Chapter 572: Reporting a Death
Chapter 572: Chapter 572: Reporting a Death
That night, Ye Chutang was finally able to rest, but she found herself lost in thought as she recalled the day’s events.
For some reason, she felt that Duke Zhongyong Mansion was not what it appeared to be on the surface.
Xie Anjun and Xiao Jiayi were fighting fiercely, but that hardly seemed reason enough for Xie Pei to drown his sorrows in alcohol.
A man of his stature had weathered decades of turmoil. What kind of hardship hadn’t he seen?
For him to drink so recklessly, knowing full well his health was poor, was simply baffling.
’Could the Xie Family’s problems be so severe that even he couldn’t clean up the mess?’
At this thought, Ye Chutang’s brow furrowed slightly.
’For Xie Pei to react this way, I’m afraid...’
Outside, the wind suddenly began to howl. The window wasn’t shut tightly, and a draft of cold air quickly seeped into the room.
Ye Chutang glanced at Xiao Wu, who was fast asleep beside her. The little girl seemed to sense the chill as well, burrowing deeper into the blankets. Her small body curled into a ball as she snuggled dependently against Ye Chutang.
Ye Chutang lifted the covers, got out of bed, and threw on an outer robe before walking to the window.
The closer she got, the more biting the chill became.
She shivered lightly and reached out, pushing the window open a little wider, intending to shut it tightly.
Just then, a piercing wail suddenly echoed from the distance.
Ye Chutang froze. Her brows furrowed as she instinctively looked out the window.
It was pitch-black outside. All she could feel was the biting north wind scraping across her face like a knife, making it seem as if the sound had been nothing but an illusion.
A sudden noise from behind made Ye Chutang turn. She saw Xiao Wu roll over, her eyes still closed, instinctively reaching out for her.
’Perhaps I just misheard it.’
Ye Chutang decided not to dwell on it and promptly shut the window tight.
However, she had only taken two steps back toward the bed when the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from the courtyard.
"Second Miss! Something has happened!"
Ye Chutang opened the door to see a maidservant hurrying toward her, a look of alarm still etched on her face.
"What’s wrong?" Ye Chutang asked.
The maidservant bit her lip and lowered her voice, though she couldn’t conceal her shock and panic.
"The man who came to fetch you last time is here again! He... he said—the Marquis has passed away!"
Ye Chutang was stunned.
"Marquis Zhongyong!?"
"Yes!" The maidservant was clearly terrified by the news. "Second Young Master Xie’s attendant brought the message! He’s waiting outside right now! He said not many people know yet, but—but Duke Zhongyong Mansion is already in chaos!"
It had all happened too suddenly. After the initial shock, Ye Chutang quickly composed herself and began to assess the situation.
With Xie Pei dead, she could only imagine the scene at Duke Zhongyong Mansion.
’Xie Anbai’s attendant came here at the first possible moment. It’s probably not just to report the death... It must be because something is suspicious!’
Ye Chutang made a snap decision. "Prepare the carriage. We’re going to Duke Zhongyong Mansion!"
...
The night was dark, and the air was freezing.
With the New Year festival approaching, many shops had already closed for the season. In the dead of night, the streets were deserted. The clatter of the carriage wheels racing over the stone slabs seemed all the more jarring in the silence.
Inside the carriage, the atmosphere was just as silent and heavy.
Ye Jingyan lifted the curtain and glanced outside. They were getting closer to the Marquis Mansion—it was just one street away.
He turned back to Ye Chutang and asked with a frown, "Sister, how could Marquis Zhongyong have died so suddenly? This afternoon, didn’t you say that while his condition was serious, it wasn’t life-threatening?"
Ye Chutang’s gaze was lowered, her thoughts elsewhere. She only looked up when she heard him speak.
"Until I see him with my own eyes, nothing is certain."
She harbored the same doubt.
’Given Xie Pei’s condition, it was impossible for him to have died so quickly.’
’Especially with Xie Anbai at the mansion.’
’She had specifically instructed him earlier today to be cautious and vigilant. He shouldn’t have been so careless.’
’And yet, this still happened.’
Beside them, Xiao Wu yawned. Her large, dark eyes, like black grapes, were watery with exhaustion.
Ye Chutang patted her little head.
"When we arrive at the Marquis Mansion, you two wait outside. Don’t go in."
She had originally planned to leave Xiao Wu in Ye Jingyan’s care, but when he heard that something so major had happened at Duke Zhongyong Mansion, he insisted on coming with her.
Unable to dissuade him, Ye Chutang had brought both her younger siblings along.
Xiao Wu nodded dazedly. After a moment’s thought, she held up her hands and made a few gestures.
*Sister, Second Brother Xie’s father passed away. He must be very sad, right?*
Ye Chutang sighed to herself.
’I’m afraid... it’s more than just sadness.’
...
Finally, the carriage came to a stop.
"Second Miss Ye, we’ve arrived."
Ye Chutang lifted the curtain, stepped out of the carriage, and looked ahead.
From a distance, she could already hear a chorus of wails coming from inside.
White mourning cloths already adorned the plaque above the mansion gates. At a glance, the vast Duke Zhongyong Mansion was shrouded in immense grief.
Ye Chutang, however, frowned. "The Marquis just passed away. How are the mourning cloths already up?"
’Why make such a huge display in the middle of the night?’
Xie Anbai’s attendant, Tian Dong, looked troubled when he heard Ye Chutang’s question.
"Second Miss Ye, it’s not something that can be explained in a few words. You should first—"
Before he could finish, a furious roar erupted from within the gates.
"If you hadn’t recklessly brought someone here to treat Father and prescribe medicine, he wouldn’t have just passed away! Your sin is unforgivable! You don’t deserve the name Xie! Now get out! From this day on, the Xie Family no longer has a son like you! You are forbidden from ever setting foot in the Marquis Mansion again!"
It was Xie Anjun’s voice.
A chill entered Ye Chutang’s eyes.