The Mute Wife Who Brings Prosperity-Chapter 609 - 575: Grinding Bones to Dust

Jiang Qingyu was a family member of the Tang Mansion, the first to receive the news here.

"Dead?"

Tang Yuan’s eyebrows furrowed deeply.

He was worried about Xu Jia.

He had just gone to plea with her that day, and within a few days, Jiang Qingyu was dead.

Instinctively, this matter must be related to the Xu Family. If the government office finds out anything, wouldn’t the Xu Family be...

Thinking of this, Tang Yuan looked at the messenger servant, "Do you know how she died?"

The servant said, "I heard from a relative working in the government office that Mrs. Jiang had been acting crazy for days, waking up every night from nightmares, screaming like a banshee. They went in to see, and Mrs. Jiang would holler for anyone she saw to get out. My relative said that the dungeon is filled with heavy Yin energy, and it might be that Mrs. Jiang was contaminated with something dirty, and in the end, she was scared to death."

"Are you sure it wasn’t man-made?" Tang Yuan asked tentatively.

"I didn’t ask about that."

Tang Yuan couldn’t rest assured and specially asked someone to investigate the next day. The results were not much different from what the servant described—Xu Jia did indeed visit Jiang Qingyu, but there was no evidence that she did anything to Mrs. Jiang. Jiang Qingyu’s death was ultimately attributed to insanity.

She was initially imprisoned for murder, sentenced to be executed after the autumn of the following year, so dying early did not cause much of a stir.

However, Tang Yuan didn’t want to just let it go. Jiang Qingyu was the biggest catalyst for his current predicament.

Moreover, Jiang Qingyu dared to desecrate his grandfather, a highly respected sage of the times, and even in death, she couldn’t be left in peace.

Thus, after Jiang Qingyu’s body was sent out, it fell into Tang Yuan’s hands, and he personally reduced her to ashes.

After doing all this, Tang Yuan began to focus his energy on finding his grandfather.

He was going to take up his post in Suzhou after the new year and wanted to settle all family matters before that.

However, just when everyone was hoping for the old man to return to take charge and Tang Yuan was secretly having people look for him, a letter silently arrived at the Tang Mansion.

It was in Old Sir Tang’s handwriting, saying he had traveled all over Jiangnan over the years and his mood had gradually calmed, planning to enter the Buddhist way in his later years to accumulate blessings for himself and his descendants.

As for which temple he would practice in, he wouldn’t reveal at all.

In just one morning, this matter caused an uproar among several branches of the Tang Family.

You must know the old man was the face of the Tang Family, its pillar. The Tang family’s younger generation enjoyed respect outside all relying on the endless glory brought by the old man and several ancestors, and now he says he will become a monk; isn’t this trapping thousands upon thousands of descendants?

Because of this, people from the branches were clamoring, grabbing onto Tang Yuan, demanding that the future Family Head, Tang Yuan, personally go and bring back the old man.

Tang Yuan sat in the front hall, still holding the old man’s handwritten letter, surrounded by the arguing voices of several uncles, aunts, and cousins.

Yet he didn’t say a word from beginning to end, his gaze locked on the old man’s handwriting. If you looked closely, you could see the muscles at the corners of his mouth trembling slightly.

Grandfather wouldn’t enter the Buddhist way; it was because he couldn’t face the children and grandchildren with dignity, so he sought a place to end his life.

The reason for such a lie is, first, to not worry the family, and second, to have a flawless excuse for not being buried in the ancestral tomb after his death.

That wretched woman Jiang harmed not only his brother but now his grandfather was forced into such a situation.

The surrounding clamor continued, and Tang Yuan, with reddened eyes, stood up, his tone low, "Stop arguing!"

This shout was very intimidating.

The hall immediately quieted down, and all eyes fell on him.

Tang Yuan put away the letter from his grandfather, glanced at everyone, "Since this is the old man’s wish for his later years, so be it. No matter how many halos he has or how many benefits he brings to the later generations, that’s all his own. When he was at home, you didn’t seem that filial, and now he chooses another path, and you all have thoughts and things to say, don’t you? Then speak up enough for today, who will go first? You, you, or you? Just now, I saw you three speaking most righteously, stand up and tell me, what are your thoughts?"

His gaze was cold, exuding a seriousness none of them had ever seen before.

The three people he pointed to shrank their necks; one of them said, "Why so harsh? Aren’t we just worried about the old man being at risk with his aged body and alone out there."

