This return to the Sheng ancestral home was entirely devoid of the joyful atmosphere from Minglan's visit two years prior. The maids and servants moving about the inner residence walked softly, not daring to make any noise or engage in merry laughter.
Minglan first paid respects to the pale and emaciated Sheng Wei and his wife. Li Shi looked utterly exhausted. While it's often said that no child remains filial by a long-sick parent's bedside, Da Lao Taitai was no ordinary mother. Having endured countless hardships while raising her weak son and young daughter, she had paved the way for the Sheng family's current prosperity. As the eldest daughter-in-law of the main branch, Li Shi naturally felt obliged to devote herself entirely, and after these months, she appeared half-dead from exhaustion.
"Father and Mother have worked tirelessly attending to Grandmother's sickbed. This unfilial son has arrived late!" Changwu wept as he knelt before Sheng Wei and Li Shi. Yun'er also knelt nearby. Li Shi hurriedly helped her son and daughter-in-law up, then pulled Yun'er to sit beside her, repeatedly saying, "My child, you're with child and must be exhausted from the journey. After paying respects to Old Madam, go rest. No one in the family will mind."
Yun'er firmly declined, but Sheng Wei added, "Listen to your mother. This was also Old Madam's original instruction." Li Shi turned and took Minglan and young Changdong's hands, pity in her voice: "Good children, you must be tired too. Come with me quickly."
Entering Da Lao Taitai's bedchamber, Minglan detected a pungent odor of medicinal herbs. In the center of the room stood a five-tiered gilded Eight Treasures lotus pedestal warming stove, its silver-veined charcoal glowing intermittently. The sudden warmth upon entering from the cold outside made young Changdong shiver involuntarily, and Minglan gently patted his back.
Old Madam Sheng sat at the bedside. Seeing her grandchildren, her solemn expression softened into a faint smile as she nodded slightly without speaking. Changwu had already stepped forward to kneel by the bed, weeping sorrowfully, "Grandmother, your grandson has come!"
Minglan approached quietly and saw that Da Lao Taitai's snow-white hair was neatly combed, her eyes deeply sunken, and even her nose bridge appeared somewhat collapsed. She lay weakly propped up, eyes tightly shut. Hearing Changwu's voice, she could only part her lips slightly without producing sound, eventually managing a difficult nod with the help of the medicine maid before falling unconscious again shortly after.
Wen Shi, who was attending nearby, gently wiped her tears and choked out, "Since several days ago, Grandmother has been unable to speak and can only swallow thin porridge. Today is actually a better day." Changwu quickly bowed, "Sister-in-law, you've worked hard."
Fearing they might disturb Da Lao Taitai's rest, everyone withdrew. After returning to the main hall and being seated, Changwu and his wife along with Minglan and Changdong paid formal respects to Old Madam Sheng. Old Madam inquired about matters in the capital, which Changwu answered one by one. Noticing the large number of luggage cases outside, Li Shi found it strange. Changwu hemmed and hawed, "...already reported for nine months..."
Li Shi's heart ached. After her son's promotion to Battalion Commander, she had enjoyed considerable prestige among both her maternal and marital families. Now their household had both wealth and official rank. Though serving Da Lao Taitai was exhausting, the thought that her own descendants would someday show similar filial devotion made everything bearable. But that didn't mean she was willing to let her son sacrifice his career for filial duty.
Li Shi scolded, "Acting on your own authority! You should have remained at your post in the capital—we have your brother and sister-in-law here at home! The court hasn't explicitly mandated that grandchildren must observe mourning leave either!" What if someone took his hard-won official position?Sheng Wei glanced at Old Mrs. Sheng and said authoritatively, "My son mentioned this to me beforehand. Though there's no official decree, it's commendable that Wu Ge'er shows such filial devotion! Don't interfere—I know what I'm doing."
