She fell out after crying at the wrong grave

Because she had other things to do, even though Ah-yi felt like she had endless things to say to Huai Chengbai, she still held it back.

It seems that the late Mr. Ma was very popular. By noon, there was no room left in the hall for all the relatives, friends and guests who came to pay their respects.

His eldest son, Ma Zeduan, was the chief clerk of the Changguan County Magistrate. As there were few people and many vacancies, he was also in charge of the food, fodder and military equipment of Changguan.

This was inherently illegal. In the past, after the imperial examinations, a large number of successful candidates would be assigned to take up posts in various prefectures and counties.

The matter of food and fodder was of great importance, so Changguan had never had a permanent official in this position. Instead, every year one or two people were selected from the court to take turns in this position, in order to eliminate the possibility of corruption and prevent Yuanzhou from raising troops and plotting rebellion.

However, due to the emperor's laziness in governing this year, no new official has been sent so far, so the Changguan County Magistrate appointed Ma Zeduan to take temporary charge.

Ma Zeduan has always been a man of integrity, and no one raised any objections once the announcement was made.

His wife was from Yuzhou Zhao. The Zhao and Ma families were close friends, so they arranged a marriage for their children when they were young. The two of them were considered equals, and had two sons and a daughter, and they have lived together ever since.

Ah-yi came to the coffin of Master Ma, picked up the incense, lit it, and bowed solemnly. Mrs. Zhao, who had been waiting for a long time, waited for Ah-yi to stand up and then walked to the side of the mourning hall with Ah-yi.

Mrs. Zhao had a gentle and pretty face, which made people want to get close to her. Perhaps because she had been crying for a long time, her eyes were red and swollen, and she looked very weak.

The plain mourning dress only made her look thin and lonely.

"The journey is long, Madam Cui, please help me along the way." Madam Zhao looked up at A'ao and held her hands tenderly.

"Madam, that's not right." Ah'ao quickly advised, "I hope you won't be upset that we're late." Seeing her kind face, Ah'ao softened her heart and couldn't help but add, "Please accept my condolences, Madam."

Madam Zhao shook her head and explained, "Father passed away this morning, and the coffin was delivered early. We were only concerned with our grief, so Brother Zheng and your men helped to run the funeral hall, so that the family would not be in a mess. I am very grateful, and you came at the right time."

As he spoke, his eyes as clear as lake water began to well up with tears again.

Ah'ao wanted to say a few more words to comfort her, but she held back the words.

She had seen too many funerals. No one could understand the grief of a loved one's departure, and consolation was useless. Talking too much would only increase the grief of the deceased.

"Why isn't Lord Ma here? Madam is busy alone in the front and back halls." Ah'ao asked when she saw her entertaining guests alone with her three children.

Mrs. Zhao looked around. There were so many people around, and the sound of sighing and crying was everywhere. It was not suitable for conversation. So she pulled Ah-yi closer and went to a corner.

There is a carved window here. When you push it open, fresh air rushes in, diluting the smell of incense.

"Because I know your identity and your relationship with Marquis Zhao, I told you the truth." Madam Zhao whispered, "My husband is in charge of food and grass matters. Now the war is coming and General Li has also led his troops to Changguan. He has to stay in the court all the time to prepare for any unexpected events. So I am the only one left to take care of it. So I asked you to help me in case I am not thoughtful enough. I am really grateful."

Ah'ao said nothing, but blinked her eyes, thinking that the lady had told such an insignificant person like her about all these official and family matters. She didn't know whether it was a sign of her being honest or of not worrying too much.

Zhao's words were too polite. In fact, Ah-yi just wanted to do business. The price offered was enough to make such a hard trip, so it was worth it. There was no need to talk about help.

But I still wondered, "Yuanzhou and Kezhou are far away, how did Madam recognize me?"

"I think you have already met Huai Chengbai, Mr. Huai," said Madam Zhao. "He and my father are close friends. My father has carved many seals for Mr. Huai, and our family also has many of Mr. Huai's paintings and calligraphy. It was Mr. Huai who recommended Shui Changdong to me and my husband, but even without this relationship, your reputation has spread far and wide."

Ah-yi smiled suddenly and nodded. Her mind flashed through all the "good things" she had done, and she didn't know which reputation would spread far. She was afraid that the bad ones would be embarrassing.

Mr. Ke Huai seems to be very supportive of Shui Changdong.

He laughed twice more and avoided the main point by saying, "It's just a small business. Madam, please forgive me for making fun of you."

As he was speaking, a little girl with two buns on her head came over. Her little face was round and as white as a cracked egg. She was really adorable.

The little girl tugged at the hem of Ah-yi's skirt, "Don't be sad, sister. You are so pretty. It must be your husband's fault for letting you down!"

He spoke righteously, which frightened A'ao and Madam Zhao.

Mrs. Zhao reacted quickly and blocked the little girl's mouth. "Mother Yue, what nonsense are you talking about? Apologize to your sister!"

The little girl called Yuen Niang was scolded, her mouth pursed, she twisted her belt with her fingers, and refused to speak.

"So it's the Madam's daughter." Although Ah'ao didn't understand what Yue Niang meant after listening for a long time, she was just a child and it was inevitable that she had recognized the wrong person, so she just listened.

"Yuen Niang, apologize quickly!" Mrs. Zhao frowned and spoke more harshly.

The little girl had two buns on her head and lowered her round eyes. She spoke reluctantly at this moment, "I'm sorry, Sister. Yue Niang didn't mean to say that."

