The last ti I felt sothing was amiss but had no premonition was several years ago, when we were still in Ningzhou. Father Wen and Old Song were going to the Da Huan Mountain Coal Mine, and Wen Wan felt a tightness in her chest but never had a bad premonition.
This ti, the sa situation arose again. Wen Wan guessed, "Either Wang Xiaolang is simply here to ask you for money, or the person behind him poses no real threat to us. Which possibility do you think is more likely, husband?"
"It’s hard to say," Song Wei shook his head. "But one thing is certain: if Wang Xiaolang doesn’t get the money, he won’t leave the Capital easily and might even co knocking again."
Wen Wan sighed and said, "I hope it’s not my premonition that’s faulty, but rather like a few years ago, the outco will be good, which is why I can’t sense it."
Song Wei reached out and gently smoothed her slightly furrowed brow, "Earlier at the inn, I revealed to Yuanbao the cause of his biological parents’ death."
The topic shifted too quickly, and Wen Wan was stunned for a mont before catching up, "What was Yuanbao’s reaction after hearing it?"
Recalling the situation then, Song Wei said that Yuanbao seed to have resolved his inner conflict.
Wen Wan had noticed all of Song Yuanbao’s strange and awkward behavior these days, and she felt a sense of grievance for her own husband.
But when it ca to matters of the Song family, especially those concerning the main household, she, who married in later, had no right to interfere.
Moreover, only the person who tied the knot can untie it. Song Yuanbao’s conflict centered on Song Wei, and regardless of how much she spoke to him alone, it would be of no use.
Hearing that he had co to terms, Wen Wan couldn’t help but break into a cold sweat, "I was worried before, fearing he would react as I had foreseen, cutting ties after a big quarrel with you over his parents’ death. But now it seems I was overthinking."
Song Wei said, "I hope that after this event, he will mature a bit more."
Though he always emphasized "calm" and used it to teach Yuanbao, verbal guidance will eventually numb a person over ti, and firsthand experiences are far more effective.
This sudden ergence of Wang Xiaolang might just be an excellent test for Yuanbao.
...
Xu Jia’s wedding is later this month. Wen Wan is still in confinent and unable to attend. Song Wei is injured and also cannot go, so the responsibility falls on Granny Song.
She was happy to go, ntioning how she hadn’t seen her daughter in a while and taking the opportunity to visit.
After tidying herself up and taking two maidservants and the gifts Wen Wan prepared, Granny Song left early for the General Mansion.
It was night when she returned.
Instead of returning to Rong’an Hall, Granny Song first went to Qingteng Residence.
Wen Wan had already gone to sleep but had to peel her eyes open upon hearing from Yun Cai that her mother-in-law was here. She addressed Granny Song as "Mother" and asked why she was out all day and only returned at night.
Granny Song sat down, sighing, "Their family’s Old Mrs. Xu has passed away."
"Ah?" Wen Wan couldn’t react imdiately, "Isn’t the General Mansion holding a wedding?"
"It was a wedding," Granny Song said, "The bride had just left in the sedan for the ceremony when the old lady closed her eyes. The banquet hadn’t even started when the red silk was switched to white. Things happened too suddenly; Fangniang and her mother-in-law were overwheld, and I stayed back to help with the kids, having dinner before I ca back."
Wen Wan was familiar with the old lady from the General Mansion; whenever there was an event there, she would accompany and sit with her for a while.
The old lady had bad hearing, but she was quite humorous in her speech, often leaving people at a loss whether to laugh or cry.
When Old Mrs. Xu had pretended to be ill to force Xu Shu to marry Song Fang, Wen Wan thought the old lady might live another ten or twenty years. Who could have anticipated the unpredictability of life—just as her granddaughter beca a bride, she passed away?
Having a wedding and a funeral coincide on the sa day was truly unheard of and unprecedented.
