Chapter 13: Passing the Ordeal

◎Having Guarded Her All Night◎

In this dynasty, governance was based on benevolence and righteousness. There were specific regulations for capital punishment cases. After execution, the officials would take the body, sew it back together, and restore its dignity before returning it to the family – a gesture of "mercy."

Yi Po said, "No one has come to notify us yet, but they should arrive soon, perhaps no later than noon."

"That's good. This matter must be kept from Lian'er. I fear she might be deeply affected by the sight, and seeing Hua'er's body would only make her more sorrowful."

"Rest assured, Madam, I shall instruct my son to guard the entrance shortly. Should anyone bring news, he will intercept them, ensuring that Lady Concubine does not learn of it."

She paused and asked, "Yesterday, I took the liberty to welcome Lady Nascent Prince into our household, expecting you to scold me for it. To my surprise, you seem to quite favor her."

The elder matriarch said, "Lian'er is a good child, and I naturally adore her. However, if possible, I would have preferred that she didn't make the foolish decision to marry into this household. Now that the situation is irreversible, she has bid farewell to the Wei Duke's Manor and publicly severed ties with her birth family. There's no turning back."

This child has endured much emotional distress. She is devoted to Hua'er but cannot burden her family because of it. Thus, she chose this path. Now that she has entered our Hua residence, where else could I send her back to? The Wei Duke's manor, to avoid suspicion and the emperor's displeasure, would no longer take her in. She didn't consider any escape route when making this decision. If I were to send her away now, what kind of person would that make me? How heartless would I have to be? If Hua'er's spirit watches from above and sees how I treat his wife, he would surely quarrel with me, his grandmother.

With that, the elder retired to her quarters but, still uneasy, added a few more instructions: "Hua'er's memorial shrine should be established in the Green Bamboo Garden where he used to practice martial arts and study calligraphy. It's situated far from his bedroom, so invite a Taoist priest to perform the rituals. Choose an auspicious date soon and quietly inter him in our family cemetery. Make sure there's no unnecessary fanfare."

"The death of Hua'er was not a glorious one. If we make a big fuss and upset those in power, it could bring trouble. Secondly, we mustn't let the granddaughter-in-law know; she's young and fragile, unable to withstand such a blow."

Knowing that her husband is dead is one thing, but seeing his lifeless body is quite another.

The old housekeeper acknowledged, "This old servant will attend to it immediately."

After the housekeeper left, the matriarch started searching through her hidden savings. Following the entire family's imprisonment, their property had been thoroughly searched, and everything of value – fields, deeds, cash, dowry jewels – had been seized. They were left with nothing but worthless trinkets, which some servants had even stolen before fleeing.

From under a brick beneath her bed, the matriarch retrieved a small box filled with silver fragments, gold nuggets, and a pair of jade bracelets.

These jade bracelets were an heirloom of the Hua family, passed down from the previous head of the household to the next. They held great significance, so she kept them safe, never imagining they would one day serve as a safeguard.

But even these scattered bits of silver and gold were insufficient to support the entire family, let alone secure a place to live.

Their noble titles and official positions stripped, the Hua family was now reduced to commoners. As per the emperor's decree, they had one month to vacate the premises before the authorities arrived to seize the property.

Staring at the coins and bracelets, she was lost in thought. If she had foreseen this day, she would have saved more banknotes. Living in luxury for too long truly dulls one's sense of caution and preparedness. Sighing, she put away the items, uncertain if they would be enough to purchase a two-compound residence in the capital.

Meanwhile, Yu Lian didn't rush back to her quarters. She first visited her in-laws' courtyard. Both were still asleep. The young maid guarding the entrance informed her that the lady had woken up in the middle of the night for a drink of water before dozing off again, while the husband had remained in a daze since yesterday and had yet to awaken.

"The physician mentioned that the medicine is potent, causing deep sleep. It's estimated that she'll awaken in the afternoon." Yu Lian acknowledged this and instructed that she be informed once she wakes up.

As she turned to return to her own courtyard, she was met by three young children. Two boys, identical twins, appeared to be around seven or eight years old, and a little girl, about six, with her hair styled into two small buns, her eyes filled with timidity.

The trio approached Yu Lian and, looking up at her, asked, "Who are you?"

Yu Lian replied, "Are you Hua Ji's younger siblings?"

The three children nodded and responded, "Our elder brother's name is Hua Ji. Who are you?"

Yu Lian gently patted the heads of the three children. The two boys, mischievous by nature, regarded her with wary eyes, clearly unhappy with her touch. However, the girl was exceptionally well-behaved, remaining still as Yu Lian stroked her head and even politely asked, "Greetings, Eldest Sister-in-Law."

Curious, Yu Lian inquired, "How do you know I'm your Eldest Sister-in-Law?"

The girl spoke softly, "I heard it from my aunt. Yesterday, when Eldest Sister-in-Law entered the household, Auntie told me to greet you if I saw you."

Yu Lian was surprised by the six-year-old's precociousness and sense of propriety, as well as her articulate speech.

The two boys, their eyes wide with disbelief, protested, "Big Brother hasn't married yet! You're lying! Big Brother isn't even at home!"

Yu Lian inquired, "Then where do you think your big brother has gone?"

One of the plumper children replied, "Big Brother went to the battlefield to fight the bad guys, just like Mama said."

Yu Lian sighed upon hearing this but didn't comment further.

Lowering her head, she slowly made her way back to her courtyard, appearing melancholic but actually strategizing within her mind.

Before arriving, she had already learned that the East Yuan Marquis household had a simple family structure. The matriarch had given birth to two sons and a daughter. The eldest daughter was married and had become a grandmother, but she had passed away a few years ago, resulting in minimal contact with the East Yuan Marquis family.

