Chapter 32

The night was calm, the moon bright, and the stars sparse as a gentle breeze blew.

In a corner of the gazebo in the main courtyard of the Marquis of Changle’s residence, lanterns had been hung. Inside, a square table made of yellow flowering pearwood was set with several chairs, topped with tea, pastries, and fruit.

The family was enjoying the cool air and chatting. The events of the day had long since reached the ears of the Marquis and Rong Susu, and both were extremely satisfied with their daughter’s performance.

As expected of the daughter they raised; her refusal to suffer losses was just like them.

Cheng Ruyi triumphantly accepted her parents’ praise, feeling quite proud of her own performance today as well!

Rong Mo watched quietly from the side with a doting smile, occasionally handing Cheng Ruyi a slice of fruit.

“Sister, you’re so amazing!” Cheng Yu looked at his sister with envy. It was such a pity he hadn’t seen the scene of her showing off her power and scolding the grand monk.

Cheng Ruyi patted her younger brother’s head and chuckled. “Little Yu’er, learn a thing or two from your sister in the future, okay?”

Cheng Yu nodded like a chick pecking at grain. “In the future, I want to marry a wife as amazing as Sister.”

The power of a role model is indeed infinite.

Cheng Ruyi shot a triumphant smile at Rong Mo, then gave her brother a thumbs-up. “Little Yu’er has good taste!”

Rong Mo: “…”

As long as you’re happy.

The Marquis looked conflicted as he eyed his son’s thin, weak frame. He cleared his throat. “Son, a woman as amazing as your sister is rare in this world. You’d better not think about it.”

If his son and a future daughter-in-law ever got into a fight, the one getting pummeled would definitely be his son. How heartbreaking would that be? It was best to nip that idea in the bud.

Rong Susu nodded in agreement. “Yes, Son. In the future, Mother will marry you to a gentle and beautiful little wife.”

The Marquis and his wife were typical practitioners of double standards. To them, their daughter and son were the best; only their family could bully others—no one was allowed to bully them.

Cheng Yu looked at his sister, then at his parents, completely dazed. Who was he supposed to listen to?

Hearing her parents’ words, the protective Cheng Ruyi felt they made sense. Little Yu’er was so weak; he shouldn’t marry a powerful wife, or what if he got bullied?

“Father and Mother are right. A woman like your sister is one of a kind. Little Yu’er, give up on that dream.”

Cheng Yu nodded somewhat aggrievedly. “…I’ll listen to Sister.”

“Good boy!” Cheng Ruyi rubbed her brother’s head.

Watching the heartwarming scene, a smile escaped Rong Mo’s lips. His little fiancée was always so full of life; being with her made him exceptionally happy.

“Speaking of which, back then your old man’s eyes were blinded by filth. I once sought an audience with that Master Huiyuan of Xiangguo Temple. Fortunately, the master’s threshold was high and I was rejected. Thinking back now, I feel quite lucky.”

“That Master Huiyuan is simply not a good person!” the Marquis suddenly brought up the past, looking rather smug.

Rong Susu took a sip of tea and glanced at the boasting Marquis, unceremoniously exposing him. “I wonder who it was that held a grudge for over a month after being rejected by that monk, grumbling incessantly? And who specifically went to the official road leading to Xiangguo Temple to swindle people for months, only stopping after being impeached by the censors several times?”

Having his shortcomings exposed by his wife, the Marquis’s old face turned red.

Cheng Ruyi burst out laughing. Thinking of the rumors she heard today, her eyes lit up. She loved gossip most, so she asked excitedly: “Father, Mother, do you think Master Huiyuan and the Princess Consort of Rong really have an affair?”

Rong Mo lowered his eyes to hide a fleeting smile. No one knew that he was the one who had people spread that rumor.

“It might actually be true. Every year on the eighth day of the eighth lunar month, the Princess Consort of Rong goes to Xiangguo Temple to chant sutras and pray for a few days. Every time, Master Huiyuan comes out of seclusion… It would be strange if there wasn’t something fishy between them!”

“The Princess Consort is suspected of having an affair, and her son is secretly involved with his father’s favorite concubine… This Prince of Rong is too pathetic; the hat on his head is glowing green.” The Marquis laughed with quite a bit of schadenfreude.

