A Clear Official Finds It Hard to Settle Domestic Disputes

Lu Zhanyuan leaned against the table leg and began to recount his past.

Lu Zhanyuan said with a wistful expression, "When I first met Mochou, I was already ill, but it was very mild then, and I thought I could be cured. So, after getting engaged to her, I went to Tianlong Temple in Dali to seek medical treatment. Relying on the favor of my ancestors, I received the meticulous care of the masters at Tianlong Temple."

"It seems Tianlong Temple couldn't cure your illness either," Wang Ming said.

Lu Zhanyuan sighed, "Yes, I stayed at Tianlong Temple for two months. Six masters took turns using One Yang Finger to clear my meridians. They all gave their utmost effort, but it was still ineffective. When I learned that my illness was incurable, I decided to break off the engagement with Mochou."

Wang Ming said mockingly, "Oh? And your way of breaking off the engagement was to marry someone else without any notice?"

Lu Zhanyuan said helplessly, "Originally, I planned to return to Lu Family Manor and explain to her that I was breaking off the engagement, so she wouldn't be burdened by me.

But she had no fixed abode, and I couldn't find her. By the time I married Yuanjun, she appeared."

Lu Zhanyuan glanced at his wife beside him, his expression complex. "That day, I saw a different Mochou. She was no longer the gentle and kind Mochou. She was very hysterical and very crazy that day."

Wang Ming retorted, "Just because she wasn't what you imagined, you treated her like that? You watched her being defeated and showed a dismissive expression?"

Lu Zhanyuan shook his head, "No! It was at that moment I realized how deeply she cared for me. I knew that if I had explained things to her, she would never have left me. If I died, she might have followed me, which I didn't want. Since she thought I was a heartless man, so be it! At least this way, she could live well."

Wang Ming suddenly clapped his hands, "Hahahaha!!! Well said, a good story."

After laughing, his expression suddenly turned cold and stern. "If I hadn't witnessed the loving scene between you two, I would have believed you. You truly are the renowned hero Lu, thinking I'm easy to fool?"

Then Wang Ming slapped him across the face again. The residual force sent Lu Zhanyuan flying, crashing into the wall and knocking him unconscious.

This slap was delivered with restraint. Otherwise, with hands that could shatter stone, he would have already splattered Lu Zhanyuan like a watermelon.

Seeing her husband's plight, He Yuanjun became even more anxious, but her acupoints were sealed, leaving only her eyeballs free to move.

Wang Ming, with a surge of energy, unsealed He Yuanjun's acupoints.

Once her acupoints were unsealed, He Yuanjun immediately got up and went to check her husband's injuries. Finding only minor flesh wounds and that he was merely unconscious, she felt temporarily relieved.

"Senior, my husband did not deceive you. We did not marry because we loved each other back then; he did it to help me," He Yuanjun knew the danger had not passed. As long as this mysterious person wasn't sent away, this matter wouldn't be over.

"Oh? Then please tell your story," Wang Ming said with great interest.

"When we got married, the uninvited guests were not only Li Mochou but also my adoptive father, Wu Santong, who raised me from childhood. The reason we could get married was because of my adoptive father, Wu Santong," He Yuanjun began to explain.

"Yuanjun's parents died when she was young. Fortunately, Wu Santong and his wife adopted me. They doted on me and cared for me meticulously. Those were the happiest times of my life. But as I grew older, I noticed my adoptive father's feelings towards me becoming increasingly subtle, gradually deviating from a pure father-daughter affection," a hint of bitterness appeared on He Yuanjun's face.

"If my adoptive father hadn't taken me in, I might have starved to death or been sold to a brothel as a child. After I realized his intentions, the mixed feelings of fear and entanglement tormented me repeatedly. This life was given to me by him, and if he had used his kindness as leverage, it would have been difficult for me to refuse. But we were nominally father and daughter, which is a grave sin, and I couldn't betray my adoptive mother, Wu Sanniang," He Yuanjun had originally intended to keep this matter buried to avoid tarnishing Wu Santong's reputation, but she feared that Lu Family Manor wouldn't overcome this hurdle if she didn't clarify things today.

