Li Hu kicked Bai Xue Lian in the chest. "I warned you, but you ignored me. Don't blame me for being impolite. A woman like you, shameless and seducing the master of the house, deserves to be beaten to death."
Bai Xue Lian screamed and fell to the ground.
Her face contorted in pain, tears streaming down her face as she stared at Li Shan.
Li Shan, who had been feeling guilty, saw his beloved woman being abused by his son and felt a surge of righteous indignation.
"Do you have any respect for your father, you brat? Don't forget I'm the head of this household." Li Shan stepped forward, helped Bai Xue Lian up, and pulled her into his embrace. With his position compromised, denying it was futile.
Shameless? Disgraceful? Chen Shimei?
Qi Zhen Zhen found herself speechless to describe Li Shan.
He had presented himself as honest and simple before, but in an instant, he had transformed.
Was the charm of this "little white flower" so potent? It was unbelievable.
Li Hu was just a child, and seeing his father act like this, he was at a loss.
Qi Zhen Zhen chuckled. Instead of showing any shame for being caught in a disgraceful act, he had become brazen.
"Miss Lian, do you think you're safe with Li Shan protecting you? Don't forget, you're of low status!" Qi Zhen Zhen said with a smile. "Do you want me to explain what low status means? One of the clauses is that you cannot marry a commoner. This means even if you are with Li Shan, you're merely his plaything. As long as Sister Rui Xue doesn't agree, or if she sells you off or beats you to death, it would all be in accordance with the laws of Da Feng. You colluded with Li Shan while she was out. What do you think your fate will be?"
Bai Xue Lian had indeed relied on Li Shan, which was why she wasn't afraid. But after hearing Qi Zhen Zhen's words, she felt a pang of fear. The deed of sale was still in Cheng Rui Xue's possession. According to her plan, she was supposed to gradually gain a foothold in the household. But who knew Li Shan would be so impatient? He had come to her room while Lin Rui Xue was out. To prevent Li Hu from hearing, he had even blown a bit of sleeping gas into his room, claiming it was something he had acquired by chance when he was a peddler.
Bai Xue Lian knew that to achieve her goals, she couldn't always refuse; she had to give him some encouragement occasionally.
They had deliberately bolted the door, but then...
"Miss Qi, this is our family's business. It has nothing to do with you, does it? As a young lady, it's not appropriate for you to meddle in the private affairs of men, is it?" With the soft jade beside him, Li Shan's confidence grew.
"Oh, yes, this is your Li family's business, and I really can't interfere." Qi Zhen Zhen shrugged. "Then let's not talk about this. Let's talk about business. I think your character, Li Shan, is questionable, and we are not suitable for cooperation."
"Hu Zi, let's go. You're a child, you can't get involved in your father's affairs." Qi Zhen Zhen called to Li Hu. "Your mother is at my place. It's not good to keep this from her."
Li Hu, stiff as a plank, was pulled away by Qi Zhen Zhen.
Yesterday, he had been full of spirit, believing he could protect his mother. Today, his father was openly protecting this woman. He didn't see him or his mother. He remembered not long ago his father had said he would send him to school in the county town and had been considerate of his mother, fearing she would be tired. In the blink of an eye, everything had changed because of this woman's appearance.
"What's wrong?" Lin Rui Xue asked anxiously, seeing Li Hu standing there like a wooden doll.
"Sister-in-law, I went with Ming Yue to bring food to Hu Zi. The main door was bolted. I, I used my hairpin to remove the bolt. Hu Zi was unconscious. I pinched his philtrum and woke him up. Hu Zi heard the sounds of laughter from the west room and couldn't help himself, so he kicked the door open. The little white flower was a bit disheveled, and Brother Shan was also in the room. They were playing blind man's bluff. Hu Zi thought what they were doing was improper, so he kicked the little white flower. Brother Shan protected that little white flower..." Qi Zhen Zhen recounted the entire incident without embellishment.
Lin Rui Xue slowly moved to the edge of the kang, let her legs dangle, put on her shoes, and walked to Li Hu. She took his hand. "Hu Zi, don't be afraid. Mother is here for you. Zhen Zhen, keep the deed of sale with you for now. If they take it from me, what then?"
Qi Zhen Zhen took the deed of sale, looking concerned. "Sister-in-law, are you alright? Take care of yourself. You're pregnant."
"Don't worry, I'm not that fragile. I thought he was just momentarily blinded, but now it seems his heart is also blinded. If that's the case, I don't need to cling to the past anymore. I can live without him." Lin Rui Xue said word by word, "Our fate ends here. Lingering is meaningless."
Yun Shi and Yu Shi exchanged glances, seeing helplessness in each other's eyes. Forcing someone back in such a situation would only lead to a loveless marriage and a difficult life.
"I'll accompany Rui Xue. Zhen Zhen, you don't need to go. Ming Yue can stay with Aunt Qi," Yu Shi said, stepping forward to link arms with Lin Rui Xue and help her outside.
At Li Shan's house, Bai Xue Lian's pretty face was deathly pale. She knelt in the Li family courtyard, tears frequently rolling down her cheeks.
Li Shan tried to pull her up, but she refused to budge, repeatedly muttering that she was wrong, that she had shamelessly seduced Li Shan, and that she would kneel there until Lin Rui Xue forgave her. If Lin Rui Xue didn't forgive her, she wouldn't get up.
Preemptive strike? Retreat to advance?
It was a cold day, and she wasn't wearing much. Kneeling on the cold ground would be agonizing.
But no matter what Li Shan said, Bai Xue Lian refused to get up.
As they were pulling and tugging, Lin Rui Xue, Yu Shi, and Li Hu arrived at the doorway.
Li Shan rushed forward. "Rui Xue, quickly tell Lian to get up. We didn't do anything. I was just fooling around with her. This foolish girl insists she's wrong and wants to kneel to beg for your forgiveness. On such a cold day, her knees will be ruined!"
Lin Rui Xue's face was a mask of coldness, revealing nothing, but her heart was filled with endless sorrow. The man who had once vowed to love her forever now couldn't see her. How ridiculous.
"If she wants to kneel, let her kneel. She's just a servant," Lin Rui Xue said, her hand clenching tightly, causing Li Hu to wince in pain.
Li Shan was taken aback by Lin Rui Xue's words and felt a flicker of anger. Seeing Yu Shi also present, he felt Lin Rui Xue was deliberately trying to embarrass him. This was their family matter; why bring an outsider? Was she trying to show off? To tell him she had support? It was truly unreasonable!
"Rui Xue, I will explain this to you. But this is ultimately a matter between us as husband and wife..."
"Li Shan, if you have the guts to do such a thing, don't be afraid of people talking," Lin Rui Xue said coldly. "And don't say any more nonsense. Just tell me directly, what do you want?"