Squire Zhao’s face paled slightly. How did this woman know? But he quickly put on a humble expression.
The three siblings of the Chen family grew tense. They hadn’t considered this possibility.
Indeed, if Squire Zhao reported to the authorities that their mother had assaulted them, she would surely be arrested.
The government was not like the Zhao family.
“What are you saying, madam? How could I do such a thing? Today’s incident was entirely our fault, an offense against you and Miss Xingyue.”
Squire Zhao hurriedly offered an apologetic smile, hoping this woman would leave quickly.
“Enough nonsense. Have someone bring paper and ink.”
Xiao Ying had no patience for his evasions. Since she had dared to take action today, she had come fully prepared.
Squire Zhao’s expression shifted again. “I don’t know—”
“Of course, you will write down every evil deed you’ve committed over the years.”
Xiao Ying’s expression remained cold. Only by holding leverage over him could she ensure he wouldn’t act recklessly.
Squire Zhao’s face turned as colorful as a dye shop, and his heart sank. He hadn’t expected this woman to be so cunning.
Over the years, he had committed countless wrongdoings. If they fell into this woman’s hands, he would be under her control for life, and he might even lose his head.
“You jest, madam. I, Zhao Youcai, am known far and wide as a great philanthropist. Countless people have benefited from my generosity. How could I possibly commit evil deeds… Ah—”
He couldn’t write it. Absolutely not!
Before he could finish his excuses, a sharp pain struck his chest. Squire Zhao suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, staining his plump flesh.
“I’ll write, I’ll write…”
Terror flashed in his eyes as he quickly begged for mercy.
This woman was truly capable of killing!
Only then did Xiao Ying release her foot. It seemed these people were nothing but cowards, refusing to yield until faced with dire consequences.
The steward’s wife had already brought the paper and ink, intending to place it on the table, but Squire Zhao couldn’t even stand.
In the end, she had to place it on the ground, and Squire Zhao lay there, writing.
Squire Zhao was both terrified and furious. Damn this wicked woman! No one had ever dared to treat him like this.
He would kill her, make sure she died without a burial place!
“You, tell me. What evil deeds has he committed?”
Xiao Ying glanced at Steward Zhou, who was hiding in the corner. He shuddered, nearly scared to death.
“I—I don’t know…”
“You’d better think carefully before you speak.” Xiao Ying’s meaningful tone nearly made Steward Zhou collapse. “If your answer doesn’t satisfy me, you know the consequences.”
“I—I’ll speak…”
Steward Zhou almost screamed. The mere thought of her methods made his face ache terribly.
Recalling this, he immediately spilled everything, recounting Squire Zhao’s misdeeds as if pouring beans from a bamboo tube.
Squire Zhao glared at him fiercely several times, but Steward Zhou didn’t dare meet his gaze. Faced with the choice between betraying his master and saving his own life, he naturally chose the latter.
“What are you looking at? Write faster.”
Xiao Ying suddenly stepped on Squire Zhao’s left hand. He gritted his teeth in pain, howling miserably, and had no choice but to record everything Steward Zhou said.
As Xiao Ying and the others listened, their frowns deepened. They never imagined the extent of his evil deeds far exceeded their expectations—truly too numerous to record.
He had tortured over a dozen concubines and maids to death, beaten commoners, seized land, abducted women, bribed officials, and ran gambling dens to lure people into gambling, leading countless to sell their wives and children.
It was only then that she realized the original host had also fallen victim to their schemes.
Such a beast has actually been entrenched in Hongye Town for decades, which is truly alarming.
Zhao Yuanwai grew increasingly chilled the more he wrote. He knew that if these deeds of his were exposed, he would surely be executed and his family property confiscated.
There was only one solution now: to inform the County Magistrate as soon as possible and have him arrest this woman to obtain this confession.
He wasn’t afraid the County Magistrate would refuse—after all, he had been the one bribing him.
If this were exposed, the other party would also suffer.
Thinking this, he felt slightly more at ease.
He wrote for nearly half an hour, filling three or four pages.
Xiao Ying sat leisurely sipping tea beside him, while the others hung their heads low, trembling like quails.
“Madam, I… I’ve finished writing…”
Zhao Yuanwai once again put on a humble expression, forcing an ingratiating smile.
His wrist ached from writing, and his entire body felt so stiff he could barely move, the pain intense.
Steward Zhou immediately took the papers for Xiao Ying to review. She glanced over them and nodded slightly.
Even if there were omissions, what was written here was more than enough to condemn him a hundred times over.
“Sign your name on each page and press your fingerprint.”
She handed the papers back to Steward Zhou, who gave a bitter smile and had no choice but to bring them to Zhao Yuanwai for fingerprinting.
Gritting his teeth, Zhao Yuanwai pressed his fingerprints on each page.
After all, as long as the County Magistrate promptly arrested this woman and threw her in prison, he would be safe.
Only then did Xiao Ying contentedly tuck the papers away, feeling quite pleased.
“Don’t even think about reporting to the County Magistrate for reinforcements,” she said expressionlessly, well aware of what he was thinking. “I’ll keep these papers in separate places. If anything happens to me or the children, I guarantee they’ll appear on the desks of different officials.”
“I wouldn’t dare, absolutely not…”
A chill ran down Zhao Yuanwai’s spine. With his last hope dashed, his body went limp, and he collapsed to the floor.
This vicious woman was truly despicable and cunning!
He didn’t dare take the risk. Though he had close ties with the County Magistrate, his relationship with the County Vice Magistrate and the Record Keeper was merely average.
Especially the County Vice Magistrate—a rigid, uncompromising man who had been keeping a close watch on him all these years.
If that man were to see this confession, there would be no escape for him.
“You’d better not dare.” Xiao Ying stood up, called out to the three children, and strode out.
The three siblings immediately followed, filled with both admiration and relief, their hearts and minds at ease.
They had been bursting with things to say, and only after leaving the Zhao Residence did they finally speak up.
“Mother, you’re truly amazing,” Chen Xinghai praised sincerely, admiring someone for the first time in his life.
Chen Xingyun’s eyes sparkled: “Yes, yes! Mother is so incredible. She defeated so many people, rescued Xingyue, and even made that Zhao Yuanwai write a confession.”
Chen Xingyue, however, stared straight at her and uttered shocking words:
“You’re not my mother. Who are you, really?”
Her real mother could never have such abilities. That woman only ever harmed them and wasn’t very bright.
Chen Xinghai and Chen Xingyun immediately fell silent, nervously looking at Xiao Ying.
Xiao Ying paused mid-step and glanced at Chen Xingyue.
“You’re right. I’m indeed not your mother.”
It wasn’t hard to tell, but this girl was the most straightforward and bold among the siblings.
After saying this, she continued walking: “If you want to know anything, ask your elder brother and sister.”
Chen Xingyue stood frozen in shock, her mind a tangled mess.
Though she had suspected this woman’s identity, she still found the truth hard to accept.
If the person before her wasn’t her mother, then who was she? What exactly was going on? Could this be the legendary ghost possession?
At this thought, her face turned pale.