Miss Truth-Chapter 484 - 317 - End (2)

"Yes, when the old lady comes later, the slave will give it to her," Ling Xiang passed the comb to Lady Xiao.

Lady Xiao’s fingers trembled as they caressed the comb’s spine, her face wearing a faint smile.

Lady Xiao had once been the Empress of the Xiliang Kingdom, wife to Emperor Xiao Ming.

According to Ran Yan’s knowledge, Emperor Xiao Ming, Xiao Kui, was a highly talented emperor who had written ’The Classic of Filial Piety’ among fourteen other books. He was magnanimous as a gentleman, a wise sovereign amid chaos. Upon his death, his subjects all mourned with tears streaming down their faces.

Such a man, the ruler of a nation, would personally make a wooden comb for his wife, would whisper sweet nothings to her. Presumably, the love between the emperor and empress must have been deep. Yet he had been dead for decades, and during those years, as Lady Xiao recalled his gentleness and his words of affection, how lonely she must have felt.

"May the descendants of my Xiao Family prosper," Lady Xiao sighed and slowly closed her eyes.

Seeing her peaceful expression, Ran Yan’s heart clenched. She softly called out, "Grandmother?"

The response came as a warm breeze at the end of spring, carrying with it the fragrance of peonies.

Ling Xiang urgently grasped Lady Xiao’s hand, her voice trembling, desperately trying to wake her, "Lady Xiao, Lady Xiao!"

Ran Yan’s fingers touched the lady’s neck, where she could feel the warmth of her skin, but no longer her pulse.

Lady Xiao’s recent illness had been kept under control, but the severe bout had exhausted all her vitality.

"Lady Xiao!" Ling Xiang collapsed in front of Lady Xiao, weeping aloud.

Ran Yan watched as Lady Xiao sat with dignity, her body clad in alternating hues of black and red in the style of a Han legacy. With snow-white hair and bathed in the spring sunshine, she looked as regal and resplendent as the most beautiful peony in the garden. Moisture gathered in Ran Yan’s eyes; she turned her gaze away and said in a hoarse voice to the kneeling maid beside her, "Go and call for the Duke and the Lady."

"Yes!" The maid acknowledged the order and hurriedly lifted her skirt, running towards the front courtyard.

"What happened?" Xiao Song and Liu Qingsong had just walked in when they came across the maid running out in a panic, their hearts jumping at the sight.

Before the maid could reply, they heard Ling Xiang’s weeping coming from the courtyard and quickly ran inside.

"Grandmother." Xiao Song halted abruptly two yards away from Lady Xiao—her seated figure with a gentle smile was no different from usual, as if she was simply enjoying the warm sunlight and the fragrance of the flowers in the yard. Yet, her Liang Dynasty attire inexplicably filled one’s heart with sorrow.

Liu Qingsong quickly stepped forward, checking Lady Xiao’s pulse, his face turning ashen.

Ling Xiang’s crying suddenly ceased, and she collapsed to the ground, having fainted. Ran Yan hurriedly took the medicine chest from Liu Qingsong’s hand, pulled out a silver needle, and began to regulate Ling Xiang’s meridians.

When Ling Xiang was out of danger, Ran Yan looked up to see Xiao Song with red-rimmed eyes, his lips pressed into a thin line.

Ran Yan instructed others to carry Ling Xiang back to her room, then stood up, walked to Xiao Song’s side, and took hold of his fist hidden within the sleeve of his robe.

In just a moment, a group led by the Duke of Song hurried over.

"Mother!" The Duke of Song arrived at the veranda and knelt with a thump on the ground, followed by everyone else kneeling down.

Ran Yan saw that Xiao Song was still standing stiffly, and quickly reached out to pull him, supporting him as they knelt down together.

Liu Qingsong’s face was ashen, his eyes unfocused as he followed Xiao Song in kneeling.

The entire courtyard was prostrate, and despite the bright and beautiful spring garden, it was filled with mournful cries.

