Zhenyuan returned to Liujiazhuang and then rushed back, with Zhenshu, Zhenyi, and Su Shi and the others keeping watch over her. That day, Zhang Rui, having heard from somewhere that Song Anrong's condition was not good, also brought two strings of pastries to the Song residence to visit. He first met Su Shi outside, and the two chatted for a while before entering the house. From afar, he bowed and said, "Father, I've come!"
Song Anrong, who had been lying with his eyes closed and barely breathing, suddenly opened his eyes upon hearing this and stared intently at Zhang Rui, breathing heavily. Zhang Rui, startled, coughed and turned to run out the door. Zhenyuan, who hadn't seen him in a long time, didn't even bother to look at him, and ran to the bedside to ask, "Father, is there anything else you want to say?"
Song Anrong stared at Zhenyuan again, and after a long while shook his head slightly, still breathing heavily. Madam Lu walked in from outside and pulled Zhenyuan away, saying, "Quickly stand far away in the back. He's about to die. We need to dress him quickly."
Zhenyuan still couldn't believe it, and rushed over, saying, "Father, can you speak now?"
Song Anrong's eyes were fixed on the door, staring intently. Song Angu couldn't bear to see this and went over to cover his eyes with his hand. After a while, he let go, but Song Anrong still saw Song Anrong staring at the door with his eyes open. He asked Madam Su, "Second sister-in-law, does second brother have an unfulfilled wish?"
At this moment, Su was devastated by her husband's death, but her mind was in a daze, and she didn't even know what to do. After hearing Song Angu's words, she came over and looked into Song Anrong's eyes. After looking for a long time, she suddenly realized and said, "He is waiting for Zhenxiu."
After saying this, she took Song Anrong's hand and whispered in his ear, "Zhenxiu is doing well, but she is pregnant now and it is inconvenient for her to come and see you off. In the future, she will definitely bring the child to visit your grave and send paper money on your behalf during festivals."
Song Anrong then withdrew his gaze, closed his eyes, and passed away peacefully.
As the mournful music began, the entire Song family, who had just completed their first mourning period less than two years prior, were once again dressed in mourning clothes and wearing straw sandals. Compared to their bewildered state when Zhong passed away last time, in just over a year, Zhenyuan and Zhenshu had both experienced the vicissitudes of life and tasted all the flavors of human existence. Therefore, they no longer had the lighthearted banter of before, but instead wept uncontrollably, their grief genuine and heartfelt.
Because Zhang Rui and Zhen Yuan were not married and were not formally included in the Song family genealogy, the last son to be a dutiful son at the funeral was still Song Changzhong, the eldest son of the third branch. Madam Lu and Song Anyuan neither mentioned nor took charge of the family property, and let Song Changzhong act as a dutiful son in place of Song Anrong. On the contrary, Madam Su was worried for a long time, fearing that the third branch would want her family property.
With Song Changzhong taking the place of his son, Song Anrong was able to be buried in the ancestral tomb. Moreover, since his death was on a proper day, the funeral was held three days later, avoiding the trouble of having to stay in the temple a second time like the Zhong family.
Zhenshu was initially alright, but by the next day, remembering how she had insisted on marrying Yu Yichen and hurt Song Anrong, she felt both regret and pain. She cried uncontrollably, and she and Zhenyuan cried incessantly, needing no mourning music outside. Zhenyi, being younger and more innocent, and lacking experience herself, could still help take care of Madam Su. Madam Su was now lying on the large bed in Madam Zhong's inner room, exhausted and filled with regret. She regretted not taking better care of Song Anrong during his illness and was now completely worn out from months of hard work, drifting into a deep sleep.
It was afternoon when everyone had eaten, and they were all quite tired after two busy days. The brothers Song Angu and Song Anyuan were sitting in the outer room when they suddenly heard footsteps outside. A group of eunuchs in red robes with black trim entered. In the center was a tall, handsome eunuch wearing a wingless turban, with fair skin, appearing to be around twenty years old. He was originally wearing a white fur-lined robe, but upon entering the courtyard, he removed it and handed it to the eunuch beside him before entering the main room with a solemn expression.
