Chapter 596: Condolences
"Where’s my granddaughter? My granddaughter? Impossible. How could she be dead?" Supported by two maids, Madam Zhan was so weak she could barely stand.
"Madam." Zhan Yi’s eyes were swollen terribly.
"Pangtuan? My granddaughter, where is she?" Madam Zhan pleaded, as if grasping at her last straw.
"Madam, you... you shouldn’t look." Zhan Yi’s muffled voice gave way to sobs once more.
"No! Where is my granddaughter...? I don’t believe she’s gone, I don’t believe it... Let me see her..." Madam Zhan slid to her knees, her cries heart-wrenching.
"Madam!" Zhan Yi tried to help her up, but found he had no strength left. He ended up sitting on the floor beside her, and the two of them could only sit there, weeping with their heads bowed.
"Brother Zhan." Prince Changyang hurried in, accompanied by Princess Changyang.
Princess Changyang immediately knelt to help Madam Zhan. "Madam Zhan, the dead cannot be resurrected. You must take care of yourself."
"My granddaughter is gone... How am I supposed to live? She was so little..."
Princess Changyang’s eyes began to redden. She remembered the little girl, so full of life when she first arrived at the Prince Mansion, eagerly searching for her father. And now, so soon after, she was gone.
"Brother Zhan, what in the world happened?" Prince Changyang asked, pulling Zhan Yi to his feet.
Wiping away his tears, Zhan Yi said, "I’m not entirely sure how it all started, but I saw it with my own eyes. The child pushed the Eighth Prince aside and took an arrow for him... The Emperor didn’t even investigate, simply ruling that she abducted the Eighth Prince and took him out of the city... My granddaughter’s death was a terrible injustice."
Prince Changyang had many questions about this himself. ’The Eighth Prince has never been well-regarded. How could this have happened...?’
From outside the door came the sound of Old Man Gu’s wails as Gu Chi supported him. Following behind them were Prince Helian and Princess Heliang.
"The little lass, where’s the little lass...?" Old Man Gu cried, rushing in frantically.
Zhan Yi pointed behind the folding screen.
Old Man Gu rushed over. On the wooden bed, a white cloth was draped over a small form, outlining her tiny figure.
Madam Zhan, still weeping, walked over as well. The sight of the white cloth made her heart ache so much she could barely breathe. She clutched her chest, unable to bring herself to look.
The moment Old Man Gu’s trembling hands lifted the cloth, he broke down completely. A crushing weight settled in his chest, and he nearly collapsed on the spot.
"Grandfather!" Gu Chi reacted instantly and caught him. They stumbled back a few steps before regaining their balance.
After steadying himself, Gu Chi’s gaze inadvertently fell upon the quiet, pale face. His heart clenched. ’Just a few days ago at the pawnshop, she was perfectly fine,’ he thought. ’What a shame.’
Madam Zhan glanced over, then threw herself onto Ye Qianning’s body. "Pangtuan, wake up... Wake up and look at your grandmother... How am I supposed to live without you...?"
Princess Changyang could no longer hold back her tears. She went to help Madam Zhan up. "Madam Zhan, please accept my condolences..."
"Madam Zhan, you must mind your health," Princess Heliang added, also stepping forward to help.
Supported by the two princesses, Madam Zhan was weak and utterly drained from weeping.
"Sigh... How did it come to this?" Prince Changyang sighed. "Regarding this matter, has word been sent to Xiang Minghou?"
Zhan Yi shook his head. "Not yet."
"He is thousands of li away. Even if we send word now, he won’t make it back in time for one last look," Prince Helian said. "And if he were to return now, I fear things would spiral out of control. The priority right now is to find out exactly what happened. Only then can we decide what to do."
Qian Fu and Dean Chen entered.
"Dean Chen, are you clear on what happened?" Prince Changyang asked.
"I am not," Dean Chen replied. "I have already mobilized my contacts to investigate, and I believe we will have answers shortly."
"As for what happened in the palace, I’ve already asked several officials to look into it," Qian Fu added. "And regarding the incident on Four-direction Mountain, I’ve sent someone to the Heavenly Prison to question Qian Fanji."