Chapter 71: Perpetual Fall into Hell
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation
Before the elderly woman had a chance to react, Lu Yuan Ze’s demeanor shifted markedly to one of seriousness and gravity.
“What’s the matter, Wan Yi?” inquired Gu Ling, his tone infused with both concern and bewilderment. “Wan Yi, what have I done to upset you so?”
He extended his hand in an attempt to comfort her, but Lu Wan Yi, seized by a sudden wave of panic, swiftly stepped back, dodging his gesture of solace.
“Big Brother, Big Brother, Gu Ling has been violent towards me. He struck me! I can no longer remain in this marriage. I want a divorce; I need to leave him!” Lu Wan Yi declared, her voice shaking with both fear and deep distress.
She proceeded to disclose the severe torment she had suffered over the previous six months. The troubles began a mere three days into their marriage when Gu Ling had appeared nothing but gentle and affectionate, making her feel blissfully content. She had even silently scorned Madam Xu, who had initially opposed their union, convinced that she had chosen a truly good man. However, this joy was short-lived. Less than a month later, Gu Ling’s behavior darkened drastically. One evening, after returning home intoxicated, he demanded that she undress before he brutally beat her with a rattan stick, inflicting severe injuries. Once sober, he was repentant, embracing her and showering her with apologies. Seeking refuge, she returned to her family, hoping for their support. Instead, Madam Xu had Gu Ling bring her back, and although the physical abuse ceased, her suffering was far from over.
“He abused you? Please, show me where you’re hurt,” implored Lu Yuan Ze, his voice laden with anxiety, his brow creased with worry.
For a moment, Lu Wan Yi paused her crying, her lips quivering in hesitation. Since her return to Gu Ling, the physical violence had ended, but there were incidents she felt too ashamed to discuss. The injuries were in areas she considered too private to reveal, feeling constrained by Madam Xu’s assertion that her personal dignity was tied to the honor of the Marquis’s house, which led her to believe that even minor complaints could tarnish their reputation. It was Madam Xu’s influence that had intensified her plight.
“Big Brother, it’s all because of my sister-in-law. She told Gu Ling to hit me!” Lu Wan Yi exclaimed, her voice laden with accusation and despair.
Madam Xu, who overheard this exchange, looked on with a mixture of confusion and concern.
“Wan Yi, your accusations are unfounded and unfair. I have always cared for you as if you were my own child. Young Master Gu Ling, though academically accomplished, does come from a simpler background, and my reservations were regarding your future happiness. It was you who chose him despite my initial hesitations. The decision to proceed with this marriage was pushed by you and your mother-in-law. How can you now hold me responsible for this?” Madam Xu, visibly hurt, tightened her hold on her handkerchief, her eyes welling with tears. Her voice conveyed the anguish of a guardian who had loved Wan Yi like a daughter for over a decade, only to be repaid with distrust and accusations.
As Lu Yuan Ze mulled over the situation, his expression of deep dissatisfaction was directed towards Lu Wan Yi. “Wan Yi, what is this behavior about? Remember, it was you who decided to marry Young Master Gu Ling. Why then are you not forthcoming about the ways in which he has wronged you?”
The elderly madam, who had previously seen the injuries that Lu Wan Yi had sustained, was now overwhelmed with sorrow for the wrongs her daughter had endured, leading her to weep uncontrollably beside her.
“Marquis, I assure you, I have never been cruel to Wan Yi. Since the day she became a part of our family, she has held a significant position in our household; everyone in the Gu family holds her in high esteem and respects her decisions. Even on the rare occasions when I made mistakes, I have submitted to kneeling as a form of penance. This is well-known among our household members,” Gu Ling explained, his voice filled with melancholy as he sighed deeply. “I understand that Wan Yi marrying into my family represents a compromise on her part and yours. For that reason, I would never consider harming her. Despite her occasional displays of pride, my love and leniency towards her have never wavered. Whenever she found fault with me, I knelt at her request, never showing resistance,” Gu Ling said, his expression one of hurt.
Lu Yuan Ze’s anger intensified as he glared at his sister. “You claim to have been injured by your husband, yet you refuse to show us where. Being pampered in your own family is one thing, but to carry such disregard into a marriage is entirely another. Gu Ling holds a respectable official position awarded by the court, and he owes acts of kneeling solely to his parents and the king. Yet, you had the audacity to demand such a gesture from him?” Lu Yuan Ze admonished her sternly.
Amidst her sobs, Lu Wan Yi managed to respond, “He only kneels to me as an apology after he hurts me!”
However, she remained silent about the specifics of her injuries.
Madam Xu then suggested, “Perhaps we ought to call for a female doctor to examine my sister-in-law?”
Lu Wan Yi immediately became defensive, “No, no, not a doctor.”
The thought of revealing the locations where Gu Ling had bitten her was too much to bear. The disclosure of such personal violations would utterly shatter her dignity.
