With that throw, an emerald-green bellyband flew straight onto Butcher Li’s head, while a silver hairpin dropped to the ground.
The matchmaker, known for her boldness, picked up the hairpin and examined it carefully, her tone laced with mockery:
“Oh, isn’t this the hairpin Madam Nian loves most? How did it end up here? No wonder your husband was so enraged he killed someone—you even gave away such intimate garments.”
By now, Li Jinu had stopped crying, though she still sniffled occasionally, her gaze toward Nian Cuilan dark and unreadable.
Nian Cuilan was furious, but recognizing the unfavorable situation, she knew she couldn’t confront it head-on.
Her eyes darting, she shrank slightly and softened her tone, speaking pitifully:
“Jinu, Mother knows you were forced to consort with that scoundrel, but you shouldn’t have given away your intimate clothes!”
She then picked up the silver hairpin. “You’re about to leave, and I have nothing else of value. I clearly gave you this hairpin early this morning, so why was it on that man?”
During her time as a wet nurse in the marquis’ household, Nian Cuilan, though petite, had been in good health.
But after returning to the countryside, life had been harsh, and frequent beatings from her husband left her gaunt and frail.
Years of hardship had worn her down until her frame was nearly as slight as that of the teenage Li Jinu.
Hearing her words, several women glanced at the undergarment, then at Li Jinu, their eyes filling with suspicion.
Even the village chief’s expression grew stern.
Nian Cuilan stared fixedly at Li Jinu, seething with hatred.
“You wretched girl, how dare you drag me into this? I never realized you were so cunning before! No, this girl must be dealt with today. If she returns to the marquis’ household, my innocent, noble daughter will surely suffer!”
Li Jinu appeared terrified, tears falling in large drops, her lips trembling as she uttered words that shocked everyone:
“Mother, what are you saying? This bellyband is made of the same fabric as Father’s—I’ve seen it when doing laundry.”
Then, with immense grievance, she added softly, “How could I ever deserve such fine fabric?”
Hearing this, the village chief stepped forward with a cold expression, lifted Butcher Li’s outer garment, and revealed the emerald-green inner clothing embroidered with locust flowers beneath.
Before anyone could react, the chief delivered a fierce kick.
“You vile woman! You’re the one without shame, yet you frame a child! Have you no conscience?”
“This wicked woman committed adultery, caused two deaths, and still tried to pin it on a child! Such evil deserves burning at the stake!”
The people of Great Xia were simple and honest, and they detested such filthy affairs.
Now, everyone gnashed their teeth in anger, and some had already begun preparing for the execution.
No matter how unwilling Nian Cuilan was, she couldn’t resist the furious crowd and was tied to the stake.
Firewood was doused with oil, awaiting only the village chief’s command.
Li Jinu stood up, though still trembling slightly, as if just coming to her senses. She grabbed the chief’s sleeve:
“Uncle, I… I’d like to say a few words to Mother.”
The village chief looked at Li Jinu with a complicated expression.
“Child, don’t be soft-hearted. This vile woman’s adultery caused deaths, and she tried to frame you.
“If you hadn’t come to me in time, you’d be the one suffering today!”
Tears streamed down Li Jinu’s face again. “I understand what you’re saying, but she is still my mother…”
At this, the chief understood completely. He sighed and nodded.
By now, Nian Cuilan was disheveled, her emaciated body trembling with fear. Seeing Li Jinu before her, she wished her gaze could kill.
“You wretched jinx, you vile wench! What have you done!”
With her back to the crowd, Li Jinu showed no trace of fear. Her sharp gaze made Nian Cuilan unable to meet her eyes.
Her red lips parted, uttering words like a demon’s whisper:
“What have I done? I killed those two beasts, of course.”
Watching Nian Cuilan’s incredulous expression, she curled her lips:
“You’re the third. Guess who’s the fourth?”
Thinking of her biological daughter currently living in luxury, Nian Cuilan’s eyes finally showed terror.
After two lifetimes, this was the first time Li Jinu had seen such an expression.
The brand from her previous life throbbed faintly. She lightly pressed her chest, her next words chilling Nian Cuilan to the bone:
“I guess the fourth is Ye Jintang, your own daughter.”
Looking at the young girl before her—the familiar face now filled with hatred and indifference—Nian Cuilan couldn’t help but shiver.
Li Jinu moved closer, almost nose to nose, her voice icy and seemingly bewitching:
“Don’t worry, I’ll bury her ashes with you, so you can be reunited.”
Tears streamed from Nian Cuilan’s eyes as she suddenly erupted into mad curses:
“Jinx! Whore! I… I should have strangled you back then! I’ll haunt you even as a ghost!”
Li Jinu retreated several steps, trembling as she hid behind the village chief, bursting into loud sobs.
The village chief could bear it no longer. He snatched a torch and threw it.
With a faint sizzle, flames climbed up the wooden frame to Nian Cuilan’s clothes.
Li Jinu suddenly felt a stabbing pain in her chest—the smell of scorching from the branding iron in her previous life seemed to fill her nostrils again.
She laughed inwardly, ‘This time, it’s your turn.’
In the firelight, her face was shadowed and indistinct, only her bright eyes fixed intently on the struggling figure in agony.
She curled her lips, savoring the thrill of revenge.
I’m ready.
Ye Jintang, you villains of the Ye family, are you ready?
Savor your despair.
…
The night passed quickly.
At dawn, an ornate carriage stopped outside the gate, from which an imposing matron descended.
Li Jinu recognized her—Ye Jintang’s trusted confidante, Mother Rong.
Because there had been deaths in the Li household yesterday, the village chief had brought several women to accompany Li Jinu while waiting for the Marquis’s estate representatives.
Unexpectedly, Mother Rong arrived with haughty arrogance, acting as if she were condescending to be there.
Her demeanor left the villagers stunned, almost mistaking her for a noble mistress from the Marquis’s estate.
The old hag was exceedingly arrogant, her eyes seemingly fixed above her head.
Despite Li Jinu’s poised and graceful speech, Mother Rong still found fault as if blind.
After looking Li Jinu up and down with impatience, she beckoned disdainfully, her words deeply offensive.
“All noble ladies in the capital are gentle and virtuous, none as casual and slovenly as you!”
Having served in the Marquis’s estate for decades, Mother Rong prided herself on being a good judge of character. She believed this country girl would be easily manipulated.
She intended to assert dominance here first. Once back at the Marquis’s estate, her young lady had another “gift” waiting for this village girl.
She touched the gold bracelet in her sleeve—a reward from the young lady. If she succeeded in her task today, her good-for-nothing son could become the young master’s personal attendant, with boundless prospects!
Thinking of her return to the Marquis’s estate, her smile grew more contemptuous. Pinching a sewing needle between her fingers, she eyed Li Jinu, itching to act.