The Wei Family’s coffins stretched like a long dragon, occupying the street from one end to the other, seemingly endless.
The coffins of Old General Wei and Old Madam Wei were the first to be carried into the Wei Mansion.
Next were the coffins of General Wei and his wife—Wei Yuan’s father and his legal mother.
Though Wei Yuan was not the eldest legitimate son, his military achievements earned him the first place among the younger generation after the elders’ coffins were carried into the Wei Mansion in order.
However, when Wei Yuan’s coffin was carried to the gate of the Wei Mansion, the bearers suddenly felt it weighed a thousand pounds, unable to move an inch.
“What’s going on? Hurry up and carry it inside.”
The Wei Clan Leader, who was guarding the gate, saw this and quickly descended the steps to question the bearers.
The bearers said, “Master, it’s not that we don’t want to carry it, but the coffin suddenly became so heavy we can’t move it.”
“Nonsense.” The Wei Clan Leader’s face darkened as he shouted, “It was perfectly fine when we entered the capital. How could it suddenly refuse to move? Let me try.”
The Wei Clan Leader stepped forward and took the carrying pole from the bearers.
Once the bearers handed the burden to him, the Wei Clan Leader, caught off guard, was bent over by the weight of the coffin, and one corner of it heavily hit the ground.
With one side down, the others collapsed, and the remaining bearers could no longer withstand the pressure and set the coffin down.
Upon hearing this, Lady Xiang immediately came out of the mansion and saw the Zhu Family’s bridal sedan parked behind Wei Yuan’s coffin.
Her expression changed, and with a stern face, she stepped over the threshold and walked to Wei Yuan’s coffin, saying, “Could it be that Wei Yuan doesn’t want to delay Miss Zhu’s future, so he refuses to enter?”
As she spoke, Lady Xiang moved a few steps toward the bridal sedan. “How about this? First, take the bridal sedan back. After Yuan’er’s funeral is over, we can discuss the marriage between the Wei and Zhu families. Yuan’er, is that what you think too?”
She wept as she asked the coffin.
The Wei Clan Leader immediately stood up and tried to lift the coffin with the bearers again.
Yet, Wei Yuan’s coffin remained motionless, showing no intention of moving.
Seeing this, Lady Xiang’s expression turned grim.
What did Wei Yuan mean by this?
“Miss, Young General Wei’s coffin refuses to enter the gate,” Shui Yao walked to the bridal sedan and said to Zhu Changsheng.
Zhu Changsheng gently touched Wei Yuan’s spirit tablet and said, “Because the auspicious hour for entering the gate is still a quarter away. He doesn’t want me to suffer humiliation from the Wei Clan, so he’s waiting for me here.”
“Carry it! If eight can’t lift it, get ten. If ten can’t, get ten more. I refuse to believe we can’t carry a single coffin,” Lady Xiang shouted angrily, as if in a fit of pique.
Zhu Changsheng chuckled softly and said to the spirit tablet, “Alright, the time has come.”
“The hour has arrived—”
“The groom kicks the sedan to welcome the bride out.”
Fu Xin opened a red oil-paper umbrella and held it in front of the bridal sedan, calling out loudly.
A fierce gust of wind swept through, knocking the bearers off their feet and lifting the sedan curtain.
Through her red veil, Zhu Changsheng faintly saw the ghostly figure standing under the red umbrella.
One end of a red silk ribbon was tied to the red umbrella, while the other end rested in Zhu Changsheng’s hand.
Grasping the ribbon and holding the spirit tablet, Zhu Changsheng stepped out of the bridal sedan.
The eerie, cold wind gradually subsided.
The onlookers among the commoners.
The members of the Wei Clan.
All stared wide-eyed at the bride, the bridal sedan, and the wedding procession.
Lady Xiang was even more astonished that the Zhu Family’s daughter insisted on marrying into the Wei Mansion.
She had never intended to hold the wedding and funeral together, nor had she prepared a wedding hall to welcome the bride.
Sending someone to tell the bride to enter through the side door was merely a show of intimidation.Who would have thought the Zhu family would be so shameless as to silently carry the bridal sedan chair right to the gates of the Wei Mansion, colliding with the coffin of the Wei family’s departed souls.
“Wait.” Lady Xiang blocked Zhu Changsheng’s path, standing in front of her: “The coffins of Old General Wei and General Wei have already been carried inside, but Wei Yuan’s coffin alone refuses to enter the mansion. It seems today’s marriage alliance is something Wei Yuan does not agree with and does not wish to delay Miss Zhu. If you insist on entering the Wei family, then I fear Wei Yuan’s coffin will not be willing to return home.”
“Lady Xiang, you speak with such boldness,” Zhu Changsheng said with a sarcastic tone. “Why couldn’t it be that Young General Wei wishes to personally welcome his bride and that is why he refuses to enter the mansion!”
As soon as these words were spoken, a chill ran down everyone’s spine.
Lady Xiang also instinctively glanced back at the coffin behind her, her scalp tingling with unease. She snapped angrily, “Nonsense.”
“Whether it’s nonsense or not, you’ll see for yourself. I will handle what comes next. Fu Xin, place the umbrella on the coffin. Bear the coffin!”
“Bear the coffin—” Steward Feng of the Zhu family shouted loudly.
