Chapter 73: Tang Ying’s True Intentions

“Mier is here, come over quickly.” The Old Madam Tang smiled and waved at Tang Mi, but that smile was full of exhaustion and worry.

Tang Mi instinctively glanced at Tang Ying and saw that she kept her gaze respectfully lowered, as if nothing was happening. Then she turned her eyes toward Madam Qin.

Despite Madam Qin’s efforts to hide it, her face was practically glowing with schadenfreude, like it was about to overflow.

Frowning slightly, Tang Mi walked forward.

The Old Madam grasped Tang Mi’s hand and sighed lightly. “Master Jingkong drew a divination for your father. It’s a severely inauspicious reading.”

Tang Mi turned toward Master Jingkong, lips curling faintly. “Master Jingkong knows how to divine fortunes too?”

“Amitabha.” Jingkong nodded slightly at Tang Mi. “Understanding the heavens and earth, glimpsing fate, it damages one’s virtue. The Way of Heaven should not be spoken lightly, yet I have done so.”

Tang Mi’s pupils contracted, her eyes full of scorn.

Understand the heavens? Damage your virtue? If the Way shouldn’t be spoken, why are you saying so much?

The Old Madam, however, immediately bowed deeply upon hearing Jingkong’s words. “Many thanks, Master, for your divination. We’re endlessly grateful. I will certainly offer more incense money later.”

Jingkong returned the bow. “Amitabha.”

“Master Jingkong said your father is suffering greatly in the afterlife. His hands are stained with too much blood. He was subjected to ten forms of harsh punishment and still has yet to atone for his sins,” the Old Madam said, her eyes turning red at the thought of her eldest son suffering below.

Upon hearing this, Tang Mi turned furious, abruptly whipping her head toward Jingkong. “May I ask, Master, my father spent his life on the battlefield, protecting our country and its people. He shed every last drop of his blood for Dongxu. What sins has he committed? What does he need to atone for?!”

She was truly livid. Her father was a national hero. It was bad enough that people forgot his contributions, but now they dared slander him like this? And this so-called master had the gall to say such things?

Jingkong hadn’t expected Tang Mi to be so fierce. His eyes flickered slightly, then he nodded again. “Amitabha. Donor Tang, as a military general, bore too much killing karma. Everyone must pay for their actions in previous lives. During his life, Donor Tang was honored by the people. These were blessings he earned, but also burdens he must now repay.”

Tang Mi laughed coldly out of sheer rage. She swept her gaze over Jingkong, Qin Shi, Tang Ying, and Tang Song. “Indeed, everyone must face the consequences of their past lives. I hope, when the time comes, everyone here gets the chance to repay their own karmic debts.”

Hearing her pointed words, Qin Shi immediately grew unhappy. “Mi’er, how can you speak to Master Jingkong like that? He kindly offered advice. Your father is suffering down there, yet you don’t seem the least bit worried as his daughter.”

Jingkong’s expression also soured, his tone now carrying irritation. “This divination was one I should not have performed. If you refuse to believe it, then I shall take the loss of virtue as mine alone.”

Seeing him angry, the Old Madam hurriedly bowed again. “Please don’t be upset, Master. The child is young and doesn’t understand, do forgive her.”

After apologizing, the Old Madam gave Tang Mi a reproachful look. “Mi’er, don’t speak nonsense.”

“Grandmother, my father has committed no sins. He was a good man. Why would he need to atone?” Tang Mi’s voice trembled with anger, and her heart ached on her father’s behalf.

If anyone should atone, it should be those villains. Yes, her father’s hands were stained with blood, but it was the enemy’s blood, spilled for the country. Could it be that reason and justice don’t exist in the afterlife?

Tang Ying and Tang Song, on the other hand, had blood on their hands too, but it was family blood. They climbed to power over the corpses of their kin. She wanted to ask Heaven: shouldn’t they atone?

The Old Madam’s eyes turned red as she looked at Tang Mi. “Mi’er, I know you don’t believe it. I don’t want to believe it either. But this kind of thing better to believe it than not. What if your father really is suffering down there? Are we just supposed to stand by and do nothing?”

Just the thought that her son might truly be suffering made her heart twist in agony. She wished she could go in his place.

Qin Shi’s eyes gleamed and she quickly chimed in. “Yes, Eldest Brother died so young in war. He never enjoyed much in life and now must suffer even in death. I’ve heard those who fought on the battlefield and shed blood often meet a terrible end below.”

She put on a sorrowful expression, which only enraged the Old Madam more. “Shut up!”

Qin Shi pouted, feigning grievance. “I was just trying to help talk sense into her!”

Then she turned to Tang Mi with a sneer. “Some people live comfortably and don’t even want to help their own father. Truly unfilial.”

The Old Madam’s expression turned completely black. She glared and shouted, “Get out of here immediately!”

Seeing the Old Madam truly angered, Qin Shi finally shut up.

The Old Madam took Tang Mi’s hand again and said solemnly, “Mi’er, your father’s karmic burden, you must help cleanse it.”

This wasn’t just about her son’s suffering anymore. It also concerned Tang Mi’s reputation. If Qin Shi went around spreading rumors that Tang Mi was unfilial and refused to help her own father, her reputation would be utterly destroyed.

Tang Mi saw the anxiety in the Old Madam’s eyes and understood what she feared. After a deep breath, she finally relented. “So, what do they want me to do?”

“There’s a celestial pond beneath the temple of the Heavenly Stair. Its divine waters can cleanse all killing karma and sins. But the waters must be fetched by the deceased’s own child. Feng’er isn’t here, so…” The Old Madam’s voice softened. She felt heartache for Tang Mi. If Tang Feng were present, this would surely fall to him. How could she bear to send Tang Mi up those treacherous steps alone?

But since Tang Feng was gone, only Tang Mi could go.

Tang Mi cast a cold glance at Tang Ying and Tang Song. So this is what they brought me to Baima Temple for, isn’t it?

Was Ye Junyu waiting beside the celestial pond, or somewhere along the stairs?

Fury surged in Tang Mi’s chest. She didn’t want to play along with them at all, but the truth was, she had no choice.

She took a deep breath and looked at the Old Madam. “Fine. I’ll go.”

The Old Madam finally relaxed at her agreement. “There are too many people on the Heavenly Stair right now. It would be disruptive. You’ll have to wait until after the You hour, when the stair is closed, to ascend.”

To comfort her, the Old Madam added, “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure lanterns are hung on both sides so it won’t be dark.”

Tang Mi’s tightly furrowed brow did not loosen.

The Heavenly Stair itself wasn’t what was dark, it was the hearts of the people.

But now, whether she wanted to or not, she had to climb that stair.

At the You hour, the entire Tang family gathered at the foot of the Heavenly Stair. The place that had been lively and bustling during the day was now eerily silent and cold like a road to the underworld.