18. Cesarean Section

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Mrs. Li immediately fell silent. Seeing that the magistrate’s clerk still wore a stern expression, she hurriedly apologized and promised not to cause any more trouble.

Just then, the magistrate emerged from the rear chamber. The courtroom fell even quieter. The magistrate straightened his attire and seated himself behind the dark wooden desk. He glanced at the complaint and asked, “Where is Yao Qiushan?”

Yao Qiushan’s heart sank as he stepped forward.

The magistrate looked at him, then instructed the clerk to summon witnesses. Soon, several men in plain clothes entered, two of whom had patched garments, clearly from humble means.

They kowtowed before the magistrate, who immediately inquired about Hu Yian’s fall from a height.

“The plank was too thin. Three years ago, someone else fell too. That person was unlucky—broke his neck on impact and died instantly…”

Hearing the laborer’s account, Yao Qiushan’s eyes burned with anger, but he dared not interrupt.

Beside him, Mrs. Yao sensed the situation was unfavorable for her son and trembled slightly. Mr. Li noticed and gently comforted her with a protective embrace.

Mrs. Li saw this and ground her teeth in fury. If she stood with Aicao, this man would no longer see her; she could no longer endure it. If anything happened to her, he would immediately bring Aicao into the house. The words spoken by Luo Meinian’s man about marrying Aicao and harming her resurfaced in her mind. Since this man was so cold and heartless, she felt no need to cling to past affections.

While the magistrate pondered, she stepped forward and kowtowed. “Your Honor, this humble woman has grievances to air.”

The magistrate was in the midst of hearing the case and normally would not accept new complaints at this moment. Hearing this, he frowned.

Mr. Li saw his wife’s resolute expression and the hateful yet pleased look in her eyes. His eyelid twitched, unease rising in his chest. He quickly said, “Madam, the magistrate is currently hearing the case. Please do not speak recklessly. We have been married for so many years. No matter how others treat you, I would never harm you. Trust me!”

His last words carried a double meaning.

Mrs. Li’s complaint was a momentary impulse. Faced with his sincere gaze, she immediately retreated, nervously swallowing. “I…”

The magistrate sat high at the head of the hall, overseeing everything. He instantly noticed the couple’s silent conflict and Mrs. Li’s hesitation.

Many cases fail to proceed according to law because the aggrieved are threatened or moved to withdraw. Often, as with Mrs. Li now, bound by the false notion that family shame should not be aired publicly, grievances are swallowed in silence.

The magistrate would never tolerate such injustice if he knew. He spoke sternly, “What do you wish to say?” Seeing Mrs. Li remain silent, he repeated, “As a magistrate and guardian of the people, it is my duty to seek justice for you. If you have grievances, speak freely.”

Mrs. Li stepped back, unwilling to continue.

Seeing this, Mr. Li stepped forward. “My wife only spoke out to protect our child. Please forgive her, Your Honor.”

Mrs. Li’s face was full of sorrow and indignation.

Chu Yunli, seeing Mrs. Li unwilling to speak, stepped forward respectfully. “Your Honor, I used to be a daughter-in-law of the Li family and can guess some thoughts of the former mother-in-law.” She spoke rapidly, pointing at Mr. Li. “This is my former father-in-law. Few ordinary people have witnessed such a scene. Naturally, they feel fear. Yet he embraces another woman to comfort her… Does Your Honor believe in pure friendship between a man and a woman? If they were truly innocent, none here would believe it. Any woman placed in my former mother-in-law’s position would not tolerate it.”

Mr. Li glared at her as if to devour her. “None of your business!” He explained to the crowd, “Aicao is the widow of a friend. Though Brother Yao and I are not biological brothers, we are closer than kin. Just ask around, and you’ll know how much I’ve cared for them these years…”

Chu Yunli sneered, “Don’t mention brotherly love again. They say a friend’s wife is not to be touched. Yet you cared for her bed, and before Old Master Yao died, you had him raise his son for so many years, handing over your entire fortune. If he knew from the afterlife, he’d be too angry to reincarnate.”

Her last words were truthful.

Mr. Li’s eyes nearly popped. “Silence! Stop talking nonsense!”

Chu Yunli was unafraid. She asked, “Which of my words were false?” Then she looked at Mrs. Li. “Madam Li, hasn’t my experience warned you? Do you truly believe the men of the Li family have genuine hearts? Do you want to die and give way to another woman? Then your man belongs to her, your child calls her mother… You can’t avoid it; he has more than one son, and surely whoever obeys him will inherit the family business.”

