.
The Grandmaster was too weary to open his eyes, and speaking was a struggle. "Wanwan... if you truly want to be with him, then stay far away from the Imperial Palace."
Liang Wan froze. This was the first time the Grandmaster had ever called her that. For a moment, she could only remain silent.
The Grandmaster raised a hand, fumbling with difficulty toward the side of his pillow.
Liang Wan reached out to help him retrieve it. It was a letter and a silver peony pendant.
She tried to hand them to the Grandmaster, but he pushed them back to her. "This letter... after I die, give it to the Empress Dowager. This seal... you keep it."
Liang Wan’s eyes stung. "Awen, rest assured. I will deliver it."
The Grandmaster’s lips twitched into a faint smile. "This time... his judgment... was better than mine. I’m entrusting him... to you... Yes... it is our Lu Family that has wronged him."
Liang Wan lowered her head and squeezed her eyes shut.
The Grandmaster’s eyes were half-closed, his voice very soft. A sliver of clarity showed in the slits of his eyes. "You should go. I want to sleep for a while."
"...Alright."
A lump formed in Liang Wan’s throat. She clutched the letter and the flower in her hand.
The silver flower dug painfully into her palm.
She took a slow breath, glanced once more at the bed, and then headed for the door.
Every step felt heavy.
Liang Wan tucked the letter and the peony pendant securely against her body before stepping out of the room.
A crowd of people was waiting at the door.
Seeing Liang Wan emerge, the Imperial Physician bowed. "Madam, I will now return to the Imperial Palace to make my report."
Liang Wan returned the bow. "Thank you for your trouble, Your Excellency."
The Imperial Physician waved a hand, sighed, and departed.
Liang Wan had someone escort the Imperial Physician out. Then, a steward came to report that everything needed had been prepared.
Only then did she order people to go inside and change the Grandmaster’s clothes.
Noticing that everyone, high and low, was staring at her, she added, "Until we return to the Master’s Mansion, this matter is not to be announced publicly."
After assigning tasks and sending everyone off to their duties, Liang Wan finally looked at Gu Yu. "Let’s go change our clothes as well."
Gu Yu hesitated for a moment, then said, "Liang Ji, there is one more thing. In court today, the Lou Family produced a letter written to the Master from an enemy nation."
Liang Wan’s face paled. "Was it Cao—"
Gu Yu quickly explained, "It wasn’t Lady Cao. She never appeared in any of the places you had us watching."
Liang Wan calmed herself. ’The letter can’t be real. And there’s no way Cao Luyun provided it.’
’Cao Luyun only knows about Lu Xiu’s true parentage; she doesn’t know what he’s been doing.’
’Or perhaps the letter is real, but it wasn’t addressed to Lu Xiu. It was for that other person.’
’It’s possible that person knows Lu Xiu’s identity and did this on purpose.’
’Chancellor Cao has passed away, and now the Grandmaster is gone too. Things will only get harder from now on—’
Just as Liang Wan was about to speak, her vision went black, and she lost consciousness.
Someone seemed to be talking in the outer room. The voices were low and hushed, tinged with dissatisfaction.
Liang Wan opened her eyes and quickly sat up.
"Madam, you scared us to death!"
Before Liang Wan could even see where she was, Gu Yu’s oval face rushed into view.
Liang Wan pushed her back a little, surveyed her surroundings, and started to get out of bed. "South Garden? We’re back?"
Afraid she would worry, Gu Yu said, "The mourning hall has already been set up. The Empress Dowager sent someone over, and the Minister is outside. The Chief Steward and Bai Lu are handling all the household affairs, so you can rest assured. In fact, it’s you we’re worried about. The household doctor said you’ve been overworked lately and need to rest well."
Liang Wan looked down. Her clothes had been changed. Her expression tightened.
Gu Yu said, "Madam, don’t be alarmed."
She glanced toward the door, then carefully pulled two letters and the silver peony pendant from under Liang Wan’s pillow. She whispered, almost inaudibly, "Rest easy, Madam. I was the only one who changed your clothes."
Liang Wan breathed a sigh of relief and nodded.
Gu Yu pointed to the pendant. "Madam," she whispered, "you must keep that flower safe at all costs."
After saying this, she held her tongue and dutifully helped Liang Wan get up.
The successive deaths of two high-ranking ministers from illness on the same day sent shockwaves throughout the court and the country.
The Master’s Mansion, usually not a bustling place, was suddenly packed with people. The area before the coffin where the vigil was held was just a sea of dark heads.
Aside from offering three sticks of incense in the morning and evening, Liang Wan did not go near the coffin, leaving the spot for those who would weep and wail.
Dressed in plain mourning clothes, Liang Wan finished offering incense and prepared to head to the Prime Minister’s Mansion.
She happened to run into Lu Xu on her way out.
These past few days, she had been relying on him to handle the social obligations. Otherwise, dealing with all the officials alone would have been enough to make her head spin.
"Are you heading out?"
Liang Wan first paid her respects before replying, "I’ve been preoccupied with matters here these last two days. The funeral procession is tomorrow, so it’s only right that I pay a visit to the Prime Minister’s Mansion."
Ever since the incident with the rumors, everyone knew that she and Chancellor Cao were friends despite their age gap. And no one had expected that stubborn old man to praise this young Lady so endlessly whenever she was mentioned.
Lu Xu nodded, his expression gentle. "Go on, then. Be careful on the road."
Liang Wan had just taken a single step.
Lu Xu added, "Come to Beixuan later. I have something to ask you."
Liang Wan lowered her head and agreed.
These last few days, Lu Xu had been staying in Beixuan.
「In the carriage.」
Gu Yu whispered, "The Minister went to the East Pavilion."
Liang Wan understood. If he went to the East Pavilion, he would naturally have met Cao Luyun’s maid.
"She still won’t say anything?"
Gu Yu said, "Shuangjiang has tried every method, but she just can’t pry her mouth open. It’s like that Lady Cao vanished into thin air."
Liang Wan studied her expression. "After tomorrow, we’ll check another place. We might be able to find her there."
Gu Yu gnashed her teeth in hatred. "She’s a heartless monster! The Grandmaster saved her when she tried to kill herself, but she repaid his kindness with malice and caused his death! The Master tried to reason with her, but she just wouldn’t let go, acting as if everyone owed her something. We never should have stopped her back then. It would have been better if she had just died!"
Liang Wan sighed.
’In her past life, the Grand Commandant’s wife, from the Cao Family, had died young from depression.’
’With a personality like Cao Luyun’s, after the Cao Family was destroyed and she received the cold shoulder from Lu Xiu, it would have been hard for her not to become obsessed.’
Liang Wan didn’t want to talk about her. She just raised her eyes. "Any word from the Master?"
Gu Yu shook her head. Furious just a moment ago, her expression instantly turned sorrowful.
The Master’s Mansion and the Prime Minister’s Mansion were not far from each other.
Unlike the Master’s Mansion, which was bustling with visitors, the Prime Minister’s Mansion was a bit too quiet.
It couldn’t be said that people were abandoning the place now that he was gone.
After all, even when Chancellor Cao was alive, not many people came to visit.
The people in the mansion recognized Liang Wan and immediately came forward to greet her.
Liang Wan only brought Gu Yu and the Guard Commander inside with her.
Inside the mourning hall, Cao Danqing and Zhou Yun were keeping watch.
After paying her respects, Liang Wan went to console Cao Danqing, who was weeping inconsolably.
Pretending to comfort her, she gently patted Cao Danqing’s back and whispered, her voice extremely low, "How did Chancellor Cao die?"