At first light, the entire City Lord’s Residence was already astir.
Servants hurried back and forth, their steps light yet orderly. Among them were many unfamiliar faces, all trusted men whom Steward Li had summoned overnight from Muyun Manor and the estates outside the city.
Jiang Yanyan had heard a little of the commotion from her courtyard the night before. She knew that Steward Li was purging the spies within the residence. Since her grandfather had entrusted the matter entirely to him, she had not asked about it.
Just as expected, spies from Jing, agents planted by Prince Yong, informants from the Marquis of Pingyang’s household, and even hidden operatives from the Crown Prince’s residence and Emperor Changping’s court had all been uncovered and dealt with one after another. The residence would be able to enjoy some peace for the time being.
Today was the day her father would be laid to rest. The Jing army still loomed menacingly along the border, and urgent military reports continued to arrive in Moyun City.
The main force of the Moyun Army was stationed at the border, and the city’s defenses dared not slacken in the slightest. Thus, the funeral was arranged according to the rules of simplicity, its decorations austere yet solemn.
White mourning banners hung high in the front courtyard’s mourning hall, while incense and candles burned without pause. Beside the spirit tablet lay elegant silk flowers.
Those who came to pay their respects consisted only of the three generals of the Moyun Army who remained in the city and a few old family friends of the Jiangs.
Everyone arrived dressed in plain mourning clothes. After entering, they offered incense and kowtowed, then exchanged a few words with Steward Li. With the border situation so urgent, each had duties to attend to, and they departed one after another soon after the brief exchange.
Jiang Yanyan wore coarse hemp mourning clothes, her dark hair tied back with nothing but a white cord. Holding Jiang Xiao’s hand, she stood to one side of the mourning hall, her expression solemn and her eyes lowered.
Jiang Xiao clutched his sister’s hand, his small body standing ramrod straight. Seeing the grave atmosphere throughout the residence, he kept his little lips tightly pursed and did not say a word from beginning to end.
Jiang Yun was dressed entirely in white. Her already frail body appeared even more haggard after the loss of her husband. Her face was so pale that not a trace of color remained, and her eyes were badly swollen and red. Supported carefully by her personal maid, she stood in the center of the mourning hall and shed silent tears.
All the proceedings of the funeral advanced one by one according to the simple rites prescribed by Qi’s mourning customs.
After the rites of worship were complete, several strong servants carried Jiang Lei’s coffin out through the main gate of the City Lord’s Residence. They proceeded toward the Jiang family’s ancestral tombs outside the city.
Supported by her maid, Jiang Yun walked to the left of the coffin. Jiang Yanyan led Jiang Xiao behind it, while the three generals of the Moyun Army and the residence’s trusted aides followed at the rear. They moved slowly along the road, accompanied only by the clear chime of the soul-guiding bell echoing softly through the morning streets.
The journey from the City Lord’s Residence to the Jiang family’s ancestral tombs was not a short one. Jiang Xiao kept hold of his sister’s hand the entire way, following her step by step.
When they reached the ancestral tombs, the coffin was slowly lowered into the grave that had been dug in advance. The servants carefully filled in the earth and shaped the burial mound.
Jiang Yanyan led Jiang Xiao forward. She picked up the incense and candles and lit them, then first bowed and offered incense before the grave. After that, she performed the ritual of three bows and nine kowtows.
Standing beside her, Jiang Xiao obediently imitated his sister. He knelt and kowtowed, observing every part of the ritual with a serious expression on his little face.
By the time all the rites were complete, the sun had risen high overhead. It was already noon.
Jiang Yun’s body had long since reached its limit, and her steps wavered slightly. Jiang Yanyan hurried forward to support her mother and said softly, “Mother, let’s go back.”
Leaning against her daughter, Jiang Yun gave a faint reply. Together, the group slowly made their way back to the City Lord’s Residence.
After returning, Jiang Yanyan first escorted her mother to her courtyard. She watched as the maids helped Jiang Yun lie down to rest. Seeing that her mother’s face remained deathly pale, she could not stop worrying.
At dinnertime, she went personally to the small kitchen. After sending away all the servants stationed there, she simply prepared a pot of snow pear soup.
She added a few drops of spiritual spring water, then filled two bowls. One was carried to Jiang Yan in the main courtyard at the front of the residence, while the other was taken to her mother’s quarters.
