23 Giving Birth by Cesarean Section

It was indeed too late.

The person sent to intercept the coachman soon returned with the news that the coachman had been gone for nearly an hour. Since the magistrate’s office was not very far away, an hour’s time was enough to reach it even on foot.

Master Li refused to give up. He barked fiercely, "Then go after him! Take a horse and chase him down! If you find him, no matter what terms he demands, stop him at all costs. If you have to, drag him back by force."

When he said "drag him back," he was practically roaring.

Roaring solved nothing. Li Huaping had been to the courtroom and seen how the magistrate interrogated criminals. He had also visited his brother in the jail and knew how filthy and chaotic it was. He had never imagined these things would fall upon him. The thought of being interrogated by the magistrate in front of a crowd, perhaps being tortured, and even ending up in that vile prison made his whole body go numb.

To be precise, beyond the numbness, his limbs turned to jelly. Having frequently taken the carriage to the magistrate's office, he knew the distance well and realized instantly that the situation was beyond repair. His legs gave out completely, and he collapsed to the ground, unable to rise for a long time.

Madam Yang, who had been resting after being sickened by the sight of blood, heard what had happened and rushed over, ignoring her own discomfort. She did not know the coachman could not be caught; she only saw her husband sitting on the ground like he had lost his own father, looking utterly broken. Sensing disaster, she hurried forward to help him up without a second thought.

She was never strong to begin with, and after the earlier shock, she was terrified. Not only did she fail to lift him, but she also ended up falling to the ground herself.

Seeing the couple sprawled together, Master Li felt a surge of frustration. He scolded the servants, "Are you all blind? Get them up at once!"

He hated his eldest son’s cold-bloodedness, but he still cared for him. As for the Li family, regardless of whether the younger son survived, his life was already ruined. If the eldest son also met with misfortune, what would become of the family?

As for Yao Qiushan, Master Li had never intended to let him take over the family business. Now that Yao Qiushan’s paternity was in doubt, even if he were truly of his blood, he dared not trust him.

What if? What if he wasn't his son, and he handed the Li family over to him? His ancestors would never forgive him! Therefore, no matter what his eldest son had done, he could not afford to let him be ruined. Of course, poisoning one's own brother was ruthless, but then again, a man had to be ruthless to succeed... If only the two brothers hadn't turned on each other.

Madam Li was awakened by a physician summoned by her maid. With such a crisis, she had to be conscious. Having heard the sequence of events, she already had a splitting headache from waking up from a faint, and the world went black before her eyes. Dazed, she raised a hand and asked, "Huaping laid hands on Hualin?"

"Yes!" the maid patiently repeated what had happened.

Madam Li did not want to accept this, but she knew she hadn't misheard. Stumbling off the bed, she fell to the floor in her haste and weakness. After a chaotic scramble, she finally composed herself and hurried toward her younger son's courtyard.

Now, the priority was not to determine who had harmed the younger son, but to stop Luo Meiniang from reporting them to the authorities. If the magistrate were brought in, things would escalate. They would have to find a culprit—or worse, be held accountable for the surgery performed on the younger son. Thinking of this, Madam Li panicked, twisting her ankle twice on the way. She ignored the pain and, upon entering the courtyard, found her former daughter-in-law relaxing under a tree. "Meiniang, did you really report this to the magistrate?"

Master Li heard this and felt a wave of irritation. Wasn't that a rhetorical question?

Chu Yunli nodded. "I have had my own abdomen cut open; I know the pain better than anyone. It feels like being split in two while still alive, wishing for death but unable to find it..." She sighed. "Having suffered such agony, I cannot bear to see others endure it. But by the time I arrived, I couldn't stop it... The only thing I can do is ensure the culprits are held accountable."

She remarked with emotion, "Helping him is the final fulfillment of the bond I once shared with Li Hualin."

Master Li: "..." Who the hell agreed to fulfill that bond?

He softened his tone. "Meiniang, this is a family matter; it’s not right to bother the magistrate. How about this: when he arrives, you go to the door to receive him, don't let him in, apologize, and send him away. Can you do that?"

"No," Chu Yunli said bluntly. "He is an official appointed by the Emperor. I would be committing a crime if I turned him away. Do you think he's your family dog that you can just call off?"

Master Li gritted his teeth. "We are all business people. There is no deal that cannot be struck in this world. What will it take for you to send the magistrate away?" He added, "Tell me, and I will do my best to fulfill it."

Chu Yunli stroked her chin, looking interested. "Then how about you give me all the shops and mansions of the Li family, along with the inventory?"