Old Mrs. Sheng was holding Minglan's small hand, scrutinizing her beloved granddaughter's weight with repeated glances. Hearing this, she smiled faintly and reassured Li Shi, "Don't worry, niece. Your uncle has already spoken with the commanders and deputy commanders of the Zhongwei Guard. The position is reserved for Wu Ge'er. If the state urgently needs manpower, his superiors will recall him despite the mourning period."
Overjoyed, the Sheng Wei couple immediately instructed Changwu and his wife to kowtow to Old Mrs. Sheng. Minglan, quick-witted, stepped forward to help her cousin and his wife up, saying repeatedly, "Sister-in-law is with child—she shouldn't move recklessly. Please sit down quickly. Second Brother Wu is inherently filial—whether in his career or descendants, all will surely go smoothly."
Li Shi, pleased by Minglan's tact and sweet words, took two pre-prepared pouches from a maid and handed them to Minglan and Changdong. She then slipped a pair of jade bracelets from her own wrist onto Minglan's.
Seeing the bracelets' vibrant emerald hue, crystal clarity, warm texture, and flawless purity—truly rare top-grade pieces—Minglan immediately declined repeatedly. Li Shi insisted, her face full of affection, "Good child, you'll have your hair-pinning ceremony next year. I won't be able to attend, so consider this an early gift. You mustn't refuse."
Minglan glanced back at Old Mrs. Sheng, who nodded slightly, before accepting them. She curtsied respectfully while thinking to herself:
Aunt, you needn't worry. Men in officialdom are all shrewd. Though grandchildren aren't strictly required to observe mourning, a key difference between military and civil officials is that during peacetime, a general's presence or absence matters little. It's better to observe nine months of mourning to earn a good reputation—after all, Sheng Hong and Changbai will safeguard his position.
Soon, the adults needed to talk privately, so the children were dismissed. Little Changdong, after two hours on horseback, initially found it fun but later suffered sore inner thighs. Changwu had already instructed servants to prepare ointment for him.
Minglan wanted to tend to him but was shooed out by Changdong's stern expression. Staring at the abruptly closed door, she grumbled inwardly: So what if he has a little bird? As if I've never seen one before!
Outside, Pinlan was waiting and immediately tugged her sleeve, demanding fiercely, "Hand over the bracelets!" Those bracelets were Li Shi's long-cherished possessions, which Pinlan had coveted for ages.
Minglan snorted irritably, "My luck's been rotten lately—water bandits a few days ago, road bandits today!" In truth, Li Shi had already prepared coming-of-age gifts for all three Lan girls in the capital.
As she spoke, Minglan removed the bracelets and handed them to Pinlan, who asked excitedly, "I heard from Second Sister-in-law—what were the water bandits like? Did you see them?" Minglan tossed her head proudly, "More than that! I fought off a whole boat of scoundrels single-handedly!"Pinlan shot her a glare, took the bracelet, and gleefully held it up to the sunlight for a closer look. After comparing it against her wrist for a while, she still returned it to Minglan. Minglan kept one and pushed the other back: "Let's each have one!"
Though Pinlan liked it in her heart, she felt too embarrassed to accept it and hesitated, saying, "But Mother gave this to you, how could I..." Minglan patted her shoulder and teased, "Take it. Isn't it the rule in your circle to split the spoils when you meet?" Her witty remark earned her another round of roughhousing from Pinlan's "Vajra Claws."
After dinner, Minglan followed Old Mrs. Sheng back to her room to rest, finally getting a chance to talk properly. But as soon as Minglan clung to the old madam's arm with a cheeky grin, before she could even say a word, the old madam's face turned cold and she barked, "Kneel down!" Minglan was stunned. The old madam said sternly, "Kneel down now!"
Minglan quickly jumped away from the old madam and plopped down on her knees. Then Mama Fang came out from behind with a stern face, holding a daunting ruler in her hands.
"Left hand!" the old madam said coldly, gripping the ruler.
Minglan timidly extended her left hand. The old madam raised the ruler high and solemnly asked, "Do you know what you did wrong?"
