符水 Fú shuǐ — Fu water is a Taoist practice of drinking water with a burnt talisman in it; drinking it is believed to increase internal energy or ward away spirits
In the distance, the morning bell faintly rang. The Yatous reported that Laoye had returned. Turning Buddhist prayer beads in her hand, Lao Furen sighed: “Come in.”
Li Xiao Ran rushed in. He saw Li Wei Yang standing beside Lao Furen, preparing tea, and ignored her as he raised his voice: “Lao Furen, how could you let Jiang Rou return? How will others act towards us in the future? Wouldn’t they say the Li family could not look after a sick daughter-in-law and was taken away by her birth family?”
Lao Furen’s face was calm, yet a hint of displeasure crossed her face.
“Now you decide to come and ask me what to do? I told you thousands of times not to turn a blind eye to your Furen and Chang Le, but you? Did you heed my words? Now that is has come down to this, it’s best to let the Jiang family take her away! Save me the trouble of having to see her face!”
“Lao Furen, there are rumors out there that say our family has mistreated our daughter-in-law! This will bring down my official career!”
Lao Furen sighed and slowly nodded: “I did not let them to take her away at first, but Wei Yang has told me that taking her away is better than keeping her here.”
Li Xiao Ran was stunned, speechless for a moment. He looked up at Li Wei Yang and saw her calm and unfazed as if she was only listening, he frowned: “What did you mean by that?”
“Fuqin, the physician said Muqin only has three months to live.” Li Wei Yang stated. Those words struck a chord in Li Xiao Ran’s heart. He cried out: “What did you say?!”
Li Wei Yang’s voice was emotionless: “Fuqin, I said, Muqin only has three months to live.”
Li Xiao Ran felt his legs grow weak. He leaned against a chair and sat down, sweating profusely. They were married for so many years. He was sick and tired his wife now, but it wasn’t as if he didn’t remember… Why was this suddenly the case? Recalling Jiang shi’s weak and fragile state, Li Xiao Ran slowly came to terms with this reason.
Lao Furen began: “It will be troublesome if she abruptly dies at the Li residence. The Jiang family is willing to accept this hot potato. Letting her go back is not an issue. Once they bring her back, what happens to her is no longer associated with our Li family.”
If Da Furen died at the Li residence, the Jiang Guogong residence would come to their doors, demanding an explanation, but they have disregarded the Li family, fiercely determined to take her back. If anything happened, the Li residence would have the upper hand.
Li Wei Yang had predicted three months, but in reality, when the Jiang Guogong residence sent word of the funeral, only a month had passed.
The sky was not bright yet that day when the Jiang family steward’s came knocking on the Li family’s doors.
Zhao Yue received the news first and reported back: “Da Furen has passed away!”
Although she was prepared, Li Wei Yang still felt surprised to hear these words spoken.
“That quickly?” Beside her, Mo Zhu suddenly asked.
There was a hint of ridicule on Zhao Yue’s face: “After the Jiang family brought her back, it turned out like Xiaojie had said. They invited an Imperial physician to examine her, but Furen was in critical condition and refused to take her medicine. The Jiang family was worried and willing to try anything, even inviting an Immortal physician from the South, but that person had yet to reach the Capital when Da Furen died,” She lowered her voice, “It was when she was delirious and drank Fu water—”
Li Wei Yang smiled. Da Furen’s food, clothing, and everyday necessities were carefully prepared, so she did not have the opportunity. The best method was through Fu water. Fu water normally contained mercury, so she only added more mercury to it. Over time, it gradually took Da Furen’s life! She had regarded everything with careful consideration and leaked the news to the Jiang family, so they would come and take her away. The only thing was that she had given Da Furen at least three months, who would have thought she would be so careless with Fu water and had gone to the yellow spring!
“Now they are outside, raising trouble.” Zhao Yue continued.
“Oh, raising trouble over what?”
Zhao Yue smiled and said: “The Jiang family insisted that Da Furen be returned to the residence to be enshrouded and buried, but Lao Furen said since she passed away at her parents’ home, it is natural to set up the mourning tent outside. Once the funeral is over, she can then be buried on ancestral grounds.”
Li Wei Yang could not help but smile: “Let’s go and see.” A thought occurred to her, and she changed into white clothes, then unhurriedly went to He Xiang Courtyard.
There was a stalemate outside He Xiang Courtyard.
The steward of Jiang family was stone-faced, when Li Wei Yang arrived, she heard him say: “How can you leave Da Furen to lay outside?!”
Lao Furen coldly responded: “Outside? Those are the doors of our Li residence. The mourning tent has been set up, what else is wrong! If you had not insisted on taking her away, perhaps everything would still be fine, yet you people blame our family and come knocking at our door?!”
The steward was visibly conflicted. Li Wei Yang gently began: “Lao Furen.”
Lao Furen saw her and sighed: “Come and see. Arranging a funeral ceremony is already difficult as it is. Your Muqin is gone, but the Jiang family insists on bringing her back here for a funeral. You know that if someone passes away in their birth home, they cannot return to their husband’s family. The mourning tent can only be sent outside. This is to be expected, but Guogong Furen refuses and insists that she is brought inside.”
