Chapter 5 — Silencing the Grievance

Even though her leg was injured, she tried with all her might, yet she simply could not lift me up.

Great Fortune! Quickly come and help my sister-in-law up!

As soon as my sister-in-law shouted those words, Great Fortune rushed over. He grabbed both of my arms and lifted me into his arms.

Moon, I am sorry. I truly should not have...

However, the moment he caught sight of the pool of dark, thick blood staining the ground beneath us, his voice caught abruptly in his throat.

Why is there so much blood...?

As for me, by that time I no longer possessed even a shred of strength left to see just how vast that terrifying puddle truly was. I had already exhausted the absolute last reserve of my energy. My vision darkened completely, and I plunged into unconsciousness. When I finally opened my eyes once more, I found myself lying inside a sterile hospital room. I was entirely alone. Outside in the hallway, my sister-in-law was engaged in a fierce argument with Great Fortune. My sister worked so hard to conceive this child, yet you kicked her and caused a miscarriage! Are you even human?! Great Fortune’s voice was hoarse and broken. I am sorry... it was my fault... I lowered my gaze to look at my own flat, empty abdomen. Even though my heart had long since sensed that the baby was already gone, now that I was forced to face this brutal reality head-on, I still found it impossible to accept. Both of us, along with my sister-in-law, could easily be considered orphans. The three of us had grown up side by side, leaning on one another for survival. We had once been each other’s sole pillars of support, craving familial warmth with every fiber of our beings. On the day he learned I was pregnant, my husband stuttered with overwhelming joy. He rode a horse all the way to the county town and bought me two pounds of pork, declaring that I was the great hero of the household. That was the most delicious meat I had ever tasted in my entire life. Back then, I genuinely believed that this child would forever transform the relationship between us. But in my past life, the moment the baby was born, he merely glanced at it once before ruthlessly giving the infant away to strangers. Deaf to my desperate, tearful screams, he dragged me deep into the dark forest where Snow White had died. He... he sliced open my abdomen right there on the spot.

That long-buried memory rushed back like a violent flood, causing my entire body to tremble uncontrollably. It felt as though I could once again hear the cold blade slicing through my flesh and skin. I shuddered violently.

Sister-in-law, what is wrong with you?

My sister-in-law’s voice pulled me sharply back to the present reality. Raising my head, I saw Great Fortune standing right before me, his eyes swollen and red. Was he crying? Not only was he crying, but in the very next instant, Great Fortune dropped heavily to his knees right in front of my hospital bed.

Moon! It was I who caused the death of your child... You can beat me or curse me all you want. As long as it eases your fury, I would willingly be your beast of burden for the rest of my days!

Great Fortune had once been a classmate of my husband, known far and wide as an upright and warm-hearted man. When my husband went off to serve in the military, Great Fortune had helped me out on numerous occasions. Even during the busiest farming seasons, he always made sure to finish tending to my fields before even touching his own family's land. I had always respected him just like an elder biological brother. Otherwise, my husband would never have trusted him enough to send him here to persuade me. I let out a heavy sigh. Great Fortune, it is all right... I know you were merely overwhelmed with worry, it was simply your method that was entirely wrong. Hearing me speak such words, Great Fortune felt even more tormented by guilt. He raised his hand and struck his own face hard a few times.

Moon! Just blame me! The more you forgive me, the harder it is for me to bear!

I understood that feeling. Truly, from the bottom of my heart, I understood. Given Great Fortune’s honest nature, seeing that pool of blood today would undoubtedly haunt him for the remainder of his life. I had no idea what words to offer to comfort him, because... I was grieving just as deeply.

Great Fortune, I called out his name softly, could you perhaps do me a favor?

Speak, tell me what you need.

Help me go to the county authorities to file an official report, I said, my voice turning stern. The captain of the Stone Gate Village militia, during his tenure, gravely neglected his official duties, leading the entire militia to abandon their posts just to watch a movie with his lover, which directly resulted in the tragic deaths of over a dozen villagers and the abduction of innocent women.

Both Great Fortune and my sister-in-law stared at me with wide, astonished eyes. I fully expected them to open their mouths and plead on behalf of my husband... Yet Great Fortune gave a resolute nod. Very well, I shall go this very instant! After he departed, the hospital room fell into a heavy silence. My sister-in-law poured me a warm cup of water. I accepted it and asked softly, Song Shu, do you... blame your sister? She did not answer my question directly, but instead murmured, Do you know why I am still alive? It turned out that after I had departed, the village women discovered that aside from her broken leg, my sister-in-law’s back had also been deeply torn by a tree branch, bleeding continuously. The local village doctor, upon seeing her grave condition, declared that without immediate bandaging, severe infection would take hold. Risking everything, he bravely carried her back to his own home to treat her wounds.