Transmigration: Reverse Exploitation, the System Works for Me

Chapter 296 A Fatal Attack

When Anlu helped her change, seeing her listless appearance, she assumed that she still had some affection for her scumbag father, Yu Chonglin, and earnestly advised her:

"Your Highness, please take care of yourself. The Empress and the Sixth Prince are waiting for you to protect them. Although you are a member of the Yu family, you are still a member of the royal family. As for the mourning ceremony, we can just do a token part."

In this weather, the charcoal braziers placed in the mourning hall are completely useless; mourning and holding a vigil are no different from kneeling in the freezing cold.

Their wives were such noble people, how could they harm their health for something that was unfit to be a father?

Xi Qiao found it amusing for a moment, then sighed, "I understand. I was just thinking that with Yu Chonglin's passing, as the eldest married daughter, I should observe the nine-month mourning period, which would be a great service."

It wouldn't be right to tell An Lu that Yu Chonglin's death was at her behest, would it?

A kind master and a ruthless master who can kill his father are ultimately different.

"Since we are in mourning, we cannot hold banquets or enter the palace. It seems we will not be able to see Her Majesty for a long time."

But it doesn't matter. Zhen Huan is gone, the Empress Dowager and the Empress are under house arrest, the bondservant faction has been purged, and Yu Ying'er and the Sixth Prince are safe in the palace.

Moreover, after the New Year, an epidemic is expected to break out in the capital, so it's a good thing that she can't enter the palace at this time.

When she is released from mourning, she can seamlessly go to the Yuanmingyuan to accompany Yu Ying'er and the Sixth Prince.

Anlu exclaimed in surprise, "The Empress is so attached to the Fujin! She must be going crazy with worry after not seeing her for so long!"

"What about Her Majesty?"

Xi Qiao checked his makeup in the bronze mirror to make sure there were no mistakes, then got up and went to the small study to write a short letter: "After dawn, take this letter and the prepared New Year's gifts to the palace gate to see Xiao Lezi."

As she folded the letter and put it into the envelope, she instructed Anlu: "Tell Xiaolezi about Yu Chonglin's death as well. Although Your Majesty is a concubine and cannot observe mourning for her father, you should still show some respect."

It doesn't matter if the emperor himself is unfilial, but he wouldn't want to see his wife being unfilial.

Moreover, Yu Ying'er's character has been carefully crafted for so long, it can't be ruined by this incident.

Furthermore, what's so great about attending a palace banquet?

Nothing beats the comfort of being in one's own palace. It's better to take the opportunity to be lazy than to waste time there.

When Xi Qiao arrived at the Yu residence, it was already decorated with white sails, but Yu Chonglin's body had not yet been placed in the coffin.

The butler led Xi Qiao to see Yu Chonglin, but the road they took became increasingly remote and did not lead to the main courtyard at all.

Before Xi Qiao could ask, the steward said, "Madam, the master is still in Jianjia Courtyard. Please come with me."

Jianjia Courtyard was the residence of Aunt Wang, Yu Chonglin's favorite concubine.

Xi Qiao didn't ask any more questions. As soon as he arrived at the entrance of Jianjia Courtyard, he saw four men, Yu Peng, Yu He, Yu Kun, and Yu Hu, kneeling in the main room burning paper money.

Madam Ma and all the women of the Yu family, except for Aunt Wang, the owner of the Jianjia Courtyard, were present, including Yu Yuan, Yu Yang, and Yu Li, who had already married out of the family. They were all kneeling on the prayer mats on the other side, crying their hearts out.

Xi Qiao raised an eyebrow. It seemed that Madam Ma had framed Concubine Wang for Yu Chonglin's death.

"May the Lady be well."

Upon seeing Xi Qiao, everyone in the room greeted him.

Xi Qiao waved to the four Yu brothers, who were about to get up, saying, "No need for formalities, Father's funeral arrangements are of utmost importance."

After saying this, she sighed with feigned sorrow and looked at Madam Ma, asking, "Madam, Father was always in good health. How could he have passed away so suddenly?"

Madam Ma wiped the tears from her face with a handkerchief, her face full of reluctance to speak: "Since Your Highness has asked, I should naturally tell you everything I know. However, this matter... Your Highness, please allow me to speak about it privately."

Xi Qiao's gaze swept over everyone present: "Madam, you are wrong. Everyone here is my father's closest relative. We all have the right to know why my father died. Please do not hide it from us."

Upon hearing this, everyone, especially the siblings Yu Yuan and Yu Peng, looked at Madam Ma. They hadn't believed the news when they received it, but after seeing it with their own eyes, they had no choice but to believe it.

When asked, his mother and brother remained silent; when asked about Aunt Wang, she was nowhere to be found.

Madam Ma gritted her teeth and said, "Please forgive me, my lord... he died of a sudden stroke!"

Ma's words were like a thunderbolt, striking with a deafening roar, leaving those who cared about Yu Chonglin dazed and bewildered.

A sudden stroke?

It turns out to be such a scandalous and embarrassing reason!

Ma's chest heaved violently; she was clearly shocked and surprised by what she had just witnessed.

"When I arrived after receiving the news, the room was in complete disarray. The master was already dead, and Aunt Wang was so frightened that she was somewhat mentally unstable. I ordered someone to drag her away."

"After the physician examined him, he said that the master died because he had taken an excessive amount of aphrodisiacs, which led to... the drug being too strong and causing him to have an affair with Concubine Wang, which... led to his death from exhaustion."

After Ma finished speaking, everyone in the room fell silent, especially the children of the Yu family.

Xi Qiao was somewhat surprised and suspicious. Ma's expression didn't seem like she was acting; she seemed genuinely unaware of the situation. But it couldn't be such a coincidence.

However… when Ma mentioned the aphrodisiac, she glanced at Yu Peng, which was rather intriguing.

Was it Yu Peng who did it?

Xi Qiao glanced at Yu Kun, whose face was deathly pale and who seemed to be in shock: "Have you interrogated the people from Jianjia Courtyard?"

Madam Ma nodded: "The people at Jianjia Courtyard said that Concubine Wang has recently used many underhanded methods to try to find a noble marriage for the third son. Tonight, she specially had aphrodisiac wine prepared, and the family physician also found aphrodisiacs in the incense."

Xi Qiao nodded slowly, then turned his gaze to Yu Kun: "Third brother, are you aware of what your aunt has done?"

As soon as she said that, Yu Peng's eyes flashed, but he kept his face down and no one noticed.

Yu Kun snapped back to his senses, scrambling to Xi Qiao's side and crying out in a frantic, panicked voice:

"Elder sister, I don't know, I don't know. Aunt didn't tell me about these things. I... I never wanted to harm Father. How could I possibly harm Father?"

That was his father, who had doted on him for fifteen years!

Seeing him speaking with tears streaming down his face while trying to grab Xi Qiao's skirt, Xiao Linzi, who was next to Xi Qiao, quickly stepped forward and nimbly separated them.

"Big sister, please believe me, please believe me! I really don't know, I really don't know!"

Yu Kun kept crying and complaining.

Xi Qiao gave a soft "hmm": "Fine, I'll believe you for now. But... Father can't die because of something so absurd."

Yu Peng immediately said, "Don't worry, elder sister. I have instructed the family physician not to say anything more. When the families come to pay their respects tomorrow, they will only know that Father passed away due to a sudden relapse of his old illness."