diskusbooks Chapter 89 Extreme Cold
Chapter 89 Extreme Cold
When Liu Wan'er was about to carry Xu Biyun's body into the Qiao residence, she was stopped at the door by Old Madam Qiao.
"This vile woman's corpse is not allowed to enter the gates of my Qiao family! It's bad luck!"
Liu Wan'er, furious, stepped forward with her hands on her hips to argue.
"Grandma, my mother was a concubine in the Qiao family. She was a member of the Qiao family, and even in death, she was a ghost of the Qiao family. Why can't she enter the Qiao family's door!"
Old Madam Qiao glanced coldly at the stiff corpse covered with a white sheet that was being carried on the door panel.
Seeing that the number of onlookers gathering at the entrance of the Marquis's residence was increasing, and fearing that things would escalate, they remained silent for a moment before finally backing down.
"Leave the body in the outer courtyard for one day. Go quickly to find a cemetery to bury your mother."
Just as Liu Wan'er's expression relaxed slightly, a rebuke came from afar.
"No!"
Qiao Qingshu wore a bright red cloak embroidered with begonias and clouds, underneath which was a red jacket with gold thread and the character "福" (fortune) intertwined with branches. She exuded the joy of a happy occasion.
Liu Wan'er felt a stinging pain in her eyes, and a raging fire burned in her heart.
Her mother had just died, and Qiao Qingshu was dressed so festively; wasn't that just deliberately trying to annoy her?
Liu Wan'er stepped forward and shouted angrily.
"Cousin! Aren't you going too far? My mother just died, and you're dressed like this, it's so disrespectful."
Qiao Qingshu, still holding the hot water bottle, stepped forward leisurely and sneered disdainfully.
"She was just a lowly concubine. She's dead, so be it. Am I supposed to wear mourning clothes for her?"
Does she deserve it?
Liu Wan'er choked on her breath, unable to swallow or spit it out.
Qiao Qingshu walked to the door panel where the corpse was being carried and circled it twice.
"Your mother dreamed of becoming the matriarch of the Qiao family. Look at what she's become now!"
"She was so ungrateful and kept causing trouble. She lost her baby and her life. It was truly tragic!"
“If a person covets what does not belong to them, tries to seize the good fortune of others, and repays kindness with enmity, they will surely suffer retribution.”
"Don't you think so, cousin?"
Liu Wan'er was speechless after being questioned by Qiao Qingshu, and she could only stare at Qiao Qingshu resentfully.
At this moment, Qiao Jizhou also arrived, frowning and shouting.
“This vile woman plotted to harm the mistress and the old lady. I’m being lenient by not tearing her to pieces. You still dare to dream of letting her into our Qiao family. You’re dreaming.”
He waved his hand and summoned several servants, who snatched the door panel away.
The servants carrying the corpse were members of the Qiao family. Seeing that the Second Master had spoken, they naturally stepped aside obediently.
Qiao Jizhou shouted angrily.
"Just throw them into the mass graves on the outskirts of the city!"
The servants immediately lifted the door panel to leave, but Liu Wan'er pounced on the door panel to stop them.
During the struggle, Xu Biyun's stiff body fell off the door panel with a thud.
A deathly pale face sat atop the stiff corpse.
Qiao Jizhou bribed the jailer to force-feed Xu Biyun the drug, and she became erect within half an hour of drinking it.
The body is now blackened; the entire body, including the arms and face, is pitch black and reeks of a foul stench.
Qiao Qingshu stared at the corpse, feeling a surge of anger welling up inside her.
If she hadn't planned ahead, her mother, Bai Shi, would be lying here now!
Her gaze then shifted to Liu Wan'er, who was weeping bitterly. Liu Wan'er was quite the actress.
Her current pitiful appearance is nothing more than an attempt to secure a future for herself, hoping that the Qiao family will treat her, Liu Wan'er, well out of their guilt towards Xu Biyun.
At this moment, Liu Wan'er knelt in the center of the street, throwing herself on Xu Biyun's body and weeping bitterly, attracting more and more onlookers.
"Mother! You died so tragically. You wanted to stay with the Second Master forever, but now the Qiao family wants to abandon you to a mass grave."
"Mother, we, a widow and her orphan, have lived cautiously and humiliated our whole lives, never expecting to end up like this."
This attracted the attention and comments from onlookers.
"Oh dear, this Marquis's mansion is too cold-blooded. They won't even give their concubine a proper burial after she died. How inhumane!"
"That's right. Will this young lady still be able to stay in the Marquis's mansion in the future? I'm afraid she'll be kicked out by the Qiao family too."
Both Madam Qiao and Qiao Jizhou frowned deeply, their expressions growing increasingly grim as they watched the growing crowd.
Qiao Qingshu stepped forward and walked to Liu Wan'er's side, speaking softly.
"If you want to find a peaceful place for your mother, that's not impossible, but I have to see your filial piety first."
Liu Wan'er looked up at her.
"I'll do anything to give my mother a proper burial!"
Qiao Qingshu said with a smile,
"It is a folk belief that if a close relative kneels beside a corpse for three days and three nights without rest, the deceased will surely ascend to heaven soon and be reborn into a good family in the next life."
“Cousin, kneel here at the door for three days and let me see your filial piety. If you kneel for three days, I will definitely give your mother a proper burial.”
The onlookers, naturally eager for a good show, shouted,
Kneel! Kneel before her!
"It's only three days, it's worth it to ask for a proper burial! Kneel!"
Liu Wan'er was speechless. The weather was cold, and the nights were even colder. The river had frozen over a couple of days ago. How could someone kneel on the street guarding a corpse for three days in such freezing weather?
Liu Wan'er was extremely unwilling, but since everyone had lifted her up, she couldn't refuse to kneel no matter what she said.
With a determined heart and a closed eye,
"Three days is nothing to be afraid of!"
"I'd be willing to kneel in broad daylight if it could help my mother find a place to stay."
Qiao Jizhou was displeased upon hearing this, and tugged at his daughter's sleeve, whispering,
"Shu'er, if she kneels for three days, will our Qiao family really bury this wretched woman?"
Qiao Qingshu sneered inwardly, thinking that Liu Wan'er wouldn't be able to endure it even tonight, let alone three days.
In her past life, tonight was a night of plummeting temperatures and a cold wave, which froze many beggars to death on the streets. If Liu Wan'er could survive tonight, she would be considered quite remarkable.
Qiao Qingshu patted Qiao Jizhou's hand reassuringly.
"Father, rest assured, leave this matter to your daughter. I will definitely not let our Qiao family lose face or be disgraced."
Old Madam Qiao glanced at Qiao Qingshu, somewhat hesitant, but was ultimately persuaded by Qiao Qingshu's resolute gaze.
This granddaughter always had a determined look in her eyes, making it hard not to believe her.
The next morning.
Late Autumn and Winter entered the house rubbing their hands together, both wearing their thickest coats.
In late autumn, the snow was being stomped off the tops of my feet as I walked along the road.
"Young lady, you should wear more clothes today. It's all frozen outside. I've never seen such a cold day before!"
Qiao Qingshu slowly put on a coat and leaned against the bed, taking the hot water bottle from the floor in late autumn to warm her hands.
She thought to herself, "That's right. It's a once-in-a-century winter, and everyone thought today was the coldest day yet."