Chapter 45: Do you still wish to marry your daughter off to a monk?

Chapter 45: Do you still wish to marry your daughter off to a monk?

After what had transpired with Wu Jingshu, Lady Wu dared not linger in Chongguang Temple for fear that news might leak out. Should even a whisper of the incident spread, not only would Wu Jingshu’s life be over, but the future of all Wu daughters would be imperiled.

The dilemma at hand was how to deal with Monk Changjing. Lady Wu considered letting him die but felt that for the moment, his death was not an option; he was her daughter’s last resort.

Upon entering Monk Changjing’s quarters, Lady Wu stood above him, looking down at the kneeling figure. He was indeed handsome, and it would have been wonderful if he had a respectable background, but alas, he was a rootless monk.

“My Lady, I don’t know how this happened, I am also a victim of someone’s scheme,” Changjing pleaded on his knees, genuinely a casualty of unwarranted misfortune.

“Even if you were set up, the fact remains, and you cannot escape the responsibility you must bear,” Lady Wu said through gritted teeth.

Kneeling and silent, Changjing was willing to accept his responsibility; he would even renounce monkhood to marry the young Miss if allowed. He thought this to be the best solution, but someone had just told him to flee. He didn’t believe the Wu family would kill him, yet he harbored his own schemes.

Lady Wu, in truth, was also at a loss for solutions, pacing the room anxiously, biting her lip. After a while, she said, “Now that it’s done, we shall return home. Stay here in the temple, and I will send someone for you later.”

That was the only option for now; they couldn’t kill Changjing yet nor could they detain him indefinitely. His absence would raise alarm in the temple eventually. They had to offer him some hope, to stabilize the situation.

Changjing breathed a sigh of relief; at least his life was not in danger for the moment.

Having temporarily resolved the matter with Monk Changjing, Lady Wu hastened home with her two daughters. As for Wu Jingyun, she couldn't care less; their relationship was now openly hostile, and she no longer intended to play the doting mother.

Throughout the journey, Wu Jingshu wept continuously. Lady Wu felt both fury at her daughter’s helplessness and heartache for the great ordeal she had suffered. Now, she was completely at a loss as to what to do next.

But no matter what, she was not going to let Wu Jingyun, that vile creature, get away with it.

The carriage arrived at the Wu residence by evening. Lady Wu didn’t head to the inner courtyard but went straight to Wu Guoliang’s study. Upon seeing him, she burst into tears.

Wu Guoliang had never seen her weep like this; startled, he quickly inquired about what had happened. Sobbing uncontrollably, Lady Wu recounted the events that took place at Chongguang Temple, conveniently omitting her own scheming, and blamed all of Wu Jingshu’s misfortunes on Wu Jingyun.

Wu Guoliang, upon hearing her account, felt his mind reel, almost fainting. He asked, “What did you say? Jingshu with... with a monk...?”

Lady Wu, crying, nodded, about to claim it was all Wu Jingyun’s doing and to beseech Wu Guoliang to take her side when he slapped her across the face and, trembling, pointed at her and exclaimed, “A fine daughter I entrusted to your care, and she ends up... ends up…”

“Master,” Lady Wu, disregarding the pain on her face, clutched at Wu Guoliang’s sleeve and cried, “Our Jingshu was victimized, she was framed...”

But Wu Guoliang was not moved by her tears. He paced the room, hand on his waist, and after a while, he asked, “How was the monk dealt with?”

Lady Wu hadn't expected such a reaction from him. Shouldn't he be asking who harmed her daughter? Sobbing, she said, "My lord, Jing Shu was harmed by someone, she..."

"Fool!" Wu Guoliang roared, "The most critical thing now is to cover this up, not a whisper of it should leak out. Tell me, how did you deal with that monk?"

Lady Wu was stunned by his outburst and took a moment to respond, detailing how she handled Monk Chang Jing. After listening, Wu Guoliang called her a fool again, then shouted towards the door, "Someone come here."

Immediately, his attendant pushed the door open and Wu Guoliang whispered a few instructions. The attendant quickly turned and left. Lady Wu overheard his order to have Monk Chang Jing killed.

"But, my lord, what about Jing Shu if he is killed?" Lady Wu asked.

Wu Guoliang turned to her with a look of incredulity, "Do you really want your daughter to marry a monk?"

"But..."

"No more 'buts'," Wu Guoliang interrupted her, "Does this mean that Lady Hou and Xiao Shizi are also aware?"

Lady Wu nodded. Wu Guoliang paced the room. Then there was a knock at the door, followed by Wu Jingyun's voice, "Father."

"Come in." Wu Guoliang's voice was impatient. Wu Jingyun let out a cold laugh, then composed herself, pushed the door open, and without a word, fell to her knees in front of Wu Guoliang.

Lady Wu glared at Wu Jingyun with venomous eyes, "It's useless for you to admit your fault now."

Wu Jingyun glanced at her with a stammer, then turned to Wu Guoliang, "Father, Lady Hou told my sister at Chongguang Temple that she wants to call off the marriage."

Wu Guoliang remained silent, scrutinizing his daughter. Although Feng had accused her of harming Jing Shu, he was somewhat skeptical, yet still harbored doubts.

"Father," Wu Jingyun, ignoring Wu Guoliang's skepticism, grabbed the hem of his robe and cried, "In front of Lady Hou, mother accused me of harming my sister. After what happened to her, Lady Hou said... said our Wu family has improper conduct, and wants to call off the marriage, wuu wuu wuu... Father, if I am rejected by the Hou family, how can I live!"

Wu Guoliang's eyes narrowed slightly, as if he hadn't heard Wu Jingyun's crying. What concerned him now wasn't the loss of Jing Shu's chastity, nor Wu Jingyun's potential rejection, but rather how to silence Lady Hou and Xiao Yuchen.

After a while, he said to Wu Jingyun, "Stand up."

Wu Jingyun stood up, only to hear Wu Guoliang ask, "Did Lady Hou mention when she would call off the marriage?"

Wu Jingyun wiped her tears, "She said in three days."

"My lord," seeing that Wu Guoliang had stopped talking about Jing Shu, Lady Wu pointed at Wu Jingyun and said, "Jing Shu has been harmed by her, aren't you going to do anything?"

"Mother, you keep saying I harmed my sister, do you have any evidence?" Wu Jingyun said.

Lady Wu replied, "Whether it was you or not, interrogating your maidservants will reveal the truth."

Wu Jingyun: “Mother, do you still intend to coerce a confession?”

"Enough," Wu Guoliang interrupted the quarrel between the two, his anger palpable, "At such a crucial time, you still bicker? Have you no shame? Can you not prioritize the gravity of this situation? Should today's events become public knowledge, you'd all be doomed. Leave, all of you!"

Mrs. Wu, teeth clenched in frustration, turned and left. Wu Jingyun paid her respects to Wu Guoliang hesitantly before departing. Outside, she saw Mrs. Wu staring at her with eyes sharp as knives. Wu Jingyun let out a mocking laugh, stepping past her and walking away.

"You little wretch, just you wait," Mrs. Wu called after the retreating figure of Wu Jingyun.

"If I am a wretch, what does that make your daughter who has dallied with a monk?" Wu Jingyun threw back the taunt before she left.

Her stepmother had yet to understand what her father truly valued.

Ah, her father, who valued nothing more than his reputation and his career.