Gu Boyu's funeral was simple. He committed suicide and there were no remains, so the funeral was symbolic, and a cenotaph was built.

The day after the funeral, Madam Lu, accompanied by her head maid Ruan Su, went to Qingpu Garden.

Xie Zhaozhao was settling accounts with Manman when Yuanyuan brought Lu Shi in.

Lu's injuries had improved considerably, and she was able to walk with assistance. Along the way, the late spring scenery of Qingpu Garden was more beautiful than a painting, but she had no mind to appreciate it.

Upon seeing Xie Zhaozhao, tears streamed down her face, her expression showing anxiety and pleading.

Xie Zhaozhao could tell at a glance that she had something important to do, so she led her to the flower hall, served tea, and left only Manman to serve her, sending everyone else away.

He smiled and said, "Sister-in-law, please speak your mind."

Madam Lu also chased Ruan Su out, then, leaning on the table, knelt before Xie Zhaozhao, crying, "Sister-in-law, please, help me..."

Xie Zhaozhao and Manman quickly helped her up, saying, "Sister-in-law, just tell me what's wrong. I'll help you if I can."

Lu refused to get up until Xie Zhaozhao agreed.

Xie Zhaozhao's smile faded: "Sister-in-law, we are sisters-in-law, you are the elder and I am the younger. If you kneel before me, you must have something important to ask for. I will help if I can, but if you don't say what it is, even if you kneel, I won't dare to agree. Please don't make things difficult for me."

Madam Lu cried and said, "Huanhuan and Mianmian are crying every day and trying to commit suicide. I am heartbroken and have no one to talk to. Please, my third sister-in-law, give me some advice."

So that's what it was about. Xie Zhaozhao said, "Sister-in-law, get up first, let's discuss it slowly."

Seeing that this person, though young, was very resourceful, and that kneeling to death would only annoy people, Madam Lu followed Manman's hand and got up.

Xie Zhaozhao waited until she sat down properly before asking her what she was thinking.

Madam Lu said that both of her daughters were already fourteen years old and would be of marriageable age next year, but since they had already lost their virginity, it would be extremely difficult for them to get married in the capital.

Even if she deceived her past and got married, if her husband's family found out she wasn't a virgin, she would likely be divorced and have no way out.

“How could I bear to see them die? How could I bear to see them cut their hair and become nuns at such a young age? I had no other choice but to ask my third sister-in-law to help the two poor children.”

Mrs. Lu cried very hard.

Xie Zhaozhao sighed. In her previous life, Gu Huanhuan was tricked by Gu Jiaojiao into marrying Sun Kehai and was eventually tortured to death. Gu Mian Mian seemed to have married the illegitimate son of a fourth-rank official and rarely returned to her parents' home. She didn't know her final fate.

In this life, they were first tricked by Gu Jiaojiao, then almost ruined by Uncle Zhi, and finally couldn't escape their fate, being destroyed by bandits.

It's really pitiful.

This world is unfair to women. People won't be more tolerant of you just because you're a victim. No man or mother-in-law wants to accept a woman who has lost her virginity.

Xie Zhaozhao thought for a while and came up with some plans.

Her voice was calm but impolite: "Second sister-in-law, since you've come to me for help, I'll just say it directly."

"Sister-in-law, please speak."

“You love your two nieces very much, but the root of their tragedy also lies with you.”

"Me?" Mrs. Lu was surprised and somewhat unconvinced.

She tried to explain, but Xie Zhaozhao stopped her.

"You love them, but only superficially. You haven't taught them the skills and abilities to make a living. You always wanted to protect them under your wings, which resulted in them being timid and dependent."

Chrysanthemum Society's Gu Jiaojiao plotted against them, and Xie Zhaozhao repeatedly reminded them. She even fell ill from exhaustion while trying to stand up for them. On the day the Zhi family came, Xie Zhaozhao also reminded Lu Shi to stay away from the Zhi family. If it weren't for the maid sacrificing herself, she would have been ruined by the second uncle of the Zhi family.

As for this bandit incident, Xie Zhaozhao wanted to lead everyone to break out and protect their innocence, but who listened to her?

"You were stabbed three times and almost died, and they didn't dare to run away to save themselves... Second sister-in-law, even if nothing happens to them in their own family, are they capable of being the mistress of a high-ranking household?"

Such stupidity! Why not let the mother-in-law and concubine eat even the bone scraps?

Mrs. Lu trembled all over and burst into tears again: "It's all my fault! It's all my fault! But they are so pitiful."

"Second sister-in-law, do you know about the accident that happened to our two daughters?" Xie Zhaozhao asked Gu Zhongyu.

Madam Lu shook her head: "How can we tell the men about something like this? If they find out, they'll beat the child to death."

"Second sister-in-law, I have a plan that is good for the two children, but this arrangement must be approved by my brother. Otherwise, I will not interfere in the marriage of my two nieces."

"I can make the decision. I'm willing to accept whatever arrangements you make for me, is that not allowed?"

Xie Zhaozhao shook her head: "No."

"Then can you tell me how to arrange it? It will make it easier for me to persuade the Second Master."

Xie Zhaozhao told her her plan: to marry her two daughters off to a distant border region.

In the capital, it was difficult for them to marry into their ideal families; even the sons of the lowest-ranking officials might not accept them. But if they married into the border regions, it would be a completely different story.

In many border towns, due to years of fighting and guarding the frontier, many soldiers have not returned to their hometowns for ten years, resulting in a serious imbalance in the male-to-female ratio and making it extremely difficult for them to find wives.

Young military officers who struggle to find wives won't care about women who have been married before or after marriage. Besides, Gu Huanhuan and Gu An'an are daughters of officials, with good looks and gentle and compliant personalities. If a man can marry them, he will surely cherish them like jewels.

Although the border region has been relatively stable for several years, border frictions are constant. As long as one is brave and skilled in battle, meritorious service and promotion are just around the corner.

Asking acquaintances to carefully select a suitable candidate based on character would actually be an excellent choice for Gu Huanhuan and Gu Mianmian.

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