Chapter 81: The Grand Funeral
After the first seven days of mourning came the Grand Funeral. Before the ceremony, Madam Ji's two uncles arrived from Tongzhou to offer incense. Her burial site was chosen at Mount Xicui, and Taoist Master Chen was consulted to determine the auspicious burial date, which was set for the seventeenth day of the fifth month. Before the funeral procession, a Gratitude Feast was held to entertain relatives and friends who came to pay their respects.
Second Madam could not be expected to handle these matters, so Mama Xu managed everything in Jinchao's name. Gu Jinrong, dressed in a pale blue Straight Robe with a hemp cloth sewn on the chest, appeared haggard as he thanked the guests. Jinchao watched him for a while. Though Jinrong looked utterly exhausted, he did not seem despondent.
...That, at least, was good.
Jinchao glanced at her father among the banquet guests before heading alone to Xiexiao Courtyard.
The mourning hall had been dismantled, and all of her mother's belongings had been taken away and burned—after all, she had died an unnatural death. The embroidered quilts, large bolster pillows, and curtains were all gone. The room felt hollow. Jinchao sat on the kang by the window, gazing at the dark lacquered furniture as slivers of sunlight filtered through the Lattice Window before gradually fading away.
Had her mother also waited like this, day after day? It was eerily similar to Jinchao’s own past life in the secluded courtyard.
Looking down at her hands, Jinchao couldn’t help but feel deeply disheartened. She had thought that with her rebirth, her mother wouldn’t die—yet here they were. These past days had been so busy that she had almost felt as if she had forgotten her mother’s death.
With a sigh, Jinchao stood and walked into the inner chamber. Even the celadon-glazed Prunus vase that had once sat on the small table was gone—her mother’s favorite vase. The bedside was bare, save for a Scented Sachet tied with a Chinese knot still hanging from the bedpost. Jinchao untied it and held it in her palm. This was the sachet from New Year’s Eve, when she had eaten two Golden Beans to pray for her mother’s blessings.
Taking one last look at the chamber her mother had once lived in, Jinchao suddenly felt a tightness in her chest.
Her mother’s death was partly her own fault. She had known all along that Concubine Song harbored ill intentions, yet she had still given her the opportunity to harm her mother. When she saw her mother’s lifeless body, aside from her resentment toward Jinrong and her father, she had also felt furious at her own helplessness...
Jinchao took a deep breath and closed the door to the inner chamber. She would avenge her mother slowly. Since she had failed to protect her in life, she would make sure to punish those responsible for her death.
As Jinchao left Xiexiao Courtyard, she noticed the Hosta flowers blooming by the lakeside pavilion—her mother’s favorite. The jade-like, slender blossoms nestled among the leaves, their fragrance faint yet soothing. She walked over to look at them. When she was little, her mother would visit the Ji family and pick Hosta flowers, stringing them into small garlands to perfume her room.
A faint smile touched Jinchao’s lips. As long as she lived, her memories of her mother would never die—it was almost as if her mother hadn’t truly left.
She still missed her, still remembered all the things they had done together. Since her mother could not return to life, Jinchao had to keep living—not just survive, but live well, vividly.
Lost in thought as she gazed at the flowers, she was abruptly yanked backward without warning.
Suddenly, she caught a faint whiff of medicinal fragrance.
Her mother had also carried a similar scent—gentle and soothing.
Startled, Jinchao turned to see Ye Xian standing behind her, his hand gripping her sleeve. The medicinal aroma seemed to emanate from him.
She immediately stepped back, staring at him in bewilderment. This was the inner courtyard of the Gu residence! As a distant relative and a man, how could he just barge in? And worse—he had grabbed her!Ye Xian released her sleeve, frowning as he asked, "What are you doing by this lake? Thinking of jumping in to end it all?"
Jinchao pressed her lips together, almost smiling, then curtsied and replied, "Why has Cousin come here?"
She glanced behind Ye Xian and noticed he had brought his page along, which eased her mind. If others saw them meeting alone in the inner courtyard... that would be hard to explain!
Bored at the banquet, Ye Xian had decided to seek out Gu Jinzhao—after all, the matter regarding Mr. Xiao needed to be clarified. Unable to find her at the banquet, he brought his page into the inner courtyard. The front courtyard was bustling at this hour, and no one was guarding the ornamental gate. To his surprise, he found Gu Jinzhao standing by the lake, and for a moment, he feared she might do something drastic...
...especially since her mother had just passed.
But judging by her demeanor, it seemed he had misunderstood.
Tucking his hands into his sleeves, Ye Xian said, "I merely came to inform you... Mr. Xiao arrived in Zhending yesterday. If you wish to see him, that can be arranged... Your mother's death was somewhat unusual. It might be good to have Mr. Xiao examine the matter."
Jinchao shook her head. "I wouldn’t want to trouble Mr. Xiao unnecessarily... but I appreciate the thought, Cousin." She curtsied again, preparing to take her leave.
Ye Xian lazily remarked, "He was already planning to visit Yanjing to consult with my grandfather on some matters, so it’s no trouble." Then, shifting the topic, he asked curiously, "If you weren’t planning to jump, what were you doing standing there earlier?"
Jinchao hesitated briefly, lifting her gaze to Ye Xian’s face—jade-like in its delicate beauty, with finely drawn features. He always wore similar moon-white overgowns, a sign of his stubborn nature. Remembering the deeds of Ye Xian in her past life, she felt it best to keep her distance... Back then, his name alone struck fear into hearts, his methods ruthless. Those who slighted him rarely escaped with their lives—if they were lucky.
