The Marquis Mansion was too large, so a flat drum was hung at the second gate for assembling and transmitting messages.

Three beats for joyous occasions, and four beats for mourning.

This time, the sound of four beats surely meant that Sixth Lady Gu had passed away.

"Clatter."

Hong Mian’s chopsticks fell onto the blue bricks.

But at this moment, no one cared about that.

Hong Ye hurriedly picked a few bites, "Eat quickly, soon you won’t have the chance."

"Oh," Hong Mian quickly took a napkin to wipe the chopsticks clean and also started eating rapidly, having been busy since morning, her stomach was growling fiercely.

It’s likely that the messenger will arrive shortly.

While eating, Hong Ye mumbled, "I thought she might hold on for a few more days, luckily Cui Ming urged tirelessly these past days, the clothes are all prepared, otherwise it’d truly be a rush."

Qin Yuan sighed.

It seemed like the moment had finally arrived.

In no time, a nanny with a white cloth tied around her waist hurried in, shouting as soon as she entered the yard, "Madam, something bad has happened, Sixth Madam is gone."

The little maid dared not stop her and let her in.

Upon seeing Qin Yuan, she kowtowed and said, "Madam, Sixth Lady Gu has just passed away."

Qin Yuan stood up and said, "I understand. Has someone already informed Old Madam and Seventh Miss?"

The nanny replied, "Someone has already gone, the two young masters and the little miss are in Sixth Madam’s courtyard, the aunties will be taking the youngsters there shortly, please instruct accordingly."

Qin Yuan asked, "Did Nanny Zhao instruct you to come?"

The nanny nodded.

"Go back and report to Nanny Zhao. I will change my clothes and head over shortly. Tell Nanny Zhao and Aunt Huang to pay close attention, so everyone doesn’t become too overwhelmed by grief."

The nanny left.

Qin Yuan and the maids hurried back to Wutong Garden, changed into plain clothes and accessories, and quickly went to Sixth Madam’s courtyard.

As soon as she entered the courtyard gate, she heard crying.

All the maids and nannies were kneeling under the corridor wailing. The main room’s door was wide open, curtains hung all the way, and Qin Yuan headed straight to the inner room, where she saw the Eight Treasures golden brocade bed curtains hanging high, Sixth Madam Gu had already been changed into funeral clothes, lying motionless on the bed.

The floor was filled with kneeling aunties and children, some of the little ones were being held by wet nurses.

Everyone was crying.

Qin Yuan’s scalp tingled.

Originally, when Aunt Huang had been sobbing, seeing her arrive, she hurriedly got up, wiped her tears, and said, "Madam has arrived, our lady... alas..."

At this moment, nothing was more appropriate than crying.

Qin Yuan also wiped the corner of her eyes with a handkerchief, the ginger juice brought tears to her eyes, softly saying, "Take heart, we will need your help with Sixth Sister-in-Law’s funeral, and there are so many children to take care of, please ensure there are no oversights."

Aunt Huang, residing inside Sixth Madam’s courtyard, held a status somewhat higher than the other aunties, responded immediately: "Madam is right, Nanny Zhao and I just helped dress Sixth Madam, thinking of her kindness to us, and to see her suffer like this, it’s truly unbearable."

As she spoke, she began to cry again.

Sixth Madam’s three biological children were crying their hearts out. Qin Yuan stepped forward, feeling a bit at a loss, unsure of which one to console.

Fortunately, at this time, both Old Madam Gu and Treasure Bead arrived, each taking one and comforting the children.

Qin Yuan held the frail Sister Lan, frowned and said, "This child, weakened by smallpox, needs slow nurturing, and must have worried over Sixth Sister-in-Law’s health these days, hasn’t rested well, and now her face is sallow and thin, she mustn’t cry further."

Old Madam Gu hugged Brother Kang and sighed: "It’s not just Sister Lan, Brother Kang and Fuguo’er moved to the main room and have also thinned. Ultimately, she is their own mother, how can they not worry."

Qin Yuan thought for a moment and said: "Now that Sixth Sister-in-Law is gone, keeping Sister Lan in this courtyard for her health... seems inconvenient."

Old Madam Gu said: "No need to say more, send Sister Lan to the main house for recovery."

Qin Yuan gently patted the sobbing Sister Lan, whispered comfortingly, "Aunt will take you to the main house, alright?"

"No, I want to stay here with my mother."

Sister Lan called out softly, trying to break free.

Qin Yuan quickly said, "Alright, alright, we’ll stay here with your mother, just no more crying, you haven’t recovered yet, crying too much hurts your body, your mother wouldn’t like to see you unwell."

Sister Lan sniffled, bewildered, "Aunt, will my mother never open her eyes to talk to me or hold me to sleep again?"

Qin Yuan suddenly felt a pang of sadness and tears fell down.

When her own mother passed, she was older than Brother Kang, watched her mother fade away, and thereafter, no one would protect or care for her well-being with such devotion.

Mrs.Cui was intimidated by her mother’s beauty, reluctant to see her overshadow Qin Wan, thus treating her quite harshly. Without Qin Jijiu mediating, life would have been even harsher.

"Sister Lan, you have your grandmother and aunt to protect you, rest assured, Aunt will take good care of you in the future."

Sister Lan, like a frail little kitten, shivered and huddled into Qin Yuan’s warm embrace, sobbing, "Aunt, I’m so scared, I’m so tired, afraid if I close my eyes, I won’t see my mother anymore."

Qin Yuan gently patted her back, soothingly said, "Good child, if you’re tired, take a nap, you’re weak, crying has exhausted you, rest a bit and you’ll feel better."

Sister Lan leaned softly in her arms, closed her eyes, and no longer made a sound.

Noticing, Old Madam Gu softly instructed: "Yuan’er, you take Sister Lan back to the main house to rest, let Sixth Elder manage here, so as not to frighten the children."

Qin Yuan thought for a moment and replied, "Alright."

She carried Sister Lan out, just in time to meet Sixth Master Gu and Marquis Gu entering the courtyard from outside.

Sixth Master Gu asked, "Third Sister-in-Law, how are the preparations inside?"

Qin Yuan said, "Nanny Zhao and Aunt Huang have changed Six Sister-in-Law’s clothes; the aunties and children are all here. Sister Lan is frail and cried herself tired, I’ll first take her back to the main house to rest. Everything has been prepared these days, just instruct to wrap things up, Hong Ye, Hong Mian, and Mo Zhu will stay to help, for outside matters, consult Housekeeper Han."

Sixth Master Gu solemnly bowed and said, "It’s all trouble for Third Sister-in-Law."

Qin Yuan quickly moved aside and said, "Sixth Brother, no need for formalities, it’s my duty to manage this."

Marquis Gu said, "Sixth Brother, quickly go inside and arrange, Treasure Bead can’t handle this, Mother is old, and needs to console the children, she might not be able to manage."

Sixth Master Gu acknowledged and headed into the inner room.

Marquis Gu stood still, hands behind his back, looking darkly at Qin Yuan.

Qin Yuan glanced at him, having just been apart for a day and night, Marquis Gu had declined considerably, like his spirit had been drained by a phantom, eyes bloodshot and dark circles extending to his cheekbones, with a scruffy beard sprouting like mushrooms after rain, all over his chin and cheeks.