Mrs. Li found these words strangely reasonable.

If anything happened to her and the eldest son grew suspicious, he would oppose his father at every turn. Then Li Yu would dislike this troublesome son, and eventually, the family business might all go to Yao Qiushan.

Even if the eldest son did not suspect, old sayings say that with a stepmother comes a stepfather. Li Yu had long cared for Aicao and felt indebted to her and her child. Would he not hand over the business to her?

Hua Ping would surely be displeased, and the father and son would feud.

Thinking of this, Mrs. Li shivered. Without hesitation, she stepped forward and accused, “Your Honor, this man admitted that Yao Qiushan is his and Aicao’s son. Over the years, using the pretext of caring for a late friend’s child, he sent quite a bit of silver to the mother and son. I truly… The man’s feelings are irretrievable. I only hope Your Honor can recover the silver he spent on others.”

She believed she needed to clearly understand how deeply the man’s heart lay with the mother and son before she could truly give up.

The magistrate frowned, glancing at Mr. Li and Aicao, who had distanced themselves after their close complaint. He nodded, “I accept this case. We will have someone audit the Yao family’s accounts.”

Mr. Li was speechless.

He scolded Mrs. Li, “Why trouble the magistrate over our marital affairs?”

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“Besides us, others are involved,” Mrs. Li’s eyes brimmed with disappointment. “Li Yu, your feelings for Aicao are not what you claim. You may be unaware, but outsiders can see clearly that your heart and eyes are fixed on her. I am your wife!”

Though many in town knew of Li’s affair with Aicao and gossiped, Aicao still did not want the magistrate to come investigating the accounts.

If the Yao family’s books were audited because of this, what would she become?

Being mocked or teased was minor; many would believe she was a deceitful woman exploiting men’s money… even a secret prostitute.

The more Aicao thought, the more anxious she became, tears welling. Mr. Li wanted to comfort her but dared not.

Seeing her husband’s hesitation, Mrs. Li grew angrier, feeling no regrets and determined to clear things up.

The magistrate resumed questioning about Hu Yian’s fall.

Many laborers witnessed it. Yao Qiushan had genuinely not paid a single coin for treatment and dismissed Hu Yian days later.

Because a life was nearly lost, many knew. He could not defend himself.

Also, the IOU was present, and the gambling house owner was there. The owner quickly stated that a subordinate had acted without his knowledge; he had not forced such a debt.

In the end, the gambling house owner escaped unscathed, but Yao Qiushan was immediately imprisoned.

Exiting the courtroom, Aicao sobbed, unable to stand.

Mr. Li, wishing to avoid suspicion, dared not approach despite his worry.

Seeing Aicao’s misery, Mrs. Li felt satisfaction and “kindly” advised, “Don’t worry too much. Once your scheme to swindle my husband’s silver is uncovered, you and your son will soon reunite in prison.”

Startled, Aicao stopped crying and glared at Mrs. Li. “After all these years, why must you be so ruthless?”

“I considered you a friend, yet you slept with my husband. Do you have any feelings?” Mrs. Li looked at her with contempt. “Put yourself in my shoes—if I had slept with your man, would you take it calmly?”

Aicao bit her lip but did not argue, tears reddening her eyes.

Mr. Li could no longer bear it. “Wife, I’ve told you before, my relationship with Aicao was a coincidence. I did not intend it… If anyone’s to blame, blame me.”

“Fool.” Mrs. Li pointed at Aicao. “Clearly, this woman schemed against you, yet you take the blame. Calling you foolish insults the very word ‘fool’!”

At that moment, Chu Yunli and Hu Yian strolled out of the courtroom. Hearing this, Chu Yunli smiled sweetly, “The man knows the truth, but one schemed, and the other went along with it.”

“Silence!” Mr. Li believed that if it weren’t for the former daughter-in-law’s meddling and provocations, their marital troubles would never have reached the courtroom. Luo Meinian was a troublemaker, deliberately stirring unrest in the Li family. Yet his wife blindly followed her ideas.

He scolded his wife, “You’re the fool. Can’t you see Meinian is taking revenge on us, purposely causing discord?”

Mrs. Li could see it too, but what her husband did was infuriating! She could not tolerate it!

Before leaving, Chu Yunli half-jokingly warned, “Perhaps the aggrieved are more than just Master Li.”

Mrs. Li immediately thought of other places.

Mr. Li angrily rebuked, “You’re a woman. Why would you slander others?”

Chu Yunli retorted bluntly, “How do you know it’s not true?”

