Crossing the Mountains

Chapter 3 Joy is also sorrow
Tan Huaike in the sedan chair heard the commotion at the gate of Shentu Mansion clearly, and what Madam Cao said was exactly what she had been most worried about in recent days.

The Tan family had ulterior motives, seeking only money, but the Shentu family's tacit approval and facilitation of this marriage made it difficult to fathom their deeper intentions. Tan Huaike knew very little about Madam Shentu's temperament, and if this aunt was determined to send her to accompany her deceased son in his afterlife, she would likely be unable to escape.

She had thought about this matter over and over again, and was waiting to see what would happen after she got married.

Tan Huaike remained calm, but Pei'er was terrified. If her young lady's life was in jeopardy upon marrying in, what good fate could there be for her, a maidservant who came with her as a dowry? In her eyes, the Shentu family was no longer a wealthy family; it had become a den of dragons and tigers, a hellish place.

Pei'er trembled and held onto the window frame of the sedan chair: "My dear, do we really want to go in? That's a dead person. Can you not marry me? Let's find a chance to run away..."

Tan Huaike held her trembling hand and soothed her, "Don't be afraid."

Her voice was soft, yet calm and firm, making Pei'er feel as if she had found her backbone. She was no longer immersed in the terrible imagination, but her eyes were still filled with anxiety as she looked at her eagerly.

Tan Huaike said: "Now that things have come to this, we have to enter the Shentu family. Even if they really want to harm me, they won't rush into it after such a grand wedding or funeral. The time for us to escape is not now."

Seeing that his young lady had already made a plan, Pei'er felt relieved.
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The sedan chair stopped for a long time, and finally four servants came out to receive it.

According to proper etiquette, the groom should have led his bride through the gate, crossed the fire and passed the eve of the night, and then went to pay respects to his parents. However, the circumstances of this marriage were so special that all the formalities were omitted, and the servants actually carried the sedan chair directly through the gate.

The four of them were all wearing white linen clothes, and they looked like they were carrying the coffin, which was really out of place with the bright and beautiful sedan chair.

Even the old scholar thought this was too absurd and scolded him, "This is not in accordance with etiquette. At least change into sackcloth before welcoming the bride. What a shame..."

Of course, no one listened to him.

Seeing the bridal sedan chair being carried into the Shentu Mansion like a coffin, Madam Cao sighed helplessly: "Poor bride, she is so young, and she has become a widow just after getting married..."

Squeak - click.

The heavy door closed, isolating the inside and outside of Shentu Mansion.

The funeral was held the day before, and today was such a grand wedding, so the Shentu family did not invite guests to hold a banquet. The whole mansion was quiet and deserted, without any festive atmosphere.

The sedan chair swayed all the way and was carried directly to the mourning hall by servants, stopping in front of Shentu Heng's coffin.

Old Madam Shentu's hoarse voice rang out: "The bride has arrived? It's an auspicious time. Come, come out and meet my son."

Tan Huaike took a deep breath, stood up and stepped out of the sedan chair. She looked up at her husband's coffin and tablet, and her heart skipped a beat. She suddenly had a real feeling that she was about to become a widow.

However, she quickly recovered her senses and, following the etiquette she had been taught, knelt respectfully before Old Madam Shentu, who had her back to her, resting her forehead on the backs of her crossed hands: "Greetings, Aunt Jun."

Old Madam Shentu turned around and accepted her greeting: "Get up."

Sensing the old lady's gaze on him, Tan Huaike displayed an appropriate degree of unease and reserve, while also secretly sizing up the young lady. She was dressed in a solemn black gown, her graying hair held together only by a wooden hairpin. Her face was solemn, unadorned by her beloved son's death. Her eyes were still wet with tears, making her look extremely haggard. She seemed quite a kind woman, not as harsh and fierce as he had imagined, a true member of a prestigious official family.

Her husband died young, her eldest son died in battle, and now this old lady is the head of the Shentu Mansion.

After the military report arrived, the old lady had initially advocated for canceling the engagement, but the Tan family refused to agree and even temporarily replaced the bride. Naturally, the old lady was dissatisfied. However, the grief of losing her son made her unwilling to argue with this family. She thought, since they insisted on marrying someone, the Shentu family would accept her as a maid to serve them.

But when that day finally came, the old lady felt very unhappy.

The beautiful woman and the wonderful marriage she had planned for her son had ended up so dismal, even becoming a bizarre joke among the people around her. With this marriage, everyone felt even more pity for the Shentu family, saying that her eldest son was destined to be unable to bear such blessings, and that his dream of building a family, a career, and fame had been shattered in the blink of an eye.

The old lady became increasingly depressed and unable to accept the reality of the situation. She couldn't help but wonder, if she hadn't arranged this marriage, if everything could return to the peaceful and stable days of the past, wouldn't her Heng'er have died in such an unclear manner?

She had too many grievances in her life. She blamed her husband for not being flexible and being demoted by the court; she blamed herself for being unable to support the family business and having to let her eldest son join the army and fight for fame; she blamed the chaos in the western border that killed her child; she blamed the innocent woman in front of her, who married into the family as a new wife but reminded her all the time that her son was gone.

These emotions had been disturbing her for many days, but now they were hidden under her calm expression.

Looking at Tan Huaike's appearance and eyes, the old lady asked, "Do you have Hu blood?"

Tan Huaike nodded and replied: "My biological mother is Hu Ji..."

The old lady frowned imperceptibly, and without saying anything more, she handed Shentu Heng's tablet to Tan Huaike with great care and instructed, "According to the customs of the northwest of Daxuan, newlyweds should perform the Qinglu ceremony. You and Heng'er's tablet should go into the Qinglu first. I'll have the coffin carried over later."

What does this mean? Isn't it just a formality? Why spend the night with a coffin?
Seeing her stunned, the old lady asked in a cold voice, "Why, you don't want to?"

Tan Huaike quickly shook his head: "No, I'm not unwilling..."

The old lady hummed, then continued, "Although it's a simple plan, the necessary procedures must be followed. The wedding ceremony will also be arranged in the Qinglu. Originally, the couple should have spent three days together in the Qinglu, but since it coincides with Heng'er's funeral, this rule must be changed. You will stay in the Qinglu to keep vigil for Heng'er for six days, and then bury him on the seventh day. Then you can come out and perform the rites for the bride. Don't worry, everyone will take care of everything. You don't have to come out, just focus on taking care of Heng'er."

This means that she has to stay alone with Shentu Heng's coffin and tablet for six days and six nights, and cannot step out of the Qinglu?

Holding the tablet of his husband in his hand, Tan Huaike walked towards the Qinglu in the east courtyard.

The draft blew through the hall, lifting her yellow sash. The whole yard was filled with white funeral ceremonies, and the green curtains on the green pavilion were flowing.

Her six-day and six-night "spring night" with her lover began.
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　Next chapter: The spring night is long.

　　Thanks to Xia Xi Chan Ming and I Can't Hear You Speak Louder for your recommendation votes~
　　

(End of this chapter)