Chapter 19
Once the hour of Chen (7-9 AM) has passed, paper oxen and horses are sent first; this is a rule passed down from our ancestors.
Because Chen Qingyan had no children, his younger brother Chen Qingsong smashed a basin and waved a banner in front, while Chen Qingyun and Wang Ying cried at the back.
Today, all the relatives from the clan have come. Recalling that they had just attended Chen Qingyan's wedding two months ago, and now that the joyous occasion has turned into a tragedy, they all shook their heads and sighed, feeling sorry for this young man.
Chen Biao stood aside, directing his servants and hired helpers to work in the courtyard, acting like the master of the house.
Anyone with eyes can see that the eldest branch of the Chen family is likely to change hands soon. It's just a pity that even if you take it to the authorities, there's nothing they can do, since the eldest branch currently has no adult males to support the household.
Chen Rong secretly shed tears beside Li Shi. Judging from her second brother's behavior, she was afraid that the child was indeed murdered, just as her sister-in-law had said.
When the time was almost up, Chen Biao immediately ordered the coffin to be sealed and the funeral procession to begin.
"Don't close the coffin! You can't take my brother away!" Chen Qingyun stepped forward to stop the group.
Madam Tian quickly stepped forward and pulled her back, saying, "Second Miss, stop making a fuss, don't delay the time."
Seeing that she couldn't stop her daughter, Li threw herself onto the coffin and cried, "Oh, my poor child, I can't bear to part with you..."
The third aunt also cried, "Sister-in-law, why are you doing this? Let the child go in peace."
Chen Biao was anxious. He knew he couldn't take over the family property until Chen Qingyan was buried, so he quickly ordered the hired helpers to pull Li away.
Just as the coffin lid was about to be closed, Wang Ying lifted her clothes and jumped inside, shouting, "Let's see who dares to close it today!"
"Oh dear, what are you doing?" The relatives exclaimed in fright, having never seen anyone so daring as to jump into a dead person's coffin!
Chen Biao was already impatient, but he still put on a kind expression. "The person is already dead. What are you doing, stopping the funeral? You can't let Yan'er rest in peace, can you?"
"Fourth Uncle hasn't arrived home yet. It's not too late to bury him when he gets back!"
"Have you notified Chen Jing?"
"yes."
“Then he can’t possibly get there so quickly. Laizhou is more than 600 li away. By the time he gets there, Yan’er’s body will have decomposed. Hurry up and carry her away for burial.”
"Why is Uncle in such a hurry? Is he afraid that the shameful things he did will be found out?"
Chen Biao's expression changed. "I don't know what you're talking about!"
"Didn't you give Tian Xiaoliu that arsenic? You've already forgotten about it after such a short time. Should I call Xiaoliu over and ask him about it?"
The relatives who were watching nearby immediately erupted in chaos upon hearing this, "What arsenic? Didn't Chen Qingyan die of illness?"
"This is too much! How can he do this to his elder brother who died young?"
"No wonder you've been so busy, you were up to no good!"
Tian's mother, who was hiding behind, was so frightened that she tried to run away as soon as Wang Ying finished speaking. However, before she could even leave the second gate, she was stopped by Uncle Chen and Qiu An, who had been waiting there for a long time.
The two men, one covering the man's mouth and the other tying him with a rope, silently dragged him into the woodshed, where Old Man Tian and Little Liu were also locked up. These two had been caught by Huang San while hiding in his home, and were immediately tied up and sent to the Chen family.
Chen Biao was already covered in sweat. He didn't know how Wang Ying knew about these things. The most important thing right now was to bury the person as soon as possible, otherwise it would be troublesome if the authorities were notified and a coroner was called to examine the body!
"He's probably gone mad. What are you standing there for? Hurry up and drag him out for the funeral!" The hired helpers stepped forward to pull Wang Ying away.
Wang Ying pulled out a knife from somewhere and held it up in front of her. "Let's see who dares to move! I'm telling you right now, anyone who dares to touch me, I'll fight them to the death! Killing one is no loss, killing two is a bonus!"
