Chapter 65

Chapter 65

Qing Yun held the jade pendant, looking at her mother with a bewildered expression.

Just by its luster and quality, one could tell this piece of jade was immensely valuable. Although gold and silver were highly prized in ancient times, fine jade was even more priceless. A piece like this could easily fetch a large estate in Tianyang County.

"This... this is too precious. Yun'er cannot accept it."

Qing Yun hurriedly set the jade pendant down.

Li Cheng picked it up and placed it in his niece’s hand. "Keep it. This is from your maternal grandfather. Your mother’s opinion doesn't count."

In the end, Qing Yun accepted the jade in a daze, carefully tucking it into her pouch and wearing it close to her body, afraid of dropping it.

The old man spoke a while longer before growing tired.

Li Shu helped her father lie down. "Rest for a bit. We won’t leave; we’ll stay home with you these next few days."

Everyone exited the room, leaving only two maidservants to attend to him.

Eldest sister-in-law, Wen Shi, was a thoughtful woman. Knowing that the siblings hadn’t seen each other in many years and might be at a loss for words, she took the initiative to strike up a conversation with Li Shi.

"You haven't returned all these years, but truthfully, Father always missed you."

"It’s my fault. I kept thinking Father resented me and didn’t want anything to do with us, so I never dared to come back."

"How could that be? You’re the youngest daughter—Father cherished you more than anything. How could he resent you?"

In truth, the Li family had four children in total. The eldest was Li Cheng, while the second and third sons didn't survive, having succumbed to illness in their early years. That was why Li Shu, as the youngest, received such deep, albeit stern, love from her parents.

Back in the main hall, Wen Shi had the servants prepare a meal. "You must be tired from the long journey. Eat and rest early."

During the meal, another cousin, Li Bingwen, also returned. He currently served as an eighth-rank clerk in the local government office. Though it was a minor official position, he still had to report for duty punctually every day.

He had an outgoing personality and greeted Chen Qingyan warmly, giving him a hug. "You look so much like my father—more like him than even my brother and I!"

Wen Shi laughed. "Nephews often resemble their uncles. Of course he does."

"How many days did it take you to travel here?"

Chen Qingyan replied, "Five days. The roads were snowy and difficult to traverse."

"It’s quite a distance. When we have time, Bingchen and I will visit your side too. I heard there’s a famous natural spring in Longquan County."

There was indeed a very large spring in the county outskirts. Legend had it that a dragon once emerged from this spring hundreds of hundreds of years ago, and Longquan County was named after it.

"If you come, cousin, just give me advance notice. I’ll take you there to see it."

"Good! We’ll definitely send word ahead!"

Li Cheng, who had been silent until then, suddenly served his sister a dish. Clearing his throat, he said, "Since you’re here, stay a few more days. Father seems much better now that you’ve returned."

"I will," Li Shu nodded in agreement.

Wen Shi added, "He couldn’t eat at all these past few days, but today he ate half a bowl of rice porridge. Perhaps once the weather warms up, he’ll recover."

No sooner had she spoken than shouts came from outside: "It’s bad—the grandfather is fading fast!"

Everyone abandoned their meal and rushed anxiously toward the rear courtyard.

Wang Ying, being pregnant, was afraid of catching illness. Chen Qingyan held Wang Ying back along with his sister and brother. "You two stay with your sister-in-law and help look after him!" After saying this, he hurried into the room.

Inside, Old Master Li could no longer speak. Gone was the vitality he had shown earlier; his eyes were tightly shut, his mouth gasping for breath, and a death rattle came from his throat.

Li Shi entered and knelt by the bedside, holding his hand as tears streamed down her face. "Father, Father, what’s wrong? Wake up!"

Perhaps hearing his daughter’s voice, the old man slowly opened his eyes and weakly pointed a finger toward his son.

Li Cheng also knelt on the floor, his voice choked with emotion. "Father, if there’s anything you wish to say, please tell us."

With his last ounce of strength, the old man placed his son’s hand on his daughter’s and gave two gentle pats before closing his eyes forever.

"Father! Oh, Father!"

The siblings wailed as if they were children again, crying to their father like when they were hurt. Only this time, no one would lift them up and comfort them.

Old Master Li had been bedridden for a long time, so his passing could be considered a release from suffering. His coffin and burial clothes had long been prepared.

According to custom, the children and grandchildren were to change the deceased’s clothes. Li Cheng dismissed everyone else in the room and, with his two sons, changed their father’s garments. Then, suppressing his grief, he instructed the servants to hang white banners at the entrance and notify relatives of the passing.

The family members began changing into mourning clothes—no red or green was allowed; the plainer, the better.

The two sets of clothes Wang Ying had brought were both rather dark in color. Li Bingwen’s husband found a plain outfit he had worn during his own pregnancy and lent it to him.

After changing, they set up a funeral altar and moved the old man’s body to the outer hall, positioning him with his head to the east and feet to the west. They covered him with a burial cloth and lit a vigil lamp at the head of the bier.

Li Shi and Wen Shi knelt nearby, mourning and burning joss paper. Li Bingwen and Li Bingchen’s spouses also knelt behind them, weeping. Wang Ying was supposed to join the mourning, but given his advanced pregnancy, they feared kneeling would harm his health, so he was escorted back to the rear courtyard.

Shortly after the death announcements were sent out, a steady stream of mourners arrived. Aside from family relatives, many scholars and admirers of his work came to pay their respects.

Old Master Li had been highly respected in Tianyang County, and visitors came from all walks of life—even the county magistrate sent someone to offer condolences.

