17 Cesarean Delivery

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It didn’t matter whether there was a connection or not—after all, it had happened. Mrs. Li had stormed over, causing a scene with the sole purpose of humiliating Mrs. Yao. Since she couldn’t leave the Li household, she had to vent this anger somehow.

But what happened next? The very man who had just insisted he would change his mind, upon hearing that Mrs. Yao had fainted and everyone was worried… could he really turn back?

As Mrs. Li thought of the grievances she had suffered and what had happened to her youngest son, her vision darkened and she collapsed to the ground.

“Madam!” the maid cried out in alarm.

Mr. Li did not turn around.

Yao Qiushan, who had just rushed inside, also did not look back.

The crowd watching neither stepped forward to help nor showed concern; instead, they took a cautious step back, genuinely frightened by Mrs. Li’s earlier appearance.

Only Chu Yunli stepped forward slowly and knelt beside Mrs. Li. “I told you long ago, you can’t trust the men of the Li family, yet you still hoped the man would come back. Aunt, I am a cautionary tale. If you stay in the Li family, you might end up suffering the same fate as I did. I was lucky to survive with my life barely intact, but you…” She shook her head and stood. “I truly pity you.”

Mrs. Li glared fiercely. “I don’t need your pity!”

“My pity is my business; whether you need it is yours,” Chu Yunli replied coldly. She glanced sideways at Hu Yian beside her. “The shop is busy. Let’s go.”

The two left together.

Behind them, the scandal involving Mr. Li and Mrs. Yao spread like wildfire within half a day.

Mrs. Li heard the news and was furious once more.

Li Huaping, upon learning of the matter, crouched by his mother’s bedside. “Mother, Father is really outrageous.”

He had long been displeased with his father’s constant care for Yao Qiushan. The main issue was that his father’s care essentially amounted to handing money directly to someone else. Money is never too much, but at the time, he believed his father was just looking after a nephew. Now, learning Yao Qiushan was his half-brother, the amount given was far more than it seemed.

These were his possessions being given away, and Li Huaping’s resentment grew deeper.

Meanwhile, Chu Yunli found time to visit Li Hualin in prison, bringing Hu Yian along.

Li Hualin had not suffered much during his incarceration. Despite the turmoil in the Li family, those who sent him provisions had been unfailing.

Thus, Chu Yunli saw that although the prison conditions were poor, Li Hualin was not destitute. He had a silk quilt beneath him and half a roast chicken nearby.

By law, prisoners’ families could send items but not luxuries, so the Li family must have found backdoor channels to arrange this.

“Oh, you’re living well,” she said with a smirk.

Li Hualin, hearing her teasing voice, was annoyed and sneered, “You sent your own husband to prison and now come to watch the show? Luo Meiniang, I must have been cursed in eight lifetimes to marry such a venomous wife as you.”

Chu Yunli was unruffled, tilting her head slightly. “When you married into the Luo family, you didn’t say that. You said meeting me was your luck and staying with me even more so. What, only a few years and you’ve forgotten your own words? I may be harsh, but I never wished you dead.”

In truth, Li Hualin regretted his harsh words the moment he spoke. He had not given up hope of release and had secretly inquired about it. The only way out safely was if Luo Meiniang forgave him. If she didn’t pursue it, he would be unharmed. Taking a deep breath, he suppressed his anger and softened his tone, “Meiniang, I haven’t forgotten. But I never dreamed you’d be so cruel to me. I was wrong before, but I sincerely repent. Can’t you forgive me this once?”

Chu Yunli found this amusing. “I could forgive you and not report you, but the condition is that you cut open your own belly. Since you’re unwilling and prefer to serve the sentence, what can I do?”

She didn’t want to argue further. Taking the man’s hand, the two stood side by side intimately. In Li Hualin’s stunned gaze, she continued, “This is my fiancé. We’ve already set the date and will marry soon. By the way, he’s suffered a lot too, almost losing his life at the hands of your half-brother. He came today to introduce himself and to hand over the complaint we’ll file later when we leave. When you brothers reunite, you’ll look out for each other.” She nodded and sighed, “I really am a good person.”

