Chapter 62: A Scream! |
— To be disgraced like this in the bridal chamber!— Bai Yao sighed, muttering to himself, "No wonder that girl, who always refused to marry, would act like this. What kind of husband would want to take her as a wife? You're not even the number one beauty, so what are you doing?"
— The bride grabbed her husband like that on their wedding night? What a disgrace!— Niu You Dao also shook his head. It seemed Yuan Gang had been right. Chao Zong was truly no match for Feng Ru Nan. He glanced at Yuan Gang.
The latter immediately grabbed Yuan Fang and pulled him aside for a word.
Lan Ruo Ting and Shu Qing clearly heard Chao Zong being subdued by Feng Ru Nan.
Shu Qing worried for her brother's safety.
Lan Ruo Ting frowned. If this happened today, it was likely Feng Ru Nan would never respect her husband. How would they then be able to command troops and manage them? Even if they managed to take control of the troops in Cang Wu County, it would still be difficult for them to work together.
— Let go of me!
— What if I don't let go? You dared to touch me. I haven't even flayed your skin, and that's already me being courteous to you. Do you think you can just bully me whenever you please?
— — It was just a joke. You... you're my wife...
Hearing her brother's tormented voice, Shu Qing cried out loudly:
— Sister-in-law, today we've all become one family. There's no need to make such a fuss!
— Is that little sister Shu Qing outside? How could I possibly be acting willfully? It's your brother who's getting handsy. Don't you worry, I'll give your good-for-nothing brother a proper lesson. I guarantee he'll behave himself afterward. — Feng Ru Nan had a fair amount of respect for Shu Qing. Because she knew that even if she herself wasn't a beauty, Shu Qing was even less so. While Feng Ru Nan could at least show her face, Shu Qing always wore a hat, afraid of frightening people with her appearance. They said she was extremely ugly. Therefore, Feng Ru Nan felt sympathetic towards her. Moreover, Shu Qing was now without means, and Feng Ru Nan, being a woman, understood and sympathized with her. She understood that she was much more fortunate in life than Shu Qing.
Yuan Gang approached Niu You Dao and whispered in his ear:
— She's already had the drink, and he guarantees its effects should kick in any moment now.
Shu Qing walked up to the bridal chamber door and said to Bai Yao:
— Senior, please let me go in and talk.
Bai Yao immediately stepped back, holding his sword. He himself hoped this farce would end soon. After all, he was already wondering how he would report all of this, not just to the ruler, but also to the sect?
However, Feng Ru Nan immediately warned her:
— Little sister Shu Qing, you'd best not come in. Your brother and I are making love, and we're not dressed. This isn't a suitable moment for you to enter.
Shu Qing knew Feng Ru Nan was likely spouting nonsense:
— Sister-in-law, I'll still come in for a moment...
Feng Ru Nan cut her off:
— When I say don't come in, I mean don't come in. I'm quite tense right now, and if anything happens, I might do something unexpected. If you come in, I might accidentally render your brother unable to have children. Is it really worth your while to enter?
Niu You Dao smiled when he heard this. This girl truly was quite the tigress!
Only Feng Ru Nan could utter such words. What could be done? She had grown up among warriors and often overheard their conversations. And how do warriors speak? Thus, she inadvertently picked up their habits, sometimes forgetting herself that she was a woman. In short, a woman with masculine ways.
She decided to torment Chao Zong. She had cried in indignation for several days recently. She hadn't cried for years, yet she had cried these past few days. And now, the culprit behind her tears had been delivered to her on a silver platter. Now she wanted to exact her revenge for everything.
— Mmmph...— Chao Zong groaned in pain.
Shu Qing hastily said, "Sister-in-law, don't do anything rash. You should talk this out instead."
Feng Ru Nan replied, "Little sister, you don't understand. Your brother and I are fighting as family. If we quarrel, it means we love. This is none of your business. I don't want to harm you, so it's best you leave quietly. Otherwise, don't blame me for being rude."
— Vixen!— Chao Zong cursed.
— Slap!— A resounding smack landed on Chao Zong's face.
Feng Ru Nan: — You be quiet. Otherwise, I'll count every single one of your teeth!
Bai Yao shook his head. Chao Zong really should have kept silent. Why did he have to provoke her even further?
Yuan Gang finished speaking to Niu You Dao, while Niu You Dao calculated everything in his mind. Indeed, Chao Zong deserved what he was getting. He clearly knew how Feng Ru Nan felt about him. Why had he been in such a hurry? He should have waited for her to calm down and then tactfully approached her.
He pictured the situation inside the house and, with a sigh, said:
— Grand Princess, the princess speaks truly. These are matters between husband and wife. There's no need for us to disturb them from outside. Let them play around as they please. If they don't come out in a day, then we'll go in.
