Chapter 69: All or Nothing
"What evil things are you planning?" Yanru glanced inside and asked warily.
"Don't say such harsh words. What do you mean by harboring bad intentions?" Xue Jia complained. "My foster father and Zheng Sirui have some misunderstandings. I want you to help ask her out so we can meet and talk and explain things clearly."
Yanru looked at Xue Jia. Honestly, she didn't believe it was as simple as just "meeting and talking to explain the misunderstanding," so she said, "Why don't you just go to the Zheng Mansion and deliver the invitation yourself? Why do you have to send me out?"
Xue Jia said, "Isn't she unwilling to meet other men? You invited her out for dinner with Shao Yanei before, but she ignored you. It's no use for us to send invitations, so we came to you." Seeing Yanru's contempt, he pointed to the sky and the earth and swore, "Really? Why would I lie to you? She is an official appointed by the court. What can my adoptive father really do to her? Killing an official appointed by the court means the punishment of three generations of the clan and exile for three thousand miles."
Yanru rolled her eyes and said, "Mr. Xue, don't forget that two years ago, Zheng Sirui broke off her friendship with me when she was imprisoned to help your adoptive father. We haven't seen each other for a long time. Are you sure it would be helpful to find me?"
Xue Jia thought without hesitation: "Of course there is! The friendship between you two is clear to others, but am I? You saved her back then, and she is now living a comfortable life and holding an official position, isn't it all because of you? It's been more than two years, such a long time, and we've only just met, what misunderstanding can't be explained? - Hey, those rumors last time were just some jokes that my adoptive father and some adults made after drinking, and someone misheard them. So my adoptive father also wants to take this opportunity for you to ask her out, apologize, and make things clear - let's meet at Tiekan Temple, in a temple, what can go wrong?"
Yanru wavered a little and tried to test him: "Then, if I really help Mr. Shi, will you really not divorce me?"
Xue Jia was startled, gritted his teeth, and said softly, "Of course! You helped my family by helping my adoptive father, and you are a great contributor to the Xue family! Since you are a great contributor, how could I abandon you so easily? You and I are husband and wife, sharing the same bed. I was wrong a few days ago, blinded by greed and treated you badly. It is my fault. My adoptive father also scolded my mother just now. He said that you are a virtuous and kind bride, and there is no other like you within hundreds of miles. You are so beautiful, well-read, and a goddess of painting. He told me not to lose the watermelon to pick up sesame seeds, and to treat you well in the days to come."
"Hmph, it's a wonder there's still someone in this world with eyes and a conscience willing to speak a fair word." Yanru snorted coldly, pondering it carefully: Xue Jia's vows were as stinky as a cat's fart, so she could only believe a third of it. But the temptation of "not divorcing" was too great—certainly not because she loved her husband. Every day when she woke up from a dream and saw his face, she had to close her eyes again and take four or five deep breaths to ensure she didn't vomit. She wasn't crazy, so who would fall in love with Xue Jia?
But she really had nowhere to go. Going back to her parents' home in Jinling was a place she had to go to with a thick face when she had no other choice. While she was still in the capital, her mother Qian Peilan had already written a three-page long letter, scolding Yanru: "Useless, trash, can't even tie down a stupid man", "You used the family's money to study in two academies, but you are still a stupid idiot who is so stupid that even Buddha can't forgive you", "You have less brains than the pigs in the pigpen on the street. If I had known you were so stupid, I would have thrown you into the pigpen and taken that sow out as my daughter", "Don't come back, there is no place for you to sleep at home, you can sleep under the stone bridge in the capital"! Yanru had hoped that her mother would at least comfort her after she suffered a divorce and betrayal, but every word in the letter was cruel and ruthless, breaking her daughter's heart. According to her mother's character, if she really went there, she would definitely be thrown out with her luggage. Even if I asked my uncle and aunt to give me a mat, my mother would come to the tofu shop and scold me for three days and three nights.
