Chapter 644

Chapter 652: The Descent (Part 2)

The rosy complexion was the result of makeup, but the serene expression was not something that could be achieved through cosmetics alone.

Though Eleven Miss felt a shiver run down her spine, she couldn’t help but widen her eyes and take a closer look.

Perhaps from often frowning in life, Ten Miss had two deep creases between her brows. Now that they had smoothed out, her expression appeared utterly relaxed. Yet the corners of her lips seemed to curl faintly, as if carrying a hint of a smile. No matter how you looked at it, there was something eerie about it.

Eleven Miss broke out in goosebumps.

Someone invited her to sit by the window on the large heated kang: "...The madam passed away in the middle of the night. Miss Yin Ping and Miss Jin Lian helped with the bathing." The voice was hushed and grave.

Eleven Miss instinctively looked up.

It was a woman she didn’t recognize, around thirty years old, dressed in a bright blue floral jacket. Her fair skin and neat appearance, adorned with two lotus-shaped hairpins, gave off an air of neat efficiency.

Noticing Eleven Miss’s gaze, the woman lowered her voice and said, "My husband is the estate’s chief steward. After the madam passed, Miss Yin Ping worried the younger maids might be careless, so she had me help serve tea and tend to the ladies here."

It seemed the chief steward Ten Miss had employed was also a shrewd and capable person.

Those gathered by the window kang quickly made way, and someone even picked up a cushion and patted it solicitously.

Eleven Miss ignored it and sat down, asking the steward’s wife, "Where are Yin Ping and Jin Lian?"

The woman’s eyes grew slightly red as she replied softly, "Miss Yin Ping and my husband have gone to sell the 'funeral estate.' Miss Jin Lian is overseeing the accounts, handling the expenses for the arrangements."

Eleven Miss was startled. "Funeral estate?"

Some wealthy elders, not wanting to saddle their children with funeral costs, would set aside land or property during their later years as a "funeral estate." The income from these assets could be used as personal funds while alive, and the proceeds from their sale would cover funeral costs after death. But Ten Miss was young and hadn’t brought much of a dowry—how could she have a funeral estate?

The steward’s wife glanced at the women in the room, their expressions varied, then spoke respectfully but clearly, "It was arranged by the elder madam while she was alive. That year, during the Duke’s birthday, she announced it before the entire clan, and it was later officially recorded with the authorities. Now that the madam has passed, the estate must naturally be sold to cover her funeral expenses."

It turned out the Wang family’s elder madam had arranged this for Ten Miss!

Eleven Miss was floored.

Most of the Wang women lowered their heads, though a few looked disdainful and seemed ready to argue. However, Wang Chengzu’s birth mother yanked them back.

"Miss Yin Ping is acting too hastily," Wang Chengzu’s birth mother said, casting an awkward glance at Eleven Miss. "The madam raised the Duke—do you really think he would begrudge the silver for her funeral? The Duke’s idea was to foot the bill himself instead of selling the funeral estate. The estate could then be kept as sacrificial land for the madam, so offerings and incense could be made year-round..."

"These were the elder madam’s instructions," the steward’s wife shot back coolly, staring at Wang Chengzu’s birth mother without a trace of fear, "and the madam’s final wishes. As servants, we dare not disobey."

"You—!" Wang Chengzu’s birth mother’s temples throbbed. She glanced at Eleven Miss and swallowed her words.

Eleven Miss, though, was reeling inside.

After Ten Miss’s death, these servants would answer to Wang Chengzu. Though Wang Chengzu’s birth mother held no official status, she was still his blood relative and acted in his name. Normally, stewards and maids would show her some respect. Yet the steward’s wife had openly defied her, as if scorning all decorum for Ten Miss’s sake. Did this mean the relationship between Wang Chengzu and Ten Miss had been extremely strained? Had the steward, who had always obeyed Ten Miss, realized there was no future for him in this household and decided to go down swinging?

As she pondered, Four Miss arrived.

"Little sister, gone so young!" she cried the moment she entered, covering her face with a handkerchief. "When you came to deliver New Year’s gifts, you were perfectly fine. Who knew death would part us sisters... It’s all my fault for not asking more about your illness..."

Ten Miss hadn’t seen them in eight or nine years. To an outsider, Four Miss’s words might have sounded as if they had been the closest of sisters!

Eleven Miss felt a pang of embarrassment.

The Wang women, however, seemed to relax.

Though Four Miss was just going through the motions, her arrival eased the tension that had filled the room.

They clamored forward to console Fourth Miss.

A sudden stir arose outside as Yin Ping, clad in mourning attire, appeared before the crowd.

"Miss Yin Ping!" The Steward's Wife's face lit up with joy as she hurried forward to greet her. "Both maternal aunts are here..." she hinted meaningfully.

