Chapter 16: Opening the Coffin for Examination

“Who are you? There are plenty of empty courtyards in the Prime Minister’s residence—why are you living here?” Her beautiful eyes scanned the surroundings as she raised an eyebrow and asked.

A man? Damn, a man with such exquisite eyes—she had mistaken him for a woman.

Judging from his tone, he didn’t seem to be an assassin sent by Zhao Qincheng, and that thought eased half of her worry. She stood up and said to the man, “Who I am doesn’t matter. What matters is that those shouting and chasing outside have already arrived.”

Zhao Erdong raised an eyebrow and looked coldly at the man before him, implying that he should leave immediately and not cause her any trouble here.

The man smiled softly. Though his face was hard to make out, she still felt it was a smile capable of captivating all who beheld it.

Unfortunately, Zhao Erdong was no fool; she would not be beguiled by a man like him.

The man stepped forward and whispered into Zhao Erdong’s ear, “We shall meet again.” With that, he vanished like a whirlwind out of the desolate courtyard. Soon after, the sounds of chaos—shouts, fights, and screams—erupted, then gradually subsided into silence. Zhao Erdong knew then that the man had successfully escaped.

The next day,

Yuan Baimo arrived at the Prime Minister’s residence, accompanied by his father, Duke Yuan Guo, and his mother, Princess Yunhua.

At this time, the Prime Minister’s residence was draped in mourning white, and the air was filled with the sounds of wailing and lamentation.

Zhao Tianjiang had not expected his in-laws to arrive so suddenly, and his heart skipped a beat, as if sensing that something ominous was about to unfold.

He stepped forward to greet his father-in-law but was met with a cold glare, not even receiving a proper glance. Anger welled up in his chest.

Hmph. Just because he was a duke, he often looked down on him. Zhao Tianjiang was the Prime Minister after all—someone of high rank and power.

This was one reason Zhao Tianjiang disliked Yuan Bairong. Yuan Bairong came from a prestigious family, a refined lady of noble birth, much like her father—always wearing a stern expression and spouting etiquette and poetry, utterly ignorant of the joys of marriage and completely uncomprehending of the notion that a husband should be revered.

Gazing at the coffin placed centrally in the mourning hall, Princess Yunhua’s body trembled violently as tears streamed uncontrollably down her cheeks. The greatest sorrow in the world was for the elderly to outlive their young. “Hua’er, my Hua’er! How could you leave your mother behind and just go like this?!”

Princess Yunhua collapsed onto the wooden coffin, abandoning all decorum, crying out her daughter’s name.

Even the imposing Duke Yuan Guo could not hold back his emotions—inside that coffin was his daughter, his beloved daughter!

“Open the coffin,” Duke Yuan Guo commanded, regaining his composure as his expression turned cold and stern once more, addressing Yuan Baimo.

Open the coffin? Zhao Tianjiang’s heart leapt, and he hurriedly blocked Yuan Baimo, wearing a sorrowful expression. “Father, Bairong has already passed. Let her rest in peace. Don’t disturb her any further.”

Duke Yuan Guo glared coldly at Zhao Tianjiang, thinking how blind he had been to marry his precious daughter to such a brute. The more Zhao Tianjiang resisted, the more determined he became to open it. Without hesitation, he roughly pushed Zhao Tianjiang aside and ordered Yuan Baimo to proceed.

Zhao Tianjiang was forcefully knocked to the ground. Though both he and Duke Yuan Guo were fifth-rank martial artists, each rank was divided into three levels. Zhao Tianjiang was only mid-level, while Duke Yuan Guo was already advanced and, with the right opportunity, could even ascend to sixth rank.

The push was merciless and powerful; Zhao Tianjiang was caught off guard and fell publicly, losing all face.

As Zhao Tianjiang rose, his face burning with anger, Yuan Baimo swiftly opened the coffin lid.