The memorial ceremony had been set by the Ministry of Rites for three days later. The Crown Prince was so busy preparing every detail that his feet barely touched the ground.
Cui Yunchu had made all the necessary arrangements. At last, Shen Xiabai returned from court.
On the way, Cui Yunchu kept looking this way and that. At times, she simply leaned against the carriage wall without moving, appearing listless and dispirited. Shen Xiabai reached out with his long arm and pulled her into his embrace.
“A Chu, if something is troubling you, just say it.”
“Is he really dead? Did they mention it at court today?”
Shen Xiabai was silent for several breaths before saying, “His Majesty has announced that Prime Minister Cui fell from a cliff. He said that people are being sent to search for him.”
“Fell from a cliff. That means he’s dead.” Cui Yunchu’s voice was calm, revealing none of her emotions. “Grandmother will surely find this difficult to accept. How am I supposed to comfort her later?”
“A Chu, don’t you blame me?”
“What would I blame you for?” Cui Yunchu leaned against him. “You said it had nothing to do with you, so naturally I believe you. Even if it did…”
She lowered her eyes.
“Then that old bastard was simply no match for you. Those who owe others must eventually repay their debts.”
Shen Xiabai tightened his arms around her. “A Chu, all you need to do is keep believing in me.”
Cui Yunchu slowly closed her eyes and said nothing more. Her entire being was weighed down by a deep, oppressive gloom.
At the Cui residence, servants moved back and forth at the entrance, carrying ladders and hanging white mourning banners. The entire household was steeped in grief and silence.
When the steward saw her return, tears streamed down his face. “Young Miss, son-in-law, you’re back. Young Miss, please go and see Old Madam. Old Madam, she…”
Cui Yunchu left Shen Xiabai behind, gathered up her skirts, and ran toward Old Madam Cui’s Songhe Garden.
“Young Miss.” Nanny Li, who was carrying a bowl of medicine, began to weep the moment she saw Cui Yunchu.
Cui Yunchu hurried into the room and saw Old Madam Cui reclining against a soft pillow, her face wan and pallid. In a mere three days, she seemed to have aged beyond recognition. The sight was frightening.
“Grandmother,” Cui Yunchu cried, tears spilling down her cheeks. “How have you become like this?”
“Yunchu, why have you come back?” Old Madam Cui slowly sat up a little straighter. “You’re newly married, and our household is holding a funeral. How can you come back? What if your husband’s family is displeased? Go back quickly. Be obedient.”
“Today is the day I return to my family.”
“Your father has just died. Returning home at such a time is inauspicious. Whether you come back or not is a trivial matter.”
“I’m not leaving.” Cui Yunchu threw her arms around Old Madam Cui. “Didn’t they say his body hasn’t been found yet? Why have we already begun making funeral arrangements?”
“He’s dead,” Old Madam Cui said. “His Majesty said he was dead, so there is no possibility that he survived.”
Old Madam Cui knew all too well that there were likely countless soldiers and officials searching for Cui Qingyuan. There could only be one outcome: his death.
Even if he were found alive, the person His Majesty brought back to the capital would be nothing more than a corpse. Old Madam Cui had already abandoned all hope.
“Grandmother…” At that moment, Cui Yunchu desperately wished that Cui Qingyuan were still alive—not for any other reason, but for her grandmother’s sake.
Old Madam Cui clasped Cui Yunchu’s slightly cold hand. “Don’t cry. I’m already an old woman. I won’t suffer for many more days. Soon enough, I’ll be reunited with my son.”
She brushed the loose strands of hair from Cui Yunchu’s face, her gaze filled with affection.
“The Cui family flourished for more than a decade. I knew long ago that a day like this would come. But Yunfeng was very close to your father, and she is carrying a child. If you have the ability, Yunchu, I hope you can look after her.”
“Don’t worry, Grandmother. I will.” Cui Yunchu’s eyes were red and swollen. Only after Old Madam Cui repeatedly comforted her did her emotions gradually settle.