It would be best to nourish them with a little spiritual spring water first, using only a small amount each time. Otherwise, seeing how weak her mother was made Jiang Yanyan feel deeply distressed.
Her grandfather also needed to recover soon. It would be troublesome if anything else went wrong in the army.
When Jiang Yanyan reached Jiang Yun’s courtyard, a maid was standing guard outside the door. Seeing her approach, the maid hurriedly bowed.
“Miss.”
“Is Madam awake?” Jiang Yanyan asked softly.
“Replying to the Miss, Madam just woke up. She is resting against the headboard.”
Jiang Yanyan pushed open the door and entered. She placed the snow pear soup on the small table beside the bed, then picked up the bowl and handed it to Jiang Yun.
“Mother, I just made some snow pear soup. Have a little to soothe your throat.”
Jiang Yun accepted the bowl and took a sip. A sweet warmth slid down her throat and into her stomach, dispelling much of the irritation and fatigue that had built up over the past several days. She looked at her daughter and said softly, “Yanyan, I’ve caused you trouble again.”
“What are you saying, Mother? This is what I should do.”
Jiang Yanyan stayed with her mother until she had drunk half the bowl. She then carefully instructed the maid to look after Jiang Yun before turning and heading to the main courtyard.
In Jiang Yan’s courtyard, a maid was helping him sit against the headboard. When she saw Jiang Yanyan enter, she hurriedly bowed and stepped aside.
Jiang Yanyan handed him the snow pear soup. “Grandfather, are you feeling any better today?”
Jiang Yan took several sips before setting down the bowl. “Much better. This pear soup is quite sweet and refreshing. You’ve gone to a lot of trouble.”
“Your body has only just begun to recover, Grandfather. Drinking more of it will help soothe your throat.”
Jiang Yanyan reminded the maid attending him of a few more things before turning and returning to her own Zhusheng Court.
That evening, Jiang Yanyan still dined with Jiang Xiao. Several delicate vegetarian dishes had been laid out on the table: stir-fried seasonal vegetables, chilled tofu, vegetarian mushroom soup, and more.
Chuntao stood at the side serving them. Jiang Yanyan glanced at Jiang Xiao and said, “Go to the small kitchen and bring back a bowl of steamed egg custard. The Young Master is still growing, so a little egg custard shouldn’t violate the rules.”
“Yes, Miss,” Chuntao replied before hurrying away.
When she returned, she was carrying a bowl of tender yellow egg custard drizzled with a little sesame oil. It looked quite appetizing.
The snow pear soup was brought to the table as well. Jiang Xiao had spent most of the day at the ancestral tombs and was already famished. He picked up his small bowl and served himself some snow pear soup. After taking a sip, his eyes lit up, and he looked up at Jiang Yanyan.
“Sister, it’s so sweet! It’s delicious!”
Of course it was. Spiritual spring water was not added for nothing.
“If you like it sweet, then drink more.” Jiang Yanyan smiled and added a serving of vegetables to his bowl. “Eat more vegetables too. That’s how you’ll grow strong.”
Jiang Xiao nodded. He served himself another bowl of snow pear soup and drank two bowls in succession before picking up his chopsticks and eating his rice. He finished every last bite of the egg custard as well. At last, some of the weariness faded from his little face, and a hint of color returned to his cheeks.
Watching from the side, Chuntao said softly, “The Young Master certainly has a better appetite today. It seems the soup Miss made suits him.”
Jiang Yanyan nodded. “It’s only snow pear soup. Tell the small kitchen later to prepare several pots every day from now on. Send a portion to Mother and Grandfather as well.”
“This servant will remember.”
………………
Meanwhile, in the military camp, the atmosphere inside Prince Yong’s tent was heavy and gloomy.
Prince Yong, Murong Xun, sat before the desk, tapping his fingertips against it impatiently. He had shoved the border defense map on the desk aside, and his eyes were filled with dark, brooding malice.
He raised his eyes toward the personal guard standing beside him and asked in a deep voice, “Has any news come from the City Lord’s Residence today?”
The guard knelt on one knee and replied respectfully with his head lowered, “Replying to Your Highness, no. It has already been three days. The people planted in the City Lord’s Residence have not sent out the slightest word.”