Li Xiao Ran stood beside her, frowning yet not saying a word.
The steward frowned: “Lao Furen, Guogong Furen’s intention is that it has been too hot outside these days if left outside, only fear—”
Only fear the corpse will begin to reek, Li Wei Yang inwardly sneered, finishing his sentence for him. She glanced at Si Yiniang nearby, unable to disguise her happiness, and Li Chang Xiao’s blank face and simply said: “Lao Furen, if you feel that bringing the coffin inside is an ill omen, then a sedan can be used to bring Muqin inside, where she can be enshrouded.”
Lao Furen was stunned, this suggestion would keep the coffin from touching the ground, avoiding the ill omen, and could also prevent rumors from breaking out, but doing so meant forgiving Jiang shi, which made her uneasy. How could Li Wei Yang not understand her concerns, she immediately added: “Lao Furen, you see, if you do not allow Muqin to be brought inside, Fuqin will certainly be conflicted and sad.”
Li Xiao Ran had been frowning most of the time, not speaking. When he heard this, he was a bit touched and gratefully looked at Li Wei Yang.
Si Yiniang kept her cold smile to herself. San Xiaojie still pretends to be a good person. Clearly, the person who was waiting for Furen to die the most was her, yet she still appeared to be generous, forgiving and gentle such high-handed scheming!
Lao Furen could only sigh for a while before saying: “Never mind, so be it. First, use a sedan to bring the coffin inside.”
Er Furen nodded and quickly ordered the servants to do so.
The Jiang family’s steward sighed in relief, not seeing the ridicule on Li Wei Yang’s face.
“Since there is a funeral at home, the word must be sent to Dage, but what about Dajie - Dajie must return as well.”
Li Xiao Ran heard this. His eyes became glassy with tears. He had not expected this, Da Furen always treated Li Wei Yang unfairly, yet to this moment, that child had been forgiving and kind. One must know how Li Chang Le had treated Li Wei Yang as well.
Si Yiniang and Li Chang Xiao looked over, finding her words difficult to understand. Si Yiniang felt rather strange and wondered what happened to Li Wei Yang today. Da Furen had died, she should be celebrating. Lao Furen would not allow Da Furen’s body to be carried inside, this was a humiliating fact, yet Li Wei Yang, on the other hand, allowed for her to return and even brought back those two despite their punishments. Did she suddenly become altruistic or had she gone insane?
At the temple, Li Chang Le had almost lost her mind. When she was sent away this time, Li Xiao Ran sent people to keep watch on her. Even Da Furen’s letters were kept from her, so she did not know what happened in the Li family. She was overjoyed when she heard the Li family had sent for her. Wanting everyone to see her unchanged beauty, she picked out her most prized jewelry and even chose a bright set of clothes with begonia designs. After two shichen, she finally boarded the carriage, determined to let Fuqin see her lovely, gentle and obedient self, as not to waste Muqin’s efforts to bring her back.
She was overjoyed and completely forgot to ask why she was coming back, the carriage driver outside only sneered.
The horse carriage returned to the Li residence. Everything was a vast expanse of white.
The doors were wide open with mourning silks and boards hung up. The stewards and servants wore mourning clothes and either stood there waiting or hurried about with their work.
Li Chang Le was startled by the sight before her.
She did not have the chance to ask when Cui mama ran out to receive her: “Da Xiaojie, you have returned, go in.” She quickly ordered servants to lead her inside, as if she hadn’t seen her extravagant clothes. She did not remind her to change her clothes either.
Li Chang Le did not understand. She asked the Yatous: “Is it because Lao Furen died?”
The Yatous were stunned, looked up in fear, then bowed their heads: “Da Xiaojie, go in and you will know.”
Li Chang Le coldly looked at her. The entire residence was in disarray, even a Yatou would dare to respond in that manner. Hu, wait until she tells Muqin, let’s see their pretty faces then! Thinking about it that way made her happier, Lao furen had died, so the person in charge of the household would be her Muqin. Wouldn’t Li Wei Yang, that lowly wretch, be left for her to deal with as she pleased?! The more she thought about it, the happier she felt. Her strides grew quicker, almost as if she wanted to see Lao Furen’s corpse then congratulate her Muqin! At this time, her head was in the clouds, forgetting that even if Lao Furen had died, she still needed to go and change her clothes. The Yatou Tan Xiang realized Xiaojie’s clothes were inappropriate and was about to remind her, but seeing everyone around them stare and point, she felt cold inside and fell silent.
She had yet to walk into the courtyard when she heard many voices and loud sobbing.
“You came back!” The person welcoming her was Er Furen who seemed to be grieving.
Er Furen’s eyes were swollen like peaches. Anyone who didn’t know would have thought she was grief-stricken, only she knew how much time and effort to look like this, from the best fragrances and powder to make her face pale. She saw Li Chang Le in beautiful, floral clothes and was stunned at first, but then she smiled coldly. She decided not to give her time to change her clothes, pulling Li Chang Le inside: “Quickly come, Lao Furen is waiting for you!”