Moreover, although she had known for a long time that she was being divorced, she still hadn't thought about how to make a living in the future. Should she copy books for others like Zheng Sirui did when she was a child? No, her handwriting was terrible, who would buy books with characters that looked like chicken claws scratching? Should she sell embroidery like her mother? No, it was too tiring, she really couldn't do it; should she go to her aunt's house to help her uncle's family sell tofu? No way, it would be too embarrassing! She had fallen on hard times. After all, she was once a noble lady in the capital! A noble lady! How could a noble lady lower herself to set up a street stall to grind beans and sell tofu! Those people at Qiushui Academy would laugh at her as they laughed at Yi Bin. What woman could stand it? Besides, Yi Bin had a hard life, but at least she had her husband to snuggle with for warmth. You Yanru was an abandoned woman, a divorced wife, who could only fight on her own.
No matter how deplorable the Xue Mansion was, no matter how filthy the Shi family house behind it was, no matter how unclean the Dai Garden was, even to the point where the stone lions at the gate were stained with mud, at least she was there, well-fed and well-dressed, without having to toil and work for a living. The vine is a female vine, lending itself to the pines and cypresses. From childhood, You Yanru had been taught that women were vines, and if they wanted to live a comfortable and respectable life, they always had to rely on a pine or cypress as their vassal. Only worthless girls relied on their own strength to make a living.
She couldn't, she couldn't, she couldn't. She wanted to hold on to her old life, to everything she had. She had invested so much in the Xue family marriage, and had lost so much. It wasn't worth it to withdraw in disgrace. Weighing the pros and cons, she was willing to be a gambler, to go all in, to become "Mrs. You" once again.
Even if there is a price to pay, it is not a big deal.
Yanru made up her mind and emphasized: "Are you really just asking her out for a meeting?"
Xue Jia said, "Really."
Yanru continued, "If I succeed in this, you really won't divorce me?"
"Not only will I not divorce you," Xue Jia swore, "I will also support you. Whatever fur coat or gold hairpin you want to buy, I will grant you anything."
"Okay." Yanru said, "I'll help you. It doesn't take seven days, four days will be enough. After four days, I'll ask her out."
Xue Jia asked, "Four days will do? Why?"
Yanru lowered her eyes, and her cold voice was filled with a hint of regret and sadness:
"Because four days from now, it will be the first day of our classes at Qiushui Academy ten years ago."
Without hesitation, in the evening, Yanru dressed up and went out. She deliberately did not bring a carriage, and went to the gate of Zheng Mansion alone, waiting for Zheng Sirui to finish her work. The timing was perfect, and before a cup of tea, Zheng Sirui's carriage had already galloped up. Yanru went to meet it and stopped the carriage suddenly. Zheng Sirui looked out from inside and asked in confusion: "We are only a few steps away from the door, why did Uncle Li stop - You Yanru? Why are you here?"
Yanru cried, "Si Rui, I'm divorced. I was kicked out by those bastards in the Xue Mansion." She took out the divorce letter from her bosom, and deliberately covered the part at the end that was not signed with her finger, and showed it to the other party.
Yanru had put her trust in the wrong person. In fact, Zheng Sirui had anticipated this outcome for Yanru long ago. But when the day finally came, Zheng Sirui was still surprised: "What about you, what will happen next?"
Yanru lamented, "I don't know. Let's go back to Jinling first. If my mother kicks me out, I'll go do laundry and mending, and make a living."
Zheng Sirui said, "That's fine. It's better than living under someone else's roof in the Xue Mansion. Okay, I got it. Have a safe trip." She indifferently pulled down the carriage curtain. Yanru hurriedly pulled her back, "Don't worry! Don't leave yet."
Zheng Sirui hesitated, clutching the car curtain: "Anything else?"
Yanru's voice was tinged with tears as she said, "Si Rui, I'm about to leave the capital. I don't know when I'll be able to come back and see you again."
Zheng Sirui said decisively, "No need. I told you, I've severed all ties with you. We haven't seen each other for two or three years, and we can continue to do so in the future. Uncle Li, let's go."
Yanru frantically grabbed her bicycle frame and tried to stop her: "Si Rui, Si Rui, do you remember what day it is four days from now?"
