White mourning banners fluttered outside the Xiao Residence, and Xiao Ming's memorial tablet stood in the center of the mourning hall.
The King of Chu personally attended the coffin, his face grief-stricken.
The court ministers lined up to pay their respects, many with tears in their eyes.
"This..." Xiao Ming's voice caught.
In the inner courtyard, Xiao Ming's eldest son, the one who had urged his father not to resign while he was alive, now knelt before the memorial, weeping bitterly.
"Father! I was wrong! I should never have let you die with resentment in your heart!"
His daughter-in-law held her two children, her tears soaking her robes. "Father-in-law, your beloved grandchildren are still waiting for you to teach them calligraphy and martial arts..."
Even his normally calm, self-possessed nephew was beating his chest and stamping his feet. "Uncle! I should never have done this! Had I known, I would have risked my official's cap to let you lay down your armor and return to your fields! To enjoy your twilight years in peace!"
His close friend from court was there too, heartbroken, recounting memories of the old general to the Xiao Household's children.
One a civil official and the other a military officer, the two had established their careers and families together, then watched their children come into the world.
How happy Xiao Ming had been back then.
As he spoke, everyone began to cry.
Watching it all, Song Yan remained silent.
He had seen too much hypocrisy in this world, but the grief shown in the mirror was so real that he could not question it.
Only...
General Xiao's early life had been a blaze of glory, his later years bleak and lonely, yet only after death had he gained true understanding and love.
How strange.
Xiao Ming's