Li Chang Le misunderstood her words and was even more certain that zumu had passed away. She was rejoicing and tried to hide the happiness on her face. She intended to shake off Er Furen’s hand, but not in front of so many people, so she was pulled into the main hall. She had just stepped inside when Er Furen cried out: “Lao Furen, Chang Le has returned!”
The entire room was full of noble Furen sitting and drinking tea, sighing and lamenting to Lao Furen. Yu Shi Furen was saying that Da Furen was rather unfortunate and passed away at such a young age, unable to enjoy the Li family’s wealth and glory… She had not finished her sentence when she saw Li Chang Le in her exquisite, red begonia clothes. Over a dozen people in the main hall suddenly fell silent.
It was as if everyone had turned into wood.
Her Muqin had passed away, yet she wore bright-colored clothes, had Da Xiaojie of the Li family gone insane?!
Yu Shi Furen’s words were caught in her throat. She stared wide-eyed at Li Chang Le, not stunned by her beauty this time but stunned by her audacity and disrespect!
Lao Furen was shocked, consumed by anger: “Chang Le, take a look at yourself!
Li Chang Le saw Lao Furen and looked like she had seen a ghost.
Li Wei Yang resembled a pure, white lotus in her mourning clothes, only blinking as she saw Li Chang Le’s extravagant red dress. She feigned to be rather surprised: “Dajie, how could you come back wearing something like this?”
Li Chang Le still could not believe her eyes and stared intently at Lao Furen. She didn’t die, then who died—
That moment, she heard Li Wei Yang softly say: “Dajie, quickly change your clothes, then kowtow to Muqin.”
Muqin?! Muqin?! What was Li Wei Yang saying?!
As if she were struck in the head, Li Chang Le quickly stumbled forward, coldly saying: “Li Wei Yang, what are you saying?”
Li Wei Yang looked at her with a sad look on her face, but her eyes were cold and indifferent: “Dajie, perhaps the family has not told you that Muqin has passed away.”
It was as if Li Chang Le was struck by lightning! The person who died was not Lao Furen but her Muqin, Heavens!
Her first reaction was that of rage: “Li Wei Yang, do not say such nonsense, Muqin was still alive when I left—”
Li Wei Yang sighed and nodded: “Indeed, back then Muqin was still well, but unfortunately after Dajie left, Muqin lost her appetite, constantly worrying. Then she fell ill and Waizumu insisted on bringing Muqin back to recuperate, everyone also… Ai, we thought Muqin would quickly recover, who knew… Had we known, Muqin should have stayed here in the residence to recover!”
Li Chang Le felt her anger boil over, incinerating her grief at the news. There was only one thought in her head: how could that be, if Muqin died, then her pillar of strength had collapsed. Wouldn’t Li Chang Le be trampled under Li Wei Yang’s feet in the future? She resentfully gritted her teeth, about to vomit blood, fiercely glaring at Li Wei Yang and oblivious to the horrified looks of everyone around her.
Her Muqin suddenly passed away, but they did not see her shed a single tear. She even looked like she wanted to devour her own meimei, had Da Xiaojie gone insane? The aristocratic Furen began to criticize and debate amongst themselves.
Lao Furen slapped her hand on the table: “Chang Le! Hurry and change into mourning clothes!”
Li Chang Le suddenly broke out of her daze, she coldly stared at Li Wei Yang then turned and left. She lowered her voice, so only the two of them could hear: “Li Wei Yang, I know you harmed Muqin. Just wait and see, I will make you pay the price for it!”
Li Wei Yang looked at her indifferently, not giving her opinion.
Li Chang Le changed into filial, mourning clothes. She angrily rushed to the mourning hall and loudly ordered Tan Xiang to find Li Xiao Ran. Tan Xiang fearfully looked on, her face pale white, as she stood there, not knowing what to do.
A voice suddenly rang out: “Just do as your Zhuzi ordered.”
The moment Li Chang Le saw Li Wei Yang, she became furious: “Why are you still showing your face here?!”
Li Wei Yang smiled: “Muqin passed away, and given Lao Furen’s age, someone needs to help Er Shen look after household affairs. If I am not here, where else would I be?!”
“You little!” Li Chang Le lunged, intending to slap her when she saw Zhao Yue standing not far away, watching. Stunned, she stepped back, not daring to continue.
Li Wei Yang’s expressions were neutral, neither happy nor angry: “Fuqin said you can only stay for ten days. After those ten days, if something happens, he will immediately send you back to the temple. Muqin passed away when you were not by her side, so think carefully. Dajie should be more aware to avoid being laughed at by others!”
Being laughed at! Today, she arrived in extravagant clothes and was soon mocked throughout the Capital, what else was left to fear!
“Li Wei Yang, do not think that you are special because Fuqin offered you his support. Indeed, Muqin is gone, but I still have Waizumu, I still have two meritorious jiujiu in the military, and the entire Grand Duke Jiang family!”
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Translator: Chau
Editor: Pending
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