Chapter 370: Even Father’s Persuasion Doesn’t Work

Chapter 370: Even Father’s Persuasion Doesn’t Work

"Young Mistress."

Inside *Guangji Temple*, after the coffin was brought in, a young man wearing armor dismounted from his horse and approached Lu Lingyun.

He was around twenty-two or twenty-three, with weathered skin and an upright posture. His eyes and brows carried the sharpness of someone who had been on the battlefield and seen blood, completely different from the pampered youths who roamed the streets of the Imperial City.

Lu Lingyun, seeing Cheng Qi after a long time, managed a smile amidst the series of misfortunes in the Marquis’s Mansion, "Uncle Cheng, you’re back."

"I couldn’t protect Uncle," Cheng Qi said, feeling a pang of guilt upon hearing Lu Lingyun’s words.

Lu Lingyun’s eyes were heavy, "On the battlefield, weapons are indiscriminate, and the enemy is ruthless. Uncle Cheng, you’ve done very well. Father defended our home and country, giving his life for the nation. He is truly our role model."

At that moment, Qingfeng hurried over, "Young Mistress! The Crown Prince refuses to come out!"

Hearing this, Lu Lingyun frowned.

The returning soldiers had a fixed time to enter the city gates, before noon. Lu Lingyun had only asked Cheng Qi to make time to bring the old Marquis before they entered the city gates.

There wasn’t much time to waste.

Then, Cheng Qi asked, "Young Mistress, what’s going on?"

Lu Lingyun looked gravely towards the tightly closed courtyard, "Your brother is planning to become a monk!"

Cheng Qi: "??!"

With time running out, Lu Lingyun was about to order someone to force the door open when Cheng Qi volunteered, "Young Mistress, let me talk to him."

Hearing this, Lu Lingyun looked up at him, "Alright, thanks, Uncle Cheng."

"We’re family, no thanks needed."

After saying this, Cheng Qi strode into Cheng Yunshuo’s courtyard and knocked loudly on the door, "Brother, it’s Cheng Qi!"

His voice received a response from inside.

"Patron Cheng, you should also go back. I will not change my mind."

Hearing the calm voice from inside, especially the opening address of "Patron Cheng," Cheng Qi was both speechless and furious.

He had been defending the country with his uncle at the border, fighting through carnage, risking his life against the barbarians every day. And what about Cheng Yunshuo?

Not only did he stay safely in the Imperial City, but he also wanted to become a monk!

He angrily banged on the door, "All of us are guarding the honor of the Marquis’s Mansion and the prosperity of the country. What are you doing! You have a good life but you want to become a monk. What about your family! Uncle returned in a shroud. Do you honor his sacrifice?"

After Cheng Qi’s questioning, there was a moment of silence in the room. After a while, the old bell-like voice sounded again, "Patron Cheng, everyone has their own path, and everyone has their own karma. Coming and going in the mortal world, in the end, it’s all a fleeting existence."

Cheng Qi: "..."

Damn, he’s got a way with words.

So everyone has to die, that’s everyone’s destination, right!

Dead is dead, it’s all the same!

"Get out here now! Stop spouting all this nonsense! If you don’t come out, I’ll break down your door!"

"Patron Cheng, I will not come out. You may break my door today, but you cannot break the door to my heart. My intention is towards the Great Path, even in death, I shall follow the Dharma. The Buddha is compassionate."

Cheng Qi: "..."

He was tempted to end his life right there.

He was completely shaming the name of the Ningyang Marquis, ruining his father's lifelong legacy!

But Cheng Qi was also left speechless by Cheng Yunshuo. He spoke more gently, "Brother, I have brought Uncle back for you. Even if you are set on becoming a monk, you should at least see your father one last time."

From inside came Cheng Yunshuo's calm voice, "Amitabha, I am currently reciting the mantra for the Lord Marquis. He resides in my heart."

Cheng Qi: "..."

He was utterly speechless.

"Men! Break down this door!"

Cheng Qi called out, and his subordinates rushed forward, kicking down the flimsy door with a resounding crash.

After breaking through the door, everyone saw Cheng Yunshuo, bald and sitting cross-legged on a cushion, fingering prayer beads and chanting sutras. A large crowd burst in, but he remained utterly impassive.

His eyes remained tightly shut, refusing to open.

Cheng Qi was furious. He lunged forward and seized Cheng Yunshuo, dragging him out.

"Your father is back, go see him!"

"Do you even know how your father died? At that time, the barbarians were making their last stand, and we couldn't break through. Uncle, despite his severe illness, put on his armor and led the charge. It was his rallying cry that lifted our spirits and led us to victory!"

"Without him, who knows how many more would have died in that battle!"

"He sacrificed himself for all of us. How could a hero like him father a coward like you!"

Cheng Qi shouted angrily, but Cheng Yunshuo, still being dragged, remained with his eyes tightly shut.

He softly chanted, "Namo Amitabha, Namo Amitabha..."

The mantra of rebirth kept flowing from his lips, but he refused to open his eyes.

Cheng Qi felt as if he had punched a heavy bag of cotton. He grabbed Cheng Yunshuo's collar and tried to pry his eyes open, "If you have any conscience at all, open your eyes!"

At this moment, a sigh came from the crowd.

"Cheng Qi, let it go."

Lu Lingyun interjected.

She looked at Cheng Yunshuo, who was forcibly dragged out and placed in front of the old Marquis's body, yet still refused to open his eyes. Her eyes brimmed with utter disappointment.

Enough, let it go.

In his previous life, he could abandon his family and elope with Xing Dairong. In this life, he could do something as absurd as giving up everything to become a monk.

He had always been an extremely selfish person.

Anyone who placed their hopes on him would be disappointed.

Even Lu Lingyun had never held any expectations for him, only hoping he could quietly maintain the family's facade. But his selfishness and self-absorption had shattered even that faint hope.

As Cheng Yunshuo continued his ceaseless chanting of scriptures, Lu Lingyun looked away and said, "Please keep today's events to yourselves. Let us first escort old Marquis into the city. Lingyun thanks you all!"

Lu Lingyun bowed to Cheng Qi and the assembled officers.

Cheng Yunshuo was set on becoming a monk, and Lu Lingyun had stopped trying to dissuade him, but this matter could not be easily disclosed.

Old Marquis had returned in a coffin, and the court was about to discuss rewards for meritorious service. If it were known at this critical moment that Cheng Yunshuo had become a monk, he would be condemned as unfilial!

Her priority now was to handle the fallout.

Seeing Lu Lingyun bow, the majority of the crowd, who were old subordinates of the Ningyang Marquis's household, along with some of Cheng Qi's men, dared not accept the gesture and all returned the bow.

"The young mistress is too gracious."

Cheng Qi looked at Lu Lingyun and also returned the bow, "Sister-in-law, don’t worry, we won’t say a word."

"Thank you, Second Uncle," Lu Lingyun said gratefully, then turned her gaze to the heavy coffin.

"Let’s start the funeral procession and take the Ningyang Marquis back to the capital!"

With no son to lead the mourning, Lu Lingyun called out for old Marquis.

Lu Lingyun led everyone on the journey to the capital. After the coffin was carried away, Cheng Yunshuo remained kneeling in place, his eyes tightly shut, continuously reciting the mantra for the dead.