t won't do!" The several boys glared, ready to pounce on their sister any moment. They put up a fierce front, determined to defend her.The old woman had no ideas. Sewing it up wouldn't work!If it's n...The mess in the courtyard made the Yan family members furrow their brows slightly. Seeing more than ten servants hanging under the eaves of the corridor, the men of the Yan family became anxious.
"Audacity! Who gave you the guts to privately torture us! Quickly release our family!"
"There is no king's law! How dare you!"
Unfortunately, everyone in the courtyard just stared at them coldly, without a single person stepping forward to help.
At the front, the eldest master Yan, though usually steady and composed, endured his anger. He carefully scrutinized everyone in the courtyard before suddenly changing his expression.
He hurried forward, bending low in a bow. "My lord... I didn't know you were here, and I am most disrespectful."
Master Yan Da and Master Yan Er were also somewhat surprised, they withdrew their anger and stepped forward to perform the same courtesy.
The Lord sneered, twirling the whip in his hand and scoffed, “Sir Yan is truly imposing! Everyone in Xin Du knows that Suijin Beach is my manor. Your Yan family women came here to smash things and injure people. You arrived later and made such a commotion as well!”
"How is it that just one campaign from this Marquis and the new capital transforms overnight Had I not gone to court to see the Emperor two days ago, I would have thought that the entire New Capital was under the control of the Yan family! Truly disrespectful!"
The Yan family members' faces were not looking good, but they had to lower their heads and say, “Your Excellency is joking. Everything was a misunderstanding.”
"A misunderstanding Hardly! If it weren't for this Marquis here today, wouldn't you have just wrecked the Li family again"
The Marquis tapped the man hanging under the eaves with his riding whip and said, “This marquis is not capable of doing what your Yan family does, using power to oppress people. Attend to your family affairs first, then we'll talk.”
Even Mr. Yan, at sixty years old, with his white beard blowing in the autumn wind, squinted his eyes as he considered. At this moment, he was guessing that the Marquis's words were not a lie, and his heart felt a little more at ease.
He prided himself that the Yan family still had some face, and the Marquis wouldn't make things too difficult for them. Thus, his expression was apprehensive on the surface, but in his heart, he wasn't truly worried.
He turned his gaze to his humiliated wife and the two daughters-in-law hanging limply. Their skirts fluttered, and the mischievous autumn wind occasionally stirred their underskirts, truly a disgrace.
He slapped his youngest son hard.
"You wretch, what else do you want to cause trouble with You lied to the family saying that the woman was dead and pretended to become a monk. Now you're stirring up chaos here! What kind of sin has the Yan family committed to give birth to such a beast!"
Li Yong bore the slap and his heart turned cold. He glared at his father and brothers, asking, "Did you all know in advance that Mother brought people to kidnap Hui'er Back then, when you drugged Hui'er, you were just standing there watching. Now that Hui'er is eight months pregnant and about to give birth, are you still going to kill her"
Old Master Yan didn't care about his son's questions at all. He scolded, "A lowly servant girl, a bastard conceived in bed, born only to shame our Yan family! If we don't get rid of them, our Yan family will become a laughingstock for the Heavenly Martial world! Our Yan family's hundred-year reputation…"
“You’re farting!” Li Yong finally couldn’t take it anymore, jumping up in anger, “The Yan family has no reputation whatsoever! You haven’t even hit a target your whole life, you just got a cushy position thanks to your grandfather’s connections. Your two brothers are nothing but prostitutes and alcoholic wastrels who fight and squabble all day, not even qualified as scholars. What makes the Yan family think they’re some noble literary family!”
“My wife, Hui-niang, and I are legally married. We had a proper ceremony with our families present, and many people from the mine witnessed it. She is my rightful wife, not a servant of the Yan family! You just despise the poor and love the rich, forcing me into this marriage to pave the way for yourselves! This is shameless and audacious!”
