Later, the King of Dingnan did indeed send people to find the graves of Eunuch Changshou's parents and had them renovated, though this is a story for another time.
As the New Year was approaching, all the households were busy, and the palace did not host a dinner.
Wang Qingyao and Feng Jiangduo returned to the Ding'an Prince's manor and were called by the Old Dowager to have dinner together. After the meal, she inquired about what had been discussed in the palace and if anything had happened.
Wang Qingyao recounted everything, and the Old Dowager nodded with reassurance.
Xiao Yun had not taken time off; he had gone to the Ministry of Revenue not long after Wang Qingyao entered the palace. With only a few days left until the eight-day New Year holiday, an extra day wouldn't matter. After all, he was acting as the Minister of Revenue.
He was only acting, but since the Emperor hadn't appointed anyone else for so long, he had to continue his "acting" duties day by day. Fortunately, with Xiao Mo's help, it wasn't too strenuous.
However, Xiao Mo had been busy with the Xiao family's year-end business summary lately, leaving him with little free time, which made Xiao Yun somewhat bored.
It was the end of the year, and departments were either having banquets or year-end summaries. The subordinates reported to him on the Ministry of Revenue's performance for the year and their outlook for the next. As the Minister of Revenue, he naturally had to display some superior demeanor. With a wave of his hand, he booked two private rooms at Xinghua Tower and invited officials of all ranks from the Ministry of Revenue to a banquet.
Wang Da, as the Vice Minister of Revenue, was naturally among them.
However, since Madam Bai had just passed away, even if there were hidden circumstances, he had to put on a show and present himself as a devoted person.
Yet, he was unwilling to give up the excellent opportunity to strengthen his ties with the Prince of Ding'an. So, through Old Madam Wang, he invited Wang Qingyao and Xiao Yun to the Wang family for dinner the next day, and to pay respects to Madam Bai and Wang Qinglin.
With the passing of his elder brother's wife and his cousin, Wang Qingyao felt it was her duty to offer incense. She had originally planned to go after the New Year, but since Old Madam Wang had extended the invitation, she went with Xiao Yun the following afternoon.
The Old Dowager had sent the New Year gifts to the Wang family early on. This time, Wang Qingyao and Xiao Yun brought only simple gifts.
Upon entering, Old Madam Wang tearfully lamented the tragic fate of Madam Bai and Wang Qinglin, who had passed away young and gone to the underworld, leaving her to mourn her children. Wang Qingzhen and Bai Junya, attending to her, wiped their eyes upon hearing her words.
Old Madam Wang stroked Wang Qingzhen's hand and said sentimentally, "You and your elder sister always had the best relationship."
The grandmother and granddaughter, with tear-filled eyes, put on a masterful performance.
It was Bai Junya who then said, "The Princess and the Prince are here. Grandmother, your health is important, don't be too sad." Only then did the two of them stop their tears.
Wang Qingyao had assumed that the memorial tablets of Madam Bai and Wang Qinglin were placed in the Wang family's ancestral hall. To her surprise, the group escorted her and Xiao Yun to a somewhat dilapidated side room next to the ancestral hall.
Wang Qingyao showed a look of confusion.
Wang Da explained, "I consulted a master. The master said that Lin'er and her mother had difficult lives and died restlessly in this life. They need to have their memorial tablets enshrined in a temple with eternal lamps. After the New Year, we will choose a good day to send the tablets there. That's why their tablets are temporarily placed here."
At first glance, the words seemed somewhat reasonable, but upon closer consideration, they were full of flaws.
Wang Da assumed that Wang Qingyao and Xiao Yun were unaware of Madam Bai's actions and thus tried to deceive them with these words.
However, even if Wang Qingyao and Xiao Yun knew, they wouldn't say anything. It had nothing to do with them, and the mother and daughter's memorial tablets could be placed wherever they pleased.
Later, Bai Junya informed Wang Qingyao that Wang Da and Old Madam Wang, resentful of Madam Bai's infidelity, refused to bury her in the ancestral grave. Using the words of some master, they buried her with Wang Qinglin, who had not yet married.
Since unmarried women were not allowed in the ancestral grave, Madam Bai and Wang Qinglin, buried together, were naturally excluded from the ancestral grave.
However, Wang Da and Old Madam Wang felt this was not enough and refused to place their memorial tablets in the ancestral hall even after their deaths.
Wang Qingyao's gaze inadvertently fell on Wang Zijing. His face was solemn, his eyes complex and suppressed.
Ah, this poor child.
Wang Qingyao and Xiao Yun offered three sticks of incense to Madam Bai and Wang Qinglin, thus completing the memorial rites.
They were then escorted to the flower hall for dinner.
In ancient times, it was customary to remain silent during meals and before sleep. While dining at a restaurant might not have such strict rules, at home, with elders present, the younger generation was less at ease.
Wang Qingyao had little to discuss with them and focused on her meal.
Xiao Yun knew her preferences and served her dishes, much to the surprise of everyone at the table.
After dinner, Wang Da and Wang Zijing took Xiao Yun to the study under the pretense of discussing official matters. Wang Qingyao and the other women stayed in the side hall to chat with Old Madam Wang.
During dinner, the cousin Han Suqin was absent, likely because Xiao Yun, an outsider male, was present, making her appearance inconvenient. Now that only women were present, she reappeared from somewhere and naturally sat beside Old Madam Wang.
Wang Qingzhen cast an unfriendly glance at her and squeezed closer to the Old Madam. Bai Junya, unconcerned, voluntarily gave up her seat.
Old Madam Wang knew that Wang Qingyao had just returned from Yunnan and Guizhou, so she asked a few perfunctory, irrelevant questions, to which Wang Qingyao replied casually.
Then, Old Madam Wang changed the topic and asked a question that concerned most married women.