Wish You All the Best - Chapter 67
Chapter 67
In the depths of her lethargic slumber, the Old Madam felt her hand being gripped by another pair of powerful hands.
Due to his rapid ride through the snowy night on horseback, those hands were now damp and searing hot.
She slowly opened her eyes, gradually seeing the person who held her hand clearly. Her dull pupils lit up in an instant.
"Grandmother! Grandmother! Your grandson is unfilial—I have returned too late—"
Pei Youan knelt by the bed, calling out repeatedly while gripping her hand tightly, as if he hoped to channel the strength from his own body into hers through that touch.
The Old Madam stared fixedly at his face. A moment later, her gaze slowly shifted, as if searching for something. Finally, she spotted Jiafu nearby and revealed a look of comfort, signaling for her to come over.
Jiafu suppressed the tears threatening to fall, approached, and knelt beside Pei Youan.
The Old Madam withdrew her hand, laboredly raised her arm to grasp one of Jiafu’s hands, pulled it over, and placed it into Pei Youan’s palm.
The sound of footsteps came in quick succession from behind. Pei Quan, Madam Xin, the Second Madam, Pei Xiuzhi, Pei Xiuluo, Zhou Jiao’e, the nurse carrying Quan’ge, and the women of the clan who had been coming over for the past few nights to keep vigil knowing the Old Madam was failing—all arrived upon hearing the news, filling the room.
The Old Madam’s gaze swept across each sorrowful face before finally landing back on Jiafu and Pei Youan. She gazed at them intently for a moment, then suddenly tapped the two stacked hands—the large one and the small one—gently. A faint smile appeared on her lips, and she slowly closed her eyes, her expression peaceful.
After a brief, deathly silence, someone behind them began to wail. In an instant, the entire room erupted in weeping; the cries rose and fell, overlapping and never ceasing.
Jiafu felt the hand resting on the back of her own slowly grow cold. With a heavy heart, she turned to look at Pei Youan beside her.
He stared fixedly at the old woman who lay peacefully on her pillow, her eyes closed forever. His eyes were bloodshot. For a long time, he did not even blink, his figure seeming to have been frozen by the icy world outside.
……
The news of the death of the Duke of Wei’s Old Madam was disseminated that very night. While the wailing continued inside, the head stewards of the Pei household, upon hearing the news, led men to erect mourning halls and straw screens in front of the main gate. Before the fourth watch, the mourning hall was prepared, and Buddhist and Taoist rites were ready. By the fifth watch, Pei Youan and Pei Quan reported the bereavement to the Ministry of Rites. Representatives from the Duke of Zhu’s manor, the Marquis of Anyuan’s mansion, Liu Jiushao, and others began arriving in mourning attire to pay their respects. The filial sons and grandsons stood by to receive them, while the female relatives wailed in mourning behind the screens. The palace also bestowed funerary offerings, and Li Yuangui visited in person to convey the Emperor’s grief over the Old Madam’s passing.
The funeral arrangements for the Old Madam were carried out with the utmost solemnity, shaking the entire capital. During the days the coffin rested in state, guests arrived in a constant, endless stream of carriages, day and night. Pei Youan and Pei Quan managed the outside affairs, while Madam Xin and the Second Madam handled the inside. The younger generation, including Jiafu and Zhou Jiao’e, did nothing but keep vigil and weep daily. After seven days and seven nights, they escorted the coffin to the Ci’en Temple to rest for forty-nine days, to dispel misfortune and cleanse sins, before finally returning for burial.
In the nearly half a year since Pei Youan had left the capital, Jiafu had served the Old Madam, and she had already grown thin. This great mourning ceremony had left her physically and mentally exhausted. On the night after the funeral procession, there was one final dharma ritual to be performed at home. Once finished, the funeral rites would truly be over. Madam Xin and the Second Madam had been there at first, but they were gradually called away by head maids. Not long after dark, Zhou Jiao’e, unable to bear it, had quietly slipped away. In the end, only Jiafu remained. After the half-ritual was completed, she stood up after kowtowing and suddenly felt a bout of dizziness; her body swayed slightly. Tan Xiang, who was by her side, saw this and hurriedly caught her. Just as she was about to call for someone to bring a stool, she saw Pei Youan walking in quickly, grabbing Jiafu’s arm.
Jiafu planted her feet and slowly opened her eyes. Seeing that it was Pei Youan looking at her with concern, she whispered: "I am fine. I knelt for a while, and I think the blood circulation was a bit restricted. I will be fine after moving around a bit."
Pei Youan glanced at her complexion and said: "Let’s go. I will take you back to your room."
Jiafu shook her head: "There is half a ritual left..."
Pei Youan turned his head and ordered the head servant nearby to have Madam Xin send someone else to keep watch. With that, he led Jiafu out.
Jiafu did not say another word, following him silently back to the rear courtyards. They reached their shared quarters, and when they arrived at the bedroom door, Pei Youan pushed it open. As Jiafu stepped inside, her legs were sore and weak, and her toe caught on the threshold, causing her to lurch forward.
Pei Youan caught her waist and, before the eyes of the servants behind them, scooped her up horizontally and strode quickly toward the inner chamber.
How long had it been since they had been this close?
During these days, although Pei Quan was ostensibly in charge of affairs, he claimed he was overcome with grief and his health had failed. Almost everything was pushed onto Pei Youan—the eldest grandson acting as the head of the family. During the day, he was extraordinarily busy, and Jiafu could barely catch a glimpse of him. At night, either Jiafu was keeping vigil, or he would return to the room only to close his eyes for a moment before rising at the fourth watch to arrange the next day’s affairs. It was the same every day. In the seven or eight days since he had returned home, if one truly counted, the two of them had barely spoken a few sentences to each other.
Pei Youan carried her into the inner chamber and placed her on the bed. He helped remove her outer garments, covered her with a quilt, and finally leaned over. He reached up to pluck a plain white velvet flower from her hair and tossed it aside. The back of his finger gently brushed against her cheek as he said: "These days have been hard on you. Sleep."
His cheeks were sunken, the bloodshot veins in his eyes had not faded, and his voice sounded hoarse.
After speaking, he rose, turning to leave first.
He had kept vigil until dawn the previous night; the night before that, he had returned at the third watch and risen before the fourth.
Jiafu reached out and gently tugged on his sleeve. Seeing him turn back, she said: "Big Cousin, I want you to sleep with me."
Pei Youan thought for a moment, said "alright," then removed his outer robes and climbed onto the bed. He pulled her into his embrace, closed his eyes, and said: "Sleep."
Jiafu wrapped her arms around him and whispered: "Big Cousin, if you are feeling sad inside, please tell me. If you say it out loud, you will feel better."
Pei Youan’s eyelashes flickered. He slowly opened his eyes, gazed at her for a moment, and offered a faint, comforting smile, gently patting her back: "I am fine. Do not worry about me. You are tired; go to sleep quickly. I will not go out to entertain guests tonight; I will stay with you. Just sleep in peace."
Jiafu stared at him for a moment and finally whispered a soft "alright," closing her eyes.
She felt the man beside her tuck the quilt around her and pull her slightly closer into his embrace.
She docilely rested her face against his chest.
Soon, exhaustion swept over her like a tidal wave, and she fell into a deep, heavy slumber.