Chapter 82: Chapter 82

Two years had passed when An Ning returned to her hometown once more.

At year's end, just as the entire family was joyously celebrating little Ahe's fifth birthday, tragic news arrived from their ancestral home—Grandfather Xie had fallen gravely ill.

At eighty-two years old, Grandfather Xie would be considered long-lived even by modern standards. Over the years, he had suffered numerous illnesses, at times becoming bedridden.

Yet somehow, he always managed to pull through with great difficulty.

An Ning suspected he was clinging to life for the sake of his grandson serving as an official elsewhere.

Xie Sanwa, having passed the provincial exams, had secured a decent position at the prefecture government office thanks to his sister and nephew's connections in the capital. But before he could establish himself firmly, having to observe mourning leave would be detrimental to his future career prospects in Grandfather Xie's farmer-born perspective.

Holding onto this hope for his grandson, the old man had strictly forbidden his family from spreading news of his illnesses, no matter how severe... until now.

This time, he must have truly reached his limit.

The day after receiving the letter, An Ning had already packed and embarked on the journey home, accompanied by her husband and son.

Emperor Qianyuan, learning of the situation and considering recent rampant river bandits in Pizhou, not only dispatched guards for escort but also provided a private vessel belonging to an imperial clan elder for their southbound journey.

Thus when An Ning's party arrived at the prefectural docks, local officials had carriages and horses prepared.

No detail of their reception was overlooked.

Despite this, by the time An Ning arrived, Grandfather Xie had already passed. Yet the funeral arrangements were remarkably dignified, with streams of officials paying respects daily.

After offering her respects, An Ning was momentarily stunned by the extravagance exceeding regulations, until Xie Sanwa hastily explained:

"Sister, you just returned and might not know—just days ago, an imperial envoy came. Our grandfather has been posthumously honored as Fengzhi Grand Master!"

Fifth rank! Higher than his own position—after all his efforts, he remained merely a seventh-rank minor official.

Silently mourning his own plight, Xie Sanwa quickly regained composure.

"Sister, you can't imagine how spectacular it was! Not only did the imperial envoy come personally with an edict, but numerous prefectural officials specially came to pay respects!"

Many were his direct superiors! Recalling the scene, Xie Sanwa wiped his face again.

"Grandfather departed with a smile on his face."

After all, this was someone personally praised by His Majesty as virtuous! Though Xie Sanwa suspected most praise was actually for his sister—phrases like "talent of national importance," "kindhearted and virtuous," and "meritorious service to the realm" flowed endlessly.

Truly, his sister remained peerless.

Sighing, Xie Sanwa admitted he'd never bring such honor to the family.

While seventh-rank officials could theoretically receive imperial honors, who would trouble the Ministry of Rites for some remote minor official?

No wonder, An Ning realized, why upon her return even the usually thick-skinned Aunt Xie hadn't dared approach, looking at her as if beholding a temple Buddha. Even her own mother regarded her with awe.

Surveying the extraordinarily grand funeral setup, An Ning understood—this was the allure of power that captivated multitudes. The slightest gesture from above shone like brilliant sunlight to those below.

If people sought blessings in life and honor in death, at least Grandfather Xie had achieved the latter.

Listening to her brother's excited account, An Ning merely nodded calmly, while Lin Xiuyuan beside her briefly clenched his fist inside his wide sleeve before relaxing.

Accustomed to comfort, exhaustion claimed An Ning quickly that night, while Lin Xiuyuan first carried her to the bath, changed her into fresh clothes brought by maids, then gently tucked stray hairs behind her ear.

In dim lamplight, gazing at his wife's unchanged beauty, Lin Xiuyuan recalled their first meeting.

As he'd long realized—extreme intelligence and beauty were fatal poisons to men.

His wife proved even wiser and more clear-eyed than he'd imagined, having understood his and the Lin family's ambitions before even meeting him.

Such insight—he, a mediocrity entangled in self-interest, could never possess her heart.

Nor could that beauty-surrounded, lofty emperor hope to win her.

Carefully tucking in the blankets to ward off chill, Lin Xiuyuan finally drew her close.

With An Ning's arrival as the emperor-favored second-rank lady, Grandfather Xie's funeral grew even grander.

On burial day, virtually every Shun'an Prefecture official attended. The Xie family, never having witnessed such spectacle, trembled throughout—Aunt Xie's legs shook visibly, not daring address her niece.

Later-arriving Daya and others reacted similarly.

During the vigil, however, An Ning spotted a familiar figure in the crowd—Second Ya.

Frankly, without the system's confirmation, An Ning might not have recognized her.

At barely forty, years of hardship had grayed half her hair and hunched her frame, reminding An Ning of the original host's past life.

As predicted, Second Ya had struggled bitterly these decades.

While other siblings arrived early with descendants for the funeral, Second Ya and her children had been barred entry—ostensibly for "usurping nests," but An Ning knew the real reason.

People naturally despise what their superiors despise.

Through the crowd, An Ning glanced once before looking away—no need to dwell on irrelevancies.

Yet Second Ya seemed provoked, fleeing madly homeward as her children cursed:

"Mother, look what you've done! If not for your evil scheming against our benefactor, would we live ? Groveling in dirt while people point fingers!"

"Exactly! Aunt San's son passed the county exams last year! But brother can't even find a guarantor for the preliminary exams—all because you offended nobility and ruined father!"

Liu Ermei added, rolling her eyes.

With such distinguished relatives, had they enjoyed even slight favor, their lives would differ entirely.

She'd heard how cousins thrived thanks to that manual their aunt provided years ago—several passing preliminary exams, even county levels!

Whose fault was this? Their misfortune having a stupid, vicious mother.

How they wished for an accomplished mother like their aunt—or even Aunt San!

"If father lived, we wouldn't suffer so!"

Ermei conveniently forgot how this "stupid, vicious" mother had slaved tirelessly to raise them.

In their small courtyard, the siblings' tirade continued as usual—but today, after habitual silence, Second Ya suddenly seized a broom and swung fiercely at her lifelong darlings:

"Yes! I schemed, I stole men, I wronged Siya and our parents—but never you two!"

"Always 'father this'—as if Liu Wencai were some innocent! He tried to kill me! Was I forbidden to fight back?"

With a final roar, Second Ya's grimy broom struck Liu Dalang hard.