No one can trap my sister with three thousand taels

Su Qingli took out a flower-embroidered purse from her sleeve and stuffed it into her father's hand.

"Use this change for pocket money. If you need anything, just send someone to let me know and I'll find a way. Don't mess with those unscrupulous people again."

This amount of silver was what she earned from playing the piano in Zuixianlou. Although it was not much, it was enough for them to use for ten days or half a month if they saved it.

After this incident, Su Huaihai felt frightened and quickly nodded in agreement.

After bidding farewell to his father and mother, Su Qingli turned and left.

Since Fu Xuechen had given her three thousand taels as promised and saved her brother's life, she should keep her promise, return to the Prime Minister's Mansion, and be his concubine.

Halfway through the journey, she happened to see a servant from the Imperial Physician's Mansion coming out to buy something, and he seemed to be in a hurry.

The image of Su Zhaoming covered in blood subconsciously appeared in her mind.

Although I knew that he was out of danger that day, I didn't know whether he had woken up now or how he was recovering. It would be better to go and check on him before entering the mansion.

Thinking of this, Su Qingli turned around and followed the servant to the Imperial Physician's Mansion.

The last time Fu Xuechen came, he brought Su Qingli with him and even stabbed a gate guard. Therefore, everyone in the Imperial Physician's Mansion recognized her. When they saw her coming, they did not stop her. Instead, they respectfully led her to find Su Zhaoming.

When she stood still and was about to push the door open, a dull sigh came from the room.

Then, there was the dull sound of fists hitting the bed.

I think the people inside are awake.

Su Qingli pursed her lips, relaxed her brows slightly, then pushed the door open and walked in.

The room was eerily quiet. Suddenly, footsteps were heard approaching from afar. The person on the bed immediately turned around and looked towards the source of the sound.

When Su Zhaoming saw the person's appearance clearly, his eyes lit up for a moment, but he soon became dejected again.

He struggled to get up, his eyes showing guilt, and he muttered something under his breath.

"Sister, why are you here?"

Seeing this, Su Qingli hurried forward and pushed him back, lowering her eyes and carefully tucked the quilt for him. Her voice was neither hurried nor slow, like a slowly flowing stream, which made people feel inexplicably at ease.

"Brother, your injury hasn't healed yet, don't move."

Speaking of this, Su Zhaoming felt more and more guilty.

He clenched his fists, looked away, and his eyes were slightly moist.

"Sister, I'm so useless. Not only was I unable to help, I even became a burden to you."

Hearing this, Su Qingli's eyes were moved for a moment. She raised her hand to push the loose hair on his forehead behind his ears, then stroked his head a few times and opened her lips to comfort him.

"You mean well, I don't blame you."

"I have already returned the three thousand taels to them. You don't need to worry about this matter anymore. Just rest and recuperate here."

Returned it to them?

Su Zhaoming suddenly turned his head and looked into Su Qingli's eyes, with worry growing in his eyes.

"Is it Sister who paid it back? Where did Sister get so much silver? But someone forced Sister to do something she didn't want to do? No matter who it is, when my injuries are healed and I earn enough silver, I will return the money. No one can use three thousand taels to trap Sister."

Seeing that he was so desperate to think of this again, Su Qingli withdrew her hand and pretended to be angry.

"Don't go!"

"You nearly died slaying the snake demon this time. I don't know who passed the news to them. Father and Mother were so worried they couldn't sleep at night. I had a hard time comforting them. If anything happens to you again, how will I explain it to them?"

This is the truth, but he just doesn't accept it.

Su Zhaoming's fists loosened and tightened, tightened and loosened.

Ultimately, it's all because he's so useless.

During his silence, Su Qingli sighed, softened her tone, and tried to persuade him again.

"This silver was a gift from Fu Xuechen, and he didn't make things difficult for me. Now that the Su family is in decline, you, as the only male in the family, should cherish your life and study hard. If you can get a position in the future, you can protect the Su family, instead of acting on impulse and giving up your life in vain."

"Do you understand what Sister said?"

After thinking for a while, Su Zhaoming lowered his eyes and nodded in agreement like a child who had made a mistake.

"Don't worry, sister. I'm not a child anymore. I can understand the interests involved.

"I was reckless and lost my mind before, so I did something wrong. In the future, I will study hard and live up to my sister's expectations. I will protect the Su family and my sister!"

"I'm glad you understand. Just rest here for the next few days and don't let your imagination run wild."

Su Zhaoming has always been decisive in his actions, and he is extremely protective of her as his elder sister. If she had not heard his promise with her own ears, she would really be worried.

It was already the hour of Xu when we left the Imperial Physician's Mansion.

Dusk enveloped the entire street, and the candlelight from the doors of each house illuminated the surroundings.

Most of the people on the street were strolling around after dinner to digest their food, and among them were also some rich young men who were out in groups of three or four to have fun.

Only Su Qingli looked worried.

Now that her family is settled, she can focus on making a living.

But she has never been involved in worldly affairs. Apart from the elegant things like playing the piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, how can she make a living?

Qingzhu's warning kept coming back to her mind, a bitter smile appeared on her lips, and she felt a chill all over her body. A man as conceited as Fu Xuechen would never allow her to do those jobs that would expose her to the public, even if she was just a concubine.

While she was hesitating, a familiar voice brought her back to reality.

"Miss?"

Su Qingli looked up and saw a woman with a girlish bun and wearing coarse linen clothes, blocking her way with a basket of vegetables in her arms.

She searched her memory for a long time before she remembered the name of the person in front of her. She tilted her head slightly and spoke tentatively with uncertainty.

"Are you...Xiaoxiang?"

Seeing her response, Xiaoxiang showed joy on her face and hurried forward to kneel down.

"Thanks to the young lady's great kindness, Xiaoxiang was able to leave the house safely and find her lover. I didn't know when I would be able to see the young lady again and thank her in person, but I never thought I would meet her today. Thank you so much for your help!"

Xiaoxiang was originally an embroiderer in the Su Mansion. When she went out of the mansion to do some shopping, she was noticed by a dandy young man from a merchant family.

The man then came to propose marriage, using threats and inducements, but Xiaoxiang already had someone and was unwilling to marry him as a concubine, so she threatened to commit suicide and made a scene in the mansion.

It was only when Su Qingli came forward to protect him that the man finally gave up.

Not only that, Su Qingli also decided to return the slave contract to Xiaoxiang, gave her some silver, and had someone send her out of the house.

People were coming and going on the street, and no one paid attention to this side.

Su Qingli was quick to support the person and prevent her from kneeling down.

"As long as you're doing well, I'm just going along with it. There's no need for such grand gestures. Besides, I'm no different from you now, both are commoners. How can I accept your respects again?"

The Su Mansion incident caused an uproar throughout the imperial city.

Xiaoxiang had naturally heard of it too.

Seeing Su Qingli being so self-deprecating, she felt a little distressed and shook her head to comfort her.