The Buddhist temples are places of purity, and when such a scandal that defiled the sect’s reputation occurred, the immediate course of action was to seal off all information.
However, Bai Jun Chun’s scream was so piercingly loud that people resting in several neighboring courtyards heard it. They immediately sent their servants to inquire about the situation, and even the monks of the temple came to ask with worried expressions.
The Wang and Tian families presented a united front, claiming that the young lady had a nightmare and was frightened.
Naturally, no one believed them. Those who had navigated the intricacies of the inner quarters knew better than to be so easily fooled.
The Wang, Tian, and Bai families soon left Da Xiang Guo Temple.
In truth, there were many loopholes in the story. At first glance, it seemed as though Tian Yu had lost all reason and forced himself upon Bai Jun Chun.
But upon closer consideration, Tian Yu was not foolish, nor was he a lecher. How could he commit such a grave mistake in a place of Buddhist purity?
Secondly, when Bai Jun Chun went to speak with Tian Yu, it was a man and a woman alone. They should have spoken in the courtyard, or indoors with a third person present.
Furthermore, even if Tian Yu had lost his mind and couldn’t control himself, Bai Jun Chun could have screamed loudly from the beginning, attracting others. Why would she wait until after the act to scream? Did Tian Yu have premature ejaculation?
This incident was clearly a setup to frame Tian Yu.
But it had nothing to do with Wang Qing Yao, so she was too lazy to rack her brain over it.
It was the season for young yellow wine to be released. Qing Feng Lou in the southern part of the city was the perfect place for drinking in early summer.
However, today was Buddha’s birthday, a day when drinking and eating meat were not appropriate. Xiao Yun had arranged to meet Wang Qing Yao tomorrow.
Wang Qing Yao raised an eyebrow, "Don't you have to work… I mean, go to the Ministry of Revenue?"
Xiao Yun fanned himself with a fan, "If I want to leave, who would dare stop me?"
He exuded the air of a complete dandy.
Wang Qing Yao had read online novels before and knew that some princes and lords were particularly favored by the emperor, often due to family ties. But Xiao Yun, despite his princely title, had no connection to the royal family.
Even if the Emperor remembered his grandfather’s merits in accompanying the dragon, he wouldn’t dote on him like a son. He even interfered with his marriage, and even disliked her!
In any case, it was very strange.
Xiao Yun escorted Wang Qing Yao back to the Wang residence. The atmosphere there was complicated, with three parts anger, two parts sadness, and five parts relief.
Wang Qing Lin was sobbing in her room, while Wang Qing Zhen and Wang Qing Zhu were there to comfort her.
But her crying only produced sound, no tears. Wang Qing Zhen and Wang Qing Zhu exchanged glances, feeling that her tears were not entirely genuine.
Madam Bai, Old Madam Bai, and Wang Da, who had rushed back from the Ministry of Revenue, along with Tian Yu’s family, were all at the main residence of the Bai family.
The Bai family had divided their household after Old Madam Bai’s passing. Although the first and second branches of the Bai family still resided in the same compound, a wall had been built between them, dividing it into two.
The people of the second branch found it inappropriate to interfere in the affairs of the first branch, but even through the wall, they could hear Wang Da’s roars and Bai Jun Chun’s cries.
Tian Yu knelt on the ground, receiving a slap from Lord Tian and a kick from Wang Da, his face ashen.
Madam Tian felt sorry for her son, but knowing they were in the wrong, she could only offer continuous apologies.
She thought, Bai Jun Chun was not a beauty of national renown; she was far inferior to Wang Qing Lin. Her son could control himself in front of Wang Qing Lin, so how could he have lost control and touched her?
She had already asked Tian Yu in the sedan chair, but he remained silent, which was agonizing!
Tian Yu was consumed by despair. He still couldn’t believe that Wang Qing Lin had set him up!
He had found it strange when his mother and Madam Bai came to greet them at Xiang Guo Temple.
Previously, whenever his mother went to discuss the marriage, the Wang family had always made excuses to refuse. Why were they so enthusiastic today?
He had never suspected Wang Qing Lin. He had assumed that the elders of the Wang family looked down on him for only placing third in the imperial examinations, but Wang Qing Lin had mediated, and Madam Bai was willing to join them.
After receiving the bath water for Buddha, he intended to take it back for bathing. Wang Qing Lin had privately found him and shyly said, "... I've heard a saying that if two people in love exchange and drink the bath water for Buddha, they will grow old together and be happy for life."
Tian Yu did not believe such nonsense, but he could not bear to refuse Wang Qing Lin, so he exchanged the bath water with her and drank it.
Not long after drinking the bath water, he felt unwell. His body was feverish, and without even eating the vegetarian meal, he went to the meditation room to rest.
Later, Wang Qing Lin brought Bai Jun Chun. His vision was blurred, and his head was swimming. He only felt a heat in his lower abdomen with nowhere to release it.
He didn't hear what Wang Qing Lin said. He only felt a soft, warm body pressing against him…
Desire surged like a breaking dam, and he could no longer control himself…
"Speak, how do you plan to handle this matter?" Wang Da coldly glared at Lord Tian, hating Tian Yu for his audacity and also resenting his own daughter for her carelessness.
What else could be done about this matter?
Therefore, on the same day, the Wang family broke off the engagement with the Tian family. Since Tian Yu was to depart in mid-April, there was not enough time for an immediate wedding. The Tian and Bai families discussed and decided to let Bai Jun Chun accompany Tian Yu to his post. They would hold a simple wedding ceremony there and then a grand one upon their return.
After leaving the Bai residence, Tian Yu went to the Wang residence again. He insisted on questioning Wang Qing Lin to get to the bottom of it. At first, Wang Qing Lin refused to see him. He then knelt outside the main gate of the Wang residence. He knelt for half an hour, and by the time it was pitch dark, Wang Qing Lin finally agreed to see him.
Li Jing Courtyard.
Wang Qing Lin gazed at Tian Yu with sorrow, her eyes red and tears streaming down her face.
Tian Yu looked at her, feeling that beneath that tender and moving appearance, lay a side he had never truly seen.
"Why?" Tian Yu couldn't help but ask.
Wang Qing Lin was startled. Wasn't it supposed to be her asking him why?
Tian Yu’s face was filled with confusion. "We grew up together, and we have a childhood bond. Why would you set me up like this? Even if you didn't want to marry me, you could have just told me clearly, and I promise I wouldn't have pestered you."
Wang Qing Lin's face stiffened. "Brother Yu, what are you saying? I don't understand a word."
She had applied thin layers of mint oil to her eyes, and her tears shimmered uncontrollably.
Tian Yu sighed. Even at this point, she was still pretending.
"The bath water for Buddha had medicine in it."
Wang Qing Lin's eyes twitched sharply. Hmph, she hadn't expected him to discover it so quickly.
She lowered her slender neck, and when she looked up again, her eyes were still red, but her face no longer held any sorrow or sadness.
"Brother Yu, this has nothing to do with me; it was my mother's idea." Wang Qing Lin readily admitted, without a trace of guilt.
"You never loved me, did you?"
Wang Qing Lin smiled. "Love? I loved your talent as a scholar, but alas…"
Alas, he had only placed third in the imperial examinations.
Tian Yu laughed up at the sky. He had wronged a kind girl and mistaken a pearl for a fish’s eye. Today, his retribution had arrived.
No, his retribution had arrived long ago; today was merely more tragic.
He laughed until tears streamed down his face. He said, "Very well, Wang Qing Lin, you are very good."
"Don't worry, I won't reveal what you did."
"From now on, take care of yourself."