Chapter 189: The Madman Jiang the Second
That day. The weather was very cold.
The monk’s robe was not thick enough, having been worn for many years and covered in grime.
She dared not wash it; if she did, it might fall apart.
Sometimes, the grime could even serve as a warm shell.
A nun with very beautiful eyes, wearing a mask, was hunched over as she worked.
She repeatedly pounded the medicine in her hand, hammer strike after hammer strike, pounding until the medicine was reduced to dregs and powder, then poured it out and continued pounding.
The room was very dark.
Those beautiful eyes were of no use.
She mechanically pounded the medicine over and over.
She had forgotten that she once had a beautiful embroidered bed, beautiful embroidered shoes, a sedan chair for travel, and ate refined meals every day. She had a Mother, a Father, and younger siblings. That life was too beautiful, appearing like a dream.
Suddenly one day, she was sent to Shangqiu Temple.
She was terrified, angry, and resisted.
Consequently, her face was disfigured.
Then she was thrown here to work.
Day after day. Day after day.
She gradually forgot the past, forgot who she was, and forgot why she was alive. All she knew was that she was a medicine slave, the lowest of medicine slaves.
She mechanically pounded the medicine, too weak to continue, almost crushing her own hand. She felt some pain but did not cry, for crying would lead to a beating.
She heard the commotion outside, but she did not move.
She continued pounding the medicine.
She smelled thick smoke, but she did not move.
She continued pounding the medicine.
She heard the door being pushed open and saw strangers. Her mouth opened slightly, but she could not make a sound.
She continued pounding the medicine.
Someone dragged her away, and she watched as many people around her were taken away.
Some were in rags, others in magnificent clothing.
There were people who made her tremble just by seeing them.
Shangqiu Temple had a strict hierarchy.
But now, they were all taken away equally.
She saw the blue sky.
She saw the clouds.
She saw the Buddha.
He was dressed in white, riding a white horse, like the true Buddha descending. He raised his blade and killed the obstructing demonic guards, while his mouth spoke of compassion.
He shouted about saving people while simultaneously killing them.
He must have understood at a glance who was human and who was a demon.
So, the Buddha really does manifest.
The officialdom of Jingzhou was shaken.
That murderous brute, Jiang the Second, had pierced the heavens.
Truly, no one else cared, but he had to show off.
With so many people in Jingzhou, could it be that no one knew about the shady dealings at Shangqiu Temple?
So many officials, most of whom had endured hardship, studied for a lifetime to pass the exams, and were still studying daily—the things done at Shangqiu Temple were not secret; how could everyone not know?
They were all the cream of the crop.
It was just that everyone was acting according to the rules.
No one would go and break the rules.
If you break the rules, it’s hard to survive.
Jiang the Second, this Rebel, did not follow the rules and would inevitably suffer the evil consequences.
Shangqiu Temple was burned down; raging flames rose up.
It was as if the entire Jingzhou could smell the charred scent.
What was burned was not just Shangqiu Temple, but the tangled nest of the powerful and influential.
It is said that Abbess Jingren of Shangqiu Temple was a disciple of Grand Princess Huiyun.
Every noble lady who wanted to meet Abbess Jingren had to queue up and apply for an appointment.
Yet, that murderous brute, Jiang the Second, had taken her into custody in the prison under the pretext of ensuring her safety.
On this day, the yin and yang in the prison were perfectly balanced.
Never had so many women been locked up there.
Jiang the Second had achieved it.
Jiang the Second was simply a raving lunatic.
People sorted through the events and discovered that the cause really was Shangqiu Temple.
The rumors that had sprung up in the Prefecture City over the last two days claimed that Commander Jiang’s young daughter had a strange destiny and would be best served by entering the monastic life; otherwise, she would be a hindrance to her family and friends.
Usually, when such rumors arise, there is a high probability of one outcome: that young daughter being sent into Shangqiu Temple.
Better to believe it exists than to believe it doesn’t.
And Jiang the Second’s choice was to wipe out the entire Shangqiu Temple.
A thousand-year-old temple, destroyed in a single day.
Thinking about it, it was still a bit chilling.
This Jiang the Second is a complete lunatic, isn’t he? Was it really necessary?
While Madam Yu, who was keeping vigil in the mourning hall, heard this news and looked at her own dead husband lying in the coffin.
A cold sweat broke out on her back.
When Madam Jiang had brought her child to offer incense during the day, it wasn’t that she didn’t have any resentment in her heart, but she had suppressed it.
Although she hated her own husband for his cruelty and heartlessness, he was, after all, still alive.
Now that he was dead, she was actually very panicked about how she and her daughter would survive.
But hearing the news that Shangqiu Temple had been torn down.
She suddenly felt that Lord Sima had actually been very merciful to them.
That she and her child could still sit here keeping vigil, and could still receive many benefits as the widow of a judge, meant that others had already shown leniency and let them off the hook.
That was because Lord Jiang had not taken action against them.
If Lord Jiang had truly started taking action, not a single blade of grass would have been left at Shangqiu Temple.
It is said that the Buddha statues burned particularly well, the flames crackling loudly.
Because it was so shocking, more people came to pay their respects, and they couldn’t help but ask Madam Yu for information and share gossip.
The youngest daughter, Xiao Mi’er, was asleep.
Xiu’er and Mian’er were also completely bewildered.
When they were traveling with Madam Jiang, they also noticed Jiang Mianmian.
Everyone’s status was actually about the same.
But they were just like servant girls.
Jiang Mianmian, however, was relaxed and content, like a princess. Although her Father was a Rebel who had accepted amnesty and she was also from the countryside, she was not at all awkward; she was generous and poised. When she received gifts from others, she wasn’t shy, and when she was happy, she didn’t appear sycophantic. She just took them, as if it were only natural.
At this moment, they finally felt that Jiang Mianmian was truly qualified.
Because Jiang Mianmian’s Father would level Shangqiu Temple because of her.
When there were rumors, Jiang Mianmian’s Mother would come out to refute them, and Jiang Mianmian’s Father would directly destroy the source of the rumors.
If you speak a word of gossip about me, I will exterminate your entire clan.
Whereas her own Father would only beat her until her head was bloody just because of a word of gossip about his wife.
It was good that he died.
He deserved to die.
At this moment, the Jiang the Second whom everyone was talking about had returned home.
He took a bath.
Jiang Changtian liked cleanliness; things could be worn out, but they shouldn’t be dirty.
Being worn out was an external state, while being dirty was a psychological state.
After his bath, he changed into a clean set of clothes.
He had washed his hair too.
Xia Mei helped him dry it for a long time, and when it was almost dry, she tied it up.
He wanted to cook tonight.
When they were in Kaner Village, he often cooked.
Although he hadn’t done it for a long time, he was not rusty.
Jiang Mianmian watched as Father, dressed in white and wearing a white hat, was cutting vegetables, while Mother was kneading dough. They were eating noodles again, again, and again tonight.
Jiang Mianmian’s little head would occasionally poke in between the two of them.
She had grown taller, and her head could reach above the stove counter.
“Father, I like pork cracklings. Fry some pork cracklings and add sugar,” Jiang Mianmian requested.
“Alright, go wait outside; I’m worried you’ll get burned.”
In the kitchen, Mother was also kneading dough while wearing a white apron.
“Wearing white really does get dirty easily. Your daughter insists that one must wear white in the kitchen so that it looks clean to others. Where did she get so many particularities? She must take after you.”
“It’s good that she takes after me. A young lady should be neat and clean.”
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