Chapter 43: This gesture of asking for a position is not an ordinary gesture by a woman,...

The bailiffs came forward and carried Sun Hong to the courtroom. Sun Hong's face was pale, but she forced herself to remain calm. Standing in front of the courtroom, her voice trembling slightly, she said, "Your Excellency, I am innocent! I never did those things, and I have nothing to do with this criminal. He is now mentally unstable and is just making random accusations. How can this be true?"

Dazhu was held down firmly by the yamen runners. Although he was panting heavily, he suddenly revealed a strange smile. The smile was actually a bit innocent, as if he had returned to the depths of his memory.

"Sister, don't you remember? Wife, the red veil of the wives, but you embroidered it for me with your own hands!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the court erupted in an uproar. People looked sideways, and discussions began to rise, like an invisible wave sweeping through the courtroom. Their gazes were fixed on Sun Hong, who stood before them, and their whispers, like a gentle breeze through the trees, gradually grew louder.

Sun Hong's eyes suddenly became panicked after hearing this, but she quickly calmed down and retorted, "Impossible! I have no idea what he's talking about! He's a criminal, full of nonsense. How can I trust him? Please, sir, take a closer look!"

County Magistrate Tang's expression was stern, his eyes narrowed slightly, as if he were secretly weighing the severity of the case. His voice, unhurried yet commanding, sounded like the beating of a drum or a bell, awed everyone in the hall in awe. "Come, fetch the veil!"

The bailiff took the order and left. Not long after, he brought back the red veil that he had found in the cave. Faint bloodstains could still be seen on the red silk.

"Sun Hong, I heard that you are getting married today. The embroidery on your wedding dress must have been embroidered by you yourself, right?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Aunt Sun, who was originally in the crowd, shuddered violently, a trace of fear flashing across her face, and she turned around and tried to leave. Liu Yeshu's heart moved, sensing something unusual. The attendant beside him had already seen and acted quickly, and immediately stepped forward to stop Aunt Sun from fleeing.

A moment later, the yamen runners brought the wedding gown to the hall. The fiery red wedding gown was quietly spread out, its bright red satin gleaming dazzlingly in the sunlight. The two pieces of silk satin faced each other, the embroidery's threadwork and the intricate patterns all as if they were the work of a single person. After a careful inspection, the yamen runners bowed and reported, "Sir, this is indeed embroidered by the same person."

There was a sudden silence in the hall.

County Magistrate Tang stared at her coldly, his gaze like a knife. He sternly demanded, "Sun Hong! You're such a ruthless person! You've aided and abetted the tyrant, and yet you still dare to deny it? Do you have anything else to say about what happened today?"

Sun Hong's face was pale, her hands tightly gripping the wooden railings in front of the hall, her fingers trembling slightly from the strain. Her lips trembled as if she wanted to say something, but no sound came out after several attempts. Finally, her eyes reddened and tears welled up in her eyes. She fell to her knees, sobbing uncontrollably, "My lord, I... I was just confused for a moment! Dazhu has always been stupid. I only gave him a few pieces of red cloth and tried to comfort him to stop him from causing trouble! I never imagined he would commit such a heinous crime! This matter has nothing to do with me, my lord!"

In the crowd, Aunt Sun fainted from convulsions.

"Are you just kidding? Do you know how many innocent women have died tragically?" County Magistrate Tang slammed the gavel, shocking Chunhong so much that she trembled all over. "Now that several lives are in danger, you still dare to quibble!"

Sun Hong was so frightened by the shout that she fell to her knees, kowtowed repeatedly, tears streaming down her face: "Sir, please spare me! Sir, please spare me... I won't dare to do it again! Sir, please understand, I really didn't mean to hurt anyone!" While crying, she kept looking back, as if seeking some support, or expecting someone to show up and save her from danger.

Liu Yeshu was surrounded by attendants, who stared at her coldly, without a trace of sympathy. Sun Hong's wandering gaze finally landed on Liu Yeshu, a look of despair and fear in her eyes, as if she realized she had no way out.

At this moment, Dazhu's originally dull expression suddenly turned into a frenzy. His eyes widened and he looked around frantically, muttering non-stop: "Wife, wife..." His voice became more and more anxious, and suddenly his tone suddenly rose, roaring like a wild beast: "Where is my wife! Sister, you lied to me! Where did you hide my wife?!"

After saying this, he struggled even more violently. The yamen runners had to use all their strength to hold him down, but Dazhu was so strong that he was like a mad beast. He kept trying to break free from his restraints and rush to the front of the hall, his roar echoing in the hall.

