When Han Jianming received the news of his father's death, he thought about it for a long time. Ultimately, he decided to travel back t...
When Han Jianming received the news of his father's death, he thought about it for a long time. Ultimately, he decided to travel back to the capital. If he were to go to the northwest, it would be difficult for him to make a life for himself there with the reputation of being unfilial.
Mr Zhao said, worriedly, "My Lord Duke, once you enter the capital, it won't be easy to get out again."
Han Jianming replied, "There will always be a way." Jianye was in Yu City and definitely couldn't return. If Han Jianming himself did not go back, there would be no one to wear mourning clothes for his father and see him through his final rites.
Seeing the look on Han Jianming's face, Mr Zhao said nothing further.
Han Jianming did not share a deep emotional bond with Han Jingdong. Over the years, because his father was so unreliable, his grandmother had placed all her hopes on him. Ever since he had been old enough to understand things, he had never slept in or enjoyed a single carefree day. Sometimes he felt exhausted and wanted to drop the shoulder pole🖼️. But if he really walked away, what would become of the Duke's large household? Still, as he worked tirelessly and painstakingly to hold the family together, while his father, who should have borne the responsibility, roamed the countryside with women, carefree and at ease, he could not help but feel resentful and depressed.
Mr Zhao had followed Han Jianming for fifteen years and understood his temperament fairly well. He said, "My Lord Duke, outsiders all believe we are in Wang County. Even if we are to enter the capital, it will only be two days later."
Han Jianming nodded. "I know."
Had Han Jingdong died in peaceful times, his funeral would undoubtedly have been a grand affair, given his status. However, this was an extraordinary period, so all procedures were simplified. Only a mourning hall was set up, where the women of the household kept vigil and wailed for the deceased.
On the afternoon of the third day after Han Jingdong's death, Mama Fang arrived to offer her condolences, accompanied by the Caidi couple. Apart from the fact that many prominent households in the capital had lost their family members due to the rebellion, even considering the Duke's residence's current situation, only a very few dared to pay their respects, as most feared being implicated if they were associated with the Han family. Lianshan, however, had no such worries, since he was merely an insignificant patrol guard.
After offering incense, Mama Fang said to Ye Shi, "Eldest Lady, please restrain your grief." Those bandits targeted wealthy households; ordinary people were actually safer. Even if bandits did come, the people in that area were very united—whenever anything happened, everyone would step forward together.
Ye Shi bowed and expressed her gratitude, "Thank you." People revealed their true feelings in times of hardship. Once news of Yuxi's rebellion spread, their relatives and friends in the capital immediately cut off all ties with them. Those included even her own natal family, the Ye clan. Instead, it was Mama Fang, who had little real connection to them, who still came to offer her condolences in person.
Mama Fang had also come to see Qiu Shi and to ask about Yuxi's situation. "Eldest Lady, I would like to visit the Old Lady—would that be possible?" Qiu Shi had only come out on the first day to make arrangements; since then, she had been confined to her bed. Of course, she was not truly ill; she was pretending.
Ye Shi instructed one of the maids standing by to accompany Mama Fang to the Changle Courtyard.
At that moment, white mourning cloth hung throughout Changle Courtyard. Anything with even a hint of colour inside the rooms had been removed, leaving the place looking especially desolate. Previously, Qiu Shi had been concerned that hiding all the valuable items in the residence might arouse suspicion. However, following bandit raids and a death in the family, all the valuables had now been put away and moved into the secret passage. This outcome could be considered Han Jingdong's only contribution.
Looking at Qiu Shi lying in bed with a pale, colourless face, Mama Fang felt deeply saddened. She walked to the bedside, her eyes reddening as she said, "Old Lady, you must take good care of yourself. If Si Gunainai7 were to see you like this, who knows how heartbroken she would be."
Leaning back against a bolster pillow, Qiu Shi responded, "It's nothing serious. My body just feels a little weak." In truth, she had paid great attention to her health in recent years and was actually in excellent condition.
After saying this, Qiu Shi glanced at Caidie, who was standing behind Mama Fang and sighed with emotion. Speaking of it, Yuxi had indeed been considerate towards Mama Fang, even arranging for her personal maid to marry Mama Fang's stepson. "Have you been well all these years, Mama?" Judging by the peaceful expression on Mama Fang's face, it was clear that she had been living quite comfortably.
