The villagers, as if granted a great amnesty, helped each other up, their legs trembling, and began to leave. Tian Linhua also scrambled to her feet, wanting to flee, but was stopped by Zhuzi.
"Let me go, I was bewitched, I won't dare again..."
The village chief looked at Tian Linhua, who was like a puddle of mud, and shook his head. If only she had known this would happen, why had she acted this way? Relying on her three overbearing brothers, she had been accustomed to running rampant in Bozi Village, completely unaware of the consequences.
"Village Chief Uncle!"
Only now did Tian Linhua's husband arrive late. The village chief was furious and kicked him several times. "Such a commotion, and you only show up now? Are your ears stuffed with cotton or your mouth sealed? Those three ruffians came to the village, and you didn't even tell me! Now look, someone's dead! How are you going to fix this!"
Liu Suotou was of the same Liu surname as the village chief, and the village chief was truly angry. Tian Linhua was his wife, how could he escape blame?
With a death in Bozi Village, the entire Donglin County would likely know by tomorrow. Who would dare marry their daughters here now!
"Village Chief Uncle..." Liu Suotou's face was ashen.
He truly hadn't expected things to be this serious. He thought at most Xiao Shan would beat them up, or they would beat up Xiao Shan and extort some money.
Who could have imagined a death would occur!
Xiao Shan was tending to the woman and Yutou inside the house, applying medicine. The village chief sighed, unsure of what to do. Xiao Shan's words were resolute; now, they could only see how the yamen would handle it.
"Suotou, you must save me! You have to save me! My brother is dead, Suotou—" Tian Linhua cried out to Liu Suotou.
Liu Suotou had never seen the proud Tian Linhua in such a pathetic state, and a surge of satisfaction welled up in his heart.
"Get lost!" He kicked Tian Linhua away. "You wicked woman, heaven will not tolerate you! Today, I divorce you!"
Liu Suotou had never felt so relieved. He felt his back straighten. The village chief and Zhuzi looked at Liu Suotou in surprise.
Tian Linhua was stunned, looking at Liu Suotou as if she didn't recognize him.
In her memory, Liu Suotou was a gentle man who had never raised his voice at her. No, he hadn't dared to. And now, he wanted to divorce her?
Because her brother was dead? She had no one to back her up anymore?
"You dare! Liu Suotou! If you dare divorce me, have you forgotten who supported you! With your useless body, if I hadn't married you back then, you would have starved to death long ago! You ungrateful wretch! Now you want to divorce me, no way!"
Yes, his body was not good, he couldn't do heavy labor. Back then, she married him for his looks. For years, she had been overbearing, suffocating him. And later...
"Tian Linhua, you say I'm ungrateful? Without you, I was destined to starve to death? If you hadn't interfered back then, I would have married Cuilan long ago, and she wouldn't have married that old widower and been beaten to death!"
The village chief and Zhuzi were witnessing quite the spectacle, their expressions growing more grim.
Tian Linhua's hair stood on end, and she almost jumped up despite her injuries. "Good! Liu Suotou, so you still can't forget that little slut! No wonder, no wonder you don't sleep with me, no wonder you're useless in bed!"
The village chief coughed violently, and Liu Suotou's face turned a shade of liver-red.
"I'm useless, I'm useless, so you went and rolled around with that old bachelor! You treated me like a cuckold, thinking I didn't know! On the Dragon Boat Festival, I heard everything from beginning to end! You slut! Shameless! On the stone cliff, weren't you afraid of getting hurt!"
Silence!
Tian Linhua felt as if her throat was being choked, looking at Liu Suotou in terror.
"Creak!"
The door opened, and Xiao Shan walked out, his face dark, looking at Tian Linhua and Liu Suotou as if they were two disgusting insects.
"Say one more word, and I'll rip out your tongue!"
Liu Suotou shivered and hunched his neck.
Xiao Shan's expression was unreadable as he gave the village chief a meaningful glance.
The village chief had lost all face today. Zhuzi grinned dryly, not knowing what to say; it was too embarrassing.
To think he usually felt sympathy for Brother Suotou.
Alas! These two really deserved each other.
Seven or eight people from the yamen arrived and were also greatly surprised by the tragic scene in the courtyard. Donglin County hadn't had such a vicious incident in years.
The constable in charge, Du Ling, had been specifically instructed by the county magistrate before arriving. He looked at Xiao Shan, who stood like a mountain in the courtyard, and dared not treat him like others.
Even if the county magistrate hadn't said anything, he wouldn't have dared. This man's aura was truly terrifying.
"Xiao Shan, you must also go to the yamen. The county magistrate will decide."
Xiao Shan nodded. The village chief quickly said, "I am the village chief of Bozi Village, I will go too."
Du Ling nodded. "Naturally. The village chief of Tianjia Village has also been notified. Let's go quickly!"
Xiao Shan entered the room. Xue Niang and Yutou were there, along with Xiaohu, who had a crippled leg.
"Xue Niang, I'm going to the yamen and will be back shortly. You and Yutou wait for me at home. Xiaohu, protect your master."
"Woof woof—" Xiaohu responded.
"Xiao Shan, I remember, the law is indeed like that, isn't it?" Xue Niang looked at him with some worry.
Anyone who trespassed into a private residence and acted to the detriment of the homeowner, and the homeowner killed the villain in self-defense, could be judged innocent.
She vaguely remembered such a clause, but her memory was hazy, and she couldn't be sure.
Xiao Shan's expression was inscrutable as he nodded without hesitation. "Of course. Don't worry, even if they were all killed, it would be fine."
Xue Niang felt slightly relieved, her expression showing some fatigue.
"Sleep for a while, and I'll be back."
Xiao Shan was filled with questions. This law had only recently been promulgated. In general, remote areas hadn't even received the news. He knew it was because he had cast a vote for it; the origin was a case in the capital.
About a year ago, the Second Prince was out sightseeing with Princess Lingyin of the Ruan Nan Royal Estate. Unexpectedly, Princess Lingyin was targeted by a villain. While the Second Prince was away, the villain attempted to assault the princess but was killed by her in self-defense.
If the villain had been an ordinary citizen, it would have been one thing. But the villain was the second son of Grand Tutor Lu, whose power was immense, with many allies in the court. Naturally, he wouldn't let the matter rest.
At the time, Grand Tutor Lu and the Ruan Nan Royal Estate were locked in a protracted struggle. The court was tense, and he, stationed at the border, had heard about it. Even the usually favored Second Prince was whipped and imprisoned by the Emperor for two months.
In the end, the Ruan Nan Royal Estate prevailed, adopting a voting system and forcefully adding this law to the criminal code.
He had always disliked treacherous officials like Grand Tutor Lu and had cast a vote in favor.
It was rumored that Princess Lingyin was eventually forced to hang herself.
Xiao Shan didn't care about the outcome; those matters had nothing to do with him. It was just that the law, which he had only recently realized the significance of, was indeed reasonable.
Those who committed home invasion and murder deserved to die.
Those who insulted Xue Niang deserved to die!
He knew about this law because he was at the center of power. But what about Xue Niang? How did Xue Niang know? Was she from a judicial family?
The Minister of Justice? His surname was Cao, and he had three sons but no daughters.
Or, was she related to Princess Lingyin?
Royalty?