Zhao Hanzhang wore mourning clothes. She straightened Zhao Erlang’s collar, placed the memorial tablet in his hands, and asked in a low voice, “Today you’ll break the pot and carry the banner. Do you remember everything Uncle Cheng taught you?”

As long as it wasn’t reading or recognizing characters, and the words were easy to understand, Zhao Erlang could remember them after hearing them several times. Moreover, he had already rehearsed many times before, so he nodded very confidently.

Zhao Hanzhang smiled at him reassuringly and said softly, “I’ll be right by your side. Don’t be afraid!”

Zhao Erlang nodded vigorously, even more confident now.

When the time came, firecrackers exploded with a bang at the front. The clan elder presiding over the funeral looked up to the sky and shouted loudly, “Raise—the coffin—”

Zhao Hanzhang pushed Zhao Erlang. He stepped forward, picked up the fire basin and smashed it. The mourning hall immediately filled with wailing inside and out.

After completing the ritual, he stood up and took the memorial tablet again. The coffin was then lifted.

The pallbearers were all Zhao clan members—young and strong men Zhao Song had found from the clan, choosing those with closer blood ties as much as possible.

Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan supported the coffin as they walked. The sound of funeral horns arose, and the funeral procession slowly departed.

Outside, the hired monks were ready. They immediately began chanting sutras around the coffin. After leaving the estate, the coffin was steadily placed on a cart.

This place was quite far from the ancestral graves, so they needed to use a cart to transport it. Wang Shi and the others all got on carts, while direct younger generation like Zhao Hanzhang and Zhao Erlang walked in front.

Fu Tinghan, also in mourning clothes, walked beside Zhao Hanzhang. The uncle presiding over the ceremony suddenly shouted, “Soul return—”

He was startled and looked up at the man.

The man grabbed a handful of paper money and tossed it toward the sky, shouting with tears, “Soul return—come back—”

“Soul—return—”

Fu Tinghan felt moved to sadness upon hearing this, his eyes slightly stinging.

The funeral procession was already filled with crying, wailing along with these two calls.

This was the soul summoning ritual, meant to guide the spirit of the deceased back so it wouldn’t be lost.

When Ji Yuan arrived with several retainers, the funeral procession had already reached the cemetery. Zhao Hanzhang and Zhao Erlang knelt on the ground waiting for the coffin to be lowered into the tomb.

A fast horse arrived, immediately alerting Zhao Song who was reciting the memorial text. Looking up to see Ji Yuan, he couldn’t help but be shocked. “Why is Advisor Ji here?”

Ji Yuan’s eyes filled with tears as he swept his gaze over the coffin and bowed to Zhao Song. “This humble one served the master for many years and truly cannot bear to part. Therefore, I wanted to see the master off one last time. Fortunately, I made it in time.”

Zhao Song was anxious. “Now that you’re here, Advisor, who is by my eighth brother’s side?”

Ji Yuan said, “Second Elder Uncle is intelligent and mighty. The master’s former advisors are all still there.”

“But they can’t compare with you, Advisor,” Zhao Song was secretly worried. How could Zhao Zhongyu not have kept Ji Yuan?

He knew that this Advisor Ji had followed his elder brother for over ten years and was quite capable. He knew most of the Zhao family’s affairs and was his brother’s confidant.

How could Zhao Zhongyu let such a person leave?

Unfortunately, the funeral was at a critical juncture and couldn’t be interrupted. He could only continue for now.

Seeing Ji Yuan, Zhao Hanzhang quietly breathed a sigh of relief and nodded slightly to him.

Ji Yuan met her gaze and also nodded to her.

After finishing the memorial text, the coffin was carried into the tomb, and the burial objects were also properly placed beside the coffin.

Zhao Changyu’s burial site had been in preparation for two years already. Zhao Song had chosen a good location and had craftsmen dig the tomb chamber according to the specifications for a count.

Inside were three tomb chambers altogether. Zhao Song had also prepared many burial objects—all things Zhao Changyu had enjoyed before, as well as articles and memorials Zhao Changyu had written. He had copied them all out. When news came from Luoyang before the New Year that Zhao Changyu’s health was failing, he had begun preparations.