Yet Ye Xian was also undeniably brilliant. After his father’s passing and his grandfather’s death, he single-handedly upheld the Marquis Changxing’s household, ensuring its prosperity. Such a man was not one she wished to offend.
Besides, Ye Xian had helped her greatly during her mother’s illness.
Jinchao smiled. "I was merely admiring the flowers. No bloom lasts a hundred days, so I thought to enjoy them while they’re still vibrant."
With another curtsy, Jinchao departed. Ye Xian remained for a moment, then raised an eyebrow and said to his page, "Go back and send Eldest Miss Gu a potted cactus. Since she laments that flowers don’t last, that thing is hardy and long-lived."
The page gaped in surprise. The cactus was a rare import from the Western Regions, grown only in a few pots at the Marquis Changxing’s estate in Willow Leaf Alley—exceedingly precious! Before he could voice his thoughts, Ye Xian had already turned toward the outer courtyard.
The page obediently followed. If the young master wished it, so be it. If it pleased him, the marquis would probably overturn the entire estate without complaint!
Jinchao, however, gave the matter no further thought.After her mother's burial, Jinchao had to handle matters concerning the Xiexiao Courtyard. Besides tidying up both inside and out, her mother's two personal maids, Moyu and Mo Xue, had also reached the age to leave the household and marry. Jinchao asked Mama Tong to find them suitable matches. Moyu was betrothed to the eldest son of Manager Ji from her mother's villa, while Mo Xue was matched with Luo Yongping's nephew, a scholar who had passed the imperial exams last year and owned several acres of fertile land. Jinchao gifted each a two-courtyard house and a hundred taels of silver as dowry.
Moyu and Mo Xue left the Gu household with tear-reddened eyes. They had been raised by Madam Ji. However, since they were marrying people under Madam Ji's influence—originally her personal maids—they would naturally be well-treated.
Mama Xu, being a senior servant, naturally moved to Jinchao's Paulownia Courtyard. Mama Tong managed the affairs of Paulownia Courtyard, while Mama Xu focused more on the inner household matters, so there was no conflict. The other young maids and servants were assigned by the Affairs Office.
At this time, Ji Wu Shi was preparing to return to Tongzhou with her eldest daughter-in-law and Liu Shi, as they had already delayed too long in Shi'an. Matters in Tongzhou had piled up, awaiting the grandmother's decisions. Before leaving, the grandmother repeatedly urged Jinchao to visit Tongzhou.
"...The water lilies by your courtyard have bloomed again. You must come."
Jinchao smiled and agreed, seeing her grandmother off in the carriage. After her mother's death, her grandmother appeared much more exhausted, as if she had aged several years. There is no greater sorrow than the elderly burying the young. Jinchao understood her grandmother. Though she didn’t voice or show it, given how dearly she had loved her mother, how could she not grieve deeply?
Meanwhile, Gu Lan was overjoyed to hear that Concubine Song was pregnant. She visited the Waterside Pavilion every few days, bringing all sorts of tonics.
Concubine Song, attended by two newly assigned young maids, felt quite uncomfortable. So Gu Lan left her own maid, Banlian, to serve Song Miaohua. One day, she brought more gifts and touched Concubine Song's belly, smiling as she said, "You must give me a little brother."
Song Miaohua couldn't help but feel disheartened. Despite her pregnancy, Gu Dezhao had yet to visit her. She told Gu Lan, "You should visit me less often from now on, so as not to displease your father. Are you still speaking with Gu Jinrong?"
Gu Lan shook her head and replied, "Don’t worry. Father already dislikes me, so my visiting you won’t make a difference. Gu Jinrong has been holed up in his study copying the Diamond Sutra these days... He hasn’t even gone to study at Qifang Alley. He’s still angry—approaching him now would only invite trouble..."
With Madam Ji’s recent passing, the entire Gu household remained busy. Gu Dezhao had hired a tutor to teach Gu Lan the Academy Style Calligraphy, so she rarely left her courtyard these days. She knew her father wanted even less to do with her because of her mother’s actions.
Gu Lan wasn’t overly anxious. After all, her mother was now pregnant, and with Madam Ji gone, she no longer had to marry Mu Zhizhai. She felt somewhat relieved. At this point, nothing could make up for what had happened, so she might as well wait until her mother gave birth. There would surely be a way forward then.
Gu Jinrong was the type who needed coaxing. Once his anger subsided, she could try comforting him, perhaps shed a few tears, and things might ease between them.
Seeing her daughter’s expression, Song Miaohua hesitated but ultimately chose not to mention that Gu Dezhao never visited her.After a while, Banlian brought up the Cordyceps Pigeon Soup she had prepared. Song Miaohua took it and examined it for a long time before asking Gu Lan, "Did you bring the cordyceps?"
Gu Lan nodded and said, "Your constitution is weak during this pregnancy, so you need proper nourishment."
She continued, "Although you've lost some influence now, it's not too serious. You're carrying Father's child and have managed the inner household for so long—the stewards wouldn't dare neglect you. These are things I obtained from the Affairs Office steward... Father didn't provide these items, and it seems he didn't intend to give them to you. However, when Madam Ji was alive, the Ji family sent many precious medicinal herbs, all stored in the outer courtyard's warehouse without being recorded in the household register. He happened to bring them to honor you."
Concubine Song nodded. The steward of the Affairs Office had always been loyal to her. Glancing at Banlian standing nearby, she said to Gu Lan, "...Keep an ear out for news about Qiaowei. I still prefer her service the most."
Gu Lan smiled and replied, "Don't worry, I'll go ask the attendant steward tomorrow."
P.S.:
Next chapter begins dealing with that little steward~~
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