Chapter 36: Ding Shuxue

It is a rare honor indeed that mourners must queue to pay their respects, but such is the prestige that only the Lei family commands. Since early morning, the most distinguished guests had been ushered into a dedicated reception hall, waiting for the appointed time to proceed to the funeral.

Although everyone present knew one another, the atmosphere in the hall remained hushed; greetings were exchanged with nothing more than a nod. In such a setting, boisterous conversation was entirely inappropriate. Each guest sat in silence, sipping tea and lost in thought. This was no mere funeral; it served as the focal point for the entire Federation’s current political conflict. In this room, one could essentially glimpse the state of the nation.

At nine o'clock, the funeral commenced. The Lei family began officially receiving mourners. Following ancient Huaxia traditions, Lei Bin, dressed in hempen mourning robes, knelt beside the coffins, awaiting the arrival of the guests.

Lei Xingfeng, who had been absent for a long time, also appeared in the mourning hall that morning. Looking at the rows of neatly arranged coffins and the familiar faces in the photographs, even his iron-like frame could not hold back a flood of tears.

Lei Bin had never seen his father like this. Unlike his previous state of decadence, Lei Xingfeng’s grief was genuine. After all, these were his own kin—his own brother and his nephew. The bond between the three Lei brothers had once been profound; had it not been, Lei Xingfeng would never have eloped with Ye Yuting, only to later storm the Ye household and cripple Ye Zhaonan, an act that shattered a once-warm family and plunged him into twenty years of despair.

Now, with his second brother, Lei Xingyun, also dead, he stood as the sole survivor. The agony was heart-wrenching. After Lei Xingkong’s death years ago, his wife, the Lady Wang, had committed suicide to join him in death, a story often recounted with admiration. Lei Xingyun’s wife, however, had passed away from illness a decade prior, leaving no widow to keep vigil. If not for Lei Bin, the space beside the coffins would have been completely empty.

How could Lei Xingfeng not blame himself? Once a flourishing family with children filling the halls and talented descendants admired by all, it had fallen into such bleak ruin solely because of his own transgressions. He had failed too many people: his father, his elder and second brothers, Ye Yuting, his nephews, and even Lei Bin. This was why he had succumbed to such decadence, finding life meaningless; his self-reproach was like a blade constantly piercing his heart, leaving him to seek solace only in the bottle.

"Lei Bin, today is the funeral of my family’s sons, but it is more than that—it is a moment to declare to the world that the Lei family still stands. I have failed this family, and everything that has happened today is my doing. If I could trade my life for theirs, I would not hesitate for a moment. But I do not have that chance, not even a chance to atone. So, Lei Bin, my sins can only be redeemed by you, even though I have failed you most of all."

Lei Xingfeng looked at Lei Bin, who knelt by the coffins, his eyes filled with self-reproach and guilt, before turning abruptly and walking away.

Watching his father, a strange, inexplicable sorrow welled up in Lei Bin’s heart. Despite his past resentment toward his father’s decadence and depravity, blood was thicker than water; he was, after all, his father. He knew that his father bore too much pain and too many debts of conscience, which had driven him to that state. His heart softening, Lei Bin’s original plan to make a scene and embarrass the Lei family faded. If he were to act out, his father might not be angry, but he would certainly be heartbroken.

Ever since Lei Bin returned, Lei Xingfeng had been busy outside and had never found the time to speak to him. Perhaps these words were what he had been meaning to say all along?

"Forget it. For the sake of the old man, I’ll endure it just this once. There will be plenty of opportunities later. That old man is always harping on about my 'Lei family bloodline,' so I’ll kowtow properly today as repayment. After this, I won’t owe the Lei family anything." Thinking this, Lei Bin knelt obediently by the coffins, resolving to behave for the rest of the day.

As Lei Bin knelt, feeling bored, he had Star Dream search his mind for news. Just then, another person, also dressed in mourning clothes, knelt down not far from him.

"How strange. Wasn't it said that I was the only one left in the Lei family? Who else is wearing mourning garb?" When Lei Bin caught sight of her appearance, his jaw practically dropped.

She was a woman—and a stunningly beautiful one at that. Because she was kneeling, Lei Bin couldn't gauge her height, but from his quick glance, he knew she was not short. She wore the loose, voluminous mourning robes that obscured her graceful figure, yet the exquisite face framed by the mourning hood was breathtaking. Her eyebrows were long, slender, and curved like willow leaves; her straight, prominent nose lent an air of resilience to her personality, and her lips were a vivid, succulent red. Her face was perfectly shaped with clear, refined features, and her skin was as flawless, white, and delicate as freshly made tofu.

"Damn, who is this? A cousin?" Lei Bin asked, puzzled, turning to a young steward nearby. Because Lei Huan was busy, he had assigned this steward to look after Lei Bin and answer any questions he might have.