Zheng Sirui counted on her fingers and said sadly, "It's our first day of school at Qiushui."
"Yes," Yanru said, "It happened so fast, really, so fast. These days I keep thinking about the past. Do you remember that first winter when I arrived in the capital, Liu Lang took you and me to Tiekan Temple to burn incense and pray for your success in the imperial examination? Four days from now, let's burn incense at Tiekan Temple! That day happens to be a holiday, so you don't have to go to the government office to work. We'll have a vegetarian meal at Tiekan Temple, then stay overnight. We'll go down the mountain the next day, and then I'll take a boat back to Nanjing."
"No, I'm too lazy." Zheng Sirui stretched out her hand to push Yanru away, but she grabbed her hand and held it tightly. She heard her cry, "Sirui, I know, I'm so sorry for you! It's understandable that you don't want to forgive me, but I really, really want to leave. I really, really can't bear to leave you and the days I've spent in the capital. Please, stay with me one last time!"
Zheng Sirui pulled her hand away with all her might, turned her head away, and said nothing. Yanru knew she was wavering, so she struck while the iron was hot and said coquettishly, "Sirui, please, accompany me one more time. It's just you and me, no one else. Just for this, just for this, ten years ago, I saved you, stole my mother's money to buy you medicine, and was beaten by my mother until I couldn't get out of bed. For this, can you accompany me to Tiekan Temple?"
Yanru knew best how to hit Zheng Sirui's soft spot. As expected, Zheng Sirui softened her heart and reluctantly agreed, "Okay, see you at Tiekan Temple in four days." With that, she pulled down the curtain, called for the coachman, and drove off. Yellow dust flew, leaving Yanru stranded.
Xue Jia appeared from nowhere and asked happily, "Did she really agree?"
"I told her she would definitely agree to my request." Yanru asked again to confirm, "Your adoptive father really just wants to explain things to her, right?"
Xue Jia nodded his head repeatedly, slightly impatient. "I've said this a thousand times. First, go to Tiekan Temple with her, eat, drink, enjoy the scenery, stay overnight, make her happy, relax, and feel better. The next day, my adoptive father will come out to see her, talk to her, explain things clearly, and be friends. It will be easier and simpler. Isn't this what we agreed on a long time ago? I've also made arrangements for Tiekan Temple and selected the most expensive vegetarian dishes for you!"
Yanru was slightly relieved: "Okay. She recognizes you and Long'er. Tomorrow she will choose a groom who looks unfamiliar to her family and send me over."
Without returning to Daiyuan, Yanru rested directly at Xue's residence. Perhaps it was the sheer joy and sorrow of the day, her heart was in turmoil, and she tossed and turned all night long. Finally, at dawn, she boarded a carriage and arrived at the foot of Qingxiu Mountain.
Zheng Sirui arrived early and stood by the pavilion where they were resting. Caiyuan, her eyes rolling and twitching, was beside her. Seeing Yanru, she said sarcastically, "My lord, burn incense and pray to the Buddha with her. Tonight, you should listen to the monks chanting more to get rid of the bad luck."
I really want to tear this little girl's mouth apart. She's just as disgusting as the lowly person who grew up with Yi Bin! Yanru rolled her eyes in response and said to Zheng Sirui, "Let's go."
People's hearts are different, and flowers have different reds. The three of them, silent and speechless, each with their own thoughts, headed straight for the mountain. Fortunately, there were few people today, so the journey was fast and unimpeded. They arrived at the Tiekan Temple, where a short monk greeted them, saying, "Amitabha, three female donors, the food and rooms are all ready. Please follow me."
They clasped their hands together and followed the monk inside. The dining room was set in a quiet area surrounded by bamboo. Zheng Sirui told Caiyuan not to leave and to join her for dinner. The three of them sat down. Yanru filled Zheng Sirui's cup with tea and said, "Alcohol is not allowed in the temple. I'll offer you a cup of tea instead."
Zheng Sirui drank it, took a bite of vegetarian food, and said nothing.
