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墨書 Inktalez
"It was a beautiful sister named Muxin who made us do this."
Everyone held their breath, wiping cold sweat for the few children. After all, they were so young, and it was common for them to play around. Moreover, there were rarely any grand feasts in the village, except for the Wang family. But when the Wang family held events, the adults would always keep the children at a distance, and it was not uncommon for them to chase the kids away. Some children would get scared upon seeing this. Just when everyone thought these children wouldn't respond, suddenly, a soft and unclear voice came out.
Summer Forest had plopped down on the ground, her face ashen, staring wide-eyed at the four-year-old child, trembling her lips as she didn't know what to say.
"Hmph, it's that person again. I knew it; she can't stand to see me doing well."
As soon as the child finished speaking, Zhao Qiushui, who was sitting nearby waiting for the doctor, shot a cold glance at Summer Forest and shouted angrily.
After shouting, her small face scrunched up; perhaps she had moved her neck too much in her anger, causing more pain.
He Cong looked at Zhao Qiushui's furious expression and with a fierce tone said, "Who is Muxin? Step forward!"
After saying this, he cast a cold glare at the villagers. The villagers trembled under his sinister gaze and lowered their heads in fear.
At that moment, a calm and composed voice came through.
"I am Xia Muxin, may I ask what business you have with me?"
With that, Xia Muxin stepped forward with her petite frame, looking entirely unflustered as she met He Cong's gaze directly.
Sister Swallow had just caught up with her and provided a rough overview of the situation. Whether it was a coincidence or a setup, she couldn't determine. However, upon hearing the child's words at the door, she realized that someone was trying to frame her.
"How dare you, commoner! Why do you not kneel before me?"
When He Cong saw Xia Muxin, a flicker of light flashed in his eyes. Her calm and fearless gaze met his directly, making him feel belittled. He pointed at Xia Muxin and let out a snort.
Xia Muxin curled her lips slightly, unfazed by his official authority, maintaining her composure:
"May I ask, my lord, have you come here to toast at a wedding?"
This question made He Cong's face flush with embarrassment and anger.
"Bold commoner! I am asking you a question; answer truthfully and do not disturb my thoughts."
Xia Muxin remained unperturbed. She clasped her hands and bowed slightly, glancing at Zhao Qiushui, who was grimacing in pain and could only look at her sideways. With a slight smile, she spoke slowly:
"I am merely stating the facts. My lord, your guards are numerous, and the gifts resemble tributes. Given my humble family's status and background, these surely cannot be your act of kindness. Whether it is the Wang family or Miss Zhao, they are all at odds with my family; they would be more likely to resent me than to celebrate."
As she spoke, Xia Muxin cast a glance at the onlookers gathered around to watch. She raised an eyebrow and continued, "Or perhaps they are all gathered here for a premeditated scheme?"
Her articulate words emphasized the notion of premeditation, resonating with the villagers who nodded in agreement.
He Cong was quick to adapt this time; instead of calling her a commoner again, he pressed on aggressively: "Are you implying that I am involved in this?"
Upon hearing this, Xia Muxin feigned a tense expression and quickly bowed again but remained dignified:
"I would not dare to suggest such a thing. I am merely concerned for your reputation, my lord. While these may seem like trivial matters, if word gets out, it could tarnish your authority. After all, you have come so ostentatiously to Daimiao Village to celebrate with the landlord, yet this incident occurs. The eyes of the public are sharp and their power is great; thus, I humbly urge you to consider this carefully."
Xia Muxin pronounced the words "wedding wine" with great emphasis, believing that He Cong would understand the implications immediately.
Although this place was remote, one could never tell when he might find himself in a predicament.
As Xia Muxin spoke, He Cong's face turned a deep shade of purple. He had no idea that in this secluded village, there was a woman so articulate and perceptive. Today, he faced the possibility of either punishing her for her disrespect or letting the matter slide. If he chose the latter, given her capabilities, she might very well report him to higher authorities one day.
After all, not just anyone could secure a position in the grand brick house.
He had heard Wang Shoucai mention it before, but at that time, Yamen was embroiled in an official case, and he couldn't afford to be distracted, thus missing a golden opportunity.
This time, he had merely come to visit Miss Zhao in Daimiao Village. However, halfway through, they encountered each other while heading out to celebrate with wedding wine. Unfortunately, it led to an incident where Miss Zhao was injured.
He knew he had to rely on Miss Zhao's status to make a good impression. Naturally, he needed to put on a show.
But he hadn’t anticipated encountering this sharp-tongued girl...
"You say my injury is nothing to worry about!"
Suddenly, Zhao Qiushui turned around, tilting her neck as she glared at Xia Muxin with narrowed eyes and shouted angrily.
"Is Miss Zhao implying that she has a special status? In our remote Daimiao Village, we have yet to see any significant figures. Besides, these children are just being playful; it's normal for them to act without understanding. If Miss Zhao insists on pursuing this matter..."
