There was an old butler in the General's Mansion. He was in his early fifties. His skin was dark and wrinkled, like vegetable leaves pickled in salt. His eye sockets were sunken. He was unsmiling and looked very serious and harsh.
Even Fu Rong was a little in awe of this old housekeeper, but he was very respectful to Zheng Quchi. She had just stepped into the General's Mansion, but he seemed to have been waiting for a long time. Everything that should be prepared was ready. Looking forward to the return of her mistress.
The old housekeeper's name is Chang Yue. Old housekeeper Chang was a desperado picked up from outside when Yu Wensheng was fifteen years old. After training and training, he was finally made a housekeeper.
His slightly blue and turbid eyes passed over Zheng Quchi and landed on the black lacquer coffin behind her, but he only paused for a second or two before taking it back again.
He bowed and saluted Zheng Quchi: "Madam, you are tired. Chang Yue has prepared bathing and changing clothes for you. Your room has also been tidied up. If you are still lacking anything, just ask. As for General... Chang Yue Immediately send someone to decorate the mourning hall and hold a ceremony."
His voice was like wood or stone, hard and without fluctuations, very flat and serious, but his intentions were delicate and gentle.
Zheng Quchi didn't know how to respond to his unreasonable thoughtfulness and kindness for a moment. He could only nod slightly and said, "I'm sorry to bother the housekeeper."
When Chang Yue heard this, his back lowered a little further: "Madam, you must not be so polite to me, I can't bear it."
After saying that, he tilted his head, and two men and two women walked out from behind him: "From now on, you will be the personal servants in Madam's room. You must serve Madam with all your heart. If anything goes wrong, punish me and apologize."
His voice was like a blade pulled out of the cold snow, so chilling that it made people tremble all over.
His attitude when talking to Zheng Quchi was completely different. Only by comparing the two sides could we understand how kind and kind his tone was to Zheng Quchi.
Zheng Quchi thought to himself: "...It's not necessary to be so harsh. He wants others to commit suicide at every turn. This guy's ruthlessness in killing people without blinking an eye makes him worthy of being Yu Wensheng's butler."
Without saying a word, the four people knelt down and kowtowed in front of Zheng Quchi with a grand ceremony: "I have seen Madam in spring, autumn, summer and winter."
Zheng Quchi was not used to this kind of "meeting ceremony", so she said: "Get up."
But Chang Yue said: "Madam, you should set rules for them first."
When the personal servants of a wealthy family meet their master for the first time, they will be whipped or punished by "rules" such as kneeling down to make them remember the majesty of their master and make them fearful so that they can be honest in the future. Serve.
Zheng Quchi looked at Chang Yue, his eyes were gentle and ordinary, but her words made Chang Yue lose his mind.
"My rule is to wake them up. I understand that Butler Chang wants to establish prestige for me when I first come to the house, but I have never been a person who deals with things with strict rules and punishments. Let's get along slowly. You come to know me, and I also Come and get to know you, I can give you all my time, and I hope we can get along well.”
Chun, Xia, Qiu and Dong glanced at Chang Yue, then hesitated, not knowing whether to get up.
"But this time is limited. When I feel that you are not suitable to stay with me, then I will trouble the manager to replace me with a new group of people. Although I am tolerant and kind, I don't like to treat those who are not of the same mind as me. people stay with you.”
The four of them were immediately shocked. Without waiting for Chang Yue's reaction, they had already raised their bodies up on their knees and consciously stood behind Zheng Quchi to listen to the order.
Zheng Quchi narrowed her eyes and smiled slightly, and she said to Chang Yue: "Steward Chang, the person you chose is very good."
Chang Yue was also very satisfied with the actions of the four people at this time. He had a mean old face and lowered his head in fear: "As long as Madam is satisfied."
Fu Rong was acting as a transparent person not far away. When he saw that the hostess and the old housekeeper were getting along so harmoniously, he couldn't help but curse Chang Yue in his heart for coaxing his wife into being so comfortable. This was I want to compete with them for the position of being the number one favorite in the future!
——
Chang Yue was very efficient in doing things, which of course was related to the prestige of the General's Mansion in Shengjing. Even now that Yu Wensheng was gone, there were still many people who were willing to sell themselves to the General's Mansion.
There was no shortage of the necessary altar tables, sacrifices, coffins, and funeral flags. While everyone else was busy in the mourning hall, Zheng Quchi changed into white clothes and walked to the refrigerated coffin.
"You all go down first."
she ordered.
When the servants who were making arrangements heard this, they immediately stopped what they were doing, bowed and left silently.
"Your body has been delayed for too long, and I'm afraid it can't be laid. So after relatives and friends pay their respects tomorrow, I will let you rest in peace."
"When you were alive, I made your clothes. Now that you are dead, I will change your clothes."
With great strength, she pushed open the coffin lid, and immediately a rotten and unpleasant smell came out. Fortunately, a pot of fragrant wood to repel insects and ants was burned nearby to disperse it.
Before the funeral, it is necessary to tidy up his appearance and change his clothes. This is the traditional custom of Ye country, and this must be done by the closest relatives.
Yu Wensheng now has no close relatives, and she is the only wife left in the family, so she naturally has to take care of these things.
Of course, she was willing because she always felt that she owed Yu Wensheng and had no chance to repay him in this life, so she could only do what she could for him.
Fu Rong had been left alone by her, but when he saw her taking off the cover and pretending to be grooming the deceased, his heart almost skipped a beat. On the one hand, she was really worried about what she would find on the body, and on the other hand, she was afraid that if that person found out about it, he might have his head ripped off.
"Madam, why do you have to do it yourself when it comes to grooming the general? Otherwise, we can just find two associates of the Yuwen family to do it. If the general is alive like this, he will definitely feel distressed." He hurriedly Xiang advised.
Zheng Quchi actually couldn't stand the stench that filled her nose. It was one thing not to dislike it, but in order to continue smoothly, she stuffed her nose with two balls of cotton prepared in advance.
Fu Rong remained silent. She thought he was feeling sad and remembering her, but she never thought he would say such words. She only felt an inexplicable sense of disobedience getting bigger and bigger. She looked at it thoughtfully. She glanced at him and remained calm.
The seed of doubt that had been planted in my heart was now gradually sprouting.
"Where have you been all these days that you have been missing?" She seemed concerned and asked casually while starting to pack the clothes for the body.
Fu Rong was at a loss for words, so he could only give a random reason: "I, I went to do something."
"What happened?"
"I..." Although his expression was still calm, sweat began to break out on his forehead: "As for what the general told me before he died..."
"In life? So this body...is really Yu Wensheng's?"
The sudden words made Fu Rong freeze.
But he quickly reacted and asked with a surprised look on his face: "Why do you say that, madam? Do you suspect that Julu Kingdom made a fake corpse to deceive us?"
Zheng Quchi's eyes were fixed on him for a long time. It was so long that Fu Rong began to lose strength, but she moved her eyes away: "Don't worry, maybe I'm just overthinking."
She no longer deliberately talked to Fu Rong, but instead stretched out her hand towards the corpse in the coffin with a focused look. Once again, she slowly unveiled the mask of the god... But this time, her mood was stable and her mind was also clear. Much calmer. (End of chapter)
