Chapter 43: Evisceration and Intestinal Washing

  "Third Uncle, I have another request!" Rui Xuan said.

  "Obey your mother-in-law's orders!" replied Mei San Shu Gong.

  "I won't let my sister and Mei Xia leave with those filthy beasts, I want to restore their innocence for them... by disemboweling and washing their intestines!" Rui Xuan said, her words slow and deliberate, gritting her teeth.

  As soon as this was said, everyone present was shocked.

  All eyes were focused on Uncle Mei San Gong.

  Mei San Shu Gong's heart was also shocked, despite being over 70 years old and having rich experience, but Rui Xuan's request just now was unheard of. He didn't answer immediately, his deep eyes wandering between the ancestors' portraits and plaques in the ancestral hall, as if hoping to find an answer from them.

  Suddenly, his eyes stopped on a couplet engraved on the pillar of the ancestral hall: "Don't let people praise your good looks, just leave a clear air to fill the universe." Mei San Shu Gong seemed to have an epiphany, he slammed his cane on the ground and seemed to make up his mind: "Then I'll trouble you, dear mother!" He turned to Rui Xuan, clasped his fists and bowed: "I thank the ancestors of the Mei family for the great lady's kindness!" After saying this, he turned to face the Mei family members: "All members of the Mei family, servants listen up: today's matter, all responsibility is borne by me, and has nothing to do with Madame Lu; from now on, everything in the Mei family, people, money, and goods, will be at the disposal of Madame Lu, no one is allowed to object!"

  "Thank you, Third Uncle, for your understanding!" Rui Xuan seemed to have let out a sigh of relief and immediately returned to her usual composed self:

  "Lu Ge, I'm leaving it to you to welcome the bride! Also, prepare a new house for the new wife, and make sure it's a good one!"

  "Mei Cheng, go and invite 'Ren He Tang' to congratulate the old doctor, just say that Lu's family and Mei's family jointly invited!"

  "Mei Xiang, Lu Shu, go boil two large pots of hot water and add some mugwort leaves; prepare two large wooden tubs, two small wooden tubs, 10 white towels, two zhang of white silk... Also, go buy a new apron, two new pairs of scissors, a new vegetable knife! A dozen large sewing needles!"

  "Third Uncle, please ask everyone to leave the ancestral hall!"

  Everything is ready.

  Rui Xuan gently untied the white silk covering Rui Hua's body, revealing her still fully clothed, with eyes slightly open. Her chest and shoulders had multiple bite wounds and bloodstains, likely from more than one beast soldier. There were also bruises on her inner thighs. Her feet were covered in small, round burn scars, probably from being burned by a perverted ghost with a cigarette or incense stick. Deep rope marks were visible on her wrists and ankles, with purple-black skin, indicating she had suffered unimaginable torture before her death, and that she had put up a final struggle and resistance. Despite the brutal treatment and mutilation, Rui Hua's body still looked snowy white and sacred.

  Rui Xuan's tears fell on Rui Hua's body, her most intimate and lovely younger sister, who had been inseparable for decades, but now was separated by life and death, and died in such a humiliating and miserable way!

  Xuan picked up a white towel from the bucket and gently wiped Ruihui's forehead, shoulders, and chest from top to bottom, trying to alleviate her pain. However, when she saw Ruihui's slightly bulging abdomen, Xuan suddenly felt a wave of nausea, her eyebrows furrowed, and she said harshly: "Sister, I'm sorry! You bear the pain, sister can't let you leave with those beasts' filth, dirty body!" As she spoke, she picked up the kitchen knife, gritted her teeth, turned her head, and slashed at Ruihui's bulging belly with all her might!

  A thick and foul-smelling blood suddenly gushed out.

  Outsiders didn't know what was happening inside the ancestral hall. They only saw Mei Xiang carrying bucket after bucket of hot water in, and then one bucket after another of bloody water with a foul smell being carried out, so it's likely that the scene inside was shocking!

  Everyone admired Rui Xuan's courage and generosity, and they were also furious about the brutal behavior of the devils.

  After finishing washing Rui Hui, Rui Xuan gently wrapped her body with a new white silk cloth, just like when she was young, lightly covering her sleeping sister with a quilt.

  Then she came to Mei Xia's side and slowly untied the white bandage.

  Mei Xia's body was still staring with anger. The young, plump and fair-skinned body was covered with layers of bloody teeth marks and purple bruises. What was even more cruel was that the ** was full of scorching scars, obviously intentionally harmed by a perverted devil's cigarette or incense head; two ** that should have been as red as cherries were completely shattered; all front teeth were pulled out; the girl's weak lower body was torn apart, with bloodstains everywhere, which were marks of being brutally ripped apart. The skin on her wrists and ankles was completely ground off by ropes, some places even visible to the bone!

  Obviously, she suffered more than her mother; obviously, her resistance was also more intense and thorough! Unfortunately, the two of them were unarmed, delicate and weak Jiangnan women! The only resistance they could make was a futile struggle on the execution rack!

  Rui Xuan could no longer hold back, and she fell on Mei Xia's body, wailing loudly: "Xia'er, child! You're so young, why do you have to suffer so much?! You shouldn't be a woman! You little devils, are you beasts or demons?! Heaven! Guanyin Bodhisattva who saves suffering and difficulties, where are you?! Open your eyes and look at this world, how can there still be such monsters and wolves?! Little devils, weren't you born to women? Haven't you drunk women's milk? Don't you have mothers, sisters, or daughters?! How could you be so ruthless to these two weak women, how could you bring yourselves to commit such a heinous crime?! Aren't you afraid of heavenly punishment, aren't you afraid of karmic retribution?!

  "Rui Xuan's voice was filled with blood and tears, every word cut like a knife. 'National Government, where are you?! Can you bear to see your citizens slaughtered like pigs and dogs, like livestock at the mercy of devils?! Chinese army, where are you?! Can you bear to see your mothers, sisters, and daughters ravaged by beasts?! Men of China, where are you?! Can you bear to see your women brutalized and harmed by monsters?!"

  Rui Xuan's heart-wrenching and lung-splitting cries pierced through the courtyard walls, also piercing every person's heart outside. Everyone was filled with righteous indignation, everyone was ashamed and humiliated, no one shed tears anymore, each person clenched their fists tightly, in their eyes, in their chest, overflowing were blazing flames and boiling blood!

  After a long time, Rui Xuan finally stopped crying and pressed her face tightly against Mei Xia's still youthful and beautiful face. She whispered in her ear: "Xia'er, bear the pain! Mom will clean up the dirt for you and restore your innocence as a daughter, and welcome you back home!" Rui Xuan's hands trembled again as she picked up the new kitchen knife and scissors.

  One bucket after another of hot water was carried in, and one bucket after another of blood was carried out, emitting a strong stench that made people feel nauseous. The mood of the people outside the temple fluctuated with each bucket going in and coming out.

  After a while, someone outside heard Rui Xuan calling out from inside, "Mei Xiang, has Old Man He, the divine doctor, arrived?"