Chapter 4: A Widow Who Keeps Herself in Check

The funeral was finally held.

Ling Xiao hadn’t been idle these past few days. He had dealt with the Rong family and also raided a bandit’s lair, killing them all.

The Ling family’s ancestral grave was located on a green cliff behind the village. The funeral procession stretched for miles, winding its way up the cliff.

Ling Xiao had already ordered the repair of the ancestral grave, but time was tight, so he could only do a simple renovation. He would wait until Ling Chen was buried and then make it a proper tomb.

“Your Highness, the time has come to bury him,” the guard said.

Ling Xiao reached out and touched the coffin, his lips pursed in silence for two breaths before he said softly, “Bury him.”

“Yes.”

Several men lifted the coffin and slowly lowered it into the grave that had been dug. They wielded shovels and began to fill the grave.

As the shovelfuls of dirt covered the coffin, Mrs. Lin cried again, “Brother Ling, you’re gone.”

Ling Shen supported Mrs. Lin and wiped away the tears from his eyes with his sleeve.

After the coffin was buried, a tombstone was erected. Ling Xiao knelt in front of the grave and burned paper for his elder brother.

The sharp lines of his face seemed to add a touch of desolation.

He had fought countless battles, wielding his sword, not only for his own ambitions but also to earn military merit and seek fortune.

Now that he had finally returned home with great military merit, he was met with the loss of his beloved brother.

He remained silent at the grave for a long time before finally getting up.

Mrs. Lin was still wiping away tears. She turned to Ling Shen, “Burn some paper for your brother.”

“Yes.” Ling Shen let go of Mrs. Lin and handed her over to Jiang Yao.

Beside Mrs. Lin stood a slender woman, even thinner than her, as if she could be blown away by the wind. Her face was pale, her eyes were red, and she seemed to have no energy.

Ling Xiao had been guarding the spirit hall day and night, never leaving her side.

He withdrew his gaze, his eyes narrowed slightly.

“Mother, it’s getting windy. You should go back,” Ling Xiao said.

Mrs. Lin patted Jiang Yao, “You should also burn some paper money for Brother Ling.”

“Okay.” Jiang Yao responded, her voice hoarse and weak.

She secretly glanced at Ling Xiao, her eyes filled with a hint of alertness and caution, then she walked around to the other side of the grave to burn paper.

Ling Xiao’s brows furrowed slightly, feeling a little uneasy.

Mrs. Lin saw the look on Ling Xiao’s face and said kindly, “Don’t always be so cold to her. She’s just a young girl, and she’s been through a lot. She’s a good girl. I’ve already interrogated Rong Shi Chang, and it was all Rong Shi Chang who harmed your brother.”

Ling Xiao’s eyes were sharp, “Why did Brother really die?”

“He’s always been like that, he was afraid that you would blame him. He kept telling us to take good care of her before he left. After she entered the family, Brother was really happy. You were late, but Mother was able to accompany him to the end. He must be relieved.”

Hearing Mrs. Lin’s words, Ling Xiao suddenly remembered the last words his brother had left for him.

“This is temporary, but it’s enough to fill my life.”

Ling Xiao looked at the woman in mourning clothes kneeling at the grave.

“Brother has been sickly since birth, and he has never been strong. He has always had regrets. He left this world in a hurry, but he said he was content.”

“Brother was content, but why?”

As dusk approached, Ling Xiao left the green cliff and returned to the house.

When they arrived, Ling Xiao had arranged for a sedan chair to carry Mrs. Lin back. After all, she had been through a lot these past few days.

Jiang Yao had been guarding the spirit hall, and now she had been through another round of exhaustion. Her body was weak, and her steps were unsteady.

But she still forced herself to stand strong, not daring to complain of fatigue. She was afraid that Ling Xiao would give her a chilling look.

“Sister-in-law, you must be tired. Let’s take a break,” Ling Shen said with concern.

He was also tired, but Brother Ling’s pace was too fast, and he was a little out of breath. But he didn’t dare to say anything.

He was also a little afraid of Ling Xiao.

Brother Ling was only a few years older than him. He remembered that although Brother Ling had a good temper, no one in the village dared to provoke him. But now that he saw him, he felt that Brother Ling had become more restrained than before, but his invisible murderous aura was even more oppressive.

Ling Xiao turned his head to look at them. Ling Shen was fine, just out of breath, but Jiang Yao’s pale face was flushed, and sweat was dripping from her forehead. She looked a little weak.

Jiang Yao saw Ling Xiao looking at them, and she quickly took a step back, pursed her lips, and said, “I’m fine.”

Ling Xiao glanced at Ling Shen, “You’re still tired after walking a little bit?”

Ling Shen swallowed and said awkwardly, “Yes, I’m also tired.”

