Chapter 71: Eternal Descent into Hell
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation.
The Old Madam hadn’t yet reacted when Lu Yuan Ze’s expression darkened.
“Wan Yi, what is going on?” he demanded.
Gu Ling’s expression appeared hurt. “Wan Yi, have I done something wrong?” He reached out, but Lu Wan Yi panicked and sidestepped sharply, evading his hand.
“Elder Brother, Elder Brother! Gu Ling hit me! Gu Ling hit me! I want a mutual divorce, I want a mutual divorce!” Lu Wan Yi cried out loudly, her voice breaking into sobs.
For six months, she had lived in a hellish existence. The first three days of her marriage were blissful. Gu Ling had been gentle and considerate, making her unspeakably happy. She had even secretly resented Madam Xu for opposing her marriage to such a fine man.
But who could have known? After just half a month, Gu Ling returned home drunk one day and forced her to strip completely bare, lashing her with a cane until she was at death’s door. The next morning, he had tearfully apologized, cradling her as he begged for forgiveness.
Later, when she returned to her maiden home to seek help, Madam Xu had instead called Gu Ling to escort her back. After that, Gu Ling no longer physically beat her—but…
“He hit you? Where are the injuries?” Lu Yuan Ze’s brows furrowed deeply.
Lu Wan Yi’s sobs momentarily faltered, and she bit her lower lip hard. Ever since she was escorted back to Gu Ling’s home, the abuse had changed. The injuries were no longer visible.
[All because of Madam Xu. She’s the one who said that my face represents the Marquis’s Manor’s face. Even Gu Ling, the Top Scholar, would hesitate because of that. It’s all her fault.]
“Elder Brother, it’s all Madam Xu’s fault! She’s the one who instructed Gu Ling to hurt me!” Lu Wan Yi screamed through her tears.
Madam Xu, standing off to the side, appeared utterly bewildered.
“Wan Yi, how could you say such nonsense? How could you smear me so baselessly?” she asked, clutching a handkerchief as tears welled up in her eyes. “I’ve cherished you as if you were my own child, no less than my own children. Gu Ling is talented but comes from a poor family. I was afraid his family would treat you poorly. Back then, when you fancied him, wasn’t I the one who opposed it?
“It was you and Mother who insisted on the match. And now, you blame me?” Madam Xu dabbed at her tears, her voice tinged with sorrow. “I cared for you for over ten years, and yet you accuse me of this.”
Lu Yuan Ze, recalling the events, looked at Lu Wan Yi with extreme displeasure.
“Wan Yi, what are you doing? Gu Ling was your own choice! Now tell me, where did he hurt you?” he asked sternly, his temper rising.
The Old Madam, who had seen Lu Wan Yi’s injuries during her last visit, embraced her granddaughter, crying alongside her.
“Lord Marquis, Gu Ling has never mistreated Wan Yi,” Gu Ling protested earnestly. “From the moment she entered my home, she has been in charge of all household affairs. She’s the master of the Gu family. Even when I made mistakes, I was the one punished to kneel.
“The entire Gu household can attest to this. Wan Yi’s marriage into our family was a humiliation to her; how could I bear to hurt her? Even if her temper is a little spoiled, I’ve always indulged her. When I made mistakes, she’d have me kneel, and I complied without objection.” Gu Ling’s expression was sorrowful, his tone aggrieved.
Lu Yuan Ze’s anger flared. “If you say you’ve been hurt, then speak clearly where the injuries are!” he snapped. “You were spoiled at home, but how can you still be so unreasonable after marriage? Gu Ling is an official of the court! He kneels to his parents above, and the emperor below. How can he kneel to you?”
Lu Wan Yi choked out, “He only kneels after he’s hurt me!” But the wounds she bore—she couldn’t bring herself to say where they were.
Madam Xu suggested, “Perhaps we should call a physician for Wan Yi?”
Lu Wan Yi stepped back violently. “No, no, no physician!” Gu Ling had bitten her so severely; she dared not let anyone see. If word spread, her pride would suffer a fate worse than death.
Madam Xu sighed and shook her head. “Sister, we all cherish you, but you can’t throw false accusations like this. Lord Gu is a court official; you might ruin him.
“You claim he hurt you but refuse to show the injuries or allow a physician to examine you. And now you’re demanding a divorce. Have you considered the Lu family’s reputation?” Madam Xu’s tone grew stern. “The Marquis is on the verge of promotion. Do not tarnish the Marquis Manor’s name.”
