tallest building

Chapter 193 Funeral Arrangements

A mourning tent was erected in the Zhou family courtyard.

White lanterns swayed in the night breeze.

Liu Cuiyi, dressed in white mourning clothes, was helped back to her room by her maid.

"Have the steward take good care of things at the front. Everyone who goes out to announce the death must be registered when they return. Let's make sure they inform which relatives and friends have been informed and which haven't," Liu Cuiyi said wearily. "Go and invite Uncle Shao over to preside over the funeral arrangements. After all, he's a cousin, so it's only right that he take the lead in this kind of thing."

"Girl, these things aren't the most important. The most important thing is that you absolutely mustn't harm the baby," Zhao's mother said with concern.

“You’re right. This child in my belly is the only lifeline for the Zhou family now. No matter who it’s for, I have to protect him.” Liu Cuiyi gently touched her lower abdomen and said, “I’ll just tell everyone that I need to rest because I’m too heartbroken, and I’ll not see any relatives or friends.”

Although she and Zhou Jingsan had been husband and wife, their marital bond had long since faded. His death brought Liu Cuiyi only a sense of relief; she was unwilling to deal with the hassle of his funeral arrangements.

She felt that Zhou Jingsan was not worthy.

Wen Mingqian also heard the news of Zhou Jingsan's death at Wuqiu Nunnery. He exchanged a glance with Sang Er and said, "Prepare a funeral gift, let's go and see him!"

"How could Zhou Jingsan just die like that?" Sang Er asked in disbelief.

“People always die,” Wen Mingqian said calmly. “But thankfully, with his death, the matter between Cuiyi and your uncle will be settled.”

Sang Er couldn't figure it out for a moment and asked, "Why is that? Won't the Zhou family blame Zhou Jingsan's death on their eldest daughter-in-law?"

“The Zhou family doesn’t care about that now. Zhou Jingsan is dead, they should be thinking about their future.” Wen Mingqian said, “They wish Cuiyi was carrying a boy, so their titles wouldn’t be revoked. Otherwise, with the Zhou family’s abilities, they’d probably be starving.”

“That’s right!” Sang Er suddenly realized, “Unless their eldest mistress can give birth to a boy, the Zhou family will be stripped of their title.”

Wen Ming humbly declined Sang Er's offer to hire a carriage to go to the Zhou family for the funeral.

Halfway there, they encountered a wedding procession, with music and fanfare making it quite lively.

Wen Mingqian and the others had to pull over to the side of the road, and Sang Er curiously lifted the curtain to look outside.

Upon seeing the groom on horseback, he couldn't help but mutter "bad luck" and then pulled down the carriage curtain.

"What's wrong?" Wen Mingqian asked.

"It's that old bastard Gong Xu." Sang Er frowned. "Isn't that bad luck?"

"What's the big deal?" Wen Mingqian laughed. "Didn't you already know he was going to remarry?"

“I know, I know; I’m annoyed, I am annoyed,” Sang Er said, rolling her eyes. “I hope this bride will treat Sister Yunying well, and not be such a mean person.”

"Speaking of which, Yunying is about to give birth, isn't she?" Wen Mingqian said. "Master Gong, you're really having double the joy!"

She said this in a playful tone, clearly not taking it to heart.

“Mother, I think this is what makes you so remarkable.” Sang Er’s expression suddenly became solemn. “Even I, an outsider, would be unsettled by this scene. Yet you remain calm and composed, which shows that you have let go completely.”

It's not so remarkable to be able to divorce; what's truly remarkable is to completely remove that person from your heart.

“I cleared his name long before the divorce,” Wen Mingqian said with a smile. “As the saying goes, calamities can be overcome, but inner demons are hard to dispel. There are too many calamities in life that can lead to a violent death, and even if one manages to escape with their life, they can still change a person beyond recognition.”

At first, I felt like I was living a life worse than death, filled with unbearable hatred. It took me a long time to realize that instead of hating, it was better to let go; otherwise, I would be imprisoning myself forever.

The wedding procession, accompanied by music and fanfare, moved on in a graceful procession.

Astride his horse, Gong Xu wore a smile, but his heart was heavy. He couldn't remember when he had become like this. A deep, indelible pain lay buried within him, a pain he could never confide in, a pain that haunted him forever.

Although the Zhou family had fallen on hard times, they were still a noble family, and their funeral was not considered shabby.

Wen Mingqian went straight to the back courtyard after entering the gate, where many women from various families had already arrived.

Madam Zhou looked twenty years older; her hair was almost completely white. Keep in mind, she was only fifty years old.

When Wen Mingqian saw her, he couldn't help but offer a few words of comfort. Madam Zhou, with tears welling up in her eyes, responded with a blank expression.

Wen Mingqian didn't linger and went to Liu Cuiyi's room.

"Sister, you're here." Liu Cuiyi quickly stood up when she heard Wen Mingqian had arrived.

"Lie down, don't get up." Wen Mingqian stepped forward and pressed her down, saying, "Even if the sky falls outside, you have to take good care of your pregnancy."

“I know, sister.” Liu Cuiyi nodded. “I’ve already told everyone that I’m not going to get involved in anything to avoid harming the baby.”

"That's right. You always have to know what's most important," Wen Mingqian said. "Your mother-in-law hasn't made things difficult for you, has she?"

“Of course I wouldn’t dare,” Liu Cuiyi couldn’t help but laugh. “Even Bodhisattvas have to consecrate their golden bodies before they can guide people. She should be busy taking care of her own family!”

The Zhou family patriarch was a devout Taoist who spent many years cultivating himself in the mountains and had long since ceased to care about worldly affairs.

Although Zhou Jingsan had two older sisters, they were both married and no longer lived in the capital.

Although there are still a few relatives, they are just kin, not family.

Liu Huanchun doesn't like attending funerals, but she came today anyway.

Her mother went to the palace early in the morning, and when she heard the news of Zhou Jingsan's death at home, she immediately flew into a rage.

He cursed, "Zhou Jingsan, that incompetent, short-lived bastard! That useless coward! He deserves to be a turtle!"

The housekeeper had already told her that Zhou Jingsan would definitely divorce Liu Cuiyi and spread her scandalous affair.

But now? Liu Cuiyi is unharmed, but Zhou Jingsan is dead.

"Useless! You're all useless!" Liu Huanchun yelled, pointing at the steward who had entered. "Go out and get twenty lashes!"

The servants all knew of Liu Huanchun's volatile temper, and the steward dared not disobey him, so he obediently went out to be beaten.

Liu Huanchun was still not satisfied. He paced back and forth in the room several times and said, "Prepare the car! I'm going to the Zhou family to pay my respects!"

Meanwhile, Liu Huanchun arrived at the Zhou family like a thunderbolt. As a woman of noble status, everyone greeted her as soon as she arrived, and even Madam Zhou helped her maid to her feet.

"I was unaware of the county princess's arrival and have failed to greet her properly. Please forgive me," Madam Zhou said weakly.

"I just heard the tragic news of your young master's passing. Please accept my deepest condolences." Liu Huanchun said these perfunctory words, his eyes searching for Liu Cuiyi.

"Please sit down, Your Highness! I'm really too busy to take care of everything." Madam Zhou was physically and mentally exhausted, and she was telling the truth.

"Where is your eldest mistress?" Liu Huanchun asked.

“Our mistress is pregnant and has encountered such a tragedy. Shouldn’t she be allowed to rest and recuperate properly?” replied Madam Zhou’s maid, Yu Ma. “Otherwise, why would our mistress have to force herself to entertain the guests?”