“Pathetic indeed. He could be called the greatest Cuckold King in history!” Cheng Ruyi commented solemnly.

Rong Mo couldn’t help but chuckle; the phrasing was hilarious.

“Cuckold King! Haha, that’s so vivid!” The Marquis slapped the table and laughed out loud. Rong Susu laughed as well, and young Cheng Yu joined in the fun.

Nearby, the guards and servants were curious about the laughter, but they were well-disciplined and none approached to eavesdrop.

After the laughter subsided, Rong Susu’s expression turned somber.

“Regardless of whether Master Huiyuan and the Princess Consort have an affair, in my eyes, they are in cahoots. I just don’t know what the Princess Consort sees in our daughter to plot against her time and time again.”

“The Princess Consort is the daughter of Lin Han, the tutor to two emperors. Before marrying the Prince of Rong, she was bestowed the title of District Princess Minshan by the Emperor. Her background is prestigious; she lacks nothing. With one word, countless officials would send their daughters to be her goddaughters or daughters-in-law.”

“As for the rumor about the affair, it will surely vanish without a trace by tomorrow morning. Although Elder Lin is old and has retired from court, his influence cannot be underestimated.”

“But she keeps clinging to our daughter. I don’t know what she’s planning,” Rong Susu said, her face growing heavier.

The Marquis laughed loudly. “Susu, a man as highly respected as Elder Lin wouldn’t care about these trivial matters of the younger generation. Don’t worry blindly; our daughter knows what she’s doing.”

“Exactly, I only deal with things as they come,” Cheng Ruyi nodded in agreement, thinking to herself: If I can’t deal with it logically, I’ll just solve it with violence.

Rong Mo: “…”

Who was the one having so much fun scolding people today?

“Aunt, Uncle, I feel that from start to finish, the Princess Consort’s target seems to be me,” Rong Mo suddenly spoke up.

In the eyes of the public, Master Huiyuan was highly respected and famous for knowing the past and future. Any fate he proclaimed had never been wrong. The Princess Consort was banking on that. First, she would label him a ‘Lone Star of Heavenly Calamity’ in public, and there would likely be a series of plots waiting for him afterward.

On the way back, Rong Mo had recalled all the Princess Consort’s actions. He felt she had ulterior motives. Combined with what his uncle had said—that she had once conspired in the back mountains of the temple to kill someone and “cut the grass by the roots”—and the fact that she visited as soon as his legs recovered, it became clear. Everyone thought she was interested in his cousin, but perhaps she was after him.

A wild thought surfaced: Did this woman have something to do with the massacre of the Rong family?

However, since his little fiancée’s mind didn’t work like a normal person’s and she didn’t care about reputation, the Princess Consort’s plan failed.

The Marquis was stunned. Cheng Ruyi’s eyes widened in confusion.

Rong Susu found it incredible, but the more she thought, the more likely it seemed. “…Perhaps Rong Mo’s guess is right. If it’s really targeted at him, she surely has more moves.”

“As long as we don’t take the bait, no matter how many moves she has, they’ll be useless,” Cheng Ruyi said nonchalantly. After tomorrow, the Princess Consort would definitely have her hands full anyway! She was really looking forward to tomorrow.

“Exactly, our daughter is right!” The Marquis was now a total “daughter-con”; whatever she said was right.

“Oh right, Father, I found a new source of wealth for our manor today.” Thinking of her money-making plan, Cheng Ruyi became excited.

Rong Mo thought of the “new source of wealth” and cleared his throat, feeling a bit embarrassed since he was the cause of it.

“What new source?” The Marquis was extremely sensitive to money; his eyes lit up immediately. Rong Susu also perked up.

The Marquis’s residence had few income streams. Most money had to be saved for their daughter’s dowry. Lately, they had spent a lot on stockpiling grain. With her getting married at the end of the year, the dowry couldn’t be too shabby.

Cheng Ruyi said proudly, “Selling medicine. We’re going to sell divine medicine!”

Rong Susu nearly choked on her tea. “Selling medicine? Daughter, what happened to provoke you?”

Upon hearing “selling medicine,” the Marquis lost his spark again.

Cheng Ruyi shook her head. “Nothing provoked me. I just want to open a new revenue stream. We can’t just rely on Father grabbing silver all the time. I looked at the ledgers; our shops have low profits, the manor’s produce is mostly for self-use, and the expenses for servants and guards are high.”

