Chapter 32 Frosty Dawn (Part Two) - Speaking.
Before Jiang Si could react, the broom came crashing down on him with a whoosh.
He instinctively raised his hand to block, but the broom twig grazed his cheek, leaving several stinging red marks. The gray-blue straight-leg shirt he had specially changed into this morning was now torn and tattered, making him look utterly disheveled.
"Fourth Miss! Fourth Miss! Show mercy! Why is this happening?" Jiang Si cried out urgently as he dodged.
"You dare ask again?" Ye Mu flicked his wrist, and the broom handle swept towards his calf again. "Didn't I warn you that if I saw this again, it wouldn't be as simple as just account books? How dare you come to the Marquis's residence?"
After the chase, Ye Mu was slightly out of breath. She slammed her broom on the ground and shouted, "Guards! Where have you all gone? The thieves have even broken into the inner courtyard! What use are you to us?!"
A group of servants rushed over upon hearing the noise.
"Drag him away," Ye Mu ordered coldly, his chest heaving slightly with anger. "Give him thirty lashes, then hand him over to the authorities and accuse him of trespassing!"
"I'm not a thief!" Jiang Si was supported by two strong servants on either side, struggling to nod slightly towards the mourning hall. "I've come today to pay my respects to the old lady and to offer my condolences. I also ask Fourth Miss to take care of herself and accept my grief."
Upon hearing this, Ye Mu's brows furrowed instantly, and her eyes showed even deeper suspicion. "How do you know my old lady?"
"I am now serving under Brother Xingwen."
"You actually work under Ye Xingwen?" Ye Mu seemed to have heard the biggest joke in the world. "His position as secretary is just a nominal one obtained by purchasing an official post. He spends his days doing nothing but running around. Even he himself has nothing to do, so what can you possibly do for him?"
Although the position of Secretary was a respectable one, it was actually a sinecure where the sons of noble families held nominal positions and received salaries, and few people actually performed official duties.
Although Ye Xingwen had once entered the Imperial Academy's Shuaixing Hall, he was of mediocre talent and repeatedly failed the annual examinations. After the previous controversy over ancient books, the old lady explicitly forbade any further bribery of scholars, with violators to be expelled from the family genealogy. Unable to pass the examinations as others and having no connections to rely on, he gradually gave up on himself and neglected his studies.
Although he failed in his studies, he had high aspirations.
Seeing that his elder brother Ye Xingjian had already become a clerk at a young age, Ye Xingwen pestered his second master Ye to buy an official position. Two months ago, he finally got into the Secretariat, a position that was clearly bought with money, but his second aunt Zhou was still holding a lavish banquet at the Hundred Flowers Pavilion, which caused a lot of gossip in the capital.
"Fourth sister's words are hurtful. The position of secretary is just a nominal one. What I'm really focused on now is building connections and cultivating talented people."
Ye Xingwen, lifting the hem of his robe, strode over from the corridor and turned to Jiang Si. "Brother Jiang, I've been looking everywhere for you! How could you have disappeared in the blink of an eye? And what happened to be that you were beaten?"
Jiang Si's gaze remained fixed on Ye Mu's face. He raised his hand and wiped away a trace of blood from the corner of his mouth with his knuckles. He hissed softly before slowly saying, "Your esteemed residence has a secluded courtyard. I wandered into the depths of that lush bamboo grove just now and became so enchanted that I lost my way. I hope you will forgive my rudeness, Fourth Miss."
"It turns out that it was all a misunderstanding with Fourth Sister," Ye Xingwen waved his men away, "All of you, step back. This is an honored guest of the manor, and you must not be rude."
He then affectionately put his arm around Jiang Si's shoulder, his fingertips brushing against the tear in the other's robe caused by the broom, not without a hint of pride, "How about it, Brother Jiang? This garden is much more spacious than the place you live in now, isn't it? That house was originally a villa under my mother's name, quiet and elegant, just right for a talented person like Brother Jiang to stay temporarily. It's just that this Marquis's mansion is several times larger. If Brother Jiang wants to stroll around, I'll accompany you, otherwise you might easily get lost."
"Second Brother, when you bring guests back to the mansion in the future, you must distinguish them clearly. Don't just bring in any kind of cat or dog," Ye Mu threw the broom on the ground and clapped his hands, "so as not to cause any unnecessary misunderstandings."
