Chapter 5: A Death to My Life

The madam arrived quickly, her hair disheveled, clearly having hurriedly gotten out of bed.

As soon as she entered, before she could question, she saw Lin Jinhua already standing at the door, waiting. "Aunt, please help my niece."

The madam hesitated and looked at her, "I heard someone entered your courtyard?"

Lin Jinhua glanced at Zhang Mama who followed the madam, a flash of killing intent in her eyes, and said, "Yes, a little thief. He was knocked out by a maid as soon as he entered. Aunt, this little thief seems to be someone from your maternal family."

The madam was momentarily speechless. Lin Jinhua took the opportunity to continue, "Although that's the case, my niece doesn't believe he was sent by you."

"Of course not, how could I do such a thing," the madam quickly interjected, glancing at the unconscious boy lying on the side, furrowing her brows slightly, thinking about how to shift the blame onto Lin Jinhua.

Lin Jinhua's voice choked with emotion, seeming genuinely wronged, "Aunt, please ensure justice for my niece. This bold little thief, if the maids hadn't seen him, who knows what he would have stolen. If you, Aunt, are reluctant to act due to the relationship with your maternal family, my niece can only write to the Lady of the Imperial Academy..."

Before she could finish, the madam hurriedly interrupted. If Lady Wang found out, it would definitely affect the marriage negotiations. After some consideration, she knew she couldn't trouble Lin Jinhua. She bit her lip and coldly questioned, "Is there a misunderstanding? Maybe he was just passing by..."

"It's impossible for him to be just passing by. I personally locked the courtyard gate, and everyone in the courtyard can testify. When he came, he pried open the gate," Cai'er hurriedly said.

The madam's expression turned stern, "Are you sure you didn't lock it properly?"

Lin Jinhua found it increasingly amusing. It was quite something for her to come up with such a statement. The courtyard gate was locked by several people, and it would never be left unlocked. She turned to Cai'er, "Did you neglect to lock it when you left?"

"Now that the madam has passed away, this servant is afraid of others accidentally walking the wrong path, getting tainted by bad luck, and disturbing the madam. This servant dared not be careless," Cai'er firmly knelt on the ground.

Upon hearing this, the madam felt a chill down her spine and reprimanded, "Nonsense, Lady San has already rested in peace. What disturbance?"

"But Miss had a dream this afternoon, saying she kept dreaming of Lady San, who said she died unjustly..." Cai'er glanced at Lin Jinhua and gritted her teeth slightly.

Lin Jinhua hadn't instructed her to say these things, but Cai'er was always astute. Lin Jinhua nodded inwardly and echoed, "Not only did the little thief trespass into my courtyard, but he also disturbed my mother's spirit in heaven. Please, Aunt, punish him severely!"

The madam, facing Lin Jinhua's relentless insistence and fearing Lady Wang and the recently deceased Lady San, lost patience and said coldly, "In that case, since you also beat him, I will order him to receive ten more lashes as punishment." Without waiting for Lin Jinhua to retort, she had the boy dragged aside and beaten.

Ten lashes, and he would recover in ten days or half a month.

Lin Jinhua felt an even greater chill in her heart as she looked at the unconscious boy and said, "Wait, the unconscious person doesn't feel pain. Wake him up."

Bailan quickly came out with a basin of cold water.

The madam remained silent, and only then did Bailan splash the water. The boy immediately woke up, begging for mercy.

Lin Jinhua then said, "Proceed with the beating."

The women, all under the madam's command, didn't dare to use excessive force. But after four or five lashes, the boy's cries became more pitiful, and before the ten lashes were completed, he breathed his last.