Although the Song brothers had never met Yu Yichen, they had heard many rumors about him. The whole family, along with the guests who had come to offer condolences, stood up and crowded around to watch him enter the main room. Song Angu pointed to the long bell and went in to light incense, then came in himself to accompany him. Yu Yichen took the incense, bowed several times, and personally placed it in the incense burner. He then knelt down, spread his hands, and kowtowed several times, but did not stand up.
He turned to look at Zhenshu, who was crying her heart out with her head down. He took out a handkerchief from his sleeve, reached out and lifted her chin, then carefully wiped away the tears from her face. He folded the handkerchief and pressed it to her nose, whispering, "Wake up!"
Zhenshu cried uncontrollably. When she looked up and saw Yu Yichen, whom she hadn't seen for months, almost all the grievances and regrets welled up in her eyes. She also heard him sniffle a few times. Yu Yichen wiped the area around her nose clean, then took out another wiping cloth to wipe her tears. After wiping it clean, he folded it up again and said, "Wake up again!"
Zhenshu woke up again, her nose clear, and then waved her hand, saying, "You can go now."
Yu Yichen stood up and stood silently for a while, then knelt down on one knee in front of Zhenshu, put his arm around her shoulder and patted her, saying, "Please accept my condolences."
After speaking, he stood up, went out, and gestured to the eunuch to help him put on his robe and tie his belt before striding out the door.
Madam Su, covering her face with a handkerchief, followed Yu Yichen out from the inner room. She watched him leave through the main gate before approaching Zhenshu and asking, "Is this the eunuch you were talking about?"
Zhen Shu nodded in agreement.
Sitting in the haystack, Madam Su sighed and said, "What a pity, he was a eunuch."
After seeing Song Anrong off, the second branch of the Song family returned to their mounting shop in the East Market. Looking at each other, they realized that the pillar of their family was truly gone. From now on, only Zhao He and Zhenshu could rely on the shop. Zhenyuan, worried about the children, hurriedly packed her belongings, hired a carriage, and was about to leave when Madam Su rushed out and stopped her, asking, "Have you discussed the marriage with Zhang Rui?"
Jung-won shook her head and said, "How can we discuss this without even meeting him?"
Madam Su exclaimed in surprise, "Didn't he come the day your father passed away? He even came to pay his respects and mourn afterward, and talked to me for a long time. Why didn't you talk to him?"
Jung-won countered, "Why should I talk to him?"
Madam Su advised, "He is now a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations). Although he hasn't been given a real post yet, he can always get one by giving some money to bribe officials. You should gently win him over now, and for the sake of the child, you should take the initiative to ask him for help."
Zhenyuan sneered, "Why should I try to win back his heart? If he really cared, he should go to Liujiazhuang to see the child. I don't believe he doesn't even have that much time."
After saying this, he turned around, got into the carriage, and left.
Su returned to the small building and sat restlessly in the outer room on the second floor. Although she and Song Anrong had been estranged for ten years, they were still husband and wife and had been loving in the past. Now that he was gone, her heart ached more than anyone else's.
Zhenshu could no longer bear Su's neurotic nagging, and since the mounting shop was closed due to Song Anrong's recent death, she was overcome with remorse and grief. After informing Zhao He, she went out alone, intending to go to Kaibao Temple in the north of the city to recite two volumes of scriptures for Song Anrong. She called Huang'er to come with her, and the two of them slowly made their way to Kaibao Temple.
They hadn't gone far when they saw Mei Xun standing in front of them, sword in hand, his face ashen.
Zhen Shu knew that if he was there, Yu Yichen would definitely be there too. She turned to Huang'er and said, "You go back to the shop and rest. I will go back by myself."
Huang'er should have gone over there. Zhen Shu then stepped forward and asked Mei Xun, "Is Yu Yichen also here?"
Mei Xun pointed to the side with his sword, and Zhen Shu saw Yu Yichen still dressed in black, standing with his hands behind his back not far away in the back street. She took a few steps over, lowered her head and said, "You shouldn't have come to see me again. We agreed to break up."
Yu Yichen turned and walked forward, saying in a low voice, "Even if we've ended things, we're not enemies anymore, so why can't we meet again?"
Zhenshu recalled a rumor circulating a few days ago that Du Yu had annihilated the Tartars in Lixian County and then returned to the capital to plead guilty. If that were true, Yu Yichen's scheme would likely have failed. Ultimately, it was she who had spread the rumor, and she felt a pang of guilt, yet she didn't want Yu Yichen to know about her past relationship with Du Yu. Therefore, she tentatively asked, "How are you doing as a constable these days?"