Madam Li shrieked, "That is too much!"

Madam Yang had already viewed all the property as her own child's inheritance. She couldn't accept this and blurted out, "You came here to stir up trouble and sow discord, all while claiming innocence. Now your true colors are exposed—this was your purpose all along, wasn't it?"

Master Li also said, "Be serious. I am being very sincere."

Li Huaping suddenly perked up. Chu Yunli scanned their faces and chuckled. "I was joking. Human life is at stake; how can money compensate for that? Besides, I only reported it. The one who was cut open is Li Hualin, and the one about to drink the lethal medicine is also him. He is the real victim. Whether to sue you is his business... Just like me, I wouldn't forgive him back then and sent him to prison, but later I felt that hatred shouldn't consume the rest of my life, so I let him go..."

The Li family didn't pay attention to the latter part; their minds were fixed on the first half. They exchanged glances and reached an understanding. Li Huaping’s legs no longer felt weak; he scrambled up and rushed into the main room, followed closely by Madam Yang.

The magistrate was on his way; this was a matter of extreme urgency. Even if they knew the younger son was severely injured and might not be able to be woken—or that waking him might worsen his condition or even kill him—they couldn't afford to care.

A group of them rushed to the bedside. Li Huaping reached out and shook Li Hualin. "Second brother, something has happened, wake up!"

Li Hualin had fallen into a deep sleep due to the severity of his injuries and couldn't withstand such rough handling. His wounds were deep, and he had been beaten earlier; every touch felt like agony. He was awakened by pain. Opening his eyes, he saw his family's anxious faces. His heart sank, and in terror, he croaked, "Am I... going to... die?"

"No!" Li Huaping said hurriedly. "Just drink your medicine, you will be fine. Don't speak, just listen to me!"

Li Hualin didn't want to talk anyway; even moving his lips caused him immense pain.

Li Huaping continued on his own. "The magistrate is on his way. Luo Meiniang has reported us for malpractice regarding your surgery. Hualin, we didn't intend to harm you; you know the truth about why we did it, we really had no choice... In any case, you must forgive us; you cannot let the magistrate take us away!" Seeing Li Hualin’s blank stare, he asked anxiously, "Do you understand?"

Li Hualin looked at him blankly and shook his head.

Li Huaping: "..."

The situation was dire, so he had to repeat the explanation again. Li Hualin was in near-fatal pain and didn't want to forgive them, so he shook his head again. Li Huaping explained it tirelessly, but Li Hualin acted as if his ears were broken, shaking his head even after the third time. Li Huaping grew more frantic, like an ant on a hot pan. "Can you hear me?"

Li Hualin nodded.

Li Huaping had to explain it slowly, word by word, breaking it down. This time, Li Hualin finally nodded. Li Huaping breathed a sigh of relief.

Before he could finish exhaling, he heard Li Hualin whisper, "I won't forgive you!"

Li Huaping thought he had misheard. "What?"

He had deliberately omitted the part about changing the medicine, speaking only of the surgery to get Li Hualin to relent. After all, the surgery was forced by Luo Meiniang, not something they wanted to do. Even if they acted out of concern for the family business, they had hired a skilled physician; their mistake wasn't unforgivable.

Yet, despite this, Li Hualin still wanted to sue them?

The panicked Li family members turned toward the door. Chu Yunli stood there, arms crossed against the wall, looking idle and relaxed. Seeing them look at her, she asked with interest, "Have you finished discussing? I saw someone running over earlier, panicked as if the sky were falling. The magistrate must have arrived, or perhaps he has already entered."

Sure enough, just as she finished speaking, a steward ran to the door, breathless. "Master, it's bad! The magistrate has brought men inside. The head steward tried to stop them, but he couldn't!"

Master Li’s legs went weak, and he clung to a pillar. "This..." He turned back to his younger son. "Hualin, all the faults are mine. The Li family cannot be ruined in my hands. Don't press charges, please? Father begs you!" He finished and knelt down.

Seeing his father kneel, Li Hualin was moved. He had never suffered since childhood, and his parents truly doted on him. They had opposed his marriage into the Luo family because they feared he would be bullied, and they had worried about the gossip. His parents had been racking their brains for his sake. He hesitated for a moment.

Chu Yunli stepped forward slowly. "Are you not going to pursue this?"

Li Hualin looked at her. Even this woman could forgive his cruelty. As a man, he should be more magnanimous than her. And with such severe injuries, he needed someone to care for him meticulously. In this world, no one’s intentions toward him were as genuine as his mother’s.

