lcionline Chapter 2 Fake Death? Burning the Funeral Hall
Chapter 2 Fake Death? Burning the Funeral Hall
Chu Ruohan's slender fingers gripped the candlestick, the flame flickering as she moved, casting eerie shadows in the gloomy mourning hall.
The mourning hall was deathly silent, with only the sound of her footsteps echoing in the emptiness.
As if possessed by a demon, she smiled faintly, tilted the candlestick, and the flames instantly licked at the flammable paper money, causing the fire to spread rapidly.
She walked toward the coffin, the white curtains around her fluttering in the wind as she passed, and the candlelight seemed to grow even fiercer in the breeze.
Looking at the man in the coffin, whom she had only met twice but who had ruined her life, she did not hesitate to let the flames ignite the curtains, and the entire mourning hall was shrouded in firelight and thick smoke.
Chu Ruohan seemed to see her unbearable life from her past life...
Burn it! Burn it!
Her mother was burned alive in the fire.
Gu Cheng'an, you should also experience what it's like to be burned by fire.
"What's going on? Why is there thick smoke coming from the Marquis's residence?" someone asked in a low voice.
"Who cares! Maybe it's just some trick Third Master is using to confuse others. Let's not waste any more time and hurry up."
They had received Third Master's signal; they had to take advantage of the chaos to quickly steal the body from the mourning hall.
Several people crouched low, looking furtive, and cautiously made their way towards the mourning hall.
The closer they got, the more choking the smoke became. When they finally arrived at the mourning hall, they were stunned by the sight before them.
How did it catch fire before they even started doing anything?
The coffin that had originally held the body was faintly visible in the fire, and the surrounding frame had collapsed.
"Oh no! Oh no! The mourning hall is on fire! Someone, come quick, put out the fire!" With these shouts, the Marquis's residence was thrown into chaos.
"Quick! Go fetch water!" the steward shouted hoarsely, directing the servants, who quickly grabbed basins and buckets.
The men who were originally going to steal the corpse were coughing violently in the thick smoke. Before they could even react, a group of guards from the Marquis's mansion arrived at the mourning hall with torches.
"Who's there?" the guard captain shouted, his eyes fixed intently on the few furtive figures.
The men broke out in a cold sweat, exchanged glances, and steeled their resolve to fight their way out.
"Commander Hu, it was these few people who set the fire!" Chu Ruohan seized the opportunity, stepped out of the shadows, and shouted, pointing at the thieves.
Commander Hu glared fiercely and waved his hand: "Take him down!"
Upon receiving the order, the guards immediately surrounded the group of men. Seeing no hope of escape, the men drew their short swords and charged at the guards.
These thugs were no match for the well-trained guards; they were easily subdued.
At this moment, the masters of the Marquis of Anyang's mansion also arrived. The Marquis of Anyang frowned. They had just left, so how could the mourning hall have caught fire?
Mother Gu spotted Chu Ruohan at a glance, dressed in a bright red wedding gown. Her eyes were filled with grief and resentment. She pointed at Chu Ruohan with trembling fingers and cried out in a shrill voice, "My son is dead, and you still won't let him go. You're going to bring him down to his grave!"
Chu Ruohan looked completely innocent. "What does this have to do with me? They set the fire."
Commander Hu stepped forward and reported, "My lord, what the young mistress said is true. When I arrived just now, these people were acting suspiciously near the mourning hall. They looked flustered when they saw us coming, and after being reported by the young mistress, they even tried to resist."
"Take these people away and keep an eye on them. Put out the fire first; Cheng'an's body is still inside."
The men's eyes were filled with fear and anxiety. One of them opened his lips slightly, about to call out "Third Master," but when his gaze met Gu Chengyan's warning look, he swallowed the rest of his words.
The group dared not make any further moves and allowed the guards to take them away.
Gu Chengyan looked at the fire in the mourning hall. The plan had failed. What about his second brother?
Before he could think any further, Gu's mother threw herself into his arms, weeping uncontrollably: "Chengyan, your second brother... why is he so unlucky! Even in death he cannot find peace. What sins did he commit to deserve this!"
Gu Chengyan quickly helped his mother up and gently comforted her, "Mother, please don't be too sad. Take care of yourself..."
Chu Ruohan looked at the hypocritical Gu Chengyan. In her past life, he sent people to steal the corpse, set fire to the mourning hall, and create a false impression. He even wanted to burn her to death in the fire.
She was lucky to be rescued.
When Gu's mother saw the charred corpse, she felt even more strongly that Gu was an ominous person and hated her to the core.
Outside the back gate of the Marquis of Anyang's residence
Du Ruoling stayed in the carriage, her eyes fixed on the direction of the Marquis's mansion. When she saw thick smoke billowing and flames shooting into the sky, she felt a little relieved and a slight smile appeared on her lips.
The plan was successful.
From then on, she could live happily ever after with Gu Cheng'an.
But no matter how long they waited, not a single person appeared.
"No, we can't wait any longer." Du Ruoling was extremely anxious. She hurriedly told the coachman to wait where he was, and then lifted her skirt and hurried towards the Marquis's residence. She had to go and see what was going on.
Du Ruoling stopped a servant who was carrying a basin of water and asked, "What happened? How did the fire start?"
The servant was startled by her sudden action. "I heard... that thieves set fire to the Second Young Master's mourning hall, and they have now been arrested by Commander Hu."
Du Ruoling felt a buzzing in her head, "No...no..."
How did her carefully planned scheme turn out like this?
Du Ruoling cried out and tried to run into the fire, but the people around her reacted quickly and pulled her back.
She struggled fiercely, her hair becoming disheveled in the struggle, a few strands clinging to her tear-streaked face. Her eyes were crazed and helpless, and she kept shouting, "Let me go, let me in, let me in!"
Seeing Du Ruoling's heartbroken and desperate attempt to rush into the fire, Gu's mother was deeply moved.
If she had agreed to let Cheng'an marry her back then, Cheng'an wouldn't have been cursed to death by that bitch Chu Ruohan.
Unable to break free, Du Ruoling cried out anxiously, "Let me go! Gu Cheng'an isn't dead yet!" Her voice was hoarse, standing out starkly in the chaotic and noisy fire.
But no one paid any attention to her. Du Ruoling became increasingly anxious. She used all her strength to continue shouting, "He is faking his death! The second young master is faking his death!"
Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned and stood there speechless.
Marquis Anyang's eyes widened, filled with shock and confusion. He stared intently at Du Ruoling. "What did you say?"
Du Ruoling's face was streaked with tears, her hair disheveled from the struggle, and she cried out hoarsely, "This...this was all part of our plan. The Second Young Master is faking his death. The fire is so big now, it will be too late if we wait any longer. Please, please, save him!"