Red lanterns swayed over the entrance to the Ma household as the two brothers arrived before the gates.
ZhiYi wore white, a proper colour for the occasion, while PingZe had draped a black cape over his robes. In his hand, he held an unopened black spirit umbrella.
A fire was already lit in the middle of the front yard, kept alive with umbrellas shielding it from the rain. Servants were busy burning paper money and clothing for the deceased.
Master Ma waited for the two brothers at the entrance to the main hall, himself dressed in dark robes.
Madam Ma sat stiffly at her highchair with a wedding banner draped over the wall behind her. A tea tray stood ready at the table beside her.
"Young masters, I have arranged everything ready. Wedding attire is being burned for childe Liu as we speak. DaDong is ready in his room. But why wait for the rain?" Master Ma murmured as ZhiYi and PingZe came to a stop before the stone steps leading up to the main hall.
