Lian'er's complaint

She wasn't annoyed by Lian'er's lack of response. Instead, she turned her gaze away and began to recount Lian'er's life story.

The life story she told was something even Huang didn't know, and she recounted a few things about her parents and their generation.

Having said that, she stood in front of Lian'er and, unusually good-natured, asked, "Well, do you want to talk to me now?"

"Who are you?"

Hearing Lian'er's voice, she said, "I am Xie Sili, the third daughter of the Prime Minister's mansion, and my brother's younger sister."

She didn't give Lian'er a chance to speak and continued, "You are not only a drug person, but if you stay with me for a long time, it will lead to my brother's death."

Noticing the change in Lian'er's emotions, she glanced at her and said, "The reason why Madam Huang spent a lot of money to buy you and give you to my brother was to make him obsessed with beauty, so as to prevent him from hindering Xie Siyu's bright future. Madam Huang is a hypocrite, and her 'praise to death' of my brother over the years has brought disaster upon herself."

“What you say is true. I am a Yangzhou slender horse. I was fortunate enough to enter this place through the Madam’s channels and become the Second Young Master’s concubine. In the past, the Second Young Master and I were a perfect match and deeply in love. Now we have a child together…” As she said this, Lian’er gently stroked her flat belly.

"To be honest, I've been taking medicine since I was a child, and I know I can't get pregnant. I've even wondered if the Second Young Master has discovered the truth and wants to use me against the Madam. But no matter what I say, he won't believe me." Lian'er said with a sad smile on her face. "It's a joke, really. I actually fell in love with the Second Young Master."

Xie Sili followed Lian'er, his gaze fixed on her.

Yangzhou "thin horses" were sold into brothels at low prices from a young age. They underwent brutal training before becoming "thin horses." High-ranking "thin horses" might receive the favor and care of buyers, while low-ranking "thin horses" were nothing more than playthings for buyers, and many of them died tragically.

Lian'er was fortunate to come to the Prime Minister's residence and catch Xie Sinan's eye, which was her good fortune. However, the fact that she was loyal to Huang Shi was also her misfortune.

"I heard from my brother that you're constantly arguing with Madam Huang these days," Xie Sili asked, his hands behind his back. "She's the mistress of the Prime Minister's residence, your former employer. Aren't you afraid of her retaliation for treating her this way?"

“What else could I possibly worry about? It’s just the young master and the child in my belly.” Lian’er finished speaking and placed her hand on her belly. “Third Miss has never experienced my joy, so she certainly wouldn’t understand my feelings.”

Xie Sili smiled instead of getting angry, and was about to speak when he heard Lian'er's voice, "Third Miss, can you save the young master from his suffering?"

She pursed her lips and looked at her without saying a word. Then her voice came again, "Third Miss, you don't know this, but the young master has been with me for many years and his health has deteriorated. Although I am pregnant, I know that this child cannot be raised."

Xie Sili stood opposite Lian'er, taking in the emotions on her face.

"Why?" she asked with interest.

Lian'er gritted her teeth as if she had made up her mind. "Young Master has more than half a year left to live. I have been by Young Master's side all these years. Although I did not like Young Master before, he is now the one I love. I want him to know the true face of Huang Shi." After she finished speaking, she knelt down in front of her. "Third Miss, please, for the sake of him being your own brother, help me save him."

"You said yourself, he only has six months to live, how can I save him?" Xie Sili looked at her and said in a low voice, "How can I believe your words? More importantly, why should I help him?"

She didn't give Lian'er a chance to speak, and only said, "Although he and I are siblings from the same mother, we didn't grow up together. Over the years, he has been raised by Madam Huang, and who knows how much he hates me, his sister? How can I save him?"

"Third Miss, I know how to cure the poison in the young master's body." After she finished speaking, she handed her something from the middle of her wide sleeve. "This is the prescription. As long as we have this prescription, we will definitely be able to save the young master's life."

Xie Sili glanced at the prescription, and the proportions of ingredients were almost identical to the one Du Heng had shown her before.

Du Heng was a master of traditional Chinese medicine. He studied under his grandfather from a young age and was deeply influenced by him. However, his family was involved in an accident, which led to their downfall.

The family was not sentenced to death, but was only ordered to stop practicing medicine.

Du Heng only began practicing medicine after his relatives died, determined to become a wandering doctor. He was saved by her when he was on the verge of death and vowed to be loyal to her.

Leaving aside the matter of Du Heng, Lian'er's voice rang out, "With this prescription, Miss, you will surely be able to save Young Master. I know that ordinary people cannot solve this problem, but Third Miss can definitely do it." Her voice choked with emotion, "I know I have let Young Master down, but now I want him to live."

