TGCFNM -Chapter 260 It’s You Who Can’t Handle This

Chu Ling glanced around at the crowd enjoying the spectacle, then looked down at the three people standing in the hall.

Alright, everyone clearly thinks they must get a divorce. After all, Yun Aoxue has suffered enough—it’s just a matter of reluctantly letting go.

Yun Aoxue looked at Chu Ling again, trying to steady her emotions. “I hope Your Excellency will rule that we divorce.”

Chu Ling nodded. “At this point, it’s only reasonable for you two to divorce.”

Zhang Zhenfeng’s eyes flashed with hostility. “No! We cannot divorce. This isn’t just about the two of us—it concerns the two great sects. If we divorce, the sects will be at each other’s throats, blood will be shed. I want to ask you, Yun Aoxue: do you want to see the two sects constantly at war?”

“Think about it. If the sects didn’t coexist peacefully and jointly protect Longhu City, would the citizens of Longhu City still have a stable life? Are you sure you want to be so selfish? To abandon everyone for your own sake?”

Yun Aoxue froze, her hands clenching into tight fists.

Duan Ru stared at Zhang Zhenfeng in shock, grabbing his sleeve and calling out fearfully, “Cousin Zhang, cousin Zhang… what do you mean by this?”

Zhang Zhenfeng tilted his head at her, then turned to Chu Ling. “I, Zhang Zhenfeng, speak openly and honestly. I want to keep an heir. Is that wrong?”

Chu Ling frowned.

Zhang Zhenfeng faced the crowd. “Any man without an heir would have long been kicked out of his family. But do I have that? I haven’t divorced her all these years. I’ve treated her well enough. And she hasn’t borne a child in all these years—does that mean the Zhang family line must end? Of course, I must take a concubine to secure an heir.”

Duan Ru’s eyes reddened. A concubine? She’s a concubine?

Zhang Zhenfeng’s gaze locked on Chu Ling. “Which man in this world doesn’t want an heir? How is this a grave mistake? How is it abandoning the friendship between the two sects, selfishly seeking a divorce?”

Chu Ling struck the wooden block, producing a loud bang and cutting off Zhang Zhenfeng.

“You’re not a true disciple—you deliberately approached Yun Aoxue during the sects’ exchange and married her while she was a true disciple. What was your purpose? Do you dare tell us?” Chu Ling said coldly.

Zhang Zhenfeng said arrogantly, “People strive upward, water flows downward. What’s wrong with me wanting to climb higher? Besides, a virtuous and graceful lady is a gentleman’s match. I worked hard for this—it’s only natural I marry her, stepping straight to the top.”

Chu Ling gritted her teeth. Never met someone so shameless!

“Her master died, yet I didn’t drive her out. I kept her title as Madam Zhang. What dissatisfaction does she still have? I’ve been perfectly reasonable, yet she’s selfish and self-centered,” Zhang Zhenfeng continued.

Chu Ling finally understood why someone like this could climb so far, why Yun Aoxue had her master’s uncle and junior disciple supporting her, yet still couldn’t stop him.

Because Zhang Zhenfeng held the most “correct” principle in this feudal dynasty: he’s a man, and he must secure an heir.

Yun Aoxue’s eyes reddened, and in anger she pointed at Zhang Zhenfeng. “It’s you! You’ve grown cold step by step, humiliated and suppressed me bit by bit. You wanted me to divorce you, so I’d bear the shame while you could turn around and marry a new love freely.”

“Why do you suddenly change your mind now? Why?”

Zhang Zhenfeng’s gaze hardened as he looked at her. “Xue’er, you’ve been in poor spirits lately, throwing fits at home, losing your temper even during errands, almost harming someone. Everything you say is mere imagination. You’re hurting yourself—and others too.”

Chu Ling frowned. This is bad.

Zhang Zhenfeng was truly cunning—he drove Yun Aoxue to the brink of madness, yet showed deep affection in front of outsiders. No one knows how he really is, and even if they did, they wouldn’t believe it.

Zhang Zhenfeng turned to Chu Ling. “Both sects’ disciples can testify.”

Yun Aoxue’s chest heaved violently, her fury surging, eyes bloodshot.

She wanted nothing more than to strike him down with her own hands!

Chu Ling closed her eyes, knowing she had to find a way to break the deadlock.

“Yun Aoxue!” Chu Ling suddenly called out, snapping her out of her rage. She then shook her head slightly and gestured for her to step aside.

Yun Aoxue clenched her fists, stood off to the side, and lowered her head.

Chu Ling studied the smug Zhang Zhenfeng carefully. According to what Yun Aoxue had said, Zhang Zhenfeng had been using cold violence to force Yun Aoxue into a divorce, taking on the blame and scorn from both sects, yet he could easily escape and even put on a wounded façade.

