Hong Yingrong looked at the messy courtyard and said, "As for the rest, mother will take care of it."

Outside Lanyue Pavilion, Xiangqin was tied up and unable to struggle. The cloth strips stuffed in her mouth blocked all her sounds.

Madam Zhao ordered the servants to lock her up in the woodshed next to the corner gate.

"Old Madam, I've already inquired about it." She reported in a low voice, "It is indeed Hua Niang from Chang'anfang. It seems that she has many patrons. She has sneaked into the mansion these past few days and has been staying with the prince."

Hong Yingrong's nerves, which had just felt relaxed, became tense again. "You understand, go and get ready," she ordered calmly.

Nanny Zhao understood what she meant and left without taking any maids with her.

Hong Yingrong moved to the woodshed and sat on the carved round chair that the maids had quickly brought over.

Xiangqin had been wearing a coarse cloth smock at some point, which gave her a bit of dignity and prevented her from being naked.

She had some strength to struggle and make noise before, but now she had completely given up resistance. Han Qiao walked forward and tore the cloth out of her mouth.

"Old Madam, I didn't come here to cause trouble. Please spare my life!"

As a prostitute of low status, Xiangqin knew very well that even if she was discovered and beaten to death, her death would not be a pity and no one would ask any questions about her since she appeared in a wealthy and prominent family like the Marquis' Mansion with such an unclear identity.

Hong Yingrong frowned slightly as she looked at the frightened woman in front of her.

In the capital, it was not uncommon to redeem prostitutes from prostitute houses and keep them as concubines. There were such people among her brothers from her mother's family, and even among the Xingyuan Marquis of previous generations, there were people who spent a fortune to win the smile of a beauty.

However, the final fate of these women is often unsatisfactory. They may have been glorious in the eyes of outsiders, but in fact their hearts are full of bitterness and unspeakable pain.