Chapter 62: A Piercing Scream

Beating her newly wedded husband on their wedding night—how disgraceful! Bai Yao sighed softly to himself. No wonder this girl had never managed to marry. Otherwise, she would have done so long ago instead of ending up in a political marriage. What man would dare take a wife like this? It was not as though she were some peerless beauty. Couldn't she act a little more like a woman? A grown man being bullied and beaten by his own wife on his wedding night—how disgraceful!

Niu Youdao shook his head and sighed with feeling. It seemed Yuan Gang had been exactly right. Shang Chaozong truly was no match for Feng Ruonan. He tilted his head and gave Yuan Gang a look. Yuan Gang immediately tugged Yuan Fang aside and began questioning him in a low voice. Lan Ruoting and Shang Shuqing had understood the situation as well. Shang Chaozong was being dealt with inside the bridal chamber. Shang Shuqing looked deeply anxious for her brother's safety. Lan Ruoting frowned.

The thing he had feared most had happened after all. If Feng Ruonan could treat Shang Chaozong this recklessly inside their bridal chamber, her future attitude toward him was easy enough to imagine. Even if they successfully borrowed troops and went to Canglu County, she would still be trouble. Forget expecting her cooperation.

"Let go of me!"

"So what if I don't? You dare put your hands on me, and I was already showing mercy by not tearing those paws off. Did you take me for some weak woman who would let spoiled young masters like you bully her as you please?"

"What an absurd joke! You're the wife I married into my household. Mmgh..."

"So what if you married me? Does that mean you're allowed to touch me?"

Hearing her brother give another muffled groan of pain, Shang Shuqing called anxiously, "Sister-in-law, we're family from now on. Please don't do anything reckless!"

"Is that Shuqing outside? How could family be reckless with one another? If anyone is acting recklessly, it's your brother. Don't worry. I'll help you discipline this useless brother of yours properly and guarantee he'll behave himself from now on."

Feng Ruonan's tone toward Shang Shuqing was comparatively gentle. She knew perfectly well that her own appearance was not good, yet Shang Shuqing's was even worse. At least Feng Ruonan could face the world openly if she simply hardened her heart. Shang Shuqing, by contrast, was said to be so hideously ugly that she could not even show her face without frightening people. Shared misfortune made understanding easier. Added to Shang Shuqing's fallen circumstances and constant wandering, Feng Ruonan actually felt considerable sympathy for her.

Compared with Shang Shuqing, she herself was truly fortunate.

Yuan Gang returned to Niu Youdao's side and murmured into his ear, "They've already drunk the wedding-cup wine. He guarantees it'll work. He estimates it should take effect very soon..."

Shang Shuqing walked to the bridal chamber door and said to Bai Yao, "Senior, may I go inside and talk to her?"

Bai Yao stepped aside with his sword still in his arms. He did not stop her. He too hoped this farce would end quickly.

If Feng Ruonan truly injured Shang Chaozong badly, the trouble afterward would be serious. Forget the Commandery Governor's residence; Bai Yao himself would have no way to explain matters to the Sect Leader.

Before Shang Shuqing could enter, however, Feng Ruonan warned from inside, "Little Sister Shuqing, you'd better not come in. This is the bridal chamber. Your brother and I are being affectionate as husband and wife, and neither of us is wearing clothes. It isn't proper for an unmarried maiden like you to rush in and stare."

Shang Shuqing knew perfectly well that she was talking nonsense.

"Sister-in-law, I'll only come in for a moment..."

Feng Ruonan cut her off. "I said no, and no means no. I get nervous easily, and when I'm nervous I can't always control my hands and feet. If you come in, nine chances out of ten I'll kick your brother between the legs. It wouldn't be good if I made your family line end with him, would it?"

Niu Youdao nearly burst out laughing. This woman really was fierce. Only a maiden like Feng Ruonan could say something like that so casually. There was no helping it.