“Even at the cost of your life,” Xie Sili retorted.

"Yes, I'd give my life for it!" Lian'er looked at her with a solemn gaze. "Third Miss, do you have a way to save the Second Young Master?"

Xie Sili fiddled with the prescription in his hand, without answering her question.

“Girl, he is your own brother!” Lian’er looked at her with teary eyes.

It must be said that, as expected of the Yangzhou "slender horses" specially made for high-ranking officials and nobles, every move they made was captivating, and even she, as a young woman, could not help but be moved by them.

As the saying goes, "A pear blossom in spring rain."

"Lian'er, do you know where this is?" Xie Sili glanced at her. "I am just an unfavored girl in the Prime Minister's mansion. My father dislikes me and my mother hates me. I don't even know how I can survive in the Prime Minister's mansion, let alone extend a helping hand to my so-called brother." She told him about her situation.

"I suppose you've heard about me these past few days. I was imprisoned in the Jingzhao Prefecture because of Fang Yuanchao's matter, and my father has already abandoned me. How can I possibly protect my brother?"

Receiving no reply from Lian'er, she smiled nonchalantly, "Lian'er..."

“I know how to make the young master believe you.” Lian’er interrupted her, her eyes filled with an unprecedented determination, as if she were facing death with a resolute resolve.

“My life has been miserable, but I am fortunate to have caught your eye. If I can do something for you with this broken body, that would be good.” Lian’er said, her eyes reddening. “Someone like me shouldn’t be alive, but you are able to live well, even if one day you will forget me.”

Xie Sili glanced at Lian'er, then looked away and asked, "What do you plan to do?"

"Don't worry, Third Miss." Lian'er bowed respectfully to her and then turned to take her leave. Even her departing figure was lonely and resolute.

What good is it if she sympathizes with Lian'er's plight? She is not a saint. There are millions of people in this world, and she cannot guarantee that she can save everyone. She only asks to have a clear conscience.

Lian'er must die. Her death will be the catalyst for Xie Sinan to leave the Prime Minister's residence and the first step in destroying it.

Her grandparents have doted on her over the years, and she had a private agreement with her grandfather that she would do her best to protect her second uncle's family from being implicated by the Prime Minister's mansion.

This is why my second uncle, Xie Yi, has been serving as an official in other places all these years. He needs to understand the suffering of the people, and only by coming into contact with them can he understand certain things.

Officials should not close their eyes and ears, nor should they blindly believe the words of one person.

Xie Chun was able to rise to the position of Left Prime Minister in the imperial court, partly due to his shrewd and worldly personality, and partly due to his methods. He did not take sides with any of the princes, but only listened to the Emperor.

Although he might make a few mistakes at times, it would never affect the emperor's affection for him.

"Sister, what do you think Lian'er will do?"

Hearing the familiar voice, she turned her head and met Xie Sinan's gaze.

Under Du Heng's care, his physique has changed, and he is no longer as pot-bellied as before.

"Reluctant to part with it?" Xie Sili asked rhetorically, handing the prescription to Xie Sinan.

Xie Sinan folded the prescription, scratched his head, and said, "It's not that, it's just that I feel Lian'er is actually..."

"Pitiful?" Xie Sili sneered. "There's always a reason why someone is pitiful. Lian'er is no exception. Her initial purpose in approaching you was simple: to make you fall into a trap of pleasure and die without you even realizing it. If you hadn't discovered it yourself, you probably would have died in her bed long ago."

She didn't give Xie Sinan a chance to speak, "Given Huang's personality, she might spread this news after you die. Do you think dying in bed is a glorious thing?"

Xie Sinan lowered her head and answered softly, "Of course not."

“Brother, put away your pitiful sympathy. This world is far more cruel than you imagine.” Xie Sili said, patting his shoulder.

"Don't talk as if you've witnessed the cruelty of this world."

Hearing Xie Sinan's tone, Xie Sili laughed instead of getting angry, "I've seen it before!"

I have seen people eat tree roots and gnaw on tree bark during plagues; I have seen people kill each other during droughts just to grab a little food; I have seen people cut off their own flesh to feed their children in the dead of winter. The prosperity of Chang'an was a scene those people could never witness in their entire lives.

She glanced at Xie Sinan standing next to her and said, “I have been traveling around with my master since I was five years old, studying and recuperating. I have seen many scenes that you have never seen. No matter how many dynasties have changed, it is always the common people who suffer.”

