Ban Shuyun had been ill for a long time, and all the necessary items for a funeral had long been prepared.
Madam Ban had brought few servants with her this time, but they were all capable. Under Yan Qing's direction, the mourning hall was quickly set up, and white banners and lanterns were hung at the entrance.
Not many people came to pay their respects. Madam Ban recalled the constant stream of guests when Earl Pingning passed away, and looking at the deserted mourning hall, she couldn't help but weep even more sorrowfully.
Her elder brother had also been a young genius, passing the imperial examinations and entering officialdom at a tender age. He had made many friends in the capital, yet his death was so lonely.
She wondered how he had lived all these years.
Ban Shuyun arrived at noon, but Ban Shuyue's wife arrived the following morning, late and hesitant. Although she was dressed in black, the fabric was of good quality, which did not align with the description of a tofu seller's daughter at all.
Even Madam Ban, with her swollen eyes from crying, noticed something was amiss. However, when she met Ban Shuyue's ingratiating and awkward smile, and saw her sister-in-law's smiling face, with the three children standing obediently to the side, she swallowed the questions that were on the tip of her tongue.
Liang Lanlan dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief. "Sister, I was negotiating business outside the city yesterday and only learned of Uncle's passing when I returned. This place, Lingnan, is so exhausting. How old was Uncle? If he had stayed in the capital, he wouldn't have died so young... *sob sob sob*."
She wept bitterly and then led the children to offer incense to Ban Shuyun. Afterward, she had them call Madam Ban "Auntie." Seizing the opportunity, she praised Madam Ban for maintaining her appearance and then touched her own face with a sigh. "I am several years younger than you, Sister, yet I look more than ten years older. I fear I will not escape premature aging even if I don't die young. And look at Shuyue, alas, Lingnan is truly not fit for habitation. How wonderful it would be to return to the capital."
Madam Ban understood her meaning but did not respond.
Liang Lanlan was somewhat disappointed, but her enthusiasm remained undiminished. After weeping before the mourning hall, she invited Madam Ban to stay at the Liang family's residence.
"Sister, although Uncle's house has been renovated, it's still too small. You've brought so many people; I'm afraid it won't be spacious enough. Why don't you come to my home?"
"It's alright, I want to stay with my elder brother for a few days. As for the servants, I've already booked rooms at an inn."
Though Lingnan was a place of exile, it was quite complete in its amenities.
Liang Lanlan, with tears streaming down her face, said, "Shuyue was right, Sister is truly affectionate. I'm just worried that the mourning hall will be noisy at night and disturb your rest."
Madam Ban still shook her head, refusing her kind offer. "Let's talk about it after my brother is buried."
Madam Ban also feared that repeatedly refusing would make her sister-in-law think too much. She asked Qiangwei to bring out the gifts she had prepared for them. The Liang family clearly was not lacking in money. Although the children were dressed in black, the patterns embroidered on their clothes were quite exquisite.
However, when they saw the gifts Madam Ban had brought, their eyes lit up. The most eye-catching were naturally those from Lu Nianfu. Items from the palace were highly sought after even in the capital, let alone in remote Lingnan.
Liang Lanlan's smile became even more sincere.
Ban Shuyue's cheeks, however, burned red with shame, and he dared not look his sister in the eye.
"Alright, Lanlan, Sister has had a tiring day. Don't disturb her rest anymore."
"Yes, yes, Sister. Sister-in-law understands you are sad, but the deceased is gone, and we who are living must move forward. Uncle, if he had spirit in heaven, would not wish for you to ruin your health by crying."
After her earnest admonishments, she led the children away.
Before she could ask, Ban Shuyue knelt before her.
Madam Ban was startled. "What are you doing?"
Ban Shuyue said with shame, "Sister, I lied to you. Liang Lanlan is not a tofu seller's daughter at all. Her family are local power brokers in Lingnan."
Local power brokers? This explanation confused Madam Ban even further. Yan Qing explained, "There are many exiles in Lingnan, but they are of different ranks. The Liang family has likely accumulated their influence over generations and has become quite well-off."
Ban Shuyue nodded repeatedly. "Brother-in-law is right. In this area, the Liang family is the boss."
"I thought so, their clothes and the children's clothes are not something a tofu seller's family could afford. But I don't understand, what was there to hide?"
"When Mother was ill those years, the money you sent through people was subject to so many cuts that it wasn't enough for Mother's treatment by the time it reached us. The Liang family was looking for a son-in-law for Miss Liang, and by participating, I received money and a meal. So I signed up."
Madam Ban calculated. "You were only 11 years old then, weren't you?"
This... could Miss Liang be a pedophile?