There was a difference between killing someone and causing a miscarriage, even if the matter blew out of proportion. Although Meng Yao was unfamiliar with the laws of Zhou State, she knew she could not make Madam Née Li pay for her crimes with her life.
Moreover, Madam Née Li was Song Xiu'er's mother. Meng Yao only said that to scare Madam Née Li.
"Stop trying to scare me! You're just a fool from the country. Do you think you have the final say?!" Madam Née Li shouted sternly.
"Of course, I don't have the final say. So, I've thought it through. I'll report this matter to the officials and ask the great Lord to bring justice to the Zhao family and our unborn child!" Meng Yao said righteously. "I'll tell my second son to write down what happened and send it to Yamen when he returns."
Unexpectedly, the crowd and Li Zheng reacted more to Meng Yao's words than Madam Née Li's because everyone would find out about this issue once it got reported to the Yamen.
The news of a murder in the village was too significant to ignore.
"At the end of the day, the Song family are still your in-laws, Meng Yao. How can you bear to report us to the Yamen?" Madam Née Li said.
"Please speak with your mother-in-law Xiu'er. We know you're angry and that you hate Madam Née Li, but she is still your mother no matter what. This will ruin your mother's reputation, and the Yamen will send her to prison when they find out what happened. Your reputation is also on the line just for a moment of pleasure. Others would think you are cruel if you report your mother to the Yamen. You will have a difficult future if you taint your reputation at such a young age."
"Didn't Doctor Li say that your child wouldn't have survived even if your mother didn't kick you? At most, she only mistreated her own daughter. She does not deserve a death sentence."
"We didn't know that your mother was so excessive in the past. Now that we're aware of it, we won't let her abuse you again. Since you married into the Zhao family, it is only fitting that you offer some gifts to your biological family during the new year. After that, you only need to care about living your life with the Zhao family."
The villagers spoke in unison, one after another. They knew that the Songs were evil, but they did not think it was necessary to report them to the authorities. If the Zhao family insisted, then they would be the vicious ones.
"Meng Yao." Li Zheng's expression was severe. "According to Zhou State law, the Song family would be flogged and admonished at most. Madam Née Li will suffer a few days of pain. As for Xiu'er, if her reputation is affected, yours will too since she is your daughter-in-law. Also, your son, Dahe, is a scholar, and a scholar's reputation is precious. If his reputation is damaged, the loss will outweigh the gain."
Suddenly, Meng Yao thought of some information she had obtained about this era before she transmigrated. They could generally resolve many matters internally and would never seek external help to protect their reputation.
'I can't let this woman ruin my son's reputation,' Meng Yao thought.
"I can't just let Madam Née Li off the hook." Meng Yao knew she could not convince the entire village alone. After all, the Song family did not hurt the villagers, only Song Xiu'er and her unborn child.
Madam Née Li had nothing to fear with her daughter as a protective talisman.
Meng Yao took a deep breath and said calmly, "I believe that a person's courage slowly grows into luck. Madam Née Li's daughter did not report this for the sake of the village's reputation. What if it happens again next time? We can change the course of rivers and move mountains, but we cannot change nature itself."
"No one can guarantee that the Song family would repent for their crimes, especially if Madam Née Li goes from bad to worse. After all, everyone here doesn't want to report this to the authorities for the village's reputation."
Meng Yao could not let the Song family off so easily even if she did not report this incident to the officials.
Li Zheng's heart trembled. He hadn't thought of it that way before. He was only worried that Madam Née Li would destroy the village's reputation, and he could not allow it.
When Li Zheng heard Meng Yao's words, he knew he could not let Madam Née Li off the hook so quickly, even if he did not report it to the officials. Otherwise, Madam Née Li would cause even more trouble for the village.
"The Shanghua Village has a mixed surname. There are no clan restrictions, but we can't break the rules because of this incident. You all know that we cannot accomplish anything without rules, and everyone must follow them to build a better future," Li Zheng said with a deep voice.
The villagers were touched by Meng Yao's words and thought she was not just trying to scare them. As such, no one refuted Li Zheng's words, and they even urged him, "We should keep the Song family under wraps!"
"Let's go to the ancestral hall."
No one went to the ancestral hall except to give offerings during the new year and other festivals. It had been nearly twenty years since it opened.
In any case, Meng Yao did not find any memories of the ancestral hall.
Meanwhile, Madam Née Li was unconcerned when she entered the ancestral hall, thinking they would only reprimand her lightly. She thought she hadn't done anything terrible.
However, Madam Née Li was dumbfounded after Li Zheng spoke to the village elders.
The Song family was responsible for Song Xiu'er's health—if they could not take responsibility, the villagers would kick the Song family out of the village. In addition, Meng Yao had already stated her conditions.
Madam Née Li would have to eat as little as Song Xiu'er did because Meng Yao wanted Madam Née Li to feel what Song Xiu'er felt.
Even so, the Song family did not mind letting Madam Née Li go hungry. Song Hu was even thrilled because he could have more to eat.
The Song family was outraged when they heard about the silver compensation. Song Xiu'er's father, Song Shizhu, disagreed alongside Madam Née Li and Song Hu.
The three were the same. The Song family thought Song Xiu'er was a waste of money and was not worthy. They had saved all their silver for Song Hu's wedding.
Madam Née Li started behaving shamelessly, saying she wanted money but did not have it. She even told the villagers to send her to the Yamen.
However, Li Zheng could not send Madam Née Li to the Yamen. The Song family's shamelessness confused Li Zheng.
"I was angry when I said Dajiang should divorce you, Xiu'er. Please don't take it to heart. I want to know if you're willing to stay with us," Meng Yao told Song Xiu'er.
Song Xiu'er furrowed her eyebrows. Then she choked as she replied, "I'm willing to stay with you, Mother-in-law."
"What if I asked you to cut ties with the Song family?" Meng Yao asked.
Before Song Xiu'er could answer, Madam Née Li stomped her foot and grumbled, "Good job, Meng Yao. You're a black-hearted b*tch since you're trying to convince my daughter to cut ties with her family!"
Meng Yao ignored Madam Née Li and looked calmly at Song Xiu'er.
In the past, the Song family had sold Song Xiu'er to the mountain people, and Song Xiu'er even thought it would be better if she weren't born into the Song family. Even in her dreams, she wished she had nothing to do with the Song family.
"I'm willing to live with you, Mother-in-law," Song Xiu'er said firmly, pausing after each word.
"You ungrateful b*tch! I went through Hell, giving birth to you and raising you. This is how you repay me?!" Madam Née Li wailed.
"Aren't my damaged body and dead unborn child enough recompense for you, mother?" Song Xiu'er asked indifferently.