Xianglan wished she could tear Cao Lihuan’s flesh and drink her blood, thinking to herself, "Cao Lihuan is utterly detestable and hateful. I will make her pay in blood." Turning her head, she happened to see Han Yaozu smiling obsequiously as he saw off his guests. She said, "Magistrate Han, Cao Lihuan was originally connected to the Lin family by marriage and had stayed in their residence for some time. Do you know why the Lin family later drove her out?" Xianglan paused, then spoke word by word, "Because Cao Lihuan’s heart is utterly wicked. She attempted to harm General Lin’s own sister by putting something unclean in her wine. I discovered it and reported it to Madam. The Lin family was furious and expelled her. That’s why she holds a grudge against me. Magistrate Han, by avenging her here, you must have made her ecstatic." After saying this, she turned and left.
Han Yaozu’s expression changed dramatically. He cursed inwardly, "That wretched Cao Lihuan has truly ruined me!" But on his face, he adopted a different demeanor. He jogged a few steps to catch up with Xianglan, flattering her with a smile, "Thank you, young lady. I had no idea that venomous woman was so malicious and had used me. I, Han, was ignorant and have wronged your entire family. I owe you an immense favor and will surely repay you heavily. As for that treacherous woman Cao, I will deal with her and give you an explanation!"
Xianglan ignored him completely, her face taut as she walked forward. Han Yaozu followed her obsequiously all the way to the main gate, watching the carriage speed away. His face "slapped" into a grimace, the amiable brightness replaced by a chilling gloom. He strode back inside but found the room empty. Fuming with impatience, he lifted the hem of his official robe and ran outside to search, only to see Cao Lihuan about to slip away in a sedan chair at the back gate. Fury surged in Han Yaozu’s heart, and malice rose in his guts. He rushed forward, grabbed Cao Lihuan by the collar, and slapped her twice, cursing, "You wretch! You’ve ruined me!"
Cao Lihuan screamed in shock, shielding her head and face with her arms. Han Yaozu continued hitting her while shouting, "You wretch! I’ve always treated you well. Why did you have to harm me like this?"
Cao Lihuan dodged left and right, pleading, "Heavens! Earth! Master, you’re wronging me! I didn’t know either. Who would have thought that slut Chen Xianglan would seduce Lin Jinlou? She was just a lowly maid... Master, I truly had your best interests at heart. Please remember our past..."
Han Yaozu roared, "If it were just Lin Jinlou’s concubine, it might still be manageable. But you provoked Madam Lin and the young lady! No wonder Lin Jinlou said I had the courage of a bear and the gall of a leopard. It was all you, you treacherous woman, who incited and set me up! How can I forgive you for this? If I lose my official position because of this, not even killing you will quell my hatred!" He beat Cao Lihuan until blood streamed from her nose and her eyes were blackened.
Cao Lihuan, being a fierce and shrewish woman, had never suffered such humiliation before. Though she feared Han Yaozu’s official authority, she couldn’t help but fight back, scratching his face a couple of times.
Just as the chaos reached its peak, Han Guangye, having received the news, rushed from the rear residence to the front. Seeing Han Yaozu beating Cao Lihuan and noticing distant yamen runners and servants peeking, he shouted angrily, "What are you looking at? Get lost!" He ordered his personal servant to chase them away, then approached Han Yaozu, folding his arms and saying, "Father, stop hitting her. In broad daylight, what will people think if they see this? How will your reputation fare?"
Only then did Han Yaozu stop, panting heavily. He grabbed Han Guangye’s hand and said, "My son, this has ruined me!" With that, tears streamed down his face.Han Guangye offered a few words of consolation before kicking Cao Lihuan and snarling, "You vile woman! I'll deal with you later!" Cao Lihuan collapsed to the ground, sobbing pitifully, while Han Guangye ignored her and helped Han Yaozu back to his room to discuss matters.
Meanwhile, Han Yaozu's wife, Madam Jiang, had received news in the inner quarters. She changed her clothes and hurried to the front, only to see several scratches from a woman on Han Yaozu's face. When she asked how he had been scratched, Han Yaozu hemmed and hawed, evading her questions. Growing suspicious, she had the servants attending him beaten until she learned that he had been carrying on with the wife of a subordinate. Madam Jiang flew into a rage. She was an extremely stern woman, tall and stout, ten times fiercer than Cao Lihuan. She immediately grabbed Han Yaozu by the beard and yelled, "You shameless old fool! No wonder you've been complaining of all sorts of ailments lately—back pain, runny nose, deafness, and blurred vision! It's all because of that little seductress! I work tirelessly at home, bearing your children, managing the household, and caring for your parents, while you're off philandering with that little harlot! How miserable my life is!" She wept wildly, her hair disheveled, then threw herself to the ground and rolled around in a fit.
Han Yaozu snapped, "Are you done yet? Pull yourself together and stop making a scene!"
Tears streaming down her face, Madam Jiang cried, "How dare you speak to me like that! Have you fallen for that little seductress? Do you plan to divorce me and marry her?"
Han Guangye hurried over to mediate, coaxing and persuading until Madam Jiang finally calmed down.
Back in her room, Madam Jiang grew angrier the more she thought about it. She changed into comfortable cotton clothes, removed all her hairpins and ornaments, and headed to Cao Lihuan's house with her servants. Bursting into the room, she found Cao Lihuan applying medicine in front of a mirror. Madam Jiang grabbed Cao Lihuan by the hair and yanked her to the ground, gritting her teeth as she cursed, "You dog of an adulteress! How dare you seduce him!"
