Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 2263: Chapter 2262: The Secret Within the Temple

In the evening, Bai Ruozhu and Jiang Yichun finished their vegetarian meal and took a stroll in the backyard to aid digestion before retiring early, as they had nighttime activities planned.

Once it was deep into the night and everything was silent, the two quietly sneaked out of their room and headed towards the room Bai Ruozhu mentioned. To their surprise, a candle was still lit inside, indicating the occupant wasn’t asleep.

Bai Ruozhu gestured to Jiang Yichun, and the two quietly approached the room. They gently made a small hole in the paper window, allowing them to see the situation inside.

Sure enough, there was a woman in the room, but she had her back to them, so they couldn’t see her face. The woman was slowly combing her long hair. If Bai Ruozhu hadn’t known this was a Buddhist temple and heard the woman’s sobs during the day, she might have thought it was a ghostly scene, with the woman being a female ghost.

Jiang Yichun glanced at Bai Ruozhu and quietly gestured to ask if this was the woman from during the day. Bai Ruozhu slightly shook her head; she hadn’t seen the person inside, only heard a bit of crying. But what was this woman doing combing her hair in front of a bronze mirror at night? And she had combed it so many times; wasn’t she afraid of losing all her hair?

Suddenly, the woman violently threw the comb on the ground, her emotions erupting as she smashed the bronze mirror in front of her onto the floor.

The sound made a loud clatter in the silent night, startling the birds resting at night, causing them to fly away in shock and alerting others in the temple.

Footsteps were heard from afar as a young novice rushed over. Bai Ruozhu and Jiang Yichun quickly hid on the rooftop, cautiously concealing themselves.

The two gently lifted a roof tile to observe the situation inside the room.

The young novice stormed into the room, glaring angrily at the woman and said, ”What are you causing trouble for again? Didn’t I tell you not to make any noise? If you don’t want to live, just say so early on, to save us the trouble.”

The tone was anything but polite, even carrying a hint of threat. Bai Ruozhu frowned; was the woman really being imprisoned by the temple?

The woman laughed lowly, her voice chilling, resembling the sinister laughter of a ghost.

She suddenly turned to glare at the novice, rasping, ”I’ve become this ghastly form, locked up here day by day. It would be cleaner if I were dead. Let me out. I’ve had enough staying here!”

On the rooftop, Bai Ruozhu widened her eyes. She tugged hard on Jiang Yichun’s sleeve, signaling her to look carefully at the woman’s face that had suddenly turned around. Her face was marred by deep scars, circular pits like something had gouged out the flesh deep.

There were only two such wounds. The rest of the face was intact, and her features were wholly exposed to Bai Ruozhu, revealing her to be Zhu Ning from the Jiuli Clan!

She had given Ruozhu trouble back then, insisted on leaving alone, and was captured by the toxin-wielding mother-in-law, later subjected herself to You Meng, and even used him to retaliate against the Jiuli Clan. If not for her using a mechanical puppet to ambush the people of Wei Hall, causing them to be unable to set up a barrier, finding the fire and thunder wouldn’t have been so troublesome for Bai Ruozhu.

Previously, You Meng was slain by Jiang Yichun, and Bai Ruozhu hadn’t had the chance to consider Zhu Ning’s whereabouts. The Jiuli Clan wasn’t bothered by this traitor and didn’t bother sending people to capture her, let alone finding someone.

Now seeing her here abruptly, Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help but be startled in her heart. Could this be a hideout for the Quanrong Clan?

The injuries on Zhu Ning’s face were surely from being splashed by the toxic blood essence of the poison-wielding mother-in-law. But why was she being held here by the temple people, receiving meals daily?

”Stop causing trouble. You’ll meet a dead end out there too. If it weren’t for our abbot’s virtues, who would care if you live or die? Know your blessings!” said the novice, somewhat angrily.

Zhu Ning sneered, ”Weren’t you saying I should rest here during pregnancy? Eating these greens and radishes every day, how can I nurture a child? I can’t even eat meat. How will the child survive? Are you trying to save me, or harm me? I’d say it would be cleaner without this child, and I’d be more at ease.”

Bai Ruozhu and Jiang Yichun exchanged glances; Zhu Ning was pregnant!

The novice revealed a look of disdain. ”Heaven cherishes life, more so when it’s your flesh and blood. How can you treat the child like this? This is a temple; you can’t eat meat, but the abbot will find a way for you. Stop fooling around and nurture the child well, to prevent future regret.”

”Regret? The only regret I have is coming to this cursed place and having this ghost-like child. Now I want roast chicken. Go get me one, or I’ll abort this child today!” Zhu Ning yelled, swinging her arms. Raising her hand to smack her belly as if intending to get rid of the child, the novice couldn’t touch her, turned pale, and immediately ran out saying, ”Wait; I’ll get someone right now.”

Bai Ruozhu and Jiang Yichun exchanged looks again. The novice must be seeking the abbot. They were too exposed here. Bai Ruozhu grabbed Jiang Yichun, and with a thought, the two entered the Space. She casually turned on a large screen, and the scene was what they had previously seen in the room.

Now it was easier to talk, and Bai Ruozhu immediately asked, ”Do you think this is a hideout for the Quanrong Clan? Could the abbot here be from the Quanrong? And is the child Zhu Ning carries surely You Meng’s?”

These questions mirrored Jiang Yichun’s doubts. After a moment, he said, ”I can’t say if this is a Quanrong hideout, but Zhu Ning’s child is certainly You Meng’s. After being injured by the poison-wielding mother-in-law, she must have fled to see You Meng. Later, when we killed You Meng, Zhu Ning should have been free, but the Quanrong found out she was pregnant and hid her here, afraid of being discovered.”

”If it was just You Meng’s child, they could’ve sent her back to the Quanrong. Why hide her here?” Bai Ruozhu thought and said, ”There must be something within the Quanrong, perhaps internal strife. You Meng’s death left a power vacuum, and everyone wants to become the chieftain. Someone likely doesn’t want You Meng’s child born, while those protecting Zhu Ning might be You Meng’s confidants. If he’s not the abbot, he must be close to the abbot.”

Before they could speculate more, Master Puzhu, the abbot, arrived. Bai Ruozhu had seen him before. He was a tall monk, looking healthier than Master Pudeng.

Master Pudeng resembled an ascetic monk, whereas Master Puzhu had a touch of opulence, with robes crafted with immense detail.

”Benefactor Zhu, why do you trouble yourself so?” Master Puzhu spoke up.