All Hail Cousin Brother

Yu Youyao knelt in front of her grandmother’s coffin and bowed three times. Then, she stood up and lit three incense sticks before putting them into the furnace.

As the people from the clan had yet to arrive, Yu Zongzheng and Yu Zongshen guarded the night and went to busy themselves during the day. Madam Yao guarded the mourning hall expressionlessly.

Yu Shanyan brought his siblings to the brazier in front of the mourning hall to burn paper money and cry softly.

Yu Youyao pursed her lips slightly. “Second Aunt has been busy the entire night. She went to the nearby courtyard to rest first. When someone from the clan arrives, I’ll send someone over to inform you.”

Madam Yao nodded, stood up, and left.

Yu Youyao’s expression darkened. Madam Yao hated her grandmother, so she didn’t care much about her grandmother’s funeral. She did not treat her well at all. She must have vented her anger on her.

She did not judge Madam Yao’s thoughts.

After all, in the future, everyone would go their separate ways.

The most important thing now was to try her best to settle her grandmother’s funeral.

It wasn’t until noon that Xia Tao came over to report, “Someone from the clan is here. They sent a servant over to report first. He’ll be entering the residence soon. ”

Yu Youyao quickly arranged for someone to inform them everything they needed to know so that they wouldn’t be rude.

After another hour, a maidservant came over to report, “The elders of the clan are here.’

Yu Shanyan and Yu Youyao quickly brought their younger siblings to the door. The men and women stood on each side and quickly greeted the elders.

The Clan Chief supported the old clan elder. Yu Zongzheng supported Fifth Granduncle, Eldest Madam supported Second Old Madam, and Madam Yao supported Fifth Old Madam. Behind them were a few men of the ancestral generation and a few daughters-in-law.

A group of more than ten people entered the mourning hall majestically. They paid their respects and offered incense.

Second Old Madam’s eyes welled up with tears on the spot. “Since the coffin

hasn’t been sealed, quickly let me take another look at my sister-in-law.” Before she could finish speaking, she had already choked and cried. “I won’t be able to see her again.”

Fifth Old Madam and Old Madam Yu were close. As she stepped forward, she shouted, “My old sister-in-law, why did you leave just like that? You didn’t even let us see you for the last time. You stubborn donkey. You gritted your teeth and endured everything…”

A few elders of the “ancestral generation” came over to open the coffin.

The two old madams lay beside the longevity coffin and looked at Old Madam Yu in it. They cried until they couldn’t hold back their tears.

The daughters-in-law who had come over to help deal with the funeral were also from families close to the Yu Residence. They also went over to pay respects to Matriarch Yu.

The mourning hall was filled with sobs.

The two great-uncles looked sad and called the ancestors over to discuss their sorrows.

The old granduncle looked at Yu Zongzheng. “Have you discussed the matter of mourning?”

The Great Zhou Dynasty had a clear rule that if one’s parents died and they did not report it, they would be punished once they were found out.

Yu Zongzheng looked ashamed. “It’s only right for me to be filial to Niother by mourning. Honrever, Second Brother sent a memorial to the palace at dawn today.”

He made it sound like the two brothers were both fighting to worry for their mother, but Yu Zongshen beat them to it. He made it sound like he was so filial.

Yu Zongshen lowered his head and said nothing.

The old great-uncle glanced back and forth between the two brothers and frowned. Then, he said, “Your mother is a widow. She’s guarded your father for most of her life. She suffered to raise you two brothers. You two have to pay more attention to her funeral.”

They wondered how the brothers had discussed it.

Why was Second Brother the one who would be mourning?

Second Brother had just taken over as the Grand Secretary not long ago, and the court was also filled with internal and external troubles. It was time for him to settle down in the cabinet and help the country.

On the other hand, Eldest Son seemed to have power over the court, but his foundation was weak. If he could use the mourning period of three years and build the reputation of being filial to his mother, he would be able to advance steadily in the future.

Mourning would severely harm Second Brother. To Eldest Son, it was the only good opportunity to improve his status.

Eldest Son did not make much progress in the Ministry of Official Personnel Affairs. On the contrary, the Imperial Censor of the Imperial Court did his job well.

Eldest Son had been in the Imperial Court for ten years and was qualified.

That was why the emperor had asked him to become one of the 13 censors. Previously, he had also made a great contribution to the disaster relief.

The Imperial Court had censors on the left and right.

The left censor, Lord Qi, was extremely famous in the Imperial Court. On the other hand, the right censor’s political achievements were mediocre and he was not young. Eldest Son might have a chance to advance in the Imperial Court.

The power of the Imperial Court depended on the emperor.

Eldest Son had already received the emperor’s grace, Now that he had a good official reputation and was known for his filial piety, he was simply like a fish in water when he arrived at the Imperial Court.

In the cabinet, Second Brother handed over the authority of the Imperial Court to Eldest Son. The two brothers, one inside and one outside, complemented each other. Most of the court rules were in their hands.

Wasn’t that better than being in the 13 censors?

However, the memorial for mourning had already been written. There was no point in saying anything else.

If Second Brother wanted to be filial to his mother, they couldn’t stop him.

However, he was still a little disappointed and felt that the two brothers were a little too rash. The two brothers could discuss such a big matter first and wait for someone from the clan to come to make a decision.

Making Second Brother be responsible for the mourning was short-sighted. Yu Zongzheng and Yu Zongshen nodded in unison.

The old granduncle said, “The coffin will be sealed in the afternoon. Everyone has to prepare a few things for the funeral. When the things are ready, bring them to second daughter-in-law to see if they’ve violated the taboo. How many days will the funeral take?”

Yu Zongzheng quickly asked, “Granduncle, how many days do you think is suitable?”

The old granduncle said, ‘Your mother is a widow. It’s not easy to raise you.

Her funeral should be held in glory. It’s just that the court isn’t peaceful now. The north is experiencing a drought, so it’s not appropriate to hold it wantonly. How about this? The funeral will last for 21 days.”

21 days was neither long nor short. Yu Zongzheng glanced at Yu Zongshen. Seeing that he had no intention of speaking, he could only say, “We’ll do as Granduncle says.”

The group discussed for two hours before agreeing on all the matters related to the funeral.

It was getting late,

Yu Youyao ordered someone to prepare lunch and invited the elders of the clan over.

Seeing that her eyes were still swollen, the clueless Old Madam held her hand. “Now that your grandmother has passed away, this family will have to rely on you, the eldest daughter of the first wife, in the future. You have to be more open-minded.”

Even if Concubine Jiang supported someone else, she would not be able to surpass the eldest daughter of the first wife.

Yu Youyao had even been conferred the title of County Head. With the title of an imperial relative, she had to command respect.

The Yu Residence and the clan exchanged information.

Everyone in the clan knew that Old Madam Yu had raised Yu Youyao very well. Her personality was like Old Madam Yu’s, and she was a person in charge of the family..