novelraw Chapter 489: Mother-in-law, Your Son-in-law Is Here! 2
Chapter 489: Mother-in-law, Your Son-in-law Is Here! 2
Thus, when Si Mingjing arrived at the Bai Family residence, some mourners were already inside and outside the memorial hall.
But not many.
The media proclaimed that Bai Qingshui had died as a punishment from the gods. Consequently, those who usually kept their distance from the Bai Family stayed away entirely. Even those who did visit, fearing the gods, cast aside propriety for brief condolences before swiftly making their exit.
Therefore, even though Bai Chuanfeng wanted to hold a grand funeral, it ended up being a cold and sparsely attended affair.
In Mu Continent, sea burials were common. These burials didn’t involve a tombstone; instead, the cremated ashes were scattered into the sea. Afterward, a small compartment was rented at the mortuary where the deceased’s portrait could be placed. Whenever relatives wished to remember their loved ones, they would visit the mortuary compartment to see their portraits.
The Bai Family, being a prominent and wealthy household, rented an entire room in the mortuary. Inside, ancestral portraits from generations past were displayed.
Bai Chuanfeng placed Bai Qingshui’s portrait beside Bai Shishui’s.
Bai Shishui was Bai Danfeng’s son, who had died in a car accident.
Si Mingjing stood at the back, watching Bai Chuanfeng gaze tearfully at the two portraits. Does she feel even the slightest bit of regret right now? she wondered. If she had never intended to harm anyone, both her children might still be alive, and they would have been a happy family.
Si Mingjing lingered at the scene for a while before stepping out.
The mortuary was a colossal, hundred-story building. Each floor housed rooms of various sizes, resembling a towering circular hotel, and every room was filled with portraits of attendants—a rather unsettling thought.
Si Mingjing stood by the railing in the 78th-floor corridor. Leaning over, she unexpectedly spotted a slender figure in the 76th-floor corridor below.
Isn’t that Se Liunian, the one I saw yesterday?
She watched as Se Liunian opened the door to room 7014 and went inside.
A long time passed, and he didn’t come out.
The placement ceremony for Bai Qingshui was almost over, yet Se Liunian remained in room 7014.
After the Bai Family members left the room, Bai Danfeng approached Si Mingjing and said, "Mingjing, let’s go."
"Aunt, you go ahead. I’m heartbroken and want to spend more time with Qingshui. I no longer have a sister." Si Mingjing wiped away a couple of tears.
No sooner had Si Mingjing spoken than Bai Chuanfeng, who was being supported by her husband at the front, turned and shot Si Mingjing a fierce glare. What is she planning? Bai Chuanfeng wondered. She suspected Si Mingjing intended to do something to Bai Qingshui’s portrait after everyone else had left.
Bai Chuanfeng was very guarded, her voice sharp, "What are you staying behind for? What do you intend to do?"
Si Mingjing feigned a hurt expression. "Mother, I simply can’t accept Qingshui’s passing and want to stay with her a little longer. As the Saintess, my presence can bring her blessings and help her soul find peace sooner."
Bai Chuanfeng didn’t believe her at all, her eyes cold with loathing, as if she wished she could slice Si Mingjing into a thousand pieces.
Old Madam Bai, wiping her eyes, said, "Let her be. How could Mingjing not be saddened by Qingshui’s departure?"
Old Madam Bai had initially thought Si Mingjing wouldn’t be saddened, as she always appeared so indifferent. But now that Si Mingjing was wiping away tears and expressing a desire to stay longer, the old woman felt somewhat comforted. She said, "Mingjing, it’s good for you to spend more time with your sister here. Come back for dinner in the evening."
Si Mingjing nodded. "Grandmother, I understand."
Still, Bai Chuanfeng remained uneasy.
As they were talking, she glanced down and saw Se Liunian stepping out of a room on the floor below.
Si Mingjing feigned helpless grievance. "Mother, are you being wary of me? I don’t know what I’ve done wrong to make you look at me this way. I’m also saddened by my sister’s death. If I had known she was going to stand on the Statue of the Holy Maiden... I would have certainly stopped her."
Old Madam Bai shouted at Bai Chuanfeng, "Why blame Mingjing for this? What fault is hers? It’s you who spoiled your daughter, leading Qingshui to act so recklessly, daring even to desecrate the Statue of the Holy Maiden..."
"Mother!" Bai Chuanfeng’s voice was ice-cold. She didn’t want to speak, feeling as if she had to swallow her bitterness with no way to express it.
"Alright, then I’ll go," Si Mingjing said and took the lead, walking ahead.
As she was about to leave the memorial hall, she gestured to Fengjue, directing him to go to room 7014 and see whom Se Liunian was paying respects to.
Afterward, Si Mingjing followed the Bai Family members, boarded a submarine, and returned to the Bai estate.
On the way, she received a photo sent by Fengjue.
In the photo was a middle-aged woman.
Si Mingjing looked at it, a flicker of recognition in her eyes.
Fengjue messaged her: "Crown Princess Consort, this woman is the same one from the photo you found in the private safe yesterday."
Si Mingjing was slightly startled and instinctively messaged back, "How old is Se Liunian this year?"
"Twenty years old."
Si Mingjing: "..."
Her thoughts began to wander. Could Se Liunian be my maternal grandfather’s son?
Si Mingjing pondered for a long while before instructing, "Investigate Se Liunian’s relationship with my maternal grandfather, and also uncover that woman’s identity!"
Fengjue replied, "Yes."
Si Mingjing returned to the Bai residence to help with the evening banquet.
Quite a few people attended the evening banquet.
Most hadn’t come to mourn Bai Qingshui, but rather to catch a glimpse of the future Queen of Mu Continent. Those with astute minds knew that despite the Bai Family’s loss of Bai Qingshui, their future was set to be even more illustrious because the Queen had been reincarnated into their family!
As the Queen’s mother, Bai Chuanfeng’s status would also rise significantly. Guests offered condolences to Bai Chuanfeng, urging her to moderate her grief, while simultaneously trying to curry favor, hailing her as the "Mother of the Nation."
In contrast, Bai Danfeng, who had married a mainlander, sat with her husband Tao Chengzhou at their banquet table, a much quieter and more isolated pair. Few people took the initiative to converse with them.
Si Mingjing smirked inwardly, sitting beside Bai Danfeng, quietly observing those who were unknowingly fawning over the wrong person.
"Danfeng, you’re back?" Old Madam Hua approached, accompanied by Hua Jinse.
"Teacher." Bai Danfeng stood up.
Si Mingjing was surprised. Old Madam Hua was Aunt Danfeng’s teacher?
Noticing the surprise in Si Mingjing’s eyes, Bai Danfeng explained, "Old Madam Hua was once my painting teacher."
Old Madam Hua had been a renowned painter in Mu Continent in her youth. Gifted, she achieved great success at a young age but rarely took on disciples. Bai Danfeng was one of her few students. It was rare to see Bai Danfeng in Mu Continent, so Old Madam Hua came over to reminisce with her.
"This is your husband?"
"Yes." Bai Danfeng introduced him to Old Madam Hua. "My husband is a mainlander, but he treats me very well."
"I can see that. In life, finding someone who treats you well is paramount; everything else is secondary. Realizing this makes you happier than most," Old Madam Hua said, then glanced reproachfully at Hua Jinse. "Unlike my daughter, who still hasn’t found someone suitable."
"Mom, why drag me into this?" Hua Jinse said, exasperated.
Just then, Lu Jinyi popped up from nowhere, sidled up to Old Madam Hua, and said with a grin, "Mother-in-law, your son-in-law is right here!"