The mourners arrived in a continuous stream, most of them drawn by the reputation of Marquis Tie Dan. People they knew and people they didn't, an immeasurable number of individuals who sought introductions to pay their respects.
For a time, the Marquis's mansion was a scene of bustling activity, with carriages and horses arriving and departing.
The entire household was in a frenzy, and one by one, people began to fall ill. Madam Bai, the first wife of the second branch, was the first to succumb.
Ever since she had taken charge of the household affairs, the most significant event in the mansion had been the funeral of Madam Guo. Although Madam Cui was there to provide support, Madam Cui was advanced in age and could not handle everything personally, so all major and minor matters in the mansion fell upon Madam Bai.
If the wives of the four branches had been in good health, they would have been a great help. However, Madam Tian was pregnant and had to avoid anything related to the funeral, thus enjoying a period of leisure.
Madam Bai, single-handedly, wanted to manage the funeral splendidly to showcase her capabilities in household management and handling people. At the same time, she desired to monopolize power, believing that doing everything herself demonstrated true skill. The result was that she worked herself to the point of collapse.
Fortunately, all the guests had been seen, and the next day was Madam Guo's funeral. Once she was buried, the task would be complete.
However, no one anticipated that on the night before Madam Guo's burial, something would happen.
The duty of keeping vigil over the deceased was usually undertaken by younger generations and close relatives.
The Li family was a prominent household. During the day, several young members would keep vigil, demonstrating filial piety. At night, it was mostly servants who stayed, as it was not expected for the masters to spend the entire night in the mourning hall.
On this final day, for reasons unknown, Li Zhao'er insisted on keeping vigil herself. She refused to listen to others' dissuasion, only saying that she had not shown enough filial piety to Madam Guo during her lifetime and that she had to stay and keep vigil for this final night, no matter what.
"Perhaps in my dreams tonight, I can see my mother one last time."
Seeing her stubbornness, everyone else couldn't persuade her further. They could only instruct the maidservants and household staff to take good care of Li Zhao'er.
"Eldest Sister, you always speak so eloquently about filial piety. On this last night, why don't you come and keep your sister company?"
Li Man'er inwardly sneered, thinking, "You want me to keep your mother company!"
"Certainly! It is a child's duty." Li Man'er readily agreed, surprising Li Zhao'er.
"Does she perhaps know my plan?"
"Impossible!"
Li Zhao'er was confident. Only she and one other person knew about this matter, and that person would absolutely not inform Li Man'er.
"Very well, I will await Eldest Sister then."
Li Man'er returned to Qingping Xuan, washed up, and changed back into her plain mourning clothes.
The weather was very hot, and Madam Guo's body had begun to decompose, emitting an odor.
Fortunately, she had a medicinal sachet with her. Although she had to endure some discomfort, she did not smell strongly of corpse odor.
Being in close proximity to a corpse, especially in summer, she feared contracting an illness or an epidemic. She quickly had medicine brewed, and everyone who had entered the mourning hall was given a bowl.
Somehow, this information reached Li Zhao'er's ears. She was naturally displeased, but surprisingly, she only let out a cold snort and said nothing further.
The servants found it strange, but then they remembered that the second young lady had repeatedly been outmaneuvered by the eldest young lady and now had lost her protection. She must have matured overnight. They said nothing more.
After a perfunctory meal, Li Man'er went to keep vigil.
Li Zhao'er was already in the mourning hall, accompanied by a maidservant and a rough-handed old woman.
"Eldest Sister has arrived." Her attitude was surprisingly good. For some reason, her face did not show the expression of bitter hatred that was usually present.
Zi Yan felt a chill run down her spine, inexplicably feeling that this version of the second young lady was even more terrifying.
Li Man'er, however, was unfazed. "I'm here."
Zi Yan quickly brought a prayer mat for Li Man'er to sit on and handed her a brazier for burning paper offerings.
Li Zhao'er frowned. "Why is Eldest Sister not kneeling?"
"Why should I kneel?" Li Man'er said frankly. "It's enough to put on a show for outsiders. Do you expect me to pretend and be formal in front of family? My knees are not that weak, and your mother is not worthy of it."
"You..." Li Zhao'er's expression shifted from anger to laughter, and then to a cold sneer. "Finally, you've stopped pretending."
Li Man'er's gaze was clear and distant. "When have I ever pretended? I merely wished to avoid making things unpleasant for everyone. After all, the deceased should be respected, and preserving your mother's reputation is a good thing."
Li Zhao'er trembled with anger, but she was helpless against Li Man'er. This was not the time to retaliate, so she could only endure.
Zi Yan noticed that the old woman seemed to gently tug at Li Zhao'er's sleeve from behind, as if trying to prevent her from arguing with the eldest young lady.
Could an old servant woman actually influence Li Zhao'er's decisions? Was she hallucinating?
When the opportunity arose, Zi Yan secretly mentioned this to Li Man'er.
Li Man'er, however, gave a soft laugh and told her not to worry about it.
This was unlike her young lady in some ways, yet very much like her.
As the night deepened, the mourning hall was brightly lit.
The lanterns along the corridor swayed gently, and the candlelight on the racks flickered, as if silently recounting distant stories.
For some unknown reason, a sudden wind picked up in the courtyard, scattering ashes from the brazier everywhere.
Zi Yan, who had been dozing, suddenly felt a chill and shivered awake.
"Young Lady," she whispered, leaning beside Li Man'er, her hair standing on end.
"Don't be afraid, it's alright."
Li Zhao'er, however, said gloatingly, "If you don't do anything wrong, you won't fear ghosts knocking at midnight. Your demeanor and that of your servant look as if you've done something wrong."
"Second Sister knows so much, perhaps because you've done so many wrong things that you can recognize them at a glance?"
"You..." Li Zhao'er was choked with anger. She was no match for Li Man'er in an argument.
The maidservant who had accompanied Li Zhao'er couldn't stand it and said nervously, "Eldest Young Lady, why must you be so aggressive? Our young lady is deeply saddened at this time."
Li Man'er cast a curious glance at the maidservant. Everyone in the mansion knew of her notorious reputation, yet she dared to say such a thing. She truly seemed to care about Li Zhao'er.
Given Li Zhao'er's usual temperament, she would have probably slapped the maidservant in return, venting her anger on her. But this time, she remained indifferent, as if she hadn't heard a word.
It seemed Li Zhao'er intended to make her move tonight.
With no common ground for conversation, the mourning hall fell into silence.
Li Zhao'er threw paper money into the brazier, saying as she did, "You had no maternal protection since childhood, but I have always envied you."
"Why?"
"Your maternal grandfather's family, the prominent Ning clan of Jiangnan, treated you like a precious jewel even after your mother was gone. You also have a good marriage prospect, marrying into the Tong family, ensuring a life without worry. Although I had my mother's protection, my maternal grandfather's family could offer no assistance. They relied entirely on my mother and brother, leeching off us."
"I envy your beauty, and I envy your wealth."
Li Man'er shook her head. "You think too superficially."
This seemed to be the first time the sisters had spoken calmly.
But it would also be the last, Li Zhao'er thought.