It's said that the ruthless fear the cunning, and the cunning fear the reckless. Wang Ying's appearance really intimidated people, and they all backed away, not wanting to risk their lives for a pittance.
Lying in the coffin, Chen Qingyan quietly looked at the person beside him. His white clothes were billowing wildly in the wind, and his snow-white hair ribbons danced with his hair. His handsome face was cold and resolute.
The image of "A gentleman of noble character, with jade earrings and a cap as bright as stars" flashed through my mind.① My heart felt as if it had been suddenly punched, throwing me off balance.
Seeing the situation spiraling out of control, Chen Biao could no longer keep up the pretense.
"I kindly helped Qingyan with the funeral arrangements, and you not only don't appreciate it but also slander me. That's really too much!"
Wang Ying sneered, "If you weren't after our family's assets, would you be so kind? Do you dare to swear before the coffin that you will never take a single penny from the eldest son's family again?"
"Wang Ying, if you were obedient and well-behaved, I was originally going to keep you in the Chen family and give you a meal. But now it seems that I can't keep you. After the funeral, I will definitely send you to a nunnery to cleanse the family!"
Nunnery is a place for women and boys who have committed serious crimes. Once inside, they can never leave without relatives paying to redeem them.
Wang Ying laughed angrily, "You think you're worthy?"
Chen Biao spread his hands. "Even if you're unwilling, I still have to make the decisions for this family, right? It's a pity Chen Qingyan is so useless. If he were alive and well, it wouldn't be my turn, would it?"
Chen Rong couldn't stand it anymore. "Second Brother, what are you saying?! Yan'er's body is barely cold, how can you treat her husband like this?"
"Shut up! You're a married woman, what right do you have to speak here!"
Chen Rong was so angry she almost fell over. She never expected that Chen Biao would disregard the sibling relationship at all. Well, he was willing to murder his own nephew for money; what kind of family affection did he have in his eyes?
"A widow with no family to rely on, yet she dares to oppose me? So what if I was the one who poisoned her? What can you do to me?"
Wang Ying slightly curled the corners of her mouth, "Second Uncle has finally admitted it himself."
"What did I admit to?"
"Chen Biao!" A furious shout suddenly came from outside the mourning hall, startling Chen Biao so much that he trembled and turned around in disbelief.
A middle-aged man walked in from outside the mourning hall. He was not very tall, had a goatee, and was wearing a dark brown, narrow-sleeved robe.
This person was none other than Chen Jing, the fourth son of the Chen family.
He walked expressionlessly to Chen Biao's side, and before he could speak, he raised his hand and slapped him across the face, sending him staggering backward. "This slap is for my elder brother."
Then he swung his sword and slapped him across the face, making the man bleed from his nose and mouth. "This slap is for Qingyan!"
"You heartless, unjust, disloyal, and unfilial beast!"
Chen Biao's head was buzzing from the slap. He covered his face and looked at him in disbelief. Chen Qingyan had only been dead for seven days. It would take seven days to get from Laizhou to the town. Could it be that he had some kind of premonition and came here ahead of time?
"Fourth brother, is there some misunderstanding here? Qingyan's death has nothing to do with me!"
"Unrelated? Qingyan, come out here and tell me for yourself what your good second uncle has done!"
"Yes," came Chen Qingyan's voice from inside the coffin.
Everyone was stunned. Some of the more timid ones were terrified. How could a dead person still talk?
Chen Qingyan slowly sat up from inside the coffin, supporting himself, and bowed to Chen Jing, saying, "Nephew greets Fourth Uncle."
Chen Biao's eyes widened. "You, you're not dead?!"
"I'm sorry to disappoint you, Uncle. I'm tough and won't die."
"Then what...what are you doing?"
"Of course, we've set up a stage for you to perform," Wang Ying said with a smile as she helped Chen Qingyan out of the coffin.
Chen Biao instantly understood everything. It turned out that they had known all along that he wanted to poison Chen Qingyan, so they had deliberately staged this whole thing. In an instant, all the color drained from his face, and he collapsed to the ground, completely powerless.
