On the day of Cui Xueheng's memorial service, Meng Sheng got up very early, wore a black short-sleeved shirt and trousers, and drove to the west of the city after breakfast.
Today, cars streamed in and out of the Pei family's house, and the parking lots nearby were packed. Everywhere you looked, there were people dressed in black who had come to pay their respects.
When she arrived, Pei Sui came out to pick her up and took her to the Pei family's underground parking garage.
Meng Sheng squeezed his hand, her brows furrowing with concern. "Have you not been resting well these past few days? Haven't you been eating properly? How come you've lost so much weight?"
Having not seen her for several days, Pei Sui missed her terribly. He reached out and pulled her into his arms, burying his face in the crook of her neck, letting the delicate fragrance of camellias fill his nostrils and seep into his lungs.
It permeates every part of the body, instantly relaxing both body and mind.
Meng Sheng let him hold her and patted his back reassuringly.
Although they haven't met in person these past few days, they chat on WeChat every day and video chat during the day or night, especially when they're sleeping. For example, the night before last, their video chat stayed on for as long as they slept.
After hugging her for a while, Pei Sui finally let go of her, then held her hand tightly. "Let's go inside."
Meng Sheng nodded and said, "A lot of people came today, and I saw some foreigners too."
"Yes, it's not just people from Beijing who are coming; people from other provinces, and those who have close ties with our Pei family, will all be here."
This kind of occasion demonstrates the Pei family's status in the capital and the breadth of their business.
The Pei family mansion, which used to be too quiet and deserted, was unusually noisy today. The five courtyards were full of people, most of whom were guests who had finished paying their respects at the mourning hall, offering incense, and looking around. Even the Pei family's servants were extremely busy.
As he walked along, many people greeted Pei Sui, and each person would end with a "Please accept my condolences."
Pei Sui showed little emotion, only nodding slightly in acknowledgment, and continued walking with Meng Sheng directly to the fifth courtyard.
Upon entering the fifth courtyard, she encountered many familiar faces, including the housekeeper she had met before, Pei Sui's aunt Pei Rong, his cousin Pei Yao, and some members of the Cui family.
Just as Meng Sheng was about to greet them, Pei Sui spoke first to Pei Rong and the noblewoman beside her, "Auntie, Auntie, I'll take Sheng Sheng over to offer incense first, and then I'll come back to greet you later."
Pei Rong nodded. Her attitude towards Meng Sheng was neither warm nor cold, and she certainly didn't look down on him as she had last time.
She simply said, "Okay, go ahead."
The noblewoman Nie Fang beside her watched Meng Sheng's retreating figure and said, "She is indeed very beautiful, and she is quite a good match for Asui."
Pei Rong withdrew her gaze. "She's no pushover. She looks gentle and kind, but she's ruthless and has a sharp tongue. But that's good, at least she won't be bullied for nothing."
Nie Fang covered her mouth and laughed, "That's true. Looking at how much Ah Sui cherishes her, who would have thought she's a divorcee? Once they get married, Ah Sui will probably be completely under her thumb."
Pei Rong snorted, "One is willing to hit and the other is willing to be hit. We elders can't say anything. Besides, Mom really likes Meng Sheng."
"Anyway, it's better than the Gu family's." Nie Fang's smile faded. "I don't know how they can be so shameless as to live in the house."
Pei Rong pursed her lips. She used to really like Gu Ci and felt sorry for her, but after the news broke a few days ago, she completely changed her opinion. When she came to see her a couple of days ago, her attitude was much colder.
She changed the subject, "Speaking of which, it seems that Ayu's engagement banquet with that Cen family member will have to be postponed."
It makes no sense for a younger person to get engaged only two months after the death of an elder.
Especially Pei Yu, as the eldest son.
The engagement might be canceled, and the wedding might be held next year instead.
Nie Fang looked regretful. "There's nothing we can do about it. Mom asked Abbot Dao'an, and he said it's fine to wait more than half a year. Anyway, the wedding date was set for after the New Year. They are both very busy people, always flying around or attending various meetings. They have to make time for the engagement."
Pei Rong smiled and said, "That's true. The Cen family's child is indeed quite good. The two of them together will definitely elevate both the Pei and Cen families to a higher level."
Nie Fang looked around. "Weren't you just here? Where did you go?"
“Ayu took her to the fourth courtyard to see her mother.”
"I see." Nie Fang looked in the direction of the mourning hall. "Speaking of which, Xueheng really didn't have any good fortune."
Pei Rong said, "For her, it was a relief."
The mourning hall was set up in a flower hall next to the main hall. Cui Xueheng's black and white photo was surrounded by white chrysanthemums and placed in the center of the table. Behind the table was an unsealed coffin. Pei Huan knelt to the side, with a futon under her knees. She was wearing the same mourning clothes as Pei Sui.
The monk on the other side fetched three sticks of incense for her, bowed slightly, and handed them to her, saying, "Amitabha, may this incense cloud fill the ten directions, be offered to all Buddhas, save the deceased, and help them to accept this difficult time."
Upon seeing the monk, Meng Sheng was momentarily stunned, but considering that the Pei family believed in Buddhism, and judging from the solemnity and layout of this funeral, it was indeed a Buddhist or Taoist affair.
She bowed respectfully in return, accepted the three incense sticks with both hands, and looked at the black and white photo of Cui Xueheng, her feelings becoming complicated once again.
The outstanding appearance of the Pei brothers, Pei Yu and Pei Sui, is undoubtedly due in large part to their mother, Cui Xueheng.
She is undeniably beautiful, as can be seen from the photos; her eyes are soft, her lips are smiling, and she is dignified and elegant.
If she hadn't been so obsessive, hadn't gotten stuck in a rut, and hadn't fallen into self-centeredness, she should have had a wonderful life. Her two outstanding and successful sons should have been her pride.
But fate is fickle. In her life, the things she valued disappeared one by one. Coincidentally, she was not a person with a strong mindset.
Collapse, despair, and the pain of losing her daughter and husband became the executioners that dragged her into the abyss.
She was a pitiful person, but how innocent were those who were hurt by her obsession?
At this moment, Meng Sheng's heart was sincere. She held the three incense sticks, slowly bent over, then raised them again, and bent over again...
She bowed three times, without any perfunctory gestures. If her sincerity at this moment could truly bring peace of mind to the deceased on their journey to the Bridge of Forgetfulness, and ensure Cui Xueheng's peaceful and happy next life, she felt that she should be sincere.
As he straightened up, guided by the monk beside him, he inserted three incense sticks into the incense burner. Then he walked up to Pei Huan, squatted down, took her hand, and whispered, "Sister Huanhuan, please accept my condolences."
Pei Huan looked at her, gently hummed in agreement, and grasped her hand in return, "Thank you for coming."
Meng Sheng lowered her eyelids and said, "Of course."
"Let Asui take you to sit for a while, Grandma is in the fourth courtyard."
"Okay, see you later."
"Um."
When Meng Sheng and Pei Sui came out of the mourning hall, they ran into Cui Xueying and her daughter Li Xu.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
