Chapter 478: Chapter 478

Outside the Xie residence, the sun blazed in the sky. It was originally a gathering place for officials of the literati and clean faction. Yet, amidst the bustling comings and goings at this moment, an extra layer of liveliness had been added.

People's gazes couldn't help but gather on the woman kneeling straight before the main gate.

She wore a bluish-green pleated robe washed to the point of fading white. The embroidered patterns of a hundred blessings and Ruyi scepters on the sleeves, symbolizing auspiciousness and good fortune, were already blurred and indistinct. In just a few years' time, her originally well-maintained, thick, and jet-black hair had become a frosty white, like withered grass, barely tied back with a worn-out black hairpin. The deep furrows gathered between her brows made her look nothing like a woman in her forties.

She more closely resembled an elderly woman who had weathered countless storms.

An Ning quickly had an idea of who this visitor was.

"Isn't... isn't that the Lady of the Wu Yang Marquis's Household?"

After the earlier commotion, the noble ladies who had come to observe the ceremony had not yet fully dispersed.

Within the crowd, someone quickly recognized her. But after a moment, they quietly dismissed the thought.

After all, in earlier years, the Marchioness had been famously haughty and proud within the circle of nobility and officials. Not only did she place the utmost importance on maintaining appearances, but especially after her natal family, the Xiangyang Marquis's Household, fell into decline, she was even more unwilling to fall behind others on any ordinary occasion.

It was nothing unusual. The court had enjoyed peace for a long time, and most military officers had lost their usefulness. For the nobility, it was already difficult enough for their descendants to just maintain the family legacy, let alone strive for advancement. Quite a few were secretly planning to transition from military to civil service.

Of course, the effectiveness wasn't great.

The scions of the nobility, compared to those from generations of scholarly officials, naturally lacked some educational foundation and network of connections.

Compared to those from humble backgrounds, born into silks and brocades, they lacked twelve parts of diligence and hardship.

For most families, having incompetent descendants was already a major difficulty.

Just imagine, at such a time, there was this person who, day in and day out, at every banquet, would inevitably boast about her precious son—how diligent he was, how outstanding his studies were, how his paintings had won the appreciation of which famous scholar. Wasn't she just asking for others to feel uncomfortable?

Of course, if the Wu Yang Marquis's young master had continued being that "outstanding" with a promising future ahead, a little discomfort would have passed. With benefits at stake, many could still suppress their inner envy on the surface and continue being sisterly and friendly.

But unfortunately, just a few years later, a "serious illness" ruined the young master's health for the most part.

His body became so weak that most of the time, even walking was difficult. Just ask, with such a condition, no matter how great his innate talent, what future could he have?

The circle of friends who could barely tolerate the discomfort and maintain interactions almost instantly scattered like birds and beasts.

What's more, due to that earlier bit of envy and discomfort, there were quite a few who secretly belittled, mocked, and made fun of him. It was as if, in an instant, he was surrounded by cold, scornful gazes.

The bright moon falling into the dust, the pride of heaven tumbling into the mortal world—this has always been the drama the world loves most.

It was easy to imagine that under successive blows, what little spirit the Wu Yang Marquis's young master had left was utterly worn away.

Thinking of her son, who even now lay on a sickbed, neglected and barely clinging to life, tears unconsciously fell from Lady Ouyang's turbid eyes, tracing winding paths down the deep ravines of her face.

Disregarding the surrounding gazes, whether curious or sympathetic, the Marchioness could no longer care about appearances. Subconsciously hunching her body, she crawled forward:

"True Person, all the fault, a thousand, ten thousand faults, are this humble woman's mistakes, they have nothing to do with Chen'er!"

"This humble woman is willing to die ten thousand deaths, I only beg the True Person to be magnanimous and forgive my son..."

"Chen'er he... if we can't find a doctor soon, he will die! He is still so young, only in his twenties!"

