Chapter 2 My disguise was flawless as I went out with my future wife...
"I want to make a set of funeral clothes for myself."
Looking at Bai Yan's serious face, Jiang Yuzhi was momentarily blank.
Is this the prevailing social custom now? Young masters who have just reached adulthood are already starting to prepare for their funerals?
"So, what age do you want to wear it?" Jiang Yuzhi asked tentatively.
The deceased's burial clothes usually have an odd number of layers, with the number of upper garments and trousers differing by two layers.
Those who die young, before the age of fifty, are usually only allowed to wear three sets of burial clothes.
The older one gets, the more clothes one can wear, which is a symbol of good fortune and longevity.
"Just these last two years, I think I was about twenty-two then." Bai Yan's gaze fell on a point in the void.
Seeing his appearance, Jiang Yuzhi felt as if he had already seen the afterlife.
He carefully considered his words, wanting to say something to comfort Bai Yan.
"Why don't we wait until my brother has seen it before we discuss the funeral clothes?"
“Yes, of course. This set of funeral clothes was my father’s plan. He was thinking of holding a funeral for me in two years to see if he could fool the ghost messengers and buy me a few more years of life. However,” Bai Yan paused and turned to his wife, who was staring at him nervously, “the situation seems to have changed in the past few days. It should be unnecessary now, but I still want to make it to put my parents’ minds at ease.”
Jiang Yuzhi breathed a sigh of relief. Bai Yan's parents' plan should not work out. After the Black and White Impermanence finished reading, if Bai Yan's lifespan was really nearing its end, Xie Bi'an and Fan Wujiu would definitely come to take him away personally, given the faint connection between Bai Yan and the Sheji Map.
"Won't it have any impact if Mingze tells me about this?"
"It's alright. I never thought I could fool everyone. I just wanted to put my parents at ease." Bai Yan smiled gently, gazing at Jiang Yuzhi's beautiful features. He felt that everything about her suited his taste, and there was also a strange sense of familiarity.
Perhaps they were husband and wife in a past life, and she still cares about him so much.
Having said all that, Jiang Yuzhi couldn't find a good opportunity for the time being. She originally wanted to ask about the shop next door, but she kept it to herself for the time being and decided to make a plan after lunch when the atmosphere was a little more relaxed.
Ah Zhao laid out the steaming food from the food box, including four side dishes and two bowls of soup.
The two of them didn't pay any attention to etiquette and started eating as soon as they picked up their chopsticks.
Bai Yan was in poor health and could only eat about 50-60% of his fill; the rest was all cleaned up by Jiang Yuzhi.
Jiang Yuzhi never expected that medicinal cuisine could be made so elaborately. She couldn't taste the raw ingredients, but they were all incredibly delicious.
And ghosts don't know when they're full. When she put down her chopsticks and looked up, there was only some leftover food left on the plate. Bai Yan across from her looked slightly surprised but also understood as she wiped her mouth.
"Would you like some more? I'll have Ah Zhao bring some more."
Faced with Bai Yan's sincere suggestion, Jiang Yuzhi gained a new understanding of her own appetite.
She was a refined young lady in life, but after suffering in the underworld for a few years, how did she end up like this!
Jiang Yuzhi coughed twice, feigning modesty, "It was delicious, I couldn't help but eat more, I'm already full." Actually, she wasn't.
I went to the small kitchen and brewed some fresh tea to cleanse my palate.
"Mingze, there's something I'd like to ask you."
"Hmm?" Bai Yan, sipping her new tea, was savoring the stronger flavor of the floral tea than before, pondering what kind of meals to send next.
"I noticed that the two shops next door are both closed, with white lanterns hanging up. Has something happened?"
“The men from both families had been distributing porridge to the refugees a few days ago, but they were carried back. Some of the refugees were inciting unrest, and the government forbade the city's garrison to use force against the people.”
"The government has been trying its best to appease the people who have fled the famine, arranging jobs for them and building temporary shelters, but people are always dissatisfied with their situation and have picked up farm tools to attack the people in the city who bring them food."
“They dare not attack the government troops, only the kind-hearted people in the city. The refugees who committed the murders have been imprisoned and are awaiting trial, but the dead will never come back.” Bai Yan sighed, his eyes revealing a sorrow unlike that of ordinary people.
I recall a while ago, I had a chance encounter with a ghost messenger who was guiding the souls of the dead in the neighborhood.
Behind him were several bewildered souls, some with half their legs broken, some with a large hole in their heads, and some with half an arm missing.
