Chapter 1: The Best Auntie (Part 1)

In the sixteenth year of Zhao, General Mu Zi Feng, Protector of the Nation, defeated the Northern Barbarians, severely injuring their Khan. He returned in triumph, and the entire nation rejoiced. However, on his way back to the capital, the revered General protector mysteriously vanished without a trace...

The cicadas buzzed incessantly, and the evening breeze rustled through the leaves. In a small village nestled a thousand miles from the capital city, after dinner, villagers gathered in groups of twos and threes, chatting animatedly about everything under the sun. Dogs barked, laughter filled the air, creating a lively scene. Suddenly, a piercing scream shattered the tranquility, echoing throughout the entire village. Instantly, everyone's attention was drawn...

In the courtyard of the Ding family's second branch, a stout woman with a wide hips and a round backside held a skinny boy in one hand and waved a broom incessantly with the other. Beside her, another child clutched the woman's leg tightly with both hands, also beaten with no good place left on their bodies.

"You little bastard, ungrateful wretch, a product of no proper upbringing! Tell me, where did you hide the deed to your house?! Get it for your old mother right now!"

"We don't know... We don't know!" The two little ones had tears and snot all over their faces, but their eyes were full of determination. They refused to say where the deed was. How could they, so small, possibly resist the broad-shouldered Liu Cuifang? With a single sweep of her broom, she left behind strips of vicious lines on their bodies, some even bleeding. But they just gritted their teeth and wouldn't give in.

"Haven't you said it yet? Fine! I'll beat it out of you! You little brats, dare to be disrespectful to me!" Liu Cuiflower raised her broom high and attacked them again.

"It's so noisy..."

“Who is crying? Why is it so noisy?” Ding Yue’s eyes were still closed, but her consciousness was already very clear.

"Ugh... it hurts so much..." Ding Yue wanted to get up, but her head throbbed violently. She covered her head with her hands and fell back onto the kang.

When her head finally stopped hurting, some memories that didn't belong to Ding Yue were crammed into her brain. Her mind was a little muddled, and Ding Yue slowly opened her eyes. She looked around at the environment, a wry smile playing on her lips. "Oh, heavens," she muttered, "you're messing with me!"

"You worthless whelps, you bring bad luck! If you don't hand over the deed by tomorrow, I'll sell you both to slave traders and make sure you never come back! I'll make sure you can't speak again! Look at me, I'll kill you black-hearted, rotten scoundrels!"

Outside, angry shouts were heard from within the house. Ding Yue's heart ached suddenly. She didn't even bother with her shoes, instinctively jumped off the bed and rushed into the courtyard.

Seeing two frail young boys slumped on the ground, shivering uncontrollably, their clothes in tatters, with strips of red marking their skin like a horrifying tapestry. Ding Yue's pupils constricted, her fists clenched tight. She knew these were the original owner's two younger brothers, now her only remaining relatives.

"Big sister!"

"Sister! You're awake!"

Ding Yue did not respond to the two little guys. Her mind was filled with fragments of her own suffering in her previous life, her eyes bloodshot. Without a word, she flew up and kicked Liu Shi, but the original owner's child was really too useless. This kick, which should have been lethal, only caused Liu Shi to stumble back a few steps.

"Ouch... which bastard kicked me?" Liu Shi was kicked and furious. She managed to stand up and saw Ding Yue, instantly fuming.

"You shameless fox! How are you still alive? You, a woman who only seduces men, should be dragged to the pond and drowned! If I were you, I wouldn't dare to live anymore!"

Liu was somewhat apprehensive, thinking that these two were easy targets. She planned to take advantage of Ding Yue's sleep and grab the deed while she was unconscious. Even if Ding Yue woke up later, the house would be hers. These children would still be at her mercy. However, she hadn't expected Ding Yue to wake up at this moment.

On second thought, she's their aunt. Filial piety is paramount, so they wouldn't dare treat her badly. She was practically letting them walk all over her. Suddenly, she felt reassured. But the moment she thought about being kicked, Liu, with her hands on her hips, was about to unleash a tirade when Ding Yue beat her to it.

"All of this is your doing?" Ding Yue's eyes were bloodshot, her murderous aura released, her voice cold and terrifying, like a demon from hell.

"You... what do you want to do? They aren't listening, I'll just teach them a lesson, so what? You want to hit me too? I'm your aunt!" Liu shi was about to unleash a torrent of insults but was intimidated by Ding Yue's aura, she could only stiffen her neck and glare.

"Aunt?" Ding Yue patted the heads of the two little ones, stood up, and stared coldly at Liu Shi. Liu Shi was stared at until she broke out in a cold sweat, involuntarily taking a step back, her hand trembling uncontrollably, dropping the broom to the ground.

"You! You wretched woman, what do you want?" When Ding Yue scolded her like that, Liu Shi couldn't even speak properly.

“Our second house has long been separated, and it has nothing to do with the old house! Why are you beating them up? Are they eating your food or drinking your water? When did our children become yours to discipline!” Ding Yue’s voice was not loud but every word struck Liu’s heart, causing her face to turn pale and red.

“You! You wretched woman, shameless wretch, you black-hearted thing, I'm your great aunt, you ungrateful piece of trash, born without a mother’s teaching. Today, I'll teach you a lesson and show you what it means to be filial, so that people won't laugh at our Ding family!”

Liu Cuiflower was furious. She never expected to be backed into a corner by a child, but what about her elders? What would the villagers think if they saw an elder like her being bested by a child? Her face would be lost! So she straightened her spine and refused to yield.

"Hee hee, you talk about me drowning on one side and calling me a fox child and cheap goods on the other. You want to ruin my reputation so that I'm ashamed to see people and would rather die. That way, you can get hold of my brothers and then openly take over our house and sell my brothers to your son to marry a wife, and use the money for your daughter's dowry. Am I right, Liu Cuifang!"

Ding Yue's confident words left Liu's face pale. She wanted to retort, but couldn't find the right words. After all, that was what she truly thought in her heart. A lump of frustration formed in her chest, making it hard to breathe. Even though a gentle breeze rustled through the trees, she felt sweat beading on her forehead from holding back.

“You shameless little fox, you wicked thing! I beat them, what can you do? They are the Ding family, and I am their aunt. I want to hit, hit! And curse, curse! You and your shameless mother are the same kind of trash, wearing a fox face all day to seduce men, none of you are good things! Old lady, I'm laying it down right now, get me the deed to the house, and get out of this place! Otherwise, don't blame old lady for being rude!”

Mrs. Liu was seething with anger. How dare that Ding Yue defy her? She was an elder, and Ding Yue was nothing! The Great Zhao kingdom valued filial piety above all else. If she dared to disobey, Mrs. Liu would go to the magistrate's office and file a complaint, getting him beaten by the chief official. Then, her house wouldn't be safe anymore! Thinking this, Mrs. Liu's confidence surged again.

“You're welcome? How could you be so rude? You already beat them up and now you want to hit me too? Then try it!” Ding Yue’s sudden surge of power startled Liu, causing her to involuntarily take two steps back. Liu Cuifang was stunned; this girl was way too fierce tonight.

"Liu Cuiflower, if I hear another word from you about my mother, you'll be standing when you come in and walking out horizontally!" Ding Yue's ruthless words made the onlookers gasp.

What a venomous remark, what a fierce woman...

(Editor in charge:it novel)