Shu Qing looked at him in surprise, while Lan Ruo Ting furrowed his brows.
From inside the room, Feng Ru Nan's clear voice rang out: — Niu You Dao, you... you're a cheat and a swindler! Just you wait, I'll settle accounts with you too!
Niu You Dao remained silent. It seemed Feng Ru Nan had recognized his voice.
— Ah, Princess, you're having quite a good time. We won't disturb you. — Niu You Dao sighed and waved his hand at Shu Qing:
— Grand Princess, let's go!
Shu Qing was confused and hesitated. Just leave her brother like this? What if something happened?
Niu You Dao waved his hand at her again.
Shu Qing wavered, but ultimately trusted him and then left.
Niu You Dao also waved his hand at everyone: — Disperse. Everyone, disperse. They're inside, attending to their own matters. Why bother them?— He nodded seriously at Bai Yao and said to Weng Xing and Weng Li:
— We won't be needing your care today. You two should also disperse.
After his words, everyone began to disperse, and Yuan Fang, with his head bowed, followed Niu You Dao.
Seeing that everyone had dispersed, Bai Yao spoke again:
— Ru Nan, I'm telling you again. Know your limits!
Feng Ru Nan: — Uncle Bai, don't worry. I won't do anything wrong, not even a bit, otherwise, I won't be able to command troops.
Bai Yao sighed and shook his head. He soared up and landed on the roof, remaining there under the moon, listening to the sounds from the bridal chamber.
Not long after, noise rose from the room again. It seemed they had started fighting again. However, the fight seemed to stop quickly, and silence fell inside once more.
Bai Yao shook his head: — This girl is difficult to persuade.
— Lord Dao, nothing will happen to my brother, will it?
Niu You Dao walked, gazing at the three-story palace. He strolled with his hands clasped behind his back. Lan Ruo Ting and Shu Qing walked behind him. Shang Shu Qing worried for her brother.
Niu You Dao said with a smile, — To die at the hands of a beautiful woman... that's a worthy death!
Shu Qing was speechless. She was already restless with worry over her brother suffering in there, yet Niu You Dao was joking here.
Lan Ruo Ting sighed and said:
— Lord Dao, this is no time for jokes. However, returning to the main point, Feng Ru Nan won't actually do anything to the Prince in there, will she?
Niu You Dao smiled, — What could happen? Will she kill him? The Prince might get a few beatings, and that's all.
Lan Ruo Ting and Shu Qing thought that if Niu You Dao had called everyone away, he must have had a reason for it.
Lan Ruo Ting said, — Lord Dao, death or not, we cannot allow her to turn the Prince into a cripple. Won't it be too late then?
— Nothing will happen. — Niu You Dao shook his head and said:
— Sir Lan, we'll need to think about how to rectify the situation once we arrive in Cang Wu County.
Receiving no answer, the two people left in disappointment.
Niu You Dao stood, watching them leave. Then he shifted his gaze to the moon, his thoughts drifting far away...
— A knife, who has a knife?— Returning to the courtyard, Yuan Fang immediately began asking the monks. No one knew what had happened. Why did he need a knife?
One pulled out a dagger and asked, — Abbot, will this do?
Yuan Fang looked at the knife. His eyes gleamed, and he immediately nodded: — Yes, this will do, this will do.
He sat down before a candle and, pointing to his gray beard, said:
— Help me shave my beard...
As dawn broke on the horizon, a piercing shriek shattered the morning silence:
— Shameless!
This clear, loud cry belonged to Feng Ru Nan.
All the cultivators nearby immediately turned their heads towards the bridal chamber. Lan Ruo Ting and Shu Qing, who had been keeping watch outside, also roused and opened their eyes.
Bai Yao, who had been standing on the roof, opened his eyes and immediately descended to the door.
They seemed to have calmed down yesterday, so what happened again? Had they started fighting again?
A silhouette squeezed through and leaped out the window, followed by something wooden flying after him.
Shang Chao Zong burst through the paper window screen and leaped out, with Feng Ru Nan's bare foot flying right after him.
Chao Zong, bare-chested and barefoot, ran forward without a backward glance.
— Bang!— The front door was shoved open, revealing Feng Ru Nan's bare legs as well. Her hair was disheveled, and she looked quite frantic. It was fortunate that she had some clothes on. She had thrown on her ceremonial robes, but hadn't managed to fasten the collar yet, allowing the whiteness of her skin to be seen.
— Ru Nan, what's wrong?— Bai Yao blocked her path.
As if unable to explain anything, Ru Nan immediately stretched out her hand and snatched Bai Yao's sword.
— Shing!— The sound of a sword being drawn from its scabbard rang out.
And she, too, ran after Chao Zong.
— I'll kill you!
And Chao Zong ran for his life, without a single glance back!