The Husband I Snatched Is Not Right!-Chapter 308 - 305: What’s That Cripple Doing Here?
Moving forward, it was finally their turn.
Yu Tingwan received the incense passed by the nanny sent by the Empress, first handing one to Wei Zhao, and glanced forward.
The small leaf red sandalwood coffin indeed looked luxurious!!!
Yu Tingwan had seen many poor rural folk who, after they died, couldn’t afford a coffin and could only be wrapped in a straw mat and buried in a hole dug in the mountains.
The funeral rites of the Crown Prince in the Imperial City were truly grand.
Just the various silk-made paper figurines and grave goods she saw outside, along with the unseen construction of the mausoleum, consumed unimaginable amounts of manpower and resources.
Why not eat minced meat?
Yu Tingwan discreetly imitated Ning Suxuan’s posture in offering incense, placing the incense stick into the incense burner with perfect precision.
Wei Zhao struggled to straighten up and made an effort to stand.
The Marquis Ning and Ning Yunling quickly supported him to prevent him from falling.
"General Wei."
The nanny quickly spoke out: "Please, just sit down; there’s no need to struggle to rise. The Crown Prince will feel your sincerity."
Yu Tingwan: ...
He certainly received it, which is why he’s lying in the coffin.
The nanny: "Although Elder Ge couldn’t wait for the Crown Prince. If it wasn’t for the delay caused by the interception of the envoy to Ze County... well, it’s unnecessary to mention anymore. But the Empress has your loyalty in her heart."
These words represented the Empress’s intention.
First, there was a mention of the intercepted envoy that would place the blame on the Fifth Prince, Ying Yin. These words were meant for the officials present.
The latter words were meant for Wei Zhao.
Also, if the Crown Princess Consort’s baby turned out to be a boy, he would be legitimate and rightful, but he was still young, and the Fifth Prince was exceptionally capable.
Hence, the Empress wanted to befriend Wei Zhao.
Everyone present could think of this; how could they not?
Wei Zhao, however, didn’t want to be blamed for mistakes: "Rituals should not be neglected; that’s the proper way."
He insisted on getting up, supported by Ning Yunling and the Marquis Ning. He was unsteady, and his face was pale.
"I have known the Crown Prince since childhood."
Xiao Huaian arrived at this moment.
He rolled his eyes upon hearing this.
Friendship?
Were you always secretly undermining the Crown Prince?
Though others might not know, didn’t Xiao Huaian?
Wei Zhao appeared upright, yet among ten incidents of discord between the Fifth Prince and the Crown Prince, five were instigated by him!
Yet Wei Zhao would go and play the mediator.
And then add fuel to the fire!
Wei Zhao sighed: "After returning to the Capital, I couldn’t pay my respects to His Highness due to health issues, and now we are worlds apart. These days, I find it hard to eat or sleep with peace."
Yu Tingwan: ...
Pretending.
Wei Zhao: "If it were possible."
Wei Zhao loyally: "I would rather it be me who died than His Highness."
Yu Tingwan: ...
Everyone present was very moved.
If someone else said this, it would have seemed hypocritical.
But it was Wei Zhao speaking!
He must be earnest!
Tears flickered in the nanny’s eyes as she deeply bowed to Wei Zhao.
The Second Prince Consort, assisted by a maid after offering incense, was heavily wrapped in layers since she was unwell. Seeing the nanny’s behavior towards Wei Zhao, she smirked sarcastically, her hand under the sleeve clenching and unclenching.
She walked out, but weakened, she had to stop every few steps.
Exiting the mourning hall, reaching the Second Prince’s side.
The Second Prince stood quietly; you couldn’t tell his legs were bad without walking.
There weren’t many around, only a few officials passing to salute him. Seeing the Second Prince Consort approach, he gently supported her waist.
"Be careful."
The Second Prince Consort looked up: "Is the lord worried about this concubine?"
"What good does it do if I am cautious? It is still I who feels unwell, and my lord remains unaffected."
The Second Prince’s face instantly grew somber: "Are you blaming me?"
"Indeed, my lord can’t protect this concubine."
The Second Prince Consort faced the Second Prince without fear.
"My previous pregnancy was harmed into a miscarriage, and you didn’t protect me. Now there’s a new child; how long will this child survive? You might not protect it either."
With those words, the Second Prince, angered, raised a hand as if to strike.
But it was the Eastern Palace.
He could only forcibly restrain himself.
"Are you mad?"
The Second Prince Consort remained calm: "I am indeed mad!"
"But what can you do? With each step difficult, the household expenses rely on my dowry. You are no longer the influential Second Prince of the past, and your future, well! You must rely on your father-in-law from here on, right?"
These words showed great disrespect.
Yet she spoke them.
Even changed the way she addressed.
The Second Prince Consort smirked coldly: "I advise you not to entertain thoughts you shouldn’t have. Before, Grand Tutor Gu did not want his daughter to marry you; now that Gu Wu has a different status, it’s unlikely Grand Tutor Gu would let a girl raised for eighteen years become your concubine, right?"
"Isn’t it enough harm to have me?"
From a distance, the conversation couldn’t reach the ears of Yu Tingwan, who was preparing to head to the side hall. But she could see the Second Prince’s face grow increasingly darker, eventually contorting.
The side hall was where the rituals were conducted.
Officials and womenfolk all had to go, with the grand side hall divided into two by white silk; the left side for Emperor Ying and officials, the right for the palace women and female guests.
Thus, Wei Zhao was pushed by the Marquis Ning and Ning Yunling as they went. Yu Tingwan obediently followed behind her aunt, Marchioness Ning, who supported Madam Ning, and her mother-in-law, Ning Suxuan.
Ning Suxuan wanted to give her some advice.
But as she opened her mouth, the words didn’t come out.
Although they hadn’t spent much time together, it was apparent that this Yu knew her limits.
Yu Tingwan’s sleeve was lightly tugged.
She turned her head to see Shen Zhiyi’s face.
Yu Tingwan: ?
Shen Zhiyi saw no one was paying attention and the rituals hadn’t started, so she pulled Yu Tingwan to a corner to speak softly.
At first, she seemed a bit unnatural.
"My mother and sister-in-law asked me to thank you."
Yu Tingwan: ?
She hesitated: "No need to thank?"
Shen Zhiyi was silent for a moment.
"Don’t tell me you don’t know why I’m thanking you?"
Yu Tingwan seemed innocent.
Shen Zhiyi: "Then why do you respond!" 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞
Yu Tingwan’s voice was soft and gentle: "Since you’ve said so, I have to at least acknowledge it."
"It’s about Princess Jiasan arranging a kneeling mat for my sister-in-law."
Shen Zhiyi: "The deceased Old Master of the Lu Family once did a favor for the Grand Tutor. It was reasonable for Princess Jiasan to arrange a kneeling mat. The Shen Family and Gu Family usually have no interactions, and Princess Jiasan isn’t a particularly good person. The only reason she would act this way is because, during that time at Jinluo Pavilion when I protected you somewhat."
Yu Tingwan: "Oh."
Shen Zhiyi said so much but received only an "oh."
And without much emotion.
Shen Zhiyi stepped forward.
"Are you really a young lady of the Gu Family?"
"I just saw Gu Wu. She usually holds her head high, but she asked me about you and if we’re familiar. Is something wrong with her?"
Shen Zhiyi: "The Second Prince still thinks about her false identity and wants to console her."
Yu Tingwan: "The Second Prince?"
What is that cripple jumping out for?