Wen Wan couldn’t help but worry about Xu Jia’s situation at her in-laws that night. After all, not every mother-in-law has a sharp tongue but a soft heart like hers, especially given that Xu Jia married into a family of literary lineage who heavily values etiquette. If her mother-in-law finds her unlucky, the little girl’s life might be miserable.
Wen Wan had a lot on her mind, but she could only think about it. As a postpartum mother confined indoors, she couldn’t offer any help.
Sighing, Wen Wan asked, "Mother, did Old Mrs. Xu pass away naturally?"
"Yes, she was at that age. I heard from the maid who served her that before closing her eyes, the old lady said she had no regrets and passed peacefully,"
Wen Wan sensed a bit of sentint from her mother-in-law’s words and quickly smiled, "Father and Mother are hale and hearty; there are many days ahead still."
Granny Song waved her hand, "Pleasantries don’t work. When you reach my age, you’ll understand the feeling of having one less day and it’s unpleasant, especially when you see familiar faces in coffins."
"Mother," Wen Wan pursed her lips, "Old Mrs. Xu was much older than you. Since she passed of natural causes and not an untily death, there’s nothing to regret. Don’t overthink it, or you’ll make feel uneasy."
Hearing this, Granny Song suddenly realized her daughter-in-law had just given birth and regretfully tapped her lips, "Look at , rambling without thinking in front of you. Third Son’s wife, just focus on your recovery. Don’t worry about outside matters. I’ve got it all handled."
Wen Wan gave a slight nod.
Even though Old Mrs. Xu’s sudden passing was lantable, she was more concerned about her mother-in-law being affected by grief.
That night, Wen Wan didn’t sleep well, having repeated dreams of the Song Mansion draped in white linen, with two coffins in the morial hall belonging to her in-laws. The funeral details in the dream were so vivid that when Wen Wan woke, she couldn’t tell if she was back in reality or still dreaming.
"Wanwan."
A low, gentle voice ca from Song Wei beside her.
Wen Wan turned her head, eting the deep gaze of the man next to her.
"Husband," Wen Wan called.
"Did you have a nightmare?" Song Wei took a silk handkerchief from a small table and wiped the cold sweat from her forehead.
"No," Wen Wan denied adamantly. As a child, she heard from elders not to speak of dreams first thing in the morning. Besides, even if it weren’t early, that dream was too ominous for her to want to recall.
"Just now, soone from the Xu family ca to report a death. They said the old lady passed away." Song Wei thought about how they had just married off their daughter, and the funeral today affected his mood, showing a bit of gloominess.
Wen Wan leaned against soft pillows, "Mother told last night. She said the bride had just left when the old lady closed her eyes."
Having been in the capital for years, this was the first ti they encountered such a funeral, and both husband and wife thought of their elderly family mbers.
"Husband, make other arrangents," Wen Wan suggested, "If all else fails, let Yuanbao make the trip, saying our old lady isn’t feeling well."
Having elders attend funerals often leads to various thoughts.
Last night, Wen Wan noticed her mother-in-law wasn’t in high spirits.
After a mont of silence, Song Wei said, "Yuanbao going isn’t appropriate; I should go instead."
"But you’re injured. How can you go?"
"I’m recovering quickly," Song Wei moved his left arm. "I just had the bandage removed this morning. The doctor said there’s basically nothing else wrong."
...
When Song Wei walked out of Qingteng Residence, he saw soone returning stealthily from the garden in the distance.
"Stop!"
A figure hovered around the garden and upon seeing Song Wei, stopped.
Recognizing him as Xu Dengke, Song Wei said, "What are you doing here?"
Trying to pass off as innocent, Xu Dengke said, "Just picking so lotus flowers for Young Master Jinbao."
He handed over the lotus in his hand.
Song Wei examined it and nodded, signaling for him to leave.
As Xu Dengke withdrew, a mory stirred within Song Wei, and he furrowed his brows thoughtfully.
The jade pendant in his hand looked very familiar.
"""
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