"Wait!" Qi Huaiyu crawled a few steps, trying to grab the hem of her skirt, but was stopped by the guards who arrived just in time. "Jiuwei! Please give me a chance to change my ways! I'm willing to be your slave..."

Xin Jiuwei stood up and looked down at him: "Qi Huaiyu, do you know this gold hairpin is fake?"

Qi Huaiyu's tears froze on his face instantly.

"My mother's gold hairpin had phoenix eyes made of rubies." Xin Jiuwei picked up the fake and waved it in front of him. "This one is made of glass." She suddenly let go, and the gold hairpin fell to the ground and broke in two.

"Get lost." She turned and left. "If you dare to try and cheat me with fakes again, I'll hand you over to the authorities."

Qi Huaiyu was dragged out of the side courtyard by the guards. Along the way, the maids and servants pointed and whispered, their giggles piercing his ears like needles.

"I heard he knelt down and begged the second young lady for forgiveness!"

"Pah! Don't you even look in the mirror? Do you even deserve it?"

"That gold hairpin is fake? How shameless..."

Qi Huaiyu gritted his teeth, swallowing the humiliation. It's alright, he told himself, this is just the first step...

That night, in a dilapidated house in the south of the city.

As soon as Qi Huaiyu pushed open the door, he was slammed against the wall by a great force. Zhao San's ferocious face flickered in the oil lamplight: "Young Master Qi, you promised two hundred taels in three days! It's been five days already."

"Just...just a few more days..." Qi Huaiyu gasped for breath, "I'm sure I can get the money..."

"Oh?" Zhao San released his grip and asked with interest, "What's going on? Didn't the second young lady of the Xin family kick you out?"

Qi Huaiyu rubbed his sore throat, a glint of malice flashing in his eyes: "She'll change her mind... Women are all soft-hearted..."

Zhao San laughed, "You?!" His expression suddenly changed, and he grabbed Qi Huaiyu's hair. "Listen, I'm not running a charity. I'll give you three more days, three hundred taels, not a penny less..." He pulled out a dagger and lightly patted Qi Huaiyu's face. "I'll use your handsome face as collateral."

Qi Huaiyu was trembling all over, but he still forced himself to say, "Don't worry... I will definitely be able to return to the Xin family..."