“So, I found a way to earn silver and save up for my own dowry,” Cheng Ruyi said, completely unashamed. “Oh, and Father, Mother, remember to have someone pile up three golden, shimmering artificial mountains in the open space by the main gate tomorrow. Name them Gold Mountain, Silver Mountain, and Jewelry Mountain.”

Thinking of how Cheng Qingyao and the others had mocked her cousin earlier, she was unhappy. She meant what she said—three mountains would be easy.

Rong Mo’s brow twitched. So much had happened today, he didn’t expect her to remember that bit.

The Marquis clapped and laughed. “This is good! It invites wealth! Tomorrow, I’ll have people build them, the exact color of gold.”

“Seeing three golden mountains every day when passing the main courtyard, our manor will surely have wealth rolling in.” He loved the idea. Why hadn’t he thought of it?

Rong Susu nodded with delight, clearly sharing the same mindset. Cheng Yu’s eyes sparkled.

Rong Mo: “…”

This whole family is truly obsessed with silver.

Seeing her parents avoid the topic of selling medicine, Cheng Ruyi was a bit unhappy. How could they underestimate her? After she finished her business tomorrow, she would make a bottle of divine medicine for her old man to try.

Hmph!

The next day, Cheng Ruyi woke up early. After washing up with Moxian’s help, she prepared to head to Xiangguo Temple with her cousin. They had agreed to go watch the spectacle together.

This was a rare grand ritual. In the past, the Princess Consort’s rituals were low-key, but this time it was highly publicized, held in the open space before the main hall. It attracted many commoners and officials alike.

Flanking the open space were lotus ponds. At this time of year, the jade-like white lotuses were in full bloom—pure, elegant, and untainted. These lotuses were as ancient as the temple itself and had never withered, becoming one of its legendary features.

The Princess Consort choosing this wide-open space for the ritual suited Cheng Ruyi’s plans perfectly.

The rumors from yesterday had indeed vanished without a trace, just as her mother predicted. Cheng Ruyi thought her mother was amazing for guessing so accurately.

When Rong Mo arrived with Cheng Ruyi, they saw the ground covered in dizzying talismans. Several incense altars were filled with scriptures and offerings. A group of warrior monks stood solemnly with staves.

The Princess Consort stood regally by the central altar, dressed in her noble attire with exquisite golden hairpins, looking as graceful as a heavenly goddess. Many onlookers gasped in awe, some even calling her a reincarnation of a deity.

In the crowd, Cheng Ruyi rolled her eyes. A goddess? What an insult to goddesses. Given the faint black aura on the Princess Consort, she was more like a Rakshasa.

Looking closer, Cheng Ruyi made a new discovery. She whispered into Rong Mo’s ear: “Cousin, I noticed the black aura on her is getting fainter. It might vanish after today.”

Rong Mo narrowed his eyes coldly. “Perhaps she wants to use the massive crowd and the monks’ chanting to completely purify herself.”

“Cousin, I have a feeling we can’t let that black aura disappear,” Cheng Ruyi whispered troubledly.

Rong Mo’s heart tightened. “Is there a way to stop it?”

Cheng Ruyi gave a mischievous, mysterious smile. “Of course. I came today to give her a ‘great gift.’ Don’t be too shocked later.”

Rong Mo was instantly relieved; his little fiancée had many tricks up her sleeve. He looked forward to this “gift.”

As noon approached—the auspicious hour—the ritual officially began, presided over by Master Huiyuan. The senior abbots of the temple appeared briefly to speak before leaving.

Huiyuan, dressed in his yellow robe, looked refined and otherworldly. He bowed before the altar and offered incense. The Princess Consort followed suit with a pious expression. The two acted openly and uprightly, seemingly unaffected by yesterday’s rumors.

A group of monks sat cross-legged on either side, their chanting creating a rhythmic, ethereal melody that made the crowd feel peaceful.

Cheng Ruyi was unaffected. She pretended to lean against Rong Mo and closed her eyes, secretly activating her wood-type ability. Her ability was already at Level 2, allowing her to easily control plants within a fifty-meter radius.

Before long, the lotuses in the ponds began to grow frantically, stretching and spreading. Flower after flower began to move toward the Princess Consort.

