they all picked on me, every one of them! Year before last when a weasel killed a cock, did they not accuse me of not having securely fastened the chicken coop? Whereas it was that good for nothing mangy dog which pushed the door open to steal the feed! Without trying to find out which was white and which was black, the little beast there gave me a slap in the face . . . "
His Honor cast a look at her at this point.
"I knew why. There was a reason. It cannot escape Your Honor's all-seeing eyes, for Your Honor is a scholar and understanding man who sees everything. It was because he had been bewitched by that promiscuous whore and wanted to drive me out. But my marriage was contracted with the three teas and six gifts, and I was brought over in a regular bridal sedan! I am not so easy to get rid of. I swear I'll show them what I can do, I am not afraid of lawsuits. If I cannot get justice from the district, there is still the prefect . . . "
"His Honor knows all these things," His Honor Wei raised his head and added, "Ai-ku, let me tell you that you won't get much satisfaction if you will not listen to reason. You are always so wayward. See how understanding your father is, so unlike you and your brothers. Yes, you can appeal the case to the prefect, but do you suppose the prefect would fail to consult His Honor Seven about it? When it comes to that, everything will be done strictly according to law and then you . . . "
"Then I'll stake my life against them. I'll willingly die to bring ruin and death to them!"
"But it is not a question of staking your life against any one," His Honor Seven said slowly, at last. "You are still very young. You must learn that one should always try to