Mama Fang nodded. "Good—everything's quite good." As the old saying goes, every household has a volume of scripture that is hard to recite1. Lian Shan's two sons had both been raised by Mama Fang herself, and their relationship was almost like that of a biological mother and her sons. Lian Dalang married Caidie, who suited Mama Fang in every way, and the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law got along like a true mother and daughter. However, ever since Lian Erlang got married, problems had begun to arise. Not only was his wife hot-tempered, but she was also fond of taking advantage and unwilling to suffer even the slightest loss. Mama Fang had opposed the marriage at first, but Qin Shi was pretty and shrewd, captivating Erlang so completely that he would marry no one else. Moreover, Qin Shi's father was on good terms with Lian Shan, leaving Lian Shan no choice but to agree to the marriage. Yet, from the moment Qin Shi entered the household, peace left the Lian family.
Qiu Shi nodded. "If you're living well, Yuxi would be very happy to know." From the fact that Yuxi once had Mama Fang sell baozi2 and had later supported her remarriage, it was clear that Yuxi was not someone bound by rigid conventions.
This time, Mama Fang had come with a question of her own. "Old Lady, is Fourth Miss doing well in the northwest?" Earlier, when she heard that Yuxi had gone into difficult labour and that both mother and child had nearly lost their lives, Mama Fang had become so anxious that she had fallen ill herself. However, thanks to Lian Shan's reassurance and later hearing the news that Yuxi was safe, she was finally able to put her mind at ease.
Qiu Shi nodded. "Yuxi is fine, and so is her child—you needn't worry." She only dared to speak so openly because she knew that everyone in the room could be trusted.
After chatting with Qiu Shi for a while, Mama Fang returned home with Caidie. The moment she arrived, her younger daughter-in-law, Qin Shi, flew into a rage and shouted, "Mother-in-law, the Han family is the family of rebels! Everyone else wishes they could stay tens of thousands of miles away, yet you insist on clinging to them? Aren't you afraid of dragging the entire Lian family—old and young—down with you?" Rather than fearing involvement with the Han family, she was more afraid of being implicated by Yuxi. Everyone in the alley knew of Yuxi's close relationship with Mama Fang.
Before Caidie could speak, Nanny Fang said coldly, "If you're afraid of being implicated, I'll have Erlang write you a divorce letter. Then, no matter what disaster befalls the Lian family, it will have nothing to do with you." Qin Shi was usually very competitive, eager to outshine everyone, and constantly looking for ways to gain benefit at others' expense. However, since Mama Fang believed that a peaceful home led to prosperity, she chose to turn a blind eye to Qin Shi's behaviour. But Yuxi was Mama Fang's reverse scale3—not something anyone could touch.
Upon hearing this, Qin burst into loud sobs, crying as she shouted, "I ask myself—what have I done wrong since marrying into this family? I work diligently from morning till night; Erlang and I love each other; and I've even borne a son for the Lian family! And now you're talking about divorcing me for no reason. There's no justice in the world..." Between the lines, she was accusing Mama Fang of being a vicious mother-in-law. Qin Shi dared to make such a scene because she was confident that Erlang would never divorce her.
Mama Fang turned to Lian Dalang and said, "Go call your Dad and Erlang back. Even if there's business at the yamen, they must return."
Lian Shan and Lian Erlang returned home one after the other. Seeing the unpleasant look on Mama Fang's face, Lian Shan immediately knew their younger daughter-in-law had angered his wife again.
Mama Fang said to Cai Die, "Go and fetch Qin Shi here." People with good tempers rarely lost their temper, but when they did, it was not something ordinary people could withstand.
All the members of the Lian family gathered in the room. Mama Fang said to Lian Erlang, "Fourth Miss was raised by my own hands—this is an unchangeable fact. Today, Qin Shi accused me of associating with the Han family and claimed it would bring disaster upon the entire Lian household. What do you have to say about that?"
