Chapter 733: Lamenting
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Yu Mengxiang was also with him.
On the second day after Old Madam’s death, Yu Mengxiang returned to the Yu Residence to help with her first wife’s funeral. However, she was a daughter who had married out, so she couldn’t stay at her maiden home for dinner or overnight. Every day, she left early and returned late.
As soon as Old Madam Song arrived in front of Old Madam Yu’s altar, she knelt on the meditation cushion and wailed, “My old sister, why did you leave just like that? You’ve been working hard for your children for most of your life, but in the end, you haven’t enjoyed your son’s blessings or seen your granddaughters success. Tell me, what did you gain? Your husband was a wicked rascal. He died early and reincarnated a long time ago, leaving you widowed and your children orphaned. The future of Yu Residence depended on you, a widow. The family was built on your sweat and tears, and all the hard work you put in during your lifetime…”
Yu Zongshen lowered his head. Ever since Old Madam Yu passed away, he had been guarding the altar every day and did not care about anything.
Even when the clan looked for him to discuss something, he only said, “It’s up to you. I’m on break from my duties. I shouldn’t be involved.”
For the first three years of their lives, children stayed by their parents’ sides and had to be protected by them. As such, they should show respect for three years after their parents are gone to repay them.
After pretending to be a filial son, a virtuous husband, and a strict father for more than ten years, he had grown into what his mother wanted him to be like. This was a form of repayment.
He had become the Grand Secretary and shone brightly, letting his mother see the prosperity of the Yu Clan. This was enough to offset the efforts of his widowed mother.
He repaid all her kindness and sacrifices.
Yu Zongzheng was already feeling guilty because of Old Madam’s death. When he heard Old Madam Songs sarcastic words, even his straight back couldn’t help but collapse, and he cowered a little.
Yu Youyao’s eyes also turned red. The reason why Yu Zongzheng and Yu Zongshen could have their current achievements was partly because of her biological mother’s money, but most importantly, it was because of her grandmother’s good reputation.
Be it a divorced woman or a remarried woman, their reputation was ultimately not good. They would also be looked down on and bring shame to the family.
On the contrary, widows who kept their chastity for their husbands would be respected by the world. They were seen as morally upright, and their children were virtuous. No matter where they went, they would be valued.
Even the Imperial Court was willing to put him in an important position.
The Marquis of Zhenguo’s wife quickly went over to help Old Madam Song up. The Clan Chief’s wife also leaned over to persuade her.
Old Madam Song refused to get up and cried in front of Old Madam Yu.
Every word and sentence was filled with Old Madam Yu’s past bitterness from the day she entered the Yu Clan. Behind those glory, there was unknown helplessness and hardship.
It was simply heartbreaking.
Thinking about it, it made sense. In this world where husbands were the most important, how could a widow who had lost her husband have a good life? No one had said anything about it in the past because it was hard to say.
Now that she was gone, what could they not say?
No matter how much the people in the house tried to persuade her, they failed.
In the end, it was the Second Old Madam who came over. Her eyes couldn’t help but turn red as she said, “Madam and our Matriarch have been together for a lifetime. Now that her old sister has left, it’s only human nature for her to feel terrible. Just let her be. It’s better for her to say the things that she’s been holding back for a lifetime.”
Old Madam Song lamented for the time it takes to burn two incense sticks. Later on, even her voice became hoarse. As she cried, she pulled Yu Youyao into her arms. “My good granddaughter, your grandmother has only been gone for a few days, but you’ve already lost weight. In the future, without your grandmother to dote on you, how are you going to live? What a sin. What a good granddaughter. How can your grandmother be so heartless? She closed her eyes and kicked her legs, then she was gone…”
Yu Youyao was 13 years old, which was the age when she should be engaged. Her engagement was delayed because of Precious Peace. However, this did not stop Old Madam Yu from secretly searching and preparing.
She had raised her granddaughter for more than ten years, but her marriage had yet to be arranged. How could Old Madam Yu be at ease?
She did not believe it!
“Grandmother Song, I miss Grandmother so much…” Yu Youyao sobbed. Her forced toughness completely collapsed in Grandmother Songs arms.
In the mourning hall, there was another round of sobbing.
The Zhenguo Marquis Residence was worried about Old Madam Songs health and tried their best to persuade her to leave the mourning hall.
Song Wanhui held Yu Youyao’s hand. “You look so pale. Are you sick? When we entered the residence, we saw your family sending Imperial Physician Hu out.”
No matter who came to pay their respects, they had to arrange for them to rest for ten minutes first. Males and females had to enter the mourning hall separately in order to prevent too many people coming in at once and losing their etiquette.
After their family entered the residence, they waited for the Daoist priest to settle down before inviting them to the mourning hall.
Yu Youyao’s voice was hoarse. “Imperial Physician Hu only said that I’ve been too tired and depressed. He prescribed medicine and asked me to recuperate more in the future. I’ll be fine.’
Song Wanhui looked at her. Her fair hands were so thin that their joints were cracked. “No wonder you’ve lost so much weight. A dead person can’t be revived. Don’t be too sad. You have to take care of your health.”
In the past, Yu Youyao had also been thin. Her body was soft and she looked delicate. However, when she lost weight, she looked weak and sickly.
Yu Youyao nodded.
Seeing that her eyes were swollen, her face was pale, and she looked haggard, Song Wanhui did not know how to persuade her. “I wanted to write to you, but my mother wouldn’t let me. She said that Grandmother Yu has passed away, and your family already has enough to do. She asked me not to cause trouble.”
Yu Youyao said, “The family has been quite busy these past few days. Although there’s the clan’s help, there are many things that still need the family to step
”
Although Madam Yao was also a daughter-in-law, the two families were separated. Old Madam Yu was in the main family so the funeral was mainly organized by the Niain Mansion, with the Second Mansion as support.
There were no elders in the Main Mansion. Not only was she the daughter of the first wife, but she was also her grandmother’s most beloved granddaughter, so she had to step forward.
Next, the Qi Residence also came over.
Just like Old Madam Song, Matriarch Qi knelt in front of Old Madam Yu’s spirit, crying and wailing. After a long time, she was finally persuaded to enter the house.
In the end!
As soon as Matriarch Qi and Old Madam Song met, they hugged each other and cried until they couldn’t get up. It was useless for the daughters-in-law and granddaughters in the house to go over and persuade them.
They knew best how much pain and suffering Old Madam Yu had suffered in her life.
There was a lot of trouble in front of a widow’s door. No matter what she did, there would be people criticizing her.
During the first decade Old Master Yu was gone, as a young daughter-in-law, Old Madam Yu couldn’t even go out. She couldn’t participate in the banquet in the capital.
Even if she went to the temple, she had to find someone to accompany her.
She had to take on the responsibilities of being the “man” of the house and also the wife. However, as a widow, she could not directly do the things that men could. She could only think of ways to scheme and be thorough.
Not everyone was born with a knack for scheming. It was just that they were forced by life to scheme..
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