She had spent years among men in the army and heard every filthy kind of talk imaginable. Sometimes she even traded a line or two with the soldiers herself. There were moments when she nearly forgot she was a woman. So saying something like this did not embarrass her in the slightest. Calling her a thoroughly mannish woman would not have been unfair. In any case, she was absolutely determined to torment Shang Chaozong properly today.

She had suffered far too much grievance lately. She had not cried in years, yet over these past few days she had cried enough to make up for all of them. Now the chief culprit had finally fallen into her hands.

There was no chance she would release him easily, and no chance she would let anyone come inside and rescue him from her.

Not happening!

"Mmgh..."

Another muffled groan of pain came from Shang Chaozong.

Shang Shuqing called anxiously, "Sister-in-law, don't do anything reckless. Whatever you have to say, talk it over properly."

Feng Ruonan replied, "Little Sister, you don't understand. Your brother and I are doing what they call 'beating is affection, scolding is love.' We're very affectionate in here. This has nothing to do with you. If you don't want your brother to suffer, then be good and step away. Otherwise, don't blame me for being impolite."

"Bitch!" Shang Chaozong cursed.

Smack!

The crisp sound of a slap immediately followed.

Feng Ruonan said, "Try fouling your mouth again and I'll knock your teeth out!"

At the doorway, Bai Yao secretly shook his head. Shang Chaozong had truly brought this on himself. Of all the women he could have married, he had chosen this one. This advantage was not so easy to enjoy, was it? After listening to Yuan Gang's whispered report, Niu Youdao sighed inwardly and silently cursed Shang Chaozong for deserving it.

He knew perfectly well Feng Ruonan could fight and had no goodwill toward him, yet he had still been in such a hurry. She was not even pretty.

Was it really necessary?

If he had just waited a little longer, he could have spared himself this beating. Niu Youdao roughly estimated the situation inside and felt he had a fairly good grasp of it.

Then he called out, "Commandery Princess, the Princess Consort is right. This is between husband and wife. Outsiders shouldn't interfere. It's only some fun in the bridal chamber. Let them make whatever fuss they like. Nothing serious will happen. We should all go do whatever we were doing."

Shang Shuqing turned back in astonishment. Lan Ruoting, who had been frowning, looked over as well. Feng Ruonan's bright voice came from inside.

"Niu Youdao, you swindler, you've finally said something sensible. The days ahead are long. We'll get properly acquainted another time."

Niu Youdao was speechless. She had recognized his voice the instant he spoke. It seemed this woman had firmly remembered him. Was that last line meant to say she would settle accounts with him later?

"Ah, Princess Consort, you two enjoy yourselves. We won't disturb you."

Niu Youdao sighed, then repeatedly beckoned to Shang Shuqing.

"Commandery Princess, come on. Let's go."

Shang Shuqing remained uncertain. Were they really supposed to abandon her brother here?

What if something happened?

Niu Youdao beckoned again. Shang Shuqing hesitated, but because of an inexplicable trust in him, she actually walked back. Niu Youdao waved at everyone else.

"Disperse, disperse. It's someone else's bridal chamber. Why are we all crowding around?"

He especially waved toward Bai Yao, Wenxin, and Wenli.

"There's no need for any of you to wait on them. Go on."

Under his repeated urging, everyone gradually left the courtyard. Yuan Fang kept his head tucked low and quietly followed behind Niu Youdao, his eyes drifting uneasily. Once everyone else had gone, Bai Yao looked back at the room and gave one final warning.

"Ruonan, I'm telling you again. Mind your limits!"

"Uncle Bai, don't worry. If I couldn't even judge something like this properly, how could I command troops in battle?"

Bai Yao shook his head and sighed. His figure flashed upward, and he drifted lightly back onto the opposite rooftop, where he stood beneath the bright moon with his sword in his arms. Not long afterward, another burst of crashing and banging came from the bridal chamber. It sounded as though the fight had started again. This time, however, the struggle was very brief and ended almost immediately. Bai Yao watched the room for a while.

After waiting a long time and hearing nothing further, he could not help sighing again. There was simply no reasoning with that girl...

