Chapter 56: The Loss of Virtue is a Matter of Grave Importance

Chapter 56: The Loss of Virtue is a Matter of Utmost Gravity

Naturally, such practices belonged to families with some means.

When someone passed away, every day the body remained unburied meant another day of expenses. Many impoverished families could not afford to observe all those elaborate rituals; after barely stretching the mourning period to three days, they would hurriedly bury their dead.

Some even worse off simply chose to go to the "cremation grounds."

The so-called "cremation grounds" were designated places for burning corpses situated on the outskirts of the city.

If they were to follow custom and lay the deceased to rest in the earth with peace, a family would have to bury some accompanying funerary objects to maintain a decent appearance. However, impoverished families often struggled to secure their next meal, and their clothes barely covered their bodies—what could they possibly find to use as burial goods?

Thus, a simple cremation settled the matter and saved a lot of trouble.

Although the Dayuan Dynasty strictly prohibited the burning of corpses, almost all impoverished families resorted to this method. Since the law could not punish everyone at once, the authorities simply turned a blind eye.

At this moment, Madam Ding was once again prostrate on the ground, wailing loudly. With every sob, she uttered a line of mourning, her cadence structured and practiced.

Hearing the endless praises coming from those all around, Yunjiao let out a cold, disdainful snort. While the old woman was still alive, this daughter-in-law had never shown an ounce of filial piety, spending all day jumping up and down and cursing without rest. Yet now that the woman was dead, she had suddenly transformed into a dutiful wife, putting on quite a convincing act.

"Little aunt, would it be all right if I slept with Yunjiao tonight?" Ji Yaru squeezed her way forward and clutched Qian Fangguan's arm.

Qian Fangguan did not speak immediately; she turned her head to look at Yunjiao.

She knew her daughter disliked sharing a bed with others.

"Alright," Yunjiao smiled and agreed.

She had things she wanted to discuss with her older cousin.

In the main hall, several mourners, the two uncles, and the brothers-in-law were gathered together to discuss who would stay behind to keep vigil tonight.

Since it was a seven-day vigil, they had to divide the labor and take turns.

Once they reached an agreement, aside from those assigned to watch over the bier that night, the rest dispersed to rest in their respective courtyards.

Yunjiao led Ji Yaru, while Jianjia walked ahead holding a white paper-covered lantern—tradition dictated that only such lanterns could be used during a household mourning.

Behind them followed Mulin and Huang, and the group headed toward the Xixia Courtyard.

As they drew closer to the courtyard gate, Ji Yaru grew panicked, clutching Yunjiao's arm tightly.

"Sister, what is wrong?" Yunjiao asked, puzzled.

"Yunjiao, look, that courtyard is pitch-black. I'm scared." Ji Yaru stopped in her tracks and refused to go further.

Yunjiao could not understand: "What is there to be afraid of?"

"We'll have to pass grandmother's room shortly..." The more Ji Yaru thought about it, the more terrified she became.

"What's so frightening about that?" Realizing that the mention of her grandmother made Ji Yaru afraid to enter the courtyard, Yunjiao gently consoled her, "If ghosts truly existed in this world, grandmother would never harm you or me. You... um..."

Before she could finish, Ji Yaru clamped a hand over her mouth.

"Don't say that word..." She looked around in terror.

"If sister is truly terrified, you can go and sleep with the fourth aunt," Yunjiao said with a hint of helplessness.

She truly could not understand what was so terrifying about her own grandmother.

"Come with me," Ji Yaru pulled her along, reaching out toward Jianjia, "Give me the lantern. Your cousin and I are going to the back to talk about something."

She had questions in mind and intended to ask Yunjiao before going to sleep in her mother's quarters.

Jianjia, however, gripped the handle of the lantern tightly and refused to let go. She was already feeling somewhat jittery, and after hearing the visiting cousin's words, she was even more frightened. How could she bear to put down the lantern?

Stammering, she looked at Yunjiao: "Mistress..."

Knowing that Jianjia was timid, Yunjiao pulled Ji Yaru along and said, "Sister, let's walk toward the lit areas; we won't need a lantern there."

