Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 1731: Chapter 1731: The Mourners All Cried

”Uncle, Aunt, please go back. Our family has done our utmost; one shouldn’t be too greedy,” said Bai Zehao, shaking his head, implicitly confirming the guard’s suspicions.

Zhang’s face turned green with anger. Suddenly, she pointed at Bai Zehao and said, ”I figured it out, it must have been you. I wondered why you were so generous, turns out it’s a hidden evil!”

Thinking of his younger sister’s advice, Bai Zehao maintained a flawless expression, saying, ”Aunt, it’s unfair to accuse people like this. Your village is quite far from ours, and nobody has left from our residence. How can you pin this on us? If you insist it was us, then report it to the officer; naturally, an officer will investigate thoroughly.”

He then looked toward Lin Jiang, ”If the silver isn’t truly stolen, the magistrate will charge you with false reporting. You should think it over and go home to search well. Make sure it’s not hidden somewhere.”

Hearing this, Zhang couldn’t help but glance at Lin Jiang, pondering if her deceased husband had stolen and hidden the silver to keep a mistress outside?

Lin Jiang was also worried. If Zhang had hidden it, reporting to the officer would get them punished, so both became suspicious and didn’t cause as much commotion as before.

”I’ve said all I need to say, I’ll take my leave now,” Bai Zehao bowed to the two and returned to the yard. The Bai Family’s main gate then closed tightly, with no one paying attention to the commotion outside.

The onlookers had much to say, most of it accusing the Lin Family of being greedy, suspecting they hadn’t lost any silver at all.

Lin Jiang and Zhang left with heavy hearts. Soon, villagers got wind of the matter, but someone secretly climbed the Lin Family’s yard wall and saw that most of the wedding gifts brought from the Bai Family were still there. Did the thief only take the silver and not anything else?

Soon, Zhang found a piece of fabric at home that she thought was lost. She really liked the color, so although it pained her to do so, she made a dress out of it and wore it proudly.

Although the Lin Family and the Mountain Village were separated by several villages, gossip spreads fast. Soon people said that the Lin Family hadn’t been robbed, after all, the fabric Zhang claimed was lost reappeared; perhaps the silver was found too.

In the end, the Lin Family didn’t report to the authorities because they discovered their second son was missing. They were busy looking for Lin Shengye and even went to the Bai Family twice. Lin Ping’er, though she disliked them, still instructed Bai Ruozhu and Bai Zehao to help search. But, it might have been too late, or Lin Shengye had some opportunity; despite Bai Ruozhu’s efforts to find him through the Commerce Association, no information was uncovered.

...

Over in the Capital City, today was the funeral of Elder Jiang Ge from the Jiang Family. Many commoners and scholars gathered around the Jiang Residence. They wanted to see how the Jiang Family would handle the matter of the old man being forced to death. At this time, people admired loyal and righteous individuals, and many respected Elder Jiang Ge’s righteous action.

Especially the scholars, who most valued integrity. Some even said if King Rui dared to send people to prevent Elder Jiang Ge’s burial, they would fight the government soldiers, letting King Rui become famous for stepping over their corpses.

”If Father knew his death could inspire the people’s fighting spirit, he would rest in peace,” Jiang Xuexiang said, eyes red and voice choked with emotion.

Jiang Yihong, beside him, clenched his fists tightly and said, ”Father, they say a soul doesn’t leave quickly after death. Grandpa will see this.”

Jiang Xuexiang nodded, ”Your grandpa valued integrity and was upright all his life. You must also remain righteous, do not fail his expectations.”

”Father, I will remember,” Jiang Yihong, said, starting to cry again.

Jiang Xuexiang also wiped his tears, ”Alright, prepare, it’s time for the funeral.”

Jiang Yihong glanced outside, saying angrily, ”Uncle and Cousin are hiding far away at this time. Grandpa raised them for years, yet they won’t even send him off! If Brother were in the capital, he would find a way.”

Jiang Yihong didn’t know Jiang Yichun had returned to the capital. Jiang Yichun secretly contacted Jiang Xuexiang only. To be cautious, Jiang Xuexiang told no one at home, planning to inform them the night before leaving, as there wasn’t much to pack with the family being poor.

However, with Elder Jiang Ge’s death, the original plan’s date had to be postponed.

”He won’t come,” Jiang Xuexiang murmured in a daze, almost talking to himself. That’s what Jiang Yichun had said when Jiang Xuexiang asked him.

Jiang Yihong didn’t hear what his father mumbled and didn’t think much of it. His mind was filled with hatred for King Rui. He regretted not learning martial arts well from a young age; what use were those books to him?

It wasn’t until much later someone told him, ”Battles aren’t only fought with swords and guns; pick up your pen and join the fight, for words can also be a form of power.”

It was only then that Jiang Yihong realized he was still useful. Decades later, as an elderly grand councilor with white hair, he still remembered those events, constantly reminding himself to follow his conscience, to honor his grandfather who died at the Golden Throne, and to be true to the parents who raised him and those who helped and encouraged him.

The Jiang Family had few members, and no relatives appeared. Jiang Xuexiang, with his wife and children, led the procession to the tomb, followed by the household servants, all with tear-streaked faces walking forward.

Soon the cries grew louder. Jiang Xuexiang was deeply grieved and careless of these details. It was Lady Jiang who noticed the townsfolk and scholars alongside them were weeping, not just wailing for show, but shedding genuine tears.

Lady Jiang couldn’t help but cry even harder. Though she never liked her father-in-law’s stubbornness and pedantry, she admired him for this matter and completely changed her view of him.

But so what? He is already dead.

Along the way, not only were there many onlookers, but many government soldiers and Dragon Guard secretly looked on too. King Rui suspected that Jiang Yichun or Tang Yin’s people infiltrated the Capital City, so he dispatched a large number of personnel to monitor the Jiang Family’s movements, hoping to catch them all at once.

Sitting on the Dragon Throne, King Rui heard the report from below, knowing Elder Jiang Ge’s funeral was underway, and couldn’t help but curl his lips into a smile.

”He gave up his life for Tang Yin; I refuse to believe Tang Yin won’t send someone to pay tribute, wouldn’t this just break Elder Jiang Ge’s heart?”

The Inner Attendant beside him moved his eyes but dared not remind him that he hadn’t yet ascended the throne and shouldn’t refer to himself as ”I.”

Sadly, until Elder Jiang Ge was buried, there was no sign of disturbance. The Dragon Guard lurking in the shadows almost examined every attendee, yet, no trace of Jiang Yichun was found. Perhaps King Rui was mistaken, and Jiang Yichun wasn’t in the Capital City after all?

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I went to a medical checkup today, so I’m late, but I will ensure four updates~