"My husband, you must restrain your grief. Lady Ah’s body cannot be left out like this," Lady Dugu wiped her tears as she consoled Duke Song. Lady Dugu’s tears were complex; on one hand, she had been oppressed by a mother-in-law for decades, feeling deeply bitter, and now she was finally relieved; on the other hand, having lived with Madam Xiao for so many years, she had truly developed feelings for her. Moreover, as the former queen who had demonstrated great presence and never deliberately troubled her over trivial matters, Madam Xiao did command respect.

Once Lady Dugu’s consoling words were spoken, many followed in comforting; only then did Duke Song finally manage to stop crying. He did not accept the handkerchief that Lady Dugu handed over, merely wiping his face with his sleeve. He struggled to steady his mind and ordered the servants to replace all the coverings on Madam Xiao’s bed, and then had her carried onto it.

"Who was by Madam Xiao’s side just now? Did she leave any last words?" Duke Song seemed to have aged many years in an instant, his voice unusually hoarse.

Ran Yan bowed her head and said, "It was your daughter-in-law." She then added, "Madam Xiao wished for the Xiao Family’s prosperity."

With the Liang Dynasty gone and Emperor Xiaoming no longer with us, Madam Xiao’s final words "wishing for the prosperity of the Xiao Family" expressed all the significance of the latter half of her life.

Upon hearing these words, Duke Song could not help but burst into tears once again.

As Lady Dugu busied herself tending to others, Xiao Ruizhi stepped outside, instructing the steward to call over the household manager to immediately send someone to inform the members of the Xiao main family that Madam Xiao’s time had come.

The steward was momentarily stunned, but promptly acknowledged the order and hurried off to carry out the task.

About half an hour later, all the members of the main family arrived. As Madam Xiao had been a queen, it was natural that the harem included more than just her; the sons born to the concubines were also considered her children. Fortunately, Xiao Kui was not one for the pleasures of women, and aside from those who had passed away, there were only six legitimate sons. Even so, alongside grandsons and great-grandsons, the room was packed with people, their wailing loud and sorrowful.

Ran Yan remained close to Xiao Song the whole time. He did not cry, but his eyes were filled with red blood vessels, and he looked quite frightening.

The Xiao Family had been mentally prepared for this eventuality with Madam Xiao; moreover, as she had lived to a ripe old age, her passing was to be considered a happy funeral. After a moment of sorrow, the moods of everyone gradually stabilized, and the legitimate sons and grandsons from each branch gathered in the council hall to discuss the funeral arrangements for Madam Xiao, while also sending someone to report her passing to the palace.

Madam Xiao was a State Lady conferred by the Emperor; the funeral rites would have to be conducted in accordance with her rank and the Emperor’s wishes.

Less than half an hour later, an imperial decree arrived from the palace.

A throng of people once again hurried to wash and change; the men into court dress, the women into official’s wife’s dress, all to come out and receive the imperial decree, kneeling densely in front of the Inner Gate.

The Eunuch, with his distinctive tone, slowly read the imperial decree. Ran Yan listened to the lengthy and convoluted initial part, which was largely praise that affirmed Madam Xiao’s life but had no practical significance, until it finally got to the point. The title "State Lady of Liang" was posthumously elevated to "Empress Xuanhui of Liang," with the same rites as a first-rank state lady.

Madam Xiao had already been a first-rank state lady, which was the highest level for an imperial decree granted lady, so there was no higher rank to elevate her to, but being posthumously honored with the title "Empress Xuanhui of Liang" was already the highest tribute. This was a mark of Li Shimin’s magnanimity and also a means to appease the once-imperial Xiao Family of the Liang Dynasty.

"Duke, please contain your sorrow," said the Eunuch as he handed over the imperial decree and offered words of comfort.

While a group of people exchanged pleasantries with the Eunuch, Xiao Song gently squeezed Ran Yan’s hand and gave her a meaningful glance, signaling her to look towards the front right.

Ran Yan followed his gaze, and saw that among the group of women clad in green official dresses without any patterns, indicating their low rank, one lady’s dress had pheasant patterns that were only one pair less than that on Lady Dugu’s official dress. Thus, she stood out conspicuously among the group of women. (To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation tickets and monthly tickets; your support is my greatest motivation.)

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