Magistrate Tang frowned upon seeing this. He said in a deep voice, "Take this man back to the cell! We'll make a decision once we've fully investigated the matter!" Following his command, the bailiffs sprang into action, quickly escorting Dazhu, who was still struggling frantically, out of the hall. Dazhu's roars gradually faded, and the clamor in the hall subsided, returning to its original silence.

County Magistrate Tang turned around and coldly looked down at Sun Hong, who collapsed on the ground. She was now hopeless, her face blurred by tears, and she looked like a broken rag doll, lifeless and lifeless.

"Sun Hong, you've committed countless crimes. The evidence for today's incident is irrefutable. You must be severely punished!" County Magistrate Tang's voice was like an icy blade, severing the last shred of hope. He waved his hand and ordered the bailiff, "Take her to the jail and await trial!"

Upon hearing this, Chunhong was completely despaired. She collapsed to the ground as if she had lost all her energy and no longer struggled.

*

The house has been empty since the couple living across from the Liu family were thrown into jail for being involved in a missing persons case.

Not long after, a new family moved into the village - a widow, who brought her little daughter and lived in the deserted house.

The day they moved in, the villagers gathered in a distant whisper, casting curious glances. Wang looked no more than her early thirties. Her clothes, though worn, were clean and tidy. Her face was pretty, but her eyes held a hint of haggardness and stubbornness. The little girl beside her, no more than five or six, timidly hid behind her mother, not daring to look up.

"I heard that she was kicked out by her husband's family. How pitiful." An elderly woman in the village sighed softly.

"That's right. The man in the family died in the war, and life is really hard for them and their mother." Another village woman shook her head.

Liu Yeshu stood at the door of her house, listening to the discussions, looking at the slightly lonely figures of the mother and daughter, and walked up to ask if they needed help.

"No need." Wang lowered her head and didn't look at her. She carried the small amount of luggage without saying a word. Her body was thin but stood straight.

That night, the moonlight was dim and the village was silent. However, in front of the widow Wang's new house, there was a rustling sound of footsteps, followed by several low knocks on the door. The knocks were gentle at first, as if tentative, but then became rapid and malicious, accompanied by a few frivolous jokes.

"Sister Wang, don't be so lonely, come out and chat..."

The sound was particularly harsh in the silent night. The neighbors heard the noise but stayed indoors for fear of getting into trouble.

Liu Yeshu was just about to fall asleep when she faintly heard that malicious voice. She sat up and listened carefully, her face suddenly changed. She gently woke up the sleeping Liu Di and whispered, "Liu Di, there's a disturbance next door. Come with me to check it out."

Liu Di rubbed his sleepy eyes, and immediately became alert when he heard his sister's words, and quickly got up from the bed.

"Sister, take this."

Liu Yeshu looked down in the moonlight and saw that what Liu Di had handed her was a small slingshot. The siblings tiptoed up the eaves and peered toward the house opposite. They saw a scoundrel-looking man standing at the Wang family's door. His knocks grew increasingly urgent, accompanied by a smug laugh.

"Sister Wang, the village chief sent me here to tell you something. Please open the door first."

Liu Yeshu frowned, signaling Liu Di to prepare for action. Liu Di pulled out a few small stones, aimed at the thug, pulled the slingshot hard, and hurled them at him. However, despite extensive practice, his accuracy wasn't up to par at the crucial moment. The stones missed, hitting the thug's feet and sending up a cloud of dust.

The gangster was startled and looked around. Seeing that there was no one, he thought he had misheard and continued to knock on the door.

Seeing that Liu Di's slingshot was ineffective, Liu Yeshu grabbed a stone from the side and was about to throw it, but suddenly heard a "creak" and the door of Wang's house slowly opened. Liu Yeshu's heart tightened, and just as he was about to think of another way, he saw Wang come out of the door, holding a cold and gleaming kitchen knife in her hand.

The gangster turned pale upon seeing this, and quickly took a few steps back, stammering, "What are you doing?"

Wang's eyes flashed coldly, her expression was stern, and her voice was low but majestic: "What do you want to say?"

Her hand holding the knife did not tremble at all, and it was obvious that this was not the first time she faced such a situation.

Seeing this, the gangster's face suddenly changed. He took a few steps back and stammered, "What are you doing? I... I came here to help you out of kindness..."

