Lady Hou ultimately did not survive more than a few days.
When the news came from the Marquis's residence, Shen Tangning was surprisingly calm.
Her mother-in-law, who had treated her harshly and cruelly in the past, finally died, but she did not feel as relieved as she had imagined.
It seems the Lady of the Marquis died too easily. She should have witnessed the downfall of the Marquis's mansion, watched those she cared about meet tragic ends, and then died with resentment in her heart...
With a devout expression, Chi's mother worshipped the God of Wealth, muttering, "We've been sisters-in-law for so many years, I should at least go and see her off on her final journey."
Shen Tangning echoed, "Mother is right, that's how it should be."
Many people came to pay their respects on the day of the funeral.
The gates of the Marquis's mansion were adorned with white banners and lanterns, a stark contrast to the previous bustling atmosphere, creating a desolate scene.
The guests remained silent, looking at the people of the Marquis's mansion whose eyes were red from crying, and could only sigh and say, "Please accept my condolences."
Like the others, Shen Tangning stepped forward to offer incense, her expression calm and indifferent, and she couldn't help but think:
Did anyone mourn her when she died?
It's unlikely. Chi Jingyu and Shen Xiwei hated her so much that they probably wouldn't even bother to erect a tombstone for her, and would just hastily drag her to a mass grave in the end.
That's fine too. She doesn't want to be buried in the Chi family's ancestral hall after she dies, to avoid bad luck.
The white banners before the coffin fluttered in the wind. Gazing at the Lady Hou's memorial tablet, she thought of the many grievances she must have felt at the time of her death, and finally felt a sense of relief. After offering incense, as she passed Chi Jingyu, he whispered:
"I didn't expect you to come and pay your respects to your mother."
Shen Tangning looked up at him.
The two arrived at a secluded spot, and she remained silent. He took the initiative to speak and ease the atmosphere: "She... did many things that wronged you in the past. I didn't expect you would still be willing to offer incense to her."
"So you knew too." Shen Tangning sneered, her clear black and white eyes staring straight at him. "And what about you? Have you done right by me?"
Chi Jingyu suddenly fell silent.
He hadn't rested well for several days, and looked extremely haggard, with bloodshot eyes that made him appear somewhat dejected.
Regret flashed in his eyes, and he was about to open his mouth to explain something when Shen Tangning interrupted him: "Chi Jingyu, are you heartbroken right now?"
A flash of pain crossed his eyes, but she suddenly laughed, her eyes cold. "Remember this: the more dejected and miserable you are, the happier I am."
She turned and left without looking back. Chi Jingyu's legs felt like lead, and in the end, he could only clench his fists helplessly.
——
Perhaps it was because she had visited the Lady Hou's mourning hall during the day that Shen Tangning was reminded of some things from the past, and she did not sleep well that night.
She was frowning deeply in her sleep, as if she had encountered something incomprehensible.
Standing in the white, misty mourning hall, Shen Tangning almost thought that the Lady of the Marquis had come to take her life, but she quickly calmed down:
Even when they were alive, they were no match for her. Now that they're dead, why would she be afraid of her?
In a way, she's also someone who's died once, so it's hard to say whose resentment is stronger.
In the thick darkness of night, the white banners fluttered in the wind, evoking a sense of desolation and sorrow. She coldly curled her lips:
"Playing tricks and deception."
Lifting the white banner that was obscuring her view, Shen Tangning slowly walked inside. She saw a memorial tablet enshrined before the spirit, but it was too far away for her to see the words on it clearly.
She moved closer, raising her hand to knock down the memorial tablet, but her hand suddenly froze in mid-air. Her breath caught in her throat, her gaze fixed on the words carved on it, as if trying to pierce through them:
"...The memorial tablet of Madam Shen Tangning".
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