Yu Yichen said, "It's alright."
In fact, it wasn't good. Du Yu's arrival was too sudden and perfectly timed, almost as if he had been informed beforehand. Yu Yichen, who always acted discreetly, only had a hint of suspicion in his mind, because only Zhen Shu had overheard his conversation with the envoy. Moreover, her second sister was married into the Bei Shun Marquis's household, and the Bei Shun Marquis's daughter, Dou Mingluan, was now living in the Duke's mansion.
Zhenshu ran out of his residence and went straight to the Duke's mansion. All these possibilities pointed to her as the one who tipped him off, his little shopkeeper.
But so what? The struggles in the imperial court never cease; there are winners and losers.
He only remembered the pool of black blood she vomited after she left, perhaps it had been accumulating in her resilient chest for a long time, filled with her regret and despair. He wasn't ready to show her his worst side when she barged in, catching him off guard and leaving him completely unprepared.
Zhenshu couldn't help but try to persuade him again: "You shouldn't have done such a thing, causing too many innocent families to be torn apart, wives and children to be separated. There is a beggar in front of my house. His family was originally from Qingzhou. It was the Tartars who burned his hometown and killed his wife and daughters. Now he has fallen to the point of being a beggar. There are countless people like him in this world."
Yu Yichen tried to persuade Zhenshu: "Even if it wasn't me, someone else would have done it."
Zhenshu sneered inwardly, feeling angry at him but also feeling sorry for him when she saw his disheveled appearance. She whispered, "That shouldn't be you either."
The two walked to Kaibao Temple, a circular building in the Uyghur style. Yu Yichen naturally didn't offer incense, but stood outside the hall waiting for Zhenshu. Since he wasn't going in, Zhenshu was afraid he would have to wait too long, so she didn't chant any scriptures either, but simply burned some incense sticks in various places and came out.
Once outside Kaibao Temple, Zhenshu asked again, "Are you having a hard time in the court now?"
How could it not be difficult? Du Yu not only annihilated the enemy in Li County, but also knelt outside the city gate, carrying thorns to plead guilty. The court officials were in an uproar, praising Du Yu as a god-like figure unparalleled in heaven and earth. Du Wu stood in the hall with his hands behind his back, sneering. Although he was a rebellious son, a son is still a son, and he would always come back to help him in times of need.
Li Xuzhe and Yu Yichen stood on high ground, yet they still could not grasp the supreme position of the court. When the emperor and his ministers competed, he was like a sharp but not tough long sword, trying his best to slash, but he could not withstand the soft and skillful maneuvering of the court officials.
Yu Yichen smiled and said, "As long as your heart is still with me, I won't be sad."
As long as she is still willing to be with him, he can continue to fight.
Zhenshu shook her head: "My father died of remorse, and my hometown was ravaged because of you. How can I continue to follow you?"
Her eyes were red and swollen from crying, and she couldn't help but tear up.
Yu Yichen took out a handkerchief, and Zhenshu stopped him from a distance, saying, "Don't come any closer!"
☆、90|
She knew he was an utterly wicked man, yet she still loved him. Now, she was somewhat afraid of his chest and his very presence, afraid that her will might falter and she would be deceived by him again, thus becoming one of his villains. Or even more shameless, because she was fully aware of her situation.
Yu Yichen watched Zhenshu walk away, then saw Mei Xun following from a distance. He turned back and asked, "Mei Xun, do you think Miss Song will forgive me?"
Mei Xun said, "No."
Yu Yichen pursed her lips, shook her head, and smiled. She still loved him, just as his love for her would never change. This was a love that ran deep in her soul, how could it be deterred by worldly concerns?
It's just a matter of time, isn't it? He comforted himself: Once I'm done with this, I'll put in the effort to coax her back, and she'll definitely come back. He turned and got into the carriage, the driver cracked the whip, and the carriage slowly drove away in the autumn wind.
With Song Anrong no longer overseeing the mounting shop, and Zhao He busy training apprentices, Zhenshu was left alone at the counter. She was responsible for collecting orders for calligraphy and paintings, as well as new works by calligraphers and painters. Because Xiu'er was quick-witted and knew how to speak politely, Zhenshu intended to groom him to be the shopkeeper, taking him with her wherever she went.
