On the other side, Xu Muwan sat on the ground, hugging her knees. Why couldn't she hold back? She should have. If she had, she wouldn't have given herself away.

Now……

She's really useless.

Xu Muwan buried her face in her knees.

If she dies, what will happen to her mother and brother? Her mother is in poor health, and her brother is still young; they are no match for her clansmen.

If she dies, her clansmen will surely divide up her family's property.

Dividing the family property is one thing. My real fear is... I'm afraid they won't tolerate her brother.

She had heard her grandmother and mother say that after one of her grandfathers from the same clan died, his only son also died young. After his son's death, people divided up his family property.

His wife wanted to go to the yamen to file a complaint, but she couldn't even leave the village.

When her father and brother died in the war, her first thought was that she couldn't let anyone know that it was her brother who died.

She and her brother are twins.

If she hadn't gone to take the imperial examination, she might never have been exposed.

However, the more she read, the less she wanted to live a mediocre life.

She shouldn't have been greedy.

If she hadn't been greedy, she wouldn't be in this predicament now.

Now, all she can do is beg Lord Niu to take care of her mother and brother, and to prevent them from being harmed by the clansmen.

Xu Muwan was wondering how to ask Niu Mingjie for help when Niu Mingjie's deputy pushed open the door and walked in.

Niu Mingjie's deputy looked at Xu Muwan sitting on the ground with her legs crossed and said coldly, "Now you know fear?"

Xu Muwan stood up from the ground. "I was wrong. I want to see Lord Niu."

"Do you think you can just see Lord Niu whenever you want?"

"I beg you. I took the imperial examination so that my mother and brother could have a better life."

"Hmph! I think you're tired of living."

"I was wrong, please let me see Lord Niu. I beg you."

"Lord Niu has gone to the capital on business."

"...What about me?"

"We'll talk about it when Lord Niu returns."

After saying that, Niu Mingjie's deputy was about to leave.

Xu Muwan quickly stopped him. "Could you help me send a message to my mother? My mother is not in good health, and I'm afraid she'll worry."

"When you disguised yourself as a man to take the imperial examination, weren't you afraid your mother would worry?"

"I...I participated without telling my mother."

"You're really something. Do you know that we're all going to be punished because of you?"

"I was wrong. Please, please help me deliver a message."

"snort!"

"Please."

"We've had the worst luck in the world to run into you. So, tell me, how do you plan to tell your mother?"

"Thank you. Just tell them that Lord Niu really appreciates me and took me to the capital to broaden my horizons."

"...You really dare to say that."

"I can't think of any other reason. Thank you for your help."

Niu Mingjie's deputy said, "Your mother is really unlucky to have a daughter like you," and then left.

Xu Muwan hugged her legs and sat down on the ground again.

Why couldn't she hold back?

She's really useless.

Xu Muwan's mother was embroidering in the room when a maid came in. "Madam, a yamen runner has come outside, saying he's here to deliver a message for the eldest young master."

"Please come in quickly."

"yes."

When the maidservant led the constables into the living room, Madam Xu was already there. "Thank you for your help, please have a seat."

"No trouble at all. Our Lord Niu thinks that Scholar Xu has potential, so he took him to the capital to broaden his horizons. Our Lord Niu is in a hurry, so Scholar Xu asked me to tell you."

Mrs. Xu was both happy and worried. She was happy that Niu Mingjie thought her daughter was talented. She was worried that if Niu Mingjie found out her daughter was a girl, then her daughter…

Seeing that Mrs. Xu did not respond, the maid quickly tugged at Mrs. Xu's sleeve.

Mrs. Xu regained her composure. "Thank you for your trouble. Please take this money for your tea; don't think it's too little."

The constable declined several times, but eventually accepted the gift. "Then I'll go back to my post."

"I'll take you there."

"Please wait, please wait."

"Then I'll have my maid escort you."

"good."

After the yamen runners left, Mrs. Xu began to stare blankly.

Xu Muwan's younger brother returned from school to find his mother lost in thought. "Mother, what are you thinking about?"

What if your sister finds out? What if your sister misses the age to get married by the time you grow up? What if your sister misses the age to get married? "I'm not thinking about anything. Lord Niu took your older brother to the capital to broaden his horizons."

"Really? That's great. I also want to go to the capital to broaden my horizons."

"If you want to go, then study hard."

"Hey, Mom, I'm going to do my homework."

"Go."

A month later, Sisi was strolling down the street with her son, Gou Dan, when Niu Mingjie rode past them on his bicycle.

Sisi and her mother wore two sets of beggar's clothes and two sets of beggar's makeup today.

Little Gou Dan was holding a small, broken bowl in his hand.

Seeing that Niu Mingjie didn't recognize her, Sisi chased after him with little Gou Dan in her arms. "Sir, please have mercy! My son and I haven't eaten for two days. Please have mercy!"

Little Gou Dan has been trained by his parents to be a beggar. His dad had something to do today, otherwise he would have come out with them to pretend to be a beggar.

Having a pair of playful parents is really worrying.

Little Gou Dan held out his small, tattered bowl to Niu Mingjie. "Sir, please have mercy, sir, I'm hungry."

Niu Mingjie glanced at Sisi and Gou Dan. This mother and daughter were really bold. Even beggars wouldn't dare block the path of an official. "Give them some copper coins."

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