He moved his lips, about to speak, but Chu Yunli continued on her own. "Your brother switched your medicine earlier. If I hadn't drunk that bitter concoction for so long and smelled that it was a blood-activating herb, one bowl of that medicine would have sent you to the underworld." She gave him a thumbs up. "You are truly a 'great man'."

The "great man" Li Hualin’s words were caught in his throat. He looked at Li Huaping in disbelief. "You..."

Li Huaping immediately said, "I didn't switch the medicine, second brother, believe me. We are brothers; I would never harm you!" He pointed at Chu Yunli. "It was this woman who deliberately switched the medicine and then exposed it in front of everyone to sow discord and keep our family in turmoil."

Chu Yunli sneered. "At this point, you still dare to point fingers at me." Her eyes were cunning as she said, "Li Hualin, even if you don't report it, I will seek justice for myself. Or... do you want to die as a fool?" She said unhurriedly, "The physician they hired for you is not very skilled..."

A physician with low skills meant he would die. Li Hualin thought of this, and his already pale face grew even more ghastly. He stared at the Li father and son with questioning eyes. He was already exhausted, and opening his eyes was an effort, so he simply closed his eyes and shut his mouth.

From then on, no matter how the Li father and son apologized or pleaded, he wouldn't say another word.

The Li mansion wasn't small, but Master Li had never wished for it to be larger than he did at this moment.

Unfortunately, things went against his wishes. While Li Hualin remained indifferent, the sounds of chaotic footsteps echoed in the courtyard, along with the faint, fawning voice of the steward: "My master is right inside, the whole family is there."

The magistrate walked in bathed in sunlight, looking especially warm. That was exactly how Li Hualin felt at that moment. In contrast, the rest of the Li family was filled with terror, feeling stiff and cold. Madam Yang especially regretted trying to poison her brother-in-law.

If not for the medicine switch, even if Luo Meiniang denied forcing them to perform the surgery, the Li family might have had a chance to escape. But they had poisoned him, and now, regardless of whether they could make Luo Meiniang confess, her husband could not escape guilt. Thinking of this, Madam Yang’s eyes turned red, and she collapsed to the ground, trembling.

This terrified appearance immediately caught the magistrate's attention. He asked sternly, "Is Luo Meiniang present?"

Chu Yunli bowed. "Present."

The magistrate, smelling the thick scent of blood, asked, "What has happened?"

"As for that," Chu Yunli glanced at the bedside, "I am not quite sure. You will have to ask them."

Whether it was joy or fear, emotions are infectious. The Li family members huddled together were trembling. Especially Li Hualin and his wife, whose faces were as white as ghosts.

Master Li pointed a finger in accusation. "It's all your fault!"

Chu Yunli looked disapproving and denied it. "I was harmed to this extent, what's wrong with saying a few angry words? You took my angry words seriously and harmed someone, and now you blame me. Besides, your family was going to switch his medicine to prevent his recovery anyway. Perhaps my words were just an excuse for your actions. You would have killed him regardless of whether I forced you!"

Master Li felt a chill; that actually sounded quite logical.

Li Huaping was also shocked. "Nonsense! The condition for you to release second brother was for us to cut him open..."

Chu Yunli interrupted him. "Those were angry words! I let him go for the sake of the child. He is heinous, and I didn't want to become a murderer like him. If a dog bites you, would you bite it back? I find it disgusting and don't want to tangle with such rot; that was my true reason for letting him go."

Li Huaping: "..."

The magistrate was confused. People in the room were accusing each other; he couldn't get the truth from anyone. He simply pointed to a maid and a steward to tell him. Bystanders see things clearly, and though worried about their own future, they didn't have the terror of death. A group of servants was taken aside, and after being questioned by several clerks, the truth was quickly pieced together.

The magistrate looked at the depositions with an unreadable expression. He first turned his gaze to Chu Yunli. "Did you say you wouldn't pursue the matter only if Li Hualin suffered what you suffered?"

Chu Yunli admitted it frankly. "Yes! After Li Hualin was released, he came to apologize, and I beat him up. I reminded him again... I didn't expect the Li family to disregard family ties and really bring in a physician, nor did I expect them to act so quickly." She paused. "Anyway, if someone forced me to do such a thing to my father, I would certainly refuse. Even if forced, I would stall as long as possible."

That was very logical. After all, no one wants to point a knife at their own kin; stalling was human nature. The Li family's actions... seemed too eager.

Chu Yunli added, "Li Huaping even switched his medicine to blood-activating herbs, clearly wanting his life. I suspect the Li family is using my words to clear house." She bowed again. "Please, Magistrate, investigate clearly and restore my innocence."