Items were placed one by one. Seventh Great-Uncle Zhao Hu sighed, feeling it was still too simple. “What a pity your valuables were all lost on the road. Otherwise, we could have put in more. With just this little bit of burial goods, it’s too unfair to your grandfather.”

He looked around and saw Uncle Cheng kneeling to the side, silently weeping. His heart stirred. “We can’t be too unfair to your grandfather. Why don’t we have a few devoted servants accompany him to serve him?”

Zhao Hanzhang’s hand wiping her tears paused. She raised her eyes, which held not much moisture, and looked at him.

Zhao Song was somewhat angry and glared at him. “Stop fooling around in front of your elder brother’s grave. Hurry and get out.”

Zhao Hu stared back. “I’m serious, Fifth Brother. Don’t you think these burial goods are too shabby? I think Uncle Cheng would be good. He grew up by elder brother’s side and has always served him…”

Zhao Hanzhang inwardly cursed, then lowered her eyes and fiercely wiped them with her handkerchief. She burst into loud wailing, “Seventh Great-Uncle, don’t take Uncle Cheng from me! Uncle Cheng was specially left by Grandfather for my brother and me. My brother and I still need him to take care of us.”

Uncle Cheng, whose face had turned pale, also reacted. He prostrated himself completely on the ground, crying out loudly, knocking his head on the floor. “Sanniang, let this servant follow the master. This servant is willing to serve the master.”

“I don’t want to!” Zhao Hanzhang wailed up at the sky, tears streaming down her face. “I’ve already lost Grandfather. I can’t lose Uncle Cheng too.”

Fu Tinghan watched her cry like rain was falling, and couldn’t help reaching out to catch a drop, amazed. How did she manage to cry on command like this?

Even with ginger juice on the handkerchief, it shouldn’t work this well, right?

Zhao Hanzhang glanced at him spacing out and was both amused and exasperated. Unable to hold it in, a snot bubble even popped out. Fu Tinghan’s eyes flashed with amusement. He struggled to suppress his laughter, quickly pressing the handkerchief to her face and pulling her into his embrace to comfort her. He said to the Zhao clan relatives, “Living burial was abolished long ago. Grandfather Zhao was also benevolent. Uncle Cheng was left by him for Sanniang and Erlang. If we made him accompany the burial, it would likely go against Grandfather Zhao’s wishes.”

Zhao Song’s expression improved somewhat. He nodded slightly. “Son-in-law is correct.”

The Zhao clan relatives also thought this made sense.

“If not Uncle Cheng, we can choose other servants,” Zhao Hu said. “If you’re reluctant to give up your own people for elder brother, then I’ll send a few.”

Hearing this, the other relatives hesitated. If Zhao Hu provided his own people, they really had no grounds to stop him.

Leaning in Fu Tinghan’s embrace, Zhao Hanzhang ground her teeth. But when she raised her head, she had regained her composure, looking weak and fragile. “Seventh Great-Uncle, our Zhao family doesn’t have a custom of living burial, does it?”

“We didn’t before, but we can have it now,” Zhao Hu’s eyes gleamed. “People aren’t worth much now. For just a few strings of cash, you can buy several attractive, devoted people to bring to the underworld to serve. How wonderful?”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “Aren’t you afraid they’ll die unjustly, harbor resentment, and take revenge on you in the underworld, Seventh Great-Uncle?”

When Zhao Hanzhang said this, she lowered her voice, making it sound sinister. Zhao Hu was actually startled, but after recovering, he flew into a rage. “How dare they! I’m the master, they’re servants. Even in the underworld, they must obey me!”

Zhao Hanzhang pressed her palms together and raised her head halfway with a compassionate expression. “Amitabha, Buddha is merciful. The Buddha said all beings are equal. While alive, people cannot be equal, but in hell, all are souls. Who judges by life’s merits and sins—who is more noble than whom?”

Her gaze fell on Zhao Hu’s face as she said seriously, “Seventh Great-Uncle, you should accumulate virtue.”

Zhao Hu was somewhat confused. “Are you cursing me?”

Zhao Hanzhang denied it with complete seriousness. “No!”