Chapter 77 You’re Even More Foolish Than He Is

Chapter 77 You're Even More Foolish Than He Is

The sounds of the cane continued, but Master Zhang's muffled groans gradually subsided until there was silence.

Nurse Zhang lifted the curtain and entered, dropping to her knees in panic. "Old Madam," she exclaimed, "the beating must cease! The fifth young master has fainted!"

"How many strikes?" the old lady inquired, her voice quivering intensely.

"Th-thirty," Nurse Zhang stammered.

"Douse him with water and continue," Old Madam Zhang commanded sternly.

"Grandmother, please no more," Wu Jingyun pleaded, kneeling and clutching the hem of the old lady's robe, tears streaming down her face. She truly realized her error this time. Having grown up with the fifth young master, she held no romantic feelings for him but regarded him as her own brother. Seeing him beaten to unconsciousness tore at her heart.

Old Madam Zhang looked down at her. "You've committed many wrongs before, and both the Lady Marquis and Lord Xiao showed mercy, not holding you accountable. That's why you've never felt the pain. Now you understand, don't you?"

"Continue the punishment," Old Madam Zhang ordered again.

"Grandmother," Wu Jingyun cried again, but the old lady remained unmoved. Turning to Tang Shuyi, Wu Jingyun approached and knelt before her, "Lady Marquis, I beg you..."

"Silence!" Old Madam Zhang reprimanded sharply. Wu Jingyun, kneeling before Tang Shuyi, wept without uttering another plea for mercy.

The sound of the paddle striking flesh resonated from outside. Tang Shuyi, looking down at Wu Jingyun kneeling before her, sighed, "Miss Wu, your grandmother is right. Pain felt in the flesh and heart brings true understanding. Let's not discuss your grievances with your stepmother and stepsister. When you drugged your stepsister and Abbot Changjing, did you consider the consequences for the women of your Wu family if your actions were exposed? Your stepmother and stepsister may have wronged you, but have your kinswomen? If they are disgraced, abandoned, or unable to marry because of this, shouldn't they seek revenge upon you? The affair between your stepsister and Abbot Changjing was your doing. How will you bear the consequences once it's known? You lost your mother at a young age, and your grandmother has taught you much. Many in the capital are aware. If this comes to light, might they say your grandmother failed in your upbringing, that the daughters of the Zhang family lack proper manners?"

Wu Jingyun knelt, weeping, as the sounds of punishment continued outside, blending into a mournful symphony. Yet Tang Shuyi remained unmoved; misdeeds warranted retribution.

Old Madam Zhang's voice then rose, "It is indeed my failure in guidance. Tomorrow, I'll take her to the country estate to live for two years before she returns."

"Grandmother," Wu Jingyun cried out, then collapsed, weeping inconsolably on the ground.

Old Madam Zhang, in her sixties, faced harsh conditions at the country estate. Yet Tang Shuyi offered no objection. This was the old lady's decision, a sacrifice for her granddaughter.

The sounds of punishment ceased outside. Moments later, the fifth young master, his garments stained with blood and barely clinging to life, was carried in. Wu Jingyun rushed to his side, gripping his arm and weeping heart-wrenchingly.

The fifth young master slowly opened his eyes, mustering a smile. With all his strength, he whispered, "Cousin, if I break off my engagement with Miss Zhao, would you marry me?"

Wu Jingyun, unsure how to respond, was still haunted by Tang Shuyi's words about the peril she had almost brought upon the women of the Wu family.

Seeing her hesitation, the fifth young master seemed to guess her thoughts and added, "If I break the engagement, I will have wronged Miss Zhao. I'll let her stab me as penance."

Upon hearing this, Tang Shuyi nearly laughed aloud. Miss Zhang was indeed unlucky to be betrothed to him. But she should be grateful for his willingness to break the engagement.

This translation aims to convey the dramatic and emotional nuances of the original text while preserving the cultural context and hierarchical relationships characteristic of the setting.

Unable to bear witnessing any further, Tang Shuyi rose to her feet and addressed the elder lady Zhang, “Madam Zhang, we shall take our leave now.”

Xiao Yuchen followed suit, standing up as well.

Elder Lady Zhang also got to her feet, “Marchioness, I truly apologize for all the inconvenience caused to you and the young master.”

“I just hope such incidents don't recur,” Tang Shuyi remarked, unable to speak harshly upon seeing the tired, aged face of Elder Lady Zhang.

“I shall discipline them more strictly,” Elder Lady Zhang affirmed, casting a firm glance at Wu Jingyun.

“Very well, we bid you farewell,” Tang Shuyi said, moving to Xiao Yuchen’s side, offering him support with her hand.

“Mother, I’m alright,” Xiao Yuchen remarked, glancing at the stretcher-bound Zhang Wugongzi and the kneeling, weeping Wu Jingyun, a complex emotion stirring within him.

Today, witnessing the ordeal of Zhang Wugongzi and Wu Jingyun from a bystander’s perspective, he found Zhang Wugongzi’s actions to frame him for Wu Jingyun’s sake, leading to this day's events, not only unworthy but outright foolish. He wondered, did others perceive him just as foolish?

Meanwhile, a commotion erupted outside, followed by a woman in her thirties or forties, bursting through the curtains. Upon seeing Zhang Wugongzi on the stretcher, she rushed over, crouched down, and burst into tears, exclaiming, “You misfortune bringer!”

“Aunt,” Wu Jingyun cried out with tears streaming down her face, but before she could finish, the lady slapped her fiercely, saying, “I’ve treated you as my own daughter all your life, is this how you repay me?”

“Aunt, it’s all my fault,” Wu Jingyun sobbed.

“Of course it's your fault. Let me tell you, to become my daughter-in-law, it would be over my dead body,” the lady seethed with venomous hatred.

Tang Shuyi, not wanting to get involved in others’ family affairs, bid farewell to Elder Lady Zhang and left the hall with Xiao Yuchen. Outside, the sedan chair was ready, and Changming rushed to Xiao Yuchen's side, his face etched with concern. Xiao Yuchen reassured him, “I’m fine.”

“Let’s go.”

Tang Shuyi also boarded the sedan, and the mother and son reached the Zhang family's gate, where the Marquis’s carriage awaited. Tang Shuyi placed a cushion beside Xiao Yuchen, urging him to rest against it. Xiao Yuchen leaned against the carriage wall and looked at Tang Shuyi, “Mother, do you think I’m as foolish as Zhang Wugongzi?”

“No,” Tang Shuyi replied, “You’re even more foolish than he is.”

Xiao Yuchen: “……”

Tang Shuyi continued, “Zhang Wugongzi betrayed you, and once exposed, at worst he got beaten. But the things you've done, if exposed, you know the consequences without me saying them.”

Xiao Yuchen lowered his head, realizing he hadn’t thought things through before; perhaps he had, but believed his family could smooth things over for him.

Tang Shuyi went on, “Although Wu Jingyun doesn’t harbor romantic feelings for Zhang Wugongzi, she has sibling-like affection for him. She probably never intended to harm him. But what about Li Biqin?”

"She..."

"Listen to me," Tang Shuyi interrupted him, continuing, "If she truly harbored deep affection for you, she should consider your wellbeing. She shouldn't expose you to risks or strain your relations with your family because of her. But what has she done? She knows well that if she were to leave, you wouldn't be implicated. Yet, she chose to stay in the capital, living in luxury at your expense. She's aware that I didn't want her to enter our Marquis Mansion, but she's set her mind on getting in."

"She..."

Xiao Yuchen wanted to defend her but found that anything he said would seem pale in comparison.