Her husband's father, as the eldest son, had inherited the marquis title. He had another son from a different branch, who had already separated from the main family early on. Relying on his father's influence, this son held the position of a Vice Commander-in-Chief, a fifth-rank official, in the imperial court. When the East Yuan Marquis family was implicated in a recent incident, he quickly distanced himself, declaring no further ties with them. This ensured his own position was preserved, free from the emperor's scrutiny.

Her husband's father had one legal wife and two concubines, but not many children. Hua Ji was the legitimate eldest son and the pride and joy of his father. The father and son shared a deep bond and similar personalities, making their relationship particularly close. Thus, when Hua Ji found himself in trouble, his father was the most devastated.

The twins she had just met were the legitimate second and youngest sons, while the girl was the offspring of one of the concubines. Together, they numbered only four children.

Including her in-laws, the grandmother, and the two concubines, the family counted no more than eight members. In this era, such a small family was considered uncommon, especially now with Yu Lian's addition, bringing the total to nine.

Contemplating the throngs of people in the Wei Duke's residence, there were surely scores of masters and servants. In contrast, the Hua residence seemed desolate.

She smiled wryly and shook her head. In these times, fewer people were better. For the sake of stability and reduced expenses, a smaller household would be more manageable for the Hua family.

Walking at a leisurely pace, she soon arrived at Hua Ji's courtyard, which had now become her abode.

Entering the yard, she lay down on a chaise longue outside to take a nap. Upon seeing this, a maid fetched a cloak to cover her, protecting her from the chill.

Yu Lian gradually closed her eyes.

Yesterday, when she rested in this courtyard, she had expected to be sleepless. Surprisingly, she had slept soundly until dawn, feeling incredibly secure.

The first obstacle had been overcome. In the Hua residence, she had gained the endorsement of "Grandmother," the matriarch, whether out of pity for her grandson or affection for her own sake. She should have their support to navigate life in this household smoothly.

Half the battle was won.

As for her yet-to-be-met father-in-law and mother-in-law, she wasn't overly concerned. If the father-in-law cherished his eldest son so much, he likely wouldn't dislike her. As for the mother-in-law...time would tell.

This courtyard was lined with grapevines, though it was not yet the season, leaving only bare trellises with tender shoots. Further back, a cluster of lush green bamboo formed a small grove, adjacent to the windows of the rooms.

Yu Lian gazed at the verdant bamboo grove, lost in thought. Some of the stalks bore scars from a sharp blade, and she could envision the owner who once resided here practicing his swordsmanship with vigor every morning and evening.

As she pondered, a tear involuntarily slipped down her cheek due to habit. She gently wiped it away, shaking her head with a bitter smile. She had inadvertently become immersed in the role, so much so that the mere mention of Hua Ji's name made her weep. This body seemed destined for the stage; if she returned to modern times, she would undoubtedly be an Oscar-winning actress.

Unbeknownst to Yu Lian, the young maid who had fetched her cloak was standing by, watching her gaze into the bamboo grove and shed tears. The maid's eyes also reddened. Her mother was right; the Lady of the Prince's Manor was too deeply in love. How wonderful it would be if the Prince were still alive?

The maid's family served as household servants in the East Yuan Marquis' residence. With many having fled or been sold, only a few remained. Apart from gatekeepers and errand boys, their family was one of the few still attending to their duties. Yesterday, her mother had instructed her to serve by the Lady's side, to keep watch over her.

What Yu Lian didn't know was that a figure in black was crouching behind the bamboo, hidden from sight, silent as a ghost.

The spot where she stood had, the previous night before she fell asleep, been graced by a tall and elegant silhouette standing before the window of that very bamboo grove, guarding her throughout the entire night.

She was correct.

Her husband, Hua Ji, had indeed returned.

And he had stayed by her side all night.

After lunch, Yu Lian continued resting in the courtyard. The previous day's performance had involved either crying or kneeling. To portray the role authentically, she needed to embody the character and the scene, experiencing genuine pain and sorrow. The energy expended required proper rest to replenish.

Mid-sleep, she suddenly sat up as if struck by a terrifying realization.

She held onto the blankets, her gaze blank as she rubbed her eyes.

Where was her husband's corpse?

The authorities would behead criminals but not take responsibility for their burial, unless the deceased had truly no family to claim them. In such cases, they would be buried collectively.

So, where was her husband's body?

She got out of bed hastily and headed outside.

The elder lady was listening to a servant's report, "This old servant instructed Erya to attend to the Lady of the Prince's Mansion and encouraged her to rest more. Lunch was sent to her courtyard, and at this moment, she's taking an afternoon nap."

The elder lady replied, "Did Hua'er bring him back?"

"The carriage is on its way with my husband and a servant boy to retrieve him. Please rest assured, Madam, we will ensure the Prince departs with dignity."

"That's good to hear. I've already invited a Taoist priest, and the date has been chosen. Today, we'll set up a small mourning hall for a day and perform a ritual for Hua'er, praying that he'll have a better life in his next reincarnation with a fortunate destiny, living long, wealthy, and peacefully. After today, he can be laid to rest tomorrow morning. We should do it quickly, so neither Lian'er nor my wayward daughter-in-law see it. I fear they wouldn't be able to bear it."

Perhaps it was fate, for just as Yu Lian stepped out, she encountered Yi Po's husband and a young servant carrying a stretcher with a covered body, both of their eyes reddened from grief.

She instantly understood the situation.

Not long after the old lady had settled her worries, a frightened little maid rushed to report, "Oh no, upon seeing the Prince's body being brought back, Lady Concubine fainted."