"How dare you speak like that, Fourth Sister?" Ye Xingwen said disapprovingly. "Brother Jiang is the first person I've nurtured, how can he be compared to ordinary people? It was he who proposed this idea of supporting scholars from humble backgrounds, and I think it's wonderful! When Brother Jiang achieves success in the imperial examinations, won't he remember my kindness in recognizing his talent?"
Ye Mu scoffed inwardly. What a Jiang Si! In his past life, he found a woman who was easily swayed by others, and in this life, he found a man as shallow as his second brother, who only targets these good-for-nothings raised in luxury.
She could almost picture how Jiang Si made the idea of "cultivating poor families" sound both elegant and profitable, enticing her second brother to willingly part with his money and give her a house, thinking he had made a deal that would go down in history. Little did he know that this man was an ingrate who would kick her out whenever he wanted if he found her troublesome.
After this encounter, Ye Mu became even more certain that he absolutely could not stay in the Marquis's mansion.
She must stay away from Jiang Si, away from this murky water. They don't understand how terrible he is; she has been harmed by him. After the old lady's funeral, if the elders in the family bring up the matter of dividing the family property, she must go along with it and persuade her parents to move out of this deep mansion.
Thinking of this, Ye Mu composed himself and said no more. He bowed slightly to the two men and said, "Second brother has a discerning eye, which is truly admirable. There are still guests to attend to in the mourning hall, so please excuse me for not keeping you company any longer."
Jiang Si stood still, his gaze following the receding figure, his eyes deep and thoughtful.
"What, you've taken a fancy to my fourth sister?" Ye Xingwen leaned over and nudged him with his elbow. He clicked his tongue. "Didn't you suffer enough from that beating just now? Take my advice. My fourth sister is very beautiful, but her personality is extremely shrewish. You saw it yourself, she's quite feisty, and she's always quick-witted. Even my mother often gets embarrassed by her sharp tongue. If you marry her, I'm afraid you won't be able to control her."
Has she been asked to marry someone?
"How could there not be? After her coming-of-age ceremony, my doorstep was practically worn down. Just from what I know, there were sons of the Grand Secretary of the Hanlin Academy, the sons of the Minister of Revenue... each one a desirable husband for others. These outsiders, just like you, only saw her beautiful appearance, how she pleased the old lady, and how she could manage the accounts at such a young age. Who would have thought that she was such a formidable person inside?"
Ye Xingwen sighed, "Besides, my fourth sister has very high standards and hasn't taken a liking to any of them. If you ask me, when it comes to marriage, one should seek a virtuous woman. What's the point of marrying a woman who is so sharp and outspoken? A woman should ultimately be gentle and tender, understanding and loving."
Jiang Si didn't reply, but silently lowered her eyes. She was indeed very different from her previous life.
At that time, the third branch of the Marquis's mansion was weak, and all the suitors who came to propose marriage were good-for-nothing illegitimate sons from collateral branches. When he first met her, she was shy and timid, with shallow dimples on her cheeks when she smiled, and she looked at people timidly.
When he heard that she could help him, his eyes lit up. He was the one who should thank her, but she acted as if she was doing him a huge favor, saying, "Thank you for letting me help you."
That cautious joy, looking back now, was both charming and playful, and utterly endearing.
But he lost her.
He was reborn on the day they met in this life.
As soon as Jiang Si's fingers touched the curtain of her carriage, memories of his past life flooded back. He couldn't help but call out "Fourth Sister," but in her eyes, there was no love whatsoever, only wariness.
Under the guise of discussing friendship with Ye Xingwen, he thoroughly investigated the situation of the third branch of the family. The third branch had already established itself firmly in the household, largely due to Ye Mu's favor with the old lady and her early display of talent in managing household affairs. She was now independent, radiant, and far superior to her naive self in her previous life.
Jiang Si repeatedly replayed the encounter in his mind. With such skill and temperament, there was only one possibility: she had also been reborn.
That day, as she settled the accounts, she lifted his chin, her eyes gleaming with a clear light, displaying a composed demeanor that seemed to grasp the whole situation. To Jiang Si, this was nothing short of breathtaking, leaving him utterly awestruck.
She is even more captivating than in her previous life.
But that day, her eyes held not only wariness but also murderous intent.
It's also more interesting.
He had no doubt that Ye Mu only felt disgust towards him now, but fortunately, she didn't know that he had been reborn. Jiang Si understood her; she was still too kind and only regarded him as an ordinary poor scholar. No matter how much she disliked him, she would never kill him.
She will not kill innocent people indiscriminately.
