Greetings, Ninth Uncle

Ch.32 - Mourning Period

Cheng Yujin's steps paused. She immediately recognized this voice as Ruan-shi's. Then, the man just now must be Cheng Yuanhan.

Inside the room, Ruan-shi continued to speak: "It's just that the situation isn't good. Marquis Jingyong is twenty-one. Most men at his age have long hugging their sons. But because of the problem with the marquis title, his marriage has been prolonged. Afterward, he went to the battlefield, and the matter was once again delayed for several years. Originally, we and Huo family has agreed to hold the wedding ceremony in six months, but now we suddenly have to observe the mourning. Why cannot the Old Master wait for another year? Mo'er already has to face a difficult mother-in-law, and now there is this problem. What if she uses this reason to give Marquis Huo concubines?"

Listening to his wife's complaints, Cheng Yuanhan was very puzzled: "How can Huo family dare to? Taking concubines before the main wife entered the gate, won't they afraid of ruining their reputation?"

"Why don't they dare!" Ruan-shi's voice became anxious: "People from reputable families don't accept concubines before taking wife, first is to honor the wife, and second is to prevent the concubines from giving birth to the eldest son. All are to instill the difference between di and shu. But Marquis Jingyong is no longer young. After all, children are important. If the wife still cannot enter the house, even if Marquis Jingyong accepts concubines to give birth to children, others won't criticize. Maybe they will even praise the marquis for respecting his wife and letting her observe her grandfather's mourning in peace."

Cheng Yuanhan fell silent. Ruan-shi pushed further and said: "One full year. If they don't use child avoidance medicine, it's impossible to guarantee that no shu children will be born during this period. If daughters, it still okay. But what if a son born? What should Mo'er do?"

Cheng Yuanhan could no longer rebut. Ruan-shi lowered her voice, and said something. Their conversation gradually became too small. Cheng Yujin had heard enough. She quietly took two steps back, then started to walk again, this time deliberately making her footsteps louder. The couple in the wing thought someone was coming and immediately stopped talking.

After Cheng Yujin entered the main hall, Ruan-shi soon came out of the wing and looked to see who was coming. When she walked in and saw Cheng Yujin, her expression stiffened: "Eldest girl, why are you here?"

"I want to keep the night vigil for grandfather."

"You are a girl. Didn't the Old Madam feel distressed and tell that you and Mo'er don't have to stay up late?"

"Grandmother distressed me. But as a junior, I still have to show my filial piety. Besides, third brother is still so young and already guarding the mourning hall. I'm already fourteen. This is not a big deal."

Ruan-shi couldn't say another word. At this moment, Qingfu and the Old Madam were in the middle of arranging a mourning hall in the front, so the servants were all in chaos. Seeing there was no one in the backyard, Ruan-shi hurriedly pulled Cheng Yuanhan to discuss Mo 'er's marriage. Unexpectedly, someone suddenly came, but it was Cheng Yujin. Ruan-shi couldn't help being a little skeptical, but they stopped talking as soon as they heard the footsteps, so Cheng Yujin shouldn't overhear their conversation. Ruan-shi observed Cheng Yujin's expression. But the girl was no different than usual. She didn't seem to be aware of anything and was busily preparing the night vigil with the servant girls. After standing for a while, Ruan-shi was completely relieved and left the main hall.

After Ruan turned around, Cheng Yujin glanced back, then silently retracted her gaze.

Holding a funeral was a very labor-intensive task. After one night, everyone in Cheng family looked tired. According to rules, children and grandchildren should keep vigil for seven days. However, after it got dark, many of them made some excuses and retired to the side rooms to rest.