Shen Feiwan took a deep breath, looked at Xiao Ling, and responded calmly, "I am here. The wind is too strong, and I was afraid it would disturb my husband’s candles, so I closed the door. Everything is fine; you may all disperse."
"If the Eldest Young Mistress needs anything, just call us. We will be right outside the courtyard."
In the dead of night, these maids and servants were quite frightened, but the Marquis Manor had strict rules; someone had to patrol regularly to ensure nothing went wrong.
"You don’t need to stand guard anymore. Go back and rest. Tomorrow morning, the Heir will be laid to rest, and we will need everyone in peak condition to handle the proceedings. If you all look listless, it will bring shame upon the Marquis Manor."
"Understood. We will follow your instructions."
The sound of footsteps outside gradually faded away.
Shen Feiwan looked back and said, "There is a carriage in the backyard that I use for trips outside the manor. The Heir can use it. If anyone stops you for inspection, just say it is the West Courtyard sending goods back to the Shen family."
"Also, we must place something inside the coffin to ensure the weight is consistent; otherwise, it will be discovered before it even leaves the ancestral hall tomorrow."
As she spoke, Shen Feiwan handed over the jade pendant from her waist.
"If you need anything else, just send word to the Shen family. My father has been elderly for many years and long since withdrew from the intrigues of the imperial court. Moreover, the Shen family has married two daughters into the Marquis Manor. Even if there were a desire to betray the Manor, no one would believe the two houses are at odds."
Her words were sincere and her considerations comprehensive.
Xiao Ling took the pendant and looked at her; that single glance felt like an eternity.
"Madam, may I ask a favor of you?"
"Please speak, Heir."
"From this moment on, tell everyone that I am already dead!"
He stepped closer. "Only then can you and I both be protected."
Inhaling the familiar scent of sandalwood upon him, Shen Feiwan felt a moment of dizziness. "Is there someone who wants you dead?"
"Yes."
Shen Feiwan suddenly grasped the implication.
"I cannot return to the Marquis Manor for the next few days. I need to settle some affairs."
"Very well. I understand."
Shen Feiwan watched him leave, then turned and closed the door, leaving not a sliver of space.
Xiao Ling gazed at that door, his eyes dark and profound. He silently swore to himself that if he survived this trial, he would never fail her.
...
Fortunately, with Shen Feiwan’s carriage and the full support of the Shen family, he was able to escape the Yongan Marquis Manor smoothly.
The following days were calm. They assumed he had long since died in the coffin, having only arranged a few secret guards outside the Yongan Marquis Manor. Before those guards could even move, they were dealt with by Xiao Ling’s men.
Xiao Ling lived under an assumed name outside the city. After some investigation and deployment, he watched the corpses being pulled from outside the city, his eyes beneath his mask growing even more ruthless.
"Master, we have news."
"On the battlefield, the last person to see the coffin was the Third Master."
Xiao Nian'an?
Xiao Ling’s hand tightened into a fist. So, his own brother had identified him as a dead man?
In that instant, Xiao Ling found his life so detestable and absurd. Even a brother born of the same mother wanted him dead. To put on a show, Xiao Nian'an had even traveled thousands of miles to bring his coffin back so he could be buried in the Marquis Manor cemetery. If not for Shen Feiwan, he would have been buried alive by his own kin.
In the distance, the Marquis Manor’s funeral procession approached. He saw his own name written there, and he saw Shen Feiwan at the very front of the line. Her face was haggard and pale, covered in tears.
"Master, you should hide." His subordinate urged him again, pulling him to the back.
Xiao Ling continued to watch the funeral procession of the Marquis Manor... his heart grew colder by the moment.
During the burial, the palace specifically sent people to observe. The official was quite dissatisfied to see that it was an empty coffin burial.
"This is the Emperor’s decree. Why does your Marquis Manor not comply?"
The crowd dared not speak.
Shen Feiwan stepped forward first. "The abbot at Lingshan Temple cast a divination for the Heir. Having died for his country, his sacrifice is noble. To ensure peace on the borders, he must be buried after the fifteenth; otherwise, the people of Da Qi will suffer."
Shen Feiwan dared to say anything!
The official turned pale with fright. But he dared not call her a liar—what if... what if it truly harmed the nation’s foundation? Who could bear that responsibility?
Shen Feiwan spoke, looking at the other party with such composure. "If you doubt this, would you like to take the trouble, my lord, to go to Lingshan Temple and ask Master Fan yourself?"
"No, that will not be necessary. I shall return to the palace to report!"
Watching them leave, Shen Feiwan felt a surge of relief. If she hadn't anticipated this earlier, she wouldn't have known what to do! The coffin of the Marquis Manor was empty, after all!
"Continue."
Shen Feiwan hugged Xiao Ling’s armor, praying silently that he would be safe and sound.
...
When the group returned to the Marquis Manor, Madam She ordered the white mourning silks to be taken down and dismissed everyone back to their courtyards.
Shen Feiwan, dressed in plain clothes, took her two foster daughters back to the West Courtyard. She arranged for Xiao Zhizhi and Xiao Yanran to stay in the side chambers. They were still young, so she assigned an elderly nanny to serve each of them, along with two maids to attend to their needs. She would observe their character before deciding their future.
Having chosen them, Shen Feiwan was confident in her ability to mold them well. She specifically arranged for Mother Meng, the most experienced woman in the manor, to instruct them.
"Mother, teach them strictly. Teach them to be as refined as the status of this manor demands. If one day they cannot bear it, I will arrange for homes and servants to send them out of the manor to live out their lives in comfort. But at that point, they will no longer be my daughters. Do you understand?"
"However, if they can endure the hardship, yet shame the Manor in public, Mother Meng, not only will I hold them accountable, but my mother-in-law and husband will as well," Shen Feiwan said with firm resolve, using both kindness and authority. "If you teach them well, they will never forget your kindness once they achieve greatness."
Mother Meng was a woman who had seen great storms, having served even the imperial concubines. Witnessing Shen Feiwan’s demeanor today, she was moved; the Shen family had truly raised a fine daughter. She had the presence of a matriarch, even surpassing the Madam She of yesteryear. Raising these two girls under her wing would surely lead to a bright future.
"Rest assured, this servant will do her utmost." Mother Meng bowed, accepting the task.
Xiao Zhizhi and Xiao Yanran bowed obediently, mimicking the posture.
"Thank you, Mother!" the two little girls said in unison, and as Yanran spoke, she imitated her sister Zhizhi, looking truly adorable. Although they were young, they were now the eldest daughters of the Marquis Manor; such honor meant they would have to learn well!
Shen Feiwan hummed in acknowledgment, her gaze resting on them for a long time. The depth in her eyes slowly dissipated, leaving her true thoughts unreadable.
After a long while, she finally said, "Daughters are better—gentle and obedient."
Thinking of those two wayward sons, Shen Feiwan curled her lips in satisfaction and patted the children’s little faces. "Do you like osmanthus cake?"
The two girls’ eyes lit up. "We do."
Compared to the West Courtyard, the residence of Xiao Nian'an on the other side was deathly quiet.