Chapter 145
Chapter 145: Liveliness on the Road
Yet Yun Wan Ning still felt her eyes could not see far enough, so she released her spiritual power outward.
Her spiritual power swept through the streets and alleys, wandering about in place of her body, enjoying the stroll immensely.
[Ah, after breaking through, even if my spiritual power can’t see as far as in my past life, it still sees much farther than before. I can wander farther while shopping and not tire my legs. This is wonderful.]
Hearing this, Yun Wan Yao immediately knew the little dumpling had released her spiritual power, and her gaze filled with envy.
If only she had such a wondrous ability—
With it, she would never again fear being watched by ill-intentioned people in secret. She could also sit at home and roam the streets; that feeling must be marvelous.
Meanwhile, as the carriage moved, Yun Wan Ning’s spiritual power drifted slowly along.
Suddenly, she saw a wide, bustling street corner where a large crowd had gathered, and her eyes lit up.
[Wow, so many people. Is something exciting happening? Let me go and take a look.]
Yun Wan Yao: “…”
Her little sister truly loved joining in on lively scenes, unwilling to miss even half an event.
But what exactly was happening?
Her little sister should hurry and tell her.
Unconsciously, Yun Wan Yao’s ears perked up.
[Tsk, another bloody case of a love-struck fool being abandoned.]
After drifting into the crowd for a moment, Yun Wan Ning soon understood the gossip.
The central figures were a man and a woman from the same village—the man a scholar, the woman the daughter of a wealthy family.
Back then, the woman’s parents disdained the man’s poverty. The love-struck girl, bewitched by sweet words, insisted she would have no one but him, so they eloped.
When they ran away, the woman even took a great sum of money from her home. The two came all the way to Haojing and rented a small place to live.
Afterward, the man focused on his studies while the woman used the stolen money to support him, taking on many embroidery jobs to earn extra income.
For a while, they lived sweetly together, but the good days did not last.
The man passed the autumn exam and became a licentiate, catching the eye of a classmate’s younger sister. The ending was obvious—he abandoned the woman and pursued the other girl.
Since the two had never written a marriage contract nor registered with the authorities, they were not legally married.
Thus, when the man abandoned her, he did not even need to go through a divorce or formal separation.
He took the opportunity while she was out to pack his things and leave.
Naturally, the woman refused to accept this. She went to the academy several times to confront him, but he avoided her.
It dragged on until today when, by chance, they ran into each other on the street. The woman immediately seized his arm, crying and accusing him.
“Wu Xing, I loved you so much. I eloped with you without name or status, suffered countless hardships along the way, and pricked my hands full of needle holes earning money for your studies. But after you passed the exam, you abandoned me. Did a dog eat your conscience?”
She clutched his arm tightly, weeping bitterly.
The onlookers all pointed at the man, whose face flushed scarlet. Covering his face with his sleeve to block their stares, he glared at the woman in shame and fury.
“You crazy woman, stop spouting nonsense and ruining my reputation. I don’t even know you. Let go of me…”
If such a matter spread, how could he continue with the imperial exams?
Anxious and desperate for her to vanish, the man’s words enraged the woman further. She wiped her tears hard, then glared at him in fury.
“I’m crazy? Talking nonsense? Heh, do you dare swear to Heaven that you don’t know me?”
“Go on, swear it. If you know me, may Heaven strike you with five bolts of lightning, your body torn to pieces, never to die well, and may you fail every exam in this life.”
“If you swear, I will never bother you again. How about it?”
Hearing this, the onlookers began shouting.
“Yes, yes, swear it! Quickly!”
“If you won’t swear, then you must be guilty.”
“Exactly! Didn’t you say you don’t know her? Be a man—swear!”
In this era, people were deeply superstitious. Naturally, the man dared not truly swear.
Clenching his teeth, he shoved her away, face red with humiliation and rage. “Utter lunacy—”
“It was your idea to elope. As for earning money for me, that was your choice and your duty. You tricked me into coming here, so you should take responsibility for me.”
“And it’s not as if you were the only one to suffer on the road. I suffered plenty, nearly dying of illness several times. Why don’t you mention that?”
“We weren’t married. Why can’t I leave you? What are you, a bandit who wants to keep me forever?”
“People strive upward just as water flows downward. If I like a better woman, what’s wrong with that?”
“Ask anyone—who would truly marry a woman who eloped with a man?”
“Since ancient times, wives are married, but those who elope become concubines. Of course, if you’re willing to be my concubine, I can discuss it with Jiao Jiao. She’s kind and generous—she might agree.”
Everyone fell silent at his shameless words, even Yun Wan Ning was stunned.
[Wow, this dog of a man really went all in—he doesn’t plan to keep any dignity at all.]
[But why do his shameless words… sound somewhat reasonable?]
[Ahhh, my values are shaken. I actually think he has a point!!!]
[Sigh, women, may you have less of a love-struck mind in the future. Eloping is a gamble—how can you be sure you’ll win?]
[In this era, if you lose, what awaits you is utter ruin.]
While Yun Wan Ning reeled from his words, the crowd turned to the woman. Some voiced opinions, others tried to smooth things over.
“This fellow does have a point. Wives are married, elopers are concubines. Since you chose it, and he’s still willing to take you as a concubine, there’s nothing more to say.”
“Right, I wouldn’t marry a woman who’d eloped. If my reputation suffered after I succeeded, it would be too shameful.”
“Exactly. People go upward; water flows downward. If it were me, I’d also choose a better woman.”
“Just agree to be his concubine. The matter will be settled. Given what’s happened, you’ll hardly marry well in the future anyway.”
“…”
The woman was dumbfounded, staring at them all. After a long moment, she covered her face and wept in despair.
She could not understand—she was clearly the victim, so why was everyone siding with the heartless man?
Some even advised her to become his concubine. Did they not know that one should rather be a poor man’s wife than a rich man’s concubine?
The more she thought, the more hopeless she felt; the more she cried, the more it hurt.
“Wives are married, elopers are concubines… he wants me to be a concubine…”
The man, seeing everyone take his side, grew smug. He dropped his sleeve, no longer hiding his face.
“Letting you be my concubine is my generosity. I’m a licentiate, and you’re just a wanton woman who eloped and lacks virtue. Besides me, no one would take you as a concubine.”
Once again, Yun Wan Ning was struck by his shamelessness.
[Wow, so that earlier shameless speech wasn’t your limit. Give you the chance, and you can be even more shameless.]
[Wasn’t she the one who eloped with you? Why do you only speak of her faults? What good thing are you yourself?]
[Why is it that when you both eloped, she’s an unvirtuous wanton while you’re somehow pure and innocent?]
[Aren’t you the one who seduced an underage girl, you shameless scoundrel?]
[No, no—maybe Heaven can bear this, maybe Earth can bear this, but your grandaunt here cannot. If I don’t teach you a lesson today, I’ll hardly enjoy my milk.]
With her heart voice falling, she closed her eyes and began urging her spiritual power.
“Boom!”
Her spiritual power turned into a bolt of lightning that struck straight down at the man’s head.
The force was controlled perfectly—his hair shot upward like spikes, his face blackened with soot, but apart from the pain and numbness, he suffered no serious harm.