The Tofu Queen: A Modern Woman's Ancient Kingdom Journey

Jiang Huaiyu steadied herself after the stumble and glanced down, her gaze landing on the jade pendant on the ground. For a moment, she was taken aback by Xu Chunhua's audacity—hiding the stolen pendant in her bodice?

"Isn't that... my jade pendant?" Jiang Huaiyu's voice carried just the right amount of shock as she raised a hand to cover her mouth in mock disbelief.

Xu Chunhua, meanwhile, stood frozen, her mind reeling. Just moments ago, she had been confident that she had the upper hand, poised to humiliate Jiang Huaiyu further. But now, in an absurd twist of fate, the jade pendant lay exposed for all to see.

The village headman reacted swiftly. He slammed his pipe onto the table with a resounding crack and rose to his feet. With a single step, he delivered a stinging slap to Xu Chunhua's face. The sound echoed loudly, and a red welt quickly appeared on her cheek.

Xu Chunhua clutched her face, her expression a mix of shock and disbelief. She opened her mouth to protest, but her words came out garbled, more spit than substance.

"Our Wang Family Village has never harbored a thief of your caliber!" the headman thundered. "To think you'd stoop to stealing! Severe punishment is warranted to set an example!"

He turned toward Jiang Huaiyu with a righteous expression, his voice stern. "Miss Jiang, please inspect the pendant to see if it has sustained any damage. If it has, the thief's punishment will be doubled."

Jiang Huaiyu waved her hand dismissively, her tone calm. "The pendant is intact, fortunately. But I must ask, Headman—how do you intend to deal with her?"

"Under the laws of the Da Yun Kingdom," the headman began, his voice heavy, "theft of property valued at thirty taels carries a penalty of three years of labor. Since the item is undamaged, she's spared from paying restitution, but the labor sentence stands. Within three days, I will see to it that she is sent to perform her sentence."

Jiang Huaiyu's gaze turned sharp. "That's not all, Headman. Have you forgotten? She didn't simply steal the pendant—she entered my home to do so. The law is clear: trespassing to commit theft carries an additional penalty, as it poses a potential threat to life and property. Such actions warrant harsher punishment."

The headman faltered, his mouth opening as though to refute her claim, but Jiang Huaiyu stepped forward, her voice resolute and her eyes blazing.

"Tell me, Headman," she demanded, "if this crime goes unpunished, if anyone can freely barge into my home to steal or destroy, how am I, a lone woman with a defenseless child, supposed to protect myself?"

Her words struck a chord, silencing even the most gossipy onlookers. A murmur of agreement rippled through the crowd. Even the headman, known for his shrewdness, seemed at a loss for words.

After a long pause, he nodded heavily. "You're right, Miss Jiang," he conceded, his voice rough. "In addition to three years of labor, Xu Chunhua will be reduced to the status of a bondservant under your charge for five years. If she reforms during that time, she may regain her freedom afterward."

The announcement hit Xu Chunhua like a thunderbolt. She collapsed to her knees, clutching the headman's leg in desperation.

"Uncle, you can't do this to me! I didn't steal it—I found it! It's her! She's framing me! She's a venomous snake!" Xu Chunhua's voice grew shrill as she finally realized she had been ensnared in a trap.

But Jiang Huaiyu didn't flinch under her accusations. Her expression remained cool as she stepped back, her gaze steady.

"Aunt, your words are laughable," Jiang Huaiyu retorted, her voice crisp and clear. "Did I force you to covet my tofu recipe? Did I invite you to summon a wealthy young master to coerce me? Did I make you resent me so much that you destroyed my property and stole my pendant? I, Jiang Huaiyu, have a clear conscience. Can you say the same? Do you even deserve to speak of conscience?"

She raised her voice, her words ringing with authority. "If anyone could shift blame as you do, claiming their actions were the result of someone else's schemes, then where is the rule of law?"

Xu Chunhua opened her mouth to argue, but before she could speak, the headman's hand came down again in a resounding slap.

"Enough!" he barked, his tone final.

Xu Chunhua clutched her other cheek, her head spinning from the blow.

The headman sighed heavily, his gaze sweeping over the assembled villagers. Though he suspected that Jiang Huaiyu had orchestrated this entire situation, he had no choice but to concede. She had played her cards perfectly, leaving no room for him to defend Xu Chunhua without appearing corrupt.

Waving his hand, the headman ordered, "Take her to the clan hall. Inform the elders of the entire matter. In three days, she will be escorted to the southern canal works to serve her labor sentence."

The villagers gasped. They all knew that labor at the southern canal was grueling. Even women assigned to kitchen duties faced harsh conditions—freezing winds in the winter and scorching sun in the summer. Xu Chunhua's chances of returning unscathed after three years were slim.

Realizing the gravity of her punishment, Xu Chunhua wailed and flung herself to the ground. She howled in despair, her cries echoing through the village. But her lamentations weren't born of remorse—they were rooted in frustration at having been caught.

Back at her home, Jiang Huaiyu played with Tangbao, her expression relaxed and cheerful.

Zheng Xiaoyue, however, still seemed troubled. "Huaiyu, I can't help but feel sorry for Xu Chunhua's children. With her gone for three years, what will happen to them?"

Jiang Huaiyu paused, then gave a faint smile. "Do you think that forgiving her would make her change her ways? That she'd remember this as a lesson and never cross me again?"

Zheng Xiaoyue hesitated. "She did seem frightened…"

"Have you ever seen a snake, Sister Zheng?" Jiang Huaiyu asked gently.

Zheng Xiaoyue nodded, puzzled.

Jiang Huaiyu then told her the fable of the farmer and the snake. When she finished, she met Zheng Xiaoyue's gaze, her tone calm but firm. "Sister Zheng, even the most benevolent figure can show wrath when wronged. She didn't just steal my jade pendant. What if next time, it's not my belongings she takes, but my child?"

The weight of her words struck Zheng Xiaoyue deeply, and she nodded slowly. "You're right. I was too soft-hearted."

Jiang Huaiyu's lips curved into a faint smile. "Her children will be fine. The clan will look after them, and perhaps without her influence, they'll grow into better people. As for her, three years will be enough to temper her arrogance. I'll free her after that, but not a day sooner."

Her gaze turned cold, her tone resolute. "Mercy for her now would only be cruelty to myself."