Li Hualin was dumbfounded. What was going on? He was still shocked to see Luo Meiniang so close to another man, and now she was engaged? Before he could process this, another half-brother appeared. He knew his father had been unfaithful and that his mother often worried about it. He’d thought they were just minor affairs—little vixens—but this was a brother, meaning they’d had contact for over twenty years.

This was no mere vixen, but a seasoned enchantress.

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Who on earth was this? He had never been able to find out secretly.

“Who is he?”

Chu Yunli kindly told him, then seeing his eyes turn bloodshot with rage, added disdainfully, “By the way, the day after you were imprisoned, I met Zhang Yingying. She said her man couldn’t tolerate the child’s existence and wanted to harm it. She planned to send the child back to the Li family.”

Li Hualin suddenly looked up. Seeing Luo Meiniang unwilling to elaborate, he hastily asked, “What happened then?”

“Your sister-in-law refused. Your mother wanted to care for the child. They were going to take the child, but I stopped it.” She smiled. “My child almost lost his mother. You can imagine what would happen to the child if I died. You two destroyed us mother and son like this, so I repay in kind.”

Li Hualin’s eyes were redder. “You murderer.”

“I didn’t kill anyone.” Chu Yunli waved her hand. “Zhang Yingying could have sent the child to those who couldn’t bear children, at least sparing the child’s life. I just made sure your son would never enjoy wealth again. Murderer? I can’t take that title.”

Hu Yian spoke up in time, “Meiniang, let’s go.”

Chu Yunli nodded and let him lead her away.

The tall man walked protectively beside the delicate woman, who leaned slightly toward him—a perfect pair. Li Hualin watched, his chest tightening.

* * *

Hu Yian went to the magistrate’s office to accuse Yao Qiushan of mistreating laborers and of sending loan notes to the gambling den, which caused Hu Yian to incur massive debts. He also reported the gambling den’s debt collectors for threatening him.

This case was deep and complicated. Not only was Yao Qiushan summoned to court, but the gambling den was not spared either.

Usually, the gambling den owners had good ties with the magistrate’s office, and similar matters would be overlooked. The enforcers at the gambling den often acted beyond the law, overstepping repeatedly. They were often outrageous but rarely convicted.

After all, the loan notes were signed by the debtor himself.

This time was different. Hu Yian neither gambled nor borrowed money and was quite frightened.

Yao Qiushan had passed the loan notes to the gambling den to cash in but dealt with a minor official, not the owner. That person now wished he could hide inside his belly. On the other side, the gambling den owner glared at Yao Qiushan with venomous eyes, making his scalp tingle.

Yao Qiushan was certain that after leaving court, he would be punished—lightly beaten at worst, or severely harassed for life.

But it wasn’t urgent yet. He had plenty of money to bribe his way out. The priority was to fool the magistrate and avoid imprisonment.

Chu Yunli saw Mrs. Yao for the first time. Though she was a grandmother and no longer young, she exuded an elegant charm, hinting at her past beauty. The saying that women are made of water was vividly true for her. She had not stopped crying since entering the court, yet her tears only added to her delicate, sorrowful beauty.

She not only cried but also apologized to Hu Yian: “I failed to raise my son well, causing him to err. I hope I haven’t caused you too much harm. It’s all my fault. Can you forgive him?” She wiped her tears, looking pitiful.

Chu Yunli blinked. If she wasn’t mistaken, this woman was flirting with Hu Yian?

Her son was already an adult, and she was a grandmother!

Hu Yian’s expression was cold. “Yao Qiushan drove me away and sent the loan notes to the gambling den to pressure me. He knew when he did those things that he was wrong. Everyone makes mistakes; it’s okay as long as they pay the price.”

“He knows he’s wrong, but there was no need to bring this to court,” Mrs. Yao sobbed, trembling all over. “We can make it right. Whatever you want, we can negotiate.”

Her tone was suggestive.

Chu Yunli thought, “This is intolerable. That old woman is trying to seduce my man.”