"Master Dao, my brother won't be in danger, will he?"

Niu Youdao climbed to the top floor of a three-story viewing pavilion and stood at the railing with his hands behind his back, gazing toward the stars. Lan Ruoting and Shang Shuqing had followed him up. Still worried about her brother's safety, Shang Shuqing could not resist asking again.

Niu Youdao laughed. "To die beneath the peonies is to be a romantic ghost!"

Shang Shuqing was speechless. She was so worried she could barely stand it, while he still had the mood to joke. Then again, she had never heard that phrase before. This man truly seemed able to produce memorable lines whenever he opened his mouth.

Lan Ruoting sighed. "Master Dao, this isn't the time for jokes. You've seen Feng Ruonan's attitude. There is no guarantee she won't truly do something harmful to His Highness."

Niu Youdao smiled. "What can happen? Would she really dare kill him? At worst, His Highness will suffer a little pain of the flesh."

Lan Ruoting and Shang Shuqing had both assumed he must possess some firm judgment or special assurance to confidently send everyone away. So this was all he had? Lan Ruoting had no choice but to warn him solemnly.

"Master Dao, there are many kinds of bodily suffering. What if Feng Ruonan uses a vicious hand and cripples His Highness? By then, regret will come too late."

"Nothing will happen."

With his back still turned, Niu Youdao shook his head slowly.

"Mr. Lan, you'd be better off thinking about how to establish yourselves once you reach Canglu County."

Unable to get anything useful out of him, the two left disappointed. Standing atop the pavilion, Niu Youdao watched them for a while and saw that they were still heading back toward the courtyard containing the bridal chamber. He gave a soft chuckle. Then his gaze drifted away. Moonlight washed across the earth, making it difficult not to look toward the deepest reaches of the hazy night...

"A knife. Who has a knife?"

Back in his own courtyard, Yuan Fang went around asking the monks. No one knew what he wanted one for.

Someone pulled out a dagger and asked, "Abbot, will this do?"

Yuan Fang's eyes lit up and he nodded repeatedly.

"Yes, yes."

He sat down beside the candlelight and pointed at the long white beard hanging from his chin.

"Shave this off for me. Shave it clean..."

The first pale light had only just appeared along the horizon when a sharp, piercing scream shattered the morning silence.

"Shameless! Filthy!"

The voice was sharp enough to seem capable of tearing through the paper windows. It was Feng Ruonan. The cultivators stationed on the surrounding rooftops snapped their heads around. Lan Ruoting and Shang Shuqing, who had spent the night dozing outside the courtyard, jolted awake as well. Bai Yao, who had been resting with his eyes closed in the dawn light, suddenly opened them. In a flash, he appeared outside the bridal chamber.

Before he could even ask what had happened, another violent crash came from inside as the fight began again. Bai Yao frowned. They had gone the entire night without fighting, and he had thought things had finally settled down.

Why had they started again?

Feng Ruonan's scream had not broken through the paper window.

Bang!

A human figure did. Wooden latticework exploded outward as someone smashed through the window. Shang Chaozong flew out and crashed to the ground. Feng Ruonan had kicked him straight through it. Bare-chested, with nothing covering his upper body and both feet naked, Shang Chaozong scrambled upright almost on all fours.

Crash!

The door was kicked off its hinges. Feng Ruonan charged out barefoot as well, hair loose and wild like a madwoman. She was in slightly better condition than Shang Chaozong, at least wearing the great red wedding robe. But the collar had apparently been thrown on too quickly to fasten properly, leaving a glimpse of pale skin below her neck.

"Ruonan, what's wrong?"

Bai Yao stepped in front of her and urgently blocked the way. Feng Ruonan did not explain. Perhaps she did not even have time to. She grabbed the hilt of the sword in his hand.

Clang!

The blade came free.

Barefoot, she charged after Shang Chaozong and roared, "I'll kill you!"

Shang Chaozong panicked. He scrambled to his feet, turned, and ran for his life.

[End of Chapter 62]