Chapter 4: Revenge and Revelation

Gou's screams echoed throughout the manor, his face contorted in pain and fear. The servants, frozen in place, didn't dare intervene. Konga, the treacherous concubine, tried to step forward to save her son, but a single icy glare from me stopped her in her tracks.

— "Take one more step, and I assure you, you'll join that maid lying on the ground."

My voice was cold, sharp as a blade. Outwardly, I appeared calm, but a storm of rage raged inside me. How dare they lay a hand on my brother, an innocent child?

Han, still on his knees, was softly crying as he looked at me. His small arms tried to cling to me despite his injuries. I knelt down to embrace him, gently placing my hand on his head.

— "Don't worry, Han. No one will ever hurt you again. I'm here now."

I raised my eyes to the terrified servants and the four demons who had tarnished my family's name.

— "Listen carefully. This is your warning. Anyone who dares to harm my brother or betray this household will suffer a far worse fate than that so-called maid."

To emphasize my words, I threw the bloodied whip at their feet. They stepped back, some dropping to their knees, trembling in fear.

The Unexpected InterventionSuddenly, a man in armor burst into the courtyard. His face was familiar—it was the injured man I had saved the night before. He was accompanied by several soldiers.

— "What is going on here?" he demanded, his gaze scanning the bloody scene.

Before anyone could respond, he turned to me, a spark of admiration and surprise in his eyes.

— "Lady Lee, we meet sooner than expected. Is this... punishment your doing?"

— "These people tortured my little brother," I replied bluntly. "I'm merely delivering justice."

The man approached me, his expression a mix of respect and intrigue.

— "I now understand why General Lee speaks of his daughter with such pride."

His words surprised me.

— "You know my father? Who exactly are you?"

He bowed slightly before answering.

— "I am the crown prince, Wei Cheng. Your father and I are old friends, and he sent me here to keep an eye on your household in his absence. But it seems I arrived too late."

Reinforcements ArriveThe prince's soldiers began to restrain the servants and gather the four traitors. Konga, desperate, made one last plea.

— "Your Highness, please! This girl is insane! She accuses us falsely!"

Wei Cheng raised an eyebrow before turning to me.

— "Lady Lee, would you like me to take these people into custody? They can be judged under imperial law."

I thought for a moment. Exiling these monsters would free me, but I also knew their exile wouldn't be enough to undo the harm they'd caused.

— "Thank you for your offer, Your Highness. But these people committed their crimes here, and they will face their punishment here."

Wei Cheng gave me an approving smile.

— "As you wish. If you need reinforcements, my men are at your service."

A Promise to KeepAfter the prince left, I turned to Han, who had been brought inside to receive care. He looked at me with eyes full of hope and gratitude.

— "Big sister, will everything be better now?" he whispered.

I gently stroked his hair and promised:

— "Yes, Han. I will never let anyone hurt you again. This house will become our home once more—a safe and honorable place."

A Lingering MysteryLater that night, as the manor finally began to settle into a semblance of calm, I found myself alone in my room. I activated the holographic screen of my implant, analyzing the data I had collected on Konga and her family's actions.

What I discovered left me puzzled. Some of the information was strangely encoded, as if someone else had been monitoring this house for a long time.

One question haunted me: "Why is my implant still functional in this era? And who are these enemies that seem tied to both my past and present?"

As I closed the screen, one thing became clear: this time-travel wasn't just a second chance. Something bigger was at play, and I needed to be ready.