The Lei Family was once one of the most prominent clans in Yanbei decades ago. The members of the Lei clan were exceptionally united, with major decisions made by the clan leader, and the entire clan would advance or retreat together.
The ancestral teachings of the Lei Family allowed them to stand out among the noble families of Yanbei, but they also led the clan to suffer a devastating blow decades ago during a man-made disaster, when they were completely wiped out by the Liao people.
Thus, to this day, although the name of the Lei Family remains illustrious, only Lei Ting’s branch remains as the sole survivor.
If Lei Ting had arranged for Madam Lei’s funeral to take place today, any elder of the Lei clan with respectable status and seniority would have stepped forward to oppose it.
Unfortunately, after Madam Lei’s passing, Lei Ting now held the highest authority in the Lei Family.
Therefore, even though rumors were already spreading like wildfire outside, and the entire Lei Family was filled with unease and suspicion, as dawn broke, preparations for the funeral proceeded in an orderly manner.
Lei Zhen, the second master of the Lei Family, was unusually quiet that day. He stood in the mourning hall, holding his niece in his arms, his youthful face devoid of its usual bright smile, replaced only by a solemn expression.
"Uncle, is Grandmother going to become an immortal today?" Lei Pan'er leaned against Lei Zhen’s chest, her gaze fixed on the now-closed coffin, struggling to hold back the tears in her eyes.
At just four years old, she did not yet understand death. She only knew that her grandmother was leaving on a long journey ahead of her. Although her uncle had told her that the place Grandmother was going to was better than home and that they would all go there someday, she still felt a deep sadness.
Lei Pan'er’s pitiful appearance tugged at the heartstrings. Lei Ting snapped out of his thoughts and forced a smile, lowering his head to comfort his niece in a soft voice.
Yet, his mind was preoccupied with the words his elder brother had shared with him the previous night.
When Lei Zhen first heard that his grandmother’s funeral was to be held that day, he couldn’t help but argue with his brother—the first time in years that the two brothers had clashed.
But when his brother revealed the full truth, Lei Zhen was left speechless.
His grandmother’s suicide, the heavy burden on his brother’s shoulders, the future of the Lei Family—these things descended upon him like mountains appearing out of thin air, making it difficult for him to breathe.
He would never forget how his usually composed elder brother, with reddened eyes, gripped his shoulder with a force that seemed intent on crushing his bones. "The Lei Family now is like a ship that appears steady on the surface, but its interior is riddled with holes, unable to withstand even the slightest storm. Second Brother, the Lei Family can no longer afford to wait for you to grow up slowly."
At that moment, Steward Liu Gui hurried in from outside. Failing to notice Lei Zhen and Lei Pan'er standing nearby, he made his way directly to Lei Ting.
Knowing that Liu Gui was his brother’s trusted aide, Lei Zhen immediately sensed that something had gone wrong outside. He quickly picked up Lei Pan'er and walked toward Lei Ting.
Even though he still had much to learn and could not yet share his brother’s burdens, he wanted to be involved in the affairs of the Lei Family. Never before had he felt such an urgent desire to grow up quickly.
As he approached, he overheard Liu Gui reporting to Lei Ting, "...it suddenly collapsed, and the road is mostly blocked."
"What happened?" Lei Zhen couldn’t help but ask.Lei Ting had noticed Lei Zhen approaching early in the morning, but he remained silent. Since laying bare the Lei Family's affairs to Lei Zhen the previous night, he no longer wished to conceal anything from him.
Hardship and setbacks were what truly fostered growth. What he could accomplish, he believed his younger brother could achieve as well.
Lei Ting glanced at his brother, his expression impassive as he said, "A section of the mountain path leading to Qiongji Mountain has collapsed."
Qiongji Mountain was quite famous in Yanbei, considered a renowned peak and a geomantically auspicious site.
However, young masters and ladies on spring outings would never choose this mountain, not only because its slopes were gentle and lacked even a temple or Taoist monastery for rest, but also because it was a yin mountain—a place reserved for the dead.
All prominent local families in Yunyang City had ancestral graves encircling Qiongji Mountain, where generations of their forebears were buried.
It was said that when the Liao people occupied Yanbei, a Liao noble once coveted the burial treasures of Qiongji Mountain. Unfortunately, he later inexplicably fell to his death at the mountain's base, and within a year, every member of his household—old and young—succumbed to strange illnesses and perished.
From then on, no one dared to covet the tombs on Qiongji Mountain.
The Lei Family's ancestral graves were also located on Qiongji Mountain. The true Madam Lei, née Liu, had long ago died in a distant land, her grave now lost. Yet this "Madam Lei," originally an external concubine, was to be interred in the Lei Family ancestral plot.
"Collapsed? Can we still get through?" Lei Zhen was taken aback, frowning as he asked. Although his brother had warned him that today might be turbulent, actually encountering trouble still left him unsettled. His grandmother was already dead—must those people still scheme around her?
Liu Gui bowed his head and replied, "I have already sent men to clear away the rocks and soil, but it appears it will take at least two hours."
