The Fourteenth Year Of The Great Catastrophe

When Marquis of Jinyang married Madam Xue, he introduced her and her two children to everyone just like Zhao Ming today. There was a carefully restrained pride in his eyes, likely because he felt his own son was exceptionally outstanding.

Unfortunately, Ji Chan back then couldn't understand.

A Chan, sitting here today, saw it clearly.

The difference was that Marquis of Jinyang brought her home without restraint. No matter what people outside said, his status and position were enough to suppress the gossip.

As for Zhao Ming, he was an Imperial Censor. If his personal conduct was improper and someone caught him in a mistake, he might not even be able to keep his official post, which was why this charade was staged.

Old Madam Zhao's words today were likely planned long ago, intending to solidify Zhao Wenqi's status.

At Lady Xiao Lin's funeral, she couldn't wait to acknowledge him as her son. Others would praise Lord Zhao for his deep affection for his deceased wife.

To A Chan's surprise, Zhao Wenyue didn't seize the opportunity to disrupt things. She didn't think that given Zhao Wenyue's personality, she would be so considerate of her father. It seemed she had received enough benefits to agree to this adoption.

The only unstable factor in the household had been resolved, and Zhao Wenqi's adoption had been openly acknowledged by relatives, making it difficult to change.

A Chan looked at Zhao Wenqi, who was being praised by everyone and beaming with pride. She then thought of Lady Xiao Lin, who, just over ten days ago, had held her belly with anticipation. She thought, humans are truly fickle.

She kept watching Zhao Wenqi, noticing that he would occasionally glance in her direction, as if looking for someone.

A Chan looked around and saw a young woman, about thirty years old, among the many Zhao family relatives. The woman was dressed plainly but meticulously. The set of jade ornaments she wore looked extremely valuable.

This woman's seat was not far from A Chan. Whenever Zhao Wenqi looked over, the woman would smile at him, as if to comfort him.

"The banquet is prepared at home. Please follow me." After satisfying the relatives' curiosity, Zhao Ming instructed the servants to lead everyone to their seats.

A Chan deliberately sat next to the young woman. She didn't speak to her, but from the conversations of others at the table, she learned the woman's identity.

This woman was surnamed Su and was a distant relative of Old Madam Zhao.

She had heard that she married a traveling merchant in her early years. After living elsewhere for less than two years, her husband died in an accident, leaving her alone. She had no choice but to return to Shangjing to make a living.

A young, beautiful widow with a large sum of money – it was no wonder that as soon as she sat down, someone tentatively asked if she had plans to remarry and could introduce someone to her.

Madam Su politely but firmly refused the other person's kind offer.

After the meal, the guests left in twos and threes, planning to return tomorrow for Lady Xiao Lin's funeral.

A Chan stayed behind, and Madam Su didn't seem in a hurry to leave either.

It wasn't until Old Madam Zhao finished her meal and was helped out by her children and grandchildren that Madam Su finally stood up and walked towards them.

Upon seeing Madam Su, Old Madam Zhao's face immediately broke into a smile: "Isn't this A Yao? You came to the mansion without even letting me know. Have you become estranged from me?"

Madam Su quickly smiled and explained, "Aunt, what are you saying? I'm here to see you now."

Old Madam Zhao held Madam Su's hand: "It's good that you're here. I'll have someone prepare a courtyard for you. A Yao, you must stay at the mansion for a few more days this time, so we can talk more."

"This..." Madam Su looked a little hesitant.

Zhao Ming, standing beside Old Madam Zhao, spoke up: "Mother hasn't been feeling well lately. If it's convenient for you, Cousin, please stay at the mansion to keep Mother company."

"Then I shall gratefully accept." Madam Su glanced at Zhao Ming, then quickly averted her gaze.

When Zhao Wenqi heard that Madam Su was staying, his excitement was hard to conceal. He kept hovering around her. Madam Su reached out and stroked his face, her eyes gentle.

What seemed like an ordinary scene to others became the key to unlocking all of A Chan's doubts.

The Zhao family members left with Madam Su, Zhao Wenqi skipping along beside them, finally showing the innocence and joy of a child. The scene looked warm and harmonious, as if they were the real family.

They all seemed to have forgotten the original mistress of the household, whose body lay in the coffin in the mourning hall.

Into the night, inside the mourning hall.

On the offering table, a white candle as thick as an arm was burning, illuminating the mourning hall brightly. Zhao Wenyue knelt on a cushion, looking somewhat restless.

It was already Hai time. Zhao Wenqi had been taken away by Old Madam Zhao earlier, supposedly because he was young and needed to sleep early. But she had to stay in the mourning hall to keep vigil.

Zhao Wenyue didn't want to be here. The thought of her mother's corpse in the coffin made her feel uneasy, as if her mother were watching her.

After another quarter of an hour, footsteps suddenly sounded outside the mourning hall. Zhao Wenyue's face turned pale with fright.

When the person walked in and she saw who it was, she finally let out a sigh of relief: "Father, why are you here?"

Zhao Ming walked over and helped Zhao Wenyue up from the cushion. He said gently, "You've been tired all day. Get some good rest tonight. I'll stay here and watch over your mother."

"Thank you, Father." Zhao Wenyue stood up eagerly. Her legs were a bit numb from being pressed, and she stumbled slightly as she got up.

"Slow down." Zhao Ming used some force to steady her, admonishing her, "You're a young lady now. After these three months, the Xue family will come to propose marriage. You need to be more composed."

"I know. Father is the best to me." She said this, and she truly felt it.

Only her father doted on her and knew what she wanted. Unlike her mother, who, no matter what she said about it being for her own good, was actually doing it for herself.

