Chapter 64: It’s Too Late for Regret

Li Erxia slumped to the ground, her expression filled with despair.

Zhang Gousheng looked at her with frustration and disappointment. He’d been planning to falsely accuse a local bachelor of being Ji Chunhua’s lover, but with his mother’s thoughtless words, all his schemes fell apart, shattering like broken abacus beads.

Hu Zhaodi exchanged a glance with the magistrate’s wife, and they couldn’t help but laugh.

The magistrate’s wife spoke up, “My lord, I’ve examined Ji Chunhua’s injuries. Her body is almost entirely covered in bruises—she’s been treated horribly. And her two children are skin and bones, still bearing scars from past beatings. My lord, if Ji Chunhua and her daughters remain with her in-laws, they won’t survive another year.”

The magistrate nodded, his gaze icy as he fixed it on Li Erxia and her son. “Li Erxia, you and your son have harmed these young girls, abused Ji Chunhua, and the evidence is undeniable. Do you have anything else to say?”

Li Erxia sobbed. “Sir, I’m innocent! Those children died of hunger; I didn’t touch them! Ji Chunhua was unfaithful, and that’s why my son disciplined her. It’s only right for a husband to discipline a disobedient wife! My son did nothing wrong!”

The magistrate sternly rebuked her, “Nonsense! You keep insisting Ji Chunhua was unfaithful—then show us proof! I already warned you: without evidence, this is slander, and you’ll face harsher punishment. So, where is your proof?”

Li Erxia lowered her head, biting her lip, unable to say a word.

The magistrate continued, “Since you have no proof, I’ll proceed with the sentencing.”

Zhang Gousheng’s face filled with despair as he hung his head.

In the end, the magistrate sentenced Li Erxia and Zhang Gousheng to twenty lashes each and eighteen years in prison.

Ji Chunhua was granted a divorce from Zhang Gousheng, and custody of the two children was awarded to her. Zhang Gousheng was forbidden from disturbing Ji Chunhua and her children in the future.

When the verdict was read, Li Erxia and Zhang Gousheng turned pale, as if all hope had been lost.

They had been planning to find a new wife for Zhang Gousheng after the divorce, to bear a son who could care for him in his old age. Now, not only was that dream shattered, but even his existing daughters would have no connection with him.

Eighteen years in prison—he might not even live to see the day he’d be released.

Desperation and regret filled Zhang Gousheng’s face.

Li Erxia also hadn’t expected that killing her own granddaughters would result in such a heavy sentence.

In truth, the punishment was relatively light; they hadn’t been sentenced to death only because it was intended for them to experience suffering as well.

The prison was filled with the most vile criminals, and Li Erxia and her son, who had taken such pleasure in tormenting others, would now have their turn to suffer. And prison life wasn’t merely confinement—they’d be forced into hard labor daily. Surviving even three years would be a challenge.

Zhang Gousheng crawled to Ji Chunhua’s feet, kowtowing and pleading, “Chunhua, I was wrong. I don’t want to divorce you. Please, don’t go through with the divorce. I swear, I didn’t kill our daughters—it was all my mother. I swear, I’ll treat you well from now on, and I’ll never hit you again. Let’s go back and start again, all right?”

Ji Chunhua took two steps back. “It’s too late for you to regret.”

Zhang Gousheng refused to give up. “No, Chunhua, you can’t be so heartless. How can you raise two children on your own? They need a father! Chunhua, I was wrong, I truly regret it. I can’t go to prison!”

Ji Chunhua coldly spat out a single word: “Leave.”

Zhang Gousheng’s heart sank into despair, and he turned his hateful gaze toward Li Erxia.

Zhang Gousheng blamed everything on his wretched mother. Now he had lost his wife and daughters, faced twenty lashes, and an eighteen-year prison sentence. Why couldn’t that old woman have just died sooner?

Seizing the moment, Hu Zhaodi addressed the magistrate, “Sir, since Ji Chunhua has been granted a divorce, and the children will be in her care, I request that you permit a change of name for them so they may completely sever ties with the Zhang family.”

The magistrate nodded. “Very well, I approve. From now on, the children will take their mother’s surname, Ji. The elder daughter will be Ji Heying, and the younger one, Ji Heruo. ‘He’ as in ‘lotus flower,’ symbolizing purity, beauty, and intelligence. The character ‘Ruo’ represents grace, elegance, and refinement.”

Ji Chunhua bowed deeply. “Thank you, sir, for bestowing such names.”

“Stand up,” said the magistrate. “Once the legal documents are prepared, sign and seal them.”

Once the divorce papers were finalized, Ji Chunhua pressed her fingerprint on them, and Zhang Gousheng did the same before he was dragged away to receive his lashes.

Clutching the divorce document, Ji Chunhua wept with relief, while outside, the gut-wrenching screams of Li Erxia and her son echoed. After the twenty lashes, the two were half-dead, sprawled on the ground like dying animals.

The magistrate ordered the guards to escort the pair to the prison, where they would be held separately to repent for the lives of the three children who had perished under their neglect.

After Li Erxia and her son were taken away, the magistrate returned to the rear courtyard with Hu Zhaodi and her companions. After some polite conversation, the magistrate asked Hu Zhaodi to check his pulse.

Fortunately, his health was stable; Hu Zhaodi simply advised him to rest more and avoid overworking.

Once they left the county office, Han Dongsheng took Hu Zhaodi and the others to Fumanlou Restaurant, where he ordered a table of fine dishes. They chatted as they ate. After the meal, Hu Zhaodi taught the restaurant chef two new recipes, including a cold eggplant salad.

With the dishes taught, Hu Zhaodi left the carriage in the restaurant’s back courtyard and set off with Ji Chunhua and her daughters for a bit of shopping.

Holding the hands of the two children, Hu Zhaodi led them straight to a clothing shop. Just as they were about to enter, Ji Chunhua gently held Hu Zhaodi’s hand. “Zhaodi, let’s not buy ready-made clothes—they’re too expensive. Point out the styles you like, and I’ll make them for you.”

“Wait, Chunhua, you know how to make clothes?”

Ji Chunhua smiled, a little embarrassed. “Zhaodi, my kids are already so big—if I couldn’t make clothes, how would they have grown up with anything to wear? Don’t worry; I’m quite handy with a needle. If you show me the style you like, I can make it.”

Hu Zhaodi’s eyes sparkled. “Really? You can do that?”

“Of course! All these years at the Zhang household, with my mother-in-law and Zhang Gousheng barely caring for us, I survived by mending and embroidering for others. I earned a few coins, bought fabric, and made clothes for the kids.”

Hu Zhaodi pointed to two beautiful dresses in the shop. “Chunhua, take a good look at these two styles. I’ll buy the fabric, and you can try making them.”

Ji Chunhua carefully studied the two dresses, memorizing every detail.

“All right, I’ve got it. Zhaodi, let’s go buy the fabric, and I’ll start on them as soon as we get back.”

Hu Zhaodi looked at her with a hint of disbelief. “You’re sure you remember all the details? You’re certain you can make them?”

Ji Chunhua nodded confidently. “I’m certain.”

“All right, let’s go buy the fabric then!”