Chapter 2, The Storm Approaches

The carriage left the city and arrived at the Pure Land Temple half an hour later. Master Jingxin, upon seeing Su Qingmei's condition, did not ask many questions. He immediately cleaned out a vacant meditation room at the back of the temple and allocated a small courtyard for her to stay in.

This indifferent and aloof attitude felt like a bucket of cold water being splashed over, leaving Yun Fei chilled to the bone. In the Furong Pavilion, the redwood bed adorned with dragon and phoenix motifs was being covered with a bright red quilt featuring mandarin ducks playing in the water, creating a festive atmosphere

I understand.

In youth, one truly knows not the taste of sorrow, spending the whole day only thinking about food. Yun Fei felt both love and anger, pinching his cheek and secretly glancing at her mother, Su Qingmei

The eldest daughter holds a unique place in his heart, and feeling a softness within, he waved his hand and said, "A Fei."

The daughter seems to have lost her significance. Even her relationship with Yun Cong has become an optional embellishment. He is titled as the governor, but in reality, he has become the king of Chu. With power, one can marry many women and father many children

Yun Fei discerned the implication in his words and quickly replied: "A Cong is smarter than I am"

Yun Fei emerged from the Furong Pavilion and sat for a while in the corridor to calm her mind. The bright spring light slid inch by inch over her embroidered shoes, yet the pearls embedded in the satin remained lustrous.

Yun Fei has already discerned the implications of his words, and she understands that her father today is no longer the impoverished man he once was, who relied on her maternal grandfather's small position. What she must do is to do her utmost to protect what her mother and Acon deserve, ensuring that it is not taken away from them

Mother is not jealous or overbearing; it is just that the incident occurred suddenly, and she was unprepared. She has always had deep feelings for Father... Please, Father, for the sake of me and Acon, bring Mother back.

Yun Fei finally understood that her father's true nature was one of coldness and ingratitude, akin to burning bridges after crossing them. The father who had once shared a deep and loving partnership with her mother, holding their cups in unison, was merely an illusion. Her maternal grandfather had already passed away, and the Su family's wealth had long since become a stepping stone on her father's path to success, leaving him with neither the time nor inclination to look back.

She knows that her father is not very satisfied with her younger brother

It seems that silver is still the most reliable and enduring, as it will not change even when buried in the ground

She stood up and patted her backside, saying to herself that it was no big deal if a man changed his mind. However, when she walked into her mother's room, she discovered that Su Qingmei had run away from home, and there was not even any secret stash of money, only some soft items. Suddenly, she felt a heavy burden on her shoulders

A fairy-like second mother has come to the house, and my father, without any compassion, has sent them to the temple and abandoned them. Each day, they can only eat bland vegetarian meals without any oil or flavor, and even my sister, who has always doted on him, has suddenly transformed into a terrifying and fierce figure.

Having always lived in a honey pot, A Cong suddenly felt that life had become frightening, and her lips quivered as she was on the verge of tears

Leaving the study, a delicate voice floated over from the corridor: "The flowers in this residence are truly beautiful; look, this gardenia tree is full of buds!" The speaker was none other than the charming Second Mistress, Lin Qinghe.

Father refuses to come pick me up, and mother refuses to return home. Yun Fei feels that it cannot continue like this, so she secretly calls Qi to her side and instructs her: "You go down the mountain and tell my father, just say that A Cong is ill"

For the first time in his life, Acon saw his mother crying uncontrollably without regard for her image. He felt both scared and sad, shrinking into Qi's embrace with tear-filled eyes, resembling a pitiful little dog

Yun Fei glared, "No crying."

Yun Dingquan sighed and said, "You go back first. After I finish my work in the next few days, I will come to pick you up."

I feel unwell here. Acong opened his mouth and spoke frankly: It tastes bitter, lacks flavor, and I keep drooling.

The wife and children left together, yet Yun Dingquan did not attempt to retain them; he merely dispatched over ten attendants to follow behind the carriage to escort them

Yun Fei walked over slowly, looking at him with sorrow: "Father, do you no longer want A Fei and A Cong?" Tears as big as beans fell one by one from her clear eyes, even a heart of iron and stone would be dented by such tears

Having thought through all of this, she unconsciously crossed her arms. The wind outside the city was particularly chilly, making her heart feel cold and shivery.

Half an hour later, a horse-drawn carriage departed from the governor's residence, heading towards Lianhua Mountain outside the city

She wiped her tears and left the governor's residence without looking back. Upon returning to Lotus Mountain, the sky was dark and gloomy, with the impending rain of the mountains. Occasionally, birds flitted low overhead, flapping their wings.

