In the year Ten of the Heavenly Martial Era, the Great Yao Kingdom declined...

A monstrous dragon's rampage wreaked havoc across the land, causing natural and man-made disasters everywhere. Even the peaceful capital city, known for its centuries of tranquility, suffered unimaginable devastation!

The earthquake turned the prosperous Kyoto into a scene of utter devastation, with countless casualties!

In many places in the southeast, northwest, and other regions, there have also been locust plagues and floods.

The Imperial Astronomical Bureau observed the celestial phenomena at night, looking at the North Dipper's Wolf Star. They saw that the star was unusually bright and wrote a remonstrance to the emperor, saying that there was a divine punishment coming upon the Great Brightness Kingdom!

The ravages of the natural disaster have not yet ended, and local warlords take advantage of the chaos, plotting in secret. From afar, Min Rong's ambitions grow. The second prince of Min Rong leads an army of 200,000, marching towards Dayao with devastating intent.

When the might of Dayao Long wanes, and its power is at its lowest, seize the opportunity to attack relentlessly, conquering countless cities.

Min Rong's army is even more terrifying than locusts...

At this moment, in a remote village of the Dà Yào nation, a pregnant woman is experiencing the pain of childbirth!

In the low, dim hut, a person lay in bed, drenched in sweat, suffering from pain. One hand clutched their stomach while the other reached for a pair of scissors from the sewing box on the bedside table and placed them there.

"Qing Shu, light the oil lamp and then take your younger brother out. Close the door after you leave." Li Hehua endured a wave of agonizing pain as she spoke to her two sons who stood by her bed, silently weeping.

"Mother...what are you doing? Little sister is here to see Aunt Two." Song QingShu was frightened by Li Hehua's appearance, drenched in sweat and panting heavily.

"Mama's going to have a little baby. Listen to Mama," Li Hehua said softly, trying to force a smile so the children wouldn't worry.

But I can't smile! Just yesterday, I heard some awful news, the man, the children's father, is dead!

There's nothing, not even the ashes of my child's father! Not even a single cent in compensation!

He was a scholar by nature, but just a few months ago, he was conscripted into the army by the government. Now, even if scholars have achieved official rank, without connections, they are still subject to conscription!

Good heavens! This is going to be a disaster!

Li Hehua endured both the pain of childbirth and the grief of losing her husband.

Now that the men are gone, every relative and sister-in-law in the family avoids us like a plague, treating us orphans and widows.

Production is about to begin, and I don't have anyone to help me. I have to do everything myself!

“Ah…” Li Hehua let out a painful wail, tears and sweat mixing together!

What happens to the several children if he/she dies, who can't die?

Song Qing shu lit the oil lamp and then took her younger brother out.

As I walked to the door, I saw my silly elder sister sitting on the ground, holding a twig and playing with ants.

"Sister... Mother is going to give birth to a baby, won't mother die?" Song Qing Shu was truly at his wit's end. He knew his sister was simple-minded, but besides telling his sister, who else could he tell?

"Haha... little baby, your mother gave birth to you!" Song Qingyao giggled foolishly.

His face was dirty, but his eyes were bright and sparkling. However, they looked innocent and silly.

"Sister, you stay calm and don't leave. I'll go find Aunt Two." He had asked his maternal uncle's wife before, but she had driven him away.

Aunt said whatever, the two families had already split long ago. Don't come looking for trouble with everything, from now on the two families have nothing to do with each other.

Little sister Qingle went to the neighboring village to find Second Aunt Li Hua, but she hasn't come back yet!

Although the two villages are separated by a river without a bridge, making it impossible to cross, and one has to take a detour to get to the other, Xiaomei has been gone for an hour now and should be returning.

What can we do? If we wait any longer, he'll be an orphan!

Song Qing Shu decided he wouldn't wait any longer, he would go find them himself.

Song Qing Shu looked at the silly older sister at the door, then at her younger brother who couldn't speak. She hesitated in her heart.

The woman cried out in pain again.

This sound startled Song Qingshu.

"Sister, don't run away, you must take good care of your younger brother!" Song QingShu held back her tears and shouted.

Knowing that I shouldn't leave my sister alone at home, but I really have no other choice right now.

Song Qing Shu had just left not long ago.

Mr. Song, Song Guangming, and his wife have arrived. The two of them rushed over, but both looked unfriendly.

“Yesterday, this Li Huahua insisted that there was no condolence money. I don’t believe it! Before, Lao Tian from our village died in battle, and the government gave five taels of silver as condolence money.” Song's sister-in-law, Hu Niuyun, glared with narrowed eyes and scolded fiercely.

After <<>>

The village head of Qingtian Village!

He scowled and said angrily, "Now that pensions are being paid out, they don't go through me anymore. They're sent directly to the widows of fallen soldiers. I don't even know how much is being given."

This woman, since yesterday, ever since she heard the news of her second brother's death in battle, has been constantly asking about the compensation.

It's his fault for not bringing it back directly, he made Li Hehua a bargain.

Now that the second brother is gone, Li Huahua is no longer part of the Song family.

Everything belonging to the second son of the Song family must be returned to the Song family.

Song's parents passed away a few years ago. Now, Song Guangming is in charge of the family.

"Let's go quickly and take all the valuables from the second brother's house. Let's hurry before they escape! Most of the people in the neighboring village have already fled." Hu Niu said hastily.

The two sons and one daughter are currently at home tidying up.

Now that men are here, they're just coming to wipe out the entire family.

As soon as Hu Niu thought about Li Hehua, that little bitch, having the condolence money in her hands, his heart felt uneasy.

Since she was young, Li Huahua had been renowned for her beauty in the village. She married Song Lao'er, the second son of the Song family, who was a scholar. Song Lao'er also excelled, passing the imperial examination and becoming a Xiucai (a junior degree holder).

Back then, Hu Niuyun wasn't jealous!

Now, that second son is dead! What's so great about this Li Huahua anymore?

"Why should Old Song's family's money, earned from their deceased, be held by an outsider? What if that person runs away? That Li Hualiao is a fox-like woman, she'll definitely seduce men on the road and use your brother's hard-earned money to support them!" Hu Niu's words made Song Guangming feel uneasy as well.

Before that, he still felt ashamed to have eaten all the money, making him unable to bear the face of his position as village head.

But after hearing his wife's words, he felt it made sense.

This money, no matter what, has to be taken back.

That was bought with his younger brother's life.

"Take your axe with you! If that family's idiot girl comes at you, kill her!"

"Aren't you prepared with rat poison!"

That girl is strong, better be prepared.

……

Two people walked up to Lao Er's low, earthen hut. Youyou heard Li Huahua's mournful cries coming from inside the house.

At the door, Song Qingyao, that silly girl, was playing in the mud, making herself a mess.

The dumb youngest son stood in the corner, watching his older sister.

Hu Niu Yun stood directly at the door and shouted, "Li Hehua, come out! Quickly give me Lao Er's pension money. You shameless woman, what qualifications do you have to keep this money?"