Xia Muxin left the rest of her statement unsaid, confident that anyone with common sense would grasp the underlying meaning. She simply wanted to let someone embarrass themselves without stating it outright.
"Oh, don’t think that just because you have a sharp tongue you can absolve yourself of your ugly crimes. You mentioned these children are young; if they are young, they are less likely to lie. They specifically named you as the instigator—are you going to deny it?"
"Ha, you, Xia Muxin, can nitpick on words, but can Zhao Qiushui not do the same?"
Moreover, the evidence and witnesses are right here.
Xia Muxin gave her a foolish look before walking over to the group of children. She bent down gently to pat the little boy who had just mentioned her name and asked seriously, "Little Brother, did you just say that I instructed you all to trip that Auntie and cause her to get hurt?"
The children's eyes were clear and innocent as they looked at Xia Muxin's kind smile. After a long moment, they mustered their courage and shook their heads.
"It was a Big Brother who gave us this and told us to say it like that."
The child's bright eyes were filled with certainty as he pulled out a string of candied hawthorns from his pocket. He felt less afraid of Xia Muxin because his mother had mentioned this sister's name before, saying she was a good person who had helped their family greatly. He did not realize that his words would bring trouble to this sister.
Xia Muxin smiled and patted the child's head before turning to He Cong.
"Since the adults also heard what this child said, it seems we need to find the Big Brother he mentioned. Then everything will be clear, don't you think, Miss Zhao..."
Everyone heard the child's naive words clearly. If He Cong hastily determined Xia Muxin's guilt, it would surely provoke public outrage. However, Xia Muxin had given him a way out. He Cong stroked his beard and turned to his guards.
"Take these children to find the Big Brother they mentioned."
With that, he prepared to leave.
He now understood that Miss Zhao and Xia Muxin had a significant conflict between them; they were in a life-and-death struggle. One was a noble lady, while the other was a beloved figure among the people. No matter what decision he made today—whether to declare Xia Muxin guilty or innocent—he would only be asking for trouble.
"He Cong, you nearly caused me to lose my life within your jurisdiction. I will definitely tell my father and brother the truth when I return."
Zhao Qiushui was furious. Xia Muxin was utterly detestable, her every word pushing her deeper into the fire. Today, they must come to an understanding—either she would die or Zhao Qiushui would. She could not allow He Cong to hesitate while invoking her father and brother.
At Zhao Qiushui's shout, He Cong trembled, his face turning pale. He frowned, weighing his options carefully, and finally pointed at Xia Muxin.
"While we cannot currently prove that Xia Muxin is the mastermind behind this, she is the prime suspect. I will detain her for now and investigate until the truth comes to light."
It was better to offend an official than a commoner; he could always find a way to cover his tracks later.
A few guards, recognizing Zhao Qiushui's significant background, responded to He Cong's orders. Two of them approached and seized Xia Muxin by the arms, forcing her hands behind her back.
Xia Muxin looked coldly at the two men as they approached, remaining silent and allowing them to restrain her.
"My lord, please show mercy! My Muxin is innocent; I beg you to let her go."
The Summer Forest family was in a panic. Detention meant imprisonment, and for a young girl like her, it would be a lifetime of shame—something that could never be washed away. Once released, she would only be looked down upon. Her bright future would be ruined.
They cried as they rushed forward to cling to He Cong's legs, bowing repeatedly and pleading for leniency.
Aunt Xia had been busy on the third floor with Songzi, preparing for Zhou Juhua's return. She had already made several outfits for her and set up the bed, waiting for her arrival.
Once she finished her tasks, she noticed it was getting late and that outside was already blanketed in white. Since there seemed to be no commotion below, she assumed everyone had finished their meal and gone home. With Songzi supporting her, she made her way downstairs. Just as they reached the bottom, she saw Xia Muxin being restrained by two Yard Officers. Startled, she rushed over and embraced Xia Muxin tightly, crying out:
"Muxin, my Muxin! What has happened?"
Xia Muxin intended to comfort Aunt Xia, but before she could say anything, He Cong's sharp voice cut through the air as he pulled Aunt Xia towards him.
"What a reckless woman..."
Before he could finish his sentence, Aunt Xia was yanked by him and fell to the ground. Instantly, a pained cry escaped her lips as she curled up on the floor.
Xia Muxin panicked and struggled fiercely, shouting in worry, "Mother, Mother..."
Summer Forest and the others were also taken aback, rushing to help Aunt Xia.
He Cong hadn't realized that Aunt Xia was pregnant, and seeing her belly, he guessed she was close to giving birth. He felt a twinge of panic.
"It's just a small matter; when we see Father, I will speak well of you," Zhao Qiushui said with a smirk, leaning closer to the conflicted He Cong.
