The Return of the Seventh Young Lady-Chapter 73 - 72

Chapter 72

"Zhen’er...is...is what you said true?"

Mu Cui Ming asked in a trembling voice, his heart pounding erratically as he anxiously awaited his son’s response. When he heard the answer, his body went weak.

"Do you think I would joke about something like this, Father?"

Mu Cui Ming reached for the fallen chair and set it upright before collapsing into it with a sense of utter defeat. His eyes reflected the depth of his despair. When he glanced at the gift from Shin Wang, the joy he had initially felt turned into profound regret.

He shouldn’t have!

He shouldn’t have been so quick to accept Shin Wang’s proposal and gift!

Now it had all turned into a major problem!

Mu Gongzhen said nothing more, quietly observing his father’s despair and tension. Allowing him to fully grasp the severity of the situation and to be consumed by his hopelessness would only make Mu Gongzhen’s plan more likely to succeed.

Mu Cui Ming clasped his hands together, deep in thought. If both the Emperor and Shin Wang were interested in Mu Qingxuan, siding with the Emperor and rejecting Shin Wang could mean the end of his future. Although he did not know much about the intricacies of the royal court, he knew enough to understand that Shin Wang was not an ordinary person.

Shin Wang had the Empress Dowager backing him!

The Empress Dowager was the only person with enough power to challenge the Emperor. If Mu Cui Ming became an enemy of the Empress Dowager, he would not survive in the royal court. But he could not afford to offend the Emperor either.

In this predicament, he could not give his daughter to either party, as it would mean the end of his life and his promising future!

"What should I do? What must I do?"

Mu Cui Ming muttered absent-mindedly. His eyes were vacant, like someone who had faced the ultimate hopelessness. His clasped hands were raised to hold his temples in utter frustration.

"Actually, there is a way to handle this," Mu Gongzhen said, deciding it was time to steer his father towards his intended course of action.

"Would you be interested in hearing it, Father?"

"What way? Tell me! As long as it helps us escape this disaster, I will do anything!" Mu Cui Ming looked up at his son suddenly, his eyes filled with desperate hope as if he had seen a light at the end of this dark tunnel. He urged his son to speak quickly.

Mu Gongzhen smiled slightly and said, "Since we can’t have Xuan’er engaged to anyone, then we won’t promise her to either party. No one benefits or suffers, and our Mu family won’t have any conflicts with the royal family."

"But what excuse will we use to avoid Xuan’er’s engagement? She’s not seriously ill, and she’s almost of age for the hairpin ceremony. We can’t use just any excuse to avoid the engagement," Mu Cui Ming frowned. Avoiding engagement from both sides was possible, but they lacked a perfect excuse to ensure the engagement wouldn’t proceed.

"That’s not difficult at all. Doesn’t the royal family hold destiny and fortune in high regard?" Mu Gongzhen smiled coldly, his eyes glinting chillingly, looking intimidating. "We just need to make sure they can’t go against this rule..."

"What do you mean?" Mu Cui Ming asked, confused. He had an inkling but wasn’t entirely clear, which made him feel frustrated. However, Mu Gongzhen remained calm and began to explain his plan in a relaxed manner.

"If Xuan’er has an unfortunate destiny that prevents her from getting engaged for the next two years because she needs to observe precepts and do good deeds to ward off misfortune, and if getting engaged would bring misfortune to her suitor, do you think the royal family would still want to propose?"

"Even if Shin Wang insists, the Ministry of Rites wouldn’t agree, and neither would the Empress Dowager. She wouldn’t want her beloved nephew to risk his fate with this..."

Since ancient times, people have greatly respected spirits and deities, often worshipping them and considering destiny crucial. In marriage, families would compare birthdates and consult monks in the temple to see if the couple was compatible. If their destinies aligned, it was a good omen.

But if not, the couple would be forced to part. This practice was important not only among commoners but also in the royal palace. Especially the royal family members, when choosing consorts, or Wang Fei, or even concubines, destiny was paramount. If Mu Qingxuan had an unfortunate destiny, she wouldn’t be deemed suitable to marry into the royal family.

