The old craftsman was capable and outstanding in the field of repairing graves, but it didn’t mean that he had X-ray eyes and could estimate the situation in the coffin when he didn’t know anything.
Generally, if others showed that they were unwilling to repair the coffin, the old craftsman would be sensible and do as the employer requested.
However, it was different this time.
The one who slept inside was his savior that he missed and expected to see for a lifetime.
The old craftsman didn’t want his savior to be buried back as it was even uncertain if his skeleton was in the coffin.
Something like this was unacceptable to the old craftsman even when he just thought about it.
“My Lord, I know that I shouldn’t disturb my savior’s peace, but the coffin was destroyed so seriously. If we don’t open the coffin, I am afraid…”
The old craftsman didn’t fear the powerful people, yet before he finished his words, Mo Shujun interrupted him forcefully. “Shut up. This is our family affair. You are a lowly civilian. Do you qualify to speak?”
Her tone with disdain made people unhappy.
However, Mo Shujun was always like this. Then she turned to Shi Junhe and ordered coldly, “I have said that the coffin can’t be opened. No matter how you plan to repair my husband’s coffin, you can’t disturb his peace. Otherwise, I won’t spare you.”
“But…” The old craftsman still wanted to argue on the basis of reason.
Mo Shujun said forcefully and arrogantly, “If you are not capable, I don’t mind asking His Majesty to send the craftsmen of the royal mausoleum to take over your job.”
The old craftsman was speechless.
Probably since this old man became the top worker in this field, he had never been retorted like this, so he was petrified.
After he came back to earth, he was angry and wanted to leave.
After he walked only a few steps, he was tripped by Shi Lei’s broken tombstone.
He didn’t fall on the ground, but as he saw the tombstone’s miserable condition, his heart seemed to have been stabbed.
It hurt a lot.
Not to mention leaving, even if he was told to walk one more step forward, it seemed to kill him.
Right!
Although he always disliked the noblemen of privilege who were lofty and supercilious, it was different this time.
The one who suffered from “injustice” was his savior. How could he ignore it because of his integrity?
It was not that the old craftsman was conceited. No other craftsman in the capital city dared to claim to be more capable than him.
The old craftsman took a deep breath and shook off the depression that was in his chest since Mo Shujun came. Then he comforted himself. “This old lady wronged her granddaughter without asking the reason as soon as she came, and after she found that there were leaks in her words, she didn’t apologize but tried to shift the blame onto the grave keeper… She is so unreasonable and must be not my savior’s official wife.”
The old craftsman made a “reasonable” conclusion and then naturally eliminated the “right answer”, so he finally felt better.
He was not in the mood to talk with Mo Shujun and just cupped his hands in front of Shi Junhe, telling him the truth. “When I was young, Elder General Shi took care of me, and I always keep it in mind. Although now he is in the other world and I don’t have an opportunity to repay him for his kindness, please give me a chance to help him a bit.”
When Shi Junhe heard Mo Shujun say that she would employ the craftsmen of the royal mausoleum, he was tempted, but seeing that this old craftsman was so sincere as he was about to leave after Mo Shujun irritated him yet endured it later.
He thought that the old craftsman “swallowed humiliation” because he coveted the pay, but unexpectedly, he wanted to do the job for another reason. So Shi Junhe turned to Shi Qingxue involuntarily.
Shi Qingxue nodded and explained, “This is the best craftsman who can repair graves in the capital city, and compared with the showy craftsmen with no talent and raised by the royal family, he is…” much better.
Before she finished her words, she held it back.
There were two members from the royal family present. Even if she wanted to speak evil of them, she should comment behind their backs.
However, it turned out that Mo Junyang approved of Shi Qingxue and even straightforwardly spoke out what she had no courage to say. “The craftsmen raised by the royal family are useless. They have no pressure as they don’t need to compete with others, and they are green hands with no experience. They are just good for nothing.”
“You have employed him, and of course you will say that he is excellent. But Your Excellency, even if you want to depreciate the craftsmen of the royal family, you should tell the truth. You are not right to say that they have no pressure. Since the Mo Country was found so many years ago, a lot of graves of the royal family members have been built. You even dare to make irresponsible remarks that those craftsmen are not experienced?” Mo Shujun retorted coldly and was obviously unhappy as Mo Junyang revealed the royal family’s faults.
However, Mo Junyang didn’t fear her at all. He furrowed his beautiful brows slightly and asked in reply with a faint smile, “Your Highness, do you really want me to explain why the craftsmen of the royal family don’t have experience?”
“You…” Mo Shujun was restless because of Mo Junyang’s sarcasm. She was about to lose temper, but under his gaze, she felt a shiver down her spine.
She was afraid that Mo Junyang would be reckless and reveal all the secrets of the royal family.
Mo Shujun ceased fire, so all people naturally believed the insiders’ words.