Although her voice was low, Xia Muxin heard every word clearly. She shot a cold glare at Zhao Qiushui and said through gritted teeth, "Zhao Qiushui, if anything happens to my mother, I will make sure your entire family pays for it."
With that, she struggled again, but the two guards, receiving He Cong's signal, held Xia Muxin tightly. No matter how hard she fought, they remained unmoved.
Xia Muxin swore this was the first time she had ever hated someone so deeply since coming here, and that person was Zhao Qiushui.
Zhao Qiushui raised an eyebrow in delight at her words and slowly uttered a few words:
"That will depend on whether you can survive to come out."
Zhao Qiushui said, a bloodthirsty coldness flashing in his eyes, as he tilted his head and let out a strange, cackling laugh.
Xia Muxin's gaze narrowed as she looked towards her mother, panic rising in her heart, and she helplessly began to cry.
"Mother... Mother..."
"Ah... There's blood, there's blood! Quickly call for the midwife, hurry!"
Aunt Liu and others helped Aunt Xia up, but at that moment, they could not care for Xia Muxin. Seeing the blood pooling beneath Aunt Xia, they screamed in alarm.
There was only one midwife in the village, an elderly woman with failing eyesight, and she lived several miles away. If they called for her now, it would take at least half an hour for her to arrive. By then...
"Father, set up a stretcher and carry Mother over quickly!"
Xia Muxin was frantic. Hearing Aunt Liu's words only heightened her urgency as she shouted at the flustered Summer Forest.
Her mother couldn't be jostled in this condition; she couldn't even sit in a cart. The only option was to carry her on a stretcher. Although there were no stretchers in this ancient time, mentioning it would make Summer Forest understand.
Upon hearing this, Summer Forest trembled as he stood up and began to frantically search for something to use as a stretcher.
Seeing this, Xia Muxin grew even more anxious. She bit down on the back of one guard's hand while simultaneously stomping hard on another's foot. As two cries of pain rang out, Xia Muxin was thrown far away.
She heard a loud crack from one of her arms, like a bone breaking. Pain coursed through her body as she curled up but gritted her teeth and struggled to get up. Before the two could restrain her again, she dashed towards the Thatched Cottage.
"Don't chase her; she won't get far."
Several guards were about to pursue, but Zhao Qiushui stopped them. She smirked slightly and cast a sidelong glance at Aunt Xia, coldly saying...
Xia Muxin stumbled and struggled through the deep snow, not knowing how many times she had fallen. Each time, she would grit her teeth and force herself back up, again and again, persisting with sheer determination.
Meanwhile, the Wu Family watched from a distance, their smiles growing wider at the sight.
If Xia Muxin were to die, then everything belonging to the Xia Family would ultimately become theirs...
Xia Muxin reached the Thatched Cottage, her body frozen and exhausted. Yet she dared not delay for even a moment. She dove into the wooden box she had just organized and began rummaging through it. After a while, she spotted a porcelain vial. The corners of her tightly pressed lips lifted into a faint smile as she turned back.
At that moment, Summer Forest and the others had brought over a stretcher. They carefully placed Aunt Xia on top, while Aunt Liu rushed in to grab a thick quilt to cover her. Everyone worked together to lift the stretcher and hurried toward the midwife's house.
The snow was deep, making it difficult for them to move quickly. Each step was laborious, and after what felt like an eternity, they finally reached the outer yard of the Xia Family's Thatched Cottage.
Seeing this, Xia Muxin shouted at the top of her lungs:
"Wait! Hold on..."
As she spoke, her footing faltered, and she fell into the snow. The vial slipped from her hand and flew far away, landing just short of the stretcher.
"Dad, quickly give Mom one! Hurry!"
Xia Muxin could no longer get up; she could only watch as the vial rolled away, using all her strength to shout towards Summer Forest.
Summer Forest recognized the bottle of medicine; it was given to him by Shen Muhan. He recalled that it was meant for Aunt Xia during her moments of discomfort. Without hesitating, he picked up the bottle, poured out a pill, and hurriedly placed it in Aunt Xia's mouth.
“Father, don’t worry about me. I have my own way to escape. Just go!”
After administering the medicine, he turned to Zhaoxia Muxin, but Xia Muxin kept waving her hands, urging him to leave quickly. Summer Forest felt torn. At that moment, Aunt Xia suddenly coughed up blood, causing everyone carrying the stretcher to gasp in shock. Tears welled in Summer Forest's eyes as he lifted the stretcher and began to move away step by step with great difficulty.
Xia Muxin exhaled deeply, collapsing onto the snow, gasping for breath.
“Set it on fire!”
At that moment, Zhao Qiushui was also being carried over by four guards. She had witnessed everything clearly and, once Summer Forest and the others had left, she commanded those behind her with a fierce tone.
In an instant, dozens of torches were hurled toward Thatched Cottage.
- End of Chapter -
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