Reborn and married in a swapped marriage, my aloof husband is too ruthless.

Su Jinxin's heart sank, and a chill ran from the soles of her feet to her heart.

Widow Li's house was tightly shut, covered in cobwebs, and clearly had been uninhabited for a long time.

She pounded on the wooden door, but only heard hollow echoes.

Widow Li, where are you?

An ominous feeling came over her.

She had witnessed Liu Mama's ruthlessness before, so could it be...? She dared not think any further and immediately ordered Li Si to inquire about Widow Li's whereabouts.

Meanwhile, in a secluded woodshed in the Su residence, Widow Li was bound hand and foot, her mouth stuffed with rags, her eyes wide with terror.

Granny Liu smiled sinisterly, waving a gleaming dagger in front of her.

"Old man, you've got some nerve, daring to get involved with that little bitch Su Jinxin!"

Widow Li shook her head desperately, making whimpering sounds of begging for mercy.

"Too late!" Granny Liu's eyes hardened. "You ruined my plans, so don't even think about living!"

Just as Granny Liu was about to make her move, she heard hurried footsteps outside the door. She stopped alertly and listened intently.

"Li Si, are you sure this is the place?" Su Jinxin's voice rang out from outside the door.

Granny Liu cursed under her breath and pulled Widow Li behind her, hiding her behind the woodpile.

With a "bang," the door to the woodshed was kicked open, and Su Jinxin rushed in with Li Si.

Upon seeing Granny Liu, Su Jinxin's face immediately darkened.

"Granny Liu, you really are here! Where is Widow Li?"

Granny Liu feigned composure, "I don't know what you're talking about. I only come here occasionally; is there a problem?"

Su Jinxin sneered, her gaze sweeping over the messy woodshed before finally settling on the slightly trembling pile of firewood behind Granny Liu.

"Widow Li, I know you're here. Come out, I won't let anything happen to you."

Granny Liu grabbed Widow Li by the hair and dragged her out from behind the woodpile, holding a dagger to her neck.

"Su Jinxin, you'd better not come any closer! Otherwise, I'll kill her!"

Su Jinxin paused, her gaze falling on the terrified face of Widow Li, and a pang of pain shot through her heart. She knew that if she continued to pressure her, Widow Li might very well lose her life.

She took a deep breath and softened her tone.

"Granny Liu, let her go. I have some silver, enough for you to run away and live a peaceful life..." "A peaceful life?" Granny Liu laughed sharply. "Do you think I'd still believe your lies? If it weren't for your mother, I wouldn't be in this state today! I'll make you taste what it's like to lose everything!"

Su Jinxin's eyes turned cold, but her tone remained calm.

“Granny Liu, you’re wrong. My mother has never mistreated you; it’s your own greed that’s causing your downfall. Everything you’re doing now is nothing but courting your own destruction.” She paused, then turned her gaze to the trembling widow Li. “Widow Li, do you really believe she can protect you? Look at you now; she could take your life at any moment! Come with me, and I’ll guarantee your safety and even give you some money to get you away from this dangerous place.”

Su Jinxin took out a heavy bag of silver from her sleeve and waved it in front of Widow Li.

Widow Li looked at the gleaming silver, a hint of hesitation flashing in her eyes.

She glanced at the fierce-looking Granny Liu, then at the composed Su Jinxin, and her heart began to waver.

Just then, a series of noisy footsteps came from outside the woodshed. Granny Liu's face changed, and she shouted sharply, "Guards! Kill them!"

No sooner had she finished speaking than several burly thugs carrying sticks rushed in and surrounded Su Jinxin and Li Si.

Although Li Si was skilled, he was outnumbered and quickly fell into a disadvantageous position.

Su Jinxin was powerless and could only barely dodge the thugs' attacks.

"Su Jinxin, you're not getting away today!" Granny Liu said smugly, her eyes gleaming with malice.

Su Jinxin dodged a blow from the stick and sneered, "It's still uncertain who will win!" She dodged the attacks while looking for an opportunity to escape.

At this critical moment, a figure appeared like a ghost at the door of the woodshed.

He was tall and slender, with a cold and stern face and eyes as sharp as a hawk's. He exuded a chilling aura.

The visitor was none other than Yan Cheng'an.

He coldly swept his gaze across the crowd, his tone icy: "Anyone who dares to lay a finger on her will suffer a fate worse than death!"

Before Yan Cheng'an could finish speaking, several men in black descended from the sky, their movements swift and deadly.

They quickly subdued Granny Liu's henchmen, cleanly and efficiently, without any hesitation.