Yanru said, "Thinking about it, I really don't know what to say. After I got married, I often came here to burn incense and pray for blessings. Except for that winter day before the imperial examination, I have never come here with you again."
Zheng Sirui said coldly, "After you got married, your house was full of guests, welcoming and sending off guests every day; while I was exhausted by paperwork and worried about official duties. You and I have no time, no leisure, and no desire to meet again."
Yanru tried to hold Zheng Sirui's hand, but Zheng Sirui pulled it back. She grabbed nothing and said awkwardly, "Do you still remember this day ten years ago? The teacher asked me a question, and I couldn't answer anything. If you hadn't handed me that little note, I'm afraid I would have been even more embarrassed."
"Remember." Zheng Sirui looked at her. "From the perspective of the Tao, there is no distinction between noble and humble things. From the perspective of things, one is noble and others are humble. From the perspective of common people, nobility and humbleness do not lie in oneself. The Master also said at the time that all things are not high or low, only the noble and humble of character. If you are ignorant at the moment, you must concentrate on it. Don't wait until the end and read Qiu Shui for three years without understanding what Zhuangzi is. So, Yanru, ten years have passed. Not to mention Zhuangzi, just this sentence, do you understand now?"
Yanru, who hadn't touched a drop of alcohol, blushed. She changed the subject, uttering through gritted teeth, "I'm sorry, Si Rui, I'm sorry."
Zheng Sirui asked, "What about yourself? Are you worthy of yourself?"
Yanru turned her head away: "I don't regret it."
Zheng Sirui sneered: "That's fine, as long as you have a clear conscience."
Yanru asked: "So? Can you forgive me?"
Zheng Sirui shook her head.
Yanru frowned anxiously, "Why? You can even forgive Lu Zhiling. Many people say that you have been in frequent contact with him recently, and you can even forgive him."
"You're not the only one who's done me a favor." Zheng Sirui met her gaze, then spoke frankly, "I forgive you, but what about the Master? I'm his student, and his reputation has been ruined because of you. How can I forgive you?"
Yanru argued: "I didn't do it on purpose!"
Zheng Sirui looked outside: "You didn't kill Boren, but Boren died because of you."
"Okay, okay. I can't go back. I can never go back." Yanru closed her eyes. "Then let's just go our separate ways after this meal."
They sat facing each other, heads lowered to pick up food, not saying another word, nothing more to say. The air was filled with endless regret, the only sound being the clinking of chopsticks against the disk. Zheng Sirui thought back to ten years ago, at Qiushui Academy, before Yanru and Ji Mingxiu met, and before Lu Zhiling visited the Master in Jinling. Every evening at the end of the monthly holiday, when the academy didn't prepare meals for the students, she could only eat porridge. Yanru would bring steamed buns, braised pork, and bamboo shoot soup from home to Zheng Sirui's room. They would sit facing each other, one reading while the other studied how to use rouge, quietly finishing the food on the table.
They didn't say a word, but their friendship was deep.
Yanru was indeed extremely unbearable, but ten years ago, she treated her really well.
Unfortunately, things have changed and people have changed. Just as Yanru said, they can never go back.
After this meal, let’s just go our separate ways.
There was no need to meet again. After dinner, the two went to the front hall to burn incense, then each returned to their own guest room. The sky darkened, and Yanru also felt drowsy. She lay in bed, sleeping soundly for a long time. Until the thunder roared, the wind howled, and the window opened, and a "bang" woke her.
Is it Zi hour now? Or Chou hour?
Yanru was dazed and climbed up in a daze. The moment she closed the window with her hand, she saw through the crack of the window that two men in straw raincoats were sneaking out of Zheng Sirui's room and working together to carry a tied-up person out.
"Boom—" Lightning flashed and thunder roared, tearing the night apart. The pale light made the ugliness in the world exposed. In an instant, Yanru seemed to have eight vertebrae separated from her body, and bone-chilling ice and snow poured into her spine.
Yanru saw clearly that the two men were her husband Xue Jia and her servant Long'er.