“That day, Huiniang was drugged, and I was beaten half to death. When we escaped from home, we said that we would have nothing more to do with the Yan family! I became a soldier, killed people, and made achievements, all so that I wouldn't be controlled by you! But why can't you let me go Just because you gave birth to me and raised me, am I supposed to be driven around like an animal”
Li Yong became more and more desperate. He reached behind his waist, drew out a dagger, and pressed it against his neck.
“Alright, I'll give my life back to the Yan family today! From now on, you won't have to worry about me bringing shame to the Yan family, or chasing after Hui-niang and beating her up!”
"Let go! You beast, are you trying to kill me"
"Lao San, you're too unfilial! Just a woman Second brother can find ten for you. Put down the knife!"
The Yan family was terrified, all shouting and scolding, wanting Li Yong to put down the dagger.
Although they said so with their mouths, their feet had taken several steps back, afraid of harming themselves.
Even Old Madam Yan instinctively moved aside...
Li Yong's eyes were filled with even deeper despair. His dagger was about to strike when the door suddenly swung open!
Huiniang's face was as pale as paper, and she slowly walked out of the room. Her moon-white dress, which had been so pristine just moments ago, was now stained crimson with blood.
She gazed at Li Yong with tears in her eyes, a weak smile on her lips, “Husband…”
Everyone was so astonished that their eyes almost popped out, and they rushed forward like crazy.
"What's wrong Everything was fine just now"
"Quickly find a skilled physician, save my life! Hurry, save me!"
Li Yong didn't even have time to think about suicide. In one stride, he rushed to the door and scooped Hui Niang into his arms.
"Huiniang! What's wrong with you, don't scare me! I'm back, I'm back!"
Hui Niang trembled with lips, stretching out her blood-stained hand to gently caress her husband's face, tears streaming down like broken pearls.
"Husband, they broke in, trying to drag me back to the city. They said our child is a bastard and wanted to trick you into being locked up. I refused to go, so they claimed I'm a runaway slave and accused your mother-in-law's family of harboring one, threatening to put them all in prison."
“They pulled and tugged at me, hitting me with sticks. I fell and landed on my stomach... Husband, my child and I are going to die! There's only you left, what will you do Husband... If we die, don't bury us in the Yan family graveyard, I won't be a member of the Yan family anymore, I'm afraid!”
“No...no!” Li Yong stared with wide eyes, clutched his wife tightly, and let out a long wail, “No Strict family, no Strict family! My surname is Li, I am not a member of the Strict family, you and the children are not members of the Strict family either! Hui Niang, you can’t die! It should be me who dies, it’s me!”
At this time, Dr. Zhang was carried in from outside by Li Lao Si, who cursed and beat him up while doing so.
"Are you kidding me! Always bothering me! I was about to succeed, and you interrupted me again! This is infuriating!"
The old man went mad with fury. He built a thatched hut by himself at the north end of the village, raising pigs and sheep just to conduct experiments. Right when it was crucial, he was dragged there again.
Fortunately, Li Lao Si had thick skin and flesh. He didn't feel much after taking a few hits.
The old man's feet landed firmly on the ground, and he was about to cause more trouble when he suddenly saw Hui Niang. He was so startled that he almost jumped up!
"What's going on Wasn't I told to keep you safe She's carrying two, TWO! How could this happen You'll all end up dead!"
As he spoke, he dashed up the stairs and grabbed Hui's wrist. He then shouted, "It's over, it's over! We're going to die! Quickly prepare a room, I need acupuncture, find a midwife!"
"Uncle Zhang, please, you must save Huilan and the child! Please!" Li Yong's legs were so weak he couldn't even stand up. He grabbed hold of Zhang Shini's leg, which angered Zhang Shini so much that he kicked him away with one foot.
“Now I'm scared! What have I just done! Your wife is pregnant, why didn't you look after her! If you want revenge, find someone else to take it out on, don't waste my time saving yours!”ready for cooking - scrubbed clean, neatly arranged, and even the oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar are stored right by the stove.Then, Tao Hongying and Jiahu were allowed to cook stir-fries in the ki...