"Kill me, cut me to pieces, this humble woman will harbor not a shred of resentment!"

As her words fell, and looking at the nearly desperate Marchioness below, everyone present were cunning individuals. They almost instantly understood the gist.

The Wu Yang Marquis's young master's health was already poor. Coupled with the fact that mother and son were known to have offended an exalted personage, forget about the old Marquis who probably wished for the mother and son to die for peace and quiet. Even the doctors likely weren't willing to exert their full efforts in treatment on a regular basis.

For this lady to disregard her dignity to such an extent, nearly driven to madness... people couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

Especially some of the slightly older ones couldn't help but recall the young master of the Marquis's household from earlier years. He truly was first-rate in appearance, bearing, talent, learning, and demeanor. Even those who looked down on the Wu Yang Marchioness's arrogant face back then, many families had their eyes on him, particularly those with daughters of marriageable age.

Who would have thought...

But what was important now wasn't any of that. Many people, hiding not far away, stole glances with the corners of their eyes at the True Person before them.

To be honest, even after all these years in the capital, regarding this True Person's temperament, people still didn't really know. They only knew from her actions and conduct that she was probably of an indifferent and casual nature.

Apart from the rules previously set by the temple, no matter how many people came with "sincere" pleas before, what they mostly received was news that the True Person was entering seclusion.

Having no other choice, people could only focus their efforts on the pear blossom lot drawn once every seven days.

Therefore, right now, there really were those who wanted to see how she would handle this, to gauge her temperament and preferences from it.

If later they could help voice some "righteous words," what if... what if the True Person remembered them?

Thinking this way, some people really did stop in their tracks.

Of course, more left early. What a joke, this was an accomplished exalted personage! Was this a spectacle they could watch?

Who knew what this person's temperament was like? What if they incurred her wrath?

Thinking this, in a moment's time, apart from a few habitual opportunists, the originally lively scene before the Xie residence vanished in an instant.

And what about An Ning, who was being secretly observed?

She quietly listened to the person before her finish her tearful plea, watching as the Wu Yang Marchioness, in front of the large public gathering, almost desperately knocked her head against the stone slabs.

Before long, faint traces of blood stained the bluestone floor beneath her feet. Mingled with her aged face and whitened hair, it looked especially pitiable.

But unfortunately, apart from a few sensitive young people, almost no one present showed a look of sympathy.

Especially when they saw with their own eyes that the True Person before them showed not the slightest trace of being moved. They were all cunning individuals. Even if they felt a sliver of pity, they quickly suppressed it.

It seemed like a long time, but in reality, only a moment had passed since An Ning emerged.

Not to mention the visibly angry Xie couple, when Fourth Sister Siya, who had rushed over in haste upon learning her Second Sister had left, nearly cursed out loud!

Pitiable? Pleading for mercy, ha! Siya couldn't help but sneer inwardly.

Even an ignorant child would know the implications of making such a scene in front of a large public gathering.

If she had even an ounce of remorse, she shouldn't have deliberately used the crowd to pressure others with so-called morality.

Did she think her Second Sister was easy to talk to?

Compared to Siya, Sima Rui, who had grown up in the imperial family by An Ning's side, thought of more.

A dignified Wu Yang Marquis, could he not even control one woman?

Or was it that, behind this...

As if thinking of something, Sima Rui's gaze suddenly darkened.

The only thought in his heart was this:

Using the crowd to pressure someone—if such an act succeeds once, there will definitely be a second time.

His master absolutely must not be constrained by others.

"Master, perhaps your disciple..."

Before his familiar words could finish, he felt a gentle force quickly and smoothly lift him up. The next second, a dazzling cyan light flashed before his eyes.

By the time Sima Rui regained his senses, he found himself standing atop a bluish-green longsword. And in the next instant, they instantly soared into the air.

Staring blankly as that cyan light gradually receded into the distance, after a moment, the crowd instantly knelt down in unison: