The next day, Li Shu noticed that two of the jailers were missing.
A new jailer approached her cell door and, seeing the large, fat dead rat, couldn’t hide his complex expression.
The prisoners didn’t know, but the jailers had endured a night of scolding.
The two on night duty the previous evening had been bribed to scare the little girl, which had caused the fire.
Although the jailer who released the rats stubbornly denied setting the fire, so many people had witnessed the evidence that denial was pointless. Early that morning, the two were brought before the county magistrate, beaten with boards, and expelled.
And as for the “victim”…
The little girl was energetic, even daring enough to catch rats.
The jailers turned a blind eye. Prisoners stuck inside all day had to find some amusement; as long as they didn’t cause trouble, they could do as they pleased.
After last night’s incident, Li Shu felt even safer in the prison. A fire was a serious matter, and to prevent anything similar, the number of guards on night patrol was now doubled.
Unfortunately, she didn’t get to stay in the prison much longer.
The case was decided.
A few days later, Li Shu was brought to the main hall of the yamen. Despite the grieving cries of Madam Qi, the court’s verdict could not be overturned. The county magistrate spared Li Shu from the death penalty. However, since she had killed someone, there were punishments: the Li family was ordered to pay ten taels of silver in funeral expenses to the Qi family, and Li Shu was sentenced to one year of rice-milling labor. Because she was severely injured and could not serve, the sentence could be commuted with copper payment.
In short: pay the money, the person was free.
Li Shu didn’t need to pay herself; Captain Ma had already covered her labor fine. But the funeral expenses were between the Li and Qi families, and Captain Ma didn’t interfere.
She was released immediately.
“Unfair! Heaven is unfair! How can my son be dead while you, the murderer, are fine?!” Madam Qi was furious. “Murderer! Thief! You took my son’s life and stole from my household! Give it back, everything—give it all back!”
Outside the yamen, Madam Qi lunged toward her.
She didn’t know what to do with the rest of her life!
The bride from the Yao family had taken a lot of betrothal gifts—twenty taels of silver—and only seven or eight taels were left for the coffin. And now… gone!
She was certain someone had stolen it while her son was in trouble, but with so many people around, she couldn’t tell who. The only person she could blame was A-Li, so she turned her anger on the Li family.
Thinking of a joyful event turning into a funeral, Madam Qi felt as if she were in a nightmare.
Captain Ma immediately had someone hold Madam Qi back.
Li Shu shook her head. “I want to say a few sincere words to her.”
Captain Ma frowned. Li Shu stepped in front of Madam Qi and said seriously, “That morning, I was lying on the ground, barely alive. I heard what you and your son said. Qi Yanfeng said he wasn’t worthy of the Yao girl, so he reluctantly agreed to be with me. He wanted to fulfill a good wish. Now that he’s gone, I won’t enter the Ma family. There’s nothing preventing Yao A’Ning and Young Master Ma from being together, so his good wish has been fulfilled. Aunt Qi, you should be happy for him.”
“You’re talking nonsense! What good wish? If it weren’t for your interference in my household, how would my son have died at the hands of a poisonous woman like you?!”
“All of this started because the bridal sedan was carried to the wrong place—but that was an accident, wasn’t it?” Li Shu said with regret.
Captain Ma felt a chill run through him.
For a moment, he even wondered if the Li girl had discovered something.
But on second thought, it seemed unlikely.
His son acted foolishly but methodically, using only trusted men. The truth was only known to their families, and the Yao family wouldn’t admit it. Revealing it would harm both families—no one would be foolish enough to announce it.
Unless she had figured it out herself.
But if she had, how could she bear no resentment toward the Ma family?
Captain Ma knew what kind of temper the Li girl had. He couldn’t believe she could pretend so convincingly.
“Ugh! That wretched woman, a curse! Whoever marries you is doomed! Just wait, I won’t let you off! I’ll make you pay with your life for my son!” Madam Qi ground her teeth, her eyes full of hate, her already haggard face twisted into something even more ferocious.
“Qi Langjun even gave his bride to someone else. If not for his illness affecting him, he would have been kind-hearted. So I think he wants me to live well. He won’t be angry that I killed him while he was ill. How could I betray him? I will cherish this life,” Li Shu said earnestly, as if she were fearless now.
Madam Qi felt her blood boil and wanted to bite her.
But there was nothing she could do.
Captain Ma led Li Shu away.
“This woman lost her son. Won’t she seek revenge later? Aren’t you afraid? You should return to the Ma family. Don’t worry, there will be a place for you, and I can promise you that my foolish son would never dare harm you!” Captain Ma said as they neared the Li residence.
“I’ve joined the Ma family now. I can’t explain it to outsiders. Uncle Ma, you’ve already saved me once. Let’s consider it even. I don’t blame you, and you shouldn’t blame me for causing trouble, alright?” Li Shu showed a meek, sincere expression.
Captain Ma exhaled. “Yes… this was supposed to be a good-hearted marriage. Who would have expected such a thing? Not blaming each other is best.”
Li Shu smiled faintly.
Whether he blamed her or not was just formalities. It was her way of showing she was sensible and yielding. She couldn’t possibly take it seriously.
If one day Ma Chengtin fell into her hands, she would hang his corpse up and dry it like preserved meat!
Li Shu didn’t say more and went home after getting off the carriage.
Captain Ma still felt uneasy but decided it was just his nerves. Even if the girl had resentment, so what? The Ma family had already bent over backward to give her justice—they had done more than enough.
…
At the Li family gate, a huge fire basin burned fiercely.
Peach branches hung on either side. Madam Zhou held a long, water-soaked willow branch, seemingly waiting to swish it violently once Li Shu entered, to dispel bad luck.
Li Shu stood before the fire basin, lifted her skirt, and stepped forward, seemingly to cross it. But she stumbled, lost her balance, and her foot kicked the burning coals out of the basin, striking Madam Zhou.
Startled, Madam Zhou shook herself and scowled angrily. “A-Li! I’m trying to do this for your own good, and you’re trying to burn me alive?!”
“Cough, cough, cough—” Li Shu quickly clutched her chest and coughed. “My legs were injured by Qi Yanfeng. I can’t walk steadily. Could you come over and support me?”
The neighbors were watching. Madam Zhou, unwilling but compelled, had no choice.
She forced a smile. “I… didn’t think it through properly. Alright, I’ll help you…”
Madam Zhou immediately reached out. Anger flaring, she was about to pinch Li Shu hard—
But before she could, Li Shu fell forward, clutching her arm. “Ah—It hurts—!”