She stepped forward, blocking Hu Yian. “If not for me, he’d be dead by now. If he died, she wouldn’t last long either—that’s two lives. How do you plan to compensate? Can you afford it?” Her gaze was scornful. “Or do you think all men lose their minds at the sight of a beauty? You’re a grandmother. No matter how lovely a flower, it wilts. Do you really think you’re beautiful enough to make a young man forget a mortal grudge?”

Mrs. Yao suddenly looked up, meeting Chu Yunli’s mocking eyes. She shook her head, taking two steps back. “I didn’t…”

“I saw your lecherous look just now, and you say you didn’t,” Chu Yunli said coldly. “You’re shameless at your age. Flirting is one thing, but don’t touch what belongs to others—especially mine. I’m jealous!”

Hu Yian’s lips twitched slightly, softly urging her to calm down.

At that moment, Mr. Li arrived at the door and overheard this. No woman could endure such accusations, and some might even take their own life. He didn’t hesitate and quickly came to Chu Yunli’s side, placing the sobbing Mrs. Yao behind him. He sternly demanded, “What is this nonsense?”

Chu Yunli sized him up. “Oh, the protector arrives. Do you know what she just said? She said if my fiancé would let them mother and son go, she’d do anything! Saying such things so casually shows her true nature. No wonder she hasn’t remarried all these years. I bet besides you, she has other lovers!”

Hearing this, Mrs. Yao’s face turned deathly pale as if struck by a great blow. She staggered, barely able to stand.

Yao Qiushan rushed forward to steady his mother, but Mr. Li was faster and pulled her into his arms. His gaze toward Chu Yunli was full of severity. “You’re a woman yourself. You should know no woman can bear such words. Why hurt her so? Luo Meiniang, are you really this cruel?”

“Whether it’s true or not, you should investigate before accusing,” Chu Yunli retorted. Though she hadn’t secretly investigated Mrs. Yao, her words to Hu Yian revealed the woman’s untrustworthiness.

Mrs. Yao cried, shaking her head. “Widow’s fault, blame me! I should have remarried long ago…”

Chu Yunli cut her off. “Who in town doesn’t know about your affairs with Master Li? If he were truly widowed, you’d have remarried. You refuse only because you don’t want to become a concubine.”

This struck to Mrs. Li’s deepest fear.

She had heard the man had gone to court because of the Yao family and was furious. After her youngest son was interrogated and imprisoned, she avoided the court at all costs, even taking detours to avoid passing by the magistrate’s office.

But now this man had brought trouble upon himself. How could she not be angry?

What if the magistrate got involved with the Li family again, worsening Hualin’s charges?

Angry as she was, she could not tolerate the man sheltering the Yao mother and son. To put it bluntly, when her youngest son was locked up, they couldn’t figure out how to save him, let alone care for others.

So she rushed over, only to see the man standing like a god, shielding that old enchantress behind him. He had never protected her like that before. It was either because nothing had happened before or because other women had seduced him. Now he was protecting someone else.

Mrs. Li’s eyes were filled with hatred. She lunged forward, claws out, to separate the two. As her fingers touched the man’s arm, a strong force pulled her backward, making her stagger. As she steadied herself and turned to scold the one who pulled her, she found herself facing a stern court official.

“No shouting, no brawling, no fighting in the court,” the officer said gravely.

Mrs. Li was speechless.

When she had arrived, the place had been noisy, and no one cared. Why was it forbidden as soon as she showed up?

She felt singled out.

“You’re bullying me,” she wailed, sitting on the ground. “Others can make noise, but I can’t? Does the law recognize different people?”

In truth, she was unfairly blaming the officer.

Everyone grows tired sometimes. Earlier in court, there had been no officers present because the magistrate hadn’t arrived yet. They were resting in the back chamber. Now that the magistrate was coming, they had to stop the chaos. Seeing Mrs. Li acting like a demon ready to fight, who else could they pull back?

The officer warned sternly, “If you make more noise, you’ll be locked up for half a month.”

Mrs. Li was speechless. If she went to prison, the man might just take the opportunity to divorce her and make room for that old enchantress!

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