Wang Xiulan’s words exploded like a thunderclap over everyone in the courtyard.
“Caught red-handed by the village militia patrol, both of them were disheveled and confessed everything!”
“Pressed hard, that little wretch cried and screamed, revealing the plan to have you take her place in the marriage!”
The color drained completely from Qin Yao’s face.
It really was Qin Hongmei!
That so-called “good cousin” who usually called her “Yao Yao” with such affection and pretended to care for her, hiding such a rotten heart beneath it all!
This wasn’t just asking her to substitute in a marriage—this was outright trying to destroy her!
In an era where a woman’s reputation was valued more than life itself, what difference was there between this and murder?
If it had been some other girl who couldn’t bear the shame, there might already be a life lost!
Old Master Huo Zhenguo looked at Qin Yao’s pale little face, his heart heavy with discomfort.
He paced back and forth a couple of steps, the more he looked at the girl, the more familiar she seemed, as if he’d seen her somewhere before.
He tilted his head, thinking hard for a long moment, then suddenly slapped his thigh and urgently ordered his daughter-in-law, Yang Sujuan, “Sujuan, quick! Go get that marriage certificate of Jingshen’s!”
“Hurry!”
Yang Sujuan was taken aback for a second, but seeing her father-in-law’s anxious expression, she didn’t dare delay and quickly turned to go into the inner room.
Not long after, she hurried out with a red booklet in hand.
Huo Zhenguo snatched it over, put on his reading glasses, flipped to the page with the photo, and brought it close to his eyes for a careful look.
The next second, his whole body froze, his eyes widened in shock, and the red booklet nearly fell from his hand.
The girl in the photo, with her curved brows and eyes, smiling sweeter than honey—who else could it be but this Qin Yao, who had suffered such a grave injustice right before his eyes?!
Old Master Huo looked up, scrutinizing Qin Yao from head to toe several times, then looked down at the photo again, his face filled with disbelief.
“You… you’re Qin Yao?” Old Master Huo asked tentatively.
Qin Yao nodded gently, her voice still weak. “It’s me.”
Old Master Huo immediately turned to Qin Guoqiang, raising his voice eight notches higher, both shocked and confirming, “Guoqiang! On this marriage certificate, the Huo family’s daughter-in-law is your daughter!”
Back when he first saw this marriage certificate, he had praised the photo for days, saying how fortunate his grandson was to marry such a beautiful and educated wife.
Who could have imagined there were such twists and turns hidden within!
Qin Guoqiang was also completely bewildered, shaking his head repeatedly. “Impossible! Absolutely impossible!”
Old Master Huo directly shoved the marriage certificate into his hands.
Qin Guoqiang took it and looked, his entire body rooted to the spot.
He rubbed his eyes hard, then brought the booklet closer for another look, his face full of confusion. “This… this is really a marriage certificate? Why does it have our Yao Yao’s name and photo on it?”
Qin Yao took the red booklet from her father’s hands, her gaze falling upon it.
Black characters on white paper, clearly printed with her name: Qin Yao.
And next to it, the man’s photo—sharp eyebrows, starry eyes, distinct features, exuding a soldier’s unique sternness—was this Huo Jingshen?
So, the man who had worn her out almost to the point of falling apart last night was him?
Uncontrollably, some vague yet scorching images flashed through Qin Yao’s mind.
Well, at least he wasn’t some ugly fellow—his face was really quite handsome.
It’s just… he was a bit too strong, and she still felt sore deep in her bones.
Wang Xiulan stared at the marriage certificate, her mind buzzing as if struck hard by a sledgehammer.
Suddenly remembering something, her voice changed pitch, filled with tears and regret: “A while ago, that little bitch Qin Hongmei came to our house, saying the school needed some kind of proof, and asked me for Yao Yao’s household registration booklet.”
“I didn’t think twice at the time and just gave it to her… So she had been scheming against our Yao Yao since then!”
“Mom!” Qin Yao immediately grasped her mother’s cold hand, interrupting her self-blame.
The overwhelming anger and humiliation churning in her chest miraculously calmed down at that moment.
In her past life, what storms hadn’t she weathered? Although she had been pampered and raised delicately in this life, the resilience in her bones remained.
So what if she had fallen into a pit?
Fine, she accepted it.
At worst, she would just climb out of the pit again!
Qin Yao raised her head, her voice soft and soothing: “Mom, I’m really fine.”
Wang Xiulan gripped her arm tightly, tears falling even harder: “You silly child, how can you say you’re fine at a time like this? How could this possibly be fine?”
“Crying won’t solve the problem,” Qin Yao gently patted the back of her mother’s hand, her voice so tender it could melt water, “Mom, please don’t cry. It hurts me even more when you cry.”
Old Master Huo stood nearby, watching the mother and daughter embracing each other, feeling both sour and choked up inside.
This girl was too sensible, so sensible it was heartbreaking.
Yang Sujuan also grew fonder the more she looked at her. Not only was the child beautiful, but her temperament was also rare.
Despite suffering such a great injustice herself, she still thought of comforting her family first.
From the bottom of her heart, she had already accepted this daughter-in-law.
“No! I’m going to the second branch right now to skin that little bitch alive!” The eldest brother, Qin Wenbo, who had been holding back his anger outside the door, could no longer contain himself. With a furious roar, he lifted his foot and charged out.
“Big brother, take me with you! I’m going to break her legs today!” The second brother, Qin Wentao, followed closely, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked.
“And me!” The third brother, Qin Wenhao, usually steady, now wore a fierce expression as well.
The remaining brothers all rolled up their sleeves, each with a fierce look on their face, eager to rush to the Qin family’s second branch to demand justice.
Qin Guoqiang’s face was as dark as ink. Without a word, he turned around, grabbed a carrying pole as thick as a bowl from the corner of the yard, and hoisted it onto his shoulder.
“Let’s go! We’ll go to the second branch today and settle this account properly!”
“Wait!” Old Master Huo shouted sternly to stop them, then turned to his son, Huo Yuxuan, and ordered, “Yuxuan, go get the car and take our in-laws there!”
Huo Yuxuan was taken aback: “Dad, this…” He was a university professor. Wasn’t it a bit inappropriate for him to go along and get involved in a fight?
“Our Huo family shares responsibility in this matter!” Old Master Huo glared, “That brat Jingshen isn’t here, so you, as his father, have to step up! Go lend a hand and make sure Yao Yao and her family don’t suffer any losses!”
Huo Yuxuan, forced into action, could only nod reluctantly and quickly followed.
Qin Yao watched her father and brothers’ furious retreating figures and, ignoring her physical discomfort, leaned against the wall as she tried to walk out.
Wang Xiulan quickly supported her, her eyes filled with heartache: “Yao Yao, you’re still weak. Don’t go.”
“Mom, I have to go.” Qin Yao’s voice remained gentle, yet carried an unyielding firmness. “I must personally seek justice for this.”
Just as she reached the doorway, she suddenly paused and turned to look at the Huo family behind her. In her clear eyes was a calmness and sharpness never seen before.
“Grandpa Huo, the incense lit in the bridal chamber where Huo Jingshen and I stayed last night was tampered with.”