Chapter Nine: The Soul-Chasing Incense of Mother and Child

Lei Yan slowly walked into the North Courtyard, his steps echoing on the flagstones.

The world was the same, but the people were not.

Outside, lanterns hung in celebration, banners fluttered, and the air was filled with noise and festivity. Yet within the North Courtyard, a deep stillness reigned, so quiet that Lei Yan felt as if he’d entered a realm of the dead. Only in the northeast corner, where clusters of brilliant red flowers bloomed, did there linger a faint breath of life.

As soon as Lei Yan entered, his gaze was drawn to the mound beneath the red blossoms, its presence stark and conspicuous, compelling his footsteps to quicken.

In the blink of an eye, he stood before the earthen mound. Staring at the stone tablet set before it, Lei Yan knew that within lay his gentle and kind mother. The inscription read: “The Grave of My Beloved Wife, Situ Qingqing.” The characters were still sharp and clear, as if chiseled only yesterday. Lei Yan slowly closed his eyes, summoning to mind that gentle face—he wanted to etch her features into his heart, never to forget.

No weeds grew atop the mound, and the ground around it was immaculate. Clearly, someone tended it often. This proved that Lei Tiechuan had never forgotten his beloved.

For a long, long time, Lei Yan stood there motionless by the grave.

At last, he murmured, as if speaking to the air, “Father, since you have prepared everything for me, it is time for me to reveal myself. If I remain hidden, she may never even know I exist.”

He turned to go. After a few steps, he paused and muttered, “Mother, do not blame Father. He did all this so I could live on.” Though Lei Yan disagreed with his father's choices, he felt compelled to explain himself to his mother. He believed that as long as he remembered her, she was not truly dead.

In the Lei residence’s main hall, servants bustled back and forth—delicacies carried in, leftovers carried out.

Even before Lei Yan reached the hall, laughter and chatter spilled out.

Suddenly, the noise subsided. Then a woman's voice rang out: “Everyone, today is my son's first-month celebration. I, Bai Yu, thank you all for coming! Allow me to offer the first toast!”

After a brief pause, her voice sounded again, “Please, eat and drink your fill!”

The chatter resumed, and Lei Yan slowly entered the hall.

“Father is not here?” At a glance, Lei Yan saw a woman holding a child standing at the place of honor, attended only by a servant. Lei Tiechuan was nowhere by her side.

Lei Yan stepped forward toward the woman holding the infant. His arrival did little to disturb the guests; they spared him a glance before returning to their feasting.

“Second Madam, I’ve come to offer congratulations to my little brother,” Lei Yan announced as he approached Bai Yu.

Though Lei Yan spoke softly, his words reached many ears. At the sound of “Second Madam,” guests began to exchange whispers, some even pointing at him.

“Second Madam? Who is this child? Could it be…” Bai Yu was taken aback. Since marrying into the Lei family, she had never heard that Lei Tiechuan had another son. Cautious, she knelt down and asked quietly, “Child, what is your name?”

“My name is Lei Yan, Second Madam!” Lei Yan replied, feigning innocence.

“And what is your father’s name?” Bai Yu pressed on, still suspecting he might be a relative’s child.

“My father is Lei Tiechuan, Second Madam!” Lei Yan answered again.

Second Madam, again and again! Bai Yu seethed inwardly, but dared not show anger with so many influential guests present; she had to maintain her composure.

“Good boy,” she said through gritted teeth, pinching Lei Yan’s face hard as she spoke.

“Ow! That hurts, Second Madam!” Lei Yan cried out deliberately.

“Take the young master inside at once!” Bai Yu barked at the servant beside her.

“Yes, yes!” The servant promptly stepped forward, pulling Lei Yan away toward the inner chambers.

“Everyone, that child just now is my elder sister’s son. He lost his mother young, and after falling gravely ill at age three, has spoken little but nonsense ever since. Alas…” Bai Yu’s voice trembled with feigned emotion. Many guests, moved by her display, dabbed at their eyes with handkerchiefs. Of course, not all were convinced—after all, they had just overheard Lei Yan’s conversation with Bai Yu quite clearly.

A murmur of discussion filled the hall.

“I apologize—today was meant to be a joyous occasion for my son’s first-month celebration, but now I am in no mood to entertain. Let us end here; another day I shall host you all and make amends with a banquet…” Seeing the tide turn, Bai Yu quickly dismissed her guests.

Once the guests had departed, Bai Yu sat alone at the head of the hall, cradling her child.

“How infuriating! Making a spectacle of me in front of everyone, calling me ‘Second Madam’ again and again—was he trying to humiliate me?” She fumed, but then a thought occurred. “The Lei family’s tradition favors the eldest over the youngest. If that’s so, will my Yun’er be left with nothing? No, Lei Yan must not be allowed to stay…”

The next day, Lei Yan sat in the courtyard as Lei Fu approached, carrying a wooden box.

“Young Master, Madam asked me to bring you this fine sandalwood. It’s good for your health!” Lei Fu handed over the box.

As soon as Lei Yan took it, he caught a whiff of an earthy smell, reminiscent of the scent that rises after rain when you open a door. He found it odd for a sandalwood box to smell so musty, but thought little of it and lifted the lid. Inside, sticks of premium sandalwood were neatly arranged, their faint, minty aroma quickly masking the earthy scent.

“Mother-and-Child Soul-Chasing Incense!” As he recognized the mingled fragrances, the name came to him at once; he had seen its description before in the archives. The incense was divided into two types: mother and child. Combined, the two produced a deadly poison—death was certain to any who inhaled both. Yet, when kept separate, the child incense strengthened the body, and the mother incense sharpened the mind.

“They work fast—and ruthless, too,” Lei Yan mused wryly. Had he not recognized the danger, lighting the sandalwood would have released both scents together, and he would surely have perished. Even if suspicion arose, Bai Yu could plead innocence, since the incense also had medicinal properties. But Lei Yan knew better; he would never allow the two fragrances to mingle.

“Please thank Second Madam for me,” Lei Yan told Lei Fu with a smile.

“Yes, Young Master,” Lei Fu replied, turning to leave the courtyard.