She Came to Heal, Stayed to Conquer

”Is there really such a thing?”

Han Lei’s breathing gradually became rapid, her chest heaving up and down.

This suddenly reminded her of Wei Dabao from Qingshui County. To snatch some treasure, he even led a group of his underlings to forcefully intrude on the County Magistrate’s territory. He didn’t even take the leader of a county seriously, let alone ordinary commoners!

Thinking of this, Han Lei murmured, ”These aristocratic families are truly lawless! Is it... that there’s no rule of law?”

”Rule of law?” Big Fatty sneered, the fat on his face quivering, ”The rule of law is for ordinary people. For those nobles, it’s just decoration, it’s their helper. Which of the Su Family members isn’t a hypocrite? On the surface, they pretend to be just and moral, but behind the scenes, they engage in all sorts of shady dealings!”

Han Lei’s fists clenched tightly, her nails deeply embedded in her palms.

Her voice was soft yet icy, ”Is there more?”

Big Fatty just assumed she wanted to hear gossip, glanced at her, didn’t notice anything unusual in her expression, and continued talking.

”There’s another thing I heard—of course, it’s just gossip I’ve heard, don’t take it seriously, and don’t spread it.”

Han Lei solemnly nodded, ”Don’t worry, I absolutely won’t spread it.”

Big Fatty pointed upwards with his chubby finger, speaking in a whisper.

”The one from the Su Family in the palace, her methods are quite formidable. On the surface, she appears dignified and virtuous, the model of a queen, but behind the scenes she schemed against those concubines. Especially those concubines who became pregnant with the emperor’s child, they were a thorn in her side. If any concubine announced she was expecting, it wouldn’t be long before some ’accident’ happened—either a sudden miscarriage or the child was stillborn, sometimes the concubine wouldn’t even survive. Everyone in the palace knows, but no one dares to speak up. That’s why, over the years, the emperor has only two children, a son and a daughter, born to the Empress. Do you think this is just a coincidence? I doubt it. Her methods must be more sinister than we imagine...”

Han Lei furrowed her brows tightly.

The last time at the palace banquet, she saw the Empress. She seemed decorous and kind; who knew she was so venomous behind the facade.

”The most hateful thing is that under the emperor’s nose, the Su Family even dared to embezzle the soldiers’ pay.”

At this point, Big Fatty cautiously looked around again, placed his chubby palm over his lips, and lowered his voice further.

”The Imperial Army and the troops stationed in the Capital City fare somewhat better, but the most pitiful are those soldiers far from the Capital. Those soldiers risk their lives on the battlefield, while most of the Su Family’s offspring are in the military. The military pay allocated by the Ministry of War is embezzled at every level, and I’ve even heard that they siphoned off the compensation intended for soldiers killed in battle.”

”Hiss!”

Han Lei gasped, the image of Ms Li and her son begging with a broken bowl in front of her suddenly reappeared in her mind.

No wonder Ms Li said that after her husband died in battle, the compensation from the county office was only a meager ten taels of silver.

It turns out, these were all the handiwork of the Su Family.

A trace of murderous intent flashed in Han Lei’s eyes, she suddenly stood up, her voice cold as ice.

”These people... truly deserve death!”

Big Fatty was startled by her sudden reaction, and even the group of her brothers who were feasting enthusiastically were shocked by her reaction, lifting their heads to look at Han Lei.

Big Fatty hurriedly lowered his voice, ”Don’t be impulsive! The Su Family is powerful, and besides, other aristocratic families are involved in this kind of thing, we simply can’t afford to provoke them.”

Han Lei let out a cold laugh, her eyes gleaming with cold light.

”Can’t afford to provoke? They don’t treat the lives of the poor as lives, do common people have to swallow their anger and let them commit evils?”

Big Fatty opened his mouth, seeming to want to say something, but finally just sighed.

”This is the way of the world; even we from wealthy families can’t afford to provoke them. For ordinary commoners, surviving is already good enough, so how could they dare to hope for anything else?”

Han Lei didn’t speak further, just coldly stared at the pot with the boiling red oil, the murderous intent in her heart growing more intense.

She once thought those villains in movies were fictional, but now, what she saw and heard with her own eyes and ears was a reality even more brutal than fiction.

”Big Fatty,” she suddenly spoke, her voice cold as ice: ”I heard that Princess Changle will be turning twenty-four in more than ten days. Can you help me find out if her family is looking to arrange a marriage for her?”

Upon hearing this, Big Fatty’s expression relaxed a bit.

He put down his chopsticks and patted his chest enthusiastically.

”This is easy. I have extensive connections in the Capital City and can help you find out the information. But... sister-in-law, why are you inquiring about this? It can’t be that you’re thinking of causing trouble for the Su Family?”

Han Lei didn’t want to make him worry, so she shook her head and changed the topic.

”No, I’m just thinking of using Princess Changle’s birthday to give her a big present. Then, take this opportunity to promote the business of mandarin duck hairpins.”

Hearing that Han Lei wasn’t recklessly looking to trouble the Su Family, Big Fatty finally relaxed.

”Oh! That’s good, that’s good. I’ll help you find out later.”