Shivering with cold, Ji Yunxi walked further inside.
The hall was full of servants kneeling on the ground, their cries of grief heart - rending.
"What are you all doing?" Ji Yunxi didn't notice the slight tremor in her voice. "Where's Father? And elder brother?"
The butler looked up. Seeing Ji Yunxi and Ji Yunyi, he burst into tears.
"Second young master, Miss... The master, the master is gone!"
There was a thud in Ji Yunxi's mind, like a muffled drum echoing in her ear. "What, what did you say?"
Ji Yunyi couldn't accept it either. He immediately scolded the butler angrily, "Don't talk nonsense! Father was in good health..."
Ji Yunyi had been full of confidence at first, but seeing the butler crying non - stop, he gradually felt uneasy, and his voice grew softer and softer.
Ji Yunxi slowly walked to the coffin. Perhaps because they were waiting for the two of them, the coffin hadn't been sealed yet.
Father was lying quietly inside, looking as if he was just sleeping.
"Dad, Yunxi's back. Dad, look at me..."
A tear fell on Ji Qilin's mourning robe, leaving a circle.
"Dad, why don't you look at me? Dad!"
Just as Feng Xingzhi walked into the yard, he heard Ji Yunxi's heart - rending shouts. Knowing something was wrong, he quickened his steps and saw Ji Yunxi hugging the coffin.
The butler wiped his tears. "The master, the master passed away suddenly due to an acute illness."
Ji Yunxi didn't believe it. In her previous life, when she was killed by Ji Yuyan, Ji Qilin was still fine. There was not even a sign of fatigue, let alone an acute illness.
Ji Yunxi was crying so sadly that she didn't even notice Ji Yuchen walking over.
Ji Yunyi tried hard not to make a sound, but his face was covered with tears. Ji Yuchen reached out and patted his younger brother's shoulder, then stepped forward to help his younger sister up.
"Yunyi, Yunxi, go and change into mourning clothes first."
Ji Yunxi took a few deep breaths and walked towards her own yard. Soon she came back in a coarse linen mourning gown. Her tears had been wiped away, but her eyes were still red and swollen.
Feng Xingzhi knew it wasn't appropriate for him to be here at this moment. Although he was worried about Ji Yunxi, he quietly stayed aside without disturbing.
He followed Ji Yunyi to offer incense.
Ji Yunxi thought to herself, Father, you always loved to see me smile. I'm so sad now and I really want to cry, but you'll be worried, right?
She looked at the coffin. In her previous life, Ji Qilin had lived a long life, but in this life, he died early. Was it because she had changed her choice?
If she had still chosen Su Ningyuan, would Ji Qilin not have died?
The more she thought about it, the more she felt it was her fault. Ji Yunxi sank into deep self - blame.
Ji Yuyan was kneeling on one side, crying. Seeing that Ji Yunxi hadn't shed a tear, and looking at the servants filling the hall, she secretly curled her lips. Then she began to cry loudly and accused Ji Yunxi, "Sister, you're so heartless! Father just passed away. It's okay that you two came back so late, but how could you not shed a single tear?!"
Ji Yuyan's words made everyone focus their eyes on Ji Yunxi's face.
Ji Yunxi was deeply grieving. Ji Yuyan still had to say such nonsense at this moment, which completely touched Ji Yunxi's sore spot.
"Where was your grief when your mother killed my mother?"
Ji Yunxi bent down and reached out to pinch Ji Yuyan's face. "Ji Yuyan, you've made me lose my parents. Now, of all the wrong things you could do, you say these things in Father's mourning hall."
Her voice sounded calm, but it made Ji Yuyan tremble all over.
But she was stubborn and continued, "I'm not wrong! Sister went out with the prince before getting married. It's already a disgrace to Father. Elder brother sent a letter several days ago, but you and second brother only came back today. That's fine, but when you came back, you couldn't even cry. Ji Yunxi, you're so cold - blooded!"
Ji Yuyan's accusation seemed reasonable, and some servants began to secretly speculate about the affairs of the master's family.
"The eldest young lady really didn't seem to cry?"
"Exactly. The second young lady has been crying herself sick these days, but the eldest young lady looks so cold - blooded. It's a pity that the master doted on her so much before..."
"Ah!"
Suddenly, a shrill scream reached Ji Yuyan's ears.
She had been so proud. Didn't Ji Yunxi receive everyone's love? Then she would let everyone watch her make a fool of herself! Completely ruin her reputation.
However, the sudden scream made Ji Yuyan's heart skip a beat.
Then came Ji Yuchen's voice, "Those who dare to gossip about the master's family, if you have a deed of indenture, you'll be beaten to death. If not, you'll be given forty lashes and thrown out!"
Two servants were trembling with fear. They never expected that their private conversation would be heard, and by Ji Yuchen!
Whether it was being beaten to death or receiving forty lashes, it meant certain death.
"Please spare our lives, young master! We won't dare again!"
Ji Yuchen looked at them coldly. "I think you're very daring. You don't know your place and dare to gossip about my sister. You're looking for death."
Ji Yuyan's face turned as white as a sheet. Ji Yuchen was making an example of others!
And wasn't she the one being warned? He was telling her that without Ji Qilin mediating among the siblings, she, Ji Yuyan, was nothing!
The three siblings of the Ji family would never recognize her.
Shivering with cold, Ji Yuyan lowered her head and didn't dare to look at Ji Yunxi.
"Afraid to look at me?" Ji Yunxi let go of her hand. "Don't worry. I'll return what you've done to the person in the suburban courtyard, not a bit more, not a bit less."
Ji Yuyan panicked immediately. "Ji Yunxi! You can't do this!"
Ji Yunyi was satisfied with Ji Yunxi's change in attitude. He really couldn't treat Ji Yuyan as his sister. He clearly remembered how his mother had been killed. How could he sincerely treat the daughter of his enemy well?
It was only because Ji Yunxi liked her that Ji Yunyi regarded Ji Yuyan as a servant accompanying Ji Yunxi.
Now that Ji Yunxi was awake, he was naturally happy.
"Shut up. This is a mourning hall. You, go back to your room."
Ji Yuyan was furious. She stood up, not caring about maintaining her reputation anymore. She gave Ji Yunxi a fierce look and returned to her small courtyard.
In her room, on the dressing table by the window, Ji Yunxi saw a new bracelet.
It was a vivid green, the jade of the highest quality.
The only one who could send such a thing to make her happy was Father. He loved to use jewelry to cheer her up.
The emerald earrings in the dressing box were a gift from Ji Qilin when he got drunk and Ji Yunxi was angry with him.
And the jade pendant. The phoenix pattern on it was originally against the regulations, but since Ji Yunxi liked it, Ji Qilin asked the emperor for permission. After that, Ji Yunxi was the only woman outside the palace in the whole capital who could wear a phoenix - patterned accessory.
Although Ji Qilin was a bit careless, he gave all his tenderness to Ji Yunxi.
This daughter was the apple of his eye, and he loved her with all his heart.
Ji Yunxi looked at these things and put on the bracelet. Immediately, tears streamed down her face.
Dad, this bracelet is so beautiful.
But why didn't you wait for me to come back and show it to you?