Chapter 6: Escorting the Spirit

“Is your sister-in-law feeling better?” Liang Yun hesitated for a moment before asking.

Yesterday, there had been quite a commotion in her fragrant chamber. Now, seeing her again, it was only right that Liang Yun inquired after her, both out of courtesy and obligation.

Yingshi hurriedly drew back her wandering thoughts and replied in a soft, melodious voice, “Thank you for your concern, elder brother. I am much better now.”

Only sixteen, she was at the tender age of youth, her voice carried a gentle and innocent softness, quite unlike the straightforward tone of a man’s speech. It was like the curling smoke rising beside the incense burner.

Liang Yun nodded slightly at Yingshi’s words, then, together with Liang Zhi behind him, bowed to pay respects to the Old Madam.

Seeing her two grandsons arrive together, the Old Madam was naturally delighted. “Why have you come at this hour?” she asked.

This was the time normally reserved for court duties.

Liang Yun answered, “Second Brother and I have taken leave from court. Tomorrow, we will go to Hedong to escort Third Brother’s coffin.”

Lady Wei, anxious, interjected, “Why so hurried?”

“The days grow hotter, and we cannot delay any longer,” Liang Yun explained. True to his taciturn nature, even his explanations were brief and to the point. Liang Zhi expanded for him, “The burial is scheduled for the seventh day of the fifth month, and there are only a few days left. Elder brother and the uncles have decided to set out tomorrow, so we came specifically to inform grandmother and aunt.”

The ancestral home of the Liang family was in Hedong, and it was customary to carry the coffin there for burial in the ancestral tomb.

Now, Liang Ji’s coffin had rested in the fragrant chamber for six days, kept cool with ice each day, but with the summer solstice approaching, there could be no more delay.

Lady Wei, though full of sorrow, could only let her tears fall silently. As the matron of a noble house, even her grief had to be quiet, lest she disgrace the Liang family.

She dabbed her tears with a handkerchief, striving for calm, and said, “Thank you, eldest and nephew, for your efforts.”

Liang Zhi quickly replied, “Aunt, you’re too polite. We’re all family; it’s no trouble at all.”

Though he and Liang Ji were cousins, the Old Madam was still alive and the family had not split, making them closer than mere kin.

After speaking, Liang Zhi noticed Yingshi sitting beside the Old Madam, her eyes red from crying, and recalled his elder brother’s words. He asked, “By the way, Sister-in-law, will you be accompanying us to Hedong for the procession?”

Yingshi was startled by his question, her hand trembling. Everything seemed to be unfolding in an inexplicable way.

In her previous life, she had not gone to escort the coffin, nor had Liang Zhi asked her publicly like this, breaking with all conventions.

Could it be that her actions yesterday had unsettled the order of things, making these events turn strange one after another?

Luckily, the Old Madam was considerate and, before Yingshi could answer, spoke for her: “Your sister-in-law is frail and should rest. How could she endure the fatigue of travel? Such matters are best left to you brothers.”

Yingshi felt a wave of relief, but in the next moment, Liang Zhi spoke again: “The entire route is on official roads, and with a good carriage, it won’t be too bumpy. If sister-in-law wishes to go, let her come along.”

Liang Zhi had witnessed yesterday’s drama in the fragrant chamber and believed he was doing a good deed, fulfilling the wishes of these lovers.

Everyone in the room seemed to share his sentiment.

Lady Wei spoke up, making the decision for Yingshi, “Let her go this time. Let his wife send him… on his final journey.”

With Lady Wei’s word, Yingshi could only acquiesce.

“I understand,” she replied.

Unable to refuse, she could only accept willingly.

On the way back to her courtyard, Yingshi comforted herself: perhaps walking a path she hadn’t in her former life would lead to new light.

As soon as she returned to Dayujin Garden and closed the doors and windows, Gui Niang could not help but say, “It’s no matter if the men suffer a bit, a few days of hard riding and it’s done. Why must you go as well…?”

“You’re still unwell, why agree to this?” Gui Niang pressed.

Yingshi could only force a bitter smile.

She knew Gui Niang would never believe her explanations.

In the eyes of Gui Niang and the other maids, they probably thought she could never forget Liang Ji, and was secretly pleased to escort his coffin.

Wasn’t it so? In her previous life, at this time, she wept every day, lost her appetite, and grew more haggard with each passing day.

Now that the decision was made, Yingshi sought to reassure everyone: “Hedong isn’t far, perhaps we’ll be back in ten days or so.”

