Chapter Twenty-Five: Disturbance at the Funeral Hall
The second daughter covered her face, turned her head and glared at her, her eyes red, and said, "If you hadn't been involved with the Prince of Jin and angered the Empress Dowager, how could Father have been dismissed from his post? And how could my mother... have died?"
“Absurd,” Ruan Bi said coldly. “Only fools blame everything on others. Others’ behavior is unpredictable; the only thing you can control is your own. If you’re blind and your mind is dull, you’ll rush into a trap set by someone and then blame them for framing you. When something goes wrong, you always look for problems in others, never reflect on your own actions, and can’t distinguish right from wrong. You’ll only be led by the nose your whole life.”
"You're smart and capable, so you've managed to fool everyone and drag our whole family down with you."
“A wise person knows how to assess the situation and know when to advance and retreat. Since the Prince of Jin has launched a campaign against Jiaozhi, he knows without my reminder that leaving the capital is the best course of action. Missing the opportunity once is one thing. When I went into the palace to replace Lan Gu, I specifically asked Fourth Sister to urge you all to leave the capital immediately, but you didn't listen and missed the second opportunity. Who can you blame for this outcome? You are unwilling to give up your family fortune, but you are willing to give up your lives? If you lose your life, even the greatest fortune will belong to someone else. If you keep your life, even if you have nothing, you can still rebuild your fortune.”
These words left the four people present speechless, and even the old lady lowered her eyes in shame.
After a while, the second girl said indignantly, "You try your best to defend yourself, portraying yourself as a pure and flawless lotus flower, while we, this pile of mud, are dragging you down."
Seeing that she was still persisting, even Ruan Bi, who was usually calm and collected, became irritated and said angrily, "You've been brainless for a long time now. When something happens, all you do is complain and blame this or that, instead of thinking about how to solve it. Fine, I'll admit that all of this is because of me. Tell me, how does that help?"
The second daughter was speechless again.
Ruan Bi stopped looking at her and turned to Manyun, asking, "What's wrong with Big Brother?"
Manyun glanced at the old lady, and with her permission, whispered, "The eldest young master was furious and went to seek revenge on Dunluye with a dagger, but he was arrested and sent to the yamen. The master is running around trying to find someone, but no one dares to step forward because of Dunluye's status..."
Ruan Bi frowned, initially wanting to ask why the Third Master wasn't being asked to find a solution. But then she thought again; Ruan Jiaxuan was the eldest grandson, the rightful heir to the Ruan family. The Third Master would much rather see him in trouble; why would he help? Alas, the vast Ruan family was filled with the old, the weak, the foolish, and the cunning—not a single person could stand up for them. If it didn't fall, it would be an injustice. Looking at the translucent, octagonal celadon vase on the table, she asked again, "Is it to be given to Dunlu?"
Manyun shook her head and said, "It's a gift for Prince Han. He's the only one who doesn't refuse us these days."
Ruan Bi was quite unconvinced, thinking to herself, "If it were me, I wouldn't refuse either. How can I collect money if I refuse?" She wanted to tell the old lady not to rush to send money to Prince Han, but she couldn't think of a way to help Ruan Jiaxuan. She also knew that funerals were extremely elaborate, and as the eldest son, Ruan Jiaxuan was the chief mourner. He was responsible for attending the funeral, offering condolences, setting up the mourning rites, the encoffining, and moving the coffin. The eldest wife had died the night before last, and the small encoffining should have been done early yesterday morning. The grand encoffining should be today, and there would be a grand memorial service on the day of the encoffining, in which he would be required to participate in the mourning and bowing. The weather was hot, and the funeral would have to be held no later than the seventh day. If the chief mourner, Ruan Jiaxuan, was still imprisoned on the day of the funeral, the face of the Ruan family in Jingxi would be greatly embarrassed.
Seeing that she remained silent, the old lady assumed that she had tacitly agreed and was afraid that she would change her mind later. She quickly said to Manyun, "Quickly take the octagonal bottle to the head steward and tell him to send it to the Prince of Han's residence." After saying that, she realized that she was the head of the family and why she should act according to Ruan Bi's whims.
Manyun responded and went out.
The old lady straightened her face and looked at the second daughter sternly, saying, "Aren't you going back to the mourning hall to kneel? Is this proper?"
The second young lady glared fiercely at Ruan Bi, then turned and left.
"Lan'er, take Wu Yatou to change her clothes," the old lady said. "Although everyone knows that Wu Yatou is your child, she has been raised under your name for more than ten years. Let her observe the full mourning period as a daughter within the seventy-nine days."
Ruan Lan gave a soft "hmm," pulled Ruan Bi into the inner room, took out a plain white dress with a dark pattern from the wardrobe, and said, "Liaoyuan is locked up, and your clothes have all been put away." She glanced at her and said, "I'm afraid you can't fit into your old clothes anymore, so wear mine for now."
She was slightly shorter and thinner than Ruan Bi, but fortunately, the dress was loose and baggy, and a long, flowing skirt that fit Ruan Bi perfectly, highlighting the girl's graceful figure. Looking at her, Ruan Bi felt both gratified and moved, tears welling in her eyes. "In the blink of an eye, you've grown so much."
"She's such a delicate woman," Ruan Bi thought, unable to bear it any longer. She quickly asked, "Where's my second aunt?"
"Don't mention it." Ruan Lan wiped her eyes and said softly, "Seeing that our family had suffered a disaster, she went back to her parents' home with her dowry a few days ago. The obituary was sent to Yangzhou, but she probably won't come."
Then he asked, "Has the funeral been held?"