As long as he doesn't die, things can turn around. He was able to be reborn because his fate with her was not yet over. Jiang Si thought that Si Niang would return to his side.
only……
She used to be a girl who could barely lift a fruit basket. Jiang Si twitched his aching lips slightly. How did she become so much stronger?
This is really weird.
-
White banners hung low as Ye Mu knelt before the female libationer, burning paper money and keeping vigil. She felt that Jiang Si seemed different from the one she had seen last time. Last time, he still had the restraint of a poor scholar, but today he seemed much more composed.
It's estimated that Ye Xingwen's assistance has been in place, and with money to pave the way, there's no need to worry about tomorrow's food and writing materials anymore, and the pressure of making a living is reduced.
But the thought of him filled Ye Mu with bitterness. The hardships of his past life were like the ashes of paper falling from the sky, pressing down on him and making it hard to breathe.
Marriage is a self-sacrifice undertaken by someone who is blind to the truth and lacks understanding. She has accurately found her own retribution and tasted the bitter fruit.
She forcefully suppressed her chaotic thoughts and threw the paper money into the fire pit. In her past life, she would recite poems with him, but in this life, she would only oppose him and beat him every time she saw him. No matter if he was a scholar or a future top scholar, as long as he got even half a step closer to her, she would beat him as if he were a thief.
This life must not be lost to him again.
Finally, noon arrived. Ye Mu noticed that everyone was having their meal in the side hall. She quietly found Ye Xingjian, led him to her courtyard, hid him in her room, and closed the door.
"Big brother, look what I found in Granny Li's room!" Ye Mu had been holding back all morning, and seeing that no one was around, he was finally able to take out what was in his sleeve.
She then took out a plain handkerchief from her sleeve, carefully unfolded it, and found some withered yellow powder lying in the center.
"Big brother, look at this." Ye Mu lowered his voice. "I found it in the hidden compartment of the cabinet in Granny Li's room. I went to check it several times, but there was nothing wrong with her cabinet. If I hadn't tapped the bottom with my knuckles and heard a hollow sound, I would have almost missed it. I pried it open with a stick and found this package inside."
Ye Xingjian's expression hardened. He picked up a small amount of powder, rubbed it between his fingertips, and then brought it close to his nose to sniff. His brows furrowed more and more. "This smell is pungent; it's definitely not an ordinary thing."
"Moreover, this powder is hidden in such a secret place, it must be something that cannot be seen in the light, and it must be related to my grandmother's death."
Ye Xingjian nodded, "The other day I took the opportunity to sound out Physician Li. He said that my grandmother usually uses mild tonics, and he has also reviewed her medical records. If she is treated according to the prescription, there is absolutely no way she could have suddenly changed like this."
Ye Xingjian paused briefly, his gaze sweeping over the fluttering white lanterns under the corridor. “Such acute illnesses are caused by either the patient mistakenly taking a potent medicine that clashes with their constitution, resulting in damage to their internal organs; or by using something that is incompatible with the ingredients in the prescription, causing toxicity; or by a sudden and extreme change that causes emotional turmoil, leading to reversed blood flow, phlegm, and death.”
"But according to the servants, the morning of the day Grandmother left was quite peaceful, and everything in the manor was calm. In less than half a day, there was no disturbance in the manor. So how could there have been such a great change?"
Ye Mu's gaze fell on the handkerchief. "The problem must lie in this powder of unknown origin."
Ye Xingjian carefully rewrapped the powder. "This needs to be examined by an absolutely reliable person. I do know a doctor on the main street who is an expert in the properties of medicines, but he has to perform the ritual of circling the coffin this afternoon and cannot leave the mansion. What should I do?"
The so-called "circling the coffin" involves monks chanting the "Rebirth Mantra," while the entire family of filial sons and grandsons follow along, holding incense and silently praying. They circle the coffin nine times according to the order of kinship and seniority, guiding the grandmother on her path to the afterlife. This is a grand ceremony, with the eldest grandson at the head, who must not leave his seat for even a moment.
Ye Mu pondered for a moment and said, "Brother, there is already a master in the manor."
She leaned closer and whispered.
"Wen Kong?" Ye Xingjian looked surprised. "He is a recluse, yet he is knowledgeable in medicine and medical arts?"
Ye Mu nodded, "Master took Mother's pulse last night, and after one dose of herbal medicine, although she was still unconscious this morning, her high fever had subsided and her delirium had stopped. With such medical skills, it should not be difficult for him to determine the origin of this item."