Yin Ping swiftly stepped forward to pay respects to Fourth Miss and Eleven Miss before straightening up. "Madam's funeral estate was sold for three thousand taels of silver. One thousand two hundred taels were spent on a premium purple nanmu coffin, eight hundred taels on 'scripture chanting,' one hundred taels on 'paper offerings,' another hundred on 'bier bearers,' and another hundred to hire funeral money tossers..."

Both Fourth Miss and Eleven Miss were astonished.

As experienced household managers, they knew that "scripture chanting" referred to hiring monks and Taoist priests to recite scriptures. Eight hundred taels could hire at least eighty-one monks or priests to chant for forty-nine days. "Paper offerings" meant ordering paper funeral objects from underworld tailor shops—three hundred taels could buy enough to fill dozens of horse-drawn carts...

The two exchanged bewildered glances.

The natural mother of Wang Chengzu nearly fainted from rage.

Not daring to speak frankly before Fourth Miss, she gnashed her teeth loudly and asked Yin Ping, "Did you discuss these arrangements with the Duke?"

"When the steward reported, both uncles and Yongping Marquis were present," Yin Ping stared directly at Wang Chengzu's natural mother. "The Duke also approved it!"

At this point, if Eleven Miss and Fourth Miss still couldn't discern the conflict between Wang Chengzu and Yin Ping's faction, they would be complete idiots.

During the midday banquet, Fourth Miss quietly told Eleven Miss, "Since Tenth Sister's affairs are so well arranged, I think I won't come tomorrow. Your brother-in-law is about to take up the post of Vice Minister of Works, and there's much to prepare at home. I'll come to burn incense when Tenth Sister is buried."

Lord Xu had mentioned this to Eleven Miss before. Last summer, devastating floods in Zhejiang had destroyed many riverbanks and submerged fertile fields. The Emperor intended to assign Yu Yiqing to manage waterway affairs—a lucrative but risky appointment that Yu Yiqing had hesitated to accept.

"So Fourth Brother-in-law has decided to join the Ministry of Works?"

Fourth Miss nodded with a sigh. "He says imperial favor cannot be refused. I only hope he can safely serve out these three years!"

As they spoke, Amber entered. "Madam, your brother is looking for you."

Puzzled, Eleven Miss nodded to Fourth Miss and followed Amber out to the reception hall.

He wore a powder blue Hangzhou silk robe, standing hands clasped behind his back in the courtyard center.

The midday spring sunlight filtering through tender green leaves cast ambiguous shadows across his face.

"I won't stay for dinner," he said wistfully, gazing toward the chamber where Tenth Miss lay. "Second Uncle and Third Uncle will soon return to Yanjing for debriefing. As you know, they've held their posts for eight or nine years and wish for transfers—especially Third Uncle. Fifth and Sixth Brothers have been studying at Elder Liu's residence, but with Elder Liu aging, Third Uncle wants to reunite the family. I need to help them pull strings these days. If anything happens here, send word."

Eleven Miss recalled the death of the elder madam.

Expecting Luo Zhenxing to serve Tenth Miss as diligently as before was indeed asking too much.

"I understand," she said softly. "Please focus on your affairs, Elder Brother."

After a long silence, Luo Zhenxing turned on his heel and left.

By afternoon, Wang Chengzu and the Wang family discussed building the mourning tent, announcing the death, and funeral arrangements. His natural mother, the Steward's Wife, and other female relatives all went to observe, leaving Tenth Miss's chamber strangely quiet.

Yin Ping kept Eleven Miss company.

While tending Tenth Miss's eternal flame, she spoke of Fourth Miss's early departure: "...Madam, though aloof, was deeply kind. Without her protection over the years, Jinlian and I wouldn't have survived...and the steward..." She paused. "Madam entrusted everything to him, never questioning his decisions despite the Wang family's complaints...Even in death, she arranged for us all..."

Eleven Miss was surprised.

Yin Ping's expression darkened. "Madam had been ill for years. Had she not promised the elder madam to ensure the heir's continuity—raising the Duke to adulthood for marriage and children—she would have given up long ago..." Her eyes reddened. "After the Duke married, Madam felt she could face the elder madam with a clear heart...and her will to live faded...As speaking became exhausting, she began preparing her funeral arrangements...First selling her dowry to buy us a small estate, then having the deed properly registered to provide for the steward, Jinlian and me for our livelihood." Her voice grew impassioned. "Through all her years overseeing Wang household affairs, Madam never took a single coin from them—even the funeral estate came from the elder madam's own dowry and gifts from the eldest daughter...The Duke knew this...He agreed before the elder madam, yet now listens to his natural mother about keeping those lands...What do the Wangs' empty coffers have to do with our Madam? She never used any of it...We refused to accept this injustice, so we rushed to sell the estate..." Covering her mouth, she wept silently.

Tenth Miss had only been honoring a vow.

Thus she remained indifferent to whom Wang Chengzu married, nor his scheming...

Turning to gaze at Tenth Miss, Eleven Miss wondered—was that fleeting smile meant for Wang Chengzu? Or was she mocking her own fate?