Red Mansion: Holding Space and Marrying Like the Sea

One day, while busy with various matters, Fengjie suddenly saw Zhao'er returning. She was worried about Jia Lian, who was away on business, but because there were so many people present, she couldn't ask him about his situation in person. Despite this, her concern lingered.

She had wanted to return to her room earlier to ask Zhao'er for clarification, but she was helpless because of the complicated matters at hand. If she left now, she was afraid that it would delay important matters, cause delays and mistakes, and make her the target of ridicule. So, Fengjie had to suppress her anxiety and continue to work on various matters.

After finally waiting for nightfall and everyone else to disperse, Fengjie hurriedly summoned Zhao'er to the house to answer questions. She eagerly inquired about Jia Lian's safe journey and listened attentively to Zhao'er's recounting of his experiences. Afterward, Fengjie immediately set to work preparing Jia Lian's needs. She first instructed Ping'er to unpack several thick, heavy woolen garments, then she and Ping'er personally checked and sorted the packages, fearing they might have forgotten anything important. Then, Fengjie paused to carefully review what else she might need to bring, and after confirming each item, she confidently packed everything and handed it over to Zhao'er.

Furthermore, Fengjie gave Zhao'er countless instructions, fearing he might neglect his duties while away. She sternly warned him, "You must serve the Second Master diligently and diligently while you're away, and never anger him. You must also constantly persuade the Second Master to drink less, and forbid him to provoke questionable women. If you dare to make the slightest mistake, I'll break your legs when you return!" By the time she finished her instructions, it was nearly four o'clock in the morning. However, despite being exhausted from all this, Fengjie lay down, unable to fall asleep, tossing and turning. Before she knew it, the sound of roosters crowing could be heard outside the window, signaling daybreak.

Fengjie didn't dare delay, hurriedly getting up to wash and dress, then hurried to Ningguo Mansion. Meanwhile, Jia Zhen, seeing the funeral approaching, took the matter very seriously. That day, he personally traveled by carriage with several clerks to Tiekan Temple to inspect the coffin's storage. Arriving at the temple, Jia Zhen patiently instructed the abbot, Sekong, to meticulously prepare fresh furnishings and invite numerous respected monks to chant sutras to ensure the smooth conduct of the coffin-receiving ceremony. Sekong, naturally unwilling to neglect the task, quickly arranged for a sumptuous evening meal to entertain Jia Zhen and the others.

Jia Zhen was so irritated that he had no desire to enjoy his meal. Since it was already dark and the city gates were closed, he couldn't return home. He found a spot in the clean room and rested for the night. The next morning, just as the sky was beginning to turn pale, Jia Zhen hurriedly arose and rushed into the city to begin preparing for the funeral. He also dispatched personnel to Tiekan Temple to refurbish the coffin's resting place under cover of darkness, and to arrange for a kitchen, teahouse, and other necessary supplies for the funeral procession.

Meanwhile, Wang Xifeng, seeing the funeral approaching, pressed for time, dared not slack off, meticulously assigning and handling numerous tasks in advance. On the one hand, she meticulously arranged for the Rongguo Mansion's vehicles, sedan chairs, and servants to accompany Lady Wang to the funeral procession; on the other hand, she also had to personally manage the accommodations she would need for the funeral procession. At this moment, everything was so complicated and overwhelming! It just so happened that the wife of the Duke of Shanguo had unfortunately passed away, and Lady Wang and Lady Xing had to go to offer condolences and attend the funeral. Then came the birthday celebration of the Princess of Xi'an's mansion, so naturally, a generous gift had to be prepared. Furthermore, the wife of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion had given birth to a large, fat boy, and this gift was also absolutely necessary! Furthermore, Wang Xifeng's brother, Wang Ren, had returned to his hometown in the south. She was busy writing letters to her parents to report the situation and carefully considering what to bring back. Furthermore, Yingchun had suddenly fallen ill, and she had to call in doctors every day for treatment. She had to review the doctor's prescriptions, investigate the cause of the illness, and record the medication regimen—a task too complex to detail. Furthermore, the day of the funeral was approaching. With so many complex matters tangled together, Wang Xifeng was completely overwhelmed. She couldn't even find time to drink water or eat, and even sitting or lying down to rest was a luxury. She was constantly busy and restless. No sooner had she arrived at Ningguo Mansion than the Rongguo Mansion's men followed. But when she finally finished her business there and returned to Rongguo Mansion, they were at her door again...

