Chapter 89: Escorting a Journey
The nights in mid-June were the most pleasant time of the day.
Consort Song was particularly pleased tonight.
Gong Xu had told her that Wen Mingqian had agreed to commit suicide, what a great piece of news!
And she wanted to see her before she died; why wouldn’t she want to see her?
“The Old Madam has already prepared Crane’s Crest Red, saying she’ll send it to her when it’s late at night,” Gong Xu said. “You go over then, and have a few more people accompany you.”
“Doesn’t Master want to see her?” Consort Song showed a hint of reluctance.
“We severed ties and broke promises long ago, so it’s fine not to see her,” Gong Xu said indifferently. “It’s just that she owes you too much. It’s good for you to hear her repentance before she dies.”
“Regardless, she’s willing to die to atone for her sins, so her conscience isn’t completely gone. We knew each other for a while, so I’ll go see her off on this final journey!” Consort Song sighed softly. “Perhaps we were enemies in a past life, otherwise, how could things have turned out this way?”
“Your body hasn’t fully recovered yet, so rest for another hour or two,” Gong Xu said. “I have some official business to attend to, I’ll go to the study first and come back here later.”
“Master, please go ahead! Official business cannot be delayed,” Consort Song said quickly.
“Little Madam, would you like to rest?” Granny Yang asked.
“How can I have the mind to sleep at such a crucial time?” Consort Song smiled exceptionally gently. “Don’t you know how eagerly I’ve been waiting for this day?”
“Congratulations, Little Madam, your wish has been granted!” Granny Yang’s eyes narrowed into slits. “The life of that one surnamed Wen will end tonight.”
“Since I’m the one sending her off on her final journey, shouldn’t it be grand?” Consort Song sat at her dressing table, looking proudly into the mirror. “Have Hua Hong and Liuyun come in to do my hair and makeup, use the best osmanthus oil to comb my hair, and choose the brightest and most valuable clothes.”
“Understood, Little Madam. Wen Mingqian must be in a sorry state right now, so it’s only fitting that Little Madam should be even more radiant,” Granny Yang said gleefully. “Just thinking about it makes one feel happy!”
Consort Song usually didn’t dress up deliberately, especially after Wen Mingqian returned, she had been even more low-key.
Tonight, however, she was to be elaborately dressed, which was quite out of the ordinary.
In the study, Gong Xu was lost in thought under the lamp.
After an unknown amount of time, footsteps sounded outside the door.
“Master, aren’t you going to sleep so late?” Yun Ying entered with a young maid who had just had her hair done.
“Why aren’t you asleep either?” Gong Xu was pulled back to his senses by her.
“I was worried about Master, so I didn’t sleep. I originally thought you were with Concubine Song, but I just heard someone say Master was still in the study! So I prepared some food and drink to bring over.” Yun Ying was gentle and virtuous, and pleased Gong Xu greatly.
Especially after Wen Mingqian’s incident, she didn’t say much, which made Gong Xu even more satisfied.
“You’re so thoughtful,” Gong Xu forced a smile. “Sit down and have a couple of drinks with me.”
“How could I dare? I should be serving Master!” Yun Ying said, pouring him a full cup of wine with her slender hands and holding it to his lips. “Master, please drink a cup to cheer yourself up.”
Gong Xu drank from her hand, and after Yun Ying put down the wine cup, she served him dishes.
With such a beautiful woman by his side, so diligently urging him to drink, how could Gong Xu resist?
Unknowingly, several cups had gone down.
“Yun Ying, the wine today is quite potent,” Gong Xu felt dizzy in waves. “Master is probably preoccupied, which is why he gets drunk easily.”
“Heh, you’re right!” Gong Xu chuckled foolishly. “The wine doesn’t intoxicate people, people intoxicate themselves…”
“This wine was a gift from the Old Madam, have another cup, Master,” Yun Ying poured another cup of wine.
“No, I’m very drunk now.” Gong Xu tried to push it away but lacked strength. At this moment, his hands and eyes were no longer coordinated.
“Then I’ll help Master lie down to rest,” Yun Ying said quickly. “Chun’er, get a pillow.”
The moon rose to its zenith and then gradually began to set.
Almost everyone in the mansion had gone to bed.
However, Consort Song’s room door opened, and two maids carrying lanterns, with Granny Yang supporting her, walked out.
Behind them followed several strong and robust servant women, all of whom Consort Song was accustomed to using.
They walked towards the back courtyard and after a long while, arrived in front of the Buddhist hall.
Granny Xu, who was by the Old Madam’s side, was already waiting there.
“I’ve kept Granny Xu waiting,” Consort Song said apologetically.
“I just arrived as well,” Granny Xu said, taking a small porcelain bottle from her sleeve. “This is from the Old Madam, please take it inside, Concubine.”
“Don’t worry, Granny Xu, there’s no need to dirty anyone else’s hands with this matter,” Consort Song took it reverently. “It’s late and the dew is heavy, you should go back and rest.”
“Then it’s all up to Concubine Song,” Granny Xu seemed genuinely tired. “Old people just can’t stay up late.”
She then lowered her voice and instructed, “The Old Madam said not to make too much noise, so as to avoid gossip.”
“Don’t worry, the people I brought are all tight-lipped and won’t reveal a single word,” Consort Song’s voice was also lowered.
“Alright then, I’ll be going back. The rest is up to you, Concubine,” Granny Xu said and left.
“Granny Yang, you alone will accompany me inside. It’s enough,” Consort Song said. “The rest will wait outside.”
“You all watch outside. If I don’t let you in, no one is allowed in,” Granny Yang instructed the servant women and maids. “And no one is allowed to come near.”
The door to the Buddhist hall was locked from the outside. Granny Yang unlocked it and helped Consort Song inside.
The Buddhist hall was lit, but it was still very dark. The Buddha statue was hidden behind a curtain, indistinct.
Wen Mingqian was huddled on the prayer mat, appearing thin and pitiful.
“I wonder if you’ve been repenting or making wishes before Buddha these past few days?” Consort Song asked with a smile. “Despite your blood-copying of scriptures, the gods and Buddhas still wouldn’t protect you.”
“You’ve finally arrived,” Wen Mingqian slowly stood up, her complexion a little pale. “It’s really not easy to see you.”
“Don’t worry, I will definitely see you before you die. After all, we have too deep a connection, and I must see you off on your final journey,” Consort Song said with a cheerful mood.
“You’re dressed up tonight, completely unlike your usual self, or perhaps this is your true appearance,” Wen Mingqian sat on the prayer mat and straightened her body, her hair half-loose, obscuring her face.
“Wen Mingqian, I know you hate me, but who told you you were less skilled? We knew each other for a while, I advise you to be more discerning when you reincarnate.”
“Song Xiulian, rather than hating you, I have more doubts. The Gong family doesn’t believe me, and I can’t explain myself. But I still want to ask you, why are you so determined to harm me in every way?” Wen Mingqian raised her head, her eyes fixed on Consort Song. “Here before Buddha today, neither of us should lie.”
“Don’t blame the Gong family for not believing you; it’s because you were too proud and stubborn, and didn’t know how to go with the flow. It’s always either the east wind prevailing over the west wind, or the west wind prevailing over the east wind. It was impossible for you and I to be of one mind.” Consort Song was also very direct in her speech now, unlike her pretense before.
“I understand you coveted my position and wanted to take my place. But why did you have to use your own child’s life to harm me every time? I know people’s hearts are wicked, but I didn’t believe they could be so evil as to kill their own children.”
End of the month, vote for tickets~~~