Li Cheng set aside his sorrow to busy himself receiving guests, while Chen Qingyan assisted his two cousins. It wasn’t until late at night that the stream of mourners gradually dwindled.

The male relatives took over the night vigil, giving the women and husbands a rest.

Chen Qingyan helped his mother up. "You must take care of your health."

Li Shi’s eyes were red and swollen as she nodded weakly. Maidservants supported her to the rear courtyard, where Wang Ying, Qing Yun, and Qing Song were waiting in the room.

"It’s so late—why haven’t you gone back to rest?"

Wang Ying said, "They were worried about you and insisted on waiting until you returned."

Li Shi wearily sat in a chair, and Qing Song quickly handed her a bowl of hot broth.

Li Shi had little appetite. "These next few days, I may not be able to look after you. You two take care of your sister-in-law."

"Yes."

"Qing Yun, keep the jade pendant safe. With so many people around, don’t let it get lost."

Chen Qingyun quickly took the jade pendant from her clothing and handed it to her mother. "You keep it. I’m afraid I might accidentally break it."

Li Shi took the jade pendant, reminded once again of her father’s words. Tears fell one by one onto the jade. It was a long time before she stopped crying. "It’s late. All of you, go back to sleep. I need to rest too."

Wang Ying comforted his mother-in-law briefly before returning to his own room. He could hardly hold on any longer. Likely due to his pregnancy and the days of carriage travel, his back ached terribly, and both feet were swollen, making walking painful.

Back in his room, he didn’t even bother washing up. He removed his outer robe and fell asleep.

Half-asleep in the middle of the night, he heard the door click shut and opened his eyes to see Chen Qingyan returning.

Just as he was about to sit up, Chen Qingyan pressed him back down. "Sleep, I just came back to check on you."

Wang Ying grasped his hand. "Why is it so cold?"

"I just went out with Eldest Cousin to escort a guest out."

"Be careful not to catch a chill."

"Mm." Chen Qingyan tucked the quilt around him. "You must be tired today?"

"Not too bad, just a bit sore in the back, and my feet hurt a little."

Chen Qingyan slipped his hand under the covers and gently massaged his lower back. "You've been working hard these past few days."

"I'm fine. But keep an eye on Mother—I’m worried she might fall ill from excessive grief."

"Ah, I know." In truth, compared to Li Shi, Chen Qingyan and his younger brother and sister didn’t feel much sorrow. After all, this was his first time meeting his maternal grandfather; they were barely more than strangers.

But it was different for his mother. She already carried guilt in her heart, and now with her father’s sudden passing, she was struggling to process it all.

There was talking outside—likely more visitors had arrived.

Wang Ying asked, "What time is it?"

"Just past the hour of the Ox (around 1-3 AM). Sleep a little longer. I’ll have Qing Yun bring you some food when it's light. It’ll be hectic outside during the day, so just stay indoors with the two of them."

"Mm."

Chen Qingyan leaned down and kissed his forehead. "I’m heading back now. Sleep well."

Wang Ying dozed off again and woke up around noon.

After a night’s rest, he didn’t feel as uncomfortable as before. The funeral rites for Old Master Li were to last seven days, and they wouldn’t be able to return until after the burial. By his count, they’d be spending the Lantern Festival on the road.

The next day, even more guests arrived at the Li family home. Li Shi came from a large clan—Old Master Li was the third among his siblings, with two older brothers and one younger brother.

There were over ten direct uncles, some of whom were officials stationed elsewhere and couldn’t return. There were even more cousins, and the house was packed nearly to capacity.

The two children stayed indoors with Wang Ying, too afraid to venture outside with so many people around.

Qing Song found a book to read, while Qing Yun idly played with her handkerchief. "Elder sister, I miss home..."

Wang Ying beckoned her over to sit beside him. "Hold on for a few more days. We’ve just managed to improve relations with your maternal grandfather’s family—we can’t leave at a time like this."

"I know, I’m just venting a little." The young girl was quite sensible.

At lunch, they saw Chen Qingyan, who had dark circles under his eyes from exhaustion. After two nearly sleepless nights, he could barely muster the energy to speak.

After the meal, Uncle Li Cheng sent him back, urging him to get some rest.

It wasn’t until the seventh day, the day of the burial, that Wang Ying, Qing Yun, and Qing Song changed into mourning clothes and joined the procession.

The courtyard was already crowded with people, all draped in hemp mourning garments and headbands. The men gathered to discuss who would carry the coffin, while the women and male spouses were discussing the scale of the funeral and how much it must have cost.

Seeing Wang Ying and the children come out, Li Shi, their mother, hurried over. "Are you cold?"

"Not too bad." He wasn’t cold elsewhere, but his face felt a bit chilled.

The weather wasn’t great that day. A strong wind had picked up since early morning, whipping up scattered snowflakes that stung when they hit the face.

"Don’t go beyond the city gates later. Come back after we reach the city gates."

"Alright."

The Li family ancestral grave was on the mountainside outside the city, and the coffin had to be carried all the way there. Wang Ying knew better than to overexert himself.

When the time came, the men called out to begin carrying the coffin. As the daughter, Li Shi had to walk beside the coffin and instructed Qing Yun and Qing Song to take good care of Wang Ying.

With a strike of the gong, Li Cheng raised the funeral banner and cried out, "Father, you’re on your way!"

The eldest grandson, Li Bingwen, smashed the earthen bowl, and sixteen men lifted the coffin and moved toward the gate.

Ritual joss paper scattered everywhere, mingling with the falling snowflakes.

The women's lamentations suddenly rose up, like an ancient elegy from time immemorial.