Chapter 7: Using Such a Vicious Scheme to Harm Yan Ziyue

Xu Lecheng knew that divorce was the worst possible option right now; he only considered it because he saw no other way.

Hearing this, he looked at Zhang Juhua with suspicion. “Do you actually have a solution?”

Zhang Juhua wore an expression that said, “I have a brilliant idea.” “What if someone in the village spreads some bad rumors?”

Xu Lecheng frowned. “But it’s Yan Ziyue—what would happen?”

He understood the implication, though he was reluctant to go through with it. Compared to Zhang Qingqing, Yan Ziyue brought him more benefits, and she was also more beautiful.

“Mom, hurry up and tell us what the plan is,” Zhang Qingqing said, oblivious to his hesitation. Her mind was fixed solely on solving this problem and destroying Yan Ziyue.

Zhang Juhua noticed Xu Lecheng’s change in expression and silently cursed Yan Ziyue as a sly vixen, always seducing men.

“I’ll have some village troublemakers confront Yan Ziyue,” she said with a malicious smile. “Then I’ll lead the villagers to catch her in the act…”

“Who would still care about what you two did? Everyone will blame Yan Ziyue.”

If it weren’t for that shameless woman Yan Ziyue, Qingqing wouldn’t have been tricked into marriage by Xu Lecheng; her reputation wouldn’t have been ruined like this.

So, she wanted Yan Ziyue to meet a miserable end.

Xu Lecheng hesitated.

His hesitation wasn’t about ruining Yan Ziyue’s reputation but whether he should be the one to get involved.

After all, she was his woman!

Both Zhang Qingqing and Yan’s father thought the plan was good.

“Juhua, you really know what you’re doing. Let’s do it the way you said. That Yan Ziyue is a real nuisance.”

“Mom, when do we carry out this plan?”

Zhang Juhua wasn’t surprised that Yan’s father agreed. She knew well how much he despised Yan Ziyue, and that was why she dared to scheme against her at every turn.

“Tomorrow,” she said darkly. “As soon as Yan Ziyue steps out, those troublemakers will be on her.”

This time, she vowed to make sure Yan Ziyue would have no place to hide.

None of them noticed a shadow flicker past the window.

***

The next morning.

Yan Ziyue, using a coquettish tone, coaxed Xiao Heshou to accompany her into the mountains to gather herbs.

“With you here, I feel safe.”

Xiao Heshou had been uneasy about her going into the mountains alone, so he half-reluctantly followed her.

Just as the couple stepped outside, Yan Ziyue heard the disgusting voice of Xu Lecheng from behind.

“Ziyue.”

Her first instinct wasn’t to look back but to glance at Xiao Heshou.

When she saw his face grow cold, she quickly grabbed his hand, soothing him, “Don’t be angry.”

“I’ve been with you since yesterday. You know I didn’t call him.”

Her face twisted in disgust. “That man must be trying to use me again.”

Xiao Heshou cast a cold glance at Xu Lecheng’s scarred face and moved protectively beside Yan Ziyue.

He wouldn’t openly show disdain toward Yan Ziyue in front of others.

Yan Ziyue clung to his arm, smiling like a blooming flower. “I knew you were always the best to me.”

Xiao Heshou lowered his gaze, looking at the girl beside him.

Her eyes, clear as a lake, sparkled like stars scattered across the sky when she smiled.

It made his heart ache.

Suppressing the urge to act, he hummed softly.

Yan Ziyue’s smile grew even brighter. “When we get back, I’ll cook you braised pork, okay?”

At home, meat was a rare treat, especially since the stepmother arrived.

The Yan family reserved meat for the scoundrel father and his two cronies; Yan Ziyue didn’t even get the broth.

But married to Xiao Heshou, she could enjoy meat every day or two—pork, rabbit... many varieties.

Such luxury was rare even in town, let alone the village.

A faint smile touched Xiao Heshou’s dark eyes. He hummed again. This version of Yan Ziyue was wonderful.

He just didn’t know when she might revert to her old self.

Yan Ziyue’s eyes darted, trying to push her luck. “Um…”

Before she could finish, Xu Lecheng blocked their path.

“Ziyue, I know I’ve wronged you, but Zhang Qingqing tricked me,” Xu Lecheng pleaded, putting on a pitiful act. “Please give me another chance, okay?”

Yan Ziyue said nothing. She pulled a sickle from her basket and swung it fiercely at him.

“Tricked you?” she snarled. “Zhang Qingqing forced you to marry her? Forced you to use me?”

Xu Lecheng hadn’t expected such a reaction and stumbled backward, falling to the ground.

Seeing the sickle coming closer, he screamed and scrambled away.

“Ziyue, it was Zhang Qingqing who egged me on! If you want to kill someone, kill her!”

He was young and didn’t want to die.

Yan Ziyue swung the sickle again, eyes blazing with hatred. “Are you a brainless fool?”

“Zhang Qingqing pushes you to scheme against me, and you just come along?”

Neither Xu Lecheng nor Zhang Qingqing would be spared.

Xu Lecheng ran in terror. “Ziyue, please forgive me! I won’t dare again!”

Was Yan Ziyue mad? She was actually wielding a sickle and chasing him in public.

After a short pursuit, she stopped.

Pointing the sickle at Xu Lecheng, she hissed, “If you ever try to scheme against me or use me again, next time I’ll chase you down and cut you until you’re dead!”

Did she not know the scoundrel’s plan?

That bastard wanted her to take the blame, to say she was jealous of Zhang Qingqing and spreading rumors about his marriage.

After Xu Lecheng disappeared from sight, Yan Ziyue returned to Xiao Heshou, sickle in hand.

She puffed out her cheeks and said, “I was too slow.”

“If I’d run faster, I could’ve cut that bastard Xu Lecheng down.”

Xiao Heshou could tell she truly wanted to kill Xu Lecheng, not just putting on a show. His dark eyes brightened slightly. “Cutting people is illegal.”

“You don’t need to risk yourself over someone like him.”

He needed to observe more, to see if Yan Ziyue was upset because Xu Lecheng secretly married Zhang Qingqing, or if she truly wanted a peaceful life.

Yan Ziyue swung the sickle a few times.

The “whoosh” sound made Xiao Heshou’s eyelids twitch.

Since the hanging incident, Yan Ziyue’s temperament had changed drastically.

She had become fierce.

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