The entire Cui household sank into a heavy sorrow. In the front courtyard, Cui Yunli received Shen Xiabai and the officials who had come to pay their respects.
Cui Qingyuan’s death had come without warning. From the moment the Emperor announced in court that he had fallen from a cliff, everyone regarded him as a dead man.
Tang Qingwan and the Crown Prince also came to pay their respects.
Old Madam Cui held Tang Qingwan’s hand without speaking, but her eyes were filled with unease and concern.
“Qingwan, you must take good care of yourself.”
Tang Qingwan’s eyes grew hot. “Grandmother, please don’t worry. Qingwan will.”
Old Madam Cui tightened her grip on her hand again and again, as if she wanted to say something but could not. In the end, she fainted.
Cui Yunchu was startled and immediately sent someone to fetch a physician.
The physician took her pulse and prescribed medicine, saying that she had fallen ill from excessive worry and needed to rest properly.
Cui Yunchu intended to remain at the Cui residence for several days to care for Old Madam Cui. Shen Xiabai had no objection and stayed with her as well.
The entire Cui residence was shrouded in a lifeless, oppressive gloom.
Before Tang Qingwan left, she instructed Cui Yunchu, “Take good care of Grandmother. Of the three of us sisters, you are the only one who can protect the Cui family now.”
“What are you planning to do?” Cui Yunchu asked, her brows drawing tightly together.
Tang Qingwan replied, “I’ll simply go with the flow. I’m afraid I won’t have another chance to visit Grandmother after this. Yunchu, I’m counting on you.”
With that, Tang Qingwan left the Cui residence.
Cui Yunchu summoned Xing’er and asked about Cui Yunfeng’s situation at Prince An’s residence. Xing’er told her that everything was fine, and only then did she feel slightly reassured.
That night, she stayed at Old Madam Cui’s side until dawn. For three days in a row, officials came continuously to pay their respects, and Cui Yunchu, dressed in mourning clothes, handled everything herself.
Cui Yunfeng was protected by Prince An so thoroughly that she never showed herself. After that day, Tang Qingwan also never returned to the Cui residence.
The third day was the day the Emperor would travel to Anshan Temple to perform the memorial rites. Many officials would accompany him, including Shen Xiabai. Early that morning, Cui Yunchu rose to see him off.
“Don’t stay too close to the Crown Prince or the Emperor today. And Prince An, too—you must protect yourself at all costs. Do you understand?”
“My wife has repeated these instructions countless times over the past few days. Your husband has committed every word to memory and will not forget.”
Cui Yunchu said, “But I still have a bad feeling.” She wrapped her arms around Shen Xiabai’s waist. “Swords and blades have no eyes. You mustn’t rush into danger. Whoever lives or dies has nothing to do with us.”
The wind in the courtyard was strong. Shen Xiabai cupped her face in his hands and kissed her gently.
“All right, all right. Your husband remembers every word.”
Cui Yunchu escorted him all the way to the residence gate and watched as he mounted his horse. She waved to him.
Shen Xiabai smiled tenderly.
“Your husband hopes that A Chu will live in peace and without worry, year after year, day after day.”
Only a stable realm could ensure her peace. Anyone who had ever harbored murderous intentions toward her would not leave Anshan Temple alive.
Shen Xiabai turned his head. The tenderness in his eyes instantly hardened into something cold and ruthless. He pulled on the reins and galloped away.
The Emperor’s palanquin, the imperial guards, and the accompanying officials had all gathered outside the city gates. The ceremony was magnificent. The Crown Prince and Prince An rode beside the Emperor, while Shen Xiabai followed half a horse’s length behind them. Amid the music and the loud calls of the Ministry of Rites officials, the procession began to move slowly forward.
Along the way, many commoners gathered to watch and praise the peace and prosperity of Great Liang.
The capital was roughly two hours from Anshan Temple. The procession traveled at an unhurried pace.
