Chapter 4: Something This Good?

Whether due to the transmigration, Gu Nanxi only felt an intense exhaustion, no matter how much she slept, it was never enough.

To make matters worse, funerals in this era demanded lavishness.

Even if it meant bankrupting the family, one had to ensure the elderly departed with dignity and splendor; otherwise, it would be considered unfilial.

In Yongchang Prefecture, the lights were bright, and the sounds of music and singing echoed throughout the night.

When Gu Nanxi finally managed to find a moment of respite to rest, she spotted Su Xuanming peeking around from not far away.

He was clearly a handsome and upright youth, yet his timid and shrinking behavior looked quite ridiculous.

Meeting Su Xuanming's bright, expectant gaze, Gu Nanxi simply turned over and continued to squint her eyes shut.

Seeing this, Su Xuanming's eyes instantly dimmed. He hovered in place for a moment before shuffling toward Gu Nanxi, step by step.

"Mother, thank you."

Hearing this, Gu Nanxi opened her eyes slightly, only to see Su Xuanming running away in a stumble, as if being chased by a dog.

*Tsk.* Gu Nanxi turned over to continue her nap.

The ones also thanking Gu Nanxi were Jingniang's family.

"Jingniang, we heard about what happened today. You have truly done us proud!" Old Man Li praised Jingniang incessantly as he circled around her.

Li Dalang had originally harbored resentment toward Jingniang because his position as manager had been taken away, but seeing that the whole family would rise along with her, he immediately put on the persona of a good brother: "Our Jingniang is wise and kind, beautiful both inside and out. Anyone who sees her must praise her."

After Old Man Li sat down, he wiped away tears and said, "I never expected the Marchioness of Yongchang to be such a reasonable person. Since the Marchioness loves Young Master Su so much, you will surely live a life of luxury once you marry into that family."

"I'll go to the Great Prime Minister Temple tomorrow to light a long-burning lamp for the Marchioness. A mother-in-law this wonderful deserves to live a long and healthy life," Sister-in-law Li said with immense envy.

If she had such a wonderful mother-in-law, she couldn't imagine how beautiful her life would be!

Jingniang, who was being showered with praise and envy by her family, now wore a cold expression, her eyes frosty: "You all think she is a good person, but you don't realize her schemes are as deep as the ocean!"

"Oh?" Everyone turned to look at her simultaneously.

Jingniang sat down, her back as straight as a poplar tree, and spoke in a clear, cold voice: "She deliberately left me to handle the funeral alone, hoping I would be harassed by the nobles so that I would be forced to back down."

Old Man Li hesitated, "Surely not? The funeral of the old Marquis is so important. How could the Marchioness joke about such a matter?"

Jingniang curled her lips into a cold sneer: "Which is more important, the dead or the living?"

Old Man Li stood up abruptly and pressed his hands on Jingniang's shoulders: "Jingniang, you must carry this reputation with absolute integrity! Our whole family is your backbone!"

The next day, just as dawn was breaking, the area in front of the Yongchang Marquis Mansion became lively once again.

This was the most important step of the funeral: the procession!

The guests included the grandson of the Duke of Zhen, the current First-Class Earl Li Jizong; the grandson of the Duke of Qi, the hereditary Third-Rank General of Zhen, Liu Ruiwen; the grandson of the Duke of Zhi...

There were about ten large sedan chairs, twenty to thirty small ones, and other vehicles, totaling at least a hundred carriages.

The guests whispered among themselves: "Surely they won't let that merchant girl handle things again today."

An acquaintance among the noble ladies said decisively, "What kind of rule-abiding person is the Marchioness? Unless she is too ill to get out of bed, she will certainly come to preside over the matters."

"The merchant girl suffered quite a few setbacks yesterday; how could she have the face to show up here?"

"What is going on with the Yongchang Marquis Mansion? It's only a hundred meters from the gate, yet they haven't even set up ceremonial canopies?!" someone frowned and criticized.

