The funeral hall and mourning pavilion had been set up in the Yang family’s Bailu Hall. Before Madam Yang returned, Yang Jingshan had arranged everything. He entrusted the inner household to his wife Chen and his sister-in-law.
“Mother, go rest for a couple of hours. Second Brother and I are here. The inner household is in Su Niang and sister-in-law’s hands, please don’t worry,” Yang Jingshan urged Madam Yang to rest after making all arrangements.
Madam Yang knew her age was catching up with her; her body couldn’t withstand the strain. With her sons and daughters-in-law present, there was no need for her to persist. Looking around Bailu Hall, she saw Concubine Liu, now in mourning clothes, following behind and standing at the door, constantly gazing outside. She suddenly remembered Yang Jingyuan: “Where is the Third Son?”
Remembering his brother’s furious words when he rushed out of Lefeng Court, and seeing his mother’s aged, haggard face, Yang Jingshan couldn’t bear to worry her further and lied: “I sent Third Brother to invite the Taoist priests.”
Since Third Son’s master was from the Qingcheng Mountain Taoist temple, Madam Yang didn’t suspect anything. She glanced at Concubine Liu, saw her lower her head, and said: “Concubine Liu, go rest first. I’ll send someone to summon you for the vigil at dawn.”
“Yes.” Concubine Liu curtsied gracefully and quietly withdrew.
Without waiting for their husbands’ instructions, Madam Chen and Second Young Madam came forward to support Madam Yang. Madam Chen said sweetly: “My husband worries about Mother’s health and asked me to manage things temporarily. We hope Mother can rest well. Sister-in-law and I will just handle the errands and minor matters, which will be our pleasure.”
While most people enjoy flattery, Madam Yang shook her head: “The household management should have been handed over to you long ago. Now that the Master is gone and First Son is head of the family, I need not manage anymore.”
Madam Chen was stunned. What did this mean? Had she been wrong all along? She had thought her mother-in-law was accustomed to being strong-willed and reluctant to relinquish power. But her words suggested she was only willing to hand over household authority after the Master’s death. Had she been guarding against the Master?
Madam Yang said no more. She was indeed tired. Lying down and closing her eyes, she couldn’t sleep. With the Master gone, the clan needed to formally recognize Yang Jingshan’s position as family head, recording it in the ancestral hall’s genealogy. After the First Son became the family head, according to Yang family rules, Second Master Yang and Third Master Yang would have to formally move out of the ancestral home. The vacated east and west compounds would be divided among Yang Jingshan’s brothers. She would also need to vacate Bailu Hall for the eldest son and his wife. The Master had long ago written his will for property division, in duplicate. One copy was in her possession. When the Yang family announced the death, the clan elders would bring the other copy when they came to pay respects tomorrow.
Once First Son officially succeeded as family head, she could completely let go, move to Tuisi Hall to play with her grandchildren, and quietly enjoy family life. Madam Yang sighed lightly in her drowsiness and fell asleep.
However, she hadn’t slept long before her son’s voice woke her.
Yang Jingshan stood beside her bed, looking troubled.
“What is it?” After her nap, Madam Yang’s spirits were noticeably better. Her son wouldn’t disturb her without reason. She gestured for Xueting to help her sit up.
“Uncle has come. He insists on seeing you. He’s in the study.”
Her brother must have urgent business to see her so hastily. Madam Yang acknowledged with a sound and dressed to go to the study.
Commander Stone hadn’t slept all night, his eyes bloodshot. Seeing his sister, he immediately stood: “First Son, guard the door.”
Seeing her brother bypass her to instruct her son, Madam Yang was extremely surprised. She dismissed Xueting: “It’s just us siblings here. Brother, speak freely.”
Commander Stone still lowered his voice: “Yang Jingyuan was captured attempting to assassinate Nanzhao’s White King and delivered to me. In my view, the White King not binding him and sending him to the authorities means he wants to do us a favor. But his assassination attempt involves diplomatic relations between the two countries. If I release him, I’ll be leaving leverage in Prince Sheng’s hands. I just arrived at the Yang residence to learn that my brother-in-law passed away last night. How can things be such a coincidence?”
“How did Third Son go to assassinate Nanzhao’s White King?” Madam Yang was startled and called out, “First Son, come in.”
Yang Jingshan, guarding the door, entered. Madam Yang said angrily: “Didn’t you say the Third Son went to invite the Taoist priests? How did he end up trying to assassinate Nanzhao’s White King?”
“Mother, let me explain.” Yang Jingshan, unable to hide it anymore, had to reveal what Yang Jingyuan had shouted last night. He smiled bitterly, “Third Brother is skilled in martial arts. I ordered the guards to stop him, but they couldn’t even catch his shadow. At the time, I didn’t know if what he said was true or false, nor did I know who he was going to find. Now it seems Third Brother suspected Father’s death was suspicious…”
At this point, Yang Jingshan’s expression changed dramatically as he muttered: “Father’s passing was indeed suspicious!”
Madam Yang stared in shock: “First Son, what do you mean? Imperial Physician Gu examined him, your father was stimulated by wine… Explain yourself clearly.”
“Wine!” Yang Jingshan, usually steady, now noticed the anomaly as he thought back, “Midway through the banquet, the wine was changed to what Second Uncle had brought. Father enjoyed it. We all drank it. This wine… after drinking it, one felt invigorated, as if bathed in warm springs.”
Commander Stone remembered too: “Indeed, as First Son says. After drinking, one felt full of strength. At the time, Nanzhao’s White King repeatedly praised the wine. I remember brother-in-law drank several cups, his face glowing.”
Yang Jingshan had figured it all out and said hatefully: “We were all fine. But Father was advanced in years. Surely after drinking heavily of this wine, then with Concubine Liu… how could his body withstand it? Third Brother must have seen something suspicious. How did he come to suspect the Nanzhao White King? Uncle, where is Third Brother now?”
Commander Stone said: “He’s unconscious. I couldn’t decide whether to send him to the prefecture jail or back to the Yang family. He’s in my carriage, with people watching him.”
“First bring him to Mingyue Residence and wake him up. Third Brother practices martial arts, he must know something we don’t. Otherwise, he would never attempt to assassinate Nanzhao’s White King.” Yang Jingshan hurried off as he spoke.
Commander Stone couldn’t stop Yang Jingshan in time and stamped his foot: “I hadn’t finished speaking, why did First Son rush to bring Yang Jingyuan into the estate?”
Madam Yang looked at her brother: “If Nanzhao’s White King wasn’t showing goodwill, he would have sent Third Son bound to the authorities directly. If Third Son had injured the White King, I wouldn’t have asked his brother to show favoritism. The White King wasn’t injured and is doing us a favor. Isn’t he buying Shu brocade everywhere? Money can resolve this—the Yang family has brocade to give him.” She sighed and continued, “I understand brother’s meaning. The third Son is Concubine Liu’s child. He calls you uncle, but you’re not blood relatives. It’s not worth risking yourself to protect him. But I raised him. The Master suddenly passed away. Third Son’s assassination attempt was from unbearable grief. How can I bear to let him stay in prison, unable to see his father off on his final journey?”
Commander Stone said urgently: “One can never truly know another’s heart. He is after all born of a concubine. Sister, how can you have no caution? Be careful not to raise a white-eyed wolf!”
Madam Yang’s expression changed dramatically: “Brother, what do you mean by that?”