Shi Junhe didn’t want to employ the craftsmen of the royal family anymore, but if he really had to order them to open the coffin, it would…
“Anyway, I don’t allow you to open the coffin. Junhe, if you dare to tell them to open it, I will impeach you in front of His Majesty as you don’t respect your parents!” Seeing that Shi Junhe seemed to be hesitant, she hurriedly warned him in a low voice.
Her eyes were cold and insistent, telling Shi Junhe about her resolution.
Under her stare, Shi Junhe’s shaky determination was more precarious.
When he wanted to tell the old craftsman to try his best, Mo Junyang suddenly walked to him and whispered in his ear.
Nobody knew what Mo Junyang said, yet soon all people saw that Shi Junhe turned pale.
His face was gloomy and dark.
Then Shi Junhe raised his head and glanced at Mo Shujun casually, as if by accident, which was pointless, while it made her turn pale, too.
“Junhe!” Mo Shujun called nervously.
As a result, Shi Junhe ignored Mo Shujun and ordered the old craftsman directly, “Open the coffin!”
“What?”
Mo Shujun was dumbfounded for a moment and then shouted angrily, “I have said that you can’t. Shi Junhe, didn’t you hear me? If you dare to have the coffin opened, I will definitely…”
“If there is something wrong, I am willing to take the blame.” Shi Junhe indifferently interrupted Mo Shujun.
Before Mo Shujun said more, Shi Junhe waved his hand and told the old craftsman to prepare the tools to open the coffin.
Mo Shujun seemed to be stirred up by Shi Junhe and suddenly yelled, “Stop. Stop!”
She ignored her manners and told the servants to rush up. What was more, she tried to stop the craftsmen regardless of anything.
However, Mo Junyang’s people were prepared and blocked them as soon as they started to move. Mo Shujun’s people didn’t even get close to the coffin, let alone rushing up to stop the craftsmen.
Mo Shujun was also blocked by Shi Junhe firmly and stayed out of the circle. She was so angry that she raised her hand to scratch his face and cursed at the same time, “Shi Junhe, let me go. Let me go!”
Shi Junhe remained unmoved and stared at Mo Shujun peacefully. “Mother, what are you afraid of? Is there a secret in Father’s coffin?”
Mo Shujun stiffened and abruptly stopped pushing him, but soon she asked in reply calmly, “You were on the battlefield in the distance that year and didn’t have time to come back for your father’s funeral. Your two brothers finished his funeral according to his wish. All people saw that. Can there be something ulterior?”
“I just want to repair Father’s grave. If not, why did you stop me repeatedly and…” lose all your manners?
Shi Junhe was cold and forceful and didn’t feel guilty because of Mo Shujun’s denouncement.
However, Mo Shujun had a weird expression on her face.
Fortunately, it didn’t last too long. The old craftsman suddenly screamed, “The skeleton has gone…”
“What!”
Something that all people feared most happened. All of them looked terrified and surprised, and Mo Shujun was not an exception.
However, she didn’t look at the coffin first but turned to Shi Juncai who stood behind her all the time.
Mo Shujun thought that nobody noticed her reaction, yet unexpectedly, somebody saw all her movements.
She nervously shook off Shi Junhe and quickly rushed to the coffin, craning her neck to have a look.
It was empty!
“Why did it happen? Why?” Mo Shujun murmured in a daze, as if all the sounds around couldn’t be heard.
Her ears and mind were blank, and she seemed to be in a haze.
Shi Junhe didn’t have time to care about Mo Shujun’s reactions. When he saw that the coffin was empty, he furrowed his brows deeply.
Nevertheless, in no time, he calmed down, as he was mentally prepared before. Then he arranged the rest jobs in order.
Shi Lei’s skeleton had gone, and it was impossible to bury the coffin again at once, so they had to clean up the grave for now. If they wanted to bury it again, perhaps they should…
Fortunately, Mo Shujun seemed to be scared out of wits and didn’t make more trouble. She didn’t object to Shi Junhe’s arrangements, and all people following her were obedient like quails under Shi Junhe’s power.
After Shi Junhe sent the family members away, he came to Mo Junyang. Restraining his anger, he questioned in a low voice, “What on earth happened?”
“Didn’t you see it?” Mo Junyang answered meaningfully.
Mo Shujun couldn’t explain the weird behavior of her, the second master’s and third master’s families with a random reason.
She put the blame on Shi Qingxue after the grave was ruined and then attempted to confirm her crime quickly and send her to the government. After she failed, she tried every means to stop them from opening the coffin. Later, the coffin was found to be empty.
Anyhow, it seemed…
Shi Junhe was distracted with a lot of thoughts in his brain.
At the moment, the old craftsman suddenly said, “Gee?”
He quickly walked to Shi Junhe and reported in a deep voice, “Duke, there seems to be something wrong in Elder General’s coffin.”
While speaking, he led Shi Junhe to the coffin and pointed at somewhere inside, showing it to him.