So why, all of a sudden, had Zhang Zhenfeng given up?

Right—Yun Aoxue had mentioned her junior sister. Zhang Zhenfeng’s new target might be the junior sister, but she was sharp and aware, so Zhang Zhenfeng had gotten nowhere.

As for Duan Ru, she was probably just a plaything for Zhang Zhenfeng—a concubine at most, not a wife.

Then Chu Ling’s eyes suddenly lit up. Right! Yun Aoxue had mentioned the secret manual her master had given her before passing away. Zhang Zhenfeng had wanted this manual badly, but had never gotten it.

So, if he couldn’t climb higher through women, he’d have to get the manual first—and then kick Yun Aoxue aside.

Once everything was clear, Chu Ling understood Zhang Zhenfeng’s intentions.

But to break the situation, she couldn’t expose it outright, because as long as Zhang Zhenfeng insisted on having no heirs and treated Yun Aoxue with apparent devotion, he could easily maintain the upper hand.

Just then, someone on the second floor suddenly shouted at Chu Ling: “Hey, official of the court! Don’t you know people would rather tear down ten temples than ruin a marriage? You do evil like this and aren’t afraid of retribution?”

Zhang Zhenfeng cupped his hands, ready to thank him, but Chu Ling jumped onto the table, quickly pinpointed the voice, and pointed at him:

“If you’ve got the guts, try tearing down ten temples. The 180 bronze statues of Shaolin will beat you so badly your parents won’t even recognize you. Retribution? There’s a monk standing right next to you. You destroy his temple—you’ll see retribution right away. Want to give it a try?”

The little novice gently tugged at his master’s sleeve and whispered, “Do we really have bronze statues in our temple?”

His master quietly replied, “If this gentleman says so, then I suppose we do.”

Chu Ling jumped down from the table and suddenly had a brilliant idea. She said to Zhang Zhenfeng: “You are indeed devoted and righteous. Wanting heirs is not wrong, but when I examined Yun Aoxue yesterday, her health is excellent—perfectly fine. The reason she hasn’t conceived all these years… is that you’re the one who can’t do it.”

As soon as he said this, the whole Fulai Inn erupted with chatter.

Chu Ling, looking thoughtful, studied Zhang Zhenfeng and went on blathering: “You were born with bad luck in love. Bloodshot eyes, a large nose, drooping face, pale complexion, weak constitution—clearly from overindulgence. Of course, it’s not entirely your fault; this is the karma your ancestors left you. See, your forehead is darkened, your temples are shaved, your gaze is cruel with lots of white showing—proof you will have no heirs this life. Coupled with your wanton lifestyle, your kidneys are weak and your health suffers. You’re afraid of being exposed, so you resist divorce.”

Zhang Zhenfeng’s face burned with rage. “You’re talking nonsense!”

“I understand your anger at having the truth exposed,” Chu Ling said, smiling faintly. “That’s why you can’t divorce her.”

“Nonsense! I’m fine—it’s her who can’t give me heirs!” Zhang Zhenfeng gritted his teeth.

Chu Ling looked knowingly sympathetic and patted Zhang Zhenfeng with pity: “I get it. You can’t accept it yet. But from the fact that you refuse to divorce her no matter what, I understand—you’re still trying to hide the truth.”

Zhang Zhenfeng angrily stepped forward, eyes fixed on Chu Ling.

Chu Ling’s gaze turned cold, not the slightest fear in his eyes.

At this moment, Su He silently handed over the divorce papers, expressionless as a corpse: “Refuse to divorce? Then you simply can’t do it.”

Zhang Zhenfeng bit his finger and pressed it down, then turned and left with Duan Ru: “Yun Aoxue, next year you’ll see my son.”

Over there, Xiao Hua quickly guided a still-dazed Yun Aoxue to press her handprint as well.

Yun Aoxue’s eyes were red as she clutched the divorce papers tightly. “Thank you, Your Excellency.”

Chu Ling grabbed her arm and whispered instructions: “Once you return to the sect, play the victim, cry, and say your manual seems to have been stolen. Go confront him—if he denies it, scold him as incompetent.”

Yun Aoxue nodded earnestly; she had memorized it.

Chu Ling shouted loudly: “I hereby pronounce that Yun Aoxue is officially divorced from Zhang Zhenfeng. As Zhang Zhenfeng is at fault, having harassed a married woman and disregarded sect loyalty while humiliating his wife, all family property shall belong to Yun Aoxue, and Zhang Zhenfeng shall no longer serve as an elder.”

“Case closed! Court dismissed!”