TCN: Mei Gongqing

Chapter 138: All That's Needed Has Been Said

Chen Rong rose from her kneeling position under the crowd's watchful eyes.

Her mouth formed a smile.

Wang Hong as well as the others could see that it was a genuine smile borne from within. It radiated from the happiness of having removed all her shackles and yokes. It could even be said to be burning with life.

She withdrew her smile and then turned around to face Chen Gongrang and Chen Zifang, at which point she knelt down to them.

Again on the ground, Chen Rong articulated, "I'm sorry I have disappointed you, uncles. But despite having survived on the battlefield, the killing and bloodshed have made me weary. It had been my wish for some time now to leave the secular world."

She knocked her head on the ground in several kowtows. "I know you both sincerely care for me. However, I am disheartened with life and just want to spend my days quietly. Though I am unfilial –"

Her forehead had bruised from her emphatic kowtows. But even with bruises and dirt on her forehead, her smile was relaxed and brilliant.

"I hope you can forgive me," she tremulously pleaded as she looked up at Chen Gongrang and Chen Zifang.

Afterwards, she knocked her head on the ground again.

Everyone was looking their way. Though Chen Rong's actions were outside of her clan's expectations, there could be no discontentment as the literati were known to endorse a reclusive life away from money and fame.

Chen Gongrang hastily helped her up. He wiped the dirt on her forehead and wryly smiled. "Child, why are you kowtowing so hard?"

He could only shake his head and sigh.

Chen Zifang also stepped forward. He looked at Chen Rong and quietly said, "Silly child, if you wanted to become a nun you could have talked to the clan in advance. Never mind, never mind."

Chen Rong curtsied to them and softly replied, "Aye, it was inconsiderate of me."

Chen Zifang shook his head. He turned and waved his sleeve, "Let's go."

The carriages moved at his order.

Chen Gongrang mounted his carriage and was followed by Chen Zifang. After saying a couple more things to Chen Rong, they began to depart.

Chen Rong also climbed onto her carriage.

Nurse Ping was still at a lost for words. She looked at Chen Rong and suddenly burst into tears.

Chen Rong glanced at her and smiled, but offered no reassurance.

In the crowd, Mr. Chen stood rooted to the ground as he murmured, "My Ah Rong must be suffering so much!"

His gossipy wife was staring and clucking by his side when she suddenly gasped in delight. "Doesn't that Xishan monastery have a lot of good farmland? Those are fertile land, you know!" She whipped around, grabbed Mr. Chen's arms and cried, "Now that she's a nun, she's not going to marry or have children in the future. Doesn't that mean the land is actually ours?"

Upon hearing her words, Mr. Chen abruptly turned around.

He stared at her happy jiggling face and handed her a severe slap.

Mrs. Chen didn't think her submissive and cowardly husband would do this to her. She momentarily clutched her face in shock.

Mr. Chen stared at her, gritted his teeth and scolded, "How can you think about such things at a time like this? You may as well have the heart of the animals!"