Granny Liu's face turned deathly pale, and the smugness in her eyes instantly turned into terror.

She never expected Yan Cheng'an to come in person, and she never expected that he had such a powerful force around him.

Widow Li was so frightened by this sudden turn of events that she collapsed to the ground. Seeing Yan Cheng'an protecting Su Jinxin like a god descending from heaven, the scales in her heart completely tipped in Su Jinxin's favor.

Trembling, she crawled to Su Jinxin's side and cried, "Madam, I was wrong! I'll tell you everything! I know about Su Xiaoxiao back then..."

Widow Li recounted, in fits and starts, a secret hidden for many years, a secret about how Su Xiaoxiao plotted to frame Su Jinxin's mother.

Su Jinxin was shocked to hear this. She never expected the truth to be so cruel, and Su Xiaoxiao to be so cunning.

She held Widow Li's hand tightly, her eyes filled with gratitude and pain.

Yan Chengan walked to Su Jinxin's side, gently helped her up, and said softly, "It's alright, everything is over." He took Su Jinxin's hand, gently stroked her fingers, and rubbed the small wounds on her hand with his fingertips.

Su Jinxin could feel the calluses on his hands, marks left from his day and night martial arts practice to protect her.

A warm feeling welled up in her heart, and she grasped Yan Cheng'an's hand in return, their fingers intertwined.

"Thank you, Cheng'an." Su Jinxin's voice was choked with emotion.

Yan Cheng'an smiled gently and pulled her into his arms. "Silly girl, we are husband and wife. Protecting you is my responsibility."

Looking at the scene before her, Granny Liu's eyes were filled with resentment and unwillingness.

She was unwilling to let her plans be ruined, and even more unwilling to let Su Jinxin find happiness.

She knew she had no way out, but she would not give up.

She glared fiercely at Su Jinxin and said through gritted teeth, "Su Jinxin, you wait, I won't let you get away with this!"

Yan Cheng'an glanced at her coldly, his eyes filled with warning and murderous intent. He waved his hand, signaling his men to take Granny Liu away.

Su Jinxin watched as Granny Liu was taken away, but she felt no relief whatsoever.

She knew this was just the beginning; the real battle had only just begun.

She gripped Yan Cheng'an's hand tightly, her eyes resolute.

"Cheng'an, let's go." Su Jinxin's voice was calm and firm, but it revealed a hint of tension that was not easily detected.

She turned around and left the woodshed with Yan Cheng'an, leaving behind only a mess and a tense atmosphere in the air.

Yan Cheng'an suddenly stopped, his gaze falling on an inconspicuous wooden box in the corner of the woodshed...

Yan Cheng'an walked to the wooden box, kicked it lightly, and the lid fell off, revealing stacks of account books and letters inside.

He picked up a letter, unfolded it, and read it carefully, his brows furrowing slightly.

"It seems that Granny Liu has embezzled quite a bit over the years." He handed the letter to Su Jinxin, who quickly glanced at it, her face growing increasingly gloomy.

These ledgers and letters not only record evidence of Liu Mama's embezzlement and bribery, but also vaguely point to clues about Su Xiaoxiao and her stepmother's past framing of Su Jinxin's mother.

With Widow Li's testimony and these physical evidences, Su Jinxin is one step closer to the truth.

She took a deep breath, suppressing the surging emotions in her heart, and said to Yan Cheng'an, "Cheng'an, thank you." Yan Cheng'an held her hand and gave her a reassuring look: "We are husband and wife, there is no need for thanks." He ordered his men to take the wooden box back, then turned to the still slumped-on Widow Li and said, "I have recorded what you said today. I hope you will behave yourself." Widow Li felt as if she had been granted a pardon and kowtowed repeatedly to express her gratitude.

Back at the Yan residence, Su Jinxin organized and filed all the evidence, only to find that the most crucial link was still missing—ironclad evidence that could directly convict Su Xiaoxiao and her stepmother.

She knew that Granny Liu was cunning and wouldn't surrender easily; she must have other tricks up her sleeve.

Su Jinxin rubbed her temples, a vague unease creeping into her heart.

Just then, Yan Cheng'an walked in and handed her a cup of hot tea: "Still thinking about the case?" Su Jinxin took the teacup and took a sip: "Yes, I feel like there's something we've overlooked..." Yan Cheng'an sat down beside her, his gaze deep: "Don't worry, the truth will eventually come to light." Suddenly, there was a rapid knocking at the door, and a servant's panicked voice rang out: "Madam, something terrible has happened..."