The guards were sent by Shen Yici to pick up Zhao Jiaojiao. They took the Zhao family to the clinic for treatment. Everyone else had superficial wounds; only the original host was beyond recovery.
The whole family cried and wailed, cursing the landlord. Except for the original host's mother and sister, no one blamed Zhao Jiaojiao for this, as she now had a powerful backer and a bright future.
The landlord family, this scourge, was thoroughly eradicated. Their property was confiscated by the state, and the land was reclaimed by the nation.
Shen Yici was the heir of the Xuanping Marquis in the capital. His father had just died, and his concubine brother was trying to seize his position.
He had been pursued and fled all the way here. Upon his return to the capital, he dealt with his unruly brothers. After arranging everything, he finally had time to send guards to fetch Zhao Jiaojiao.
After a period of mourning, the Zhao family decided to relocate to the capital. Everyone wanted to benefit from a better life.
Zhao Jiaojiao's status as the cherished darling was primarily due to her always finding good things when she went out.
Over the years, the Zhao family lived better than ordinary villagers, but they never included the eldest branch. The eldest branch always did the hardest work and endured the most suffering.
Sometimes, Old Madam Zhao would slip the original host some food. Upon discovering that the original host shared it with his mother and sister, Old Madam Zhao stopped giving him anything.
This time, he had intended to stay in his hometown, but Old Master Zhao and Old Madam Zhao insisted on taking him along. After all these years, they still only had the original host as their grandson.
Confined by their old-fashioned thinking, even if they treated their grandson poorly, he might not necessarily support them in their old age. But as long as he was bound to them, that was enough.
Old Master Zhao heartlessly sold all the land. Xu Dahua aged rapidly over the years, her younger daughter was raised to be emaciated, and he was now crippled.
He could not provide them with a good life, and even survival was difficult. He thought that perhaps the capital held hope.
Shen Yici had already bought them a large courtyard. The family happily moved in, and the eldest branch also enjoyed a few days of good fortune.
Xiao Hong said, "New clothes are so warm, and the room is so spacious. I wish we could live here forever." "Brother, I miss sister. Uncle Xiao is so capable; can he help us find sister...?"
Xiao Hong's satisfied smile when eating delicious food was something the original host could never forget until his death. He was the man of the family, yet he could never support it.
The entire family was immersed in happiness, completely forgetting to inquire about the Xuanping Marquis's age. He was already twenty-one this year, had a wife at home, and a legitimate son.
He was fond of Zhao Jiaojiao and would not mistreat her by making her a concubine. He only asked her to wait patiently, and he would grandly welcome her through the main gate. Zhao Jiaojiao, with the shyness of a young girl, began to stitch her wedding dress, stitch by stitch.
It was unknown how Shen Yici had bullied and mistreated his original wife, but within half a year, that lady set her courtyard on fire and went to the underworld.
Her maternal family naturally objected, but various proofs suggested the lady committed suicide, and they could not produce evidence that he deliberately forced his original wife to her death.
His official position was not as high as the Shen family's, so they could do nothing to Shen Yici. That lady's full brother was impatient. He knew the cause and effect.
He felt Zhao Jiaojiao had gone too far. If she hadn't been so ambitious, his sister could have brought her into the manor as a concubine. There was no need to escalate things to this point.
To avenge his sister, he personally infiltrated the Zhao family's courtyard and set Zhao Jiaojiao's boudoir on fire.
But that night, Zhao Jiaojiao had called all the younger girls to her place to see the luminous pearl Shen Yici had found for her. When the fire started, she happened to come out to use the latrine and was then called away by Old Madam Zhao's maid.
By the time the fire broke out and everyone realized what was happening, four girls who had not had time to grow up had turned into charcoal. Everyone was filled with grief. Li Shi and Zhang Shi wished they could strangle Zhao Jiaojiao to death.
They all felt their daughters had taken the misfortune meant for Zhao Jiaojiao. Even Zhao Dagui and Zhao Dayou, who usually doted on Zhao Jiaojiao, fell silent.
They let their wives create a huge scene, resigned to their fate over the years. Not being able to give birth to sons was one thing; daughters could also manage a household. They never expected things to turn out this way.
Zhao Jiaojiao cried and apologized, crying that she didn't know it would happen like this. She was also a victim and should find the arsonist and punish them severely. It was not her fault.
For four lives, the lady's full brother was ultimately sentenced to exile. Zhao Jiaojiao again stood tall. Seeing that the bad guy was caught by Shen Yici and severely punished, everyone could finally return to how things were, right?
The second and third branches insisted on returning to their hometown. Old Madam Zhao sighed. She took some silver from Zhao Jiaojiao, asking them to buy a few acres of poor land. After they were old enough to be cared for, Zhao Jiaojiao would be responsible for their care. They would no longer be in contact.
As for Xu Dahua, upon learning of Zhao Xiaohong's death that night, she fainted directly. She lay there for seven days and then quietly passed away.
The original host saw no point in living. Not long after Xu Dahua's death, he slit his own throat.
After seeing off the second and third branches, Old Madam Zhao and the others discovered their son and daughter-in-law had passed away. The old couple almost couldn't bear it.
Shen Yici busied himself with arranging the hasty funeral for the original host and his mother. He invited the best doctors in the capital to treat the elderly couple.
They managed to save both their lives. Zhao Jiaojiao married into the Shen manor as the mistress of the household upon coming of age. Although her life had some turbulence, the ending was very good.
The original host's wish was to protect his sister and mother. Everything else was no longer important.
Jun Jiuli: "What kind of cherished darling is this? Relatives sacrificing to the heavens for boundless power? I guess they kept Old Master Zhao and Old Madam Zhao alive so Zhao Jiaojiao wouldn't have to observe mourning, delaying the happy ending."
Shui Wa: "I think what you said is very accurate."
The entire house was built from wood and mud. The original host's room was quite good.
It was a very spacious room, divided in the middle by several large wooden boards. Xu Dahua, Zhao Xiaochun, and Zhao Xiaohong slept inside.
Hearing Jun Jiuli enter the room, Xu Dahua hurried out to inquire.
"Xiao Wei, can I start cooking now? Your second aunt and the others will be back soon, and Xiao Hong doesn't know where she went to dig for wild vegetables."
"Mother, it's alright. You've cooked so many times, it's time for your second aunt and the others to take a turn. You take Xiao Chun to rest, and I'll go find Xiao Hong."
"What are you talking about? Our eldest branch has four mouths to feed. Now only Mother can work. Your second aunt and the others are at a disadvantage, so it's only right for Mother to cook more."
"Mother, let's separate the household."
Xu Dahua froze on the spot. She had never had such a thought. At this moment, Zhao Xiaochun, who was in a much better mood, ran out, holding Xu Dahua's hand.
"Mother, let's listen to Brother. Grandpa and Grandma are so scary. Whatever good things are in the house all belong to Auntie. Mother, let's separate the household. Brother will be in charge, and life will surely be much better than it is now."
Xu Dahua gently tapped Zhao Xiaochun's nose. "Silly child, it's not as easy as you think. Your brother is just a child; how can he manage the household? It's Mother who has failed you, failed you three siblings."
She spoke with tears, and Zhao Xiaochun also began to cry. Jun Jiuli didn't know how to comfort her; her life was truly too bitter.
"Mother, don't worry. I will definitely support this family. You two rest, and I'll go find Xiao Hong." With that, he hurriedly left the room.