Seeing this, Fengjie was incredibly delighted. Far from shirking her responsibilities, she feared being criticized and criticized. Therefore, she toiled tirelessly day and night, keeping everything organized and rigorous. Because of this, the entire family, from top to bottom, praised her with endless admiration.

On the night of the night of the night, the palace arranged for two small opera troupes and artists performing various acrobatic skills to come to the funeral to entertain the family, friends, and female relatives to accompany the wake. At this time, Youshi was still resting in bed in the inner room, and all social activities and receptions were handled by Fengjie alone.

Although the clan was full of sisters-in-law, some were too shy to speak; some were so timid they didn't know where to put their hands or feet; some were unaccustomed to meeting strangers; and some, even worse, were intimidated by powerful officials. These factors varied, but none could match Fengjie's graceful demeanor, her ease of movement, and her generosity and generosity of speech. Furthermore, Fengjie possessed a broad mind, treated others with kindness and sincerity, and never considered anyone else in her sight. She acted freely, commanding and directing, acting according to her own will, with a completely defiant air.

All night long, the lights were bright and colorful, and guests came and went, welcoming and seeing off guests. The bustling and bustling scene was naturally difficult to describe in words.

As dawn approached, the sky began to brighten as a pale pale shimmered in the east. Just then, the long-awaited auspicious hour finally arrived! A group of sixty-four figures dressed in azure robes slowly approached, their steps in unison and their expressions solemn. The foremost carefully carried a massive memorial banner, inscribed in bold, vigorous characters: "The coffin of the consort of the Duke of Ningguo, the grandson of the Emperor of Heaven, who was granted the title of First-Class, the Forbidden City, and who served as the Imperial Guard of the Imperial Palace, the Dragon Guard, and who lived a long and prosperous life, is here." The furnishings were meticulously crafted, brand new and radiant, each piece gleaming with a dazzling brilliance that was truly dazzling. Each item was meticulously selected and meticulously crafted, each piece boasting the finest materials and craftsmanship.

Looking at Baozhu, although she was still unmarried, she observed the proper etiquette for unmarried women. At the funeral, she personally participated in important rituals such as the wreath-throwing ceremony and the procession of the spirit. Her grief was palpable, and her cries were so heartbreaking that they moved one to tears.

Numerous officials and guests attended the funeral, including Niu Jizong, grandson of Duke Zhenguo Niu Qing and current First-Class Earl; Liu Fang, grandson of Duke Li Liu Biao and current First-Class Viscount; Chen Ruiwen, grandson of Duke Qi Chen Yi and hereditary Third-Rank General Weizhen; Ma Shang, grandson of Duke Zhiguo Ma Kui and hereditary Third-Rank General Weiyuan; and Hou Xiaokang, grandson of Duke Xiuguo Hou Xiaoming and hereditary First-Class Viscount. It's worth noting that although Duke Shang had already passed away, his grandson Shi Guangzhu was unable to attend in person due to mourning. These six families, along with the Ning and Rong families, were collectively known as the "Eight Lords." Their presence undoubtedly added to the solemnity and awe of the funeral.

Besides the aforementioned, those who came to congratulate him included the grandsons of the Prince of Nan'an and Xining. Among them, Shi Ding, the Marquis of Zhongjing, was the grandson of the Marquis of Pingyuan and held the title of Second Class Baron; Xie Jing, the grandson of the Marquis of Dingcheng, also a second-class baron and concurrently a guerrilla commander in the Beijing Camp; Qi Jianhui, the grandson of the Marquis of Xiangyang and a second-class baron; and Qiu Liang, the grandson of the Marquis of Jingtian and a commander of the Five Cities Army. Others included Han Qi, the son of the Earl of Jinxiang; Feng Ziying, the son of the General Shenwu; Chen Yejun; and Wei Ruolan, among many other princes and sons, too numerous to mention.

