The Valued Lady is Truly Dominant

A catastrophe suddenly occurred at Xingshan Temple, and when the news reached the Prime Minister’s Mansion, everyone was shocked.

Aunt Bai and Madam Quan were buried beneath the collapsed house, Hai Yan committed suicide in panic, and several lives vanished just like that.

Mrs. Lu repeatedly questioned the servant Cheng Yong, who had come to report. She felt a mixture of gratification and a touch of dread, wondering why it happened so suddenly.

Song Ci and the others also found it abrupt. How could a peaceful trip to the temple to pray end in such loss of life?

”Where is your master?” Song Ci asked Cheng Yong.

Kneeling on the ground, Cheng Yong replied, ”The master is still at the temple. He sent me back to report and to take care of the arrangements for Aunt Bai’s remains. Also...”

He looked somewhat embarrassed to speak.

Seeing this, Song Ci raised an eyebrow, thinking, surely that little brat must be up to something mischievous again.

”Speak up if you have something to say. What is so difficult about it?”

Cheng Yong’s mouth felt bitter; truthfully, he really did not want to say it.

The master’s intention was quite absurd.

”The Madame has already asked. Speak quickly,” Mrs. Lu scolded.

”Yes, yes.” Cheng Yong bowed lower and said, ”The master wants to bring Aunt Bai’s coffin back and set up a mourning hall.”

Song Ci’s face turned green. As expected, that little brat’s pigheadedness.

”Ridiculous!” The Madam slapped the table and shouted angrily, ”Has the third one gone mad? For just a concubine, does he really need a mourning hall? Should we send out funeral notices too? Bringing the coffin back is utter nonsense. Now that Aunt Bai is gone, and it was a sudden death, it would be proper to leave the coffin at the temple for forty-nine days before choosing an auspicious burial spot. What’s the point of holding a funeral at home?”

She couldn’t understand what kind of nonsense filled Song Zhiqing’s head. How could he come up with the idea of bringing the coffin of an unaccomplished concubine who died suddenly back home?

Now that she’s gone and at the temple, isn’t it better to leave the coffin there for spiritual salvation? At most, a small mourning setup in You Ran Courtyard could suffice, allowing the two children to observe mourning, which is fulfilling enough. Why even think of bringing the coffin back home, where both the elderly and children reside, bringing ill fortune to the household?

Do you not know the grievances of those who died suddenly are intense?

Mrs. Jiang sympathetically glanced at Mrs. Lu, feeling it must be tough on her managing such an inconsiderate man.

Mrs. Lu’s face had turned beet-red, kneeling in front of Song Ci, speaking awkwardly, ”Mother, the master was momentarily confused. Please consider him as having lost his mind and don’t take it to heart.”

”Yes, I am not taking it to heart.” A petty person hardly deserves her concern.

Hearing these words, Mrs. Lu felt increasingly embarrassed, with her face burning, blaming Song Zhiqing and Bai Shuilian for not letting others live in peace even after death.

The Madam said, ”Mother, what the third one did is really inappropriate. What do you think?”

Song Ci told Cheng Yong, ”Go back and inform your master that since Bai died suddenly outside and is at Xingshan Temple, the coffin should remain there, with monks reciting the Rebirth Scripture for salvation. As for the mourning, arrange a small setup in You Ran Courtyard for Xiao Wu and the others to observe mourning, and that would suffice.”

The Madam nodded, agreeing with this reasoning.

Cheng Yong quickly agreed.

”Lu, you should also go and make some arrangements. After all, she was part of your household. Now that she’s gone, as the deceased are more significant, at least let her leave with dignity, considering she was Xiao Wu’s mother. Also, ensure the two children are well comforted and have the servants carefully attend to them, so they won’t be frightened,” Song Ci said to Mrs. Lu.

Mrs. Lu responded hesitantly and withdrew together with Cheng Yong.

”Mother, the third one’s actions are truly...” The Madam expressed her displeasure.

Song Ci glanced at the Madam and said, ”This matter was sudden, and it is understandable that the third one was momentarily unclear in his thinking. As long as he is reminded, it suffices. Let’s not mention it again.”