Chapter 176: The Taoist Temple is Empty
Tian Dong was unwilling to dwell on what had happened and calmly said, "Whether this matter was related to Lu Dongjia or not, it is no longer the most critical issue at this moment."
"I beg you to follow my advice and we will go down the mountain overnight."
Sun Wude glanced at Tian Dong with a strange look in his eyes. "Your name is Lu Mingchao, Lu Dongjia?"
"You are very polite."
Winter is very hot.
This is a ridiculous question with no nutritional value.
The two sides are irreconcilable, but the Lu Ming Dynasty definitely deserves the title of Lu Dongjia!
Tian Dong bowed his hands, his clothes were like flying birds. "The eldest son said, courtesy is the principle of heaven, the righteousness of earth, and the conduct of the people."
Sun Wude sneered.
His eldest son was cruel and ruthless. He pretended to be gentle, courteous, and modest, but he did all kinds of dirty things, abandoning his brothers and sisters like discarding old clothes.
If there is gain by giving up, then that would be fine, but it is not the case.
Tiandong's heart felt like a huge rock was falling on it, gradually sinking to the bottom of the sea.
The old man's attitude towards the eldest son is terrifying when you think about it carefully.
Through the inky black night, Tian Dong gazed deeply at the flickering candlelight in the room. Above the window, a graceful figure was vaguely reflected.
Maybe the old man is not impatient, but has his own plans.
Sun Wude moved his feet and blocked Tiandong's sight. "Tiandong, who allowed you to be so presumptuous in front of the master?"
"Zhiye values you so much that he has returned your indenture to you and allowed you to be his subordinate. But don't get carried away and forget your identity."
Tiandong: Are you okay?
No, the old man is sick!
And the illness is not mild!
"The villain knows his mistake."
The situation is critical. Even for the sake of the eldest son, we cannot let the old man down.
Tian Dong took a step back, knelt on the ground with his knees, and lowered his head.
"I beg you to save the eldest son from this crisis. If the eldest son can escape safely, the rumors will be dispelled, and Sun Kee will be able to turn danger into safety, usher in new development opportunities, and rise rapidly."
Sun Wude put his hands behind his back and rubbed his fingertips, looking very wise and unpredictable. "It's useless to go down the mountain and return to the city late at night. I can't visit the prison or pay respect to the county magistrate."
"Zhiye's safety depends on me, so I must take care of myself."
"Tian Dong, you are too concerned."
"Peng'er committed suicide in the county jail based on the unanimous conclusion of the jailers, police officers, and coroners. The unquestionable prestige and reputation of the jail is Zhiye's best amulet."
"Unless it is absolutely necessary, County Magistrate Xu will not go back on his word."
Tiandong seemed to want to say something but stopped himself.
I can’t visit the prison, and I can’t pay homage to the county magistrate, but I can see the lady.
The wife sued the eldest son, the mother sued the son, and naturally she had the greater justice and status. The same husband and wife, under the law, the wife obeys the husband!
The old man denied that he was concerned, but his reaction was too cold and normal.
"Tiandong, you stay in the room in the corner for one night. We will set off at dawn without any delay." Sun Wude made the decision in a calm tone.
After he finished speaking, he waved his sleeves, turned around and walked towards the candle-lit room.
The door of the compartment opened, and Tian Dong clearly saw the pretty young woman's hand lightly covering her lower abdomen, and he couldn't help but shrink his pupils.
Is the master's plan to have another child with Aunt Qu?
By the way, you can also take this opportunity to humiliate the eldest son!
As soon as the door closed, Tian Dong was the only one left in the dilapidated and desolate yard.
Tian Dong was so angry that he walked back to the corner room with heavy steps. Under the dim moonlight, he waved his hand, and the broken cups and plates on the table immediately scattered. Just as they were about to fall and make a ping-pong sound, he hurriedly spread his thick cloak on the floor to prevent the cups and plates from breaking and making a sound.
I let it out, but it seemed like I didn’t let it out completely.
The eldest son is racking his brains for Sun Ji, but what about his father?
He felt that his husband was more hateful than his wife.
Tiandong blew out the fire stick and lit the only remaining candle on the candlestand, which was the length of his little finger.
The candles lit up, dispelling the darkness in the room and casting a dim glow.
Tiandong finally saw the compartment clearly.
The traces of worms on the beams are clearly visible, and the rotten wood exudes a damp smell. Cobwebs are densely covered, like a huge web, tightly binding this old house. From time to time, debris and dust will fall from the roof.
The shabby furnishings are even more shocking. The tables and chairs are barely standing on stone slabs. The coarse cloth curtains in front of the bed have weathered over the years and have long lost their original color. In the night wind, they sway and whistle, like lonely souls crying and wailing in the deserted mountains, which makes people shudder.
As if his eyes had caught something, Tiandong picked up the candlestick and moved closer to the wall.
In the light of the candle, the words carved on the wall came into view clearly.
It's a name.
Crowded.
There is the old man, the eldest son, the second son, and Qu Ying.
There is also the Lu Ming Dynasty, which is out of place.
The mark on the second young master's name was deep but soft, as if the lady had smoothed out the sharp edges of the mark by stroking it over and over again.
Looking at these scratches and then looking around the dilapidated annex that was even smaller than the firewood room in Sun's mansion, Tiandong felt complicated.
The Taoist temple was carefully selected by the eldest son, and during the funeral of the second son, he ordered people to renovate two private rooms without withholding any items.
Does the eldest son know that the lady's life in the Taoist temple is so predictable?
Anyway, the eldest son could not have expected that the old man would dare to hit it off with Concubine Qu and make a secret appointment to torture and mistreat the lady together.
The night is quiet.
Under the big old tree leading to the backyard room, there were two figures, one big and one small.
"Master, did you hear that? Brother killing brother, is it so terrible down there?"
"It's not the mountain below that's scary, it's the people's hearts that are scary. Tell your uncles and aunts that it's time to move overnight."
"Moving? To a Taoist temple that's full of worshippers?"
"No, it's still a dilapidated Taoist temple."
"Then why move?"
"People are treacherous and we cannot guard against thieves every day."
"Master, moving house and traveling also require money."
"Don't you have money?"
"Master, what my second uncle said is right. You can't hold the money in your hands."
"If you spend all your money, you can get it back. Let's go."
The sun rises in the east.
When Tiandong woke up, he found the Taoist temple was empty.
It was truly empty. The iron pot on the stove, the water tank in the yard, the cups, plates, bowls and chopsticks in the cupboard, the plaque on the gate of the Taoist temple, and the small statues in the Sanqing Hall were all gone...
People walk away and watch the empty space.
Tiandong knew that the scandal between the old man and Aunt Qu could no longer be kept secret.
Taoists are not monks. They believe that form is emptiness and emptiness is form.
Taoists believe in following one's heart and doing what one wants.
Tian Dong couldn't stand it any longer and glared at Sun Wude and Qu Ying fiercely.
First, the brother's wife climbed onto his brother's bed and killed his brother. Then, the father and his daughter-in-law committed immoral acts. It was hard for Sun's family to not collapse.
Although merchants do not value their reputation as much as scholars, they cannot let their reputation become rotten and stinky.
The old man's reputation is ruined, so will the words he says still be credible?
Imperial Secrets