"I know Wu Santong. He's a disciple of the Southern Emperor Duan Zhixing. I didn't expect this scoundrel to be so playful! A 'raising' scenario!" Wang Ming exclaimed, thinking to himself that it was no wonder the Wu brothers behaved the way they did; the foundation was rotten.

"Although my adoptive father was very caring towards me, it was my adoptive mother who truly looked after me. Her kindness to me surpassed my adoptive father's. Cornered, I could only choose to throw myself into the river and end my life, but I was rescued by my husband. He prevented me from attempting suicide several more times, and he also understood my plight. Finally, he came up with a plan: my husband and I would get married."

"But you could have married someone else! There was no need to marry him; he clearly had ulterior motives and was taking advantage of your distress," Wang Ming said deliberately.

"No, my husband took a great risk to marry me. My adoptive father, Wu Santong, was one of the four close ministers to the King of Dali Kingdom at the time, possessing immense power. Ordinary people dared not oppose him, and those with ability had no reason to offend him for my sake. That's why Lu Lang proposed the marriage," He Yuanjun quickly explained.

"Because I couldn't cure my husband's illness, I voluntarily came forward to be a witness to our marriage. I am also fortunate that the master arrived. Not only did my adoptive father appear that day, but Li Mochou also came. We both underestimated their martial arts skills. Despite the large number of guests present, they couldn't subdue them. In the end, it was the master who intervened and subdued them, making them swear an oath not to cause trouble for ten years." He Yuanjun looked at her husband affectionately as she said this.

"My husband and I were initially a fake couple, but as time passed, affection grew, and we turned the pretense into reality. This decision was meant to be for their own good, but they were both too persistent. One went mad and abandoned his family, while the other became a monk and killed countless people," He Yuanjun said helplessly.

"Mochou became a murderous fiend because my husband helped me. If you want to kill someone, kill me! I beg the senior to spare everyone else." With that, she knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly.

"Cough cough! Madam, what are you saying? This was my decision; it has nothing to do with you." Lu Zhanyuan had woken up by this time.

"If it weren't for my husband, Yuanjun would have drowned herself long ago. My current life was given to me by my husband. If my husband is gone, Yuanjun will not live on," He Yuanjun no longer argued. In truth, she was rather indifferent to life and death, or rather, she had accepted her fate. She knew Lu Zhanyuan's condition better than anyone.

Wang Ming, tired of listening, incapacitated them both again.

Then, he fell into deep thought in the attic.

Originally, Wang Ming had been in seclusion for a long time and decided to visit Jiangnan for a change of scenery. This place was merely a detour.

Li Mochou was taken in as a disciple by him, essentially used as a tool, but he still had to take responsibility for her to some extent.

His initial thought was that if Lu Zhanyuan was truly a scumbag, he would capture him and hand him over to Li Mochou so she could resolve her inner turmoil.

What did Lu Zhanyuan's life or death matter to Wang Ming? This was a romantic entanglement he had created himself. It was better to have him settle it sooner, resulting in fewer deaths and not implicating his brother's family.

Wang Ming initially thought Lu Zhanyuan was simply brainless. In this era, it wasn't impossible to have multiple wives; he had unnecessarily created a love triangle.

In the original story, Li Mochou told Lu Liding, "If your brother were still alive, as long as he asked me, and divorced that little slut He Yuanjun, I might not have punished your entire family. Alas, your luck is poor; it's only because your brother died too young, and you can't blame me."

From beginning to end, all she wanted was for him to marry her and make her his principal wife.

Finally, upon seeing the brocade handkerchief, the token of their love left behind by Lu Zhanyuan, she spared Lu Wushuang's life and even taught her martial arts.

It was only later that she pursued and killed her for stealing the "Five Poisons Secret Manual."

Therefore, as long as Lu Zhanyuan softened his stance and asked Li Mochou to spare He Yuanjun, there wouldn't be any problem.

Modern women cannot tolerate a man having another woman, but in ancient times, having three wives and four concubines was normal.

"Even an upright official finds it hard to settle domestic disputes. Let Li Mochou handle this herself!"

Finally, Wang Ming infused a stream of Innate True Qi into Lu Zhanyuan, helping to prolong his life for a while. Whether he lived or died would be decided by Li Mochou herself!