Chapter 1167: Decision

The room was silent for a moment.

Little Treasure and Little Bear had lived in an environment filled with love since they were young. Although they had faced schemes and plots because of their status, those people were not their relatives, so they would not be sad over it. At this moment, they did not understand why someone would kill a blood-related loved one for 20 acres of land and more than 30 taels of silver.

Only Madam Zhao’s cries could be heard in the room.

Little Treasure didn’t know how to comfort her, but Little Bear suppressed his voice and said angrily, “Then report them to the authorities and send them to prison.”

Madam Zhao shook her head repeatedly. “No, if we report this to the authorities, the clan will definitely view us as enemies and we won’t be able to survive in the village.”

Little Treasure felt a lump in his chest and knew that she was right. “If you guys endure it this time, they will definitely attack again. Even if they fail again, what about the next time? Will she always be so lucky to escape this calamity?”

Madam Zhao’s body stiffened and she could not speak.

Prior to coming here, she had already made up her mind that if the clan wanted to protect Second Uncle, then she would avenge her daughter even if she had to risk her life. But now that her daughter was still alive, there was nothing more important than her staying alive.

Little Treasure held back Little Bear, who was about to speak, and said, “You have one night to consider. If you make up your mind tomorrow, let us know. I’ll definitely help if I can. We’re just passing by and can’t stay in one place for too long.”

Madam Zhao looked at her sleeping daughter in a daze.

Little Bear followed Little Treasure back to the room and said angrily, “Why did you stop me? A life for a life. If everyone lets criminals off for various reasons, what’s the use of having laws in Great Qi?”

“How can I not know? However, the power of the clan is greater than the law. It has always been like this in all dynasties. Even if she sues her mother-in-law and second uncle to the government office now, the clan will not accept her after this and she won’t be able to survive in this village.” Little Treasure said in a low voice, “The law’s purpose is to restrain people’s actions so that innocent people can be cleared of their grievances and live a better life. However, she can’t live well by following the law now.”

“Is this a fault of the law?”

“Of course it’s not the fault of the law.” Little Treasure sighed. “The fault lies with the fact that the power of the clan is above that of the law.”

Now that Niuniu was not dead, the authorities wouldn’t pursue the matter if no one reported the incident. Even if Niuniu died, the Zhang clan and villagers could detain Madam Zhao so that the government office would not know about this, and Niuniu’s death would be left unresolved.

Moreover, the ones who wanted to kill her were her biological grandmother and second uncle.

Frowning, Little Treasure said, “Actually, the power of the clan is much weaker than what it was during the Tang Dynasty or the Jin Dynasty, but it’s still not enough. At the same time, we can’t be overly radical, or it will only backfire.”

Little Bear scratched his head and said, “Forget about the relationship between the clans and the Imperial Court for now. Let’s think about how to resolve this matter. If we really leave them alone, they might die the moment we leave. Two lives are at stake.”

Little Treasure lowered his eyes, tapped the table, and said, “It’s actually quite simple. Zhao can take her daughter and leave this place, find work as a servant in the county town, or do some other job to support themselves. With the savings left behind by Zhang Dazhu, surviving wouldn’t be difficult. Then, she can report the case to the authorities and have her mother-in-law and second uncle arrested. For attempted murder, according to the laws of this dynasty, the former would be sentenced to three years of labor and exiled 300 li, while the latter would be exiled 500 li and enslaved. This is the worst option.”

“Is there a better option?”

“The best strategy is to persuade the Zhang family to take the initiative to send her mother-in-law and Zhang Erzhu to the government, or to agree to let Madam Zhao take in a son-in-law to bear the bride’s family name. Alternatively, they could let Madam Zhao adopt a son after Niuniu grows up, so that the family name could be passed down.”

“That’s impossible.” Little Bear said without thinking, “Since they didn’t agree to Madam Zhao’s request previously, it’s even more impossible for them to agree now. Unless…” Little Bear rolled his eyes and said, “Unless we expose our identities and use our power to suppress them.”

“Using our influence, we can suppress them for now, but we can’t suppress them forever,” Little Treasure said.

“So we can only choose the worst option?”

“It depends on Madam Zhao’s choice.” Little Treasure felt that this was just their opinion, and everyone had their own way of living. While they were thinking in the best interests of Madam Zhao and her daughter, they might not appreciate it.

Madam Zhao was thinking about what she should do. Outside, the Zhang family was also discussing what to do with the mother and daughter.

The village chief looked at the Zhang clan’s patriarch hatefully and said, “Look at the mess your clan has created. Once this matter gets out, our entire village will be looked at differently.”

Patriarch Zhang gritted his teeth and said, “Those people claimed that Niuniu was suffocating and we should just take their word for it? Dazhu’s wife clearly said that the child died of illness.”

It was obvious that he had made up his mind to deny all wrongdoing.

The village chief gritted his teeth and said, “I believe you, but they don’t. If they really report it to the authorities, do you think Erzhu and the others can escape?”

Patriarch Zhang lowered his eyes and said, “Niuniu carries the Zhang clan’s bloodline and her life also belongs to the Zhang clan. It’s not up to a group of outsiders to decide. Now that Dazhu is dead, I don’t think the young Madam Zhao will remain a widow for life. We can find another family to marry her off…”

The guards were curious about what this group of people was talking about, so they eavesdropped. When they heard this, the anger in their chests surged.

They felt that as guards in the palace, they had seen and heard many filthy things. They did not expect to see such a disgusting thing in a simple village. These people had clearly welcomed them affectionately when they arrived last night. In order to prevent them from freezing outside, they had even sent their quilts to keep them warm.

Everyone said that countryside folks were simple and honest. Yet now, this ‘simple’ and ‘honest’ group of people were planning to murder a child and marry a pitiful woman who had just lost her husband and daughter to another widower.

The few guards who were eavesdropping looked at each other and quietly left the roof. They returned to the house and reported what they’d heard to the two young masters.

Little Treasure looked at them speechlessly. There were especially many guards who had been sent out to eavesdrop tonight. He was pretty certain that if one stood at a high place and looked down, they would see many people lying on the roofs of half of the houses in the village.

Little Treasure massaged his temples and said, “Go find Madam Zhao and tell her this. There’s no need to report to me. By the way, where’s Second Young Master?”

The guard said excitedly, “Second Young Master is still on the roof. He has already eavesdropped on two families and has run to the next one.”

Little Treasure’s lips twitched. “Since it’s almost dawn, get them to come back. Make sure nobody finds out.”

“Eldest Young Master, don’t worry. With Second Young Master’s martial arts, no one will find out,” the guard said confidently.

Little Treasure turned around and left. He only hated himself for not being skilled enough in martial arts. He could only watch as his men ran out to eavesdrop.

In the room, after Madam Zhao heard the guard’s words, she covered her face and cried. She inadvertently looked up and saw the sympathy in the guard’s eyes.

Sympathy!

Was she going to live with such gazes for the rest of her life?

No, no, once these people left, she might really be forcefully remarried by her husband’s family. At that time, no matter how hard she cried, no one would respond. If her daughter stayed alone in the Zhang family, even if she somehow managed to survive, she wouldn’t be able to live well. In that case, it was better to fight to the death. Even if she and her daughter went to the netherworld, they could still reunite with her husband!

Madam Zhao wiped her tears and rushed out with such haste that the guards could not stop her.

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