"You mean to spread rumors that Xuan’er has an unfortunate destiny to use it as an excuse to avoid engagement proposals?" Mu Cui Ming couldn’t believe his son had thought of such a deep plan. He replayed the words in his mind to fully understand.

"Yes, but not just rumors. Mere rumors without evidence won’t convince Shin Wang. We need to make this a big issue with solid evidence."

Mu Gongzhen lowered his eyes slightly. He had already considered the details of the plan. The only way to delay Shin Wang’s proposal was through this method, though it might tarnish Mu Qingxuan’s reputation a bit.

However, Xuan’er had already told him to go ahead with this plan. She didn’t think much of it since it didn’t affect her at all. For the next two years, no one would dare to propose to her, which was actually a good thing.

"So...so, what should I do?" Mu Cui Ming asked uncertainly. From everything his son had said, it seemed like this plan didn’t involve him at all, as if he were irrelevant.

"You don’t need to do anything." Mu Gongzhen narrowed his eyes coldly at his father, making Mu Cui Ming shiver. "Just don’t get in my way..."

Mu Cui Ming swallowed hard. Why did he feel such fear toward his own son?

Seeing his father’s stunned reaction, Mu Gongzhen figured he understood and immediately stood up to leave the room. Before stepping out the door, he turned back and added one last thing.

"Though you might not be smart, you’re not a fool. I hope you understand what you should do. If you get in my way, don’t blame me for being heartless..."

Even after Mu Gongzhen left, the oppressive atmosphere lingered in the room. Mu Cui Ming, who had just been threatened, was left at a loss, sitting on the chair like a puppet. His face had turned noticeably pale. The oppressive aura Mu Gongzhen had emitted made him shiver.

Sweat beads formed around his face incessantly, and his throat felt dry, making it hard to swallow. It took him a long time to regain his composure. Realizing he had just been threatened by his son, his anger surged immediately.

Bang!

He slammed his hand on the table, creating a loud noise. His eyes burned with rage. "Good! How wonderful! A son threatening his father, just wonderful!"

"Mu Gongzhen, oh Mu Gongzhen, you’re too arrogant! Just because you’re close to His Majesty, you think you can cast aside your father!? Keep dreaming!"

Crash!

Mu Cui Ming swept the inkstone off the table, letting it smash to the floor to vent his anger. His son had become increasingly disrespectful, and he vowed to teach him a lesson one day!

Meanwhile, Mu Gongzhen, though having left his father’s residence, hadn’t gone far. He stood quietly by a tree near his father’s residence, listening to the intermittent sounds of cursing and objects being smashed. A cold smile instantly appeared on his handsome face.

Did his father think he would act as a dutiful son?

Wishful thinking!

Everything his father had done to him and his siblings in both this life and the previous one had severed any remaining filial bond. If not for lacking a sufficient reason to break away from the Mu family and revert to his mother’s surname, he would have taken his sisters and left long ago!

But now wasn’t the time...

Currently, he was the only son of the Mu family, and his father hadn’t made any major mistakes that could justify their separation.

He was just waiting for an opportunity...

While waiting for that opportunity in the Mu family, his father shouldn’t expect to benefit or demand any filial piety from them, because there would be none!

Mu Gongzhen sneered before walking back to his quarters, leaving his father to vent his anger alone.

The next morning, Mu Gongzhen left for work at the Ministry of Works early. Meanwhile, Mu Qingxuan and Mu Yingying dressed up to visit Tai Lin Temple, the renowned temple in the capital. People throughout the city, including the royal family, respected and admired the abbot who resided there.

To make their plan succeed, they needed to start by obtaining evidence from Tai Lin Temple!

When it came to fate and destiny, if the abbot of Tai Lin Temple spoke, people would believe without question. Thus, they had to request an audience with the abbot to have their fortunes told. Even a minor bad omen would be enough to substantiate the fabricated unfortunate destiny they had planned.

