Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity-Chapter 237 - 73: Severed Finger

Huang Ming was getting a bit anxious. Gu Chengyu was about to leave for the private school, and even if he found an opportunity later, without Gu Chengyu, who would agree to his conditions? Besides, he couldn’t stay at Gu Wanhua’s house forever. Recently, even Gu Wanhua’s mother had started to have complaints about him, as if he was loitering at Gu Wanhua’s house and not leaving.

Thus, Huang Ming and Gu Wanhua devised a plan. Gu Wan was too young to have an affair with. He had to think of something else.

Huang Ming planned to have Gu Wanhua steal Gu Wan’s undergarments. However, undergarments were private items, and of course, Gu Wan wouldn’t hang them in the front yard to dry. They were usually hung on the window at the back of the house, and since Gu Wan stayed in her room all day, Gu Wanhua didn’t have the opportunity.

Besides, even if they stole them, who could prove those undergarments belonged to Gu Wan? Although in the Dayan Dynasty, undergarments often had the woman’s boudoir name embroidered on them, such an embroidery could be easily imitated by others. Huang Ming racked his brains and came up with a rotten idea.

He had Gu Wanhua trick Gu Wan into coming out and then, in a secluded place, knock her unconscious, and carry her to a hidden area. Huang Ming planned to strip Gu Wan of her undergarments and then, when she woke up and was returning home, he would rush to Gu Wan’s house to stir up trouble.

Huang Ming intended to make a big scene, attracting the villagers to watch the spectacle. He would claim that Gu Wan and he had already privately decided to be together for life and had just met secretly in the grove. Gu Wan even gave him her undergarments as a token of their love. Anyway, Gu Wan had just returned home and wouldn’t have had time to change into undergarments. They would then get the village women to check, and wouldn’t that confirm everything?

If she refused to be examined, it would indicate Gu Wan had a guilty conscience. After all, it was a no-solution trap.

As for why Huang Ming would create such a scene, it was simple. Gu Wan was about to get engaged to Sun Xian, but Gu Wan had set her sights on him now and was unwilling to marry Sun Xian. Once he heard Gu Wan was getting engaged, naturally, he would go to her door, hoping the Gu Family would sanction their union.

After hearing this, Gu Chengyu couldn’t help but agree that if Huang Ming could use his cunning in legitimate ways, he could achieve much in the future. Such a person, if made an official, would be adept at scheming against people, mainly because Huang Ming was very patient.

"And you? Why are you helping Huang Ming just for those two hundred taels of silver? Can your conscience be at ease? No matter what, we are all part of the Gu Family. What good would it do you if your second aunt’s reputation is ruined?"

Gu Chengyu really couldn’t understand. Was it just for two hundred taels of silver? Was his vision that narrow?

"He says there’s no good in the second aunt marrying Sun Xian. Sun Xian’s family is poor, and if the second aunt marries into it, she would have to serve a sick mother-in-law. She would be better off with him." Gu Wanhua felt his mind must have been muddled with excrement. Otherwise, how could he have done such a thing?

"As far as I know, Huang Ming is already married, right? Do you want your second aunt to go and be a concubine?" Gu Chengyu could hardly imagine how Gu Wanhua, with his brain, managed to pass the Prefecture examination.

"He said he would divorce the first wife. Little Uncle, I really realize my mistake. Please forgive me?" Gu Wanhua pleaded.

"You actually believed his nonsensical words? How stupid can you be!" Gu Wanhua didn’t believe for a second that Huang Ming would unconditionally marry Gu Wan. The Gu Family would definitely have to pay a certain price to preserve Gu Wan’s position as the legitimate wife.

In ancient times, the situation was different for men and women. If a man had such a scandal, at most he’d be considered a playboy, but a woman would bear a tarnished reputation for life. If abandoned, she’d be better off dead. Wouldn’t the terms be up to him then?

Gu Chengyu got up and walked towards Huang Ming. Although Huang Ming was still in pain, he was already feeling slightly better than before. Seeing Gu Chengyu approach, he couldn’t help but shudder. Because Gu Chengyu’s gaze was very sharp at that moment, giving him a bad premonition.

Gu Chengyu pulled out a dagger from his sleeve, eyeing Huang Ming.

"What are you going to do? Don’t do anything rash, killing someone will get you imprisoned. Think about your future!" Huang Ming knew that in this desolate weed-covered place, even if he were killed, it wouldn’t necessarily be traced back to Gu Chengyu, even if the government investigated.

Huang Ming was terrified. Truly afraid, a warm stream trickled down his pants.

Gu Wanhua was also scared stiff, having no idea Gu Chengyu had the habit of carrying a dagger.

"Little Uncle! Please don’t! Killing is punishable by death." Gu Wanhua’s voice was shaking. His mind was exceptionally clear at that moment.

If Gu Chengyu killed Huang Ming, he would surely fear the government coming and revealing the murder, perhaps even silencing him as well!

Gu Wanhua was so anxious that tears flowed, praying, "Father! Come save me! Little Uncle is so fierce!"

Gu Chengyu had just taken out the dagger and looked speechlessly at the two of them, panic-stricken. And to think Huang Ming even wet himself? With such cowardice, he dared to plot against him?

Ming Mo and Gu Chengyu immediately covered their noses; the smell was quite strong. Ming Mo looked at Huang Ming disdainfully, thinking, "He wet himself? The master hadn’t even done anything yet!"

Gu Chengyu considered ending Huang Ming’s life to prevent future troubles, but then thought of Gu Wanhua. If he killed Huang Ming, he couldn’t let Gu Wanhua live either. Weighing the situation, he decided to spare Gu Wanhua’s life out of respect for Uncle Gu, though a punishment was necessary.

He turned and glanced at Gu Wan, noticing her eyelashes fluttering, indicating she was about to wake up. From his space, he retrieved a jade bottle containing a smoke he had cultivated. He was inspired by a recent visit to the Prefecture, and he found it very useful.

The smoke he developed was colorless and odorless. Just a sniff would render someone unconscious for twelve hours without an antidote, with no ill effects on the body.

Gu Chengyu held his breath and swept the smoke under Gu Wan’s nose. Her breathing became long and even.

Once sure Gu Wan was asleep, Gu Chengyu headed towards Huang Ming.

He took the dagger, grabbed Huang Ming’s finger, and swiftly and decisively sliced off a section of Huang Ming’s little finger.

Huang Ming’s heart was pounding as he watched Gu Chengyu approach, crying out for mercy, although Gu Chengyu remained unmoved.

He was puzzled when Gu Chengyu approached from behind. Next, he felt an icy sensation from his little finger, and when Gu Chengyu returned to face him, excruciating pain surged through his body.

"Ah!" Originally, the pain from Ming Mo’s kick was tolerable, but now the pain from his little finger was unbearable. He was convinced it was cut off, it had to be!

The dagger in Gu Chengyu’s hand could slice through iron as if it were mud, sharp enough to shave fur. When he chopped off the finger, because the dagger was swift, Huang Ming didn’t feel the pain immediately. It wasn’t until after that he felt the intense pain. Fingers being connected to the heart, losing a finger was undeniably painful.

"What did you do? Did you cut off my finger?" Huang Ming asked Gu Chengyu, gritting his teeth through the pain.