Sixteen years of marital affection cannot compare to the face of a seventeen or eighteen-year-old. Yunfei, who is just beginning to understand the nuances of love, has yet to experience its beauty, but has already been subjected to a bloody lesson, which is truly lamentable

Yun Fei took the opportunity of seeing him off to leave the meditation room with the Qi family

When Acon was five years old, Yun Dingquan specifically selected the most outstanding martial arts officer, Song Jingyu, from the army to teach Acon martial arts. However, due to Su Qingmei's deep affection for this late-born son, she was reluctant to let him endure any hardship and constantly shielded him, resulting in Acon making no progress in martial arts after two years, which greatly disappointed Yun Dingquan

Yun Fei's heart sank and grew colder bit by bit, realizing that her only son, A Cong, was not as important in her father's heart as she had imagined

Yun Fei immediately descended the mountain, bringing several people with him as they rode back to the governor's residence, heading straight to Yun Dingquan's study

She was not only worried about her heartbroken mother, but also uneasy about leaving her young brother with Lin Qinghe, so she had no choice but to take Yun Cong along with her mother.

Yun Fei said ominously: "Now that Father has a second wife, soon there will be a third, fourth, and countless others, along with countless younger brothers. If you do not amount to anything, not only will you be finished, but Mother will also be finished"

Acong pouted, blinked her big eyes, and retracted two tears, looking at her with a pitiful expression

In the carriage, Su Qingmei cried inconsolably, her heart shattered, the handkerchief in her hand soaked through, enough to wring out water.

Qi was so angry that she wiped her tears: "The master has found a new love and no longer cares about the young master. I heard that the young master is ill, and he only sent Doctor Zhang to take a look, without mentioning anything about bringing the young master back to recuperate."

He was in the Furong Pavilion at the time, instructing the maid to arrange the bedroom for the second wife. Upon hearing his daughter's words, he did not even raise his head, appearing indifferent, as if dismissing a beggar. Su Qingmei had already lost her value; for the sake of the children, he did not cast her aside, and it was already a great act of kindness to have the young and beautiful Lin Qinghe serve as the second wife.

Yun Dingquan's tone softened upon hearing these words: "Your second mother's elder brother is Lin Qingfeng, the governor of Luzhou. King Wu has a strong army and is eyeing the land of Chu with great interest"

Su Qingmei is, after all, the original wife, and she has once shown him kindness. Yun Dingquan does not wish to bear the reputation of being ungrateful. Since his daughter has come to seek his help, he will go along with the situation and provide Su Qingmei with a way out. If she is wise enough to return, he will also, out of consideration for their past relationship, give her a place. In the future, should Zhang Qinghe or Li Qinghe enter the household, she will not be allowed to cause any more disturbances.

Father, Acon misses you very much, calling out for you even in her dreams. She tugged at Yun Dingquan's sleeve, her tearful eyes making one feel soft-hearted

After Qi left, Yunfei urged Acong to practice calligraphy

He unconsciously put down the pen in his hand, for his daughter had always been cheerful and smiling since she was little, and she had never cried like this in front of him.

Thank you, Father. Yun Fei smiled through her tears and said, "I will go back first, Father, you come back early."

Yun Dingquan saw his daughter crying like this and couldn't help but feel a bit guilty. He raised his hand to touch her head, but then thought that she was already fifteen and a young lady, so he withdrew his hand again and sighed: "How could this be? Has your mother returned?"

Qi nodded, understanding her meaning. Acon is the only son of Yun Dingquan. Considering the situation, since his son is ill, he will inevitably come to take his son home. In this way, Su Qingmei can also return along with him, as staying here for too long is not a viable solution.

She felt a sudden clarity in her heart; the fleeting light passes quickly, while treasures endure. Love and affection are but fleeting clouds; having silver in hand is what truly matters

Acong wiped the saliva off his face and huffed in anger, saying: "Hmph, slapping me and then giving me a sweet date, is that supposed to be fun"

Yun Fei shook her head, and a large tear rolled down her face: "Why doesn't Father go to pick up Mother?"

Zhang Xiangru is both amusing and infuriating; what kind of ailment is this? They actually went to the trouble of inviting him all the way up the mountain for a consultation, which is truly an overreaction. It is no wonder, as the governor of the province is nearing the age of forty and has only this one young son, making him somewhat precious.

Su Qingmei felt increasingly wronged and saddened. After more than ten years of marriage, she asked herself if she had been completely open and sincere with him, without any reservations. Yet he treated her this way, delivering a piercing blow when she was least prepared.

In the absence of others, Qi whispered, "Miss, I encountered Doctor Zhang at the residence. He went to examine Lin Qinghe, and it is said that she is already pregnant."

Yun Dingquan's expression turned cold upon hearing this: "In the past, whenever she returned to her family home, it was always I who went to pick her up, which has spoiled her to the point of being unaware of the world around her. If she wishes to come back, she can return on her own; I am busy with official duties and have no time to go pick her up."

Acon was playing outside in the yard. Upon seeing her, she rushed over and hugged her thigh, eagerly asking: "Sister, did you bring me a chicken leg when you came back?"