Wang smiled coldly, her hand holding the knife steady as a rock, her voice low but full of intimidation: "If you don't want to taste the sharpness of this knife, get out of here! Don't let me see you again!"

Seeing that Wang was so tough and really had murderous intentions, the gangster dared not pester her any longer. He was so scared that he peed and shitted, and fled from Wang's yard, shouting before leaving.

"Shrew! No wonder your husband died and you were kicked out by your in-laws!"

Wang stood there and sneered. After a while, she wiped the tears from her face and turned to go in.

Liu Di jumped down from the eaves, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and said with a smile: "Sister, it seems that we don't need to take action. This new sister Wang can handle it herself!"

Liu Yeshu nodded. She was a little eager to get to know this new neighbor.

*

The next day, back at the General's Mansion, Chun Xing saw Liu Yeshu coming back and said, "Miss Liu, the sausages are all dried."

"Yuanbao, have you been eating well these past two days?"

"I'm feeling great! My belly is round and the injuries on my legs are all healed. I've gained a lot of weight in just a few days!"

"Okay, I'll go to the garden and pick some fresh vegetables to eat with the sausages tonight."

In the vegetable garden, the slightly chilly air mingled with the fresh scent of earth. Liu Yeshu's gaze fell on a row of white radishes. Their leaves stood upright, emerald green, their white tips faintly visible above the soil, plump and round. When they had almost dug up enough, Liu Yeshu grasped the leaves with both hands and gently lifted. The radishes popped out, carrying a hint of moist soil with them. Their roots were intact, their skin smooth and translucent, as if they had just absorbed the essence of winter from the earth.

Back in the kitchen, she expertly washed the radish and cut it into chunks of suitable size. She sliced ​​the air-dried sausage, the bright red fat wafting along the blade, a fragrance that made her mouth water. Liu Yeshu lit the stove and sautéed the sausage until fragrant. Then she added the chopped white radish, stir-frying for a moment before adding water and bringing it to a simmer.

As the stew progressed, the savory flavor of the sausages and the sweetness of the radish gradually blended together. The radish softened in the sausage's fat, and the broth became richer and richer, its aroma lingering in the kitchen for a long time. Liu Yeshu gently lifted the lid of the pot and took a spoonful of the soup. The flavor of the sausage permeated the radish, and the sweetness of the radish neutralized the savory flavor of the sausage, making it melt in her mouth.

Everything was ready. She poured the sausage and radish stew into a delicate porcelain bowl and brought it to Qi Yu's study. She knocked gently on the door. Qi Yu was reviewing military affairs. He smelled the fragrance outside and looked up to see Liu Yeshu coming in with the bowl.

"General," Liu Yeshu said softly, "Today's sausage and carrot soup is delicious, perfect for warming up."

Qi Yu put down the pen in his hand, and his eyes became a little softer. He took the bowl, scooped a spoonful and put it into his mouth. The rich taste of sausage and the sweetness of radish intertwined in his mouth, and it tasted really good.

"You are thoughtful." Qi Yu said with a smile, a hint of warmth in his voice.

The candlelight flickered in the study, its dim light illuminating his furrowed brow. He sat at his desk, his head bent over a mountain of military documents, his pen pausing several times, clearly weighed down by something on his mind.

Seeing Qi Yu put down his chopsticks after only a few bites, Liu Yeshu said anxiously, "General, what's wrong with today's meal?"

Qi Yu did not look up, still staring at the document in his hand, his brows furrowed deeper, and he shook his head: "The situation in the army is not good. There has been a sudden outbreak of plague recently."

"plague?"

Qi Yu finally put down his pen and sighed, "At first, only a few people were sick, and the doctors thought it was just a common cold. But within half a month, more and more soldiers were sick. The doctors were busy and exhausted, but they couldn't find a cure, and the number of people falling ill continued to increase."

He rubbed his temples, his expression weary: "The morale of the army has been greatly damaged."

"Don't worry, General. No matter how severe the plague is, there's always a solution." Liu Yeshu knelt down, clenched her right fist, and placed her left hand on top of it, palm facing outward. She bowed her head with a neither humble nor arrogant expression. "I've studied some ancient remedies, which may be able to help the medical officers and treat the sick soldiers. Today, I dare to offer some advice to help you. If this campaign is successful, I hope you will remember my contribution."

This salute was not an ordinary salute performed by women, but a fist-clasping salute performed by men in the army who took the initiative to ask for orders.

Qi Yu looked down at the person in front of him and said meaningfully, "Do you have a solution?"