Chapter 1038 - 1041: Runaway Bride_1
Yang Chuxia got herself ready and glanced at the buns one more time before hurrying over to the Yang Family. Upon her arrival, she was met with the sound of wailing, as the villagers who had gotten the news also came by.
The Yang residence was quickly draped in white, and a mourning hall had been set up.
Yang Qingrui and Yang Qingbao had rushed back home overnight and, after arriving, quickly changed into mourning clothes to stand vigil by the mourning hall.
When the elder passed away, sons and grandsons were all expected to keep vigil, a custom observed by both prominent and ordinary families alike. Within the direct relatives, the Yang side also needed to send out funeral notices, such as to the families of Old Yang’s maternal uncles, but this was deemed unnecessary since Old Yang’s maternal family had hardly any members left.
As for Yang Chuxia’s grandmother, she used to be a maid and had even fewer relatives on her side.
The body was laid in state for seven days, during which time various families who received the news came to pay their respects, including Constable Hong, Broker Liu, Shopkeeper Li, and others. Shopkeeper Li also brought a funeral offering on behalf of Mu Shaofeng, and Manager Mu from Mu’s Clinic arrived with offerings from Old Mu, Mu Shaoling, and Baili Yan.
County Magistrate Shen and Old Uncle Shen made their presence as well.
The villagers lent their support too. Some helped out, while others came to offer their condolences, even Yang Qingwen and his son Li Anshun came to pay their respects.
Unexpectedly, people from Hua Village also came, led by the straightforward Old Man Hua, reminding everyone that Yang Xiaochuan was indeed blood-related to the Hua Family.
However, upon seeing Yang Chuxia and Yang Dachuan, the faces of the Hua Family members instantly turned gloomy, and they quickly left after offering their condolences.
On the day of the funeral procession, carrying the funeral banners was the responsibility of Yang Qingrui, the eldest grandson, while the task of overturning the memorial bowl, traditionally for the biological son, was, after discussion among the brothers, handed over to Yang Da’an, serving as a tacit acknowledgement of him.
Yang Da’an was naturally moved, and Yang Xiaochuan had no objections.
Old Yang was buried alongside Yang Chuxia’s paternal grandmother, a request he had made himself prior to his passing.
As for Old Lady Hua, without even a body to bury, she never had a proper grave; it was only later that Yang Da’an surreptitiously arranged a cenotaph for her.
Spring is the busiest season; right after they had sent off Old Yang, it was time to commence spring planting.
Sweet potatoes needed planting, sugarcanes required bud stimulation, and planting peanuts and beans was necessary—there were many tasks at hand.
Yang Chuxia, unable to leave Wangquan Town at the moment, could only arrange for the spring planting to be done by others at home.
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In the Mu Family of the Capital City
"Mu Shaofeng? Where exactly did Mu Shaoling go to find medicine?"
Before the New Year, Mu Shaofeng had traveled to the northeast and stayed there until February before returning to the Capital City. It was on his return trip to the Capital City that he encountered Mu Shaoling, who was setting out from the city.
Only then did he find out that Mu Shaoling truly had no intention of following the imperial edict to marry. Right after the New Year, he had sought the Emperor’s permission to search for medicine for the third prince. The Emperor had always known this son was in poor health, but he had not understood the full extent of it until Mu Shaoling explained in detail after the New Year. Considering this, how could the Emperor not agree to let Mu Shaoling search for medicine?
The quest for medicine was uncertain; it could take a month or two to return, or it might be three to five months. At that time, the Emperor did not realize this point until after Mu Shaoling had left the Capital City, and the Commandery Princess Dongyang arrived at the palace. Only then did it dawn on him that with Mu Shaoling’s departure, it was uncertain whether the wedding could take place on time.
It was only then that the Emperor had a revelation: was Mu Shaoling possibly escaping the marriage by doing this? What if he could find the medicine in a month but deliberately delayed his return for half a year?