"What did you promise me when my brother passed away?! Weren't you supposed to help take care of my widowed sister-in-law and her children? Is this how you've taken care of them?!"
Chen Biao still shook his head in denial, "No, I didn't do it, they framed me."
Uncle Chen forced Tian Xiaoliu over and kicked him to the front of the altar, yelling, "Tell me everything you know!"
Tian Xiaoliu was already terrified. He closed his eyes and shouted, "They gave me the arsenic. The second master said that after the young master dies, he will give me half of the land. I was bewitched and did something stupid. Please spare my life, master!"
"You're spouting nonsense! When did I ever say such things!"
"I have evidence!" Tian Xiaoliu trembled as he pulled out the contract from his pocket.
Chen Jing snatched it and glanced at it. His anger instantly flared up, and he kicked Chen Biao, yelling, "You bastard, you're worse than a dog!"
"Don't kick my father!" Chen Qingling rushed over to hit Chen Jing, but was held down by several guards.
Seeing that his plan had been exposed, Chen Qingfeng was so frightened that he turned to run away, but as soon as he stepped out of the mourning hall, he found a group of yamen runners surrounding him, so he turned back in dejectedly.
Chen Biao knew that nothing he said today would make a difference, so he simply gave up and cried, "Why did you hit me? I should have a share of this property. My parents were biased and gave you the silver when the family divided the property, while my elder brother got the main house and land. All I got were five unprofitable, run-down shops!"
"We were born of the same parents, why can't I have it?"
Chen Jing gritted his teeth and said, "I'd like to give it to you, but can you hold onto it? How many of the five shops are left now?"
"That was lost by Qingfeng gambling, what can I do?"
"If a son is not taught, it is the father's fault. Why didn't you teach him when he first entered the gambling den? Oh, now that he has lost the family fortune, he is thinking of seizing his elder brother's business. What kind of logic is that?"
Chen Biao, looking completely unfazed, said, "Nephew, you have some good methods. Now that things have come to this, I have nothing to say. Do as you please, whether you want to hit or kill me."
Wang Ying looked nervously at Chen Jing. On one side was her second brother, and on the other was her nephew. Even an upright official finds it hard to settle family disputes, and she didn't know which side he would take.
Chen Jing shouted, "Chen Biao intended to harm others! Guards, take him back for questioning and to have him sign the confession!"
"Fourth brother, what, what are you doing?" Chen Biao panicked and nervously scrambled to his feet, grabbing Chen Jing's arm. "Qingyan isn't dead, let's just let this go!"
"Forget it? This time he was lucky to discover your plot in advance. What if he hadn't?"
"I swear I'll never do such a thing again! I know I was wrong, Fourth Brother, Fourth Brother, I'm your own brother!"
Chen Jing shook him off, "Take him away!"
Wang Ying's heart finally settled down. Chen Rong and Li Shi stepped forward with tears in their eyes, "Fourth Brother..."
"Sister-in-law, I'm so sorry you've suffered."
Chen Qingyan knelt down and kowtowed, "Nephew thanks Fourth Uncle for helping me get justice!"
Chen Jing quickly helped him up, and looking at his thin and sickly face, he felt ashamed. "I'm sorry, brother, I couldn't take good care of you."
Li choked up and said, "How can you blame my fourth brother? You're so busy with official duties, yet you still came all this way back. I'm so grateful to you."
"This must be Ying'er."
"Greetings, Fourth Uncle." Wang Ying bowed to him, mimicking Chen Qingyan's manner.
Chen Jing held his arm, "Good boy, we owe you a lot this time." He already knew the whole story from the letter.
“This is what Ying should do. Fourth Uncle, you have a long journey ahead. Please come inside and have a cup of tea before we talk.”
"Okay, let's go inside and talk."
Only Auntie San was completely bewildered, asking, "What on earth is going on?"
A note from the author:
Note ① "The Book of Songs, Wei Feng, Qi Ao"
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