Tang Yuan sneered, "If that’s the case, I’ll assign you a task; pack your things and leave the Capital. Search through all the temples across Jiangnan until you bring back the old man."

That person reluctantly closed his mouth.

The old man’s character, who in the family does not know, once he decides to do something, not even nine oxen can pull him back.

Let’s not mention nobody knows where he is practicing; even if we knew, the old man would likely have become a monk long ago, how could he just come back if you wanted?

Seeing no one dared to speak again, Tang Yuan took a deep breath, "This matter need not be mentioned again, everyone disperse."

The family rites and teachings of the Tang Family perhaps did not have much influence on the former Tang Yuan and Jiang Qingyu, but as for other branches, it was a rule not to be defied.

Therefore, even as elders, Tang Yuan’s uncles and aunts dared not speak casually in front of the future Family Head, and they silently left according to his instructions in the end.

Once everyone from the branches had left, Mrs. Qiao looked at Tang Yuan with a troubled expression, "Second son, do you really intend to fulfill your grandfather’s wish and let him spend his later years in a monastery? If outsiders find out, who knows how they might scold us juniors for not being filial to him!"

With him gone, what else can we do? Tang Yuan pressed down the bitterness in his eyes, "Grandfather is the most understanding person in this family, he has his own ideas, so why should we force him? He likes peace, likes the Buddhist way, then let him be. At his age, being controlled by his children and grandchildren would make him feel uncomfortable."

"What about you?" Mrs. Qiao asked again, "What will you do? You’re already in your late twenties; you can’t just keep going on like this, can you? How about after this settles down, I’ll find a nice girl for you to marry, treat her well, and try to start a family early for the Tang Family."

"We’ll talk about it later." Tang Yuan had no plans to remarry for the time being. Thinking of that nephew with an unclear status, he sighed, "When I go to Suzhou, you should train Yongyong well. If he learns well, he will become my successor in the future."

Mrs. Qiao could see the layer of melancholy between her son’s brows, "Actually, as your mother, I can see that you’re not indifferent to the Xu Family. You have such a stubborn nature; why won’t you soften your stance with her? What a good daughter-in-law the Xu Family would make! During her time in our family, everything was managed so well. A military family producing such a daughter is truly rare."

It’s a pity the one searching with a lantern is blind.

Tang Yuan gave a bitter smile.

He let go of a virtuous wife to engage with a lowly creature, and deserves to have nothing go smoothly in his life.

Seeing Mrs. Qiao wanted to say more, Tang Yuan said, "Mother, please don’t bring up the Xu Family anymore. While she is indeed good, I lacked the ability to win her heart. The situation has escalated to this point; it’s no longer a matter of me being soft. If a couple is estranged, the days won’t last long."

Mrs. Qiao had only two sons, and now only one remains; how could she truly let go? After thinking for a while, she still spoke up, "Next year when you take your post, if you find someone suitable, marry a second wife. I’m still waiting to hold a grandchild."

Tang Yuan: "You already have a grandson, don’t you?"

Mrs. Qiao snorted, "That’s from your older brother’s family, it’s not the same."

Tang Yuan knew he couldn’t escape his mother’s urging for marriage, so he pretended to agree for now, "But that will have to wait until I take my post."

--

Song Mansion.

The martial arts examination results were out, and the two candidates who passed would stay in the Capital. The rest, including Yun Liulang and his group, originally planned to depart for Suzhou soon, but Xue Yan suddenly fell ill at this critical juncture.

He had been frail since childhood; it was a deficiency from birth. Over the years, living at the maternal home, although using top-grade herbs for nourishment every day, it was just barely enough to let him move like a normal person. His physique couldn’t sustain too vigorous activities.

This time going to the Capital, Yun Huai didn’t agree to him going along, but Xue Yan insisted on following his uncle everywhere. After much coaxing, Yun Huai reluctantly agreed.

Yun Huai had two exceptionally outstanding disciples, Yun Shisan and Yun Shiliu.

Yun Shisan excelled in poison, Yun Shiliu was adept in medicine.

Both followed Yun Huai to the Capital.

Yun Shisan came as a precaution, while Yun Shiliu specifically to treat Xue Yan.

Since arriving in the Capital, they had been nurturing quite well, but unfortunately, a heavy snow fell two days ago, and Xue Yan stayed outside a bit longer, caught a cold and the old ailment flared up, making the illness particularly severe.