The person they were carrying was Zheng Sirui.
"Boom!" A burst of thunder roared. Yanru happened to have some flowers and plants planted in front of her window. The branches and leaves prevented anyone outside from seeing her, but they couldn't stop her from trembling all over as she watched Xue Jia hang Zheng Sirui by the waist onto Long'er and close the door again.
Yanru's heart was beating so hard it almost jumped out of her throat. She was most afraid of the dark, but somehow, with the courage she had found, she went out in the wind and thunder, following Xue Jialong'er, out of the temple and around the back.
Within a few steps, a torrential downpour began. The wind and rain were fierce and fierce, obscuring Yanru's whereabouts. Yanru, drenched, continued walking until they stopped at the edge of a cliff and set Zheng Sirui down. Yanru hid behind some rocks and trees. She recognized this place. Xue Jia had brought her and Yanbao here before to see the huge Guanyin statue that the imperial court had renovated.
The rain had died down a bit, and Yanru could only hear fragments of conversation between Xue Jia and Long'er, torn apart by the wind and rain. Long'er asked, "Da Lang, are we doing this here?"
Xue Jia disagreed: "What are you afraid of? My adoptive father allocates money to Tiekan Temple like water every year. Look how well-fed the abbot is! Tiekan Temple is just like Daiyuan."
Long Er, still feeling apprehensive, pointed to the gigantic Guanyin statue on the other side of the cliff and said, "No, Dalang, the Bodhisattva Guanyin is watching. Isn't that a good thing?"
Xue Jia was fearless: "What are you afraid of? It's just a big rock! It's not a human being. Even dogs can bark, but it can't! It can't tell anyone about our affairs."
Long Er was still afraid: "Then, that Da Lang, this Zheng Daren, she is awake! Can we at least make her unconscious?"
Xue Jia said, "You don't understand. The stuff we put in her and Caiyuan's bowls today is the finest Western Region drug. After taking it, her senses will be clear, but she won't be able to move. Let's untie her and throw her down, without anyone noticing. Even if her body is discovered, even the best coroner will only find injuries from a fall. They'll think she came here to see Guanyin, slipped, and accidentally fell. Come, let's untie her. Later, we'll go back and take the maid from the room and sell her to someone overnight. Hey - without anyone noticing, my adoptive father arranged this, and it's done!"
Long'er fiddled with the ropes around Zheng Sirui. It was dark, with no lights and their raincoats getting in the way, so the two men fiddled for a long time, completely unaware. Zheng Sirui stared, her eyes wide open, at a rocky bush.
"Boom!" Above the sky, the Dian Mu held a mirror in both hands and the Lei Gong beat the drum. The darkness was torn apart again, and Zheng Sirui saw with the help of the light.
She saw Yanru hiding behind, her hair standing on end, watching the murder.
The drug was terrifying. Zheng Sirui was covered in her mouth again, unable to speak. Her face was bloodshot, not knowing whether it was rain or tears. She looked at Yanru pleadingly. Yanru understood what her eyes were saying:
"Please, Yanru, save me, I'm afraid of heights, save me."
"Boom--" Yanru shrank into the stone wall, squatted with her back against it, and tremblingly pulled out the self-defense dagger that she had always kept in her arms.
Xue Jia and Long Er were unaware of her presence and untied the ropes without any precautions. If they had rushed out with a dagger, risked their lives, and stabbed randomly, they might have had a chance of survival.
The rain started to fall again. Yan, like a drop of rain, stretched her head out and saw Zheng Sirui still looking at her:
"Yanru, save me, I'm afraid of heights, save me."
In the winter ten years ago, she was lying on the hospital bed, unable to move, moaning, "Mom, it hurts." Ten years ago, Yanru took a deep breath, rushed home for her, and stole a few taels of silver ingots.
Ten years later, Yanru's blood was boiling. She grasped the dagger and was about to rush out to kill. Thunder roared again, deafening her ears. Yanru suddenly regained her senses.
