Chapter 114: Is It Really Like This?
Chapter 114: Chapter 114: Is It Really Like This?
Cui Lingyao alighted from the carriage. She and Shen Tingyu flanked Mrs. Shen’s coffin, supporting it as they stepped through the gates of the Pei Mansion.
Several of the Pei family madams came forward, wiping away tears. They threw themselves onto the coffin, their wails mournful and heart-wrenching.
The mourning hall had already been prepared long in advance.
From the moment they entered Pingzhou City until now, the Pei family’s arrangements had been flawless.
Even Shen Tingyu’s expression softened considerably, to say nothing of Cui Lingyao’s.
He had originally expected the Pei family to cause some trouble. After all, it was because of the grievances his aunt had suffered in the Pei household that she had returned to the Capital City alone with her daughter three years ago.
She had endured what she could, but she worried her daughter would be married off carelessly in the future, which was why she had sought refuge with her maternal family.
’I didn’t expect the Pei Family to be so sensible this time.’
’After all, Pei Shu was the eldest legitimate son of the Pei Family. As his primary wife, Mrs. Shen was the clan’s Consort. In terms of noble status, she was second only to Old Madam Pei.’
’What’s more, she had such a distinguished maternal family backing her. With her nephew personally escorting her coffin, the funeral was naturally going to be a grand affair.’
Once the coffin was settled, several of the younger Pei family members spontaneously began the vigil.
Second Madam Pei, wiping away her tears, said to Cui Lingyao, "Your mother was such a forthright person, but she cherished you like the apple of her eye. Now that she’s gone so soon, I can’t imagine how much she must have worried about you."
"Stop crying here. Let’s go to the front hall. Father and Mother are waiting."
Third Madam Pei came closer, took Cui Lingyao’s hand, and chided her in a soft, delicate voice, "You were gone for three years. Do you know how your grandfather and grandmother longed for your return every single day? As wonderful as the Capital City is, your roots are here in Pingzhou. You are one of us, a member of the Pei family."
With that, she intimately pulled Cui Lingyao along toward the front hall.
Meanwhile, Shen Tingyu was escorted by several of the Pei family men, also heading to the front hall.
He was a noble young master from the Capital City. Not only did he hail from the Duke Mansion, but he was also an official appointed by the court. His rank was not low either; at such a young age, he was already a third-rank official, with a truly limitless future.
Never mind in Pingzhou; even in the Capital City, he was showered with praise wherever he went.
Shen Tingyu was long accustomed to such scenes.
He stayed close to Cui Lingyao’s side. Seeing her surrounded by a crowd of women, her expression devoid of any joy, his own brow furrowed slightly.
Soon, they arrived at the inner hall.
Many people were already waiting inside.
Mr. Pei and Old Madam Pei were seated in the seats of honor. When they saw them enter, the two were not as polite and solicitous as they had been at the city gate.
Welcoming them at the city gate had been for the sake of Eldest Young Master Shen, the distinguished guest. It was to give face to the Duke Mansion.
Now, back in the Pei household, it was time for the younger generation to pay their respects to their elders.
It wouldn’t be right to expect the hosts, the grandparents, to be overly polite and courteous to their juniors.
The moment Cui Lingyao entered, Third Madam Pei led her by the hand to the center of the hall.
"Quickly now, you haven’t been back for years. Do you still remember your relatives? You couldn’t have forgotten your grandfather and grandmother, of course. Your second and third uncles are here, and also..."
She introduced them in a low voice. In addition to the immediate Pei family relatives, like Pei Shu’s younger brothers, several extended paternal uncles and even grand-uncles were also present.
It was clear how much importance they placed on the visitor from the Capital City.
Cui Lingyao was about to greet each of them and curtsy when Shen Tingyu, who had entered a step behind her, came to her side. He was the first to act, cupping his hands in a salute toward Mr. Pei and Old Madam Pei in the seats of honor. "This junior pays his respects to you both."
In a situation like a long-awaited family reunion, outsiders, by convention, should not even be present.
And if they were present, someone with proper etiquette should have stood by quietly and observed.
