Li Linsheng didn’t feel ashamed of Li Shu having killed someone; to him, it was merely a spectacle—a story to show off and entertain the neighbors.
He didn’t care at all about the consequences for Li Shu or the Li family.
Inside her room, Li Shu’s thoughts stirred with unpleasant memories.
The original mistress had no real affection for her half-siblings but was wary of them. When Li Linsheng had just begun learning martial arts, he had even used her as a target for practice. In that family, the person she feared most wasn’t her father or Madam Zhou, but Li Linsheng.
Being young and impulsive, Li Linsheng’s temper was unpredictable. One moment he could be speaking reasonably, the next he might suddenly explode. That temper—just like Qi Yanfeng’s when he was sick—was hard to reason with.
Whenever he lost his temper, no matter the cause, the original mistress would inevitably bear some punishment.
Li Shu looked through her room’s window at the sturdy figure outside and felt a flicker of murderous intent.
This one… cannot be left alive.
Outside, Madam Zhou grabbed her son. “Don’t just play around! There’s been too much gossip lately. Aren’t you neglecting your responsibilities? I hear if you want to rise in the city gate guard, your family background must be spotless…”
“Mother, it’s fine! This isn’t the capital; in this town, the military households are numerous, and whose hands are clean? If you’re capable and make merits, you can rise! Even if this case had ended in a death sentence, it wouldn’t have mattered. But she’s bold—standing up to a strong man like Qi Yanfeng, that’s remarkable…” Li Linsheng’s voice softened slightly, with a hint of dissatisfaction.
At only fifteen or sixteen, he was already taller than Madam Zhou.
Thanks to martial training, his skin was darker, and his hands had calluses. His rough voice matched his appearance—a fierce, almost street-ruffian look, unlike Li Chutian’s refined demeanor. In this volatile town, a child with this temperament could be relied on.
Li Linsheng wasn’t the most beloved or spoiled child of the Li couple, but he was the most dependable.
Li Shu touched her chest wound and fell silent.
Acting directly… didn’t seem quite right.
She could walk away from the Qi family incident unscathed, but that didn’t mean it would always be so.
If she wanted to vent her anger, she’d have to endure it for now. With her temper, that wouldn’t last long, so she needed a plan—quickly.
She didn’t plan to dodge confrontation; after all, she was already in the Li household. How could she avoid it?
She wasn’t in a hurry. She walked around the room, approached the back window, and poured some tung oil from her space outside.
Her firewood cleaver had been taken by the yamen after she killed Qi Yanfeng, so she had no weapon now. Apart from an old pair of scissors, the room held nothing useful.
Reluctantly, she grabbed the scissors and stepped out.
Madam Zhou had already thrown the pile of dirty clothes into a wooden basin and shot her a cold smile.
With her son present, Madam Zhou felt emboldened, convinced Li Shu wouldn’t resist. Her expression was full of contempt, as if watching a useless beast, and she said: “Some people think that getting into a bridal sedan will marry them into a wealthy household and give them an easy life. But a person’s fate is fixed. Those born lowly can’t change it no matter how hard they try.”
“Mother, I just saw Sister Aning. The young master of the Ma family accompanied her home and bought many things for the Yao family. She doesn’t even seem like a concubine!” Li Man tugged at Madam Zhou’s clothes, envious. “Mother, I want a pearl flower like Sister Aning wears on her head—it looks so real and beautiful!”
“Buy it, then. Buy it for you,” Madam Zhou instantly changed her expression.
The youngest son, looking more proper, didn’t speak at all and went straight to his room to read. Before leaving, though, he cast a glance at Li Shu, his innocent face showing a hint of disdain.
“You’re alive, so get to work,” Li Linsheng said bluntly.
“I can’t. The doctor said I need to recover,” Li Shu refused.
Li Linsheng was surprised. He looked at her and raised his voice: “You never used to speak back, and now you’re slacking? Didn’t you hear what Ah Man said? The young master of the Ma family would rather go to the Yao house than visit here. What are you dreaming, thinking you’re the young mistress of the Ma family?”
“I don’t dream, but I do know I have something you want,” Li Shu said boldly, as if she truly understood his thoughts. “I know you want to become a city gate guard. But every year, only a few are selected. You can’t make it, but I can help you.”
The city gate guard wasn’t an official position, just a slightly skilled role, and the pay was nearly equal to a soldier’s.
Ganhe Town was close to the army camp, and recruits were selected annually, mostly from military households. In times of war, even non-military families had to send a male to fight.
Military life was harsh; survival was never guaranteed.
Li Linsheng was of age to enlist. Only working at the yamen could keep him from risking his life in the army.
He frowned. “Killing someone changes things. Just a few days gone, and you, a little girl, can already guess what I want? But do you think I’ll believe you? You may look older, but what can you really know?”
“If I wanted your help, I would have made arrangements with Captain Ma when he first proposed. Do I need to wait until now?” Li Linsheng added, unwilling to bow an inch before Li Shu.
Li Shu rolled her eyes.
She sat on the stone bench in the courtyard, calmly saying: “You didn’t want Captain Ma to help you because you were too young back then, right? Later, the two families’ marriage was set. You just needed to go along. Once I joined the Ma family, it would be done—no need to speak, the benefits would come. And with my courage, I wouldn’t dare disobey your requests.”
“Of course, since I didn’t join the Ma family, it wouldn’t hurt you either. After all… this mistaken marriage left the Ma family indebted to the Li family. That night, you felt the marriage was impossible, so you didn’t fetch me from the Qi family and didn’t let Captain Ma worry about it.”
“Knowing your sense, Captain Ma would make amends, whether in money or position. You just needed to wait and maintain good relations.”
“You just didn’t expect me to have killed Qi Yanfeng.”
“……”