I started out with seven husbands, and I worked hard to support my family while crying.

Chapter 513: Li Chengde, that despicable man

Pei Yan nodded: "I'll go in with you."

Just as the two were about to act, a commotion suddenly broke out in the courtyard.

"Quick, let's go! Someone's coming!"

Fang Xiaoxiao and Pei Yan exchanged a glance and rushed into the courtyard at the same time. They saw the two men trying to escape through the back door.

"Stop!" Pei Yan shouted and rushed forward in one stride.

One of them turned and fled, while the other pulled out a dagger from his pocket and stabbed at Pei Yan.

Pei Yan dodged to the side, grabbed the other man's wrist with his backhand, and subdued him to the ground.

Fang Xiaoxiao chased after the other person and, just as the other person was about to climb over the wall to escape, she threw out the powder in her hand.

The man screamed and fell off the wall, his body convulsing uncontrollably.

“This is…” Pei Yan was somewhat surprised.

Fang Xiaoxiao smiled faintly: "It's just some powder that temporarily incapacitates people."

After tying the two men up, Fang Xiaoxiao and Pei Yan began their interrogation.

“Tell me, who ordered you to poison them?” Pei Yan asked coldly.

The two initially denied it, but under Fang Xiaoxiao's "special methods," they quickly confessed.

"It was...it was Li Chengde, the eldest son of the Li family, who ordered it," the man with a scar on his right hand said, trembling. "He said he would give us a large sum of money if we caused any trouble for Miss Fang's shop..."

Fang Xiaoxiao frowned: "Li Chengde? Why would he do this?"

Another man stammered, "It seems...it seems to be about his father, Li Fu..."

Pei Yan and Fang Xiaoxiao exchanged a glance, both seeing the seriousness in each other's eyes.

"It seems that Li Fu's death was indeed not simple," Pei Yan said in a low voice.

Fang Xiaoxiao nodded: "We need to find out as soon as possible. But before that..." She looked at the two men, "you will have to pay the price for what you've done."

When Fang Xiaoxiao learned that Li Fu's son, Li Chengde, wanted to kill her, she felt as if a huge boulder had struck her heart, filled with grief and indignation. She never imagined that the Li family father and son could be so heartless and ruthless, willing to do anything for profit, even trying to take her life.

As night fell, the entire capital city was shrouded in a tranquil veil of darkness. Li Chengde, looking hurried, carried a simple satchel and walked briskly through the deserted streets. His heart pounded wildly, and the terrible consequences he might face kept flashing through his mind. Every step felt like it carried a thousand pounds of fear, and beads of sweat glistened on his forehead in the moonlight, mirroring his anxious and uneasy heart.

Li Chengde chose a secluded path, trying to avoid possible pursuit. The surrounding houses looked eerie and terrifying in the night, and the occasional barking of dogs made him tremble with fear. He walked quickly while cautiously observing his surroundings, afraid of any disturbance.

Meanwhile, upon learning of Li Chengde's attempt to flee, Fang Xiaoxiao quickly gathered some trusted confidants and helpers. Her eyes were firm and resolute, her beautiful face now filled with anger and determination.

"We must capture Li Chengde and not let him escape punishment!" Fang Xiaoxiao's voice rang out in the quiet night, carrying an undeniable authority.

Everyone nodded and followed Fang Xiaoxiao toward the city gate.

Li Chengde finally arrived at the city gate. Looking at the tightly closed gate, he felt a wave of despair. But the will to survive made him unwilling to give up. He hid in the shadows beside the gate, waiting for the moment when it would open.

Just then, Fang Xiaoxiao arrived with her men. The torchlight illuminated the city gate and also revealed Li Chengde's terrified face.

"Li Chengde, you can't escape!" Fang Xiaoxiao shouted angrily.

Li Chengde trembled, a hint of despair flashing in his eyes. But he quickly revealed a ferocious expression, and suddenly pulled out a woman who was bound and had a cloth stuffed in her mouth from behind.

Everyone was shocked. Upon closer inspection, they realized it was Li Chengde's stepmother.

The woman's eyes were filled with fear and tears. She struggled desperately, but could not break free from Li Chengde's grasp.

Seeing this scene, Fang Xiaoxiao felt even more grief and indignation.

"Li Chengde, you're not even human!" Her eyes widened in anger as she pointed at Li Chengde, her voice trembling with rage.

Li Chengde burst into laughter, his voice sounding particularly jarring in the night sky.

"Fang Xiaoxiao, if you don't let me leave, I'll kill her!" Li Chengde's voice was filled with madness and despair.

Fang Xiaoxiao bit her lip tightly, clenched her fists, and her nails dug deep into her palms.

"You shameless scoundrel, how could you resort to such despicable means!" Her voice was filled with grief, indignation, and helplessness.

Li Chengde remained unmoved. He tightened his grip on his stepmother's neck and threatened, "Stop talking nonsense and get out of the way!"

Fang Xiaoxiao felt immense pain as she looked at Li Chengde's frenzied state. She knew that if she didn't let Li Chengde leave, this innocent woman might lose her life. But if she just let him go, how could she possibly be worthy of the grievances and harm she had suffered?

Just as Fang Xiaoxiao was caught in a dilemma, Li Chengde's stepmother suddenly signaled to her with her eyes not to compromise. Fang Xiaoxiao was startled; she saw determination and courage in the woman's eyes.

"Li Chengde, do you think you can escape? Even if you escape today, you will be caught sooner or later!" Fang Xiaoxiao tried to persuade Li Chengde to release the hostage.

Li Chengde became increasingly frantic, increasing the force in his hands, and his stepmother's face grew paler and paler.

"I'll count to three, and if you don't move aside, I'll really do it! One! Two!" Li Chengde shouted hoarsely.

Just as he was about to shout "three", a cold arrow suddenly shot out from the darkness and hit Li Chengde's arm.

Li Chengde screamed and released his grip.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Fang Xiaoxiao and the others rushed forward and quickly subdued Li Chengde.

"Tie him up!" Fang Xiaoxiao shouted.

Li Chengde was bound hand and foot and thrown to the ground. His eyes were filled with despair and resentment, and he kept cursing.

Fang Xiaoxiao walked up to him and said coldly, "Li Chengde, you have committed many evils, and you will eventually pay the price for your actions."

Afterwards, Fang Xiaoxiao rescued Li Chengde's stepmother and comforted her, saying, "Madam, you have suffered."

The woman said weakly, "Thank you for saving me, young lady."

Fang Xiaoxiao led the group and escorted Li Chengde back to the city.

As the prefect slammed his gavel, Li Chengde was sentenced to death.

Afterwards, the group returned to the Fang family's courtyard in Kyoto.

In the backyard.

Fang Xiaoxiao sat on the edge of the bed, her eyes slightly closed.

The sensation of her pulse, rising and falling, came from the location where her hand touched the red sleeve.

Li Wan'er, standing to the side, had red and swollen eyes from crying and was constantly wiping away tears with her sleeve.

"Waaah, Xiao Xiao, why hasn't Sister Hongxiu woken up yet?"

"This is troublesome, a real headache. She's been poisoned too deeply. If we had discovered her earlier, she might be awake by now."

"Sigh, the only way now is to ask someone with connections to help us buy snow lotus."

After Fang Xiaoxiao finished speaking earnestly, she said no more, got up to cover Hongxiu with her bedding, turned around, opened the door, and left.