The commotion drew those who hadn't left the front courtyard, and they all ran towards the back.
Chunyao and Liang Maimiao also stood up, intending to go to the back.
"Has Yunniang come back?"
"Haven't seen her."
A bad feeling simultaneously arose in both their hearts.
"Sister Chunyao, Maimiao, what's happening in the back?" Ye Yunniang's voice came from the doorway.
"Yunniang, why were you gone so long?"
"Got oil on my clothes, couldn't wash it off, felt uncomfortable all over. Went home to change." Ye Yunniang explained, looking towards the back. "What's going on back there?"
"Not sure. Let's go see."
"Don't dawdle, you two, hurry up!" Liang Maimiao urged anxiously.
In the backyard, Ma Hui sat on the ground looking utterly bewildered. His appearance was far from good.
The corner of his mouth was split, he'd even lost a tooth, and half his face was swollen—he had been beaten badly.
Wang Qiang, who was beside him heartbrokenly wiping away the blood, was full of confusion. Everything had been arranged, so how did it go wrong?
Why was the woman with Ma Hui Xiumei and not Ye Yunniang?
Xiumei dressed herself slowly and methodically, not showing a trace of panic or fear at being discovered.
"Xiumei, how can you do such a shameless thing? Are you worthy of your husband and child?" Granny Zhang, having rushed over upon hearing the news, was filled with anger and disappointment.
Hearing this, Xiumei laughed. First a light chuckle, then uproarious laughter.
After laughing, Xiumei looked at Zhang Er, who was being held back by Zhang San. "Angry? Heartbroken? Feel like killing someone?"
"Third Brother, let me go." Zhang Er clenched his fists, veins bulging on his face. No man could accept his wife being with another man...
"Second Brother, don't let her get to you," Zhang San shouted, not letting go.
Zhang Er struggled, uttering threats. "You bitch, I won't let you two off!"
"Oh my, getting angry now? Not silent anymore? Can speak?" Xiumei tugged at her collar, revealing marks on her neck.
Several men in the crowd swallowed hard at the sight.
The women, meanwhile, covered their men's eyes while cursing, "Shameless!"
The red marks and the surrounding gossip further enraged Zhang Er. Losing control of his temper, he forcefully shook off Zhang San.
"You adulterous scum, I'll kill you!"
Zhang Er pulled a dagger from his robe and charged at Ma Hui.
Ma Hui, sitting on the ground, couldn't get up in time. He watched helplessly as the dagger stabbed towards him.
"Stop him!"
Someone shouted, but no one dared to step forward, afraid of being accidentally injured by Zhang Er.
By the time Zhang San scrambled up to intervene, the dagger had already plunged into Wang Qiang's chest.
"Qiangzi—!" Granny Wang screamed, rushing forward. "My son! Help!... Qiangzi, don't scare your mother... Someone get a doctor, fetch a doctor!"
Not satisfied with stabbing Wang Qiang, Zhang Er pulled out the dagger and moved to kill Ma Hui.
"Second Brother, don't!" Zhang San grabbed Zhang Er's wrist, but it was too late. The dagger stabbed into Ma Hui's abdomen.
"I'm sorry," Ma Hui said, not dodging, apologizing to Zhang Er.
"Murder—!"
The onlookers backed away, terrified that the furious Zhang Er might turn on them as well.
"Zhang Er, is that all you've got? Let me tell you, Ma Hui isn't the only one. There are plenty more. Even your eldest brother—"
"Shut up!" Granny Zhang rushed over and slapped Xiumei.
Unfazed by the slap, Xiumei continued, "Zhang Da has also been in my bed, and the two men from the Gao family up front. Oh, right, your so-called good brothers and friends have all been in my bed too, hahaha..."
"You're insane," Granny Zhang stared at Xiumei in shock.
"Yes, I'm insane. Driven mad by your son. He loved Qiufang, but married me.
Never home, leaving me to guard an empty room, a laughingstock who couldn't keep her man's heart.
As a man, if he couldn't fulfill my needs, naturally I had to find others." Xiumei chuckled, her face full of the exhilaration of revenge.
The anger that had just subsided surged again because of Xiumei's words. Zhang Er raised his dagger and charged towards the Gao family men not far away.
Hearing this, Granny Zhang began pounding her own chest. "It's all my fault. I shouldn't have been greedy for that dowry and brought such a calamity into the family. I've wronged my second son—" Granny Zhang wailed, then, unable to catch her breath, fainted.
"Mother!" Zhang San went to catch Granny Zhang.
Several women in the crowd, upon hearing Xiumei claim she'd been with their men, angrily charged at the laughing Xiumei.
"You bitch, seducing my husband!"
Ye Yunniang pulled Chunyao and Liang Maimiao out of the crowd and into an alleyway.
All three were pale, never expecting things to turn out like this.
"Let's go home," Liang Maimiao's voice trembled. She had no desire to watch the spectacle now.
Ye Yunniang and Chunyao nodded. Supporting each other, the three headed home, running right into Tie Xiong, who was rushing over after hearing the news.
Tie Xiong gave Ye Yunniang a nod and led his men into the still-screaming No. 7 courtyard.
Ye Yunniang went to the Xu house first to fetch Li Ping.
"Stay here a while longer, rest a bit before going back," Granny Xu, who already knew what had happened, urged Ye Yunniang.
"No, thank you, Auntie Xu. I'd rather be at home." Ye Yunniang took Li Ping's hand and headed home.
Once home, Li Ping hugged Ye Yunniang.
"Mother, what's wrong?" He could feel Ye Yunniang trembling.
"Mother got a fright," Ye Yunniang said simply, holding her son tightly, drawing warmth from him.
Today, she had been truly terrified. It could have been her—just a little difference, and she would have been the one surrounded and shamed by the crowd.
Ye Yunniang never imagined Wang Qiang would be so bold as to make a move on her in broad daylight.
As she lost consciousness, Ye Yunniang felt endless regret for not listening to Cai Damei's advice and acting alone.
She thought it was over for her.
Then, a sharp, clearing scent hit her nose. Opening her eyes, Tong Mo's face appeared before her.
"I saved your life. You should repay me by marrying me," Tong Mo said, nodding emphatically.
Ye Yunniang's gratitude instantly halved. She got off the bed to leave. She couldn't be seen in this bridal chamber.
Pulling the door had no effect.
"The door's locked," Tong Mo reminded her.
With the door blocked, Ye Yunniang headed for the window.
The window could be pushed open. As Ye Yunniang tried to climb out, Tong Mo stopped her.
"Leaving just like that?"
"You have a plan?"
"As expected, Yunniang understands me best." Tong Mo gave an inscrutable smile, reached out the window, and pulled a woman inside.
Ye Yunniang recognized her at a glance—it was Xiumei, Granny Zhang's second daughter-in-law.
"Don't involve innocent people."
"This woman is far from innocent. She's been in cahoots with Wang Qiang for a while, cuckolding Zhang Er.
She even had Wang Qiang introduce other men to her, turning Zhang Er's head completely green.
Wang Qiang's plot against you was her idea. The person who sprinkled the knockout powder on you in the backyard just now was also her." Tong Mo's words stopped Ye Yunniang's further objections.
"Hurry up," Ye Yunniang urged, not wanting to stay a moment longer.
Tong Mo grunted in agreement, placed Xiumei on the bed, took out a small bottle, opened it, and poured a few drops of liquid onto Xiumei.
A fragrance emanated from Xiumei's body.
Ye Yunniang lifted her sleeve to smell. It was somewhat similar to the scent on her own clothes, but more intense.
Tong Mo then used hair to cover Xiumei's face and led Ye Yunniang away.