Aicao was silent.

She was always gentle and never intervened when men were present. After hesitating briefly, before she could speak, the young woman already left with her fiancé.

*

In the prison, Li Hualin saw Yao Qiushan brought in.

He had heard about this from Chu Yunli and was skeptical, but seeing him in person forced him to believe it.

His father really had another family outside and had openly cared for the mother and child for years. He was furious, imagining how his mother would react.

Suppressing his anger, he asked, “Qiushan, how did you end up here?”

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Yao Qiushan was imprisoned nearby. Hearing this, he spat. “Damn, I ran into a mad dog biting me relentlessly! Just my unlucky fate!”

Li Hualin’s eyes flickered as he stepped closer. “Come, tell me everything.” Pausing, he added, “It’s boring in here. If I don’t find something to talk about, I’ll go mad.”

While questioning, he carefully examined Yao Qiushan’s features, trying to find any resemblance to their father and sons.

After a long look, he found nothing. Doubts surfaced—is Luo Meinian’s woman just spreading lies?

Yao Qiushan was reluctant to speak, pondering escape plans. The abuse of laborers was nearly indisputable. Perhaps bribing someone could exonerate him. Reputation mattered less; avoiding prison was key.

He worried about another matter. Hesitating, he tested, “Brother Li, I’ve been slandered. Outsiders have fabricated stories about your father and my mother…”

He frowned. “It’s too filthy to say.”

Yao Qiushan did not know Li Hualin had already heard the news and thought he was cut off from information in prison.

Li Hualin was furious. “How could that be?” He rolled up his sleeves. “Watch me tear those liars apart!”

Yao Qiushan relaxed. “Brother Li, don’t be angry. The one spinning these tales is your wife. She even said your father secretly gave my family quite a bit of silver. By all rights, these stories are absurd and shouldn’t be believed. But people love gossip and fabricate stories. It seems your mother believed her nonsense and petitioned the magistrate to audit my family’s accounts.” His anger grew. “If this is checked, how can my mother keep her dignity? She has faithfully guarded my father’s widowhood for years, yet this happens…”

He slapped himself hard. “It’s all my fault, this unfilial son bringing disaster on her.”

He implied that Luo Meinian fabricated these rumors to vent at her fiancé.

“Women know women best. Luo Meinian’s move has driven my mother to despair. Most important, if anything happens to her, it’s not her fault.” Yao Qiushan’s eyes were bloodshot. “Brother Li, why haven’t you killed that poisonous woman?”

Li Hualin shook his head. “Don’t mention it! That woman is too cunning. I can’t beat her.”

Both men felt the same pain.

Yao Qiushan leaned closer, casually saying, “Brother Li, we’ve been friends for years. Can you send a message to your mother, telling her not to be used?”

Li Hualin refused. He didn’t believe Luo Meinian’s claim that Yao Qiushan was his half-brother, nor did he trust Yao Qiushan. He had long resented his father for supporting this unrelated man who clung to the Li family. He welcomed any trouble for him.

Hard-earned silver was precious; why spend it on others?

He hoped both mother and son would be convicted, removing two troublesome relatives from the Li family.

*

Outside the courthouse, Aicao left crying.

Mr. Li stared at the departing carriage, worry nearly overflowing his eyes.

Mrs. Li, seeing this, grew angry again. Her mind wandered to Luo Meinian’s words about more victims, unable to shake the thought.

Ignoring the man beside her, she boarded a carriage and went straight to the street where the Yao family lived, questioning neighbors and gatekeepers.

The gatekeepers, bribed with silver, eagerly shared what they knew.

“An Elder Lin, with only two shops, often visited. I heard that when Madam Yao went home, she sometimes visited him.”

“An Elder Zhang, I heard Madam Yao often met with him. He once delivered fabric here. I saw it was mostly for women; men rarely used it, and if so, it was for younger men.”

The oldest gatekeeper counted on his fingers, “Years ago, many men came frequently. Every few days, there was an elder visitor…” He then listed them one by one.

Mrs. Li listened, astonished.

Several had close ties with the Li family and were known womanizers. Thinking of this, her fury returned. Other men knew when to back away, but her foolish husband had pampered such a secret prostitute and even fathered a child.

To Mrs. Li, Aicao was a secret prostitute, only differing in that her clientele were wealthier.

She stormed home and confronted Mr. Li, furious. “I called you foolish, yet you deny it. Many men have dealings with Aicao—seven or eight I know of. How can you be sure Qiushan is your son?”

Mr. Li was speechless.