Ling Xiao didn’t say anything else and continued walking.

But Jiang Yao had a feeling that his steps seemed to have slowed down a bit.

Finally, they returned to the house. Jiang Yao was exhausted, and even her wounds felt a little sore. She just wanted to lie down and rest.

As soon as they entered the house, they found that the courtyard was already in disarray, with people moving things in and out.

Jiang Yao was stunned, “This… what’s going on?”

Ling Shen said, “We’re moving. Brother said that after Brother’s funeral, we’ll move to the capital.”

“What?”

Jiang Yao’s face changed slightly, and she felt a sense of panic. She hadn’t been paying attention to these matters while guarding the spirit hall, but she had noticed the pomp and circumstance when Ling Xiao returned, and he was even called “Your Highness.”

Since he was now an official, he could certainly stay in Xingfeng.

Mrs. Lin came out from inside, “Daughter, we’re going to the capital in a few days. You should pack your things. We’ve been guarding the spirit hall for the past few days, and we haven’t had time to take care of anything.”

“My husband is still here, ” Jiang Yao immediately shook her head, “I’ll stay here.”

“You’re alone here, how can Brother Ling rest assured? Besides, you’re a sensible girl. You should go with us. Brother Ling entrusted you to us before he left, and you should let him rest assured.”

“Ah, Sister-in-law, it’s too dangerous for you to stay here alone. Brother Ling wouldn’t let you stay. Let’s take Brother Ling’s spirit tablet with us to the capital. When we’re settled, we’ll come back to visit Brother Ling. It’ll be fine.”

Ling Shen was actually exaggerating. The truth was that Jiang Yao was beautiful, and a beautiful widow alone would attract unwanted attention.

Rong Shi Chang was bad, but there were many more despicable people like him in the world.

“My husband is buried here…” Jiang Yao felt a surge of sadness.

After her parents passed away, her life was like a drifting leaf until she met Ling Chen. He saved her and married her. She finally had a place to belong.

Now, she was alone again.

Didn’t Brother Ling tell her to live a good life?

On the night before he passed away, Ling Chen held her hand tightly. He was already weak, his face was pale and his breathing was labored. He spoke with difficulty, but there was still a smile on his face, afraid that she would be sad.

He said, “Yao’er, live a good life in the future. Don’t do anything foolish, and don’t be too sad. I’ve been sick for so long, I was prepared for this.”

“I have many regrets. I once thought that if I were healthy, I would definitely take the imperial examinations and become an official like my brother, go out and make a name for myself, and I wouldn’t be stuck in Xingfeng. But the only good thing is that I met you.”

“Live a good life for me. In this world, Yao’er, if you can be happy, then be happy.”

At that time, she cried uncontrollably. She clung to him, afraid that if she let go, he would be gone.

Finally, he breathed his last, and she let go.

Mrs. Lin held her hand tightly, “Daughter, come with me. We’ll take Brother Ling’s spirit tablet with us. We’ll take good care of him, and we’ll be fine.”

Jiang Yao snapped out of her memories, her eyes blurred with tears. She nodded.

She would fulfill her husband’s wishes, serve her mother-in-law well, and face the world on her husband’s behalf, living a good life!

Mrs. Lin was also tired, so she gave a few more instructions and left.

Ling Shen went back to pack his things, and Jiang Yao also planned to go back and pack her husband’s belongings.

But an oppressive aura blocked her path.

Jiang Yao had been looking down, but she suddenly raised her head and met his dark eyes. She instinctively took a step back, her red eyes instantly filled with caution. She tried to hide her fear, thinking that she had concealed it well.

Ling Xiao stared at her, “If it weren’t for Brother’s last words, I wouldn’t have let you off so easily.”

A chill ran down Jiang Yao’s spine. She stiffened her neck and pursed her lips, “What do you want?”

Ling Xiao forced himself to remain calm, and he curled his lips, “No matter what kind of love potion you fed my brother, making him repeatedly tell us to take good care of you, I’m only telling you this once. My brother is gone, there’s nothing to deceive me about, and there’s nothing to say.”

Jiang Yao was speechless. Ling Xiao’s words were so harsh that they were jarring.

Ling Xiao’s eyes flashed with a cold glint.

From the moment he first saw her, he had a gut feeling that she was not a pushover. She must have been hiding something, but his mother kept praising her for being obedient and sensible, and his brother had protected her in every way.

He had truly been blinded by this cunning and scheming woman.

Jiang Yao lowered her eyes, hiding her thoughts. She had indeed been up to something.

Ling Xiao curled his lips, “Don’t even think about doing anything wrong. Although I’m letting you go this time, it doesn’t mean I’ll let you off every time.”

He took two steps closer, his chilling aura pressing down on her, “If you don’t keep yourself in check and be a good widow for my brother, I will still kill you!”