"Wei’er!" Nangong Yi called out in a deep voice.
Cai Wei stood about a meter away from him, her clear eyes exceptionally bright in the black night, with a wary light shimmering within.
Noticing her expression, Nangong Yi felt somewhat stifled. He wished to tell her, "Don’t push me away, marry me. I will love and cherish you deeply. Besides the title of an official wife, I can give you everything. Even if I marry another woman, you would still be the only one in my heart. Even if reluctantly, I accept another woman as a concubine, they would merely be props to me and I would never betray you..."
But after all, he didn’t say these words. Knowing her as he did, even if he had spoken them, she would have decisively refused him without hesitation and this might have caused estrangement between them. So, he swallowed back all those words and, in the end, he simply said, "You should go back and rest early..."
"Hmm, you should sleep early too, so you can build up your strength to deal with that old demon Daoist Tian jizi!"
Cai Wei gave him a polite response and then turned to walk back to her Small Courtyard.
The Mu Family lived close to the Zhou’s. Nangong Yi didn’t have a chance to say much to her, for Cai Wei arrived home in no time.
Watching her retreating figure, Nangong Yi felt disheartened: Why couldn’t she be like other women and accept compromise? If she could, how happy he would be now!
But then again, if she were to compromise and conform, then she wouldn’t be herself. And wasn’t it precisely her pride and stubbornness that he loved?
Upon returning home, Cai Wei was surprised to see her parents back home sitting on the kang (traditional Chinese bed), chatting with the children.
Shocked, Cai Wei asked, "How come you both are back? Isn’t there a ’staying up all night’ session happening soon?"
Lady Du sighed, "There is no need now. After such a scandal occurred in the Main Courtyard, who still has the mind to celebrate? Things are in chaos over there. Your dad and I were worried about you all and so we came back."
Indeed, it was now a chaotic mess at the Main Courtyard.
Cai Ping had been ravaged by Mu Erlaizi!
...By the time the entire main family arrived at Mu Erlaizi’s house, it was already too late. The first sight that greeted them upon bursting into the room, were two naked bodies entwined in sweaty passion on the kang (traditional Chinese bed), inextricably engaged.
Seeing the sudden intrusion, Mu Erlaizi had no choice but to stop his actions and withdraw from Cai Ping. Cai Ping, who got scared by the sudden intrusion, soon regained her senses. The moment she realized her current predicament, she went into shock and began to weep bitterly, with her cries being so loud it sounded like she wanted to die. Lady Li anxiously held her back.
Seeing his daughter being abused by Erlaizi, Mu Zhongli saw red. With his two sons in tow, he charged and grabbed Mu Erlaizi, landing heavy blows on him. Mu Liankui wanted to join in as well, but was stopped by the Clan Leader.
Mu Zhongqing, in his shock, felt that it would be best to keep things quiet and cover up the scandal so Cai Ping could move on. However, Mu Zhongli was blinded by rage and ignored his advice, relentlessly attacking.
Mu Erlaizi cried out in pain, his wails attracting a crowd of villagers; as soon as they saw the scene inside the room, they immediately understood the situation. Soon, the scandal of Cai Ping and Mu Erlaizi’s adultery spread throughout the village, drawing the entire village to Mu Er’ family house to see what the fuss was about.
Cai Ping was a proud person, the scandal already enough to devastate her. And now, to lose face in such a public manner, she was desperate enough to want to die.
Fearing for her daughter’s well-being, Lady Li stayed by her side, comforting her constantly. Lady Mu Bai also rushed over, crying and screaming. As soon as she entered the room, she accused Mu Erlaizi of raping her granddaughter and ruining her virtue, begging the Clan Leader to do something and deal with Mu Erlaizi.