Minglan stared at the gleaming brass ruler, thinking to herself that she often made mistakes—could she get a hint first? Mama Fang kindly reminded her from the side, "This afternoon, Second Mistress Wu already told about encountering the water bandits on the road."
Minglan helplessly closed her eyes. Yun'er's mouth was really quick. This time, she knew exactly which landmine she had stepped on and admitted in a low voice, "Your granddaughter knows she was wrong. I shouldn't have acted recklessly and put myself in danger."
"Good that you know." Old Madam was impartial—admitting fault was only the first chapter, first section of the punishment process. What followed were beatings, lectures, reasoning, and copying texts as a series of procedures. If one refused to admit fault, there would be sequels. However, considering Minglan's good attitude toward reform, her sentence was reduced.
"Silly girl, Old Madam punishes you because she cares for you!" Mama Fang applied a gardenia-scented ointment to Minglan's palm while slowly chattering, "This time, you were lucky—it was all among our own people, and the incident happened outside, unrelated to either the capital or Youyang. Once everything was handled properly, there was no gossip. When Second Mistress Wu told Old Madam, she was so frightened her hands trembled, and she couldn't even hold the teacup lid steady. Though the matter is settled, you really must change your temperament, miss. It won't do to keep acting like this. Old Madam wouldn't rest easy even with her eyes closed."
Mentally an adult, Minglan naturally understood what was good for her. Knowing she had upset the elderly, she felt very sorry. After the ointment was applied, she cheerfully slipped into the old madam's room, fawning over her like a little puppy wagging its tail—now bowing, now making gestures of respect, and finally climbing onto the old madam's kang, clinging and rubbing against her like sticky taffy.
Over the years, Minglan had perfected this full set of coquettish, well-behaved antics. Old Madam had always been unable to resist them, and no matter how great her anger, it would dissipate. If she was still upset, she would grab Minglan and give her a few hard pats to vent her frustration.
Mama Fang estimated that the force was just enough to swat a mosquito.After all, Da Lao Taitai was seriously ill and bedridden. Otherwise, given Pinlan's temperament, she would have surely dragged Minglan up trees and into rivers to catch birds and fish. Now, however, they could only stay obediently within the inner residence. When Minglan practiced calligraphy or copied books, Pinlan would keep accounts beside her. When Minglan did embroidery, Pinlan would calculate with an abacus. One embroidered and wielded the brush with graceful elegance, while the other counted copper coins and silver notes with a rather vulgar air.
Faced with this stark contrast, Pinlan grew despondent. Minglan sincerely said, "Actually, I prefer your tasks."
Every few days, Sheng Yun would come with Taisheng to visit Da Lao Taitai. Sheng Yun would weep and wail at the bedside of her dying mother, while Taisheng was responsible for comforting his grieving cousin.
Not Minglan.
Pinlan had indeed grown up. She now blushed at the sight of Taisheng, no longer speaking in a rough, willful tone. She even knew how to act gentle and lovely, pretending to be virtuous in front of her aunt Sheng Yun. However, from Minglan's professional perspective, Pinlan still had a long way to go in her cultivation.
The cold wind cut like knives as deep winter set in. Dense snowflakes blanketed the entire courtyard. Da Lao Taitai finally could hold on no longer. The room was warmed by glowing charcoal, but the atmosphere was heavy and sorrowful. Da Lao Taitai had been completely unconscious since the previous night, with only the faint rise and fall of her chest indicating she was still alive. Sheng Wei and his wife remained by her bedside the entire time.
On a small table beside the bed sat a silver tray with a few soft feathers. The elderly woman attending to the medicine would periodically place the feathers under Da Lao Taitai's nose to check for any faint breath. Sheng Yun knelt by the bed, weeping softly and repeatedly calling "Mother." The surrounding children, grandchildren, and daughters-in-law either sat or stood throughout the room. Only Yun'er was exempt from bedside attendance, as they feared she might catch the illness.
