After the monks from the Fahua Temple completed the Water-Land Ceremony, the old lady’s coffin was almost ready for burial. Although the finest coffin, suitable for a First-rank Imperial Decree Lady, was used and the embalming was properly done, the coffin still had to return to the hotown and could not remain in the Capital for too long.
Emperor Xuanjing had previously issued an imperial edict stating that the group escorting the Song family’s return of the spirit to their hotown would be provided by the court, utilizing inns and taverns only at post stations along the way.
Such an honor was unprecedented and clearly reflected the new emperor’s deep respect for the Imperial Tutor.
On the last day of the morial, Liang Jun appeared in the morial hall. He looked at the solemn, black coffin in the center, recalling the scene when the old lady sternly warned him not to bully her granddaughter on his wedding day. After days of staying awake, his eyes felt sore and gritty. He slowly knelt before the coffin and knocked his head on the ground three tis.
Recently, Song Wei’s emotions had eased a bit. With the many trivial matters keeping him busy, he had little ti to think of anything else. Upon hearing of Liang Jun’s arrival, he sent soone to invite him in.
When Liang Jun entered Song Wei’s room, he disregarded the presence of the servants and imdiately knelt before him.
Song Wei dismissed the few young servants standing by and then bent down to help him up.
"As a student, I have failed to fulfill the teacher’s instructions by not taking good care of Jiaojiao, and I am guilty," Liang Jun said, refusing to get up, his voice hoarse and each word spoken with difficulty.
It was evident that due to Song Jiao’s death, he had beco quite disheartened and haggard during this period.
"This is Jiaojiao’s destiny," compared to Liang Jun, Song Wei appeared extraordinarily calm and composed. "She was a kind-hearted good child, and if she has a spirit in heaven, she would surely not want you to live your life in guilt and self-bla."
...
Inner courtyard, Qingteng Residence.
Second Lang’s wife hurried over and saw Wen Wan still sitting in front of the mirror, lost in thought. She was anxious, "The bar bearers arranged by the Ministry of Rites are here, and it’s ti to move the coffin for burial and return to the hotown. Third sister-in-law, why are you still sitting there doing nothing?"
Wen Wan glanced at her reflection in the bronze mirror and asked the Second Lang’s wife, "Have all the guests arrived?"
"They are all in the outer courtyard." Second Lang’s wife rembered sothing and added, "Princess Consort Qing is here too."
Princess Consort Qing had been granted a special exception to move out of the palace to Prince Jing Mansion to take care of the two Little Princes. Many noble ladies outside hoped to befriend her, but Princess Consort Qing was reclusive and rarely attended banquets at various mansions. Today, however, she ca to send off the old lady of the Song family. Whether it was by the emperor’s instruction or her personal decision, her appearance at the Song family was a further honor for the old lady’s posthumous matters.
Wen Wan nodded, reached up to remove the white flower from her hair, and replaced it with a jeweled hairpin.
Second Lang’s wife was shocked, "Third sister-in-law, what are you doing?"
Wen Wan ignored her, found an outfit from the wardrobe, went behind a screen to change, and when she erged, she was no longer the Song family’s daughter-in-law in mourning attire with a white flower hairpin. Instead, she wore a light teal cross-collared ruqun. Although the color wasn’t bright, it was clearly inappropriate attire for a mourning daughter-in-law.
Seeing Wen Wan with her red lips curved into a smile, and a cold glint in her eyes, Second Lang’s wife shivered and was completely stunned because she saw Wen Wan just walk out, walk out...
Realizing afterward, Second Lang’s wife hurriedly chased after her.
Wen Wan walked quickly, heading straight for the morial hall.
Second Lang’s wife thought that her sister-in-law must be in a trance, otherwise, who would wear makeup and jeweled hairpins on a day of mourning.
Chasing behind her, she called out loudly, causing the servants to turn their heads. They all saw Wen Wan’s flowing dress and exquisite makeup, drawing a collective gasp.
The funeral procession was about to begin, what was the lady thinking!
Fearing trouble, and partly driven by curiosity, the servants dropped their work and followed Second Lang’s wife to the morial hall.
Outside the morial hall, the guests had already been seated, waiting for the right hour to start the funeral procession.
Song Wei stood inside the morial hall, speaking softly with the leader of the bar bearers. Suddenly, he heard commotion and murmurs from outside. Turning his head, he saw a graceful figure walk in.
It was Wen Wan, who had shed her mourning attire. Her light teal outer garnt was slightly thin, revealing the moon-white robe embroidered with red peonies inside. Her sky-blue edged waist sash bound her pure white skirt, her waist was slim, and two pink-purple silk cords hung down, gently swaying as she walked.
The cross-collared ruqun inherently accentuated the waist, causing Wen Wan’s appearance to resemble that of a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl from afar. Yet she was starkly out of place with the predominantly white-clad morial hall, especially since she was the deceased’s daughter-in-law, Madam Song.
