"I hope so..."

"General, Madam. Young Master is outside. He says he has important business to discuss with you."

Before Xu Nian could finish speaking, Liu Yun, who was guarding outside, knocked on the door and announced loudly.

A bit annoying...

Xu Shen had lost count of how many times he had used the excuse of having something to do to lure her out. Every time, he would either engage in awkward small talk or find some excuse to ramble on about other things.

She simply didn't have the time to deal with his underhanded tactics.

Just as he was about to tell him to go back, a noisy commotion came from the other end: "Cousin, cousin! Where are you?! Come out now, or your cousin is going to die here!"

"cousin!"

His shouting seemed to be audible throughout the entire inner courtyard.

"Go and take a look." Gu Zhan nudged her. After all, they were her relatives, and if something really happened and word got out, she would be unable to defend herself.

With a long sigh, Xu Nian reluctantly got up from Gu Zhan's embrace.

The two of them went out together, and just as the door was about to close behind them, she turned back for a glance. Her eyes suddenly lit up. "Neither of you should stay here. Hide and don't let anyone find you."

This mother and son are like a stubborn leech, they're so annoying!

Today she has to find a way to take down these two in one fell swoop!

Is this Xu Shen?

[Doesn't look like it, want to take another look? No, I can't bear to look, it's too offensive.]

[Host, has your cousin been drained of his life force?]

No wonder the people in the live stream were so skeptical.

Even someone as seasoned as Gu Zhan, who had seen it all, was momentarily stunned by Xu Shen's appearance before frowning.

Xu Nian couldn't bear to look at it and looked away.

His cheeks were sunken, his cheekbones prominent, and his lips were chapped and peeling. His face was covered in red bumps, and his thin frame made his clothes hang loosely on him.

He was the complete opposite of Xu Shen, who could barely be called a handsome gentleman.

Upon seeing Xu Nian, he excitedly tried to rush over.

He was held down by the servants behind him, and without any effort, he fell to his knees with just a gentle push. He was much more fragile than a delicate young lady.

Xu Nian stepped back slightly, not sensing any yin or demonic energy. "What's wrong with my cousin? Why has he tormented himself into this state?"

“I, I’ve been mistreated!” he shouted.

Pointing at everyone around her, her eyes filled with resentment, she cried, "It's them! They won't give me any money. They won't let me go out, and all I get to eat is bland, watery food. Cousin, you have to stand up for me! These wicked servants! Look at me! They're about to kill me!"

Xu Nian: "Is that so?"

The servant in charge of Xu Shen knelt down with a thud. "Madam, please understand. We strictly followed the doctor's orders and absolutely could not give Young Master spicy or greasy food while he was injured. His meals were specially prepared by the small kitchen every day, using only the finest ginseng and other edible medicinal herbs. We absolutely did not mistreat Young Master in the slightest."

"Young Master is unwell, yet for some reason he keeps wanting to go to those brothels. We've brought him back several times, but he's spent all his money and then comes to us for more. But where are we, his servants, supposed to get that kind of money?"

The idea of ​​not giving Xu Shen money was actually Xu Nian's idea.

It's not that they don't give it, it's just a fixed amount every month. If Xu Shen is frugal, he can even save ten taels of silver every month, and if he doesn't save, that money should be enough to live on.

This is the first time I've ever run out of money halfway through a trip. Being addicted to drugs and still lingering in brothels, no wonder I've ended up like this.

On the other hand, some method was used, I don't know.

Liu Ru'an managed to safely bring Liu Qingmei out of the Third Prince's residence, and the father and daughter quickly returned to the Minister's residence.

Once they reached their own territory, Liu Qingmei finally couldn't hold on any longer. She buried her face in her father's arms and began to sob.

Minister Liu was heartbroken, and his wife, who rushed over upon receiving the news, was even more anxious. "What happened? Did you suffer some injustice at the Third Prince's residence? What happened to your face?"

Being a woman, she immediately noticed the unusually heavy makeup on her daughter's face.

She was about to wipe it away from behind, but Liu Qingmei dodged her, saying, "Mother, don't touch it."

Like a trembling hamster, she shivered, her eyes wary and ashamed as she glanced at the maids and servants in the room. If they saw her like this, who knew how much they would laugh at her.

Madam Liu understood and dismissed everyone. Then, she gently took her daughter's hand and led her to her seat.

With a damp handkerchief, Liu Qingmei gently wiped away the thick makeup from her face, not flinching. But she couldn't help but gasp slightly when her mother's hand touched her skin.

"That bastard! I'll fight him to the death!"

Even though she was mentally prepared, seeing the bluish-purple marks on her daughter's once flawless skin, with some wounds that had just scabbed over, was still quite a shock.

Liu Ruan felt a wave of dizziness, and anger surged to the top of her head.

He was about to walk outside when Madam Liu stopped him, "Master! What good will it do you go now? He's a prince, how can we deal with him?"

Regardless of how to vent their anger, the marriage between Jiang Yuanlang and Liu Qingmei was arranged by the emperor.

Even if they knelt until they wore through the steps in front of the palace, there was no way to save their daughter from her suffering without the emperor's order.

"My poor Qing'er, why is she so unlucky!" This was the child that Madam Liu had cherished and pampered. All the sons in the family were born out of wedlock, and she only had this one precious daughter.

Seeing her like this now, my heart is naturally aching as if it were being stabbed with a knife!

"Father, Mother!"

"Qing'er, what are you doing? Get up!"

"Get up! How can you kneel in your current condition?! Help the young lady up right now!"

The sight of Liu Qingmei kneeling on both knees truly shocked everyone. How could the servants dare to exert any force? If they accidentally bumped into anything and hurt their young lady, they would surely be scolded again.

But because they were moving so quietly, Liu Qingmei pushed them away with a single palm strike.

She straightened her back and kowtowed to her parents, pleading, "Father, Mother! I beg you, please save your daughter! I really don't want to go back to that hellhole! Jiang Yuanlang is a devil, he's insane, he doesn't care about my life or death! If I go back, he'll definitely beat me to death!"

Even without her saying it, Minister Liu would never allow his daughter to go back and suffer.

He rushed forward and helped the man up, saying, "Don't worry, your father will take care of everything. I will never let you go back to the Third Prince's residence!"

"Master, there's a letter for you." The butler rushed in, holding an envelope in his hands. It looked exactly like the one he had received at home the night before!

Liu Ru'an's expression shifted slightly. He took the letter from behind and unfolded it without any hesitation.