As Ji Cheng rushed back to Rui Ying Hall in a panic before she could catch her breath, a maid in the courtyard hurriedly approached her. “Young Miss, you’ve finally returned. We’ve been looking everywhere for you. Someone from your family has arrived, and the Old Madam wants you to go quickly.”
Ji Cheng, bewildered, hastened to the Old Madam’s room. As soon as she entered, she saw her aunt, Ji Lan, wiping tears with a handkerchief, while the Old Madam wore a gloomy expression.
Seeing Ji Cheng, the Old Madam beckoned her, “Come quickly, sit down first.”
Observing the situation, Ji Cheng already sensed that something terrible had happened. Before she could sit down, having taken just one step, she heard Ji Lan say, “Your father sent someone to report that your mother has passed away.”
Ji Cheng’s vision darkened, and she suddenly fell backward. Fortunately, the attending maids were prepared and quickly supported her into a seat. After regaining her composure, Ji Cheng murmured in disbelief, “How can this be?”
Last year, before she came to the capital, her mother, Madam Yun, had been feeling unwell, but those were minor ailments. Ever since the concubine had entered the household, she had been chronically unwell, mainly due to emotional distress. However, these discomforts were certainly not life-threatening.
Ji Cheng suddenly recalled that after Shen Cui’s wedding, her father had hurriedly departed for North Jin without even informing her. It was likely that her mother’s condition had already deteriorated by then, which explained why the betrothal cards for the Liu family’s marriage proposal had been delayed.
Ji Cheng was a person of strong character. Even though she was grief-stricken, her face showed little emotion. She stood up, walked over to the Old Madam, and knelt before her, saying tearfully, “For over a year, A-Cheng has been under your care, Old Madam. Now that I must leave, I don’t know when I’ll see you again. A-Cheng kowtows to you.” Ji Cheng performed three formal kowtows before being helped to her feet by a maid.
The Old Madam’s eyes were also brimming with tears. “How could such a healthy person just pass away? Hurry and pack your things. I’ve already arranged a carriage for you. Your brother and sister-in-law must have received the news as well. I’ve asked your Second Aunt to send people to escort you back.”
Ji Cheng bowed to the Old Madam again, then turned to Ji Lan. Ji Lan held her hand and said, “When you see your father, please tell him on my behalf not to grieve too much. I’ll settle things here and then come to North Jin immediately.”
Ji Cheng nodded and hurriedly left. She hadn’t anticipated this situation, so she didn’t have any white mourning clothes. Fortunately, the pale moon-colored outfit she wore today was sufficiently subdued, so she didn’t need to change.
Ji Cheng didn’t have many belongings at the Shen residence, just some everyday clothes and jewelry. There wasn’t much to pack, and in less than a quarter of an hour, she had everything ready and boarded the carriage heading for Orchid Lane.
The Ji residence on Orchid Lane was already adorned with mourning drapes and white lanterns. The mourning hall was prepared for friends in the capital to pay their respects. Fan Zengli had arranged things quite quickly. Seeing Ji Cheng, she hurried over, wiping tears and saying, “How could this happen? When I left, your mother was fine.” Fan Zengli cried much more heartbrokenly than Ji Cheng. She was truly distressed, as the autumn imperial examinations were approaching, and now that Madam Yun had passed, Ji Yuan would have to return to North Jin immediately, postponing his opportunity for the examinations for three years until the mourning period was over.
At this moment, Ji Cheng had no energy to comfort Fan Zengli. Her crying was silent, with tears simply flowing down her cheeks. The household had already prepared mourning clothes. Ji Cheng changed into them and knelt in the mourning hall to burn paper offerings, waiting for Ji Yuan to return from East Mountain Academy. They would then depart for North Jin.
Before Ji Yuan returned, another messenger arrived from the Shen residence. Shen Che had sent Liu Ye’er and Yu Qian’er back. The three of them—mistress and maids—naturally embraced and wept together.
Setting aside the various minor arrangements, let’s focus on Ji Cheng and her group as they rushed through the night toward North Jin. Though in a daze on the carriage, Ji Cheng couldn’t help but ask Liu Ye’er and Yu Qian’er about their whereabouts.
Yu Qian’er, quick-tongued, said, “Young Miss, we were so frightened at first. Suddenly, two burly men took us away and locked us in a house. I thought we were doomed, but then… then nothing happened. No one came to speak to us; we were just kept there. The house wasn’t small and even had a little garden. We could move around freely, just not leave. We had everything we needed for food, clothing, and daily use, but it was dull.” Yu Qian’er was a chatterbox who, once started, couldn’t stop. “That big black guard at the door was so annoying. I tried everything but couldn’t escape to send you a message. And he was always bullying people, often scaring me.” Yu Qian’er complained, endlessly listing the ways the big black guard had mistreated her.
On a normal day, Ji Cheng might have teased Yu Qian’er a bit, as she was clearly showing signs of budding romance. But now, she didn’t have an ounce of spirit for it. Thinking of her mother made her heartache. She hadn’t even seen her one last time. If she hadn’t come to the capital, she could have spent more time with her; perhaps Madam Yun wouldn’t have died at all.
Ji Cheng’s heart was filled with countless regrets, wishing she had never set foot in the capital.
After Yu Qian’er finished her rambling, she turned her concern to Ji Cheng. “Young Miss, about that Second Young Master…” Before she could finish, Liu Ye’er tugged hard at her sleeve. Yu Qian’er, realizing her mistake, dared not speak further.
Ji Cheng hadn’t heard Yu Qian’er’s words; her mind was completely occupied with thoughts of Madam Yun.