Seemingly unfazed by the murmurs of the guests outside, Wen Wan crossed the threshold and stepped into the morial hall.
Song Wei’s dark eyes were deep and simply watched her, remaining silent.
Old Song, upon seeing this, furrowed his brows deeply. He had always thought of his third son’s wife as obedient and sensible, but to dress like this on the day of his old wife’s funeral was exceedingly disrespectful and unfilial!
Song Yuanbao and Ye Ling were also taken aback.
Ye Ling couldn’t step forward herself, so she nudged Song Yuanbao.
Song Yuanbao ca forward and looked at Wen Wan, "Mother, the auspicious hour for the funeral procession is almost here. Why haven’t you changed your clothes?"
Song Erlang glared at his wife, intending for her to take Wen Wan back to change into mourning clothes.
Second Lang’s wife walked to Wen Wan’s side and tugged at her sleeve, "Third sister-in-law, let’s go!"
While laughing lightly, she explained to the guests outside, "When Mother was alive, she was very close to my third sister-in-law. Now that she’s gone suddenly, she’s been hit hard and isn’t quite herself. Please don’t mind."
As she spoke, she pulled on Wen Wan’s arm.
Wen Wan stood still, unmoving, her eyes eting Song Wei’s, her thin lips slightly pressed together, neither speaking for a long ti.
At this mont, Zhao Xunyin, who had been outside helping, rushed in upon hearing the news. When she saw the woman dressed in red standing in the morial hall, her eyelids twitched violently, "Wanwan?"
Calling out as she pushed through the onlookers to see her daughter.
Once she confird that the woman dressed in red in the morial hall was indeed her daughter, Zhao Xunyin’s heart sank. She looked questioningly at Song Wei, "Third Son, what on earth is happening?"
Song Wei remained silent.
Since Wen Wan entered, he had been silent, his expression indifferent, devoid of any noticeable changes.
Wen Wan was the sa, appearing calm and collected. Although both appeared as if nothing was wrong, the atmosphere was indescribably tense.
Everyone’s eyes were now fixed on Wen Wan, and the bolder ones began to whisper.
Second Lang’s wife was anxiously pacing and looked at Zhao Xunyin, "Eldest Princess, please persuade your third sister-in-law. They’re about to start the funeral procession; she can’t dress like this."
Zhao Xunyin frowned, took her daughter’s hand, and spoke softly, "Wanwan, have you encountered sothing? Co, tell about it, and I’ll help you solve it."
As she spoke, she tried to pull her out.
Wen Wan gently freed herself from Zhao Xunyin and finally spoke, "Mother, I’m not having a fit, nor have I encountered anything important. I just have a few words I want to clarify with Mr. Song."
Upon hearing this, an ominous feeling rose in Zhao Xunyin’s heart.
Intuition told her that she couldn’t let Wen Wan speak out, or there would be a big incident at the morial hall today.
"Wanwan, whatever it is, let’s discuss it inside. There are so many people here now; how can your private words with the Third Son be heard by others?"
Zhao Xunyin didn’t understand why her daughter had suddenly beco like this, but she felt there must be an unknown reason.
No matter what, the deceased should be prioritized, and they should let the elder’s coffin leave first.
Wen Wan stood still, her fingers curling slightly.
If she went through with the divorce at the morial hall, after today, she might beco the most heartless woman in the world, destined to be reviled by people everywhere. But she had no choice; if she didn’t speak now, once the coffin left, she’d have to follow Song Wei back to his ancestral ho to observe the mourning period.
Taking a deep breath, Wen Wan was about to speak when Xu Jia suddenly realized sothing and said with a pale face, "In terms of relationship, Mrs. Song is sowhat my sister-in-law. I, as her sister-in-law, am not qualified to speak up, but I hope you think clearly before saying anything. Once so words are spoken, they can never be taken back for a lifeti."
Zhao Xunyin followed the voice and glanced at Xu Jia. She recognized her as the aunt from the Western Marquis Mansion who had a divorce. How did she know what Wanwan wanted to say?
Frowning, Zhao Xunyin walked over and asked her in a low voice, "What are you talking about?"
Xu Jia was burning with anxiety. What could she say? That she had hinted to Wen Wan due to the experiences of her previous life, and that this led to Wen Wan’s current state?
Thinking it over, Xu Jia could only say, "Eldest Princess, you must persuade Mrs. Song. Even forcibly taking her back to the room would be fine; just don’t let her speak."
Just as Zhao Xunyin was feeling utterly perplexed, she heard Wen Wan’s clear voice from behind, "Since Mr. Song has nothing to say, then I will. Let’s divorce!"
In a split second, the entire morial hall, inside and out, fell silent. In everyone’s ears, those words seed to echo: Let’s divorce!
Reviews
All reviews (0)