Master's wife passed away

Outside the window, dusk was falling, crows were flying overhead, and it was December again.

That day, Xuanji went to visit Madam Wen. She was thinner than when Xuanji last saw her, and her face was ashen.

“Youwei…” Madam Wen’s voice was hoarse, almost a whisper. Xuanji hurriedly knelt down beside the bed and grasped that withered, cold hand.

"Master's wife, Youwei is here." She forced back the tears welling up in her eyes and leaned closer.

Madam Wen stared at her, her gaze seemingly piercing through her feigned calm. "I've heard...about Lady Liu's affair...such a strong-willed person, what a pity..."

Xuanji trembled, tears instantly welling up in her eyes. Liu Qianqian's death was an unhealable wound in her heart, which also brought to light her complete break with Li Yi.

“Child…” Madam Wen suddenly gripped her hand tightly, “You and Zi’an… can you… never… go back?”

Xuanji closed her eyes, tears silently streaming down her face, dripping onto Madam Wen's thin, withered hand. She nodded, choking back sobs, and said, "Master's wife, the road has ended, the bond is broken. There's no point in staying."

Madam Wen's eyes showed little surprise, only a hint of knowing sorrow. "I... should have thought of it sooner... that 'deep affection' of his was... a control that wouldn't tolerate any imperfections... how could someone with your temperament endure such a thing for long..." She coughed violently, and Xuanji quickly patted her back to help her catch her breath.

After a long while, Madam Wen caught her breath. "Leaving... is for the best," she said, emphasizing each word.

Xuanji suddenly looked up, staring at Madam Wen in disbelief. She had thought that her master's wife would try to reconcile them and that she would endure it for the sake of peace.

Madam Wen understood her astonishment, and managed a faint smile: "Youwei... In this life... peace of mind and freedom are more important than anything else. Fame and fortune are just shackles... Since you have the courage to cut them off, your teacher's wife... is happy for you."

She caught her breath for a moment, then looked out at the gray sky: "But... from now on, you'll be all alone, and the road ahead will surely be difficult... Your master's wife... I'm afraid she won't be able to... protect you anymore..."

"Master's wife..." Xuanji sobbed uncontrollably.

“Your master… he was a solitary and aloof person. After I left… this courtyard and study will probably be even quieter…”

She paused for a moment, then her fingertips curled very lightly in Xuanji's palm:

“You are all people of pure and noble character… In the years to come, if we can… bring each other some warmth and support each other… I will have no regrets.”

Inside Qiwu Pavilion, Xuanji was slowly tidying up her things. Suddenly, a suppressed commotion and faint crying came from outside, seemingly coming from the direction of the mansion gate.

An extremely ominous premonition pierced her numb heart like an ice pick.

She sat up abruptly and listened intently.

The door was suddenly pushed open, but it wasn't a servant from the Li family who rushed in, but an old servant from the Wen family, followed by Shiliu, whose face was streaked with tears.

The old servant, dressed in white mourning clothes with a hemp rope tied around his forehead, knelt down with a thud upon seeing Xuanji. Before he could speak, tears streamed down his face as he sobbed uncontrollably, "Xuanji... Waaah... Madam... Madam... she... passed away at Chenshi!"

With a loud "boom," Xuanji felt dizzy and everything went black before his eyes. He staggered and grabbed the chest to keep from falling.

In January of the tenth year of the Tianqi reign, Madam Wen passed away.

Master's wife...is gone?

The woman who gave her warmth and shelter when she was all alone, who taught her embroidery and sewed clothes for her... she's gone just like that?

An overwhelming grief engulfed her like a tsunami, washing away all the anger and despair she had felt during her confrontation with Li Yi. She felt as if a piece of her heart had been hollowed out, leaving only boundless emptiness and coldness.

"Xiang'er...where is Miss Xiang'er?" She heard her own voice drifting and far away.

"Miss, Miss has fainted several times from crying... Master... Master seems to have completely collapsed..." the old servant sobbed.

Xuanji closed her eyes, and tears finally streamed down her face.

She took a deep breath, using all her strength to steady herself, and her voice gradually calmed down: "I understand. You go back to the manor to help first, I... will be there immediately."

The old servant staggered away.

When Xuanji arrived at the Wen residence, white banners were already hanging high, and the air was filled with mourning. The mourning hall was not yet fully set up, and servants were busy moving about, their faces filled with grief and fear.

She immediately spotted Wen Xiang'er kneeling before the funeral bed, weeping bitterly. The once charming and bright young girl was now dressed in mourning, her eyes swollen like a rabbit's, and her shoulders trembling violently.

Xuanji slowly walked over and silently knelt down beside Wen Xiang'er.

"Xiang'er..." she called softly.

Wen Xiang'er looked up and saw it was her. As if seeing her closest confidante, she threw herself into her arms and burst into tears, crying, "Sister Xuanji... Mother... Mother doesn't want us anymore... Waaah... We'll never eat Mother's osmanthus cake again... Waaah..."

Xuanji hugged her tightly, tears falling onto Xiang'er's mourning clothes. The two women knelt before the coffin, embracing and weeping, as if they had returned to the days when they relied on each other, only this time, they had forever lost that warm and tender protection.