Master Li: "..." Innocence, my foot!

She was innocent, but what did that make them?

Li Huaping felt truly wronged. Having him kill his second brother... he had indeed had such thoughts in a moment of anger, but he had no such plan at the moment. Switching the medicine was just taking advantage of the situation. In fact, he had thought himself quite clever—if the second brother died, no one would suspect him. The one they wanted to avenge themselves on was Luo Meiniang!

Who knew Luo Meiniang would turn her back and deny her own words? There was no one as shameless as her. At this moment, Li Huaping was cursing Luo Meiniang in his heart, frantically looking for a way out.

The magistrate looked at the dozen depositions and said, "Take everyone back to the office! I will interrogate them thoroughly!"

In fact, family members harming each other was even more detestable than those who killed for other reasons... If they could lay hands on their own, they would be even more ruthless to outsiders. Therefore, the magistrate had been disappointed when he learned Luo Meiniang had forgiven her husband for his attempted murder. He hadn't expected Li Hualin to escape the law only to fall victim to his own family’s poison. This was retribution. Indeed, heaven watches over all, and karma arrives sooner or later.

Taking the Li family to the office was easy; the problem was the severely injured Li Hualin. At this moment, any movement would cause bleeding; he might expire before they even reached the office.

The magistrate frowned. "Find someone to look after him well, leave a few people at the door to watch, and don't let anyone see him."

Hearing this, Li Hualin panicked. How could outsiders care for him as attentively as his mother?

"I want my mother!"

This was the first sentence he had spoken clearly since he was injured.

The magistrate was not heartless. Having scanned the depositions, he knew the one who hired the physician was Master Li, and the one who switched the medicine was Li Huaping, perhaps with Madam Yang, while Madam Li seemed uninvolved. He pondered for a long time, looking at the miserable Li Hualin on the bed, and finally relented. "Then you may stay."

Madam Li was overjoyed and rushed to thank the magistrate. She didn't want to go to jail! Moreover, she couldn't let go of her son. With his injuries, she might never see him again if she left.

Master Li was dejected. Occasionally, he looked up to sneak a glance at Madam Li. After many years of marriage, they had that much unspoken understanding. Just as the group was about to leave, Madam Li hurried to find a cloak and personally helped him put it on. She was slow in tying the strings, seemingly reluctant, wanting to keep her husband there a little longer.

The group left, leaving the room and the courtyard empty. Li Hualin had been exhausted by this ordeal and was already drifting off to sleep. Chu Yunli looked at him and said, "Madam Li, what did Master Li say to you earlier?"

Madam Li was startled and loudly denied it. "I was just helping him put on his cloak; I didn't say anything."

Her voice was loud enough to wake the drowsy Li Hualin. This saved Chu Yunli some trouble; she had intended to wake him anyway. She smiled at Li Hualin. "If I'm not mistaken, Master Li must have asked you to persuade Li Hualin to forgive them, or at least not to press charges. After all, you are a family, right?"

Spot on!

Madam Li’s eyes darted away. "You're overthinking it; that never happened."

Chu Yunli laughed again. "Li Hualin, shall we make a bet?"

Li Hualin closed his eyes, clearly not wanting to speak with her.

Chu Yunli laughed aloud. "Your family... I must have been blind to have chosen you back then. Heal well; you must not die."

With that, she walked out of the courtyard. She was one of the complainants and a victim of false accusation; she still had to go to the magistrate's office. Just as she reached the gate, she saw Hu Yi'an rushing over. He had gone to the outskirts to check the soil and had only just received the news. Chu Yunli pulled out a handkerchief and stepped forward to wipe his sweat. "Don't rush."

Hu Yi'an took her hand. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine." Chu Yunli looked at the Li family being surrounded by onlookers. "They are the ones with the problem. Li Hualin was indeed cut open; he won't last many days."

Hu Yi'an felt relieved. "I'll go with you."

Chu Yunli's eyes were full of excitement. "The matter is very troublesome and will take a long time."

"I'll accompany you." Hu Yi'an took her hand, their fingers interlaced. "As long as I'm with you, I don't fear trouble."

The two looked at each other and smiled, their gazes filled with tenderness—a handsome man and a beautiful woman, like a lovely painting.

Madam Yang was worried about the family's fate and feeling miserable. Catching sight of them, she couldn't help but pour cold water on them. "Meiniang, you and the second brother were just as affectionate once. And look how that turned out?"

Chu Yunli retorted without hesitation, "Do you think everyone is as heartless as Li Hualin?"