But he had rashly spoken up, interrupting the family introductions.
He was upstaging the host.
...It was truly a breach of etiquette.
But with Shen Tingyu’s status being what it was, the Pei family, however astonished they were by his actions, did not dare to show it.
Seeing a dignified third-rank official performing the rites of a junior toward him, Mr. Pei was greatly pleased. He stroked his beard and said approvingly, "Don’t just stand there! Please, sit. Sit."
Shen Tingyu gave a calm nod, then turned and took the young woman’s wrist. "The journey was tiring, and you haven’t rested well for days. Since Grandfather has spoken, let’s take our seats."
With that, he pulled her to the empty seats that had been reserved for them in a lower-ranking position and sat down.
The entire hall fell silent.
The younger madams of the Pei family were still standing in the hall, intending to guide Cui Lingyao through the introductions, but she had gone and sat down directly.
’What was the meaning of this? An unmarried daughter of the family returns after three years away, and she doesn’t even bow to her elders or listen to a few words of instruction?’
’Are these the manners of the Duke Mansion?’
The silence lasted only a few moments before Second Madam Pei broke it.
She returned to her own seat and said with a smile, "Mr. Shen is right. The journey from the Capital City to Pingzhou is long. The introductions can wait. They should be resting properly."
She then ordered the servants to serve tea.
"Mr. Shen, please try this. It’s a local specialty of Pingzhou. It may not be famous, but it has a lingering aftertaste. Yaoyao, do you still remember this flavor?"
In the end, she once again steered the conversation back to Cui Lingyao.
Everyone’s gazes fell upon her again.
Cui Lingyao calmly lowered her eyes. She leisurely took the lid of her teacup and gently scraped the surface of the tea twice to push aside the foam. Raising the cup to her lips, she took a small sip. After savoring it for a moment, she finally said, "I don’t quite remember the taste, but it is indeed a fine tea."
Her voice was calm, devoid of any joy at returning home and seeing her relatives. Her words and actions even carried the faint, cool detachment of a superior looking down upon their inferiors.
The Pei family suddenly realized that three years might have been enough for this young woman to no longer consider herself one of them.
The jovial atmosphere in the hall suddenly turned somber.
Just then, Shen Tingyu spoke.
He raised his eyes to those in the seats of honor and asked, "Regarding my aunt’s funeral, I wonder what arrangements the Pei Family has in mind?"
"Mrs. Shen was the wife of my Pei family’s eldest son. Naturally, she will have a grand funeral,"
Old Madam Pei said, "The funeral notices were sent out several days ago to all the close families in the city. It’s too late today, but mourners should begin arriving tomorrow to pay their respects. The descendants of my Pei clan will also don mourning clothes to see Mrs. Shen off on her final journey."
Cui Lingyao set down her teacup and added, "My mother’s dying wish was to be buried with my father."
"But of course," Old Madam Pei agreed with a smile. "A husband and wife should share a quilt in life and a grave in death. That they can now be reunited is a joyous occasion."
’She was being incredibly agreeable.’
’If it weren’t for the memories of this very grandmother cursing Mrs. Shen for being a jinx to her husband, for having an ’uncooperative belly’ that couldn’t produce a son, and for leaving her eldest son without an heir, Cui Lingyao might have actually believed she was a kind mother-in-law.’
Shen Tingyu waited a moment. Seeing that the young woman beside him had no other requests to add, he asked, "Have the monks and Daoists for the funeral rites been properly arranged?"
"Well..."
Old Madam Pei fell silent.
From below, the second young master of the Pei family explained, "It was raining the past two days, making travel difficult. Rest assured, Mr. Shen, I will personally go tomorrow morning to invite the Daoist from White Cloud Temple and the eminent monk from Lingyan Temple."
Shen Tingyu nodded. "The wake will last for forty-nine days. The rites cannot stop for even a single day. In addition, a merit lamp should be dedicated to my aunt in a temple to accumulate merit for her next life."
His expression was gentle and his posture was calm and composed. He still looked like a good-tempered, noble young master from a prestigious family, but his tone was not one of negotiation. It was a statement of fact.