The coffin bearers lifted the poles once more, only to find the coffin as light as a feather, effortlessly raising Wei Yuan’s coffin.
Lady Xiang could not believe her eyes.
Just as she was about to step toward the coffin, she was roughly shoved aside by someone behind her.
She stumbled into the crowd, and when she turned to look at Zhu Changsheng and Wei Yuan’s coffin, she saw the red silk ribbon in Zhu Changsheng’s hand connected to the coffin. One end of the ribbon was tied to the umbrella handle, while the umbrella stood steadily and diagonally on the coffin’s surface. The decorative tassel in the middle swayed left and right in mid-air, sending shivers down Lady Xiang’s spine.
It was like seeing a ghost!
“Set it down.”
Wei Yuan’s coffin came to a stop before the spirit hall. Zhu Changsheng stood beside it, while Steward Feng acted as the wedding officiant, loudly announcing, “First bow to heaven and earth.”
Zhu Changsheng turned to face heaven and earth, and the soul beneath the umbrella bowed alongside her.
“Second bow to the elders.”
Zhu Changsheng faced the spirit hall and bowed toward the coffins of the Wei family elders.
“Husband and wife bow to each other.”
The wind gently lifted Zhu Changsheng’s red veil.
Zhu Changsheng shifted her feet to face Wei Yuan’s coffin and performed the final bow.
At that moment, Lady Xiang rushed into the spirit hall and tore off Zhu Changsheng’s red veil, immediately pointing at her and screaming in shock, “You are not Zhu Yuanshu! Someone, come quickly! Something terrible has happened! This is the Zhu family’s jinx, the Celestial Lone Baleful Star who afflicts her father, mother, and all six relatives. She will bring ruin to our entire Wei clan! Quick, drive her back to the Zhu family, hurry—”
She shouted while retreating, avoiding Zhu Changsheng as if she were a wild beast.
The scene descended into chaos in an instant.
The Wei Clan Leader stepped forward, scrutinizing Zhu Changsheng from head to toe. “Who are you? Why are you impersonating the Zhu family’s eldest daughter to marry into the Wei Mansion? What is your purpose?”
As soon as his words fell, a voice from outside the courtyard announced, “Concubine of Prince Jing has arrived—”
Zhu Changsheng calmly picked up the red veil that Lady Xiang had torn off and thrown to the ground.
Just then, Zhu Yuanshu, adorned in gold and silver, hurried into the Wei family mansion.
The people following her quickly closed the Wei family gates, driving away the onlookers among the commoners.
Seeing Zhu Yuanshu appear at the Wei family as the Concubine of Prince Jing, Lady Xiang hurried forward and asked, “Yuan Shu, you…”
“Lady Xiang, as you can see, I am now the Concubine of His Highness Prince Jing, personally chosen by His Highness. As for my elder sister…”Zhu Yuanshu looked towards Zhu Changsheng standing beside the coffin, her red lips curling into a smile: “She is indeed the legitimate eldest daughter of our Zhu family. When Lady Xiang visited our mansion earlier, my mother must have already introduced my elder sister’s identity to you. And today, the one to marry Wei Yuan is indeed my elder sister.”
“No—” Lady Xiang did not agree to Zhu Changsheng marrying into the Wei Mansion.
Zhu Yuanshu turned her head and stared at Lady Xiang: “I am now the Concubine of Prince Jing. Does Lady Xiang intend to defy His Highness Prince Jing and force me to marry Wei Yuan again?”
No, no! How could she dare to compete with Prince Jing for someone? But she also did not want Zhu Changsheng, this jinx.
“Zhu Changsheng cannot marry Wei Yuan.” Lady Xiang turned to look at Zhu Changsheng, her eyes filled with disgust and contempt.
Zhu Changsheng slightly raised her head and said: “I am marrying Wei Yuan by imperial decree. Does Lady Xiang intend to defy the imperial decree?”
Lady Xiang’s face instantly changed color. She called for someone to bring the imperial decree again and carefully read its contents.
The imperial decree stated: [“The legitimate eldest daughter of the Zhu family, Zhu Li, and the eldest son of the Wei family’s concubine line, Wei Yuan… are to be married.”]
“The name Zhu Li was given by my father based on my Birth Eight Characters. The identity and name on the imperial decree of marriage are indeed mine. Does Lady Xiang still have any doubts?”
Zhu Changsheng spoke to explain.
Zhu Li was another name for Zhu Yuanshu, chosen according to her five elements.
However, since Zhu Yuanshu had taken her name Zhu You, Zhu Li then became another name for Zhu Changsheng.
Zhu Yuanshu was very satisfied with what Zhu Changsheng said, but she still had a great gift to give to Zhu Changsheng.
“Why must Lady Xiang dwell on whether my elder sister is the legitimate eldest daughter of the Zhu family?” She walked down the steps towards the spirit hall: “My elder sister is deeply devoted to Young General Wei. Knowing that Young General Wei has already died in battle, she still resolutely holds his spirit tablet and marries into the Wei Mansion. After the ceremony, my elder sister will dash her head against Young General Wei’s coffin and follow Young General Wei to the underworld.”
A flash of inspiration struck Lady Xiang. When she looked at Zhu Changsheng again, her eyes were filled with intense killing intent.
Yes, she could make Zhu Changsheng accompany Wei Yuan in burial!