Lei Ting looked toward the coffin in the mourning hall, his dark eyes revealing no emotion. After a long pause, he said, "Send more people to clear the path as quickly as possible. Additionally, take some men yourself to scout if there are any alternative routes up the mountain."
Liu Gui was already aware of the entire plan. Although the funeral procession was now obstructed, the Lei Family had to strive to overcome the obstacle, making it appear as though they wished to expedite Madam Lei's burial on the mountain.
Liu Gui acknowledged the order and withdrew.
Lei Zhen beckoned a maid over, instructing her to first take Lei Pan'er back to the courtyard for something to eat.
Once Lei Pan'er had left, Lei Ting and Lei Zhen, the two brothers, somehow ended up quarreling over a disagreement.
Later, rumors spread outside that Second Master Lei opposed his elder brother's hasty burial of their grandmother. The sudden collapse of the road was interpreted as a sign of ancestral wrath, urging First Master Lei to delay the funeral.
Unfortunately, Lei Ting refused, leading to the brothers' argument. In the end, First Master Lei, fearing disgrace, dragged his younger brother away to settle the matter privately.
Old Master Han was still in Yunyang City at the time. After listening to his subordinate's report on the Lei Family's affairs, Han Dongshan's face broke into a smile. "When will the Liu family members arrive?"
The subordinate replied, "I'm afraid it will take another three or four hours for them to reach Yunyang City. The old woman from the Liu family is advanced in years and fell ill on the journey, so the carriage cannot travel too quickly."
Han Dongshan frowned. "I want to see them before the hour of the Sheep!"
"But—"
Han Dongshan's gaze swept over, and the subordinate immediately fell silent, hastily acknowledging the order before retreating."Father, Madam Lei took her own life, there should be no mistake about that." Han Xianren, the only son of Han Dongshan, had been standing at his father's side and now spoke up.
Han Xianren was a handsome middle-aged man with a refined and scholarly demeanor, appearing very approachable. Most of the time, he handled the Han Family's affairs in Yanbei from Yunyang City.
"Naturally. I've asked the physician who checked the old woman's health—her body was much sturdier than mine. How could she just die like that? She merely wanted to use death to escape the Liu Family." Han Dongshan sneered, his stern face clouded with gloom, making him appear fearsome. "Unfortunately, this is just a desperate struggle. The Lei Family must fall! Who told them to stand in our way!"
As for the cause of Madam Lei's death, Han Dongshan had indeed sent people to investigate. However, the Lei Family was also on guard against them, so after Madam Lei's death, very few had seen her body.
But now, with the Lei Family cornered and hastily burying Madam Lei after only three days of her coffin being laid out, Han Dongshan was certain that her death was absolutely connected to the Lei Family themselves.
"Now that the Lei Family is rushing the funeral, they must know that the Liu Family is not far from Yunyang City. They want to bury Madam Lei before the Liu Family arrives, so her cause of death will be concealed, and her true identity won't be exposed," Han Xianren speculated.
Han Dongshan agreed with this judgment.
"So what should we do next? Should we still follow the plan and wait for the Liu Family to expose her as an imposter, revealing that the real Madam Lei actually died long ago?"
Han Dongshan thought for a moment, then smiled slightly, though a cold glint flashed in his eyes.
"No, it's not that simple!"
Han Xianren frowned and looked at his father, somewhat puzzled.
Regarding his father, Han Xianren felt a certain fear. Even as his son, he often had no idea what his father was thinking.
"The old woman of the Lei Family is already dead. Even if I have the Liu Family expose her, it’s now a case of no evidence against the dead. At most, it will only sow doubt about the Lei Family among the public. To completely ruin the Lei Family, we’ll need to lay another trap and press the advantage. But now, a good opportunity has come. This time, the Lei Family is likely to be destroyed by their own hands. This is what they call 'reaping what they sow'!"
As he spoke, Han Dongshan laughed with pleasure.
Fate and his childhood experiences had long twisted Han Dongshan's nature. Even though the Lei Family had no other grievances with him beyond their conflict of interests.
But now, the Han Family couldn’t help but want the Lei Family to disappear immediately. Because the Lei Family was an enemy, and anyone or any family that opposed him, he believed, must be eliminated.
"What do you mean, Father?" Han Xianren’s abilities were not particularly outstanding. In terms of intelligence, he was not only inferior to his father but even to his own son. So over the years, he had always followed Han Dongshan’s instructions.
However, he understood his own limitations. He consulted Han Dongshan on all matters, big or small, never daring to act on his own, obedient and compliant.Han Dongshan was actually dissatisfied with this son of his, but aptitude was something innate, and Han Dongshan could do nothing about it. He could only be grateful that his grandson was promising. Therefore, over the years, Han Dongshan had always treated his son with the attitude of a subordinate manager, while his only grandson was cultivated and demanded as an heir.
However, Old Master Han was in a good mood today, so he did not give his son a cold look. Instead, he smiled and said, "I want the Liu Family to sue the Lei Family in court!"
Han Xianren was taken aback and instinctively asked, "Sue them for what?"
"Murder."
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