Upon reaching the temple, the two sisters first offered incense and prayed inside the monastery, following the temple rituals. They then approached a young novice to request an audience with the abbot. Usually, it was difficult to meet the abbot, as many had tried and failed, lacking the necessary fate.

There was a saying that the abbot would only meet those with whom he had a destined connection. Mu Qingxuan and Mu Yingying weren’t sure if they possessed such a fate, but after a short wait, the novice returned to escort them to the abbot. The two sisters exchanged delighted glances before following the novice inside.

Upon entering the private chamber, they knelt respectfully on the floor. In front of them sat the elderly abbot, hands clasped in prayer and eyes closed. After a moment, he opened his eyes, revealing a compassionate gaze.

"I hear you wish to see me."

"Yes, we would like you to read our fortunes,"

Mu Qingxuan replied respectfully, avoiding direct eye contact. Because whenever she looked into the abbot’s eyes, she felt as if he could see right through her soul, making her heart skip a beat.

"I adhere to the precepts and cannot lie. I hope you understand," the abbot said suddenly, with a slight smile. Mu Yingying raised her eyebrows slightly, suspecting that the abbot already knew the real reason for their visit. It seemed there was no need for elaborate explanations.

"Esteemed Abbot, we do not wish to make you break your precepts. We only seek to have my sister’s fortune read. If her destiny is unfavorable, isn’t it appropriate to perform rites to ward off bad luck?"

The abbot turned to the young girl in front of him, a gentle smile playing on his lips. He nodded in agreement before examining Mu Qingxuan’s face closely, using it along with her birthdate to determine her future fate.

"The fate is truly unfortunate," the abbot murmured, closing his eyes and gently nodding while holding a string of prayer beads. "This young miss has been blessed with good fortune. Despite having good things after experiencing past misfortunes, she will face sorrow again in the future. I can only offer one piece of advice."

"There is always a way out of every situation. Just reflect deeply, for the rest is the will of heaven that I cannot disclose."

Mu Qingxuan didn’t know why, but she felt a sinking feeling in her heart upon hearing that she would face sorrow again. Both sisters exchanged bewildered glances.

"The road ahead is full of difficulties, but if you have determination, you will overcome them," the abbot warned with a smile, handing back the birthdate to Mu Qingxuan.

"Novice...guide this young miss to light incense and candles to pay respects to the deities inside. Seeking blessings from heaven is also a good way to ward off misfortune," the abbot turned to instruct the novice standing guard at the door. Mu Qingxuan, having been invited, followed the novice out without any choice.

Once it was just the abbot and Mu Yingying in the room, an uneasy atmosphere enveloped them. The abbot placed the prayer beads on his lap and spoke gently, but his words made Mu Yingying tremble with panic.

"Because of the merits you accumulated in the past, heaven has shown mercy. Do not seek revenge anymore, for it will only create endless cycles of karma."

"Y...you know?"

"The effects of karma will always return to the doer, even if it takes time. Do not create more karma that will entangle you in an endless cycle of revenge. Leave it to the law of karma."

The abbot’s gaze was filled with compassion and a desire to help all beings attain liberation. However, for Mu Yingying, his words were like sharp arrows piercing her heart.

Let go of her revenge?

Impossible!

Even if she did nothing, her enemies would always be ready to strike her down!

How could she stand still and wait for her enemies to harm her?

No way!

Why should she let those who harmed her live happily?

She didn’t know when karma would catch up with them. If it were like the previous life where they had already died, what good would it do for karma to reach them after her death!?

The dead feel nothing anymore!

They had died with their hatred still burning, remembering all the pain and suffering vividly. Yet, the evil people continued to live happily. What good was the delayed karma?...

"I thank you, Esteemed Abbot, for your guidance. But it’s easier said than done." Mu Yingying lowered her eyes to hide the hatred that flared when she thought about her past, before smiling coldly. "It’s not that I don’t believe in the law of karma."

"But karma takes too long. Why must those who suffer live in misery while those who inflict suffering live happily?"

"No...I will not wait."

"I am willing to be sinful if it means I can see my enemies suffer in hell while still alive!"

"For I am the embodiment of karma that will repay them sooner!"

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