On this day, Xu Yunfei, the son of Minister Xu who had married Tao Suyi, sent word that he wanted a piece of calligraphy by Song Anrong as a gift. Zhenshu selected a particularly fine piece, rolled it up, instructed Xiu'er to watch the counter, and then followed the Xu family servant to the Minister's residence. Since Xu Yunfei and Tao Suyi were engaged in marriage in the first month of the lunar calendar, they were probably decorating their new home. It was unknown whether the calligraphy was for decorating their new home.
Zhenshu arrived at the Xu residence and followed the family through a side gate. Even in the dead of winter, the Xu family mansion was surrounded by lush green bamboo leaves, and the paths were simply enclosed by bamboo poles, giving it the appearance of a refined and noble household. Entering a courtyard, she found it neat and tidy, with a spacious and bright outer courtyard and a small building in the inner courtyard, a blend of northern and southern styles. Inside the building, the furniture was all very simple and unpretentious, somewhat resembling Tao Suyi's boudoir.
Upon hearing from his family that Zhen Shu had arrived, Xu Yunfei, the young master of the Xu family, hurriedly came out from inside and greeted them with a cupped hand from afar: "Manager Song, I have long heard that you are no ordinary woman. It is only today that I have the honor of meeting you."
Zhen Shu returned the greeting with clasped hands and followed Xu Yunfei to the inner room to sit down. She saw that the inner room was filled with books from the beam to the floor, and there was a large desk next to it with a pen holder full of pens standing upright like a forest. It was clear that the rumors were not true and that this young master Xu was indeed a talented man.
She handed the scroll to Xu Yunfei before saying, "I don't know what Young Master Xu likes, so I've taken the liberty of choosing one. If you don't find it to your liking, I can always go back and bring you another one."
Xu Yunfei untied the ribbon and asked Zhenshu to hold one end for him. He untied it and looked at it. He saw that it was a copy of Liu Sanbian's "Rainy Night Bell". He read it and nodded, saying, "The calligraphy and the words are both very interesting. However, I originally wanted a piece of calligraphy to congratulate a friend on his marriage. The words are a bit too sad."
If it were a poem to congratulate a newlywed, the sentiment in this poem would indeed be rather melancholic. Zhen Shu immediately rolled it up and said, "In that case, I will go back to the shop and choose another one with a better theme. But please wait a little longer, Young Master Xu."
As the two were talking, a family member came in to report: "Young Master, Young Master Du has arrived."
Xu Yunfei quickly invited Zhenshu to sit down, and then personally brought in tea from outside, saying, "Speak of the devil, and he appears. Here he is. I'll take the painting to him to see. If he doesn't like it, Manager Song can go back and exchange it for another one, how about that?"
Zhenshu had no choice but to sit and wait.
Suddenly, a burst of laughter erupted outside, and one person said, "Brother Xu, not bad at all. You've become quite the connoisseur these days. If I hadn't peed in your and my father's teacups while we were wearing open-crotch pants, I would never have imagined that you would become so refined."
Zhenshu recognized the voice and was searching her memory for it. Just then, Xu Yunfei said, "No, no, don't bring up those childhood jokes again."
The man continued, "How can I not mention it? You are now seeing your beloved pregnant, while I am still single and anxious."
Zhenshu suddenly felt a tightness in her chest, almost jumping up. That voice, that person, their surname was Du. It was none other than Lin Dayu, oh no, Du Yu, who had deceived her in the Wuling Mountains more than two years ago.
Just as she was about to get up, Xu Yunfei said, "That's exactly why Miss Tao is so anxious. She specifically asked me to help you two get together. Recently, the famous calligrapher and painter Song Anrong passed away. He was the illegitimate son of Song Gongzheng. Although he never held an official position, his skills were unparalleled. Moreover, he has passed away, and few of his works remain. I asked someone to get me a piece, and I want you to send it to Miss Dou so that I can help you two make a connection."
He seemed to be unfurling a scroll outside. Zhen Shu got up and quietly stood at the door, where she saw a tall figure with his back to her, dressed in a blue silk robe and wearing a double-winged turban on his head. They were slowly unfurling the calligraphy and painting. Du Yu stood with his back to her, bent over and looked at it for a while before saying, "Dou Mingluan will definitely like this, but I don't. I'll pass."
