The customers in the shop also heard Ah Shong’s shout, and some curiously walked toward the back.

Yun Jiao quickly gave Liu Zhu a look to prevent them from advancing.

After she and Yang Ying went in, they hurriedly shut the door to prevent everyone from crowding in to watch the commotion.

Just as Yun Jiao was planning to go upstairs, she saw Lao Jiu dart past them like a gust of wind.

Behind him was the sobbing Guihua Sister-in-law.

Yun Jiao followed them upstairs.

Upon reaching the last room upstairs, they saw Yingzi still hanging straight from the beam, while Ah Tie and Zhang Shun were holding on to Yingzi’s legs, both looking up.

Gu Yuheng stood on a stool, wielding a pair of scissors, cutting the big red scarf around Yingzi’s neck.

The scarf was cut through; Yingzi’s neck went limp to the side, and Zhang Shun and Ah Tie quickly laid Yingzi flat on the ground.

Yingzi’s eyes were somewhat bulging, but her tongue had not stuck out yet.

Guihua Sister-in-law wailed as she pounced forward.

Yun Jiao quickly said, "Quick, step aside. Let me see if she can be saved."

Guihua Sister-in-law stopped her advance, suppressing her sobs deeply in her throat, covering her mouth as she watched Yun Jiao.

Yun Jiao first reached out and felt Yingzi’s lower body.

It was still dry, no feces or urine had come out.

Then, she placed her fingers on Yingzi’s neck, feeling for a long while until she detected a pulse that was so faint it almost didn’t exist.

Yun Jiao spoke rapidly, "Go get a big rooster."

"And bring up a very sharp knife."

Lao Jiu ran out like a madman.

Yun Jiao shouted after him, "Where are you going?"

Lao Jiu was already in the corridor outside, shouting, "I’m going to the market to buy a rooster."

Yun Jiao quickly followed him out, "Don’t run around, there’s a rooster downstairs!"

They had just received a delivery of three livestock for the engagement today, and they were still in the courtyard, something she had noticed earlier.

Yun Jiao then urged Ah Tie, "Go get the knife."

Guihua Sister-in-law didn’t dare to cry; it was considered inauspicious to cry at such a moment.

The relatives from the Shen Family, who had come with the betrothal gifts, were now all looking up at the scene upstairs from the main hall.

They had all heard Ah Shong’s earlier cries and saw how Lao Jiu, who had been attending to guests, suddenly ran off like a lunatic.

The Shen Family relatives all had extremely somber expressions.

They were finalizing an engagement downstairs, while Yingzi was hanging herself upstairs. The implications were obvious.

A young man said, "What are we standing around for? Are we waiting to eat?"

"Let’s pack up and take everything back!"

As the others hesitated on whether to leave, Lao Jiu dashed back and grabbed a big rooster from the racks, rushing back upstairs.

Ah Tie followed behind him into the west wing, grabbing a knife used for cutting herbs.

The herb-cutting knife he sharpened every day was very sharp.

The two of them went upstairs, one ahead of the other.

Yun Jiao directed Lao Jiu, "Bring the rooster over, yes, right up to her neck."

She then instructed Ah Tie, "Aim well, one cut to disembowel it."

The rooster seemed to sense its tragic fate, stretching its neck and crying out.

Lao Jiu quickly grabbed the rooster’s neck, silencing its cries.

Ah Tie raised the knife and brought it down, disemboweling the rooster.

Blood gushed from the abdominal cavity, the rooster’s organs spilling out.

The blood and entrails smeared onto Yingzi’s neck.

No one dared to make a sound, all holding their breath, waiting to see if Yingzi would pull through.

Whether Yingzi would survive, Yun Jiao wasn’t sure either.

This method was something she had once heard her grandfather mention.

She first felt Yingzi’s lower body to check for wetness to see if bladder or bowel contents had been expelled, as it meant there would be no saving her.