"But he is ultimately an outsider, and we have never had a close relationship. This matter concerns the cause of my grandmother's death, and has far-reaching implications. Is he really someone we can entrust with this task?"
“Brother, don’t worry, Master is the most trustworthy person.” Ye Mu said, “It’s just that I saw him being invited by the Marquis just now, so it might be inconvenient for me to go and invite him.”
She hesitated for a moment, then said, “Brother, why don’t you go and invite him yourself? Tell him that the ‘circling the coffin’ ceremony is about to begin and you need to discuss the details with him. Ask him to come to your courtyard for a chat. I will go and wait for him.”
Actually, she could have asked Wen Kong for help. She could have just said that her mother's condition was fluctuating and that she needed her master to examine her pulse. She could have summoned him just the same way. However, the two of them had parted on bad terms last night, so she didn't want to bother with him now.
Ye Xingjian naturally agreed without hesitation.
But a sense of unease welled up in his heart, and he suddenly realized that he didn't understand her anymore. He and Si Niang had grown up together since childhood and he knew her temperament very well, but when she mentioned Wen Kong just now, the familiarity and trust in her tone and the emotion in her eyes were completely unfamiliar to him.
She hadn't seen this monk for eight years, had she? How come she spoke as if they saw each other every day?
That kind of charm that only a young woman would have would never be revealed when she was talking to him.
Ye Xingjian secretly became suspicious. When he invited Wen Kong to the courtyard, Ye Mu again acted as if they were not familiar with each other, with an indifferent expression.
Instead, Wen Kong first put his palms together in a gesture of respect, saying, "Fourth Miss."
Ye Mu simply lowered his head slightly, "Master Wen Kong, I presume my brother has already told you the whole story on his way here?"
She spread the handkerchief on the stone table and pushed it in front of him, saying, "I would be grateful if you, Master, could discern the origin of this item."
Ye Xingjian's gaze swept between the two men. Seeing that they were calm and composed, even a little distant and indifferent, he felt that everything was normal and thought to himself that he was just overthinking things.
Fourth Sister could possibly like a monk? That's ridiculous. Ye Xingjian also felt that he was being absurd. It's impossible for everyone in their Marquis's mansion to be so abnormal as to act out of common sense.
He immediately suppressed this absurd thought in his mind.
Wen Kong gathered his sleeves and bent down, examined it closely, and then smelled it. "This is catnip. Although its taste is strong, it is mild in nature and can dispel wind and cold. It is often used for the initial stage of wind-cold, headache and brain pain."
He looked up at the Ye siblings and said, "Although it is not commonly used, it is not rare. Several large pharmacies in the city sell it."
"So, it's not its problem?" Ye Mu asked, puzzled. "Then why did Granny Li hide it so well?"
Ye Xingjian then took out a prescription from his sleeve. "Master Wenkong, this is a copy I made based on Physician Li's dictation. Please take a look, Master, and see if there are any incompatible ingredients?"
Wen Kong took the prescription and pondered for a moment. "The prescription contains warming and nourishing herbs such as astragalus and codonopsis, which are compatible with the properties of this golden mustard seed and there is no risk of conflict."
"So, this lead has gone cold?" Ye Mu couldn't hide his disappointment. "But if it's just ordinary medicinal herbs, why would she hide them? And why would Granny Li run away? This doesn't make sense."
The courtyard fell silent for a moment. A few pieces of paper money flew in from the front yard, tangling with withered yellow paulownia leaves in the air, their chaotic movements seeming to tell a story, mixed with the weeping of family members and servants, as if revealing their grievances.
"Perhaps this substance is not intended to be directly lethal."
Wen Kong suddenly spoke, and the brother and sister both looked at him at the same time.
Wen Kongdao said, "The strange smell I smelled in the old lady's room that day was this. After I returned, I consulted ancient books and found that although catnip is warm in nature, its pungent and penetrating nature can be activated if it encounters a specific catalyst, which can disturb the blood and qi and cause imbalance in the internal organs."
"The prelude?" Ye Mu leaned slightly towards him, then, realizing it was inappropriate, sat up straight. "Which ones does Master mean?"
Wen Kong noticed this subtle movement, his lips pressed tightly together, and after a slight pause, he said, "This humble monk does not know either, as medical books do not describe it in detail."
Ye Xingjian sighed, "It seems that only by finding Granny Li and interrogating her can we find out the truth."