She is no longer the same person she was ten years ago. If she rushes out and is subdued by Xue Jia and Long Er, she might even be thrown off the cliff. If she can really save Zheng Sirui, Xue Jia will be guilty of murdering a fifth-rank official of the imperial court, and as Xue Jia's wife, she will inevitably be exiled.
Moreover, if Zheng Sirui was truly saved, what would happen next? Without Xue Jia and the Xue family, who would she rely on for survival? Would she return to Jinling? Would she work and set up shop? Would she remarry? Would she still rely on Zheng Sirui? No, Zheng Sirui had already said that they were no longer friends, and she would not forgive Yanru. Furthermore, it was Yanru who had asked her out, and it was Yanru who had given Xue Jia this opportunity.
Zheng Sirui will never forgive her.
In this case, Xue Jia, the Xue family, and You Yanru were all on the same vine. Yanru didn't know what evidence Zheng Sirui had on Shi Jian, but she knew that since Shi Jian had sent Xue Jia to kill Zheng Sirui, if nothing happened, the Shi family's wealth would be preserved, and so would the Xue family's wealth. And she, You Yanru, would no longer be divorced and would not have to worry about her future. Even if Xue Jia dared to bring up the past, she could just use what happened tonight to threaten him.
Nothing is more important than one's power, wealth, and a comfortable life.
No.
What's more, they are no longer friends.
Yanru put away the dagger and stuck her head out again, her face as cold and ruthless as ever.
Zheng Sirui also understood and closed her eyes in despair. The once high-spirited women of the imperial court in the capital were now like lambs, bound and at the mercy of others.
"Boom--" The angry thunder god scattered hail, and the white part of the phoenix blood stone bracelet on Zheng Sirui's hand reflected a dazzling light.
Legend has it that there was an ancient bird-lion, vicious and aggressive. While foraging over Yuyan Mountain, it spotted a phoenix hatching eggs. Suddenly possessed by evil intent, it bit the phoenix. Upon hearing the news, the phoenix arrived and, united with the phoenix in their hatred, fought the lunatic. Although the phoenix ultimately triumphed, it was severely wounded, its blood staining Yuyan Mountain red, giving rise to this stone.
The phoenix blood stone bracelet is like its owner, and the owner is like the phoenix blood stone bracelet.
The ropes had all been untied. Xue Jia, mercifully, removed the gag and roughly brushed away the rain-stained hair from Zheng Sirui's face, telling her to be decent. He said, "Master Zheng, alas, why don't you just be a court lady for two years and then get married? Why are you trying to make things difficult for my adoptive father? Officials and merchants, who isn't greedy and trying to make money? You're from Jinling, not Yongzhou. They're taking Yongzhou's money, so what business do you have with a Jinling person like you? Alas, you're really asking for trouble. Okay, you're leaving. Goodbye, Master Zheng."
Long'er bowed to the Guanyin opposite him, chanting "Amitabha Amitabha" and grabbed Zheng Sirui's legs.
"Boom!" A fierce wind blew, dark clouds arose, and the sound of rain fell in the tall forest. The branches and shadows of the trees swayed fiercely. Across the cliff, the statue of Guanyin stood tall, wearing a celestial crown and celestial clothes, her eyebrows lowered and her eyes lowered, silent and unconscious, as if tacitly approving all evil.
Xue Jia grabbed Zheng Sirui's shoulders, and Long'er grabbed Zheng Sirui's feet. Like a lifeless sack, Zheng Sirui was thrown off the cliff silently.
[Narrative Thoughts]: Don’t be angry, don’t be angry, don’t be angry, don’t be angry! Don’t stop being a fan, don’t stop being a fan, don’t abandon the article, don’t abandon the article, don’t abandon the article!
The second female lead can also be at the table, the second female lead is also the protagonist! Don't give up on the article, don't give up on the article, don't give up on the article! There's still tomorrow, there's still tomorrow!!!
In fact, when I finished writing the third chapter, I had already thought of today's plot.
Don't be angry, don't be angry, don't be angry, don't be angry! Don't stop being a fan, don't stop being a fan, don't abandon the article, don't abandon the article, don't abandon the article!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