When Ah'ao saw the little girl, she liked her very much. Just as she was about to reach out and touch her little face, she saw the housekeeper rushing towards her. So, for the sake of propriety, she withdrew her hand.

The housekeeper wiped his sweat and said anxiously, "Madam, it's already noon. There are too many people. Food is easy to arrange, but there are not enough rooms in the mansion to rest. How should we arrange the rest?"

Not wanting to listen to other people's family affairs, Ah'ao looked away to avoid suspicion, and saw that the incense stick she had just lit had just burned out.

It was only a quarter of an hour.

Ah'ao knew very well that Mrs. Zhao must have something to ask for, as she was so familiar with him, and she even asked her to talk to her alone, and she was very friendly during the few words of greeting.

But before they could even talk about the main business, they were already disturbed by the funeral. Madam Zhao looked embarrassed and took the lead in asking for leave. "There are few people at home, and I really can't leave. Please take care of this place for me first, and I will come back as soon as I have arranged it."

A'ao lowered her skirt and watched the two of them walk out the door quickly.

After seeing off Mrs. Zhao, Ah-yi took Yue-niang's hand and they both knelt on the mat in front of the coffin. Yellow paper was flying in the brazier, Ah-yi burned it while Yue-niang passed it to them, and they worked in perfect harmony.

She was brave and not afraid of such occasions, which was beyond A's expectations.

Based on past experience with funerals, children of this age in the host family who need to observe mourning must inevitably be held in the host's arms and coaxed before they can stop crying.

It reminded her of a ridiculous rumor that children are innocent and can see many things that adults cannot see. It is natural for them to be afraid. But it is rare for them not to be afraid.

The little girl was smart and rolled her eyes, "Sister, you also want to know what I just said, right?"

Small voice, big temptation.

Ah-yi collected her thoughts, leaned down quietly, and moved closer to her face, "Little clever girl, tell the truth quickly."

Yue Niang was only about five or six years old. She didn't know the meaning of her grandfather's departure yet. But she was smart enough to hear the curiosity in A's heart at that moment.

"They all said that my sister was the legitimate wife of Marquis Zhao, but the Marquis Zhao kidnapped the princess!" Yue Niang's tone was ups and downs, like a storyteller, "The Marquis Zhao must be a bad guy. My sister is so beautiful, but he actually let her down."

Then she said righteously, "What's so good about the princess? She is definitely not as pretty as my sister, nor as gentle as my sister."

Ah-yi opened her eyes wide and opened her lips in surprise. After coming to her senses, she lowered her head, her shoulders trembling, and she almost laughed. But this was in front of the spirit, so she held it back and it took a long time before she could speak.

Seeing that she didn't say anything, Yue Niang thought that she had spoken of her pain, so she hurriedly reached out and patted A's back, "Sister, don't be sad, don't be sad."

Ah-yi rubbed her aching jaw with one hand and scratched her nose with the other, "How do you know these things?"

It turns out that her reputation is not that widespread. At least taking all these ridiculous things into account, some people still think that these two people are not the same person.

Yue Niang confessed quietly, "It was the sisters in the courtyard who said it. They usually go out to buy things and hear people on the street say it."

Ah-yi pretended to be serious and said, "Don't tell anyone else. Zhao Hou is very fierce. Dogs on the road and birds on the branches are scared out of their wits when they see him!"

Yue Niang pouted, "I am a child. My father said that adults will not argue with children." She didn't know what she was thinking about, and she became depressed again, "My mother said that my grandfather is gone, the family is very busy, my father is not here, and my elder brother and younger brother don't like to play with me. I have nowhere to go."

Yue Niang's brother was about thirteen or fourteen years old. The young man that Ah-yi had just seen welcoming guests in the front hall must be him. Although he was still a child, he had already taken on the responsibility of being the eldest son of the family.

In such a turbulent time, with enemy troops invading from outside and the whole city in panic, and a family bereavement at home, Ma Zeduan was still able to put the overall situation first and stay in the county government office at the risk of being labeled an unfilial person. He was indeed a loyal and good minister.

It's just a pity.

This sentence popped up subconsciously in A's mind.

What's a pity?

She looked up and saw the thick clouds and gloomy sky, and she felt anxious.

In the middle of the night, thunder roared and heavy rain began to fall.

Ah'ao was a light sleeper to begin with, and after the thunder, she lost all desire to sleep.

All the guests lived in the courtyard behind the garden. Except for Mrs. Zhao and a few servants who were keeping vigil in the mourning hall, the huge mansion was empty.

A'ao put on her clothes, held an umbrella and slowly went out.

Should she go to Li Chongxuan's place at night to check the situation? Ah'an was undecided as she took shallow and deep steps to avoid the puddles.

Firstly, they were worried that a war would really break out in Yuanzhou. If they couldn't defend it, the entire northwest would inevitably be occupied by the Youbei people, not to mention the burning, killing, looting, and the suffering of the people.

Secondly, I felt that there was something wrong.

The rain in early summer is still cool. After the thunder, the momentum weakens and it keeps dripping.

"I say, there's a funeral going on in the front yard, and you're standing here with your hair loose in the middle of the night. It's really scary."

The voice came from behind her, and it frightened Ah-yi herself first, rather than others. "It's sir." She turned around suddenly and saw that it was Huai Chengbai. Ah-yi breathed a sigh of relief, "It's scary."

Huai Chengbai was holding a wine gourd and said with a smile, "Look at your courage, you are even worse than when you were a child."

The two walked to the pavilion in the flower garden. It was already the yin hour and the sky was not so dark anymore.

"Let me guess, what are you thinking about so that you are not sleeping in the middle of the night?"

(End of this chapter)