"What the hell are you babbling about?!" Shao Qing burst out angrily, shattering the cave’s tranquility.
He stood up, about to jump down, but was pulled back by Deng Chen.
"Calm down!" he urged Shao Qing, "If something really happened to Lord Yuan... it’s going to need your handling! You can’t afford to lose your composure now!"
Xu Guangzeng also tried to persuade Shao Qing, "Impatience can spoil great plans, let’s just get the people up here first."
"Exactly, exactly!" those Government Officials, Inspection Division representatives, and Guard Station men who had come to help with the rescue all chimed in, "No one wished for this to happen. Let’s retrieve the body for a proper burial as quickly as possible!"
Someone else suggested, "Should we quickly get a Taoist or Monk here, while the soul hasn’t gone far, to perform rites for the afterlife?"
It’s the unjustly dead who need such rites, fearing their souls won’t rest, troubling the Mortal World.
Shao Qing became furious upon hearing this, and threw a punch at the speaker: "What nonsense are you spouting?! There’s no need for a Taoist or Monk, let me send you off first!"
"Lord Shao!"
"Lord Shao!"
The small cave descended into chaos.
Song Jiyun’s head buzzed, as if she was enclosed in a colored glaze dome. All the chaos was isolated outside, muffled and indistinct.
She sat there, immobile, as if she had been frozen stiff by the cave’s cold wind.
Not until Magistrate Jiang approached with a sorrowful expression and gently called out, "Miss Song."
Song Jiyun looked up, staring blankly at Magistrate Jiang.
The eyes that were once as clear and lively as a mountain stream had become stagnant pools, utterly lifeless.
Magistrate Jiang sighed inwardly, hesitated, and then expressed his condolences, "Please accept my sympathies during this difficult time."
Others might not know, but Magistrate Jiang understood well that whatever the inside story of the so-called marriage between Song Jiyun and Yuan Yunzhong, the Yuan Family definitely had no clue.
Now, with Yuan Yunzhong gone without any explanation, without even leaving a final message, by the time the Yuan Family arrived to tend to his affairs, it would be unlikely for Song Jiyun to even mourn him as a close female friend with any legitimacy.
He couldn’t help saying firmly, "No one expected things to turn out this way... don’t be too sad, those of us who are alive still have to keep living."
Song Jiyun silently nodded.
Magistrate Jiang gave a bitter smile but felt compelled to show her the belt in his hand, asking, "Take a look, is this from Yunzhong’s belongings?"
Yuan Yunzhong’s living expenses had been under the Song Family’s care for some time.
Song Jiyun’s gaze finally showed a flicker of movement, slowly shifting to Magistrate Jiang’s hand.
It was a dark cyan belt, embroidered with a Colored Glaze flower pattern, its edges outlined in gold and silver thread, making it more three-dimensional and ornate compared to the typical Colored Glaze flower design.
It was a pattern she and her father had discussed before his death when they were commissioning custom porcelain for Prince Huai’s Mansion.
Later, because the craft was too complex, they had removed the gold and silver thread. Somehow, her mother had found the design and used it on Yuan Yunzhong’s belt.
She had lost her love forever.
First it was her father, and then Yuan Yunzhong.
"Yes!" Her voice was somewhat hoarse as she replied, "It was something my mother arranged for Young Master Yuan."
Magistrate Jiang’s expression also darkened, "This was found below."
He looked down towards the hole in the ground.
Shao Qing sat on the ground in a daze, while Deng Chen and Xu Guangzeng were discussing how to retrieve the body.
Magistrate Jiang turned away in melancholy.
Yet, he saw that Song Jiyun’s gaze also fell upon the hole below, the corners of her eyes shimmering with tears.
He shook his head gently.
If only I had known this day would come, why did I ever make such a choice?
If only Song Jiyun had not refused Yuan Yunzhong...
Unable to hold back, Magistrate Jiang handed his belt to Song Jiyun and said, "Miss Song, do you want to keep this to remember him by?"
Once the Yuan Family’s people arrived, it wouldn’t just be the belt that was difficult to keep, even getting another glance would be hard.
Song Jiyun looked down, gazing at the belt for a long time, but in the end, she said hoarsely, "No need."
What is remembered will always be remembered; what’s forgotten, these things will eventually be nothing more than faded embroidery.
Magistrate Jiang was astonished.
He had not expected Song Jiyun’s heart to be so firm.
He suddenly felt it unfair for Yuan Yunzhong and couldn’t help but say, "Miss Song, do you know that before the accident, he had already submitted a petition to be reassigned as the Prefect of Liang County?"
Song Jiyun was shocked.
"Before he was the Inspector General of Jiangxi, he served at the Metropolitan Censorate. He was already a Third Rank official. But the Prefect of Liang County is only fifth rank," Magistrate Jiang said, his voice deepening as he thought about the effort Yuan Yunzhong put into this move, "Such a demotion is unheard of. For Yunzhong to achieve his goal, there were only two paths to take. One is to resign his post and go through re-selection, to voluntarily reduce his rank. The other is for the Emperor to agree, to take the office through a direct imperial appointment."
Song Jiyun was stunned.
Magistrate Jiang said, "Miss Song, you may not be familiar with the affairs of the Imperial Court. Yunzhong was a legitimate double-listed Imperial Scholar from the Hanlin Academy. There’s a tradition that ’without being an Imperial Scholar, one can’t join Hanlin, and without being part of Hanlin, one can’t enter the Imperial Cabinet.’ Yunzhong is an only son, and his family has great expectations for him. And to become an Imperial Official by imperial decree, without selection through the Ministry of Personnel or recommendation by the Imperial Cabinet, is not considered a legitimate background. Even if one rises to a high position later, there will still be criticism. Not to mention he might have taken the route of resignation.
"He even entrusted someone to sell the residence he had bought in the Capital City when he was an official, preparing to establish a household in Liang County City.
"Miss Song, Yunzhong had a heart of pure ice towards you. I only ask that when Miss Song recalls the old days of her youth, do not forget that there was once such a talented individual."
Having finished, he left with a flick of his sleeve.
Song Jiyun remained rooted to the spot.
She didn’t know.
She had thought it was just a brief encounter in their youth.
Even if there was affection, it would eventually turn yellow and fade with the years.
When Yuan Yunzhong was writing his petition under the lamp, was he filled with joy?
When he decided to live in Liang County, was he filled with anticipation?
Song Jiyun felt as if she had a broken bitter gall in her mouth.
Once, someone had offered her a sincere heart, but she had missed it due to her rigid prejudices.
She was supposed to be a person who had lived two lifetimes.
Yet in reality, she was still living in her original world, never truly observing those around her with a sincere heart, those who were filled with goodwill towards her.
Song Jiyun covered her face.
"Miss Song!" Magistrate Jiang, having returned at some point, apologized, "I’m sorry."
He said apologetically, "Please forgive my rudeness. You have done nothing wrong toward Yunzhong. It was just me being too narrow-minded, thinking death is like a snuffed-out lamp. Such a good man like Yunzhong, brilliant, chivalrous, loyal, just gone like that. In a few years, besides his family, perhaps no one will remember him anymore. I... I just feel heartbroken for him..."
"I know!" Song Jiyun wiped away her tears and choked up, "But remembrance isn’t necessarily about holding onto a keepsake."
Magistrate Jiang nodded, "I have taken the lesser path!"
Seeing that Song Jiyun couldn’t stop her tears from falling, he took out a handkerchief for her.
Song Jiyun accepted the handkerchief and dabbed at the corners of her eyes.
Suddenly, a hesitant voice reached her ears, "What are you two doing?"
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