Xu Yunfei rolled up the scroll himself and handed it to him, saying, "I know you've never liked these things since you were little, but as long as Miss Dou likes them, that's fine. You're a beautiful woman, not someone who cares about calligraphy and paintings."
The two of them sat down in the hall again, and Zhenshu finally got a good look at Du Yu's features. He was much darker and looked much older than when she had seen him in Wuling Mountain. However, he had the vigor and spirit of a strong and healthy man, which made Xu Yunfei look like a weak scholar.
Both of them took a sip of tea, and Xu Yunfei asked Du Yu, "Your father still won't let you go?"
Du Yu spread his sleeves and said, "Not only will they not release me, but they will also detain me in Yingtian Prefecture to do errands, making me patrol the Imperial Street all day long."
Xu Yunfei lowered his voice and said, "He was just afraid that if you left, it would give the Emperor something to say, and that no one in the court could deal with that eunuch Yu Yichen."
Du Yu nodded and said, "That's right. If it weren't for the need to contend with Yu Yichen, I would have long since given up on staying in the capital. Liangzhou is a vast and open place. A trip there on horseback would leave me feeling refreshed and relaxed. It's not like being crammed into this cramped capital. Every time a horse kicks, it's like it's going to kill a few old ladies."
Xu Yunfei then asked, "I heard you married a wife in Liangzhou, so why do you say you're single now?"
Du Yu said, "He's dead. He was killed by the Tartars."
Xu Yunfei remained silent for a long while before finally saying, "Please accept my condolences."
Du Yu then slammed his fist on the table and said, “That’s why I had to kill Yu Yichen. He was a eunuch, and knowing that his title of General of Might and Magic couldn’t win over the people, he colluded with the Tartars to kill my people and plunder my wealth. If we hadn’t received the news and come to the emperor’s aid, I’m afraid my father would have been imprisoned, stripped of his title as military governor, and killed for failing to resist the barbarians. Although my father was not good to me, I can’t let him kill me, can I?”
Xu Yunfei nodded as he listened, and when he heard him complain about his father, he laughed again and said, "You still won't go home?"
Du Yu shook his head: "That's no longer my home. He has his own wife and children. I'm used to being free and unrestrained on my own."
When Zhenshu heard him say he wanted to kill Yu Yichen, and how he spoke with such venom, she was so frightened that she took two steps back, nearly knocking over a triangular flower stand behind her. She quickly turned around, righted the flower stand, and sat down on a chair to listen.
Hearing noises from inside, Du Yu asked Xu Yunfei, "What's going on? Are there guests inside?"
Xu Yunfei pointed to the painting and said, "The person who delivered the scroll is waiting in the inner room. He'll let me know if you don't want it, so I can give him a reply and tell him if you want a different one."
Du Yu glanced at the scroll before saying, "Since they've gone to such lengths to send it, why should I refuse? I'll take it. Good ideas can't put food on the table; only you pedantic people like to do this."
After saying this, he clipped the scroll together and stood up, saying, "That's enough, I still have to go out on patrol. Now that Yu Yichen is in charge of the title of Inspector of the Capital Region Inspectorate, if he catches me slacking off and reports it to that person in the palace, my father will bring me in for a lecture."
Xu Yunfei hurriedly saw Du Yu out. Zhen Shu sat quietly in the inner room, waiting for what seemed like half a cup of tea before Xu Yunfei came in and said with a smile, "I'm sorry to have kept Miss Song waiting. You must have heard in the inner room that he greatly admires Mr. Song's calligraphy and has already given it to the lady. I just went to the accounting office to get some silver notes so you don't have to make another trip."
Zhenshu accepted the silver note, thanked Xu Yunfei, took her leave of the Xu residence, and had Xu's family escort her back to the East Market.
Not long after she left the Xu residence, she saw Du Yu riding a long-haired, thin horse, dressed in a blue silk robe. Compared to two years ago in the Wuling Mountains, he was now riding a swift and triumphant horse.
Dou Mingluan has always been fond of sentimental and melancholic things, and besides, she has long been looking forward to marrying Du Yu. This time, Du Yu used such a poem that she likes to curry favor, which means that the marriage must be approaching. No wonder Xu Yunfei said that calligraphy and paintings are used to congratulate people on their marriage.