Chapter 215 - 214: Funeral Affairs
Liao Shi told Xiuyu to fetch a plain set of clothes from the trunk and compared it against her body, letting out a low sigh.
She and Aunt Liao were real sisters.
Precisely because they were real sisters, when they were young, they didn’t get along well due to competing for favor in front of elders.
Their faces were friendly but hearts were not; it couldn’t have been said more accurately. They often sabotaged each other, fighting like this for years until they both married, yet the grudge hadn’t dissipated.
Aunt Liao married into the Duke Mansion; although she was a concubine, having a favored son and daughter gave her enough confidence. She often flaunted to Liao Shi about it. Every time Liao Shi visited her and returned, she would spit a few times, saying that Aunt Liao was not formally recognized yet and was so arrogant that she wouldn’t know what hit her when she took a fall one day.
Until Aunt Liao really did take a fall, Liao Shi saw her weakened sister and felt the pain in her heart.
They were real sisters, after all.
If Aunt Liao could be formally recognized and take charge of the Duke Mansion, becoming the real duchess, then Liao Shi’s status would rise as well. When Aunt Liao’s son inherited the title of Princely Heir, Du Yunlan would have such a cousin, coming and going with much more dignity.
But the dream shattered...
Liao Shi wished she could slap herself hard, wondering why she was so wooden-headed. She should’ve paid incense money and worshipped in the temple for Aunt Liao, praying for the Bodhisattva’s blessing, instead of cursing Aunt Liao behind her back.
Well, Aunt Liao would remain Aunt Liao for life.
This life was really disheartening, seeing the Young Master’s wife getting worse by the day, and a new wife about to enter the mansion. Aunt Liao had resigned herself, so Liao Shi could only follow suit.
Now, news from the Duke Mansion came that the Young Master’s wife had passed away.
Aunt Liao was heartbroken and pounding her chest, regretting that even if she didn’t want to make way for Aunt Liao, she should’ve at least kept a perpetual light for the Young Master’s wife. If she hadn’t died, no new wife would enter, and even if the Old Duke’s wife didn’t manage the household, Aunt Liao would still have control over the inner residence, right?
Without a title, at least there was power.
Now, apart from what she saved over the years, there was really nothing left.
The Duke Jing Mansion set up a mourning hall.
The Miao Family prepared a funeral gift according to customs, and Liao Shi was going to offer incense and condolences.
Yunuo originally didn’t want to go.
According to Liao Shi, the Young Master’s wife wasn’t closely related to Yunuo, and a young girl shouldn’t involve herself in such displeasing circumstances.
Old Mrs. Xia disagreed, saying that they never left Yunuo behind when visiting the Duke Mansion, and disappearing during a funeral would invite gossip.
Liao Shi was left with no words and had to agree. She carefully instructed her, "Today there will be many guests, and I might not get to exchange many words with your aunt. We’ll just follow the rules. The Princess is surely there, so try to persuade her not to argue with her grandfather and father about these matters. She’s not who she used to be, and she can’t afford to be willful anymore."
Yunuo bit her lip lightly, recalling the words they exchanged on the day Princess An Ran left home, and sighed softly, "Mother, don’t worry. The Princess is not a foolish person; she understands the importance of assessing the situation."
Although this girl was not Liao Shi’s biological child, she had raised her for years without ever oppressing her. Liao Shi found herself burdened by this sigh in her heart, tightly holding her hand: "Fortunately, the Princess is married and doesn’t have to delay for years because of this. I hear the Enrong Bo Mansion treats her well, and that’s good enough."
Yunuo nodded; at least from this point, Princess An Ran could still have a decent life, and at least she could see the path ahead.
At the Duke Jing Mansion’s grand mourning, many people came to offer incense.
Not only the family in-laws and those who interacted frequently, but all the Duke’s Mansion families also had to make an appearance.
Yunuo obediently followed Liao Shi as Princess An Ran knelt in mourning clothes at the hall. Her face showed no grief or tears, not even feigning a few cries of sorrow. She just knelt there, expressionless.
Aunt Liao’s heart felt congested with anger, yet she still had to signal Princess An Ran, hoping she would at least moan a few times, if only to give an explanation to the Old Master and Young Master. But Princess An Ran paid no heed, looking indifferent.
Yunuo observed clearly, lowered her eyelids, and thought, so she thought Princess An Ran would assess the situation, but...
The Princess could endure but disdained shedding tears for a show.
Aunt Liao wasn’t physically strong, and after half a day, she couldn’t endure any longer.
The Old Master didn’t intend to push her too hard and cared for appearances, so he allowed Liao Shi to accompany Aunt Liao back to her room to rest for a while.
Once Aunt Liao left, Princess An Ran stood up to follow but was stopped after a few steps by the people beside the Young Master.
It was like a spark dropped into dry wood; Princess An Ran wouldn’t comply, pale-faced, saying she couldn’t kneel any longer and her back was about to break. She pulled Yunuo over, leaning on her while gasping for breath.
The mourning hall was for the daughter-in-law, and the Old Master’s couple originally wouldn’t come, but when they learned about Princess An Ran’s commotion, the Old Duke’s wife rushed over to play the enforcer, tapping her cane and scolding Princess An Ran for being thoughtless.
Those who came to offer incense all noticed this disturbance.
Yunuo found herself in a dilemma in the middle, but quickly figured it out.
She came with Liao Shi, appearing to everyone as being on Aunt Liao’s side. Even if she advised the Princess to calm down on behalf of the Old Duke’s wife, they wouldn’t appreciate it; she had to care for the Princess. As long as the Princess didn’t make too much of a scene, she would help support her.
Yunuo went to hold Princess An Ran’s hand, and with one touch, she was startled; the Princess’s hand was icy cold, unlike in June but more like in the cold winter.
"Princess..." Yunuo hurriedly supported An Ran.
In a low voice, An Ran said, "I really can’t take it anymore, it’s so hard... my whole body hurts..."
"What nonsense!" The Old Duke’s wife wouldn’t believe An Ran, "How old are you? Unable to endure for such a short while, is that reasonable?"
The Old Duke’s wife continued scolding.
Holding the hand covered in cold sweat, Yunuo urgently said, "The Princess might really be unwell, quickly bring a doctor here."
She called out three times, but no one paid attention.
The weight pressing on Yunuo from Princess An Ran grew heavier, causing Yunuo to panic. She turned to see a maid timidly peeking around and quickly said, "What are you standing there for? Go fetch your Master! Hurry!"
The little maid stumbled away.
The Old Duke’s wife was infuriated, pointing at the two of them, saying, "The more outrageous! I’m still standing steady, who is she acting shaky for? Lying there is her legitimate mother, she truly lacks any decency!"
Yunuo didn’t care what others said. Being much smaller than Princess An Ran and without help, she gritted her teeth but couldn’t hold on; they toppled backward and fell to the ground.
Princess An Ran was entirely pressed onto Yunuo, making her grimace in pain, and it took great effort to support the Princess. Both sat on the ground, unable to pull the Princess up.
Fortunately, Yunuo saw Huo Ziming approaching briskly.