Xu Qing was taken aback; if not a mortal, then it could only be someone from the mystical arts.
What is known as skill connecting to the profound, nearing the way of the Dao.
In this world, there are always some individuals, whether experts or obsessives, who can take ordinary, mundane tasks and perform them to extremes, achieving beyond the ordinary!
Clearly, the elderly gardener before Xu Qing's eyes was such a person.
Looking at the aged old man, Xu Qing couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration and love for talent in his heart.
Such a person, if he could manage his affairs a hundred years later, Xu Qing would willingly cover funeral expenses even if it meant losing money!
The old gardener saw the young man's intense gaze and assumed it was a sign of respect from a younger generation, feeling quite delighted.
"Alright then, I see that you and this young lady both have a love for flowers. I have some seeds here; consider them a gift to you."
As he spoke, the old man fumbled in his sleeve and took out a bag of flower seeds wrapped in colorful silk cloth, revealing his affection for flowers just by the quality of the bag.
"Thank you, old sir."
The old man waved dismissively and said, "No need to thank me, I just like this little girl. Those mischievous kids always pick and ruin flowers when they see them, but this girl only smells and looks at them, just like my flowers, obedient and well-behaved..."
Hearing this, Xu Qing glanced to the side.
At this time, Xuan Yu, with long hair down her waist and dressed in a black dress, indeed resembled a black plum blossom hanging on a branch.
When Xu Qing turned back, the elderly man behind him had disappeared without a trace, leaving only a lingering unusual floral fragrance around him.
"Xuan Yu, let's see the old man off on his final journey."
"Okay." The young girl nodded obediently.
...
Led by the wisp of floral scent, Xu Qing saw the flowers placed along the bridal path, which gave an illusion reminiscent of an Emperor commanding the blooming of flowers in the winter.
Unfortunately, even the imperial gardeners could not make any peony bloom eagerly.
"This gardener is truly no ordinary person!" Xu Qing looked at the vibrant flowers lining the path, marveling at the old gardener, and feeling a sense of nostalgia for the aristocratic children.
Shang Shaoyang is truly blessed; just the flowers and red silk filling the bridal path ahead cost at least a thousand, even ten thousand taels of silver.
Even the imperial family welcoming ceremony might not compare to this.
Following the floral scent, Xu Qing arrived outside a courtyard hidden within a bamboo grove.
At this moment, there were several pots of peonies blooming outside the courtyard, seemingly more vibrant than those in the bustling streets.
Upon knocking on the wooden gate, a man in plain attire and wearing mourning bands opened the door.
Before the man could inquire, Xu Qing cupped his hands and said, "I am also a lover of flowers, and having long admired the renown of the garden monk's love for flowers, I came to pay my respects."
When a family has a funeral, with banners at the door, according to funeral etiquette, they may not easily refuse visitors who come to pay their respects.
This involves not only respect for the deceased but also an acceptance of affection from friends and family.
When Xu Qing arrived, although there were no funeral papers at the courtyard door, there was a notice posted, and the few pots of peonies at the entrance were intentionally chosen to be white.
This indicated that the family did not refuse visitors for condolences, and Xu Qing understood this reasoning, providing his explanation, and the people inside naturally treated him with courtesy.
Entering through the wooden gate with Xuan Yu, Xu Qing discovered that the interior of the courtyard was even more flourishing than the outside.
Outside the bamboo-fenced garden, rose and hibiscus vines entwined. Through the bamboo fence, the inside was full of balsams, hollyhocks, peonies, lilies, and various other flowers and plants.
Walking along the bamboo path, Xuan Yu observed the flowers, unable to take her eyes off them.
Xu Qing, smelling the floral fragrance and observing the surrounding feng shui layout, was impressed.
This old gardener truly was not an ordinary person!
The feng shui layout, spacious and open, receiving sunlight and warmth while blocking wind and cold, was not something an ordinary person could create.
This old gardener was at least a refined person who had studied feng shui and understood the life principles of all things.
Reaching the mourning hall, Xu Qing saw the sparse and quiet room, with not even a few withered incense sticks left in the burner, showing that not many had come to pay their respects.
The old gardener had no children, and his wife had passed away two years earlier. Now, his funeral arrangements were being handled by his cousin.
