Volume 5, Chapter 5: The Hanging Woman Latter Part (2/2)

At that point, Maomao got a question. Like she was floating, you say? As she was wearing white clothing, normally, isnt that something that cant be seen from such a distance?

About that, as it was her birthday celebration, the tower was brightly lit up. The garden had been lit up in various places.

If its like that, she understood.

Maomao took out a sheet of paper from her bosom. It was the map of Uryuus estate that had been given to her beforehand. As it was another persons house, it wasnt drawn in much detail, but she tapped the tower where the suicide had taken place with her finger.

Well then, so what is this about the one who hung here being the daughter? she asked.

She was wearing the same clothes as the celebration. A white dress and red sash, the man answered.

And the possibility of it being someone else?

The man was silent in regards to that. He only averted his gaze and whispered. Can you say that right to my face?

In regards to this, he could only be dumbfounded. Besides, the body who fell to the bottom of the tower was the daughters.

So Uryuu-sama had confirmed that, Maomao said.

Thats the case, the man affirmed.

And speaking of what Jinshi got Maomao to investigate something amid that, he was really talking about the absurd.

So youre saying that her body was found at the bottom of the tower, she said.

Thats right. The body was crushed and burned. There were cut bits of rope around her neck.

It was a given that she would be crushed if she fell from such a height.

When everyone saw the hanging woman, they all ran towards the tower. However, what they found when they reached the top was only some cut rope. And when they went down to look, the body was there, he continued.

Was there anyone who saw the moment the body fell? Maomao asked.

The servants saw. However, no matter how hard they looked, they couldnt find the body.

It was because the exact moment when the body fell from the tower, they saw a strange light. The watchfire had been burning the clothes the body was wearing.

So the servants headed to the place where the body fell, right? Maomao asked.

Thats right. They said they couldnt see as it was from a distance. They timidly told that it was like she had been floating airily, he replied.

(Airily?)

The half-sister had been wearing white. The man said that she was like a ghost.

Which reminds me, I was told that it was distasteful that there were a lot of mourners today.

(Well yeah.)

It is distasteful to have fifty women just to cry.

Its about time theyre moving so Ill be back, the man said and went somewhere.

Maomao returned to the files of mourners with an innocent look.

The coffin was decorated with flowers, flames leapt around it. There was a young man there, feeding fake money into the fire. Aside from that, there were imitations of clothes and paper flowers that were being burned. That way, was a customary practice where you send things to the world of the dead. As this was done by relatives, could that be the older brother? The half-brother, in the case of Consort Riishu?

They moved to the next place. As the women walking closely together in groups with eyes suppressing tears, she ended up stepping on the dress of the mourner in front of her many times. When Maomao gave off a small distance to walk, a different woman stepped with all her might and someone fell flashily. There was a clatter. A numbered tag had fallen. Maomao picked it up and handed it to the fallen woman.

Thank you. I was so close to being stuck here, the fallen woman said.

Her voice was still young, but she must be working as a mourner like this for income.

They shuffled along, and the koi fishes once again gathered with their mouths flapping. Speaking of how energetic they were for food, the moment a leaf fell into the surface of the water, there were splashes.

(Are they fed properly, these guys?)

They had to be fed, but there would have to be quite a lot as the pond was too big.

Suddenly, Maomao looked in the direction of the tower.

There was a pond around the tower too.

Then, she looked at mourners again.

Maomao took out the tag she was given.

(So its something like that.)

Maomao curled her lips lightly and entered the centre of the ranks, and accidentally stepped on the mourners hems flashily.

Even at the next place, the work of a mourner had ended.

The man who was Jinshis messenger turned up, but after he told her only a single word, she soon returned to her post.

As Maomao heard a lousy crying voice beside her, she gave a terrible ham performance of a cry, but midway she skipped out and was poked by another mourner beside her.

The mourners who had finished their work were guided by the servants and left the estate. And in the place of the tent, they would return the tag but.

Hey, is it okay if I take a look? It was Basen who was waiting in front of the tent.

Face severe, he was looking at the mourner who had taken out her tag.

The mourners around them exchanged glances, and mysteriously looked at the mourner Basen had called out to.

The number on the mourners tag was the same as Maomaos.

And then

Maomao approached that mourner and tore off her thick veil.

And there, on her face, was gaudy make-up unbefitting of a mourner.