Caught off guard, Cao Lihuan fell to the floor with a thud. She traded insults with Madam Jiang, and the two women began brawling. Madam Jiang's servants stood guard at the door, refusing to let anyone enter. The Ren family was frantic but helpless, and they quickly sent word to Ren Yu. Though Cao Lihuan had some strength, she was no match for Madam Jiang, who flipped her over and pinned her down. She tore at Cao Lihuan's clothes, beating and cursing her, then delivered several fierce kicks to her abdomen. Cao Lihuan screamed in pain, curling into a ball. Upon closer inspection, it was clear that her lower body was stained with blood.
Though Madam Jiang would have gladly strangled Cao Lihuan, she feared causing a death and eventually called off her servants and left. Huier, Siqiao, and others hastily carried Cao Lihuan to bed and summoned a physician, who diagnosed that Cao Lihuan had been two months pregnant and had miscarried due to Madam Jiang's beating.
Ren Yu had just returned home when he received the news. He stood frozen, his eyes slowly reddening. Huier, seeing this, rolled her eyes and sidled up to him, saying, "Why are you so upset? Everyone knows about her dirty affair with Magistrate Han. Who knows whose child that really was!"
Ren Yu continued to sigh deeply and wanted to go in to see Cao Lihuan, but Huier tugged at him and smiled. "She just took medicine and is asleep now. Wouldn't you disturb her if you went in? Come to my room instead. I sent someone to buy pastries from Suxiang Shop. Have a couple to tide you over. The new clothes I had the tailor make for you yesterday have arrived too. Let's see if they fit. If not, I'll have them altered for you." She pulled Ren Yu straight to her side room.Siqiao was just coming out of the kitchen with medicine when she saw this and gave a faint, cold smile. Lowering her head again, she went into the bedroom. Cao Lihuan’s face was deathly pale, her cheeks sickly, and further marred by the marks of beatings. Siqiao lifted Cao Lihuan’s head and poured the medicine down her throat. Cao Lihuan coughed a few times and asked weakly, "Has the master returned?"
Siqiao replied, "Not yet, Madam, rest now." She wiped Cao Lihuan’s mouth with a handkerchief, then left with the empty bowl.
Now, this Cao Lihuan had originally been a woman of robust health and strong constitution. But ever since her miscarriage, she had been bedridden and eventually fell gravely ill. Within a few days, Ren Yu lost his official post and returned home. Then, Lady Jiang personally came to demand the clothes and jewelry that Han Yaozu had once given to Cao Lihuan. After rummaging through her belongings, she took away an entire jewelry box and two chests of fine clothing. Struggling in bed, Cao Lihuan grew increasingly furious and distressed, her body battered inside and out, until she developed a consumptive illness. Several physicians were consulted, but none could cure her.
Gradually, even her usual attendants, Huier and Siqiao, began to ignore her orders. Huier was scarcely seen all day, and Siqiao rarely entered the room. Feeding her meals and medicine became mere formalities, and when she craved soup or water, no one attended to her. Cao Lihuan was enraged, but she was too gravely ill and bedridden to even muster the strength to scold anyone. When she mentioned the maids’ disobedience to Ren Yu, he went to question them. Siqiao immediately cried out, "Master, this servant works tirelessly every day—cooking, washing, cleaning the house, and attending to Madam. Changing bed linens, handling chamber pots, serving soup and meals—it all falls on me alone. Sister Huier, on the other hand, lives a life of leisure, spending her days primping in front of the mirror with rouge and powder. How dare I trouble her! If Sister Huier were willing to wash clothes and cook, I would surely take better care of Madam."
Ren Yu then ordered Huier to help, but Huier was deeply displeased, muttering and making indirect complaints under her breath. After two days, she stopped again, and Ren Yu did not pursue the matter further. Cao Lihuan’s condition worsened; she grew increasingly lethargic, her face sallow and gaunt, reduced to skin and bones. At first, Ren Yu would visit her room to check on her, but gradually, his visits became less frequent. When asked about his whereabouts, Siqiao would often reply, "The master lost his official post and must find another. Everyone in this household depends on him for food."
Cao Lihuan said weakly, "I still have a manor and two properties. There should be some silver to get by. Tell the master to come home and stay with me a few more days. Why bother with some tedious job?"
Siqiao curled her lip and retorted, "Madam, how can you be so ungrateful? With two hailstorms this summer, who knows how much harvest the manor will yield? The two properties are rented out, but Madam needs medicine every day—ginseng, angelica, poria, bird’s nest—all calculated, the silver flows like water. Not to mention the nourishing congee and meals, all made from the finest ingredients. Madam spends a tael of silver a day! If the master doesn’t go out to find work, are we to just sit here until the money runs out? Besides, Madam now bears the reputation of a 'wanton woman.' So many people point fingers and gossip, tarnishing the master’s reputation. No one wants to hire him. In our current state, who knows how long Madam will even have silver for medicine?"
These words made Cao Lihuan see stars. Gasping for half a breath, she gritted her teeth and said, "If we run out of silver, the first one I’ll sell is you, you wretched girl!"Siqiao sneered coldly, "Oh? If I'm sold off, who will serve Madam in the future?" After saying this, she set the congee in her hand down on the small table and left without even turning her head, deliberately leaving Cao Lihuan to go hungry for a whole meal. It wasn't until evening that she finally brought that bowl of cold congee to force-feed her, then said with a false smile, "Madam, back then I was just momentarily blinded and got driven out of the Lin family. Serving you like this is already more than what my conscience deserves. Perhaps you still don't know? That loyal servant of yours, Huier, has been seducing the master and climbing into his bed ever since you fell ill. The master has been staying in her room day and night for a long time. Just yesterday we received news—the physician diagnosed her with one month of pregnancy. The master was so delighted he gave the physician a tael of silver as reward. Now Huier is resting to protect her pregnancy, and I'm kept busy attending to her all day long!"
OpenNovel