Chapter 9 The Third Household

"Enough. These greedy fools... just let the Third Mistress of the Third Household deal with them," the matriarch said impatiently.

The Third Mistress was the only maid from the third branch who had borne a child. Zhang Mama received the order and hurried away.

Shortly after, a commotion stirred at the back of the crowd, but peace resumed swiftly. Not far off, those ambiguous, indistinct voices drifted into everyone's ears, uncertain and unsettling.

Suddenly, a startled cry and a scream rang out from nearby. The crowd, like frightened birds, scrambled to their feet, huddling together in terror.

A woman, barely clothed, staggered forward, crying out as she ran, "Matriarch, save me! Matriarch, help me, please, save me—"

"You little wretch! Where do you think you’re going!" Behind her surged a group of fierce young soldiers, led by a man with blood splattered across his uniform, one hand clutching his left ear. With his other hand, he hurled his spear with grim determination. The weapon shot forward like a blade, carrying murderous intent. With a sickening thud, it pierced the maid straight through her belly.

"Help... help me... please help..." The maid, mortally wounded, collapsed to the ground. Blood gushed forth, staining the barren earth in front of her crimson. Her throat continued to gasp for breath, but soon, she was barely breathing, and then she was still.

"Ugh! What bad luck!" The officer with the injured ear cursed, slumping onto a nearby rock. His eyes glinted with a predatory coldness as he fixed his gaze on the assembled women, as if surveying a herd of prey.

All the women trembled, pressing close together, shrinking back, wishing they could dig a hole and disappear.

"Hmph! Old Lady Wang! Just look at what you've done..." The officer now had his left ear bandaged by his subordinates. His triangular, snake-like eyes flashed with icy menace—not just aimed at the matriarch, but, Wang Keyue could feel, directly at herself.

The matriarch, unflinching, stepped in front of Wang Keyue, shielding her. "Sir, I must beg your pardon. I caught a chill yesterday, and my wits are not clear. If you still require anything, I promise—"

Before she could finish, the officer waved her words away. "Matriarch, are you looking down on me? Do you think I'm crude, so you send me such a vulgar maid?"

"You wrong me, sir. That girl was raised in our household; she’s only a bit quick-tempered," the matriarch explained.

"Hmph!" The officer’s snake-like eyes swept over the women behind the matriarch. "Tsk, tsk! Seems you’re reluctant to let go, old lady. Well, perhaps I should choose for myself, eh?" He stroked his chin, his lecherous gaze roaming over the terrified women.

"No, no, it’s not right to trouble you, sir. Liu, you go and serve the officer!" A fierce glint flashed in the matriarch’s eyes.

The named Liu of the third branch was still holding the only male heir of her family. Stunned at being singled out, she could barely react.

"No! Matriarch! I am your son’s legitimate wife—you can’t—" Before Liu could finish, several strong maids seized her, covered her mouth, and dragged her out of the group. The boy she held was swiftly taken by another maid.

The remaining women watched, torn between terror and a secret relief. Wang Keyue was dumbfounded by the old matriarch's ruthless maneuvering.

This was willingly placing a huge cuckold’s hat on her own son! It was unmistakable—such cruelty that her own flesh and blood would be unable to rest in his grave!

So ruthless! Too ruthless!

Wang Keyue found the old matriarch’s methods vicious and poisonous, but she dared not stand out or act rashly at such a critical moment.

First, she had no way to protect herself; her life hung in the balance. Second, she was neither a saint nor a hero—her two years of surviving the apocalypse had taught her caution above all.