Meng Xizhou turned a deaf ear to all the idle gossip and busied herself with arranging Zhang Zhi’s funeral. She went door to door, inviting everyone in the village who could play musical instruments, prepare feasts, or do odd jobs. Extravagance? The more lavish, the better! After all, it wasn’t her money being spent.
She borrowed white cloth from other households and draped the dilapidated main hall of the Zhang residence in solemn mourning colors.
By the time she finished, dusk had fallen. Just as Meng Xizhou had prepared a simple meal for herself in the kitchen, a light drizzle began to fall from the sky.
The cold raindrops splashed against the face of the unconscious Zhang Family’s Old Woman lying in the courtyard, jolting her awake.
She sat up in confusion, her entire body aching as if her bones had been shattered. Lifting her head, she saw Meng Xizhou sitting leisurely on the doorstep, holding a bowl.
“Such refined tastes, Mother, lying in the rain to admire the scenery?” Meng Xizhou’s tone was light and cheerful.
Just as the Zhang Family’s Old Woman was about to unleash a torrent of curses, she noticed several villagers carrying tables, chairs, and benches into the Zhang family courtyard.
“What are you doing?” she croaked.
The villagers set down their loads and sighed one after another:
“Ah, Zhang Family’s Old Woman, accept our condolences!”
“Just bringing some tables for tomorrow’s funeral at your place…”
“Bullshit!” The Zhang Family’s Old Woman sprang up from the ground like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, charging toward the villagers. “My Zhi’er is alive and well! You black-hearted, rotten-gutted scum crawled out of shit! Cursing someone else’s son—may you die horribly! May your mouths, hearts, and lungs rot!”
“Madwoman!” The well-meaning helpers grew angry at her insults. “No wonder your son died! Serves you right!”
Fuming, the Zhang Family’s Old Woman coughed repeatedly. Then her eyes fell upon the glaring white cloth hanging at the entrance of the main hall, sending her into a rage. Cursing wildly, she tore it down in a frenzy.
Meng Xizhou watched with great amusement from the doorstep, leisurely taking a bite of her food.
Evening, when yang energy yields to yin, is often the most difficult time for those critically ill.
Meng Xizhou recalled these words, taught to her by the Princess in her previous life when instructing her in medicine. She moved a stool to sit by Zhang Zhi’s doorway, quietly waiting for him to breathe his last.
In the dead of night, the Zhang Family’s Old Woman checked Zhang Zhi’s fading breath and felt her vision darken, collapsing to the ground.
Meng Xizhou waved a hand to disperse the nauseating stench in the air. “Mother, look on the bright side. Don’t you still have another son?” Because she hadn’t had the chance to kill him yet.
The Zhang Family’s Old Woman seemed to clutch at this last straw, gasping for breath as clarity returned to her eyes. “Yes! Yes! I still have a son! The Zhang family line isn’t extinct yet!” Her voice grew stronger with each word, as if renewed vigor had been injected into her.
But the next moment, this vigor transformed into overwhelming hatred, sharply directed at Meng Xizhou. Her eyes widened with rage. “But Zhi’er was my most beloved son! You cursed star! You killed my son! I… I’ll kill you!”
She lunged like a mad tigress, her claws aimed straight for Meng Xizhou’s throat!
Yet, her hand froze mid-air.
Because Meng Xizhou had drawn a gleaming kitchen knife from behind her, its blade reflecting a chilling cold light under the oil lamp!
Meng Xizhou rose slowly, step by step advancing toward the Zhang Family’s Old Woman, her voice as cold as the deepest abyss:
“Mother, how did you know… I wanted to slaughter your entire Zhang family?”
“Could it be… you’re the worm in my belly?”
Zhang Family’s Old Woman stared in disbelief at the girl before her, who resembled a demon from hell, finally understanding completely! The bride she had spent a fortune to purchase wasn’t a daughter-in-law, but a malevolent ghost come to claim the lives of her entire family!
She had already killed Zhi’er! Was she next?!
“Ah—!” Extreme fear tore a strange shriek from her as she turned to flee!
Meng Xizhou grabbed her by the collar, yanking her back like a chick! She lightly tapped the old woman’s cheek with the back of the kitchen knife.
“Don’t be afraid, Granny,” Meng Xizhou’s voice carried a demonic whisper. “You must watch your sons… die one by one before you can die yourself.”
“You… still have quite some time to live.”
“Aren’t you happy?”
The old woman trembled like a leaf in a storm, a strong stench of urine instantly filling the air—she had lost control from terror.
“You…” Her teeth chattered with fear, yet she clung to her last shred of hope. “You’re just bullying me and Zhi’er for being kind-hearted! When my Cheng’er and Zhuo’er return, they’ll skin you alive! Tear out your tendons… drink your blood…”
“Oh dear～” Meng Xizhou covered her mouth dramatically as if suddenly remembering. “Look at my memory! I forgot to tell you, Granny… Your precious son Zhang Cheng has already been sold by me to that country squire who enjoys playing with men.”
“By now… he’s probably coquettishly pleasing the master in his bed.”
“Do you think… the master would quite like elder brother’s physique?”
“Impossible!!” The old woman let out a piercing scream. “You’re lying! I won’t believe a single word! If you keep spouting nonsense, I’ll tear your mouth apart!!”
“Believe it or not, that’s up to you.” Meng Xizhou yawned and turned toward her room. “Remember to find a thin coffin for your dear son.”
“Don’t let him rot in bed.”
As if all her bones had been removed, the old woman collapsed weakly to the ground: “Impossible… impossible… my Cheng’er…”
Early the next morning, Meng Xizhou went to arrange Zhang Zhi’s funeral.
However, news of the old woman’s crazed cursing had spread and offended many villagers, who were now reluctant to come.
“Wasn’t he said to be still alive? How did he die again? Alive then dead with no certainty—are you playing monkey tricks?” Neighbor Aunt Lu crossed her arms and rolled her eyes.
Meng Xizhou immediately covered her face and wept: “Auntie… please don’t blame Granny. Having lost her children one after another, she’s become confused! Last night… she even claimed the chamber pot contained aged fine wine and insisted on drinking it! Please, for Uncle Zhi’s sake, forgive her this once!”
Her words were half-truth: the old woman, too devastated, had indeed woken this morning as if soul-less, her eyes clouded. Meng Xizhou was even considering force-feeding her medicine to keep her alive—she needed to last until Zhang Zhuo returned.
Hearing that the old woman would even drink urine, Aunt Lu’s face showed disgust mixed with pity, making it hard to refuse.
Meng Xizhou’s words could not only kill but also coax. She spent the morning going door to door and finally gathered everyone again. Not that she genuinely wanted to give Zhang Zhi a decent funeral, but she needed these spectators present.
The lead actor in today’s grand performance was the Village Chief.
The Meng Family wouldn’t solely rely on the Zhang family to torment her. The Village Chief, the most powerful figure in the village, was an even more crucial pawn planted by the Meng Family. In her previous life, she had suffered extensively from the Village Chief’s tactics. Although she had saved his son in this lifetime, given the ungrateful nature of Xiaohe Village’s residents, the Village Chief would undoubtedly accept the Meng Family’s commission for his own gain.
Let’s see what tricks he has up his sleeve.