“Heavens! The lotuses are moving! A miracle! It’s a miracle!” someone shouted in surprise.

The crowd turned to the ponds. The Princess Consort’s maid, quick-witted, cried out: “The Princess Consort must be so pure and kind that she has moved the Buddha! Look, the lotuses are flocking to her!”

“My god, they really are moving toward her. Is it truly a divine manifestation?” People were filled with reverence, and a flurry of discussion broke out.

“She must be a goddess descended to earth!”

“Yesterday people were slandering her, and today the Buddha manifests. It seems even the heavens couldn’t stand it and are clearing her name!” This speaker was one of the Princess Consort’s elderly nannies.

“Exactly! I knew such a kind person wouldn’t do those things.”

“The people who spread those rumors should be hacked into pieces.”

“I want to take a lotus back to worship for good luck.”

Rong Mo went from shock to cold observation. Seeing his smug fiancée, he realized this “miracle” was her doing. Having such a mysterious power was a double-edged sword—if it were ever exposed…

What a sweet little troublemaker.

Hearing the fanatical discussions, Cheng Ruyi nearly laughed out loud. These people were such great wingmen! Hehe, just wait for the fall from heaven to hell.

As the “miracle” unfolded, the monks stopped chanting to witness it. Master Huiyuan did the same. The temple’s abbots and elders rushed back to the courtyard, watching the lotuses converge on the Princess Consort. They chanted, “Amitabha, how virtuous!”

The Princess Consort was overjoyed by this sudden “divine favor.” Within moments, the white lotuses surrounded her, blooming and closing. Wrapped in flowers, she looked even more holy and untouchable.

The onlookers were so crazed they were almost ready to kneel and worship.

Suddenly, the jade-white lotuses began to stain with red. One, two… soon, all the white lotuses turned a blood-red color—a ghoulish, eerie red that faintly smelled of blood.

Everyone was stunned. Where was the auspicious sign? Where was the Buddha’s blessing?

Rong Mo looked at his fiancée in his arms, shocked. How did she do this?

Surrounded by blood-red flowers, the Princess Consort felt a sense of suffocation. She saw the red lotuses begin to turn black. Her face went deathly pale as she tried to flee the circle, only to find it impossible.

Before long, the red lotuses turned into sinister black ones. The crowd felt a chilling aura and scrambled backward in fear.

“What miracle? What goddess? Pure and kind? Bah! I think she’s pure evil!”

“This Princess Consort must be a bad omen. White lotuses turning red and black—she must have a black heart.”

“Too terrifying. The lotuses of Xiangguo Temple are haunted.”

“What’s to be afraid of? If you haven’t done anything wrong, why fear? I should thank them for letting me see her true colors.”

“This woman’s heart is too deep… who knows what heinous crimes she’s committed for the heavens to be this angry?”

The crowd trembled with fear. The monks were speechless. Master Huiyuan felt nothing but bitterness; after today, his reputation would be as foul as hers.

At that moment, the Princess Consort let out a scream of terror. “Someone! Help! Come in and save me!”

Aside from her own servants, everyone else retreated—even the warrior monks. Her guards tried to hack away the flowers, but they were weirdly indestructible.

“Your Highness, the lotuses… they can’t be cut or pulled!” The guards tried fire and blades to no avail.

The Princess Consort was terrified. Every time a black lotus touched her, it felt like a knife cutting her skin, yet there were no visible wounds. The onlookers only saw her dodging frantically, unaware of her hidden pain.

Seeing her servants hesitating outside the circle, she lost her temper and shrieked, “Save me, you useless slaves!”

At this point, she only cared about living. She didn’t want to die. Her carefully crafted image was already ruined anyway.

Cheng Ruyi watched the struggle with cold satisfaction. Then, something even more shocking happened.

The brilliant sun in the sky suddenly developed a notch, and the light began to dim.

A solar eclipse!

Cheng Ruyi’s eyes widened. The timing was too perfect. Even the heavens were helping her!

To the ancients, a solar eclipse was a terrible omen of disaster. Thinking of the great natural disasters coming in the next two years, Cheng Ruyi looked at the Princess Consort with a trace of pity. She had only meant to give her an unforgettable lesson, but she got a “buy one, get one free” deal from the cosmos.

What a streak of bad luck! This was truly overkill!

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