With a firm tone, Madam Xu advised, “Wan Yi, we value you and care for you greatly, but you must stop making baseless accusations. Young Master Gu Ling is a court official, and accusations of abuse without any proof or your refusal to be examined by a physician could ruin his reputation. Have you considered the dishonor your demands for a divorce and the ensuing scandal would bring upon the Lu family? With my husband up for a promotion, we cannot afford any scandal that would tarnish the reputation of the Marquis’s household.”
Hearing this, Lu Yuan Ze seemed to soften. He personally helped Gu Ling to his feet, saying kindly, “It seems we, the Lu family, have fallen short in our daughter’s education, and for that, you have been unjustly put to trial.”
As the elderly madam gently wiped away her tears, she expressed her deep concern and heartbreak. “It’s not true. The last time Wan Yi came home, she was visibly covered in bruises and wounds. Yuan Ze, my son, how could we overlook this?”
Gu Ling quickly tried to downplay the situation, “That incident was merely a result of Wan Yi trying to adjust to our household. She accidentally took a bad fall.”
The old lady, unconvinced and skeptical, retorted, “How can a simple fall result in such extensive injuries?” She immediately regretted not taking Wan Yi’s injuries as concrete evidence before and allowed Gu Ling to take her back.
“Enough!” boomed Lu Yuan Ze, his voice filled with authority and frustration. “Mother, you have been overindulging Wan Yi. Look at what your pampering has done to her!” He pointed towards Lu Wan Yi, his frustration evident.
What really troubled him was the fact that Gu Ling’s influential ties within the court system were a golden ticket to climbing the ranks, potentially securing him a position as a third-rank official.
Madam Xu watched this unfold, a slight frown marring her features, fully aware of Lu Yuan Ze’s underlying motives – exploiting his sister to further his career prospects as a necessary sacrifice to benefit his own standing.
“Big Brother, you have to believe me,” Lu Wan Yi implored, falling to her knees, her voice filled with desperation. “He has been physically abusive; I fear for my life if I return. Sister-in-law, I was wrong to ignore your warnings. Gu Ling is a cruel man. Please, save me from this unbearable situation.”
Despite her heartfelt pleas, Lu Yuan Ze dismissed her, “Someone remove Wan Yi from here. We’ve had enough of this drama. Marriage is not child’s play.” He then took his place beside Gu Ling, adding insult to injury by saying, “Wan Yi’s defiance is our mistake; we’ve spoiled her. Should she step out of line, correct her as you deem necessary. The Lu family will not stand in your way. To think she would make such groundless claims against you. She’s been utterly foolish.”
Gu Ling responded with a mere nod, his face betraying no emotion.
Meanwhile, as the wine flowed freely at the table, the atmosphere remained seemingly unaffected by the turmoil, with guests engaging in light-hearted conversation. In stark contrast, in the room next door, Madam Xu faced a distraught Lu Wan Yi, now isolated and amidst the ruins of her emotional outburst.
“You! You are the root of all my misery! Sending me back to him, knowing well he would hurt me in ways that wouldn’t show!” Lu Wan Yi accused, her eyes ablaze with anger.
Madam Xu, with a chilling calmness, replied, “Your accusations are groundless, Wan Yi. Recall your own words: if a man becomes violent, the blame lies with the woman for provoking him. Perhaps it’s time you reflected on whether you’ve neglected your duties to him or the household. Consider your own actions.” Her voice carried a tone of superficial concern, “After all, weren’t those your words to me, dear sister?”
Trembling with a mix of rage and despair, Lu Wan Yi pointed at Madam Xu, her entire body shaking. “You will not find peace! Do you actually think you can be happy? You’re deluded. I’ll be watching, waiting for the day you plummet into despair.”
Madam Xu remained outwardly unfazed, internally reflecting on the dramatic shift in their relationship. Once considered close, they now stood on opposing sides. Secretly, Madam Xu felt a bitter resentment, especially towards Pei Jiao Jiao, who she had almost considered a daughter. Deep down, she harbored a sinister hope for their downfall, eagerly anticipating the day they too would face their own share of endless suffering.
»Secretly, Madam Xu felt a bitter resentment, especially towards Pei Jiao Jiao, who she had almost considered a daughter« I think should be Lu Wan Yi.
Alas I can’t enjoy Wan Yi’s outcome at all. Yeah, she deserves punishment for her betrayal and there’s some irony in having her stupid words about a women’s position in marriage turned against her but… her husband should be jailed! He’s not the enemy of MC’s family so he can live happily abusing people? I don’t like it. He beat his first wife to death and tortures his new wife but is hailed as a model scholar outside — how is that different from the Marquis cheating on his wife and scheming against her family while he’s praised as modle husband outside?
Yeah her punishment doesn’t match her crime at all at it’s disturbing to see her husband get away with this.
That’s the consequence of her actions, if you make your bed, you should sleep in it.
Perhaps we can apply the proverb, “The enemy of my enemy is my friend,” in this situation. If you reverse the situation, I don’t think Li Wan Yi would even spare a pity on any of Mrs. Xu.