Chapter 1371: Side Story: Qi Xiuyuan (2)
Due to the abruptness of Zhu Wan’s death, by the time Xia Tong rushed over, she had already been buried. When the Qi family informed of her death, they said that she had died of postpartum haemorrhage. Zhu Wan’s second birth was indeed a difficult one. During the delivery, she was also in grave danger and there was a risk of haemorrhage, too. Therefore, others did not suspect anything.
When she saw Qi Xiuyuan kneeling in front of the coffin in mourning clothes, her heart ached when she thought of her little nephew who was still in swaddling clothes. She quickly went forward and grabbed Qi Xiuyuan’s small hand. As she hugged his head, she comforted him. "Yuan’er, don’t be afraid. Aunt is here."
Qi Xiuyuan bit his lip and whispered into Aunt’s ear, "Aunt, my mother was killed by Father and Madam Wu. I saw it with my own eyes. I saw them anger my mother to death in her room..."
Startled, Xia Tong couldn’t help but hug Qi Xiuyuan tightly. She looked up at the door and realized that the people coming and going to pay their respects were all from the Qi clan. There were also a few manservants guarding the door.
At this moment, Xia Tong had made the best decision in her life. Enduring it, she hugged Qi Xiuyuan as she whispered in his ear, "Good child, don’t be afraid. Don’t tell anyone about this. Let us adults handle this."
Qi Xiuyuan was too young. Not to mention that his testimony would not be accepted, even if everyone believed him, he would be labelled unfilial for the rest of his life. Moreover, his brother was too young, so young that he could die at any time.
Xia Tong knew her cousin well. Between the children and her, she would definitely choose to protect her children. She did not want her to die in peace.
She patted Qi Xiuyuan’s back and stood up to look at the mourning hall set up by the Qi family. Kneeling on the futon, she looked at the coffin. Her hands in her sleeves were clenched into fists as she said in her heart, ’Ah Wan, we will avenge you!’
The Qi family did not notice anything amiss. After all, everyone knew that Xia Tong and Zhu Wan were extremely close sisters. As such, it was perfectly normal for her to hug her nephew in front of the mourning hall.
Xia Tong stood up and said to the servants of the Qi Residence, "I’m going to see my little nephew. Let Xiuyuan come with me. I have something to tell him."