Looking at the guests, a rough count revealed that there were about ten large sedan chairs and thirty or forty small ones. Furthermore, including the various cars, large and small, belonging to the various households, the total number was no less than a hundred. At the forefront of the procession were various stewards, holding various exhibits, and numerous acrobatic performers. The entire procession marched forward in a mighty procession, stretching for three or four miles. It was truly a bustling and breathtaking spectacle!

Not long into the journey, we came upon a series of colorful tents erected high up on the roadside. Inside these tents, banquets were laid out, beautiful tablecloths were laid out, and melodious music could be heard. It turned out to be roadside offerings held by various families.

The first thing that caught the eye was the solemn and awe-inspiring sacrificial shed of the Prince of Dongping's Palace. Following closely behind was the equally magnificent sacrificial shed of the Prince of Nan'an. Further ahead, the third sacrificial shed of the Prince of Xining was also quite spectacular. Finally, the last was the sacrificial shed of the Prince of Beijing. Of these four princes, the Prince of Beijing was the most accomplished, so much so that his descendants still inherit the title of prince.

The current Prince of Beijing, Shui Rong, is not yet twenty years old, but he has already grown into a handsome and beautiful figure, with a humble and gentle temperament. Recently, upon hearing of the unfortunate passing of the eldest grandson's wife of the Duke of Ning's mansion, Prince of Beijing recalled the deep friendship between their grandfathers, who had shared hardships and prosperity, never letting their different surnames create any barriers between them. Therefore, this time, he did not rely on his royal status to put on airs. Not only did he personally pay his respects a few days ago, but today he also established a roadside memorial service.

Early in the morning, before daybreak, Prince Beijing went to the palace to attend court. After finishing his official duties at court, he quickly changed into plain clothes and boarded a spacious and luxurious sedan chair, which was cleared by gongs and umbrellas. When the sedan chair arrived in front of the sacrificial shed, it slowly lowered and Prince Beijing stepped out. His officials stood on either side, surrounding him and serving him. The surrounding military and civilians were blocked from moving around freely.

At that moment, the grand funeral procession of Ningguo Mansion came like a surging river, sweeping in from the north. Its scale and grandeur were like a heavy silver mountain pressing down on the ground, which made people marvel.

The people in Ningguo Mansion who were responsible for clearing the way and delivering messages had spotted this huge group early on. They did not dare to delay in the slightest and quickly turned their horses around and galloped back like an arrow to report this important situation to Jia Zhen.

Jia Zhen was extremely anxious after learning about this. He knew that this mourner was of noble status and must not be neglected. So he hurriedly ordered the troops in front to stop and camp temporarily, and he, Jia She, and Jia Zheng hurried forward to meet him.

When the two sides were close, Jia Zhen and the others knelt and saluted, following the highest state etiquette. Shui Rong, seated in the sedan chair, also rose slightly, a genial smile on his face, and nodded in return. Despite his high position, he remained humble and courteous, treating everyone with the same camaraderie of generations, without a trace of arrogance or presumption.

Jia Zhen said with deep trepidation, "My daughter-in-law has unfortunately passed away, and we, the younger generation, are truly flattered by your presence in person. We don't know how we can truly deserve this great favor!"

Shui Rong smiled slightly upon hearing this and said comfortingly: "Our two families have been good friends for generations. Why should you be so polite?" After that, he turned around and instructed the chief official beside him to preside over the sacrificial ceremony and offer sacrifices on his behalf.

After Jia She and others had returned the greetings, they turned around again and came to Shui Rong, bowed deeply to express their gratitude and endless gratitude.

Shui Rong has always been a humble and polite person. At this moment, he was seen smiling and asking Jia Zheng in a gentle manner: "I heard that there is a young man in your mansion who was born with a jade in his mouth. I have always been curious and have wanted to meet this extraordinary person several times, but I was always delayed by various complicated trivial matters. I thought that I would be able to get my wish today. I wonder if it would be convenient for you to invite him out so that I can see him?" After hearing what Shui Rong said, Jia Zheng couldn't help but feel happy. He hurriedly bowed and said, "Your Highness, you are too polite! The child is in the mansion. I will call him to meet Your Highness." After that, he hurriedly turned around and left.