Chapter 230 – Village Beauty Turned Bald
“Brother, this is truly a great idea.”
Yan Wenfeng said coldly, “Fortunately, the Yan third branch lives in a cave on Big Sister Peak.”
Ms. Li was just about to ask when they would take action when she heard a series of footsteps outside the door.
Hearing the footsteps, Yan Wenfeng hurriedly gestured to Ms. Li who stopped talking.
The second branch’s Yan Shuxiu led a maid and appeared at the doorway, fuming with anger.
“What are you blanking out for? Hurry and open the door.”
Seeing the Second Miss’s ashen face, the two servants guarding the door felt uneasy. One of them said, “Second Miss, Old Master instructed that no one can go in to see the eldest miss.”
Yan Shuxiu glared at the servant who spoke, angrily saying, “Grandfather sent me. Quickly open the door.”
Only then did the two servants open the door.
After the door opened, Yan Shuxiu stood at the entrance and glanced inside the room. Seeing Yan Wenfeng and Ms. Li both inside, she suddenly turned and slapped the servant who had spoken.
“Didn’t you say no one was allowed to see Eldest Sister?”
That servant knew he was in the wrong and had nothing to say. He lowered his head.
Yan Shuxiu had been in a good mood these past few days. After slapping that servant, she didn’t bother with him anymore. She strode into Yan Shujing’s room and stood in front of the table, condescendingly staring at the teary mess that was Yan Shujing.
Previously, Yan Shujing had always lorded over her, relying on her literary talent, good looks, and favor from grandfather and grandmother. Now, the tables had finally turned… Seeing this woman in such a state was truly gratifying.
She gloated for a moment before suddenly pointing at Yan Shujing, accusing, “Yan Shujing, it’s all because you were unrestrained and shameless that you brought disgrace to the Yan family. grandmother’s health had just improved a bit and you angered her into fainting again.”
Hearing this, Yan Wenfeng, Ms. Li, and Yan Shujing’s hearts sank, especially Yan Shujing’s.
Grandfather was already furious. If grandmother fell sick again, grandfather might beat her to death in his rage.
Knowing Old Master Yan’s temper, Yan Shujing was so frightened her eyes widened as she looked to Yan Wenfeng for help.
Ms. Li was flustered for a moment before also looking at Yan Wenfeng with pleading eyes.
Yan Wenfeng calmed himself and asked Yan Shuxiu, “Xiu’er, how is grandmother’s condition now? Has a doctor been called?”
Yan Shuxiu said coldly, “She’s still unconscious. Grandfather already sent servants to fetch a doctor from Daxing Town.”
She paused, then glanced at Yan Shujing with a hint of gloating before continuing, “grandfather wants Yan Shujing to go to the main hall immediately.”
Going to the main hall naturally meant going to receive punishment.
Yan Shujing shrank back in fear, shaking her head in despair.
Ms. Li hugged her.
Yan Wenfeng remained relatively calm. He frowned at Yan Shuxiu and said, “Shuxiu, you go back first to take care of grandmother. Jing’er’s clothes are dirty. She will change into clean clothes before going to see grandfather.”
“Fine.”
Yan Shuxiu snorted and turned to leave.
She thought: On the verge of death, yet Yan Shujing still wants to change clothes.
After Yan Shuxiu led the maid away, Yan Wenfeng went to close the door. He took out a sharp pair of scissors and held it in front of Yan Shujing and Ms. Li.
Seeing the shiny, sharp scissors, Yan Shujing and Ms. Li’s expressions tensed.
Yan Shujing even shrank further into Ms. Li’s arms.
Ms. Li asked nervously, “Wenfeng, what are you doing with those scissors?”
Yan Wenfeng didn’t answer. He reached out, grabbed a lock of Yan Shujing’s hair, and snipped it off.
Looking at the fallen strands on the ground, Yan Shujing trembled in fear. “Brother, what are you doing?”
A head full of black hair was extremely precious to a woman, especially a woman who considered herself beautiful. Yan Shujing cherished her black tresses which she often maintained with hair oil. Now seeing Yan Wenfeng cut them short, her heart ached.
Yan Wenfeng finished cutting one lock and went to cut a second.
“Jing’er, your reputation is ruined, bringing shame to the Yan family, and you angered grandmother into fainting. With grandfather’s temper, he definitely won’t let you off. Only by cutting your hair and saying you want to become a nun can your life be spared. Don’t worry, there’s a Cuiyun Temple on Second Sister Peak of the Four Sisters Mountain. If you go become a nun there, it will be close to home so mother can often visit you.”
Ms. Li and Yan Shujing finally understood his intention.
Ms. Li let out a sigh of relief, but Yan Shujing was even more frightened.
Becoming a nun meant eating vegetarian and chanting scriptures while wearing drab robes for the rest of her life. Just thinking about it felt terrifying.
“Brother, I don’t want to be a nun, I don’t want to!”
She desperately shook her head in refusal, hysterically yelling at Yan Wenfeng.
However, Yan Wenfeng was unmoved. Seeing her struggling fiercely, he said to Ms. Li, “Mother, hold Jing’er down.”
Ms. Li knew this was the only way to save Yan Shujing’s life. No matter how distressed she was, she had no choice but to pounce forward and tightly restrain Yan Shujing.
Yan Wenfeng continued to cut her hair.
As he cut, he comforted, “Jing’er, trust your brother. I’m only having you temporarily become a nun at Cuiyun Temple. In the future, when I pass the imperial exam and become an official, I will definitely take you out of Cuiyun Temple and find you a good husband so you can marry in grand style.”
Hearing these words, Yan Shujing finally gradually calmed down, allowing Ms. Li to hold her as she watched her black tresses fall to the ground lock by lock.
Old Master Yan was waiting in the main hall for the doctor and Yan Shujing, his anger boiling, when he saw Yan Wenfeng and Ms. Li walk in.
Yan Shujing was wearing a plain gray robe. Her beautiful black hair had been completely cut off by Yan Wenfeng. Dressed like this, she truly resembled a little nun from a temple. She silently followed behind Yan Wenfeng and Ms. Li. Even Old Master Yan didn’t recognize her.
Old Master Yan swept his gaze over Yan Wenfeng and Ms. Li, angrily asking, “Where is that wretched girl?”
Yan Shujing’s heart trembled. She steeled herself and walked forward, kneeling in front of Old Master Yan. “Grandfather, Jing’er was wrong. Jing’er not only brought shame to the Yan family but also angered grandmother into being bedridden. Jing’er’s sins are heavy. Jing’er has already shaved her head to become a nun. From now on, Jing’er will eat vegetarian food, chant scriptures, and pray for blessings for the Yan family, for grandfather, and for grandmother.”
Old Master Yan, the people from the second branch, and the two servants attending in the main hall didn’t recognize Yan Shujing earlier. Hearing these words, everyone stared fixedly at the person kneeling in the hall. After carefully looking for a moment, they finally realized that the bald woman was none other than Yan Shujing.
Yan Shuxiu stared at Yan Shujing’s hairless head, nearly unable to restrain herself from laughing out loud.
Yan Shujing always considered herself the village beauty. Today without her hair, hahaha, the village beauty turned into a toad.
Ms. Hu also had a face full of gloating.
Old Master Yan was shocked. After hearing Yan Shujing’s words, his expression softened a bit.
In the Great Chu, for a woman to lose her purity, in order to preserve the family’s reputation, she would either be drowned or made to become a nun.
