bookbashuk Chapter 355 Sudden Death
Chapter 355 Sudden Death
Inside the car, Shen Li stared at the scenery rushing past the window, her face streaked with tears, her brows furrowed, and her voice hoarse as she urged, "Brother, could you drive a little faster?"
"Lili, don't be too sad, take care of yourself." Lu Sheng freed one hand and gently held her cold, trembling hand, his voice full of heartache.
"How could I not be heartbroken..." Shen Li choked back sobs, feeling as if a huge boulder was pressing on her chest, causing her whole body to convulse in pain.
"If it weren't for me, he could have lived a peaceful and happy life..." she murmured repeatedly, her fingertips trembling violently.
"No, he won't just leave like this. Heaven wouldn't be so unfair..."
As soon as the car stopped outside the Ming family's gate, it was seen that there were many other vehicles parked in front of the gate, creating a solemn atmosphere.
Shen Li pushed open the car door and rushed into the yard without a care. All she could see were glaring white cloths. The cold wind swirled the scraps of paper money past her feet, and the chill went straight to her heart.
She rushed into the main hall, but when she saw the large character "奠" (meaning "memorial") in front of her, she stopped abruptly, as if the blood in her body had frozen.
"How could this be..." she murmured to herself, moving step by step to the coffin, looking at the person lying quietly inside.
Ming Xiangyang's face was as pale as paper, lifeless, no longer the gentle, smiling man he used to be.
Shen Li opened her mouth, but a thousand words stuck in her throat, leaving only endless bitterness.
She instinctively reached out to touch his cheek, but Lu Sheng stopped her in time.
"Lili, respect the dead, don't touch it." Lu Sheng gently pressed her hand down, his tone heavy.
Shen Li turned to look at him, her eyes filled with confusion and hope, as if seeking a negative answer: "Big brother... this isn't real, is it? I must be dreaming..."
Lu Sheng frowned, and tenderly pulled her into his arms: "Lili, everyone has their own destiny."
"No, it's all because of me... If I hadn't..." Shen Li's words were interrupted by Lu Sheng before she could finish.
"It has nothing to do with you." Lu Sheng's voice was firm. "His greatest wish is definitely that you live well; nothing else matters."
Suppressing her grief, Shen Liqiang turned to Uncle Hu beside her and asked in a hoarse voice, "Uncle Hu, why did he suddenly leave? He was perfectly fine when I came here a few days ago."
Uncle Hu frowned, his tone filled with regret: "The illness suddenly relapsed, it came on so quickly and violently. We did our best, but we still couldn't save the young master."
As soon as she finished speaking, Madam Ming pushed her wheelchair in. The old man in the wheelchair had a crooked mouth and cloudy eyes, and had long lost his former dignity. Beside him was an unfamiliar man—Ming Qihui, the eldest son of the second branch of the Ming family.
Shen Li felt a chill run down his spine; judging from the commotion, he knew the visitors were up to no good.
As soon as Madam Ming entered the room, her gaze fell on Uncle Hu, her tone tinged with accusation and dissatisfaction: "Uncle Hu, is this how you take care of Xiangyang? A perfectly healthy person, gone just like that!"
Shen Li frowned, about to speak, when she saw Old Madam Ming wave her hand behind her, and several thugs immediately stepped forward.
"Xiangyang is my Ming family's grandson, and his affairs should naturally be handled by the people of our old family mansion." The old lady's tone was authoritative and left no room for argument.
"You're getting on in years, it's time to enjoy your retirement. I'll have someone give you some money later, take the money and leave."
Shen Li felt a chill run down her spine, speechless with astonishment at the shamelessness of the people in the old house.
Ming Xiangyang has only just passed away, his body is barely cold, yet instead of thinking about his funeral arrangements, they are already eyeing his estate. Such cold-heartedness is no different from that of beasts.
Uncle Hu remained calm and unmoved: "Madam, I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you. The young master made a will before his death, and the ownership of the family property is not something anyone can simply take away."
"What will? I think it's clearly a fabrication by you, trying to embezzle Xiangyang's family property!" Old Madam Ming's face darkened, and her tone became sharp.
"Madam doesn't need to worry about the authenticity of the will," Uncle Hu said in a cold tone.
"Everything should be done according to legal procedures. It's best to get rid of any thoughts that don't follow the rules as soon as possible."
Ming Qihui stepped forward, staring at Uncle Hu with hostility: "Uncle Hu, you wouldn't be thinking of using the will to seize your master's estate for yourself, would you?"
Shen Li looked at him coldly, knowing full well that this was Ming Qihui's younger brother, the one she had sent to prison years ago.
Now that Ming Xiangyang has passed away, they couldn't wait to jump out.
Uncle Hu looked up at Ming Qihui, his tone laced with sarcasm: "Second Young Master, you're overthinking it. All procedures will be legally notarized; any irregularities will not be tolerated."
Shen Li's gaze fell on the immobile old man Ming in his wheelchair. Recalling his imposing appearance when they first met, and seeing his current wretched state, she could only let out a cold laugh—this was probably the way things were, good and evil would eventually be rewarded.
Ming Qihui looked at Uncle Hu with a deep gaze, his tone firm and unwavering: "My older brother was perfectly fine, and then suddenly he's gone. This is all very strange. We must call the police and request an autopsy."
Uncle Hu was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, and then subconsciously turned his gaze to Lu Sheng beside him. A quick exchange of glances flashed between the two of them.
Shen Li was immersed in immense grief, her shoulders trembling slightly, tears silently streaming down her face. She was completely unaware of the fleeting glances exchanged between the two people beside her.
Mingcheng suddenly stepped forward, his tone urgent and forceful: "That won't do! An autopsy requires opening the abdomen, and I absolutely will not allow the young master to be disturbed even in death."
Ming Qihui glanced at Ming Cheng and Uncle Hu, and sneered inwardly: Hmph, since you don't want to leave us a single penny, even if you die, Ming Xiangyang, you won't leave peacefully.
Old Madam Ming looked at her grandson and immediately nodded in agreement, her eyes filled with suspicion and resentment: "That's right! I now strongly suspect that you are the murderers who killed my grandson!"
She turned to Ming Qihui and ordered sternly, "Qihui, call the police immediately!"
"Okay," Ming Qihui replied, immediately taking out his phone.
Not long after, a police car pulled up at the entrance, accompanied by a forensic doctor.
Shen Li suddenly raised her head and stood in front of the coffin, her eyes as resolute as a wall, silently reciting in her heart: No one can touch him.
He's already gone. We must respect the dead and not let him suffer such disturbances after his death.
Just then, a series of steady footsteps came from the doorway, and several people escorted a tall, middle-aged man as he walked in.
Uncle Hu quickly stepped forward and bowed respectfully: "Uncle."
The newcomer was Ming Xiangyang's uncle. His sharp gaze swept across the room before finally landing on Old Madam Ming.
In those days, there was a long-standing rule that "the maternal uncle is the most important person in the family." If the maternal uncle did not attend, even a banquet could not be held, let alone touching Ming Xiangyang's corpse. As long as he did not agree, even if Old Madam Ming was adamant, she could not move an inch.