Suddenly, Da Lao Taitai's breathing became rapid, short gasps echoing in the silent room. Sheng Wei hurried over and supported her, saying, "Mother, do you have something to say? Your son and younger sister are both here!"
Da Lao Taitai's eyelids moved with difficulty, then suddenly opened wide. Her bony hand clutched Sheng Wei and Sheng Yun tightly as she struggled to sit up. Her sallow, emaciated face was flushed with a strange redness.
"Mother, what's wrong? Speak, please!" Sheng Yun held her mother's body quietly, crying as she asked.
Da Lao Taitai's eyes were vacant, as if staring at nothing. She muttered a few words, then suddenly screamed sharply, "...Hong'er! My Hong'er!" The piercing shriek stunned all the children and grandchildren in the room.
As if possessed, Da Lao Taitai hoarsely shrieked, "Hong'er!... It was all Mother's fault! I failed to protect you!"
Tears streamed down the faces of Sheng Wei and his sister. Da Lao Taitai broke into a violent coughing fit, then collapsed backward as if all strength had left her. From her throat erupted intermittent, raspy cries: "...Hong'er, you... rest assured, Mother avenged you! That wretched maid who harmed... harmed you, I found her! I searched across several provinces... and found her! She thought she could escape with the money and live happily... hahaha... no chance! I sold her to the lowest coal mine brothel. After she died... her bones were ground to dust and scattered!... Avenged... avenged..."
Her laughter was uglier than crying. Minglan couldn't imagine that the usually kind and gentle Da Lao Taitai could utter such exceptionally vicious words. How deep must the hatred have been back then?Da Lao Taitai's breathing grew faint, gradually losing the strength to draw air, yet she still managed a low, guttural cry: "...Sheng Huaizhong!... You, you favored concubines over your lawful wife, were bewitched by lust, disregarded your children's lives—I'll accuse you before the King of Hell!" Her words brimmed with venomous resentment.
After a sharp, wheezing gasp, Da Lao Taitai trembled several times, then closed her eyes forever, falling silent.
The elderly maidservant tested her breath with a feather and shook her head at the assembled family. Sheng Wei and Sheng Yun gazed at Da Lao Taitai's gaunt, withered face, recalling their mother's lifelong suffering, and burst into loud sobs. The younger generation joined in weeping, and the maids and servants outside, hearing the cries from within, began wailing in unison.
Minglan bowed her head against Old Mrs. Sheng's knees, weeping quietly. Though she had never endured such hardships herself, she felt an indescribable ache in her heart—a woman's entire life had passed just like that.
All funeral arrangements had been prepared long in advance: washing the body, changing into mourning garments, setting up the spirit hall, the funeral procession, and the grand burial. Li Shi and Wen Shi managed everything flawlessly. Sheng Wei, known throughout the town for his virtue and compassion toward the weak and elderly, never hesitated to extend aid and frequently engaged in charitable deeds. Moreover, the Hu family were prosperous merchants, so the funeral was conducted with great pomp—fifty-one monks were invited to perform thirty-five days of elaborate Buddhist ceremonies.
Every prominent figure in Youyang City came to offer condolences, from the prefect down to minor merchant families, none failing to appear. Sheng Wei had hoped to wait, thinking Sheng Hong or Changbai might request leave to attend, but when neither arrived by the burial date, they proceeded with the interment.
Several long-time family friends set up roadside memorial altars along the route, their colorful mourning tents lining the path. The coffin procession circled Youyang once before finally laying Da Lao Taitai to rest in the Sheng family ancestral graves outside the city.
The day after the funeral, news arrived from beyond: the Prince of Jing, enfeoffed in Western Anhui, had raised the banner of rebellion, accusing the current emperor of usurping the throne through a forged decree. The Prince of Jing had long plotted this, amassing substantial weapons and supplies in his residence. Instantly, flames of war spread across Anhui, the rebel forces marching north toward the capital. Consequently, all land and water routes from the capital to Jinling were severed.
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