Just as the words fell, the sound of harmonious music drifted from the end of the road.

Everyone looked toward the sound and saw a massive, grand procession carrying paper money and paper gold ingots, marching toward the Marquis Mansion.

Leading them, was it not the merchant girl, Jingniang?

Jingniang walked up to the crowd and greeted the ladies she had hosted the previous day with great grace, behaving exactly like the person in charge.

A young noble lady whispered to her elder, "That Jingniang actually had the audacity to come! It seems the Marchioness's plan might fail."

An older woman also had a heavy expression: "In this round, the Marchioness will either fail at the final hurdle or be forced to swallow her pride. She's in a dilemma. This merchant girl is indeed a tough character."

Some worried for the Marchioness of Yongchang, while others waited to see the drama unfold.

In the bustling scene, a sudden silence fell.

Everyone's gaze landed on the gates of the Marquis Mansion, waiting for this confrontation.

Inside the Yongchang Marquis Mansion, Gu Nanxi ordered her personal maid to massage her aching back. "Next time, if I fall asleep outside, just carry me to bed."

The maid, Lvmei, spoke softly, "Yes, Mistress. However, the time has arrived. Shouldn't you be heading out?"

The mere thought of the complex funeral procedures described in the book made Gu Nanxi's scalp tingle.

"Get up quickly! The female lead has appeared again! Hurry and slap her face!" the Benevolent Mother System popped up again.

Yesterday, because Gu Nanxi hadn't followed the plot, the Benevolent Mother System had sulked and ignored her.

Unexpectedly, the female lead had appeared again today! She had to pull the plotline back on track immediately!

Receiving the prompt from the system, Gu Nanxi asked Lvmei, "I vaguely heard Jingniang's voice. Could it be that she has arrived? Why haven't we invited her in?"

Lvmei paused. What did her mistress mean? Was she to be invited in, or driven away?

At that moment, Su Xuanming, dressed in mourning clothes, shouted from the door, "Mother, the time is almost up. Let's depart quickly. Jingniang has also arrived and has even set up ceremonial canopies by the roadside."

Lvmei was almost moved to tears by his words: "The Eldest Young Master is truly possessed! That pauper is clearly here to pressure you! To secure the reputation of being the person in charge, she actually paid out of her own pocket to set up canopies! Does she think she can just set them up whenever she wants?"

Gu Nanxi's eyes, however, lit up. There was such a good thing?!

Someone was actually willing to spend their own money to do work for someone else?!

All she wanted was a bit of reputation; how much was reputation worth? Could reputation do work for people?

Gu Nanxi beckoned Lvmei over and gave her a series of instructions.

Lvmei's eyes widened: "Mistress, you!"

Gu Nanxi lay back down on the bed, pulled up the quilt, and said decisively, "Just do as I say."

Lvmei walked toward the Marquis Mansion gates huffing with indignation. Along the way, Su Xuanming was still asking, "Why hasn't Mother come out? Is she unwell?"

Lvmei said sarcastically, "The Eldest Young Master is truly filial, knowing to care for the Lady."

Su Xuanming's eyes darted around, his cheeks slightly flushed: "In the past, I misunderstood Mother deeply. It wasn't until yesterday that I realized how deeply she loves me."

Lvmei choked on her words and walked toward the mansion gates with a cold sneer.

Seeing Lvmei emerge, Jingniang poked her head out to look behind her: "Where is the Marchioness?"

Su Xuanming ran to Jingniang's side, panting: "Mother has not come out."

The gaze of everyone present turned toward Lvmei. How would the Marchioness respond to this?

Meeting Jingniang's provocative gaze, Lvmei felt a surge of anger, but remembering her mistress's instructions, she suppressed it and said formally, "The Marchioness is overcome with grief and has fallen ill. The Marchioness has requested that Jingniang please handle all the necessary arrangements."

The scene erupted in an uproar.