Because of the household mourning, the courtyard lights were not allowed to be extinguished at night. Consequently, throughout the Qian residence at this hour, lanterns were hung at regular intervals to illuminate the paths.

Ji Yaru did not force the issue. She pulled Yunjiao back a few paces, then turned her head to instruct, "Jianjia, wait right here."

With that, she dragged Yunjiao several yards away before finally coming to a stop.

Glancing back, she saw that Jianjia and the others were still standing in the same spot, definitely out of earshot. They were also some distance away from the Xixia Courtyard, making her feel much less fearful.

Only then did she lower her voice and say, "Yunjiao, the only reason I want to sleep with you tonight is to ask you... what are your thoughts on our eldest cousin's situation?"

"I was just thinking of discussing this with you tonight, sister," Yunjiao said, taking her hand. "Sister, this matter can be large or small; it all depends on a single thought from us."

"I've thought about it for a long time, and I feel that a woman shouldn't have to endure such things. Should we..." Ji Yaru hesitated.

"If sister were bound to a husband like Shen Changdong, what would you do?" Yunjiao asked softly.

"This..." Ji Yaru bit her lip. "What do you mean?"

"Shen Changdong has committed countless evils," Yunjiao continued. "To say nothing else, the mere fact that he crushed grandmother's leg is unforgivable. That our cousin could let him live is already an act of extreme leniency."

"What?" Ji Yaru gasped in shock. "You're saying grandmother's leg was crushed by him?"

"Yes." Yunjiao proceeded to recount all of Shen Changdong's misdeeds one by one, concluding with, "He even schemed to enter my room, attempting to molest me. Fortunately, Jianjia arrived in time, allowing me to escape.

A beast like that deserves to die a thousand deaths. Now that he is crippled, he has only met the fate he deserves—in fact, it's far more satisfying than if he had simply died.

Our cousin merely spoke privately with that man and did nothing illicit with him. What wrong has she committed?"

"He tried to molest you too?" Ji Yaru gnashed her teeth. "That animal! Do you know why I never came back after visiting the year before last?"

"Why?" Yunjiao asked aloud, though she had already guessed seven or eight parts of it in her heart.

Ji Yaru detailed the inside story.

It turned out that in the autumn of the year before last, her second uncle went to the imperial capital to collect debts, and she had tagged along to visit her maternal grandmother.

Laizhou was a great distance from the capital, and since she rarely visited, her grandmother naturally kept her for a short stay.

Shen Changdong spent his days indulging in wine and women, staying out all night, and even when he did return, he slept in the concubines' quarters.

Qian Xianglan was left to spend every single night alone in an empty room.

After Ji Yaru arrived, seeing that she was by herself, Qian Xianglan invited her to share her bedchamber.

The first three to five days passed peacefully.

Then, early one morning before she was fully awake, she heard some rustling by the window behind the bed. Coupled with the fact that daylight was already streaming in, she woke up.

She heard Qian Xianglan and her maid outside in the courtyard, seemingly washing up.

Just as she was about to get up, she saw Shen Changdong emerge from behind the bed and stand right beside it. She was naturally frightened out of her wits, trembling so badly she could not even speak.

Seeing that she was awake, Shen Changdong's eyes flashed with an eerie light, and he actually reached out to pull back her quilt.

Clutching the corner of the blanket for dear life, she stammered in panic, "Brother-in-law, if you don't let go right now, I'm going to scream! My cousin is right out in the courtyard."

Hesitating for a moment, Shen Changdong finally released his grip and leaped out through the back window.

Ji Yaru had been scared out of her soul. Ashamed to speak of the incident to anyone, she simply insisted on returning home.

No matter how her grandmother and Qian Xianglan tried to persuade her to stay, she refused.

Helpless, her grandmother could only arrange for an escort to send her back home.

Hearing this, Yunjiao was not overly surprised. "Sister, since this happened, why were you still planning to spread word of our cousin's affair and protect that beast?"

"Why would I protect him?" Ji Yaru spat in disgust. "It's just that I always believed a woman must maintain her chastity. No matter how wicked Shen Changdong is, our cousin shouldn't... shouldn't cheapen herself like that. The loss of virtue is a matter of utmost gravity..."