Chapter 45: Oppression

Chen Zuoqian still wanted to chase after Zhang Sheng to apologize, but by the time he caught up and turned the corner at the courtyard gate, Zhang Sheng's figure was already nowhere to be seen.

This was actually just a blindfold technique; with Zhang Sheng's current Dharma power, using a blindfold technique on an ordinary person was as simple as drinking water.

Zhang Sheng had not left the Chen Residence; he found the Fourth Mistress, He Lian, who had been locked up.

Seeing Zhang Sheng push the door open and enter, He Lian immediately became agitated, shouting, "They killed someone, they killed someone!"

Zhang Sheng recited the Heart-Cleansing Divine Incantation, using his Dharma power as a guide to strike it into He Lian's body. Before long, He Lian's eyes regained their clarity, and her mind was no longer chaotic. She stood stunned for a moment before she finally came to her senses.

Looking up and seeing Zhang Sheng, she said in surprise, "I..."

Zhang Sheng nodded and said, "It's alright, you are fine now. Tell me what happened here."

The expression that had just returned to He Lian's face turned ashen once more. With a numb expression and vacant eyes, she spoke of her own background: "My family originally had some small savings, so I was able to study and get into university. My father then supported me to go to Yangcheng for college."

But only half a year later, bad news came from home: my father had passed away from illness. My mother would no longer support my studies and even forced me to marry. In a moment of despair, I married Chen Zuoqian. My mother took the bride price money and gave it all to my brother.

Hehehe, my mother is also a woman; why was she so biased toward men over women?

Heh... I originally thought I had escaped the mother and brother who broke my heart, but the Chen Residence was an even darker place. Including me, there were four women in the courtyard, all scheming against each other just for the favor of one man. It is pitiful, laughable, and hateful!

I originally thought my life would just be like this, but then I met Chen Wenpu. That day, he played the flute, and it blew right into my heart. When Chen Zuoqian found out about this, he burned my flute.

At that moment, I felt so oppressed I couldn't breathe, so I decided to resist. I lied and said I was pregnant, but the matter was exposed. Chen Zuoqian was furious, but I was happy. However, I felt that this matter had been exposed by my maid, Xiao Yan.

This woman had always wanted to become a concubine; I don't know what was so good about being a concubine! So, I told the First Mistress that she had secretly lit a lantern to seduce Chen Zuoqian.

The First Mistress punished Xiao Yan, and in the end, Xiao Yan died. She didn't admit she was wrong even when she died, and I didn't feel I was wrong either.

Hehehe... I thought I wasn't wrong, but I felt very guilty in my heart. Coupled with endless loneliness, I took to drinking. After one drunken episode, I blurted out the affair between the Third Mistress and Doctor Gao.

This gave the Second Mistress a chance; she brought people to seize the Third Mistress, and the Third Mistress was taken by the people of the mansion to a small room and strangled to death! They killed someone!

But Chen Zuoqian has influence here, so the matter was swept under the rug. Mei Lan's corpse was just wrapped in a tattered straw mat and thrown into the pond! Wuwuwu... It was I who caused their deaths; I didn't want this to happen...

Is this our fate? Is this the fate of us women? But that is not what I learned; this world shouldn't be like this!"

Zhang Sheng sighed; this damn world is just like this.

He sighed and said, "I know the full story now; you will be liberated very soon."

Having said that, he waved his hand to help He Lian open her Yin-Yang Eyes.

"Turn around and look."

He Lian turned around and saw Xiao Yan staring fixedly at her, resentment showing in her eyes.

Xiao Yan cursed viciously, "It's all your fault! If you hadn't married in, I could have become the Fourth Mistress!

Do you know that only by becoming a mistress could I turn from a mountain pheasant into a phoenix? I hate you!"

Tears streamed down He Lian's face as she knelt on the ground and kowtowed, "Xiao Yan, I didn't do it on purpose, wuwuwu..."

Zhang Sheng immediately cast the Heart-Cleansing Divine Incantation, causing Xiao Yan to calm down, and her eyes, filled with resentment, became much clearer.

He advised, "Neither of you is at fault.

You are both just poor people oppressed by this world.

Miss Xiao Yan, let go of your attachments and go be reincarnated. I hope you can live in a lovely era."

Xiao Yan looked at He Lian, who was kowtowing and begging for her forgiveness, and bowed, saying, "Daoist, what is a lovely era?"

"An era where women can hold up half the sky. You will be like men, supporting half the sky of the family," Zhang Sheng said sincerely.

Xiao Yan revealed a faint smile and said, "I hope it is as the Daoist says."

She looked at He Lian on the ground and said, "Fourth Mistress, I forgive you. I am liberated, but you still have to suffer here. Come to think of it, you are more pitiful than I am."

He Lian looked up, crying while laughing, laughing while crying. Perhaps one of her heart-knots had been untied, or perhaps she was grieving for herself.

Zhang Sheng didn't dwell on it further; he recited: "The Supreme Decree transcends your lonely soul, ghosts and spirits, all four forms of birth receive grace.

Those with heads are transcended, those without heads are born; gun-shot, blade-killed, drowned, or hanged.

Dead in the light, dead in the dark, wronged and unjustly perished; creditors and enemies, life-taking youths.

Kneel before my altar, the Eight Trigrams shine light; clear yourself and depart, to be reborn elsewhere.

Whether man or woman, bear it yourself; wealth or poverty, you bring upon yourself.

Decree for the masses to be quickly reborn, decree for the masses to be quickly reborn."

Xiao Yan's ghost vanished instantly, leaving no trace.

"Purified the evil ghost Xiao Yan, obtained two hundred merits."

He Lian hurriedly looked at Zhang Sheng, and Zhang Sheng replied, "She has already gone to the Underworld."

He Lian said with a miserable expression, "If there really is an Underworld, will I have to go down to the eighteen levels of hell?"

Zhang Sheng was silent for a moment, then nodded and said, "Although you unintentionally caused the deaths of two people, at the very least you must walk through the Tongue-Ripping Hell to wash away your sins."

Upon hearing this, He Lian seemed to have reconciled with herself; she nodded and said, "If that is truly the case, I am willing to walk through it to wash away my own sins."

Zhang Sheng didn't know what else to say, so he could only bow and say, "Immeasurable Longevity and Fortune to the Heavenly Worthy."

Having said that, he left the room.

At night, a sound of gongs and drums suddenly rang out within the silent Chen Residence.

Immediately after, on the roof of Mei Lan's small courtyard, Mei Lan, wearing her beloved opera costume, began to sing "The Imperial Stele Pavilion": "Listening to the second watch, no shadow is seen; this wind and rain will not cease, what is to be done..."

Chen Zuoqian, who was sleeping in the Fifth Mistress's room, heard this familiar singing style and was instantly scared awake.

He immediately took out a consecrated talisman and clutched it in his hand, saying viciously, "I am not afraid, I am not afraid!"

"Bang!"

The bedroom door was blown open by a gust of cold wind. The sound grew closer and closer, yet no figure could be seen.

Chen Zuoqian widened his eyes, looking at the open door. Illuminated by the bright red lanterns inside and out, he only saw a shadow wearing an opera costume standing there.

"Ah!"

The Fifth Mistress shrieked and hid behind Chen Zuoqian, sobbing.

Chen Zuoqian was also panicked and at a loss, shouting, "Mei Lan, what exactly do you want? It was clearly you who cheated on me, do you still have the face to come and claim my life?"

"I am doing this because it is the rule of our ancestors; since you do not observe the way of women, this must be done!"