Mr. He's new concubine was not old and was quite healthy; she became pregnant not long after.

Aunt Suifang makes a ruckus and curses in the house every day, as if she wants to have the words "I'm going to harm people" tattooed on her face.

He Yi counted the money she had saved up since childhood over the past few days, and it wasn't enough.

The girl frowned and turned her gaze to her mother.

"mother."

Don't be angry.

He Yi handed a cup of tea to Aunt Sui Fang. Looking at the face that looked so much like her own, she couldn't help but feel sorry for her.

"There's no need to get angry over someone else. It's just a child. What if... what if she's a daughter like me?"

The woman didn't speak, but quietly looked at He Yi, her eyes brimming with dissatisfaction.

He Yi understood what her mother meant; her mother still resented that she wasn't a boy.

"Mother, I...I want to leave the He family."

Master He had no affection for this daughter, and he didn't even care whether He Yi existed in the He family.

He was just a son born to a concubine.

Aunt Suifang is the same; doesn't she know what kind of life her daughter is living in the He family?

But she didn't care and remained silent.

The lady was like a mountain pressing down on her head, making it hard for her to breathe.

In Aunt Suifang's eyes, there was only her distant cousin, Master He, with whom she had pledged her lifelong commitment and promised to be his wife when they were young.

He didn't marry her as his legal wife, but it was only because of her poor family background. In his heart, he must still love her the most.

"What do you mean?" Aunt Suifang asked back.

"Mother, come with me. We can take the money and live a peaceful and happy life anywhere. We don't need to compete for my father's favor here."

“If my father had you in his heart, he would not have married another woman as his legal wife, and your daughter would not be a concubine’s daughter.”

"Mother, could you... show your daughter some love just this once? Just listen to your daughter this once, okay?"

To be honest, He Yi really looks a lot like her mother.

How long have she known Huo Shuwen?

In less than six months, she wanted to elope with him.

He Yi had no choice but to either be tormented to death in the mansion or wait until she reached a certain age to be given away by her father to continue being a concubine.

Since that's the case, why not take a gamble?

"Who are you going with? With that guard in your courtyard?" Aunt Suifang asked.

He Yi was stunned, not expecting her own mother to know about this.

"Ayi, I know I have wronged you a great deal."

The woman raised her hand and patted He Yi's head a few times, her eyes full of affection, before continuing:

“But your mother can’t leave. In this life, your mother is stuck on your father and can’t get over it.”

"I saw through your affair with that guard a long time ago. I don't know if he's someone I can entrust my life to, but I know it's better than being in the He family."

"This is my savings over the years. It's not much. Take it and let me know when you want to leave."

He Yi shook her head; she sensed something was wrong with her mother.

"Mother, what are you going to do?"

Sui Fang gave a cold laugh and looked at her face in the mirror.

Over the years, the young girl who made that vow to her distant cousin has developed several wrinkles on her face.

They can't compare to those young faces.

However, Suifang would not allow any other woman to have her cousin's child in her womb.

The woman didn't speak, but simply waved to He Yi, telling her to leave.

The girl took the silver note and returned to her courtyard. When she looked up, she saw Huo Shuwen waiting for her in the tree.

"What did your mother say?" the eagle asked.

"She told me to walk by myself."

"Does she know about us?"

"Yes, I understand. No matter what, she's still my mother. She can see the recent changes in her."

The two fell silent for a while, and the boy knew that He Yi was upset because her mother wouldn't go with her.

After watching her turn off the light, I sang a little tune for her outside for a while.

Eagle is preparing to leave with He Yi, mainly dealing with the travel permit; he needs to use his connections to get her a new one.

The He family probably won't publicize the fact that their illegitimate daughter ran away from home, so this matter shouldn't be difficult to handle.

Just as the two were making their final preparations, Aunt Suifang had an accident.

News came from the front yard that she had gotten rid of the child of Master He's new concubine.

The stepmother was putting on a show of interrogation, pretending to be fair.

It was just a formality, yet they sent people to surround Aunt Suifang's courtyard.

Tonight, He Yi came to her mother's room again and asked her:

"Mother, are you coming with me or not? If you don't, Madam will definitely not let you off this time."

The woman was unusually silent. Taking advantage of her distraction, He Yi grabbed her hand and ran outside.

Once she got on the carriage, there was no turning back; she had to stay with him.

The guards outside the courtyard have already been knocked unconscious by Brother Wen; there's not much time left.

The back door was just inches away, and He Yi felt a sharp pain in her wrist.

The girl turned around and saw that her mother had freed her hand.

"mother?"

He Yi asked incredulously.

At a time like this, what other trouble could they possibly cause? Let's go, saving our lives is the priority.

Even if her mother didn't do it, the madam would still believe that her mother was the mastermind.

“Your father wouldn’t do this to me, I believe him.”

"mother!"

"Go by yourself, your mother can't live without him..."

Huo Shuwen stood at the door, filled with anxiety. Would she not come with me?

A few snowflakes drifted down from the sky over the capital city tonight. He Yi, her face streaked with tears, watched as the woman returned to her courtyard.

“Ayi, you…”

"Let's go."

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