Lian Erlang hesitated for a moment, but in the end, he still looked up and said, "Mom, the Fourth Miss Han is truly a traitor and a rebel. What Qin Shi said is not wrong. Mom, for the safety of everyone in the Lian family, young and old alike, you should stop going to the Han household in the future."
Lian Shan reprimanded him lividly, "As a person, the one thing you must never do is forget kindness and repay it with ingratitude. Have you swallowed everything I taught you and sent it straight into a dog's belly4?" The good life the Lian family enjoyed today was all thanks to the Fourth Miss Han.
Although Qin Shi was somewhat afraid, she still stiffened her neck and argued back: "Father-in-law, you can't just talk about loyalty and righteousness while ignoring whether the whole family lives or dies, can you?"
Before Mama Fang could speak, Lian Shan stood up and said, "Since you're afraid of being implicated, then let's split the family! Once we're separated, you won't be dragged into anything." In his wife's heart, one could say that the Fourth Miss Han was even more important than he, her husband. Now his youngest son and daughter-in-law had touched his wife's reverse scale3. If he did not split the youngest son's family off, the entire household might fall apart. Truth be told, Lian Shan did not like Qin Shi either. What had once been a harmonious family had become endlessly noisy ever since Qin Shi had married into the family, much to Lian Shan's annoyance.
Lian Erlang was stunned, and Qin Shi was left dumbfounded as well.
Lian Dalang wanted to speak up and dissuade them, but Caidie pinched him hard, and he fell silent. In Caidie's opinion, Qin Shi was simply being foolish. The Fourth Miss and Fourth Guye5 had rebelled, yet even the Han family remained completely unharmed. How could the Lian family possibly be implicated? Besides, if they were really going to be implicated, why was Qin Shi still standing there making a scene? Separating Qin Shi and Lian Erlang into a different household was actually a good thing. From now on, she would no longer have to endure Qin Shi's strange yin-yang tones6.
Just minutes before the gates of the capital were closed, Han Jianming led a group of people into the city. At this moment, he had no time to reflect on how deserted the streets were.
When Ye Shi saw Han Jianming, tears streamed down her face. "My Lord, you've finally returned!" From the day Han Jianming left the capital, Ye Shi had been worried day and night.
Han Jianming looked at Ye Shi, who had grown so thin that she was almost unrecognisable. Just as he was about to tell her how hard she had worked, she collapsed before he could utter the words. It truly had not been easy for Ye Shi. Not only had she been constantly worried about her husband's safety, but she had also managed all the household affairs and taken care of both the elderly and the children. On top of that, she had been busy arranging Han Jingdong's funeral, which was still ongoing.
Han Jianming settled Ye Shi in a nearby room and sent someone to fetch a physician. Now was not the time for sentimentality. After arranging things for her, he changed into mourning clothes, took up the mourning staff🖼️, and knelt before the memorial hall.
Han Yong walked into the memorial hall and informed Han Jianming, "My Lord, we can't keep the body any longer. It must be buried tomorrow." Despite the use of ice, the body had started to smell after three days and would begin to rot if left any longer.
Han Jianming nodded and said, "Then we'll hold the funeral procession tomorrow." Under normal circumstances, the body would be kept for at least seven days, after which monks would be invited to chant scriptures for forty-nine days. But now, everything had to be simplified.
P.S. (Author Jane): I'll say no more—off to continue writing while wearing a pot lid over my head!
Footnotes Full List
- 家家都有一本难念的经 (jiā jiā dōu yǒu yī běn nán niàn de jīng): A common proverb meaning every family has its own troubles.
- 包子 (bāozi): steamed buns
- 逆鳞 (nì lín): A classical metaphor from dragon lore—refers to someone's absolute bottom line or most sensitive point
- 学到狗肚子里去了 (xué dào gǒu dùzi lǐ qù le): A sarcastic idiom meaning you learned nothing at all; everything you learned was wasted.
- 姑爷 gūye: son-in-law (used by wife's family)
- 阴阳怪调 (Yīnyáng guàidiào): An idiom meaning sarcastic, mocking, or passive-aggressive remarks.
- 四 sì：four/fourth, 姑奶奶 gūnǎinai:(respectful form of address for a married woman used by members of her parents' family) married daughter
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