Re-embroidering life

Even if the Zhao family was impoverished, they still held a sixth-rank official position, while Shui Qinghua had no power or influence.

No matter how ugly the Zhao family and the Chen family are, they are still Jinlan's legitimate in-laws and natal families, and Shui Qinghua is just a non-blood-related master.

No matter how you look at it, we are at a disadvantage.

When Dong Yajing heard about Jinlan's experience, she was so angry that her eyes turned red and she couldn't stop crying. They used to learn embroidery together in Furong Garden. They were of similar age and could talk about anything. Since Dong Yajing returned to Beijing, the two had not seen each other again. She didn't expect that when she got the news, her former close friend would fall into such a tragic situation.

"My father is just a powerless chief academic officer of the Imperial College. I am the prince's consort, but I am not married yet. If we really want to confront him head-on, the Zhao family's ancestor was a founding hero, and now he is the Minister of the Imperial Household Department. He may not give face to the Dong family." Dong Yajing said helplessly.

Both of them fell into a deep sense of powerlessness.

Shui Qinghua was not discouraged. She could not confront them head on, but she could use indirect means and indirect means. The most urgent task was to find a way to get Jinlan out of the Zhao family. If she continued in this state, she might not survive.

Shui Qinghua returned home and asked Ji Zimo: "Jinlan was beaten by her husband. Can we go to the government to sue him?"

Ji Zimo was very familiar with the laws of this dynasty, and blurted out: "If a husband beats his wife, there will be no punishment unless there are broken bones. If there are broken bones or more, the punishment will be reduced to the second level for ordinary people. The wife must report it herself before he can be punished."

In other words, even if the husband beat his wife until she was covered in bruises, as long as there were no broken bones, he would not be held accountable by law. Even if there were broken bones, the wife had to report it in person before the government would investigate, and the husband's punishment would be two levels lighter than that of ordinary people.

Shui Qinghua was unwilling to accept this and asked again: "What if the wife beats her husband?"

Ji Zimo replied: "Any wife who beats her husband shall be beaten with a stick 100 times. The husband must inform her before she can do so. If the injury is broken or above, the severity of the injury shall be examined. If the wife beats her husband, she shall be beaten with a stick 100 times ...

This means that if a wife beats her husband, she will be beaten with a hundred sticks, even if she did not injure him. If she injures him, the crime is three times more severe. If she is disabled, she will be hanged. If she accidentally kills her husband, she will be beheaded. If she intentionally kills her husband, she will be executed by slow slicing.

"This is so unfair!" an angry voice rang out, startling the couple.

The eldest sister Minghua walked in from outside, her eyes flashing with anger.

Shui Qinghua suddenly realized that her elder sister had been going out early and coming back late recently and rarely showed up.

"Eldest sister, where have you been these days?"

Shui Minghua's eyes flickered, but she didn't answer. She said, "I heard everything outside the door. We must save Jinlan." She stepped forward and said, "Second sister, get Jinlan out of the Zhao family as soon as possible. We will work together to find a solution later."

Ji Zimo also said: "I have been studying literature every day recently and have met a large number of candidates. My teacher has a good reputation among scholars, and perhaps his power can be used by us."

Shui Qinghua looked at them gratefully: "Eldest sister, husband, thank you. I have dealt with Madam Zhao once, and from what I have observed, she cares very much about the glory of the Zhao family's ancestors. Perhaps we can start from here."

The next morning, Shui Qinghua went to the Su embroidery shop where she had made her purchases last time, selected a few of the most skilled embroiderers, handed them the drawings of the elegant palace dress, and asked them to complete the basic cutting and sewing. Then, she went to the Chen family and asked to see Mrs. Chen again.

After much thought, the only family that can legitimately take Jinlan out without leaving any future troubles is the Chen family.

However, this time, the Chen family simply turned her away.

Shui Qinghua didn't believe that Madam Chen would never go out. She came to a teahouse opposite the Chen residence, found a seat by the window, ordered a pot of tea, and drank it slowly.

After waiting for nearly two hours, the sun had already risen to the sky, and the door of Chen's house finally opened. A petite woman walked out.

Shui Qinghua recognized at a glance that it was the daughter-in-law who kept looking at her toes, Jinlan's sister-in-law.

She made a prompt decision, got up and left the teahouse, and caught up with the woman: "Grandma Chen!"

When the woman saw it was her, she immediately turned her head away and quickened her pace, but Shui Qinghua grabbed her sleeve.

"Grandma Chen, it's too late to pretend you don't know me now. You must be the one who sent me the note."

The woman turned her face to the side, lowered her head, and stared at her toes. After a while, she said, "Don't call me grandma. My name is Hanqiu."

"Hanqiu, let's talk." Shui Qinghua pulled and coaxed Hanqiu into the teahouse.

Han Qiu felt restless and as if he was sitting on pins and needles.

"Han Qiu, what are you afraid of?" Shui Qinghua knew that today the only way to find a way out was through Han Qiu.

Han Qiu shrank back like a frightened deer, and finally raised his eyes and looked at Shui Qinghua timidly. She had very beautiful eyes.

"You were very scared, but you still sent me a note. I know you must have struggled for a long time before taking this step. You are a very brave woman at heart," said Shui Qinghua.

Han Qiu's eyes were covered with a layer of mist.

"You have a sense of justice and sympathize with Jinlan's experience, but you dare not offend your mother-in-law. You are caught in a dilemma and suffer a lot."

Tears glistened in Han Qiu's eyes.

"Hanqiu, you are the grandmother and the future mistress of the Chen family. As a sister-in-law, you can stand up and protect Jinlan. What are you afraid of?" Shui Qinghua stared into her eyes.

Hanqiu's tears fell.

She lowered her head and spoke in a voice as thin as a mosquito's whistle after a long while: "Jinlan and I are similar. My family is far less well off than the Chen family, and I married into the family because my ancestors had an engagement. My mother-in-law sets rules for me every day and scolds me at every turn, and my husband is also very cold to me. I know that they all dislike me. When I see Jinlan, I feel like I see myself, but I am much luckier than her. At least my husband doesn't hit me."

Shui Qinghua listened, tears welling up in her eyes. Han Qiu said Jin Lan was like her, and Han Qiu, wasn't she herself in the previous life?

If she had intentionally led Hanqiu to stand on her side just now, then now she was pitying her from the bottom of her heart. "Hanqiu, I was once the same as you, with a humble background, and I was also disliked by my mother-in-law and husband. I lived in fear and trepidation, and was very cautious."

Shui Qinghua told Han Qiu about his past, omitting only the part about his rebirth.

"Madam Shui, you are so capable that you can even own your own embroidery workshop." Han Qiu was full of admiration and envy.

"You can do it too. Simply enduring and obeying will not make you loved by your mother-in-law and husband. Only when you stand up for yourself will others respect you."

Han Qiu's voice became flustered: "Me? What can I do?"

"Just start with what you want to do right now, such as protecting your sister Jinlan."

Han Qiu was caught in a struggle between his conscience and his mind, he lowered his eyes and clenched his hands tightly. Shui Qinghua did not speak again, the only one who could defeat himself was himself.

The tea on the table went from steaming hot to completely cold, the emerald green tea leaves expanded, stretched, and slowly sank to the bottom of the cup.

"Mrs. Shui, what should I do?" It was still a thin voice, and the pair of deer eyes raised up and looked over seriously.

Shui Qinghua breathed a sigh of relief.