CHAPTER 40: CHAPTER 39: ACCUMULATING MERIT

"Impossible, this is impossible! You must be lying to me!"

Mr. Wei couldn’t accept the blow, shaking his head in panic.

But he couldn’t help recalling every moment he visited the other estate, Chu Wenjia always accompanied him.

Chu Wenjia is the legitimate second son of Duke Luu, though a notorious playboy, his smooth talk greatly pleases Duke Luu.

He has an older brother, born to the same parents, serving as an associate minister, who is also indulgent and loving toward Chu Wenjia.

His censor-general was promoted single-handedly by Duke Luu, who discreetly helps Chu Wenjia out in order to flatter him.

Chu Wenjia married Liu Yue, the younger daughter of Mr Liu, two years ago.

Liu Yue has a fiery temper and doesn’t allow him to take concubines, she keeps a strict watch over him.

Chu Wenjia has long been dissatisfied, needing him every time to cover up so he can sneak out for affairs.

Even if he didn’t go to the other estate, Chu Wenjia often brought a group of rowdy friends to hang out there, turning a blind eye.

Reflecting on it now, Man Niang was brought and gifted to him by Chu Wenjia.

Every time Man Niang saw Chu Wenjia, she was soft and affectionate.

Could it be that he really shared the same mistress with Chu Wenjia?

Had he been raising Chu Wenjia’s son for several years?

Cold sweat dripped uncontrollably from Mr. Wei’s forehead, and Ms Wei saw all his expressions.

She wiped away her tears and laughed hysterically, "Wei Heng, you are worse than a beast, for power you killed your own son! Now you see the one raised outside isn’t your son, this is your retribution! And mine is you—defying my family’s opposition to marry you, what was the point? You can take my life, but why did you have to kill Zhao’er? I’ve already endured the pain of losing two sons, what unforgivable sins did I commit in a past life to face such despair?"

Ms Wei rushed forward, madly pounding on Mr. Wei.

Mr. Wei passively endured, his eyes red, filled with remorse.

He knelt in anguish on the ground, "Zhao’er, it’s your father who’s sorry, Father never wanted to kill you. They said just to bring some people over, I never imagined you’d die; it’s all Father’s fault!"

Wei Zhao looked at him coldly, "That sachet was tied by your own hands around my waist, who would’ve thought that was a Death Sentence!"

Mr. Wei’s heart seemed to be torn apart, he cried out painfully.

Not knowing if he grieved for killing his son or for years of unknowingly raising a bastard.

Pei Yuncheng and Pei Yunqing were speechless.

They seemed to have heard an extraordinary scandal, exchanging awkward glances, feeling the situation incredibly embarrassing.

Wei Zhao bowed to the two classmates behind him, "I caused your deaths, I’m sorry. I only wish in the next life I can serve you to redeem my sins."

The winds swept past, the ghostly classmates sighed together.

Yu Nianzhao pointed at them, "Dongfang Chenyuan, their obsessions have dissipated, in a moment you should take them back to bid farewell to their families, then the grim reaper will take them away."

Take the money, to avert disaster for others.

It’s their final journey.

Dongfang Chenyuan holding Silver, cheerfully said, "Alright, leave it to me!"

Ms Wei had lost all hope for Mr. Wei, her only affection focused solely on Wei Zhao. She looked at Wei Zhao with reluctance, eagerly asking, "Miss Yu, my Zhao’er, he must reincarnate, right? Can I meet him again in the next life, continuing the mother-son bond?"

Ms Wei’s face was ashen, and even the virtue on her began to dim.

Yu Nianzhao furrowed her brow tightly, "Though Wei Zhao didn’t mean it, he indirectly caused two deaths. He doesn’t deserve to reincarnate!"

Ms Wei asked anxiously, "What should be done? Is my Zhao’er to become a wandering ghost? I beg you, Miss, show mercy and help him reincarnate, any amount of Silver will do!"

Yu Nianzhao set a steep price, "Ten thousand taels!"

Pei Yuncheng gasped, dissatisfied, "Yu Nianzhao, are you mad? You already took five thousand taels, demanding ten thousand more is extortion!"

Ms Wei gritted her teeth, "Fine, I’ll gather the ten thousand taels as soon as possible. Miss, can you wait for a few days?"

Yu Nianzhao wiggled her finger, "This money is for setting up a spirit tower for Wei Zhao, you need to cremate his body, place the ashes in the spirit tower, and daily burn incense and chant scriptures for him, using this Silver to make offerings, thereby accumulating virtue and merits for Wei Zhao. Once complete, he can reincarnate."

Light returned to Ms Wei’s eyes, she nodded excitedly, "Alright, I’ve noted everything, I will do exactly as you say, Miss."

Wei Zhao unable to bear it, "Mother, it’s my fault."

Ms Wei shook her head in tears, "Zhao’er, it’s Mother who failed you. If I’d discovered everything earlier, you wouldn’t have died!"

Her venomous gaze shot at Mr. Wei, "You should be the one to die, if trading your life could bring back Zhao’er, I would kill you first."

Mr. Wei was defeated, a dark cloud covered his brow.

Mr. Wei spoke unexpectedly, "Wife, let’s separate."

Ms Wei was taken aback, then squinted at him for a long time, clasping her hands, "Fine, let’s separate."

Upon leaving the Wei Mansion, Dongfang Chenyuan couldn’t help but say, "Princess, you weren’t sincere about letting Ms Wei accumulate virtue, were you?"

Yu Nianzhao replied nonchalantly, "If she has no hope, she might join Wei Zhao in death! Moreover, accumulating virtue is genuinely for her son’s penance, let her gather until... the day her life ends."

Dongfang Chenyuan looked at her thoughtfully, then solemnly nodded, "I see Mr. Wei’s brow darkening, his face covered in death qi, afraid he won’t live long."

"It’s his last shred of humanity, what he deserves!"

"You’re right, Princess. For power, he killed his son, whether intentional or not, those people can’t reincarnate after death."

Then he carried an oil-paper umbrella to escort the other two ghosts.

Song Jiling sighed deeply, "Wei Zhao truly isn’t bad, at most arrogant, yet he values loyalty. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have befriended him, and that Shangyuan Gambling House is a source of evil, claiming innocent lives. Burning it down is truly a blessing."

Yu Nianzhao stretched lazily, saying indifferently, "What’s good? Evil’s root lies in human hearts, and wicked people haven’t been truly eradicated; soon enough another ’Shangyuan Gambling House’ will emerge."