Yun Fei's already heavy heart felt as if it had been struck hard by someone. She silently gazed at the flowing clouds between the mountains, which rose and swirled like ink, gradually becoming denser. The weather was about to change, just as quickly as a person's heart can change.

Yun Dingquan felt slightly embarrassed, "This matter is unrelated. Afei, your father's status is different from before. If your mother cannot tolerate even a Lin Qinghe, how can she possibly accept others in the future"

Yun Dingquan nodded in approval; he was not infatuated with beauty. The primary reason for marrying Lin Qinghe was the need for Jingzhou to form an alliance with Luzhou. Behind Lin Qinghe stood an army of one hundred thousand from Luzhou. His daughter was exceptionally intelligent and understood his intentions at once. He felt both gratified and regretful, sighing, "Ah Fei, it is a pity that you are a girl."

Yun Fei knew that she had not read a single word, and her heart was a vast ocean of suffering. Before her marriage, she was a pampered young lady from a wealthy family, and after her marriage, she was deceived by her husband into believing she was very happy. Suddenly facing such a huge blow, Yun Fei estimated that her mother would never recover from this in her lifetime

Yun Dingquan was in the process of writing a letter when he heard a noise and looked up. He saw his daughter, whom he had not seen for a month, timidly standing at the door of the study, resembling a lost and helpless little dove. Her eyes were glistening with tears, on the verge of crying, and she appeared pitifully delicate.

Is it because of the busy official duties that he still has time to go to Suzhou to marry the second wife? Yun Fei coldly laughed in her heart, yet her expression grew increasingly pitiful: "Is it because the second wife is pregnant that father cannot leave?"

Qi returned after one hour, but the person who came with him was not Yun Dingquan, but the well-known doctor from the city, Zhang Xiangru

The fierce and menacing figure instantly transformed into a smiling Bodhisattva. Yun Fei, with a beaming smile, gently patted his head, cradled his chubby little face, and gave him a big kiss: "Acong is truly well-behaved"

Do not tell my mother about this. I will go home for a while, you take good care of Acong.

Before Su Qingmei got married, she was her father's beloved daughter, a pampered young lady from a wealthy family. In a fit of heartbreak, she packed her belongings and left home in anger, not realizing that this departure would lead to an inextricable situation. The three women stayed at the Pure Land Temple for a month, yet Yun Dingquan remained indifferent, as if he had already forgotten Su Qingmei's existence

She sat there in a daze, and after an hour had passed, a copy of the Diamond Sutra remained on that same page, as if an old monk had entered a state of meditation

Zhang Xiangru, with a beaming smile, bent down and asked Acong: "Young Master, is there something uncomfortable?"

The pampered Acon pouted and said: "Sister, if I don't eat meat, I won't even be able to hold a pen."

He harbors ambitions, and in order to achieve his grand aspirations, it is difficult to guarantee that there will be no future alliances through marriage. Therefore, this time it is essential to make Su Qingmei yield and submit, in order to avoid numerous troubles in the future

Yun Fei felt a lump in her throat upon hearing these words. Every blade of grass, every tree, every table, and every chair in this residence had been painstakingly arranged by her mother, using the money from the Su family. Her mother was truly foolish; why should she so readily give away her own home to another woman?

"Go if you want to go." This was the only sentence he said when Su Qingmei insisted on going to the Pure Land Temple, and Yun Fei went to ask her father to persuade her to stay.

Yun Fei lowered her head to look at her弟弟, who resembled a pink dumpling, and suddenly squatted down, saying fiercely: "Acong, you must practice diligently and study hard from now on. If you slack off again, I will spank you until your bottom is in two pieces"

Su Qingmei's plump and radiant face had shrunk to the size of a palm after a month, her eyes lost their captivating sparkle, as if she had aged over a decade. The once pampered A Cong, who had grown up in luxury, found the month of vegetarian meals unbearable, dreaming at night and drooling while calling out for meat, and during the day, gazing at the birds in the trees, her eyes shimmering with a green light.

The midday sun shone brightly into the carriage, and Yunfei watched the dust dancing in the light, feeling as if she were in a dream, as if she had been dreaming for fifteen years, and today she finally awakened

He symbolically took a small amount of medicine to strengthen his spleen and then took his leave to descend the mountain

Before she finished speaking, Yun Fei said: "Father, you are right. Suzhou within the territory of Luzhou controls the throat of the Bian River, serving as a crucial point between the north and south. With Jingzhou and Luzhou joining forces, the King of Wu would not dare to act rashly."

In her youth, Su Qingmei would occasionally have quarrels with Yun Dingquan and return to her parental home for a short stay. However, she no longer has a parental home; after Su Yong'an passed away, she sold all the family assets to recruit soldiers for Yun Dingquan. The only place she can go now is the Jingtu Temple on Lianhua Mountain. Fortunately, she often came to the temple to pray for a child back then and donated a considerable amount of money, becoming quite familiar with Master Jingxin, the abbot.