Chapter 224
Chapter 224
As they left the Fu Family residence, Yu Lang could not help asking Ren Fengjue, “What did Miss Wen mean just now when she said the Fu Family’s eldest son’s good days were coming to an end?”
Ren Fengjue smiled. “He married a brothel woman for the sake of his so-called dignity. That alone was bound to bring him disgrace.”
“And now his household is in complete turmoil because of her. What good days could he possibly have?”
Yu Lang thought this made sense and was about to ask more.
But Ren Fengjue interrupted him. “Enough of that. We still have to visit the Wen Family.”
It was Wen Yu who had asked them to go.
Her soul was now inside the Soul-Ferrying Lantern with Xia Ximo and Wuyou.
Ren Fengjue held the lantern in his hand.
Several times, Yu Lang had wanted to ask what exactly it was for, but Lord Ren looked so determined to keep his secrets that he probably would not tell him.
When the Wen Family’s gatekeeper heard that guests from the minister’s residence had come to call, he dared not delay them for a moment.
Thus, Ren Fengjue had only just reached the reception hall when Master Wen emerged, supported by his eldest son.
His complexion made it clear that he was in poor health. He was already breathing somewhat heavily as he entered the hall.
After a few polite exchanges, Ren Fengjue came straight to the point.
“To be frank, sir, I have come about Miss Wen.”
Master Wen’s expression visibly stiffened at the mention of his recently deceased daughter.
“I must tell you that my daughter died of an illness three days ago.”
Beside him, Yu Lang immediately gave a cold snort. “Sir, surely you know better than anyone whether Miss Wen really died of an illness?”
Master Wen’s expression changed abruptly.
Perhaps the shock was too much for him, for he began coughing violently.
His eldest son, Wen Yan, who stood beside him, hurried to fetch some ginseng tea to soothe his father’s throat.
Then he shot Yu Lang a displeased look. “What exactly do you mean by that?”
Yu Lang looked at him. “My meaning is clear. Miss Wen Yu did not die of an illness. She was poisoned.”
Master Wen coughed for a long while before slowly recovering.
Yet he did not dispute Yu Lang’s words. Instead, he sighed softly.
“Whatever the circumstances, Yu’er is gone. If you gentlemen have something to say… please speak plainly.”
Yu Lang did just that. “There are indeed a few things I have come to tell you on Miss Wen’s behalf.”
The color Master Wen had only just regained drained from his face.
Wen Yan flared up at once. “You may be a guest of the minister’s household, but if you keep spouting nonsense, do not blame us for rudely showing you out.”
With a seriousness rare for him, Yu Lang simply watched Master Wen. “Sir, you know more about Miss Wen Yu’s death than anyone. You should understand what I am saying.”
Master Wen was as pale as paper, yet, for some reason, his eyes began to mist over.
Then he said slowly, “I know Yu’er must hate me.”
Wen Yan froze at his father’s words. “Father, what do you mean? Could Yu’er have…”
He did not dare finish the question.
Master Wen rubbed his chest and coughed twice. Instead of answering his son, he asked, “What did Yu’er say?”
Yu Lang paused and glanced at Ren Fengjue. Seeing no change in his expression, he said, “Miss Wen said she knew the medicine was poisoned. She drank it of her own free will.”
Master Wen went rigid. A moment later, he clutched his chest and coughed up a mouthful of blood.
Young Master Wen was horrified.
Seeing his father cough up blood, he was about to rise and summon the Household Physician when his father caught hold of him.
“Do not go…”
Master Wen merely wiped haphazardly at his mouth. His aged eyes grew cloudier, as though he had suddenly grown many years older.
He stood and asked Yu Lang, “What… what else did she say?”
Yu Lang looked troubled too. “She said she does not hate you, because she did not want to live anyway.”
“Yu’er…”
Pain showed plainly in Master Wen’s eyes as he called her name. Then he broke down in sobs.
“I killed Yu’er,” he wept.
Young Master Wen had never seen his father lose control like this. In his panic, he did not know what to do.
Before coming, Yu Lang had thought he would at least have to battle it out with the Wen Family’s father and son before they would admit the truth.
He had not expected such an immediate confession. It astonished him.
He could see that Master Wen bitterly regretted the evil he had done.
Yu Lang sighed. “Sir, whatever else she was, Wen Yu was your own daughter. How… could you bring yourself to do it?”
Through his tears, Master Wen replied, “I did it… for her reputation.”
Yu Lang stared at him in disbelief. “Her reputation… mattered more than her life?”
Master Wen nodded.
“Everyone in Beiding County knows that my daughter was betrothed to the Fu Family’s eldest son from childhood. If word of the broken engagement got out, how could Yu’er ever show her face in the county again? Her whole life was already ruined.”
“Absurd!”
Yu Lang retorted angrily, “So what if the engagement was broken? Miss Wen Yu was an innocent young woman. She had done nothing monstrous. Are you saying there was no place for her in Beiding County simply because one engagement fell through?”
Master Wen said, “You have no idea how much reputation matters to a young lady of good family. Tell me, would you be willing to marry a woman whose engagement had been broken?”
Yu Lang barely hesitated. “If I truly loved her, I would marry her even if she had been divorced eight times, never mind a broken engagement.”
“…”
Master Wen was momentarily at a loss for words, but his expression made it clear that he did not believe him.
He even gave a cold laugh. “Even if you were willing, your parents would not welcome her. How could you guarantee that she would not be ostracized in your household, that she could live comfortably and without worry?”
“Those are all excuses!” Yu Lang rejected the argument at once.
“To begin with, as her father, you failed to protect her. You did not take proper care in choosing her husband either.”
“You wanted her to marry Fu Yuan because your families were close, for the sake of your own dignity.”
“You never cared what kind of man Fu Yuan was, or whether he would treat Miss Wen well. You only ever told her to please him.”
“Even when you knew perfectly well that Fu Yuan did not like Miss Wen at all, you could only blame your own daughter. Did you ever consider where this tragedy truly began?”
“In the dozen or more years of her life, did Miss Wen ever live a single day for herself?”
Master Wen had never heard anyone speak like this. His chest heaved. Suddenly he slapped the table. “Since ancient times, women have followed the Three Obediences: obey your father at home, your husband after marriage, and your son when your husband dies. That is their lot!”
“That was her lot…”
He repeated it through almost clenched teeth.
But Yu Lang shook his head and rejected his words once more. “Whether that was her lot was never for you to decide.”