She didn't give Xie Sinan a chance to speak either, saying things like, "①'Behind the red gates, meat and wine go to waste, while on the road, frozen corpses lie.' ②'With no idle land under heaven, farmers still starve to death.' ③'Those adorned in fine silks are not the ones who raise silkworms.' ④'When the dynasty prospers, the people suffer; when the dynasty falls, the people suffer.'"

Not receiving a reply from Xie Sinan, she turned her gaze into the distance. "Brother, do you understand what I mean?"

a long time.

She heard Xie Sinan's voice in her ear, "I understand. I've seen many similar scenes in Chang'an. The matter between the Fang and Zhao families is the best proof of that."

The powerful families and officials protect each other, and no one wants to offend anyone, so the grievances of the common people are ignored. It seems that in the eyes of those people, their lives are worthless. Fortunately, His Majesty also wants to replace the powerful families.

Xie Sili looked at him for a long time and then shook his head. "His Majesty's purpose in replacing the powerful clans was not for the sake of the people, but more for his own selfish reasons. This method can concentrate imperial power in his hands and can be called 'centralized power'."

Xie Sili wasn't sure if Xie Sinan understood, but continued, "Although it's said that 'the higher you climb, the colder it gets,' if you sit in that position for a long time, you should also be wary of anyone who wants to covet that position."

Xie Sili had barely finished speaking when Xie Sinan's voice rang out, "Are you saying that the death of the former crown prince was a conspiracy?"

She looked at Xie Sinan, seemingly surprised that he would say such a thing.

After a long silence, she whispered, "I've never even met the late Crown Prince, so how could I know the truth? Have you met the late Crown Prince?"

"I have never met the former Crown Prince, but it is said that he died under suspicious circumstances. He was ambushed on his way back to Chang'an and died on the way. When he was found, he could not be recognized at all." Xie Sinan shook his head with regret as he spoke. "As for me, I don't want to pursue an official career. I just want to be a wealthy and carefree person."

“You’re not suited for the current officialdom,” Xie Sili said without much thought.

"Brother, if news of Lian'er's death comes, you must remember to behave well."

Noticing Xie Sinan's gaze, Xie Sili smiled without saying a word.

After parting ways with Xie Sili, Lian'er first went to the courtyard to leave a letter for Xie Sinan, then sent someone to inform Xie Sili, before heading to Qinse Residence.

She said she had something to say to Ms. Huang, which is why she met her once.

When Lian'er went in, she saw Huang Shi sitting with Xie Siyao and Xie Siyu. The three of them were chatting and laughing, a treatment that Xie Sinan had never enjoyed before.

Lian'er, standing not far away, heard Huang's voice coming from nearby, "What are you doing here?"

"She's nothing but a lowly maidservant, how dare she see Mother?" Xie Siyao said with displeasure, her gaze towards Lian'er filled with contempt and disdain.

“Madam, back then you bought me into the Prime Minister’s residence and sent me to the Second Young Master’s side, intending to use such means to harm him. I have wronged the Second Young Master, but I have never wronged you, Madam.” Lian’er looked at Madam Huang with a calm expression, her tone tinged with sorrow.

"So what if I am?" Huang's voice was low. "In my eyes, you are nothing more than my dog, but now that the dog has learned to bite, I'd rather not have you."

Noticing Madam Huang's gaze, Lian'er laughed and then burst into tears. "I am an object, and in Madam's eyes I am nothing more than a dog. But now you have achieved your goal, and the young master only has half a year left to live. Now you have also achieved your goal, and no one can stop the fifth young master's bright future."

"Stop talking nonsense!" Xie Siyu slammed his hand on the table and stood up. "How dare you use such malicious thoughts to slander Mother? Over the years, everyone knows that Mother has treated Second Brother as her own son." His tone was colder than ever before.

"Fifth Young Master, as clever as you are, haven't you noticed how Madam has been praising the Second Young Master all these years? Even your interactions with the Second Young Master are nothing more than an attempt to belittle him and flatter him. You feel particularly superior standing in front of the Second Young Master."

"Don't talk nonsense! How could I feel superior to my second brother? Don't try to sow discord between me and my second brother."

"As you say, how many people would actually believe you?" Huang's eyes held a nonchalant glint. "You're nothing but a mere plaything. Do you really think everyone would believe you?"

Lian'er looked at Huang Shi with a smile of acceptance as she faced death, and said, "It is an honor for Lian'er to have met the Second Young Master. I wish to be reborn into a good family in the next life and spend another life with you."

After she finished speaking, she rammed her head against a pillar next to her, and closed her eyes peacefully the moment she heard the door being kicked open.