Chapter 1200: Cenotaph

Shang Shuqing concealed nothing. She explained everything clearly.

She knew her brother, sister-in-law, and the others would worry about her. She was someone who did not like making others worry.

Besides, the war in the west was tense. Her brother and the others were watching it closely and had many matters to handle.

She did not want her personal feelings to interfere with their affairs, so she laid bare every thought in her heart.

Nor did she pretend nothing had happened.

She did not hide the pain in her heart. She revealed that too and spoke plainly about it.

She simply suppressed herself and refused to let herself cry.

When Meng Shanming saw Shang Chaozong, he told him everything and sighed.

"Don't worry. Nothing will happen."

"The Commandery Princess is a sensible girl. So sensible it makes one's heart ache."

"She has never liked causing trouble for others. She would never do anything that would make others sad, much less anything that would hurt her family."

"She only wants to build a cenotaph. Let her do it."

Shang Chaozong, Feng Ruonan, and Lan Ruoting all fell silent. There was a trace of sorrow in each expression. Feng Ruonan even looked close to tears.

"Ruonan, regarding the cenotaph, instruct the steward to handle everything according to Qing'er's wishes," Shang Chaozong said, turning to his wife.

"Mm." Feng Ruonan nodded.

Meng Shanming suddenly said, "Prince, there is something I don't know whether I should say."

Shang Chaozong replied, "Uncle Meng, there are no outsiders here. What is there you cannot say? Speak freely."

When discussing family affairs, Shang Chaozong always called him Uncle Meng. Only in matters of state and military affairs did he address him as Marshal Meng.

Meng Shanming sighed. "Truthfully, I have never really approved of you forcing the Commandery Princess to marry that Young Master Fu."

"There is no need to avoid saying some things openly."

"In the end, the Commandery Princess has been held back by that face of hers."

"With that face, is marrying into the Fu family truly suitable?"

"Can the Prince's power and the pressure it places on the Fu family really guarantee that the Commandery Princess will live comfortably there for the rest of her life?"

"I would rather see the Commandery Princess endure some hardship that everyone can see than suffer grievance hidden in her heart."

"With her temperament, if she suffers wrong in her husband's household, she will never speak of it."

"Once enough time passes and the Fu family fully understands her nature, how they will treat her is something no one can know."

"She would be marrying a man she does not truly wish to marry, lowering herself and accommodating him in every way, doing everything possible to become a good daughter-in-law."

"Will she truly be happy for the rest of her life?"

"Since that face has already delayed her for so many years, what harm is there if she never marries?"

"Would it not be better simply to let her follow her own wishes?"

"However, this is the Prince's family affair. And the Prince truly does act entirely for the Commandery Princess's sake, with no other intention behind it. So this old man has never felt it proper to interfere."

These words could be considered Meng Shanming finally speaking what had long been in his heart.

They struck everyone present deeply.

Shang Chaozong sighed. "How can there be any reason for a woman never to marry?"

"She has only me as her elder brother. If I cannot fulfill the responsibility of our parents, how will outsiders look at me?"

"Besides, this was our parents' dying wish."

"Because of Qing'er's face, they worried throughout their lives about finding a good household for her."

Meng Shanming nodded. "I understand."

"I will not interfere in the Prince's family affairs, nor will I say anything more about them."

"There is only one matter in which this old man wishes to ask something of the Prince."

Shang Chaozong said, "Uncle Meng speaks too seriously. Whatever it is, simply say it. There is no need to call it a request."

Meng Shanming waved a hand. He had his own way of putting it.

"This old man is already old. Perhaps I have only a few years left."

"While I can still speak, allow me to ask this favor for the Commandery Princess."

"Prince, after the Commandery Princess marries into the Fu family, no matter what she may do in the future, remember that the choices she makes then will grow from the choice we are making for her today."

"Do not blame her for it."

"I hope the Prince will tolerate her and treat her kindly when that time comes."

"That is my only request."

Shang Chaozong's expression turned solemn. "There is no need for Uncle Meng to instruct me on this."

"Qing'er is my own younger sister, born of the same mother. How could I fail to treat her well?"

"Uncle Meng, rest assured. Ruonan and Mr. Lan have both heard my words."

"This Prince will certainly do as I have said!"

...