After crying for a long time, Xiang'er finally stopped sobbing a little and said through choked sobs, "Father... Father has been staying in Mother's room since this morning, not saying a word and not letting anyone disturb him... Brother... Brother is inside with him... I... I'm so scared..."

Xuanji felt a pang of pain in his heart and wiped away her tears: "Don't be afraid, Master and Senior Brother Jue... need some time. Let's come together to send Master's wife on her final journey."

She stood up, took a deep breath, suppressed her grief, and began to take over the management of the household affairs.

She directed her subordinates to set up the mourning hall, received relatives and friends who came to pay their respects, and arranged all the funeral rites... Her voice was not loud, but her thoughts were clear and her demeanor was calm and composed.

Inside, however, lay another heartbreaking scene.

Wen Tingyun sat alone in his bedroom. The dim light outside the window cast a gaunt shadow on him. He stared blankly at the empty bedsheets that had been neatly arranged, his hand unconsciously stroking a string of Buddhist prayer beads that his wife often held, without uttering a word.

Wen Jue, dressed in a military uniform with a hempen robe over it, stood silently by his father's side. He poured a cup of warm water and handed it to Wen Tingyun, saying softly, "Father, please have some water."

Wen Tingyun showed no reaction, his gaze vacant.

Wen Jue didn't urge him, but stubbornly held up the glass of water: "Father, if Mother is watching from heaven, she would not want to see you like this... This family still needs you to hold on."

Wen Tingyun's body seemed to sway very slightly, his chapped lips moved, but no sound came out. He simply raised his hand slowly and placed it heavily on Wen Jue's strong arm.

That was a father's silent support, and all the support a son could offer at that moment.

Inside the mourning hall, incense smoke curled and mournful chants echoed. Guests arrived in an endless stream, all dressed in white mourning clothes, their faces somber.

Li Yi arrived at this time.

He was dressed in a black robe in accordance with etiquette, with a plain robe over it, and his brows carried just the right amount of sorrow and solemnity.

He stepped steadily into the mourning hall, first offering incense according to etiquette, and then solemnly kneeling before the spirit tablet.

After the ceremony, he stood up and walked towards Wen Xiang'er and Xuanji, who were kneeling to the side returning the greeting.

"Junior sister, please accept my condolences." He said to Wen Xiang'er in a low and gentle voice, "Our kind and loving master's wife passed away suddenly, which is truly heartbreaking. I hope you will take care of yourself and not let her spirit in heaven worry about you."

Wen Xiang'er was dizzy from crying, and upon hearing this, she simply lowered her head and choked back sobs as she returned the greeting: "Thank you... Senior Brother Li..."

Li Yi's gaze then turned to Xuanji beside him: "...You too, please accept my condolences and take care of yourself."

Xuanji did not look up at him, but only nodded slightly.

Just then, the curtain of the inner room was lifted, and Wen Jue helped the exhausted and sorrowful Wen Tingyun out.

Wen Tingyun's gaze slowly swept across the mourning hall, finally landing on Li Yi. He merely nodded slightly as a greeting and said nothing more.

Li Yi lingered for a moment, but seeing that no one would speak to him anymore, he had no choice but to leave dejectedly.

After he left, Wen Xiang'er couldn't help but lean closer to Xuanji, her red and swollen eyes filled with worry and confusion, and asked in a very soft voice, "Sister Xuanji... what happened between you and Senior Brother Li?"

Xuanji simply held her hand tightly, shook his head, his gaze still fixed on the cold coffin in front of him, and said softly, "It's nothing."

Two days later, the peak of the mourning subsided.

Wen Tingyun called his two children and Xuanji to his side. He still looked haggard, but there seemed to be a hint of calm after making a decision in his eyes.

He remained silent for a long time before slowly speaking, his voice low but clear:

“I have decided that after the 49th day memorial service… I will personally escort your mother back to her hometown, Wuzhou, for burial.”

Wen Xiang'er and Wen Jue were both startled.

"Father!" Wen Xiang'er said anxiously, "Wuzhou is a long way away, and your health is not what it used to be... How can you withstand such a long journey? Why don't we choose an auspicious place near Chang'an so that we can visit your graves more often..."

Wen Tingyun slowly shook his head: "Chang'an... is too noisy, not what your mother would have wanted. She often mentioned the scenery of Wuzhou to me before she died, and thought of the old plum tree in front of the old house... fallen leaves return to their roots, she should go back."

He paused for a moment: "After the burial is settled, I will stay in the old house in Wuzhou, guard her, and live a quiet life."

Upon hearing this, the room fell silent.

Xuanji knelt to the side, her heart pounding as she listened to these words. Looking at her husband's profile, which had suddenly turned dejected, and thinking of her own complete break with Li Yi and her uncertain future, an unprecedented sense of loneliness and bewilderment overwhelmed her like a tidal wave.

The teacher's wife is gone, and the teacher is leaving too.

In this vast city of Chang'an, it seemed that in an instant, she was left all alone again.