Gui Niang, hearing this, could not force a smile. “Even if it’s not far, it’s over a hundred miles! You know how chaotic the world is outside now. Well, let me go with you then…”

Yingshi naturally refused.

She was young, and even if exhausted, a couple days’ rest would restore her. Gui Niang, however, was not so fortunate.

Gui Niang’s health was always fragile; Yingshi could not bear to let her suffer further. Besides, the household could not do without Gui Niang.

She persuaded her, “Can you handle a carriage? The rocking will make you dizzy, and the whole procession would have to stop for you. It’s nothing for me, but Eldest and Second Master are on leave from the court, time is tight. You stay here peacefully, I’ll take Chunlan and Xiangyao with me.”

Chunlan and Xiangyao were delighted at the prospect.

Though just days ago, they had been seasick traveling from Chen County to the capital, once their feet touched land, they forgot all about the pain.

A woman’s world is often confined to the courtyard; now, given the chance to travel with their mistress, they could only be joyful, unlike Gui Niang’s sighs.

Xiangyao looked up and asked, “Will we travel by boat or by carriage this time?”

“We came by boat last time; this time we’ll take a carriage. We’ll follow the official roads and stay at inns at night. We’ll share a room—how about that?” Yingshi, reborn, was much more mature than her two young maids.

She did her best to comfort and delight them.

“Great, great!” Xiangyao beamed.

Chunlan, being older and steadier, simply smiled, while Xiangyao, impatient to depart, tugged at Chunlan’s sleeve, urging her to start packing.

“Hurry! We’re leaving tomorrow; let’s get Mistress’s clothes ready.”

Seeing this, Yingshi’s lips curved gently.

She had spent the whole night reflecting, even considering burning all bridges, risking everything to escape the Liang household.

But if she truly wished for a smooth divorce, she would need the Ruan family’s intervention.

Her parents were long gone; her uncle and aunt, though kin, remained somewhat distant.

If they helped her this time, what then? Would they resent her afterward?

If the Ruan family angered the Liangs on her behalf and later suffered their suppression at court, how could they not hold her responsible?

Their best option might be to marry her off to someone else, letting her new husband bear the Liang family’s wrath.

A woman widowed before marriage—who would take her now? Likely, only some old widower over forty, making her both wife and grandmother at once.

Or some debauched wastrel, addicted to vice.

From one pit to another.

If she burned the Liang household to the ground and vanished, how would she survive without household registration in these turbulent times? A young woman alone would surely attract wolves and tigers, perhaps ending up worse than in her previous life…

Thinking thus, Yingshi gradually found clarity.

Some things could not be rushed.

She still had six whole years to plan.

For now, she could use this funeral procession as a chance to give her servants an opportunity.

Once her spirits recovered, she called Gui Niang over for a private conversation.

Her only concern in leaving for the funeral was Gui Niang; there were things she must make clear.

Unexpectedly, Gui Niang’s brows shot up in disbelief. “You want to drive the people out of your courtyard? How can that be? They were originally Third Master’s people… If you dismiss them, how will you explain to Lady Wei? You’ll surely offend her!”

Yingshi, rarely angered, drew a stern face. “So we must live every day under her scrutiny? Always fearful that our words displease her? Let these old maids lord it over my courtyard?”

Gui Niang, afraid Yingshi would make trouble, quickly advised, “It’s only temporary! Third Master is gone, and Eldest isn’t Lady Wei’s son. Now, you’re her closest. She may have assigned people to watch, but isn’t that how every daughter-in-law gets through? Once you’re closer to her, those old maids wouldn’t dare trouble you, no matter how bold.”

Yingshi only smiled.

As Gui Niang said, if she played the obedient daughter-in-law, perhaps Lady Wei would shower her with affection and support.

But Gui Niang never imagined Liang Ji would return from the dead.

Six years—long enough for even a dog to wag its tail at her.

Having lived again, Yingshi would not waste a single drop of feeling on Lady Wei.

Her words today were meant to give Gui Niang a dose of caution before the funeral procession.

Gui Niang was shrewd and hardly needed reminding, but even she would not guard against Lady Wei.

In her previous life, Yingshi was close to Lady Wei, daily paying respects and doing all the tedious, thankless tasks, more loyal than a dog. Lady Wei, not being foolish, naturally showed her a kind face, and the servants in her courtyard treated her with respect.

But after Liang Ji returned, these very people were the first to abandon her and seek new favor.

In this life, she would show no mercy.

Ungrateful dogs would be driven out early.