They must be the people who died in that chaos.
Just then, a voice came from the shop in front of me asking a question.
"Is anyone here? Shopkeeper?" came a hoarse female voice.
"They're here!"
Jiang Yuzhi stood up and glanced at Bai Yan.
Bai Yan waved his hand to reassure her that she could go ahead and that he would take good care of himself.
Then he hurried forward.
Zhang Yue and Shen Zhenzhu hesitated for a moment when they saw a young, unmarried woman walk out from behind the curtain.
But when I thought about my purpose, I couldn't care less about that anymore.
"Shopkeeper, can you do urgent orders? My husband passed away suddenly, and the two old funeral clothing shops in Kyoto are very busy. I want my husband to have a dignified farewell."
Shen Zhenzhu stood nervously behind Zhang Yue, nodding frequently.
"When will you need it?"
Jiang Yuzhi was already standing behind the counter, taking out paper and pen to write down their needs.
"Is three days later okay? Two sets of funeral clothes. Our houses are just two houses next door."
Hmm? What a coincidence.
"Can I take your measurements first?"
"Yes, but my husband's health might be a little... However, I've already hired a coroner to do the work, so I'll let the shopkeeper know first."
"Okay, please write your names here. I'll pack my things and be there shortly." Jiang Yuzhi pushed the ledger in front of the two of them.
"Thank you so much, shopkeeper. Thank you so much." Zhang Yue wrote her name, her voice choked with emotion.
The two quickly left together, and Bai Yan also came to the shop from the backyard.
"What's wrong?"
"It's the wives from the two houses next door; they need their funeral clothes made."
Jiang Yuzhi buried herself in organizing the items she was going to take with her under the counter.
"May I go with you? I have some connections with those two families."
"Don't you need a lunch break? Your body..."
Jiang Yuzhi slung her small bag over her shoulder and stood up. Before she could finish speaking, she was surprised to find that Bai Yan's face had regained some color compared to when he first arrived, and his lips were normal in color. He looked like a normal person with fairer skin.
Is that medicinal diet really that effective?!
"I'm fine, I'll just treat it as a post-meal digestion."
"Okay, let's go together."
Seeing that he seemed much healthier, Jiang Yuzhi agreed without much thought.
They went to the general store first, and Zhang Yue came out to meet them alone.
The chill in the room was bone-deep; they must have bought ice to preserve the body.
Jiang Yuzhi's sleeve was gently tugged. She turned her head to look and saw Bai Yan smiling at her, saying softly, "Does the young lady feel cold?"
She wasn't cold, but Bai Yan's expression looked rather unwell.
Jiang Yuzhi opened her two tiny, deflated bags and pulled out a thick cloak!
Bai Yan's pupils dilated instantly. He took it somewhat stiffly and mechanically put it on.
"Young lady, you've made such thoughtful preparations."
Zhang Yue, who was leading the way, didn't notice the movements of the two people behind her. Jiang Yuzhi had been using this small bag for quite some years, and she didn't expect that her actions would cause Bai Yan such a shock.
After all, in her opinion, Bai Yan's expression was normal and there was nothing wrong with it.
Two coffins were placed in the backyard, surrounded by ice blocks to preserve the bodies.
Chen Zhenzhu sat blankly on the bench beside the coffin.
When he saw someone coming, he snapped out of his daze, stood up, and greeted them.
"Please accept my condolences." Jiang Yuzhi took out a ruler, paper, and pen from her small bag, waiting for the deceased's relatives to speak.
"Shopkeeper, let's take your measurements directly." Zhang Yue had already sat down on the bench with Shen Zhenzhu.
"Mingze, could you write down the dimensions for me?" Bai Yan nodded, took the paper and pen, and glanced at the small bag every now and then.
The coffin lid was not closed, and the face of the deceased was covered with a face covering. The body was dressed in ordinary everyday clothes, which had obviously been taken care of.
When Jiang Yuzhi took the measurements, she could clearly feel rough suture protrusions on the legs and arms of the two bodies.
"Shopkeeper, is it true that good people don't get good rewards?" Chen Zhenzhu, who had been silent since they met, spoke for the first time.
“No, Heaven is watching what people do. If the blessings in this life don’t come to fruition in time, they will surely be rewarded in the next life.” Jiang Yuzhi kept her hands busy, telling Bai Yan the dimensions, and also answered Chen Zhenzhu in mid-air.
As if she had found an outlet, she choked back as Zhang Yue gently patted her back and continued speaking to herself.
