Chapter 465
"Lang Ji, you have a good son!"
If this were not spoken by Lord Liu Wanjun, Wang Langji would have thought the other party was being sarcastic. Praised by Lord Liu Wanjun, Wang Langji felt honored. The slightly bent waist straightened a bit. However, while the elder official could praise, he could not agree with him, lest he be considered arrogant.
He replied humbly, "My son is unruly and has done many foolish things over the years. Now that he has mended his ways, it is likely because he has a marriage engagement. For Lan'er's sake, he can no longer act as recklessly as before... I have met that child Lan'er. She is learned and sensible, intelligent and bright. It must be Lan'er who has been persuading him regularly, which led to my son's actions yesterday. Speaking of which, it is I, your subordinate, who should thank you, my lord." Wang Langji attributed all the credit to Liu Wanjun and Liu Lan.
Wang Langji's reputation was generally poor, and he was known to be a reckless fellow. However, after interacting with him, Liu Wanjun had a good impression. He had always felt that he owed the second brother's family greatly because of this marriage. But Wang Qiancheng's actions yesterday and Wang Langji's words today had changed his mind.
If nothing else, if Wang Qiancheng could change his old ways, he would be someone worth supporting.
Although Wang Langji's words had a calculated attempt to please and flatter, Liu Wanjun did not find his actions inappropriate at all. Nor did he feel the annoyance that the Grand Secretaries and high officials felt towards these 'crafty' individuals. Instead, he felt that if one were truly loyal, a little flattery might not be a bad thing!
He smiled and pointed at him, "You!" His tone was quite intimate, devoid of the previous politeness and distance. "The children have been engaged for some time now. You don't need to keep calling yourself my subordinate."
"Yes, Old Master!"
Wang Langji followed the suggestion and seized the opportunity without any hesitation.
Liu Wanjun chuckled.
The carriage stopped at the Wang residence. Wang Langji respectfully bid farewell. Before leaving, Liu Wanjun instructed him that if he had nothing pressing, he could bring Wang Qiancheng to visit the Liu family often.
Wang Langji, of course, agreed repeatedly. He stood in place and watched the Liu family's carriage disappear around the corner of the street. He could no longer suppress the joy in his heart. The smile on his lips grew more ecstatic. Just as the servants beside him thought he had suffered some stimulus and were considering whether to invite a Taoist priest to perform an exorcism, he suddenly burst into laughter, turned around with a flourish, and his sleeves fluttered in the air with an arrogant arc, full of smugness.
"Well, I do need to go to Qingshan Temple!"
The servant mused inwardly.
What happened in the imperial court spread through every street and alley of the capital within half an hour. The Emperor, being benevolent, specially ordered palace attendants to prepare a carriage to transport Liu Shi's mangled corpse. The carriage went around to the back gate of the Nan residence. However, as they were lifting her down, the horrific state of Liu Shi was reflected in the eyes of everyone in the Nan residence through the white silk covering her. Everyone was momentarily terrified. The servants' hands trembled, and the white silk slipped down a bit.
"Hiss~"
The impact of the white silk covering her versus being directly exposed was different. Someone let go, and Liu Shi's body fell to the ground.
With a "thump," a cloud of dust was stirred up.
The servants in the Nan residence all knew that twenty-three bodies had been discovered in the mansion. Besides the few people the First Madam had killed to establish her authority earlier, the servants knew who had killed the rest. Although the deceased were not their relatives or close friends, they still felt a sense of panic, like a rabbit being hunted and then abandoned by the fox. The master of the house was cruel, and it was they, the servants, who would suffer the consequences.
"Quickly lift the Madam up!"
The steward, promoted by Madam Wang, yelled at the servants, his veins bulging. He was not doing it for Nan Chaoyin, but as a panicked instinctive reaction.
His Lord had doted on Liu Shi almost exclusively for years. Now that Liu Shi had met such an end, although it was her own fault, his Lord could neither blame the Emperor nor seek revenge on the Prince. His grief and indignation were difficult to quell, and he might take his anger out on them. The servants, suppressing their fear, hurriedly covered Liu Shi with the white silk and then lifted her corpse again.
From beginning to end, Nan Chaoyin remained silent, walking on the side. He watched the servants prepare a coffin and set up a mourning hall... The silent Nan Chaoyin suddenly spoke, "No need!"
Liu Shi had been ordered to die and was a disgraced offender. She could not be formally mourned or have a funeral procession.
Liu Shi had been deficient in virtue and had been stripped of her noble title. She was a criminal. Originally, she could only be wrapped in a straw mat and thrown into a mass grave. However, the Emperor, out of consideration for his own reputation, could not have the birth mother of the future Empress be without a name or memorial tablet. Therefore, she was granted a coffin, but her memorial tablet could only be placed in Qingshan Temple and not in the ancestral shrine of the Nan residence.
The servants of the Nan residence stopped their actions.
Who could have imagined that Liu Shi, who had been glorious her entire life, would end up like this?
Upon hearing that Liu Shi had been made into a "human pig" (人彘), Nan Yuan'er was first overcome with grief, and then it was as if her heart was clutched by a demon. Blood spread in her eyes, filled with fear and panic.
...
"Liu Shi is dead?"
"Made into a 'human pig' by that bastard Nan Shiying? Hahaha, good, good, it's extremely satisfying!"
Madam Wang burst into hearty laughter. As she laughed, hot tears flowed from the corners of her eyes, and she looked like a madwoman. Although her door was tightly shut, and she had dismissed the maids attending her, her laughter still seeped out from under the door and window gaps. The laughter echoed, sounding like madness. The servants were too scared to say another word, only thinking that Liu Shi was dead. No matter how long Madam Wang lived, she was now the only mistress of the mansion, and no one could compete with her.
Nan Yujin saw Liu Shi's mangled corpse and knew she had died tragically. He also thought of the fierce Ji Jinmo and Nan Chaoyin. Hearing his mother repeatedly call Nan Shiying a bastard, he felt a pounding in his heart.
Looking at the fate of Liu Shi and Nan Yuan'er, he knew that it was better to provoke the King of Hell than to provoke that pair of male and female demons!
However, considering his mother's current mood, he did not offer much counsel. He only sighed slightly. Qing'er, although Liu Shi did not die by my hand, this revenge can be considered half fulfilled!
However, for the rest... I don't know if I can, if I can make Nan Yuan'er suffer torment and die in agony, just like Liu Shi!