Like Pearl and Jade

Chapter 35

"Mu Xiang, what happened?" Gu Ru Jiu put the hairpin back into the box, and her anxiety grew more obvious.

"Miss." Mu Xiang knelt in front of Gu Ru Jiu and said in a hoarse voice, "Eldest Mistress has passed away."

"What did you say?!" Gu Ru Jiu was stunned. She saw Mu Xiang's mouth open and close, but her mind was completely blank.

"Eldest Mistress went on the carriage today to Five Estates Temple to offer incense. But the young master of the Sima Third Branch was racing on his horse and startled Eldest Mistress' carriage horses. In the end... the baby did not survive, and Eldest Mistress also passed away." Mu Xiang choked out the words. She lifted her head and saw Gu Ru Jiu's face was pale. She couldn't help but feel worry. "Miss..."

"How can this be, how can..." She thought of how well her eldest sister-in-law treated her usually and of her anticipation towards the arrival of her little nephew. She felt suffocated and couldn't breathe. Her legs gave out under her and she sat towards the ground.

"Miss!" Bao Lu and Qiu Luo saw she was not right and hurriedly helped her sit down on a chair. Han Xiao glared at Mu Xiang, telling her to not continue and avoid stimulating Miss again.

"Prepare the carriage. I am returning." Gu Ru Jiu pushed aside the teacup Han Xiao was handing her. Her voice trembled. "I want to return immediately."

"This servant will immediately find someone to prepare the carriage." Seeing her miss like this, Bao Lu was worried and didn't dare to delay. She lifted her dress and hurriedly ran out.

"He Gonggong, apologies today." Qiu Luo turned and dipped slightly towards He Ming. "When this matter is finished, my miss will thank His Majesty. Please, Gonggong..."

"Miss Qiu Luo, do not say this." He Ming had a face full of sorrow as he bowed." County Princess, condolences. Do not harm yourself." He hadn't thought something like this would occur today. The eldest mistress of the Gu Family had died with her unborn child. The culprit was a member of the Sima Family. There was definitely trouble now.

The eldest master of the Sima First branch was the teacher of the previous emperor, and was famed for his abilities in the capital. If the Sima Family did not give an appropriate explanation on this matter, the Gu Family would not rest.

Knowing that it was not appropriate to remain here, He Ming bowed and walked outwards. When he reached the doorway, he looked up and saw the pale County Princess Changyan. He couldn't help but think, they all said that sisters-in-law did not have good relationships. But from County Princess Changyan's reaction, she appeared to have a profound relationship with her sisters-in-law.

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In Purple Imperial Hall, Jin Yang saw He Ming return and asked, "Did County Princess like those items?"

"Your Majesty, the County Princess originally liked greatly. But a major event occurred to Marquis Gu's family, so the County Princess is in a hurry to return." He Ming paused, saw His Majesty's anxious expression and said cleverly before His Majesty could speak, "The young master of the Sima Third Branch raced horses on the government path, and startled Eldest Mistress Gu's carriage..."

"How is Eldest Mistress Gu?" Jin Yang frowned.

"Eldest Mistress Gu... both of them passed away?" He Ming saw His Majesty's expression was dark and buried his head lower.

"Both passed away?"

Jin Yang thought of the joy Gu Ru Jiu showed when she mentioned her unborn nephew, and the smile that Gu Chang Ling usually had on his face. He said in a dark voice, "What about that young master of the Sima Family?"