In the General's mansion, there was an old steward in his early fifties. His skin was dark and wrinkled, like a vegetable leaf pickled in salt. He had deep-set eyes, was stern and never smiled, and looked very serious and harsh.
Even Fu Rong held this old steward in some awe, but he was extremely respectful to Zheng Quchi. As soon as she stepped into the General's Mansion, he seemed to have been waiting for her for a long time, preparing everything that needed to be prepared, just hoping that his mistress would return.
The old steward's name is Chang Yue. He was a fugitive whom Yuwen Sheng picked up when he was fifteen years old. After training and discipline, he eventually made him his steward.
His slightly bluish-green, cloudy eyes swept over Zheng Quchi and landed on the black lacquered coffin behind her, but only paused for a second or two before looking away.
He bowed to Zheng Quchi and said, "Madam, you have suffered. Chang Yue has prepared a bath and changed your clothes for you, and your room has also been tidied up. If you need anything else, please let me know. As for the general... Chang Yue will immediately send people to set up the mourning hall and hold the funeral rites."
His voice was like wood or stone, hard and flat, without any inflection, very serious and serious, but his intentions were meticulous and gentle.
Zheng Quchi was momentarily at a loss for words to respond to his unexpected thoughtfulness and kindness, and could only nod slightly: "Thank you for your trouble, Steward Chang."
Upon hearing this, Chang Yue lowered his back even further: "Madam, you mustn't be so polite to this old servant. I can't accept such courtesy."
After saying that, he tilted his head and two men and two women walked out from behind him: "From now on, you will be the personal servants of the madam. You must serve the madam with utmost care and diligence. If you make any mistakes, you will be punished and made to apologize."
His voice was like a blade drawn from the cold snow, chilling and making one tremble.
His attitude towards Zheng Quchi was completely different from how he spoke to him. Only by comparing the two can one understand how kind and gentle he was towards Zheng Quchi.
Zheng Quchi thought to himself, "...There's no need to be so strict. He keeps telling people to commit suicide. This ruthless, cold-blooded killing ability is truly worthy of being Yuwen Sheng's steward."
Without saying a word, the four men knelt heavily before Zheng Quchi and kowtowed with great ceremony: "Spring, Autumn, Summer, and Winter greet Madam."
Zheng Quchi wasn't used to this kind of "greeting gift," and she said, "Get up."
But Chang Yue said, "Madam, you should first establish some rules for them."
When the personal servants of wealthy families first met their masters, they would be whipped or forced to kneel as part of the "rules" to make them remember the master's authority and instill fear in them so that they would serve him obediently in the future.
Zheng Quchi looked at Chang Yue with a gentle and ordinary gaze, but one sentence from her made Chang Yue lose his composure.
“My rule is to tell them to get up. I understand that Steward Chang wants to establish my authority when I first arrive at the family home, but I have never been a person who deals with things in a strict manner. Let’s get to know each other slowly. You can get to know me, and I can get to know you. I can give everyone time. I hope we can get along well.”
Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter glanced at Chang Yue, then hesitated, unsure whether they should get up.
"But this time is limited. When I feel that you are not suitable to stay by my side, then I will trouble you, Chief Manager, to replace you with a new batch of people. Although I am tolerant and kind, I do not like to keep those who are not of one mind with me by my side."
The four were immediately startled. Without waiting for Chang Yue's reaction, they had already propped themselves up on their knees and stood behind Zheng Quchi to await his command.
Zheng Quchi smiled slightly, her eyes narrowed, and said to Chang Yue, "Butler Chang, the person you chose is very good."
Chang Yue was also very satisfied with the actions of the four people. With a stern and harsh old face, he lowered his head, not daring to accept the compliment: "It's good that Madam is satisfied."
Fu Rong, standing nearby like an invisible man, couldn't help but curse Chang Yue inwardly when he saw how harmoniously the two mistresses and the old butler got along. He thought that Chang Yue was a cunning old fox who had managed to coax the ladies so well that he was trying to compete with them for the position of the future number one favorite!
——
Chang Yue was very efficient, which was also related to the prestigious reputation of the General's Mansion in Shengjing. Even though Yuwen Sheng was no longer around, many people were still willing to give face to the General's Mansion.
The necessary offering table, sacrificial items, coffin, and funeral banners were all present. While everyone else was busy in the mourning hall, Zheng Quchi changed into a white dress and walked to the refrigerated coffin.
"You may all leave now."
She gave the order.
Upon hearing this, the servants who were making the arrangements immediately stopped what they were doing, bowed, and quietly withdrew.
“Your body has been delayed for too long and it is probably too late to be placed here. So after your relatives and friends pay their respects tomorrow, I will let you rest in peace.”
"When you were alive, I made clothes for you; now that you are dead, I will change your clothes."
She was strong and pushed open the coffin lid with one hand. Immediately, a putrid and foul smell was released, but fortunately, a pot of incense burning nearby to repel insects and ants dissipated much of the stench.
Before the funeral, the deceased must be tidied up and dressed in new clothes. This is a traditional custom in Ye State, and it must be done by the closest relatives.
Yuwen Sheng no longer has any close relatives, and his wife is the only one left in the family, so it is natural for her to handle these matters.
Of course, she was willing to do it, because she always felt that she owed Yuwen Sheng something that she would never have the chance to repay in this life, so she could only do what she could for him.
Fu Rong had been left standing there, and when he saw her lift the lid, seemingly to tidy up the deceased's appearance, his heart nearly skipped a beat. On one hand, he was genuinely worried that she might find something on the body, and on the other hand, he was afraid that if that person found out, they might twist his head off.
“Madam, why do you have to do the grooming yourself? We can just find two members of the Yuwen family to do it. If the General were alive, he would surely be heartbroken if you did this,” he quickly advised.
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