416 Sham
“Brother Xiaoran, don’t be sad. In my opinion, this is a calamity that Madam can’t escape. Back then, your mother died because of her. Now, she died because of you and me. This might be God’s arrangement.”
“We took revenge for your mother.”
Qiao An’s consolation made Huo Xiaoran feel much more at ease.
“It’s indeed a cycle of karma. It seems that one can’t have evil thoughts. Otherwise, retribution will come to them sooner or later.”
Qiao An said, “Brother Xiaoran, they’ve given you the problem. How are you going to tell the Old Master about Madam’s death?”
Huo Xiaoran said, “Let’s take it one step at a time.”
After Huo Xiaoran and Qiao An paid respects to Madam’s body, they returned to the hall. Huo Xiaoran looked at the room full of filial sons and grandsons. At this moment, they all hung their heads, looking melancholic and disheveled. They seemed to have lost their backbone and were at a loss.
Huo Xiaoran sneered.
He said to Qiao An, “An’an, I’ll go in and see the Old Master. Wait for me here.”
Qiao An nodded.
Huo Xiaoran arrived at the old man’s ward. Now that the old man’s health was getting worse and worse, he was bedridden all year round. Although his sons were by his side, he did not seem to be well taken care of. The room was filled with an unpleasant smell.
When Huo Xiaoran entered, the Old Master saw him with a lonely expression.
When Huo Xiaoran sat in front of him, the old man said with a stunned expression, “Why do you think the King of Hell doesn’t want me? Living is really torturous.”
Huo Xiaoran said, “Are you unhappy?”
The old man said angrily, “That third branch fights every other day. I can’t persuade them. I’m powerless. My heart hurts just looking at them. I can’t control the sons and grandchildren in this house, so I can only make Madam take action. However, Madam’s heart is weak. Yesterday, she poisoned herself to commit suicide. Fortunately, she was discovered early and was dragged to the hospital for gastric lavage.”
“There’s no point in living.” The old man sighed.
Huo Xiaoran fell silent.
The old man had no idea that Madam had passed away.
“Dad, I’m sorry. I didn’t settle the matter with the third branch,” he said guiltily.
The old man waved his hand. “No one can settle the third branch’s matter. Your third brother has committed too many sins. He won’t get peace in his life.”
Huo Xiaoran thought for a moment and said, “Dad, it’s rare for me to come. Why don’t I push you out for a walk?”
The old man hurriedly nodded. “Alright, alright. If you didn’t come, they wouldn’t have pushed me out for a walk.”
Huo Xiaoran’s sharp gaze landed on the servant. “You’ve been in the Li family for so many years. Is this how you treat the Old Master?”
The servant looked ashamed. “Fourth Young Master, the Li family is financially tight. Madam has sent away many servants. I can’t handle it alone.”
Huo Xiaoran sighed softly.
He did not expect the Li family to be in such a state.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” he blamed the old man.
The old man said, “Xiaoran, ever since Madam found out the truth, she has felt very guilty towards you and your mother. She doesn’t want to implicate you. She said that as your stepmother, she hasn’t treated you well in her life. She doesn’t have the cheek to ask for your help.”
Huo Xiaoran fell silent. After a long time, he said lightly, “Actually, I’ve already forgiven her.”
The quarrel between Madam and Xiaoran’s mother originated from an unexplainable misunderstanding.
The old man smiled. “If she finds out that you’ve forgiven her, she will definitely be very happy.”
Huo Xiaoran felt suffocated.
Because Madam would never know.
He helped the old man to the wheelchair and pushed him out of the bedroom.
When they arrived at the living room, Old Master was stunned to see that everyone in the living room had a dejected expression. When they saw him, they could not even hide their panic.
An ominous feeling instantly attacked his entire body.
“Where’s your mother?” he demanded.
His gaze swept across the faces of his sons and daughters-in-law. They looked at him with fear. The old man said angrily, “Your mother is in the hospital. Why are all of you here? Why aren’t you going to the hospital to accompany your mother?”
No one dared to look at him directly. They all lowered their heads and did not speak.
Huo Xiaoran sighed weakly and said to the Old Master, “Let’s go. I’ll bring you to see Madam.”
As Old Master Li looked at Huo Xiaoran suspiciously, his eyes were filled with panic.
Huo Xiaoran pushed him out the door.
Li Tingfeng and the other brothers slowly stood up and followed behind.
The few daughters-in-law of the Li family followed behind silently, followed by the children.
Old Master Li turned around and his fingers trembled.
“Xiaoran, where are you taking me?”
Huo Xiaoran did not answer him. Instead, he pushed him towards the morgue in the back garden.
When Old Master Li entered the back garden, he saw that the usual storage room had changed. The courtyard at the door was clean, and the door was open. Candlelight flickered.
Old Master Li cried out in pain, “Ah.”
Huo Xiaoran’s eyes turned red. He pushed the Old Master to the morgue step by step. Old Master Li finally saw his wife lying in the coffin.
He froze.
The air became silent.
After a while, he heard Old Master Li cry bitterly. “Madam, how could you leave before me?”
The old man, a business hero, was crying like a child now. It was heartbreaking.
Huo Xiaoran felt like his throat was blocked. His sharp gaze landed on the culprit, Li Tingfeng.
“Third Brother, call Li Zecheng and Li Ze’en and ask them to come back and pay their respects to Madam,” Huo Xiaoran ordered in an irrefutable tone.
Li Tingfeng was speechless. “Huo Xiaoran, why do you want to do this? You clearly know that Madam was angered by that unfilial son.”
Huo Xiaoran said, “No, Madam was angered to death by you. It’s because her heart ached for Zecheng and Ze’en. And you chased her favorite grandchildren out. You tore a good family into pieces. You filled Madam’s heart with self-reproach and despair. She felt that she didn’t teach her son well and died with hatred.”
Li Tingfeng was flustered and exasperated. “Huo Xiaoran, why are you always going against me?”
Huo Xiaoran said, “Third Brother, please control your temper in front of Madam’s memorial tablet.”
Li Tingfeng lost his confidence.
At this moment, the Second Madam walked out and said to Huo Xiaoran, “Xiaoran, don’t worry. I’ve already informed Zecheng and Ze’en. I believe they’ll be here soon.”
Huo Xiaoran stopped making things difficult for Li Tingfeng.
Old Master Li spoke to Madam dejectedly for a while. Perhaps Madam had left and taken away his thoughts. At that moment, he looked withered.
He looked at the descendants of the Li family weakly and suddenly smiled miserably. “It’s good that your mother left. Otherwise, she won’t be happy every day when she sees you.”
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