As soon as the carriage passed Jingkou, someone came to inquire. Shortly after, the sound of galloping hooves was heard, and Ling Ziyun had ridden up to Ji Cheng’s carriage window. “A-Cheng.”
Ji Cheng lifted the carriage curtain to look at Ling Ziyun and said, “Brother Ziyun, why are you here?” This place was still a day’s journey from North Jin; she hadn’t expected Ling Ziyun to come so far to meet her.
Ling Ziyun said, “I was worried you’d be concerned about home, so I came ahead to wait for you. Don’t worry, I’ve had people keeping an eye on your household.”
Already a weary bird returning to its nest, the capital’s splendor paled in comparison to North Jin, where Ji Cheng was born and raised, especially now that she was returning wounded. Every blade of grass and tree seemed exceptionally dear to her. Seeing Ling Ziyun now was like finding a mountain to lean on, and tears began to fall uncontrollably.
Ling Ziyun flustered, hurriedly pulled out a handkerchief Ji Cheng had once used from his sleeve and handed it to her. “Please don’t cry. You must be dizzy and hungry from the long carriage ride. When we get home and you’ve rested, then we can cry, alright?”
Although it wasn’t a time for any hint of a smile, Ji Cheng couldn’t help but want to curl her lips slightly at the sight of Ling Ziyun’s clumsy efforts to comfort her.
Ling Ziyun escorted Ji Cheng and her group back to the Ji residence. Instead of returning to his own home, he busied himself greeting the mourners who came to pay their respects to the Ji family.
Ling Ziyun’s familiarity wasn’t unwarranted; there were simply too few members of the Ji family available to receive guests. Ji Yuan and his wife had just returned, her second brother Ji Ze was physically impaired and not yet married, and Ji Qing was bedridden. Without Ling Ziyun stepping in, who knows what chaos might have ensued?
Having known each other since childhood, Ji Cheng didn’t stand on ceremony with Ling Ziyun. After a brief word of thanks, she went straight to the mourning hall.
Ice basins were placed around the mourning hall, a testament to the Ji family’s wealth and status, allowing them to use so much ice in midsummer to prevent Madam Yun’s body from decomposing.
Ji Cheng took a deep breath and walked towards her mother’s coffin behind the curtains.
A maid who had stayed at the Ji residence approached and whispered in her ear, “Young Miss, when the Madam passed, her eyes wouldn’t close. She was waiting for you until the end.”
Ji Cheng nodded, tears falling with the motion. People often focus on moving forward and upward, assuming others will always be there waiting. It’s only when faced with the finality of death that they realize their mistakes, but by then, it’s too late.
Unable to bear the sight any longer, Ji Cheng turned to go to Ji Qing’s room. Upon her arrival, the housekeeper mentioned that her father was bedridden.
Ji Qing’s room was filled with the smell of medicine. Concubine Xiang was sitting on a porcelain stool nearby, feeding him medicine. Seeing Ji Cheng enter, Concubine Xiang quickly helped Ji Qing sit up and, with red-rimmed eyes, said to Ji Cheng, “First Young Miss, you’re back!”
Ji Cheng saw that Ji Qing looked truly unwell, his face sallow and haggard. Having just lost her mother and now seeing Ji Qing in this state, tears began to fall once more.
Ji Qing coughed twice and said, “I’m fine, just a bit tired these past few days and caught a slight chill.”
Concubine Xiang chimed in from the side, “The Master is heartbroken. Who could have imagined the Madam would pass so suddenly?” Concubine Xiang’s tears were always at her command, and now she cried even more sorrowfully than Ji Cheng.
Ji Cheng turned to Concubine Xiang and said, “Aunt, please step out for a moment. I need to speak with Father.”
Concubine Xiang mumbled “Oh, oh” a couple of times but kept looking at Ji Qing until he nodded, only then did she leave.
Ji Cheng sat down by the bed. “Father, although Mother’s health was always delicate, Sister-in-law said she was still fine when she left in April. How did this happen so suddenly?” This question had been troubling Ji Cheng for many days, keeping her from eating or sleeping well, like a fire burning inside her.
Ji Qing said, “Ah, the unpredictability of life. Even when I went to the capital in May, Yun was fine. But who would have thought she’d fall at home and hit her head? At first, the doctor came to check and said it was nothing serious. Who knew that after just a few days, they’d say her condition had worsened? I could only rush back hastily.”
Ji Cheng asked, “Father, since you had already received the news, why didn’t you tell my brother and me? We didn’t even get to see Mother one last time.” Ji Cheng’s tears flowed like a waterfall as she spoke.
Ji Qing replied, “I thought it wouldn’t be anything serious, just a fall. The letter said she was drifting in and out of consciousness. I thought that once I returned, I could find a good doctor to treat her, and she’d surely recover. Who knew…” Ji Qing sighed and continued, “Your brother was about to take the autumn imperial examinations. How could I dare disturb him? And you were in the midst of marriage negotiations. I thought your mother would at least hold on until your brother’s exams and your betrothal. As soon as I received the betrothal card, I immediately sent your card back. I was just afraid… but alas, it was fate. Just two days later, your mother…”
At this moment, Ji Cheng couldn’t care less about the betrothal card. A fleeting suspicion crossed her mind—if the card had been sent out, it should have arrived long ago, given the timing. The fact that there had been no news surely meant Shen Che had intercepted it. But she didn’t dwell on this thought now, instead pressing Ji Qing further, “How could Mother, who was perfectly fine, fall at home and injure her head so severely?”
Ji Qing fell silent, only sighing, “Life and death are predetermined. If the King of Hell decrees you die at the third watch, you won’t live to see the fifth.”