Many people's gazes were drawn to her. Feng Jin's sight shifted. Those unaware of the situation, seeing only the scene, would truly believe that Grandma Sun was heartbroken to the extreme, crying so sorrowfully.
But to Feng Jin now, it seemed incredibly ironic. A person like Grandma Sun, who feigned compassion like a cat crying for a mouse, was truly nauseating.
She wondered what the palace maids, who were of the same class as Cui'er and the others, would think seeing this. Would they consider their own futures might be like this?
With things having come to this point, the play that needed to be staged still had to go on.
Feng Jin composed herself, moved forward, and bent down to check the breathing of Cui'er and the others.
"Grandma Sun, the deceased are at peace. Please accept your grief and carry on."
Grandma Sun rolled up her sleeves and wiped away her tears. With a choked voice, she said, "I watched these children grow up. I have no children of my own, but I treated them as my own daughters. I never expected that today, the elder would see off the younger..."
"How foolish these children were to not think things through and walk this path. Could it be that I was too harsh on them?"
As she spoke, Grandma Sun became even more heartbroken, her tears falling like broken strings of pearls.
Seeing this, Feng Jin rolled her eyes internally. She had to admit, Grandma Sun's acting skills were indeed outstanding; she herself would bow down in defeat.
Deciding not to speak further, she simply had Lu Shi bring her a chair and sat down to watch the play. She was waiting for Grandma Sun to finish her performance.
A full fifteen minutes passed before Grandma Sun's crying subsided slightly.
Grandma Sun stood up somewhat unsteadily, wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes with her sleeve. Her voice was hoarse as she said, "Now that things have come to this, no amount of sadness is useful. We cannot just leave Cui'er and the others lying here. We must find a way to bury them soon."
"Grandma speaks wisely. I will arrange for people to bury them properly."
Feng Jin followed Grandma Sun's lead. She was also worried that if they delayed any longer, the effects of the fake death potion would wear off, and it would truly become a real death, which would be terrible.
"No..." Grandma Sun quickly refused. Feeling she had been too absolute, she added, "We people of Xi Liang practice cremation. I was thinking of cremating them. Perhaps one day, their ashes can be buried in Xi Liang, allowing their souls to return home."
This old hag's heart was truly venomous. She was worried that Cui'er and the other two were not dead yet, and didn't even want to leave them a complete body. Fortunately, she had already made preparations.
"Then, let it be cremation."
It seemed that Grandma Sun would not rest until she personally confirmed that Cui'er and the other two were truly dead.
Fortunately, she had anticipated that Grandma Sun would pull such a stunt and had Lu Shi prepare in advance.
"Thank you, Madam, for your understanding. I thank you on behalf of the three of them."
Having achieved her goal, Grandma Sun's lips curved into a slight smile. She busied herself gathering all the palace maids and eunuchs, under the guise of seeing Cui'er and the three off.
In reality, she wanted to use this incident to warn everyone, letting them know the consequences of betrayal and to set aside any little schemes they might have.
While no one was paying attention, Lu Shi secretly moved Cui'er and the other two away and disguised three corpses they had found as Cui'er and the others.
When everyone had gathered, Grandma Sun ordered the cremation to begin.
A fire was lit, and instantly flames soared, smoke billowed, and the stench of burnt bodies filled the air.
Some of the palace maids and eunuchs who were watching, those with weaker stomachs, collapsed and vomited, trembling with fear, as if they had seen their own future.
Feng Jin covered her nose with a handkerchief. The smell was indeed unpleasant. Fortunately, the matter had concluded perfectly. Grandma Sun believed Cui'er and the other two were dead, and would relax her guard, making it easier to do other things in the future.
"Grandma Sun, please stay here. I'm not feeling well and will be going back."
She felt that staying another minute was a waste of time. She might as well go back and sleep.
"Madam has worked hard these past two days. It's good for you to go back and rest early. I will watch here, and nothing will go wrong."
Feng Jin, eager to leave, got up and departed.
...
"Young Madam, Cui'er and the other two have been sent out of the post station," Lu Shi whispered into Feng Jin's ear.
"Good. Go and find your young general. We'll go out together."
"Your subordinate obeys."
In just a short while, Ling Mohan and Lu Shi returned together.
"What exactly happened?"
As soon as he saw Feng Jin, Ling Mohan eagerly asked. He had heard that morning that three palace maids in Xi Liang had committed suicide by poison and their bodies had been cremated.
But Lu Shi had said that this incident was planned by Feng Jin. He now only wanted to hear Feng Jin explain it clearly.
"When you see the people, ask them yourself."
It was difficult to explain in a few words. Moreover, Cui'er and the other two had taken a fake death potion, and the antidote had to be taken within three hours. After that time, the fake death would become real.
The time was also running out, and there was no time to delay. It would be simpler to rescue them first and then have Ling Mohan ask them himself.
"Put on these human skin masks first. We'll disguise ourselves as servants and go out."
Feng Jin put the specially made mask on Ling Mohan, instantly changing his appearance.
"Quick, change your clothes." She handed a set of servant clothes to Ling Mohan and urged him impatiently to change.
"Lu Shi, you change your clothes quickly too."
Feng Jin urged them with an anxious tone, putting a human skin mask on her own face and instantly transforming into an ordinary, even somewhat ugly, middle-aged woman.
Even she herself could barely stand to look. She should not have made it so ugly, especially the mole by her mouth, which made it even more unsightly.
Coupled with the slightly loose-fitting clothes, she looked like a middle-aged woman.
"Young... Young Madam..."
Lu Shi, looking at the stranger emerging from the inner room, called out uncertainly. Only the young madam had gone in earlier. Who else could it be if not the young madam coming out?
"What is it? Why are you looking at me like that?" Feng Jin frowned slightly, looking at Lu Shi with confusion.
"No... nothing. It... it was this subordinate's offense. Young Madam, please forgive me."
Lu Shi, realizing his faux pas, quickly lowered his head.
"Your disguise is truly... truly unique."
Ling Mohan's gaze swept over Feng Jin, and he racked his brain to come up with this description. It was truly shocking.