“My sister and I came here as refugees, and we met our husbands on the way. We had no other relatives. We worked hard, saved money, and moved to the city. The government was even willing to lend us money to open a shop. We were just starting to live a better life, but then…”
Chen Zhenzhu finally burst into tears, and the two sisters hugged each other tightly.
"Sister, it's all my fault. I shouldn't have thought that everyone here was a refugee from famine, and I pitied their hardship, so I made my husband bring them food. It's my fault that they died..."
Bai Yan had finished noting the measurements and looked at the poor couple with some pity.
"Madams, the authorities have already detained the criminals. They will be sentenced in a few days after the investigation is completed. This was not done by the vagrants. You are innocent. I cannot say more, as this matter is of great importance."
“No…?” Zhang Yue was no ordinary woman; they had witnessed many battles along the way, and she immediately seemed to understand something.
But only time can heal the grief of losing a loved one. Bai Yan's words could only help them feel less guilty and to live on.
"The government will post a notice in five days. You two must go and see it. It's good news."
Jiang Yuzhi, who was standing nearby, had also finished tidying up.
"Ladies, please come back in three days to collect it. We will take our leave now."
Zhang Yue and Shen Zhenzhu watched the two leave, and then they saw Bai Yan, who was walking a little behind, take off his cloak and drape it over his arm, while his other hand quietly tugged at Jiang Yuzhi's sleeve.
Manager Jiang naturally took the cloak and led him to the next room.
Back in the courtyard, Bai Yan reluctantly let go of her hand.
Seeing his expression, Jiang Yuzhi felt an overwhelming surge of maternal love and wanted to reach out and pat his head, but then she remembered that the two had only just met, and it seemed inappropriate.
It's really strange, why does it feel so familiar?
Jiang Yuzhi shook her head, trying to shake off that inexplicable feeling.
"Why are you shaking your head, young lady?"
"Oh, it's nothing. My brother will arrive tomorrow. How about I take you to see the doctor tomorrow afternoon?"
Bai Yan's usually dull mind, which wasn't very sharp in front of Jiang Yuzhi, finally paused for a moment in confusion upon hearing these words.
There are just too many suspicious things about this person.
Leaving aside the strange little bag, there's also the question of how she managed to contact her brother and obtain accurate information.
We've been together all day, but I haven't seen her look at any letters or anything like that.
Then there was the small silver bell at her waist, which kept ringing intermittently, the sound not loud, but lasting for a long time.
But Bai Yan's intuition clearly told him that this young lady meant no harm. She was his future wife, so how could he doubt her?
"Okay, I'll come over tomorrow afternoon? Or maybe in the morning I'll come and watch the shop for you? That way you can focus on making clothes, and we can have medicinal cuisine together for lunch?"
Bai Yan was puzzled, but then he opened his mouth and said something else entirely.
"This young master Bai is so considerate," Jiang Yuzhi thought to herself. However, she wasn't worried at all about whether he had ulterior motives. What was there for a ghost like her to be afraid of? Besides, with the Soul-Soothing Bell, her disguise was flawless.
"Hmm, sure, but wouldn't that be too much trouble for you?"
Jiang Yuzhi feigned modesty.
"Of course not, I really like the environment here, and I should thank you for your hospitality, young lady."
After exchanging pleasantries, Ah Zhao came to pick them up.
If we don't return to the manor soon, the madam will send someone to look for us.
Young Master Bai had no choice but to say goodbye in disappointment, leaving behind the words, "See you tomorrow."
Jiang Yuzhi smiled and replied, waved to him, and then turned and went into the courtyard.
The requiem bell finally quieted down. Fearing it would ring incessantly all day, she had no choice but to put a ghost-covering device on the bell before Bai Yan arrived, so as not to arouse suspicion.
While it was still early, Jiang Yuzhi went to Fanlou to submit her name tag.
As expected of Kyoto's premier restaurant, it was bustling with activity. The first floor was filled with people drinking wine, tea, and listening to storytelling, while the second and third floors were all private rooms, offering a good level of privacy.
Jiang Yuzhi didn't linger. She showed the sign to the shopkeeper and left, as she was in a hurry to burn paper money for the Black and White Impermanence so they could come over that evening.
As Bai Yan walked away, he clearly felt the heavy pressure on his body returning little by little, as if the previous feeling of ease was just an illusion caused by his inability to bear it.
A note from the author:
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Bai Yan: She's so strange.
Jiang Yuzhi: Flawless!
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