Chapter 3: Lin Qing’s Revenge and Departure

Sheng Qi put on the clothes Xuan Yi had fetched for him and approached the bed. On the side, he noticed a jade pendant that had fallen. It must have belonged to the woman. Narrowing his eyes, he toyed with the pendant and muttered, “Woman, even if you flee to the ends of the earth, this king will find you.”

Meanwhile, Lin Qing ran and stopped intermittently. By the time she reached the village, the sun was already setting. From the entrance, she could hear the sounds of scolding and a child crying.

“You little bastard, shut your filthy mouth! Your sister has run off with some man and abandoned you. Get to work now, or I’ll break your arms and legs!” The woman speaking held a feather duster, her sharp, narrow eyes gleaming with malice. Her thin figure and harsh demeanor marked her as a cruel person at first glance.

In front of her stood a boy no older than seven, his face streaked with tears, eyes swollen red, and body emaciated. His yellowish complexion and frail frame made him look more like a three- or four-year-old. Clenching his small fists, he glared at the woman, defiance in his tear-streaked face. “My sister would never abandon me! It’s you and Lin Xia who framed her. She will come back, and I’ll tell Father to sell you all off!”

A father should be a pillar of strength and safety, but Lin Hai, their father, was far from it. He was a spineless, ungrateful man. If not for their mother bringing ten carriages of dowry to their marriage, Lin Hai would never have risen from being a minor county official to a grand minister in the court. Truly shameless and heartless.

Lin Qing stormed in, kicking the vicious woman to the ground, and swept the boy into her arms. Looking at his small, thin frame, her heart ached fiercely, and her eyes reddened. She glared at the woman on the ground with pure hatred.

The boy, Lin Hao, immediately recognized her. His cries grew louder as he clung to her, sobbing, “Sister, you’re finally back! I knew you wouldn’t leave me. Hao’er has been so good, so good. Please don’t abandon me.”

Seeing her brother’s pitiful state, Lin Qing felt an even deeper sorrow. In modern times, children his age were often doted on and cared for, even spoon-fed meals by loving mothers. But here, this small child had to endure such misery just to survive.

“Who dares kick me, this old woman!” the woman screamed as she struggled to get up from the ground.

“You shameless little wench! You dare come back after eloping with a man? The eldest daughter has already reported your indecency to the minister. Just wait to be drowned in a pig cage!” She lunged forward, intending to grab Lin Qing’s hair. Lin Qing kicked her down again, placing her foot on the woman’s chest and grinding it down. She spat at the woman’s face.

“Pah! Eldest daughter? Let me tell you, the rightful eldest daughter of the minister’s house is right here! You treacherous wretch, today, I’ll make sure you pay for what you’ve done!”

Lin Qing gently placed her sobbing brother aside, ruffling his dry, brittle hair. She comforted him, “Hao’er, today, your sister will teach you something important: if people don’t cross us, we don’t cross them. But if they do, we will make them pay.”

Her eyes gleamed with murderous intent. Lin Hao noticed that his sister had changed—she was much stronger and more assertive than before. He liked this version of her. Nodding earnestly, he stepped back to give her space.

Lin Qing found a rope and tied the cursing woman to a pillar. She stuffed a rag into her mouth, silencing her. Then, she quickly gathered some belongings with Lin Hao, knowing they could no longer stay in this place. They had only a few tattered clothes to take, but Lin Qing also discovered several hundred taels in banknotes and a few pieces of loose silver in the woman’s quarters.

Before leaving, Lin Qing scattered straw from the courtyard fence across the room. She took out a fire starter, lit it, and turned to Lin Hao. “Hao’er, today, Sister is taking you away. Do you want to come with me?” Although Lin Qing now occupied this body, she respected the child’s wishes.

“Of course, I want to! Sister, wherever you go, Hao’er will follow. Please don’t leave me behind,” the little boy said, tears welling up again as he clutched at her clothes.

Hearing his answer, Lin Qing wasted no time. She yanked the rag from the tied woman’s mouth.

Now thoroughly frightened, the woman no longer dared to curse. Instead, she pleaded, “Eldest Miss, Eldest Young Master, please have mercy on me this time. I was wrong, truly wrong! Please spare me!”

A trickle of yellowish liquid streamed down the woman’s legs, filling the air with the stench of urine.

Lin Qing curled her lips into a devilish smile, her eyes glinting with malice. “Old hag, it’s your turn to face retribution. Today, I’ll send you straight to hell.” She strode forward, grabbed the broom by the door, and struck the woman viciously several times. Then, without hesitation, she tossed the lit fire starter onto her.

Turning on her heel, she took Lin Hao by the hand and walked away. Moments later, the estate was engulfed in a raging inferno, flames consuming everything in their path.