Although she didn't particularly like Old Madam Zhao, that old lady had said something right: her mother was selfish.

Now that her mother was gone, the household was much quieter. At least no one was bossing her around anymore.

Watching his daughter leave, Zhao Ming bent down, picked up a stack of paper money, and squatted by the brazier, throwing the paper money into it one by one.

The paper money turned black in the flames and finally turned to ash. The flickering flames in the brazier reflected on Zhao Ming's face, dimming and brightening.

"Qiao Niang, I was very happy to be able to marry you. I also wanted to treat you well for the rest of my life, even though you had to marry me because your reputation was ruined."

Zhao Ming's voice was very low, revealing the truth that Lady Xiao Lin had never known.

"But you, relying on your family background, looked down on my parents and drove them away without regard for my reputation. You refused to have another son for me, and you wouldn't let me take a concubine. I agreed to all of that."

You should never have killed my cousin's unborn child. I never intended to take my cousin into my household; that child was merely an accident. You couldn't even tolerate that, and behind my back, you forced my cousin to have an abortion. That child was already six months old, a boy.

"For all these years, you never mentioned a word to me, and I pretended nothing had happened. That night, you were so terrified when you heard the baby crying, was it because you had a guilty conscience?"

Zhao Ming seemed to be interrogating Lady Xiao Lin, but the current Lady Xiao Lin could no longer answer.

The flame on the candle flickered.

"Fortunately, heaven has eyes. My cousin gave me another child. I named him Wenqi. That child has been intelligent and diligent since he was young. He's so much better than Wensheng, whom you've spoiled."

Speaking of which, Zhao Ming chuckled. "That child Wensheng doesn't resemble me in any way, yet he holds the title of the legitimate son. How can my son, Zhao Ming's son, be such a good-for-nothing?

For Wenqi to be able to legitimately stay in the mansion, someone had to be sacrificed. You should be able to understand me, right?"

"But don't worry, even if you die, you will always be my original wife. That child Wenqi will also call you mother."

Just then, a faint sound came from outside the door. Zhao Ming turned his head towards the doorway and asked in a deep voice, "Who? Come out."

"Cousin, it's me." Su Yao's figure appeared outside the mourning hall. She was wearing a white cloak, but it couldn't hide the crimson hem of her skirt beneath.

Zhao Ming was a little surprised. He got up and went to meet her, holding Su Yao's hand without any hesitation. "On such a cold day, why did you come?"

"I was worried about you." She glanced at the spirit tablet in the mourning hall, "And to offer incense to my sister."

"Why are you calling her sister?"

Zhao Ming led her into the mourning hall, hand in hand. The two, who had never even made eye contact in front of others, were more intimate in private than ordinary couples.

"In the future, Qi'er will be registered under her name, so I should call her sister," she said, then sighed, seeming a little sad. "If our first child were still here, he would probably be as intelligent as Qi'er."

"It's all in the past," Zhao Ming comforted her gently.

Su Yao really stepped forward to light three sticks of incense. However, before she could insert them into the incense burner, Zhao Ming took them and threw them into the brazier.

"Don't offer incense. She doesn't deserve to be called your sister."

Su Yao sighed. "Although she killed our first child, Qi'er has now taken her child's place. It can be considered a cycle of karma."

"It's just that you've been wronged, not being able to let people know your relationship with Qi'er for now," Zhao Ming said to Su Yao with pity.

Su Yao smiled. "What are you saying, cousin? As long as you and Qi'er are well, nothing else matters. I don't care about the title. As long as I can see you often like before, that's enough."

Zhao Ming put his arm around her, and Su Yao rested her head on his shoulder.

While they were pouring out their hearts to each other, Mama Sun stood outside the door, covering her mouth, staring intently at the couple embracing.

She had been worried about Zhao Wenyue, fearing she wouldn't be diligent and would cut off the lady's incense for the night. She had come to take a look, but unexpectedly overheard this conversation.

Looking at the two people embracing in the lady's mourning hall, Mama Sun slowly retreated. She never dreamed that the master who had been so obedient to his wife... would be such a heartless man.

Because it was too dark outside, Mama Sun accidentally kicked a stone. The stone flew out and hit somewhere with a thud.

Zhao Ming immediately let go of Su Yao and shouted sternly, "Who's there?"

As he spoke, he walked outside.

Just then, a gust of wind suddenly blew, slamming the door shut with a bang, almost hitting Zhao Ming in the face.

Taking advantage of this gap, Mama Sun hurriedly left.

Zhao Ming kicked open the door, but there was no one outside.

Su Yao also stepped forward, looked outside, and said, "Perhaps the wind blew something."

After a slight hesitation, she added, "Cousin, I heard that people who die unjustly often cause unrest in the household. That wind just now was really strange. Do you think it could be...?"

As she spoke, she glanced at the coffin placed in the mourning hall.

"Don't worry," Zhao Ming reassured her. "I've already sent someone to invite Daoist Master Jingyun from Pingnan Temple. He'll arrive early tomorrow morning."

"Daoist Master Jingyun? Are you inviting him to perform a ritual to save my sister?"

"No." Zhao Ming looked at the flickering candlelight in the mourning hall, his voice very cold. "That master is best at sealing souls. As long as the soul is sealed in the coffin, there will be no need to worry about ghosts causing trouble in the future."

Even if Lin Xiaoqiao had truly become a ghost after her death, he wouldn't give her the slightest chance to resist.

Su Yao breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this and said, "Cousin thinks of everything."

Zhao Ming smiled. "In the future, Qi'er will live in the mansion, and in a few years, you will also move in. Of course, I have to clear away all obstacles for you."