"Reporting to the young master, she is not a member of the Lei family. She is the fiancée of the late Young Master Lei Lie, Ding Shuxue. They were betrothed long ago; had it not been for this tragedy, Young Master Lei Lie would have married her next month. Now that he has died for his country, the wedding is, of course, cancelled. However, Miss Ding considers herself a member of the Lei family, and despite her own family’s objections, she insisted on wearing mourning for him as a widow," the steward explained.

"Damn, such a loyal and righteous woman. I’m truly impressed. How can I bear to see her so trapped by grief, destined for a lonely life? No, I must save her, persuade her to abandon such stubborn notions, and remarry. The Lei family still has me, doesn't it? Why waste her life on a dead man? Why not marry me instead? Yes, that’s it—I should marry her and rescue her from this sea of bitterness," Lei Bin whispered in admiration.

The steward rolled his eyes, shocked at the young master’s audacity. *That’s your sister-in-law! Isn't that incestuous?* But having heard rumors about the young master, he dared not say a word.

Lei Bin thought he had kept his voice low, but after he finished speaking, Ding Shuxue turned and glared at him with murderous intent. Clearly, she had heard every word. Lei Bin, seeing her death-stare, remained unfazed, instead wearing a cheeky, playful grin. Ding Shuxue was even more incensed, but in such a formal setting, she could not act out and could only turn away, refusing to look at him again.

Lei Bin had intended to strike up a conversation, but as the funeral proceedings were about to begin, he had to remain kneeling.

The tall mourning tent was draped in white cloth and black banners, with sacrificial texts hung everywhere. Hundreds of Lei family servants stood on either side, dressed in black, awaiting the guests. At nine o'clock, Lei Na and Lei Xingfeng appeared at the entrance. As they walked into the hall, Lei Na’s face remained expressionless; even the most observant guest could not detect a hint of sorrow. He was the great tree supporting the family, and at this moment, he had to stand tall.

"Begin," Lei Na said softly. A subordinate immediately relayed the order, and the funeral officially commenced. Lei Na and Lei Xingfeng stood near Lei Bin, waiting for the mourners.

Soon, the first guest entered: the President of the Federation, Hafrey. It was expected for the President to lead the procession. Hafrey wore a black suit, his expression solemn and his eyes heavy with gravity. After presenting a wreath and an elegiac scroll, he bowed deeply three times before the coffins.

Seeing Hafrey bow, the steward nudged Lei Bin, signaling it was time to kowtow. Lei Bin didn't need the reminder; he knew the protocol. As Ding Shuxue knelt, Lei Bin followed suit.

Hafrey glanced at the kneeling Lei Bin and Ding Shuxue, a flash of indiscernible sharpness crossing his eyes. He then walked toward Lei Na and Lei Xingfeng with a look of profound grief, shaking Lei Na’s hand. "Marshal Lei, on behalf of the Federation, I offer the Lei family our highest respects. Every son of the Lei family is a pillar of the Federation. It is a tragedy that heaven envies talent; the cowardly sneak attack by the Empire has cut their lives short, causing the Federation a tremendous loss. The sons of the Lei family will always be the pride of the Federation."

Lei Na remained expressionless. "Thank you, Mr. President."

Hafrey patted Lei Na on the shoulder, circled the coffins, and walked out slowly.

One after another, the most important figures in the Federation entered. It was said that if a bomb were dropped on the Lei family residence at that moment, the entire administrative structure of the Federation would effectively be wiped out. These guests all wore faces of grief, bowing three times before the coffins and offering condolences to Lei Na and Lei Xingfeng. Moreover, they all cast lingering glances at Lei Bin, who knelt expressionless.

Because of Lei Bin, the Lei family had survived this crisis without collapsing. Everyone understood that for a long time to come, Lei Bin would be the most critical piece on the chessboard of Federation politics. The future of the Lei family depended entirely on him. If he proved capable of shouldering the burden and carrying the family banner, the Lei family might indeed remain glorious for many years. But if he lacked the ability, or chose to avoid the pressure, the family would slowly decline into a third-rate faction, fading from the political circle. If he were rebellious, unwilling to accept his inheritance, or met an untimely end, the family would surely crumble.

The transformation of the Lei family would play a decisive role in the power distribution of the entire Federation. Thus, the future of the nation rested on Lei Bin. Initially, because of the recent "Federation Hero" incident, many believed Lei Bin was a super-talent capable of leading the family. However, as they delved deeper, they discovered his rebellious nature, his lecherous history, and his past as a scoundrel. The more they investigated, the more baffled they became—at times he was brilliant and formidable, like a superman, yet most of the time he acted like a lowly, cowardly thug.

Was this just a disguise? Because of this uncertainty regarding Lei Bin, they found themselves unable to foresee the future of the Federation.