"Mother, are you dressed properly?"
Madam Song, along with her two sisters-in-law, arrived together, gave Song Ci a once-over, and said, "Today’s weather is a few degrees colder than yesterday, the wind feels like knives cutting the face, you must dress warmly, don’t catch a chill."
"That’s right, I have a newly made mink fur coat with a thickly sewn hat. Why not take it and put it on?" Jiang suggested.
Song Ci replied, "I know you are filial, but it’s not necessary. Even Nanny wishes to wrap in quilts. Anyways, I will be in the carriage, and there aren’t that many steps to walk. I won’t get that cold. Let’s hurry and go, the sooner we leave, the sooner we return."
"Yes."
This ti, on the visit to mourn at the Fan Family, it was only Song Ci leading Madam Song and Jiang. As for Lu, she was ordered to manage the household, especially since she had a pregnant concubine, and Song Ci wanted to avoid any clash between the two families, so Lu stayed at ho.
Even without the pregnancy issue, there needed to be soone to take charge at ho.
The won each boarded a carriage.
As Song Ci settled in, a purple gold crane hand warr was placed in her hands, the warmth from the warr passing through to her hands, making her sigh in comfort.
Although they said it was just a short ride, in the northern winter, hands would freeze stiff in no ti, especially for soone like her, an elderly lady, who really couldn’t endure the cold.
"Later, we need to ask a few maids to sew so leather gloves. That way, we can wear them in and out and not fear our hands turning numb from the cold." Song Ci said to Nanny.
Nanny nodded, "The needlework of Qing Ming is quite good. She can make them once she takes your asurents."
Though she seldom left the house, Song Ci would often exercise and take walks in her courtyard, which also required keeping warm.
Song Ci looked out through the small window of the carriage and saw soone burning paper money by the roadside, and couldn’t help but wonder if this was not taboo.
Nanny glanced over and said, "That must be a family that benefited from the late Mrs. Fan. Upon hearing of her passing, they spontaneously set up a roadside sacrifice."
"Isn’t that usually done during the funeral?"
"During the funeral, it’s a larger affair. Not only those who benefited, but also large and small officials in the capital will set up roadside sacrifices at their doorsteps." After all, Mrs. Fan’s status was noble, as she was the Pri Minister’s mother."
Song Ci then said, "Perhaps I, too, will have this honor when I pass away."
"Madam!" Nanny frowned and lightly scolded.
Song Ci awkwardly laughed, "Just making idle talk, aren’t we?"
"We can talk about anything, but it’s best not to speak such inauspicious words. It’s quite unlucky."
Song Ci sheepishly agreed.
Nanny saw her promptly agree verbally, yet her deanor showed indifference, and could not help but feel a headache coming on.
This lady did not care about taboos, nor did she fear death, making her quite difficult to manage.
Amidst the rumbling of the carriage, as they approached the Fan family estate, they heard mourning music that was deafening, and the carriage slowed down.
Song Ci opened her eyes from her faux nap, looked out again, and saw the entire road crowded with carriages and people, vaguely spotting the silhouette of the Five Cities Military Departnt among them, maintaining order and clearing the way.
"Could it be that officials from the entire city have co?" Song Ci clicked her tongue in wondernt, the scale of mourning was even grander than that of a wedding celebration.
Nanny said, "This is only the first day. In the days to co, more people will arrive from various places."
Song Ci sighed deeply, "To have enjoyed wealth in life and receive the utmost honor in death, Madam Fan is probably the envy of all the elderly ladies."
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