There was an endless stream of people who came to express their condolences, most of them coming for Marquis Tiedan. There were countless people who came to visit, some whom they knew, some they didn't know, and people who had connections with them.
For a time, there was a lot of traffic in front of the Hou Mansion, and it was very lively.
The whole government was extremely busy, and people fell ill one after another. Bai, the eldest wife of the second wife, was the first to fall ill.
Ever since she started helping to manage Zhongfu, the biggest thing in the house has been Guo's funeral. Although Cui has the whole story, Cui is old and can't do it herself, so all the big and small matters in the house fall on Bai.
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If the fourth wife's wife was healthy, she would be a helper. Unfortunately, Mrs. Tian was still pregnant, so she had to avoid anything related to the funeral, so she was left in peace.
Ms. Bai not only wanted to run things smoothly and let everyone see her ability in managing the household and employing people, but she also wanted to monopolize the power and do everything by herself. As a result, she was exhausted.
Fortunately, all the guests have been entertained. Tomorrow is the day of Guo's funeral. After everyone is buried, it will be done.
But no one expected that something would happen the night before Guo's burial.
The errand of keeping a wake is mostly done by juniors, relatives and friends.
The Li family is a large family. During the day, a few juniors guard the house to show their filial piety. At night, most of the servants guard the house. The masters cannot really be allowed to stay in the mourning hall all night.
On the last day, Li Zhaoer didn't know what she had done, so she insisted on keeping watch on her own. Others tried to persuade her, but she didn't listen. She only said that Guo had not fulfilled her filial duty during her lifetime, so she would stay for the last night anyway.
Guard.
"Maybe when I fall asleep at night, I can see my mother."
Seeing that she was stubborn, everyone could not persuade her any more, so they could only tell the servants to take good care of Li Zhaoer.
"My eldest sister usually talks about filial piety very freely. Now on this last night, why don't you come over and accompany your sister?"
Li Maner sneered secretly, saying to her heart that you want me to accompany your mother!
"Okay! This is your duty as a child." Li Man'er agreed immediately, which surprised Li Zhaoer.
Could it be that she knows my plan?
Absolutely impossible!
Li Zhaoer was full of confidence. Only she and another person knew about this matter, and that person would never tip off Li Maner.
"Okay, I'll wait for eldest sister."
Li Man'er returned to Qingpingxuan, washed up, and changed back into plain clothes.
The weather was very hot, and Guo's body was somewhat decayed and had a peculiar smell.
Fortunately, she brought a medicine bag with her. Although she suffered a certain amount of pain, her body was not tainted with much corpse stench.
Staying with the corpse, it was summer again, and she was afraid that she would catch some disease and contract the epidemic again, so she quickly had someone boil the medicine and give a bowl to everyone who had been in the mourning hall.
I don't know how these words reached Li Zhaoer's ears. She was naturally displeased, but she just snorted coldly and said nothing more.
The servants thought it was strange, but when they thought that the second girl had suffered a lot under the hands of the eldest girl, and now she had lost her blessing, she must have grown up overnight, so they didn't say anything.
After a hasty meal, Li Man'er went to watch the vigil.
Li Zhaoer was already guarding the mourning hall, and beside her was a maidservant and a rough lady.
"Big sister is here." Her attitude was actually quite good. I don't know why, but her face didn't show the same expression of hatred as before.
Zi Yan felt furious in her heart, inexplicably feeling that such a second girl was even more terrifying.
Li Man'er didn't think so, "Here we come."
Zi Yan quickly brought over a futon for Li Man'er to sit on, and brought over a charcoal brazier for her to burn paper.
Li Zhaoer frowned, "Why don't you kneel down, eldest sister?"
"Why should I kneel?" Li Man'er said frankly, "I usually just show off to outsiders, but why should I pretend to do it in front of my own family? My knees are not that soft, and your mother is not worthy either.
.”
"You..." Li Zhaoer was angry, then smiled, and then sneered, "Finally, I stopped pretending."
Li Man'er's eyes were cold, "When have I ever pretended? I just don't want to make everyone look bad. After all, the dead person is the most important, and your mother's reputation will be ruined. What's wrong with that?"
Li Zhaoer was shaking with anger, but there was nothing she could do about Li Maner. It was not the time for an attack yet, so she could only endure it.
Zi Yan saw that the old woman seemed to be pulling Li Zhaoer gently from behind, as if she didn't want her to have a dispute with the older girl.
Can a mother-in-law be the master of Li Zhaoer? Could it be that I am dazzled?
Looking for an opportunity, Zi Yan secretly told Li Man'er about this matter.
Li Maner chuckled lightly and told her not to worry.
This is nothing like her girl, but very much like her girl.
It was late at night, and the lights in the mourning hall were brightly lit.
The lanterns in the corridor swayed gently, and the candles on the stands swayed slightly, as if they were silently telling distant stories.
Somehow, the wind suddenly picked up in the yard, blowing the ashes in the charcoal basin everywhere.
Zi Yan was still dozing off, but for some reason, she suddenly felt cold and woke up with a shiver.
"Girl." She leaned next to Li Man'er and felt that the hairs all over her body stood up.
"Don't be afraid, it's okay."
However, Li Zhaoer gloated and said: "I don't usually do bad things, and I'm not afraid of ghosts knocking on the door in the middle of the night. The attitude of your master and servant is very much like you have done something bad."
"Second sister knows her so well. Could it be that she has done a lot of bad things, so she can see it at a glance?"
"You..." Li Zhaoer was furious. She was no match for Li Maner in a verbal spat.
The maidservant who followed Li Zhaoer couldn't see it and said worriedly: "Why should a big girl be so aggressive? It's when we girls are sad."
Li Man'er looked at the maid with high regard. No one in the whole house knew her name, but they still had the courage to say this. She really thought about Li Zhaoer.
According to Li Zhaoer's temper in the past, he was afraid that the retaliation would be a slap and vent his anger on the maid, but this time, she was actually indifferent, as if she didn't hear anything at all.
It seems that Li Zhaoer wants to take action tonight.
Without further ado, the mourning hall was silent for a moment.
Li Zhaoer threw paper money into the charcoal basin and said while throwing it: "You have not been protected by your mother since you were a child, but I envy you very much."
"Why?"
"Your maternal grandfather's family is the prominent Ning family in Jiangnan. Even though your mother is gone, she still treats you like jewels. You still have a good marriage. If you marry into the Tong family, your life will be worry-free. Although I have
My mother is protecting me, but my grandfather’s family can’t do much to help. They all rely on my mother and younger brother to suck our blood.”
"I'm jealous that you're beautiful, and I'm jealous that you're rich."
Li Man'er shook his head, "Your thinking is too superficial."
This seemed to be the first time the two sisters spoke calmly.