When Feng Ruonan, who had been assigned to handle the arrangements, came out, a servant immediately reported that Fu Junlan had arrived.

Remembering what she had told him the previous day, Feng Ruonan immediately had him summoned.

The moment they met, she reminded him once again, "Young Master Fu, spend more time with the Commandery Princess over the next few days. Do your best to help her work through this."

"Very well." Fu Junlan naturally agreed.

With the Prince's approval, the household steward of the Prince's residence immediately became busy.

Given the power of the Prince's residence, handling this minor matter for Shang Shuqing anywhere in Nanzhou was effortless. It was scarcely worth mentioning.

Everything was arranged very quickly.

By the time Shang Shuqing's carriage reached the wilderness outside the city, a carefully selected burial site had already been excavated.

A fine coffin stood nearby.

Craftsmen waited with their hands respectfully folded while the steward of the Prince's residence personally supervised from the side.

The carriage stopped.

The accompanying guards immediately flashed outward and established a security perimeter, watching the surroundings.

Fu Junlan and Shang Shuqing stepped down one after another.

Servants carried a large chest behind them as they made their way through waist-high wild grass over ground where there was no proper road, stumbling occasionally over the uneven terrain.

Shang Shuqing looked over the surroundings.

The steward hurried forward to welcome her and said, "Commandery Princess, there was little time to prepare. We had no chance to build access. I'll have people lay down a proper road afterward."

Shang Shuqing shook her head. "No need. This is good as it is. It will keep others from disturbing the place."

She walked to the newly dug grave pit and looked it over, then went to inspect the coffin.

The steward, accompanying her, said, "This is already the finest coffin we could find in the city at such short notice."

"The steward has taken great care." Shang Shuqing thanked him, then gestured.

The servants immediately brought the large chest over.

The lid was opened.

Inside were clothes, shoes, and other articles Niu Youdao had once worn.

Everything had been folded and arranged neatly.

A small box rested atop the folded clothing.

Shang Shuqing picked up the box and opened it with her own hands.

Inside were hairpins, headcloths, and other objects Niu Youdao had once used.

She reached in and gently touched the things inside, her fingers lingering as though reluctant to part from them.

Then she noticed Fu Junlan standing nearby.

She restrained the reluctance in her expression, closed the box again, bent down, and placed it inside the coffin at the position where the pillow would lie.

Then she rose and began taking clothes from the larger chest and placing them into the coffin.

Fu Junlan saw this and bent down as well, intending to help.

Shang Shuqing immediately stopped him. "Young Master Fu, there's no need..."

The first words came out too urgently.

She immediately sensed the impropriety and softened her tone. "Qing'er can do it herself."

Fu Junlan stiffened.

He had no choice but to stop.

A complicated, difficult-to-read expression appeared on his face.

He was not a fool.

He could see that Shang Shuqing did not want anyone else touching these things.

The folded upper garments were placed neatly in the upper half of the coffin.

The lower garments were arranged neatly below.

The shoes were placed carefully at the foot.

Once everything had been set in perfect order, Shang Shuqing stared silently for a while, then turned her head and nodded to the steward.

The steward immediately waved his hand. "Men, seal the coffin and lower it into the grave!"

The craftsmen hurried forward.

They lifted the heavy coffin lid into place, then drove nails into it with a series of ringing blows until it was sealed shut.

Afterward, ropes were fixed and the coffin was lowered into the grave.

As the earth was being shoveled back in, the steward came over and asked Shang Shuqing what inscription should be carved on the tombstone.

The stone was still blank. Nothing had yet been engraved because no one else had dared decide the wording.

Shang Shuqing asked for a brush.

She personally dipped it in ink and wrote four large characters on the stone.

The calligraphy was graceful, yet possessed clear bone and structure.

Those nearby nodded repeatedly in admiration.

Fu Junlan read the words aloud, one character at a time.

"Peach Blossom Immortal..."

There was nothing after it.

Shang Shuqing showed no intention of adding another stroke.

The steward hesitated. "Whose name should be left beneath it?"

Shang Shuqing said, "No need. Leave it like this."

Since that was her instruction, the steward could only obey.

He called over the craftsmen, who immediately began carving the written characters into the stone with ringing chisels.

There were only four characters.

