Chapter 43 – A Woman Like You, Our Marquis’ Residence Cannot Afford to Entertain

Chapter 43 - A Woman Like You, Our Marquis' Residence Cannot Afford to Entertain

Tang Shuyi’s gaze upon Wu Jingyun turned colder, laced with caution. A person who constantly lowers their own moral threshold, or worse, has none, is a truly terrifying being.

Wu Jingyun had suffered greatly in her previous life, deeply wounded by Xiao Yuxin, and Tang Shuyi could understand her desire for revenge upon rebirth. However, her bottomless retribution that hurt innocent people was... malicious in intent.

First, it was the little beggar who died because of her, and now the young monk Chang Jing. How many more would suffer in the future?

Furthermore, she schemed to have Wu Jingshu and Monk Chang Jing caught in a compromising act. Did she spare a thought for the innocent women of the Wu family? Once exposed, the scandal of a Wu daughter's indiscretion in a temple would spell disaster for all the Wu women.

Of course, how many people Wu Jingyun harmed was of no concern to Tang Shuyi. Her duty was to guard against this woman.

The situation unfolded as follows:

Madam Wu’s objective today was to facilitate a meeting between Wu Jingshu and Xiao Yuxin, then during the naptime, drug Xiao Yuxin with a sleeping potion, creating a scene of Wu Jingshu and him in a disheveled state in the same room, which would lead Madam Wu to create an uproar, resulting in the engagement between Wu Jingyun and Xiao Yuxin being broken off in favor of one between Wu Jingshu and Xiao Yuxin.

As her own daughter, Madam Wu would not stoop to using aphrodisiacs. However, Wu Jingyun felt that merely drugging Xiao Yuxin with a sleeping potion was letting Wu Jingshu off too easily, so she planned to administer aphrodisiacs to both, ensuring a major scandal.

Drugging Wu Jingshu was easy, accomplished with little effort, but drugging Xiao Yuxin proved more difficult. After the midday meal, not only were Changming and Changfeng by Xiao Yuxin’s side, but Cuizhu and Cuixun also stood guard outside his chamber.

She had, however, planned for this, and while everyone dined at midday, she had Liu Dayong, her nanny's son, light the aphrodisiac incense in Xiao Yuxin’s chamber. Liu Dayong had arrived at Chongguang Temple the day before, all for today’s scheme.

However, unexpectedly, Xiao Yuxin did not return to his room after the meal but went to appreciate the mountain scenery instead.

The reason she chose to drug Xiao Yuxin with incense in his room was because he was always accompanied by attendants, making it impossible to drug his food or person. Additionally, in her previous life, Xiao Yuxin had a habit of taking a noontime nap, unswerving as thunder.

Yet, this unswerving habit changed today; Xiao Yuxin did not sleep at noon but went to enjoy the scenery instead.

As her plan seemed doomed to fail, Wu Jingyun felt unbearable frustration. She decided that even if she could not manipulate Xiao Yuxin today to break off their engagement, she would still ruin Wu Jingshu. Thus, she took advantage of Cuixun's absence at the latrine to distract Cuizhu, allowing Wu Jingshu to slip into Xiao Yuxin’s chamber, and then she also lured the young monk Chang Jing there, drugging him.

Afterwards, under the influence of the aphrodisiacs and the incense, Wu Jingshu and Monk Chang Jing instinctively began to engage in primitive activities, unaware even when Tang Shuyi kicked open the door.

In her previous life, Tang Shuyi had been through many a shady deal in the business world, but the likes of Wu Jingyun, who involved innocent people in her vendetta just to vent her spite, was a rare encounter.

After listening to the testimony of Wu Jingyun’s two maids, Tang Shuyi remained silent for a long while before finally saying icily to Wu Jingyun, “You will break off your engagement with Yuxin. In three days, I will send someone to the Wu residence. Your task is to ensure that your father agrees smoothly to the dissolution, and not a word of dishonor about my Marquis’ residence should be

Wu Jingyun watched Tang Shuyi in disbelief. All this spectacle, from tying up her maidservant to the interrogation, was just to call off an engagement? Just for that?

She couldn't believe it.

Tang Shuyi read her expression and scoffed, "To cause a commotion that led the Liang family to storm my residence and to pull such a stunt today, a woman like you, I fear, is too much for my marquisate to handle."

Wu Jingyun's jaw dropped in shock. How could the marchioness possibly know she had sent a letter to the Liang family?

"If you wish your deeds to be unknown, commit them not at all," Tang Shuyi continued icily, "I'm not sure why you're so bent on breaking this engagement, whether you think my marquisate or Yu Chen has wronged you, but I won't delve into today's matters. Let's consider it a settling of scores between us. However, if in the future..."

Tang Shuyi paused, her gaze sharp as a blade upon Wu Jingyun, and warned, "If in the future you commit any actions detrimental to my marquisate, don't expect any courtesy from me."

Wu Jingyun's hands clenched into fists, shaking, and her knees trembled. The marchioness's aura was overwhelming, and she believed her threats were real.

But why should it be so? In her previous life, Xiao Yuchen had caused her so much harm. Why couldn't he suffer even the slightest retribution now that she had been reborn?

"Let them go," commanded Tang Shuyi.

No sooner had her words fallen than Cui Zhu and Cui Yun dragged Tao'er and Xing'er out, not bothering to untie them even outside. Wu Jingyun, leaning on the door for support, trembled violently. It took several deep breaths before she could walk unaided.

Approaching Tao'er and Xing'er, she began to untie them. As the ropes loosened, a figure charged over and, with a series of slaps, struck her face left and right.

"Wretch, a vicious creature born without a mother's love," Madam Wu pointed at Wu Jingyun with fury in her eyes, "They say the biting dog doesn't bark, and it's so true!"

"Mother, why do you strike me? Because I'm not your own flesh and blood, do I deserve your slaps and scolding?" Wu Jingyun, clutching her burning face, teared up, "When I get home, I'll have father judge this matter."

"Oh, let your father also know what a venomous daughter his beloved former wife bore him." Madam Wu felt like killing Wu Jingyun right then and there.

If her daughter had been involved with Xiao Yuchen, it would have been one thing, but now it seemed to be with a monk. What was she to do? Should she marry her off or not?

"On what grounds do you call me venomous? What proof do you have?" Wu Jingyun's question was a probe, her confidence in her past actions shaken after the marchioness's interrogation.

But her question caught Madam Wu off guard, leaving her speechless for a moment before she managed, "If you did nothing, why would the marchioness have your maidservants tied up?"

"They were tied up for offending the marchioness," Wu Jingyun replied. She guessed that Tang Shuyi wouldn't concern herself with what happened next.

Madam Wu, of course, didn't believe her and hurried inside, grabbing Tang Shuyi's hand and crying, "Marchioness, my Jing Shu's fate is so bitter, please help her."

Tang Shuyi gently pushed her away, saying coldly, "Madam Wu, your reasons for inviting me to Chongguang Temple are quite clear to me. My coming here was simply going with the flow. The matters of the Wu family should be resolved behind closed doors. It's not appropriate for an outsider like me to interfere."

With that, she strode outside, passing by Wu Jingyun without a glance, and Xiao Yuchen did the same.

In an instant, only the members of the Wu family remained in the courtyard.