Chapter One Hundred and Fifty-Nine: Bringing Good News

Chapter One Hundred and Fifty-Nine: Bringing Good News

Under the overcast and pale sky, the crumbling Taoist temple looked especially desolate, with faint daylight glinting off the broken wooden beams lying across the courtyard.

Suddenly, an unidentified bird darted across the sky, emitting eerie cries that heightened the eerie and mysterious atmosphere.

The hatred and murderous intent in Madam Sun's eyes seemed to fade with the bird's call, replaced by profound numbness and indifference.

She bent down to gather a handful of withered weeds, then sat back on the stone bench and started humming an indistinct melody.

Lu Mingchao pressed her lips together and frowned, averting her gaze and turning her attention back to the fuming Old Master Sun and Qu Ying. "Concubine Qu."

"What a coincidence to run into Concubine Qu here. I wonder who this wide-eyed gentleman beside you is? Is he your father?"

Lu Mingchao asked with utmost seriousness, her voice laced with genuine confusion.

Qu Ying's anger and resentment stiffened on her face, and she lowered her gaze with an unnatural look. "Are you blind? This is my father-in-law."

Lu Mingchao's face lit up with sudden realization, and she drawled, "So it is. The bond between Concubine Qu and her father-in-law runs quite deep."

The term "Concubine Qu" struck Qu Ying like a sharp blade, leaving her utterly exposed.

Qu Ying instinctively edged away from Old Master Sun.

"This humble junior pays her respects to Old Master Sun," Lu Mingchao bowed from a distance.

Old Master Sun snarled, "Murderer."

Lu Mingchao smiled softly, "Old Master Sun, you jest. I am but a humble soul, unworthy of such a title."

"It is widely known in Changhe County that Old Master Sun and Madam Sun have been cultivating their minds and bodies in this suburban Taoist temple, praying for the soul of the Sun family's prematurely deceased second young master. Their parental devotion is universally admired."

"However, it seems that Old Master Sun and Madam Sun's future cultivation will become increasingly bitter and impoverished."

Old Master Sun's heart tightened, and he couldn't help but ponder the meaning behind Lu Mingchao's words.

He knew that his eldest son had been repeatedly thwarted by Lu Mingchao's relentless pressure. Could it be that the Sun family's business had encountered another setback?

"What do you mean?"

Lu Mingchao spoke in a calm tone, succinctly recounting the news of the Sun family's grain warehouse being damp and moldy, Sun Zhiye being reported by Granny Xing, Du Zhong taking the blame on his behalf, and the Sun family's grain shops being deserted.

Finally, she casually concluded, "Whether the Jade String Gentleman can revive the Sun family remains to be seen. Old Master Sun should prepare himself mentally."

"As the saying goes, 'Ginger is spicier when it's old.' Perhaps it is time for Old Master Sun to step in and save the day."

Old Master Sun looked skeptical, half-believing and half-doubting.

Madam Sun, as if unaware of the bitterness, chewed on the weeds and wailed insanely, "Retribution, it's all retribution."

"Shut up!" Old Master Sun's veins bulged on his forehead.

"Xie Lu Shi, your presence here today is no accident, nor is it a coincidence, is it?"

"What evil scheme are you brewing now?"

Lu Mingchao's gaze deepened, and she meaningfully glanced at Qu Ying's flat abdomen. "I originally came bearing good news, but it seems Old Master Sun no longer needs it."

Qu Ying couldn't help but feel a surge of panic.

She always felt that Lu Mingchao seemed to have guessed something.

But what could she do? A helpless woman, tossed around like a mere object, had to find a reliance for herself.

After that night with him, her elder cousin gave her the position of a concubine.

Before she could even savor the moment, she heard that the second young master of the Sun family had committed suicide in prison. Immediately after, rumors that he had killed his own brother spread throughout the streets and alleys. Her elder cousin, maintaining his innocence, personally handled the funeral arrangements with utmost care.

After the second young master of the Sun family was buried and the white funeral banners were taken down, she was sent to a dilapidated Taoist temple in the wilderness to live a dreary and harsh existence, serving her aunt and uncle as a maid, enduring beatings and verbal abuse without a word of protest.

Since childhood, she had never done a day’s work in her life.

Even while living in the Sun residence, she was pampered and cared for.

But after coming to the temple, she had to do all the chores herself.

At the moment when she nearly fell into the well at the foot of the mountain while fetching water, all her hopes were dashed.

She soberly realized that being abandoned to her fate was the last act of mercy her elder cousin had shown her.

She had lost everything; how could she simply be cast aside?

"Good news?" Old Master Sun sneered, "The best news would be your death to avenge my son."

Xie Yan’s expression hardened. He kicked a pebble at his feet, and it flew past Old Master Sun's cheek, embedding itself into the wooden door of the side room.

"A murderer must pay with their own life."

"Who is the murderer? Shouldn’t Old Master Sun know better than anyone?"

Old Master Sun's cheek burned with pain. He raised his hand to touch it, and his hand was smeared with blood.

"You!" Old Master Sun's pupils contracted, filled with terror and disbelief.

Madam Sun stopped her wailing and forced herself to swallow weeds mixed with dirt and sand.

She had heard it.

On that night when the cold wind howled, she had blacked out but was still somewhat conscious.

She had heard the words, "Mother is too naive; let her think the second brother killed himself."

So, from beginning to end, she knew that Peng'er did not die by cutting his wrist with a piece of pottery.

A murderer must pay with their life?

Could she let her eldest son pay for the life of her second son?

She could not, and she dared not.

She pretended not to hear and kept her mouth shut, struggling through until Peng'er was buried.

Zhi Ye, disregarding her illness, hurried her out of the city. The temple was bitterly cold, and Zhi Ye didn’t care in the least whether her condition would worsen.

If only...

If only her Peng'er were still here...

A look of pain flashed through Madam Sun's eyes, her eyes reddened, and tears streamed down her face.

She made a mistake.

Lu Mingchao glanced at Madam Sun silently shedding tears, but felt little emotion.

A den of wolves and tigers, each as bad as the other.

Does she really have to find the cleanest water in a filthy ditch?

Madam Sun wasn’t so composed when she had Qu Ying push her into the icy lake.

"A Yan, let's go."

Lu Mingchao called softly.

Qu Ying protested, "A crude hunter hurts someone and just plans to leave like this?"

"A foul mouth will get its comeuppance." Lu Mingchao glanced at Qu Ying indifferently, a few copper coins falling onto the bluestone, bouncing up and down, making crisp sounds. "And Concubine Qu, you should see a doctor for a check-up. Don’t ignore your health."

"If it’s too much trouble to go down the mountain or into the city, I can let Jade String Gentleman know, so he can witness this touching bond between father-in-law and daughter-in-law."

"Concubine Qu, while you’re looking after your father-in-law, don’t forget your mother-in-law. After all, Madam Sun is your aunt."

Qu Ying's face turned pale instantly, her teeth chattering as she tried to maintain composure. "I don’t need your phony concern. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be in this mess. You'd better stay far away from our Sun family."

Lu Mingchao tutted softly. "Did I tell you to push me into the icy lake? Did I force you to climb into Jade String Gentleman's bed? Or did I force you..."

"Enough, enough!" Qu Ying lunged at Lu Mingchao, wanting to tear her mouth apart.

Lu Mingchao remained calm. "Careful, Concubine Qu, watch your step."

Willing to be driven and dispatched.