Shocking! In this matriarchal society, every man wants to marry me!

Mother rarely entered the inner quarters; she was busy expanding her business empire and entertaining dignitaries from all over the country with drinks. The Xia residence was too small and was only a place for her to rest occasionally.

However, as the head of the household, she was fully aware of everything happening within the family, so she was able to quickly seize Xia Muning's weakness: "Muning, is it you who goes to the palace? Or is it her who dies?"

Perhaps sensing that her words weren't powerful enough, Xia's mother added, "Your third sister has disappeared, neither alive nor dead. My child, you must believe that I can do a cleaner job than anyone else."

The Xia family remained calm about Xia Wen's disappearance. Under normal circumstances, they might have sent people to search for him, but now that the Xia family's greatest support was gone, everyone was immersed in grief. They simply asked the county magistrate to keep an eye out and let them know if there was any news. In the end, it was because the third branch of the Xia family had no say.

He relentlessly searched for Yu Yijin, convinced that this matter was inextricably linked to that bitch Xia Jin'an.

I hope you will be safe and sound. Lately, you have been harassed by thugs who extort and blackmail customers who come to your restaurant.

If they don't give it to them, they'll get a beating! That's why many people are unwilling to come for their own safety.

Xia Jin'an knew that this was someone Yu Yijin had sent to cause trouble. On one hand, he was actively looking for evidence that Xia Jin'an had committed murder, but on the other hand, he didn't want Xia Jin'an to have an easy time.

Upon learning this, Nakata took out his spiked club and sat down at the restaurant entrance.

Anyone who dared to harass her would be struck by her spiked club, knocking them to the ground. The mild cases would require two days in the clinic, while the severe cases would result in several broken bones.

So even though Yu Yijin spent a lot of money, these thugs didn't dare to harass him.

But today, Lin Qingzhi, holding his folding fan, said lightly to Xia Jin'an, "This time, Madam Zhong is in trouble."

Those people had clearly come prepared, and Nakata had obviously noticed them as well. "One, two, three... ten."

Zhong Tian counted them; there were actually ten people. Last time, she fought eight and was injured, but now there are ten. He wondered if her diligent martial arts training had yielded any results. Now it was time for the test!

Undeterred, Zhong Tian struck first, each blow landing with a spiked club! Cries of pain echoed throughout the room. Within half an hour, everyone was lying on the ground, unable to get up.

In the face of absolute power, numbers are often not the most important factor.

Cheers erupted from the crowd; no one expected to witness a fight while simply having a meal.

“Zhongniang will be fine.”

Xia Jin'an looked at the radiant woman in the crowd with a touch of pride, his confidence unwavering.

But unexpectedly, one of the people who was lying on the ground suddenly pulled out a dagger from his pocket, looked at Zhong Tian with a vicious look, and stabbed her in the back when Zhong Tian was not paying attention.

A searing pain instantly engulfed his entire body. Enraged, Zhong Tian launched a flying kick, sending the woman flying several meters away. She coughed up blood and fainted.

Officials from the nearby government office rushed out and took these people into prison.

Zhongtian walked towards Fang Shilian, his tone teasing, "Lord Fang, you've finally made your move."

Fang Shilian was somewhat embarrassed: "Wasn't this Young Master Yu's order? I dare not disobey him."

Yu Yijin is the son of Magistrate Yu. He asked the constables to turn a blind eye, but Fang Shilian felt that if they did not intervene, the situation would be beyond repair.

Xia Jin'an disregarded her composure and looked anxiously at Zhong Tian. Zhong Tian's clothes were pierced, and red blood stained the clothes, making them a bright red stain. He felt extremely distressed.

He stared intently at the people lying on the ground. These were the people he had brought here, and the suffering that Zhongtian had endured was because of him. A wave of guilt and unease washed over him.

Meanwhile, at Minghui Temple outside the city.

Ding Yucheng walked step by step up these 800 steps.

She knelt down with each step, and even though her knees were soaked with sweat and bruised, her gaze remained extremely devout.

His first wife was a tyrannical woman who indulged in drinking, gambling, and whoring, and she wanted to sell him to a brothel to pay off her debts.

His second wife was a womanizer who frequented many women. The sweet words Xia Fang said to him were true, and the sweet words she said to others were also true.

Some people said he was unlucky. At first, it was a whispered discussion, but later the voices grew louder and louder, eventually reaching his ears. Ding Yucheng had a beautiful face, but he was destined for a tragic fate.

He didn't believe it at first, but as more and more people talked about it, he began to believe it to some extent. So he went to the temple to see the gods that everyone was worshipping and wanted to ask the gods and Buddhas why fate had been so unfair to him.

Before entering the mountain, one must first pay a donation. Liang Yun threw a piece of silver into the donation box. The weight of this piece of silver was unclear, which made the novice monk leading the way widen his eyes.

He met an old nun who was so old she had lost all her teeth. She was dressed in coarse cloth, but had an air of otherworldly grace. He put his hands together and asked gently, "Honorable one, what do you wish to ask for?"

What did he want? Ding Yucheng was speechless. He wanted wealth, honor, and to be loved as if he were his own flesh and blood. But he didn't say it aloud; saying it would only make him a laughingstock.

"Go back!" The nun smiled at Ding Yucheng, who was dressed in fine clothes. "You are a person of wealth and status in this mortal world. Life is full of eight sufferings: birth, old age, sickness, death, separation from loved ones, resentment, unfulfilled desires, and attachment. All suffering can be overcome by letting go."

Ding Yucheng smiled but did not refute. He concealed his disdain very well. This nun probably said the same thing to everyone. He slowly picked up an incense stick and placed it on the majestic Buddha statue.

Temples are truly fascinating places. Everyone worships their own desires, seeking what they can obtain. Yet, when you ask people about the world and turn to Buddhist scriptures, every sentence is about letting go.

I guess I won't come next time.

The path down the mountain was quite flat, offering a different kind of scenery.

Ding Yucheng stopped to watch when suddenly someone came from a distance and crashed straight into him. "What are you doing?"

Ding Yucheng wasn't angry yet, but then the person who hit him started screaming in terror, "Murder! Murder!"

"Who killed someone!" Ding Yucheng was shocked and carefully examined the person in front of him. The person was dressed in rags, looked listless, was as thin as a rake, and had cloudy eyes. He did not look like a normal person.

This was a mentally challenged person, yet Liang Yun's expression shifted slightly, and Ding Yucheng spoke up: "Who is she? Do you know her?"

Liang Yun hesitated for a moment before speaking: "She is my distant cousin, and she is somewhat mentally challenged."

Liang Yun knelt on the ground: "Let me take her home. Giving her a bite to eat is also a great favor from my master."

Ding Yucheng looked at the temple with its wisps of incense smoke behind him. Heaven has a benevolent heart; to meet here is also a kind of fate.

Ding Yucheng nodded: "Okay. Remember to find out who the murderer she mentioned is when she's sober. Don't cause any trouble."

News of Zhong Tian's injury reached Xia Muning's ears immediately. Xia Muning was terrified and ran to the study to confront his mother: "Mother, did you do this?"

Xia's mother did not deny it: "It was my arrangement. This time there were only ten people, but next time there will be fifty. Even with superhuman strength, one cannot withstand a crowd rushing forward."

Xia Muning looked at his mother, whom he had always respected, but now she seemed repulsive to him. His voice was filled with sorrow: "Mother, I have always respected you, but why have you been forcing me? Do you want your son to die?"