“Mother’s guess was indeed correct.” Hongli placed a thin sheet of paper on the table and said with a slight smile, “Consort Xiang was indeed secretly found by the Ulanara family and sent into the palace as a maid through their connections.”

"Who else is in her family? Have you found out?" Qian Shengyan looked at the paper and saw that it was Xiang'er's indenture, but the name on the contract was Liu Erxiang.

Hongli answered one by one: "Her family is in Liujiazhuang, near the capital. Besides her parents, she has an older sister and two younger brothers. Her sister was sold to a slave trader and no one knows where she was sent. Her family saw that Xiang Changzai was pretty and planned to marry her off to a wealthy merchant in the city. However, she was spotted by the Ulanara family, who bought her and raised her for a few days before secretly sending her to the palace to be a maid."

Hmm? Judging from this, it doesn't seem like they're already engaged.

Could it be that the wealthy businessman she was talking about as her fiancé?

When Qian Shengyan asked about other things, Hongli didn't know either. No matter how much you investigated, there were only a few words about the life of a farm girl.

After seeing Hongli off, Qian Shengyan held the thin contract of indenture and couldn't help but sigh again.

At this time, indenture contracts were usually made in triplicate: one for the buyer, one for the seller, and one for the guarantor (middleman). The one that Hongli received was the one from Liu Erxiang's family. Perhaps they had paid money for it, but judging from the tattered state of the paper, it seemed that the family had not preserved it well.

A perfectly healthy person was sold for fifteen taels of silver like a commodity...

Xiang Changzai now receives fifty taels of silver annually, and one hundred taels as a birthday gift, not to mention the other cloth, daily necessities, and food. If the Liu family knew this, I wonder if they would regret it.

Sure enough, the harem can have anything, except a conscience.

Qian Shengyan sighed softly and looked up at Qingxue: "Go and invite Consort Guo over."

A short while later, Madam Guo arrived. After bowing, she stood up and said somewhat anxiously, "Your Majesty, it's really not good that Consort Xiang is here."

"Huh? What's wrong?" Qian Shengyan was taken aback. She had originally asked Guo to come here because of this matter, but she didn't expect Guo to have something else to say.

Sitting in her chair, Guo nervously twisted her handkerchief between her fingers: "Whenever I go to see Consort Yu lately, I always run into her. She... is getting thinner and thinner. Consort Qi says she's sent two maids to take care of her, but it's really just surveillance. Promotion is such a joyous occasion, yet she's suffering even more..."

Upon hearing this, Qian Shengyan frowned slightly. She pulled the indenture she was holding back a little and asked, "Do you know anything more about her and her fiancé?"

"I did ask, but she doesn't like to talk about it; she cries as soon as she does..." Guo twisted her handkerchief. "Your Majesty, I feel that Consort Xiang has really lost a lot of weight since the New Year. If this continues, she might not be able to save her life..."

"Oh?" Qian Shengyan raised an eyebrow slightly, but still handed the indenture to Guo Shi. "Her parents knew about her entering the palace and received money from her. Even if what you say is true, and we help her leave the palace, what can she do?"

“She, she…” Madam Guo was momentarily speechless, “She might be going to find her fiancé…”

"I've investigated; she's not engaged. Her family has been trying to sell her to a wealthy merchant in the county as a concubine," Qian Shengyan said helplessly. "Consort Guo, this woman is very cunning; you'd better..."

"No! I don't believe it!" Madam Guo suddenly stood up, her face pale, and hurriedly tried to leave. "I have to ask her, I have to ask her what she really means, whether she is telling the truth or lying!"

"Green Smoke! Green Willow! Stop Consort Guo!" Qian Shengyan stood up and shouted. The two palace maids who happened to be at the door naturally obeyed and pulled Consort Guo away.

Guo's face was pale, her eyes were red, and her lips were trembling uncontrollably.

Qian Shengyan understood her feelings. When she saw Xiang Changzai before, it was as if she saw another version of herself—helplessly entering the palace, having a rank but no favor, and even still a virgin. She felt sorry for her and also saddened herself.

Perhaps Lady Guo felt that finding a way to send Consort Xiang out of the palace was the best way to help her, and she may also have thought that Consort Xiang would be better off outside the palace.

But now, Guo clearly understands that Consort Xiang will not fare any better after leaving the palace. In fact, she has been deceiving her all along, treating her like a fool. It's truly...

Qian Shengyan was also somewhat unhappy. It was rare for her to play the saint, and this was the result. It was really embarrassing.

"Your Majesty..." It took Madam Guo a while to recover before her complexion improved, though her lips were still trembling violently, "How could she do this..."

"Just ask and you'll find out." Qian Shengyan handed her a handkerchief to wipe her tears. "She's just a lowly concubine, is it really worth you going all the way to find her?" She looked up and asked, "Lüyun... um?"

Qingxue, Lvliu, and Lvyan were all inside the room, while Lvyun and Lvshui were in charge of the outer room under the corridor. Although they could not enter her bedroom yet, they usually stood guard at the door.

Seeing that Qian Shengyan was looking for someone, Green Willow and Green Smoke both peeked out to look under the porch outside the door. Sure enough, there was only Green Water there. Qian Shengyan then said, "Green Water, go and summon Consort Xiang. Tell her that I have something to ask her."

"Yes." Green Water responded, but didn't move her feet. She looked at Qian Shengyan with some hesitation, and after a moment, she backed away.

Qian Shengyan noticed Lu Shui's expression but didn't think much of it, assuming she was just unwilling to run errands.

She turned to Guo and said, "Whether it's true or false, we'll know once someone comes and asks. Don't be angry. Even I never imagined she would tell you such a big lie."

Guo nodded, holding her teacup, and finally felt a little better after Qian Shengyan's comforting words.

Before long, Lushui brought the person over. Xiang Changzai still had that timid expression. She stood at the door and bowed to Qian Shengyan and Guo Shi: "This servant greets Consort Xi and Consort Guo."

Guo Shi's fragrance lingered, and she refused to turn around to look at her. Qian Shengyan smiled as always: "No need to be so reserved, sit down."

But Xiang Changzai had already keenly sensed something. She glanced at Guo Shi, who had her back to her, with some doubt before nodding and replying "Yes," and then sat down at an angle close to Qian Shengyan.

"We've known each other for months, and you still don't know where Xiang Changzai is from?" Qian Shengyan asked with a smile.

Xiang Changzai shifted uncomfortably: "My family is from the capital region..."

"Liu Erxiang?" Qian Shengyan suddenly called out.

Xiang Changzai subconsciously responded, then froze on the spot, staring wide-eyed at Qian Shengyan.

Qian Shengyan gave Qingxue a wink, and Qingxue understood. She led Lvliu and Lvyan out to stand at the door and under the window, not allowing anyone to approach.

Guo could no longer contain herself and turned around to slap Consort Xiang across the face!