For experienced stoneworkers, it was a simple task.

By the time the burial mound had been built, the inscription was finished as well.

The tombstone was erected before the mound.

The four characters "Peach Blossom Immortal" stood out clearly upon it.

The craftsmen then cleared the site and withdrew.

Servants set out a brazier, incense, candles, and the other necessary offerings.

Shang Shuqing lit several sticks of incense and offered them.

Fu Junlan likewise lit incense and paid his respects, showing respect to the dead.

The servants followed one after another.

At the same time, a basket of paper money was brought forward.

Shang Shuqing silently began feeding it into the fire.

Suddenly, a violent gust swept across the site.

Paper money scattered into the air before those around them could hold it down.

In an instant, white paper filled the sky, fluttering everywhere.

The steward scolded the servants for handling things poorly.

Shang Shuqing said, "It isn't their fault."

She spoke up for the servants and rose to her feet.

Looking around, she watched the paper offerings tumble and drift.

Some were carried far away. Some floated down nearby.

Against the vast, desolate mountains and fields, the scattered paper seemed like pale blossoms.

A lost look entered her eyes.

Once everything that could still be burned had been burned, Shang Shuqing personally poured out a jar of wine as an offering.

Before leaving, she stood once more before the tombstone.

Memories rose one after another, vivid as yesterday.

She reached out and traced each of the four carved characters with her fingers.

Then she said softly, "Let's go."

The group departed.

Only a solitary grave remained.

Not long after they disappeared, a rumble of hoofbeats approached.

A mounted party came galloping toward the site.

As they neared the grave, the mounted guards spread outward to secure the area.

Shang Chaozong alone urged his horse forward.

He pulled up before the tomb, looked at the newly raised mound, then swept his gaze over the surroundings.

He swung down from the saddle.

At a glance, he recognized the writing on the tombstone as Shang Shuqing's hand.

He looked slightly puzzled and murmured each character.

"Peach... Blossom... Immortal!"

Then he sighed and shook his head.

"Master Dao, Master Dao. When you were dead, we lied to her. Now that you're alive, we still have to lie to her."

"If the day comes when the truth is revealed, how am I supposed to explain any of this to her?"

"Dead or alive, you refuse to let Qing'er go."

"Whether you live or die, you insist on tormenting my Qing'er!"

...

Near evening, Fu Junlan finally took his leave after staying for the entire day.

Before he could depart, Feng Ruonan intercepted him again.

Once more, she instructed him to return the next day and continue spending time with Shang Shuqing.

Fu Junlan was put in a difficult position.

He knew Feng Ruonan wanted him to keep comforting Shang Shuqing.

But Shang Shuqing's words had clearly indicated that she wished to be left quiet for a while.

When he mentioned what Shang Shuqing had said, Feng Ruonan glared at him. "You're a living man. Don't you know how to find an excuse?"

Fu Junlan could only give in and agree repeatedly.

That night, Shang Shuqing drank heavily.

She sat alone drinking cup after cup until she became drunk.

Collapsed on the couch in a haze, she saw that person again.

He was sitting on horseback, preparing to go to the Sacred Realm.

She knew the Sacred Realm was dangerous and shouted, "Master Dao! The Sacred Realm is dangerous. You can't go!"

The man on horseback turned and smiled.

"Riding through the jianghu, wind or rain, I'll go and be back soon enough."

Then he spurred his horse away.

She ran after him desperately, shouting again and again.

But she could not catch him...

Though her eyes were closed, wet traces of tears gathered at their corners.

Then, in the dream, many people suddenly appeared.

They chased Niu Youdao, who was already covered in wounds.

Arrows hissed through the air.

Countless shafts struck him until he resembled a porcupine.

Blood covered his body as he collapsed.

"Master Dao..."

Shang Shuqing let out a piercing cry.

Her eyes snapped open and she shot upright.

Awake.

She found herself clutching the quilt.

Daylight already showed beyond the window.

Only then did she realize everything before had been a dream.

She panted heavily.

Sweat soaked her body.

In the courtyard outside, Fu Junlan had already arrived and was speaking with a maidservant.

The sudden scream from inside the room startled both of them into turning sharply.

The female cultivator keeping guard outside flashed forward and smashed through the door in an instant.

[End of Chapter 1200]