Lu Yuan Ze’s gaze changed as Madam Xu’s words sank in. He personally helped Gu Ling to his feet, his tone distant but polite. “It’s the Lu family’s failure to raise its daughters properly. Apologies for your grievances.”
The Old Madam sobbed, “When Wan Yi came home last time, she bore visible injuries, Yuan Ze…”
“That time, Wan Yi accidentally fell because she wasn’t yet familiar with the Gu household,” Gu Ling interjected hastily.
“How could a fall leave such injuries?” the Old Madam demanded angrily, her glare fierce with suppressed fury. [If only I had kept her that day instead of letting Gu Ling take her away.]
“Enough!” Lu Yuan Ze shouted. “Mother, stop coddling Wan Yi! You’ve spoiled her rotten! Just look at her behavior now!” He pointed accusingly at Lu Wan Yi. The most pressing matter was Gu Ling’s support at court—his only chance at a third-rank title.
Madam Xu’s brows furrowed subtly. She understood Lu Yuan Ze too well. His selfishness and willingness to sacrifice his sister for his ambitions disgusted her. To him, as long as the Lu family prospered, anything was permissible.
Lu Wan Yi cried out in terror, “Elder Brother, believe me! Please believe me! He hits me; I can’t go back! I’ll die if I do!” She turned to Madam Xu, her voice breaking. “Sister-in-law, I was wrong! I was so wrong! I should have listened to you. Gu Ling is not a good man. Sister-in-law, save me!” Lu Wan Yi fell to her knees, begging desperately.
“Take Wan Yi away,” Lu Yuan Ze ordered coldly. “This is nonsense. Marriage is no child’s play.”
Lu Yuan Ze resumed his seat with Gu Ling, even smiling. “Wan Yi was spoiled by us. We didn’t expect her to trouble you after marriage. If she makes mistakes, discipline her as you see fit. The Lu family has no objections.”
Gu Ling’s gaze flickered, and he nodded gently, his expression soft. “This girl even falsely accused you. How foolish.”
As the men exchanged pleasantries over wine, Madam Xu slipped away to the adjacent room.
Inside, Lu Wan Yi, locked in, had shattered everything in sight. When Madam Xu entered, Wan Yi’s eyes burned with venomous hatred.
“Madam Xu! You ruined me! You ruined me! You sent me back on purpose! You told Gu Ling how to hurt me without leaving marks!” Lu Wan Yi screamed.
Madam Xu’s voice was calm. “Sister, your words are unreasonable. Weren’t you the one who said that men only hit women for a reason? That women must reflect on their faults?
“Shouldn’t you reflect now? Did you fail to serve your husband well? Or care for the Old Madam properly? Reflect on where you went wrong.” Her face was full of feigned concern.
“Didn’t you teach me that, Sister?”
Lu Wan Yi trembled with rage, her finger shaking as she pointed at Madam Xu. “You won’t die well! You won’t die well!”
“You think you’re happy? Ha! You think you’re happy?” Wan Yi’s laughter was mad, her gaze wild. “Shi Yun, I’m waiting for the day you fall into hell.”
Madam Xu’s heart was calm. [So this is the little sister-in-law I cherished for over a decade. Yet behind my back, she and Pei Jiao Jiao were as close as mother and daughter.]
[You all deserve to die. I will drag you into the abyss with me.]
»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.
Hey, I’ve seen you on Akknovel, what a coincidence albeit a year later lol
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.
we should consider the time period as well perhaps….and it may not be justified for her to abused by her husband, but consider Madam Xu’s position…what exactly could she have done to stop this marriage, she did whatever she could… Lu Wan Yi was incredibly stubborn… not to mention the betrayal Madam Xu felt at her attitude.. she didn’t take revenge… she simply let things take their course… and for them to suffer the consequences of their own doing…
and besides… if it wasn’t Lu Wan Yi it would be Madam Xu, someone has to suffer… so who do you think should suffer between the both of them…
it is fate…according to the plot of the novel…
think back to the scene of the crown prince nearly dying…
Also in their first life, she had the audacity to injur her own sister-in-law by scarring her face just because she was looking out for her. And she’s also knowingly hiding the mistress and her kids. She deserves everything that is happening to her. And perhaps her husband doesn’t have a happy ending either.