Upon inquiry, Xu Qing learned that after delivering all the blooming flowers to the Gu family the previous day, the old gardener visibly showed fatigue on the way back. Upon alighting from the carriage, without entering the garden gate, he fell dead outside it.
"To be honest, sir, I am but a Funeral Master. Early this morning, under the embroidery tower where the young lady of the Gu family resides, I saw the old man once more..."
Xu Qing did not hide and slowly recounted the scene he witnessed at the garden with the monk.
Everyone present was astonished upon hearing it.
"Are you not making a jest of us? With my brother's coffin present, it is highly disrespectful to fabricate such things."
Xu Qing lightly shook his head and retrieved a delicately embroidered pouch from his sleeve, full of flower seeds.
"This item was gifted by your brother. My words are all true."
Looking at the pouch handed over by Xu Qing, Elder Cui felt his scalp tingle.
After confirming that the pouch belonged to the deceased, Xu Qing recounted how the garden monk taught him to appreciate and listen to flowers.
Upon hearing this, Elder Cui had no further doubts.
"Such words could indeed only be spoken by my brother. Could it be that such strange things truly exist in the world, yet why did my brother appear to you and not meet us here?"
Xu Qing accepted the flower seed pouch and explained, "Your brother's love and desires all stemmed from flowers. As my little sister and I were appreciating and watching flowers under the embroidery tower, your brother saw our fondness for his flowers, which lead him to appear and guide us in our observation."
"The attachment of the deceased, its origins and ends can all be traced; the monk's attachment pertained solely to flowers."
Hearing Xu Qing's words, everyone present was convinced.
The garden monk's love for flowers was known to all, which ultimately led to his appearance before Xu Qing, a fellow flower lover.
"The garden monk gifted me a bag of flower seeds, showing some connection. If you agree, I am willing to arrange his remains and manage his affairs. When the concerns outside the garden cease and the flowers fall, we could bury him using the fallen flowers. What do you think?"
Elder Cui stared in surprise for a moment before cupping his hands and saying, "Then we will rely on you, sir."
Currently, the outside world is busy arranging the wedding festivities for the Shang family's son and the Gu family's daughter. It is not appropriate for the garden monk's funeral to take place now, nor can it be broadcast to neighbors and friends. They must wait until the Shang family's celebrations conclude and the street flowers fall before proceeding with the arrangements.
Xu Qing understood the reasoning, akin to an emperor retreating, with officials observing fasting. Similarly, when an aristocratic family marries, even if a family experiences a death, they must weep silently indoors, avoiding any grand processions.
Seeing Elder Cui agree, Xu Qing took Xuan Yu around the garden, and when he returned, he had already changed into a Taoist robe worn for rituals.
Initially, Elder Cui had reservations seeing how young Xu Qing was, but upon witnessing his professional demeanor, he was fully reassured.
Inviting spirits, bathing the deceased, crossing bridges, attending the morning audience, securing the position...
For the deceased are significant, and others avoid taking on funeral duties during wedding bread Castro's celebrations. Xu Qing harbored no apprehension.
Today was not suitable for burial or groundbreaking, but avoiding today's wedding activities made the next day's burial entirely reasonable and justified.
After completing the rituals, as Xu Qing prepared to leave, Elder Cui hurried over, intending to pay him for his services.
Xu Qing waved his hand in refusal.
"I have already received payment; how can I accept a second time?"
"Received payment?" Elder Cui was puzzled.
"That bag of flower seeds, isn't that the payment?"
Elder Cui's eyes widened, and many thoughts raced through his mind. Could it be that his cousin knew the other was a Funeral Master and thus gave the flower seeds to invite him over to manage his affairs?
Xu Qing was unaware of Elder Cui's thoughts.
When Elder Cui inquired about his residence, Xu Qing openly replied, "The Shang family son invited me to his wedding. I will likely stay with the Shang family for the next two days, but rest assured, I will not delay your brother's arrangements."
Shang family son? Elder Cui watched as Xu Qing departed.
"Does the Profound Jade Immortal wish to learn how to grow flowers?"
Xu Qing asked as they walked.
"Plant flowers? Can Xu Immortal also grow flowers?"
Xu Qing handed the seed pouch in his hand to the young girl beside him.
"Cultivating and nurturing flowers is not difficult to learn. If Xuan Yu wishes to, I can teach you some other time."