But tomorrow is the day the old lady will be laid to rest.
It was all too late. Unable to uncover the truth before her grandmother was properly buried, Ye Mu felt her heart sink. She was ultimately unable to clear her grandmother's name before the yellow earth covered everything.
Wen Kong took in the expressions of the two men and saw that Ye Mu's face was pale and he was unwilling.
He curled his fingers slightly, glancing around to make sure no one else was there. Just as he was about to speak, a servant suddenly ran up from the corridor. "Master Wenkong, Second Madam requests that you go over immediately to see what kind of agarwood incense is being used to surround the coffin this afternoon. The steward bought several kinds and wants you to help identify them so that there are no mistakes."
Wen Kong nodded and clasped his hands together. He glanced at Ye Mu's indifferent expression, paused for a moment, and finally uttered a Buddhist chant, "Amitabha."
Karma is like a waterfall, cause and effect are like a net; all things in the mortal world have their own laws and patterns.
Wen Kong looked up and saw a piece of paper money being swept by the wind, passing the white banner under the eaves, and landing squarely on his shoulder.
He gently plucked it, held the stem in his hand and twirled it, the secret he was about to reveal just moments before falling silent again.
The Buddha forbade him to speak, and he could not force the Buddha to change the situation.
Ultimately, the opportunity simply hadn't arrived.
-
The next day at dawn, before daybreak, white candles burned brightly in the mourning hall, filling the air with smoke.
The black lacquered coffin sat quietly in the center. The old lady, carefully dressed in a dark blue imperial robe with gold embroidery of clouds and pheasants, lay quietly inside the coffin. Her face, though made up with powder and rouge, was still unable to conceal the faint bluish-gray death aura beneath her gold and pearl headband.
The old lady is being buried today. Before the funeral procession and encoffining, a ritual of feeding the deceased will be held.
This is an extremely private part of the funeral rites of prominent families, with only close relatives, children, and grandchildren present.
As the matriarch, Madam Wang personally brought out a black lacquered tray with a warm, white jade bowl on it. Inside the bowl was a carefully prepared "Farewell Rice," made with this autumn's new rice, pine nuts, lotus seeds, and lily bulbs, simmered over a low flame until tender, symbolizing "purity and cleanliness, and the soul returning to paradise."
Ye Mu knelt around the coffin with his relatives.
She watched as her aunt, Madam Wang, held a slender silver spoon, scooped up a small spoonful of food, and handed it to the Marquis. The Marquis's hand trembled slightly as he gently brought the food to his grandmother's lips.
"Mother, please have your meal. May you have a safe journey to the underworld." The Marquis's voice choked with emotion as he gently placed the symbolic food on his grandmother's bloodless lips.
Next came Master Ye and his second aunt, Madam Zhou. They repeated the same actions, muttering incantations, nothing more than prayers for the deceased's well-being.
Since Ye Mu's mother, Liu, was still unable to get up, this ceremony was waived.
Next, the grandchildren came forward one by one.
When it was Ye Mu's turn, she took the heavy jade bowl and silver spoon. Her fingertips were icy cold. She knelt down in front of the coffin and leaned close. A wave of tears welled up in her eyes.
She imitated her elders, scooping up a spoonful of lukewarm rice porridge and carefully offering it to those stiff, cold, and pale lips.
Just as Ye Mu was taking back the silver spoon, his gaze inadvertently swept over his grandmother's hands, which were folded in front of her abdomen. His grandmother was still wearing the Buddhist prayer beads she had used when she was alive.
But why is this color so gray and drab?
She remembered clearly that when she was a child, she would play on her grandmother's lap and always liked to play with this string of prayer beads, turning each bead with her fingers. Back then, the beads had a warm color and a dark brown luster, and they felt warm to the touch.
But the string of leaves in front of me looked as if it were covered with a layer of ash, showing a lifeless dark gray color.
Could it be because it was dark? Yet the whole body was brightly lit by candlelight.
Ye Mu tilted his head back slightly to examine it closely and saw that some of the beads had dark patches on them, and a few even had faint bluish-black cracks. What was going on?
My grandmother said that these prayer beads were a tribute bestowed by the Emperor Emeritus, made of the finest Canaanite wood, and would not crack even after many years of handling.
Did she remember it wrong, or did her grandmother say it wrong?
"Fourth Sister, get up quickly." Wang Shi's sobbing urging came from behind, "The time has come, it's time to close the coffin, Grandmother is leaving."
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