Ruan Lan shook her head and said, "Not yet. The feng shui master said that the funeral is not yet over, so we are in a hurry to bring the family home out."
Ruan Bi nodded, no longer asking questions. She let her hair down, put it up in a bun, and pinned a white silk flower on it before heading to the mourning hall. The mourning hall was large, with a curtain separating the two sides. The second young lady, Aunt Lin, Aunt Sun, and other female relatives were kneeling behind the curtain, while the third and fourth young masters were kneeling in front of it.
The second young lady knelt in the first row of the female relatives. Ruan Bi thought for a moment, then walked over and knelt down beside her. Whenever someone came to offer condolences, they had to cry loudly. Ruan Bi couldn't cry, so she just knelt with her head down and eyes lowered. The second young lady was furious and glared at her repeatedly, but she was helpless.
Around noon, a report suddenly came from outside: "Young Master Gu of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion has come to pay his respects."
The group of people from the Ruan family were taken aback at first, and then looked at Ruan Bi with complicated expressions.
The Ruan family is currently in the eye of the storm. The obituary has been sent out, and those who have come to offer condolences are mostly relatives and family members; none of the previously close, long-standing friends or prominent families have come. The Duke of Dingguo's family and the Ruan family have never had much interaction, so logically, there's no need for them to pay their respects. And even if they did come, it shouldn't be Gu Xiaobai. Besides, why did he come so precisely when Ruan Bi returned? It really makes one suspicious of his motives.
A moment later, footsteps sounded, and Gu Xiaobai strode in, wearing a plain round-necked robe. Even through the curtain, one could sense his handsome and refined appearance. The second young lady stared at him for a while, then, realizing that he had come because of Ruan Bi, her heart was filled with bitterness. Thinking of her mother's wrongful death and her own future being left alone and helpless, her heart ached as if it were being torn apart, and she couldn't help but cry out loud.
She had just cried a few times when she suddenly heard a report from outside: "The Northern Rong envoy, Dunluye, has come to offer sacrifices."
The sobs and cries ceased abruptly, and the entire room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Therefore, the footsteps outside were especially clear, each step a distinct, rhythmic thud, as if walking on everyone's hearts.
When Dunluye entered, he saw the shocked expressions on the faces of the filial son and the deacons. He curled his lips in disdain, lit three incense sticks, and walked to the front of the mourning hall, about to pay his respects. Suddenly, a dark shadow flashed in the corner of his eye, followed by a basin of ashes carrying unburnt paper money rushing towards him. He quickly dodged to the side, but his eyes were still filled with ash.
The sudden turn of events left everyone stunned. As the ashes from the paper offerings drifted down, Dunluye was seen standing by the door, covering his eyes. A servant brought him tea to wash his eyes. Gu Xiaobai stood by a pillar, his face full of bewilderment, the hem of his robe covered in ashes. One of Dunluye's servants drew a knife and pointed it at the second young lady's neck. The second young lady raised her head, her eyes swollen and red like walnuts, glaring at Dunluye and saying, "Dunluye, you beast! You framed my mother and imprisoned my brother! Don't you feel any remorse? I curse you to be childless and die without a burial place!"
Dunluye squinted and said, "Madam Ruan asked me for medicine, and I kindly gave it to her. How can you say I framed her? Besides, she died from twenty strokes of the cane, which has nothing to do with me. If you want to hold someone accountable, you should find the right person. As for being childless and dying without a burial place, others may say that, but you can't say it. Madam Ruan and I had a very pleasant conversation, and she proposed to marry you to me. I also have this intention, and I am planning to propose to Minister Ruan after the forty-seventh day memorial." His tone became quite flippant at the end.
There were other guests in the mourning hall, none of whom had heard of this secret, and they all stared wide-eyed.
The second young lady couldn't believe he was so shameless, daring to utter such private words in front of everyone, especially with Gu Xiaobai present. Completely humiliated, she felt as if she were dying. Originally, she was heartbroken by the passing of the First Madam, weeping daily, which had already exhausted her strength. Overwhelmed by anger and despair, her vision blurred, and she fainted.
Aunt Lin and Aunt Sun were taken aback, then hurriedly stepped forward to help her behind the curtain, pressing her philtrum and drawing blood. The third and fourth young masters were too young and were already trembling with fear, as were the other women, who were all rather naive. The steward, though a member of the clan, was afraid of being implicated in court intrigues and dared not speak. Thus, the mourning hall was leaderless.
Ruan Bi had no choice but to step forward and whispered, "Aunt Lin, Aunt Sun, when you help Second Sister to the inner room, find a doctor to take a look at her."
Her voice wasn't loud, but it was clear and bright, and everyone felt as if their ears had been washed with clean water.
Gu Xiaobai perked up and turned to look at the curtain, but unfortunately the curtain was quite dense, and he could only see a faint shadow.
"My second sister was overwhelmed with grief after our mother's passing and behaved erratically. I apologize to the general on her behalf for the incident of throwing ashes just now," Ruan Bi said, curtsying.
"It's a trivial matter, nothing to worry about."
"I've heard that the general rose through the ranks from a young age and has experienced countless battles. I originally thought he was only skilled in military strategy and tactics, but I didn't expect his verbal skills to be so first-rate, and his ability to conjure up stories out of thin air to be unparalleled. He even managed to make my second sister faint. He is truly amazing. I admire him greatly."
These words were incredibly sarcastic, but Dunluye forced himself to say, "You flatter me, you flatter me. It's not that I'm so clever, I think it's just that the Second Miss fainted because she was exhausted from the passing of the First Madam."
"So, you're saying it has nothing to do with the general? Just like my mother's death, it had absolutely nothing to do with the general?"
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