Old Madam Xiao?
Shangguan Wanning was stunned and her expression changed slightly.
"We were arranged to stay in the backyard wing of the Xiao family. Unexpectedly, that night, the young master of the Xiao family came in drunk and raped a girl that night."
"The girl couldn't bear the humiliation and committed suicide by jumping into a well the next morning. We were all very angry and wanted the Xiao family to give an explanation. But who knew... Old Lady Xiao was completely unreasonable and actually put us all under house arrest in the backyard wing."
"We originally thought that the Constable Liu who was escorting us would rescue us, but... after that day, Constable Liu never showed up again. Someone has died, but Young Master Sun of the Xiao family not only did not restrain himself, but even worsened."
"I... I finally escaped. I don't know what to do." Li Min'er covered her face and cried again, "If I go back like this, it will be a crime of deceiving the king; but if I don't go back, where can I go..."
Lu Tong's face was full of doubts. She asked puzzledly, "The Xiao family is too bold. They dare to touch the emperor's woman?"
Shangguan Wanning sighed softly, looked at Li Min'er meaningfully, and a myriad of thoughts surged in her mind.
"The power of the Xiao family... is indeed huge."
"Miss, could it be that even our family..."
Shangguan Wanning glared at Lutong, forcing Lutong to hold back her identity as his father.
"This old lady Xiao was the late emperor's wet nurse. She is now over eighty years old. I heard that in order to take care of the late emperor's daily diet and daily life, she did not leave the palace until she was in her thirties to get married."
"The husband that the late emperor selected for her was the former commander of the imperial guards. About a dozen years after the late emperor ascended the throne, he led the army in person. Old Lady Xiao's husband accompanied him to protect him. In one battle, he died to protect the late emperor."
"When the late emperor returned to the capital in triumph, he posthumously conferred the title of Loyal Marquis on her husband and gave him the imperial surname Xiao. At that time, the old lady Xiao had given birth to three sons and one daughter. Her eldest son followed his father's wishes and went to guard the border, where he died heroically in the battle against the Huijiang."
"Her second son once helped the late emperor quell a civil strife. He single-handedly supported an entire army, but was shot by several arrows and later died of his injuries. Her only daughter was canonized as a first-rank princess when the late emperor was still alive, and was married off to a distant Western Region as a peacemaker."
"Only her youngest son survived, but he also lost an arm while suppressing the civil strife. The late emperor appreciated the contributions of Old Lady Xiao and her family to the court and the country, and granted them many privileges."
"All court officials who passed by the Xiao family's gate, civil officials got off their sedan chairs, and military officials got off their horses. The late emperor also gave Old Lady Xiao a dragon-headed cane, which could be used to beat tyrants and corrupt officials."
Lu Tong was stunned.
It sounds like the Xiao family's power is far greater than that of the Shangguan family?
Shangguan Wanning also felt emotional. She thought that the only person who could be on equal footing with Old Lady Xiao was probably the resurrected Marquis Yiyong.
Li Min'er only knew that the Xiao family was arrogant and domineering, but she never imagined that they had such a strong background.
"Then...are the sisters who were defiled by Young Master Sun of the Xiao family going to be insulted by him in vain?"
Shangguan Wanning was speechless for a moment.
Even if her father came, he would have to give face to Old Lady Xiao, not to mention...
However, Shangguan Wanning was also a woman, and she could understand the helplessness of those women who were under house arrest in the Mansion of the Marquis of Zhonglie.
"Miss Min'er, don't be sad yet. Since you are going to be a concubine in the palace, I will first find a way to send someone to send you to the capital. As for the safety of others... I will think of a way."
Li Min'er was skeptical, and Shangguan Wanning took out her token and handed it to her.
"I will have my attendants escort you to Beijing to report to the Ministry of Personnel. During the candidacy period, you can stay at my home temporarily. You can carry my token with you, and my parents will take care of you."
Li Min'er took the token from Shangguan Wanning, held it tightly in her hand, and knelt down in front of her.
"Sister, what is your name? I will definitely remember it in my heart. If I can get the emperor's mercy in the future, I will repay you with gratitude."
"Get up." Shangguan Wanning sighed silently.
There are three thousand beauties in the harem. It is not easy to win Xiao Yujue's favor.
Shangguan Wanning selected two followers and asked them to escort Li Min'er to the capital first. She stayed in the inn for a day and entered the city after the rain stopped.
"Miss, that's the Marquis Zhonglie's Mansion? It's so grand."
As a maid in the Prime Minister's mansion, Lutong has seen the world and she looks down upon ordinary mansions.
The corners of Shangguan Wanning's mouth curled up slightly, revealing a faint smile.
"Yeah, it's really impressive."
She lifted the curtain and looked for a while, then told the guards to leave and found an inn nearby to stay.
"Miss, the direction we are heading now is the opposite of Medicine King Valley."
Lu Tong brought in a basin of clean water and helped Shangguan Wan Ning wash her face. She said, "Are you going to rescue those trapped concubines?"
Shangguan Wanning sighed softly.
"I am outnumbered and may not be able to rescue them safely. However, I always feel that Captain Liu who is escorting them is the key. Let's find him first, and then make a long-term plan."
Shangguan Wanning felt a little tired. She ate something reluctantly and ordered the guards to go out and look for the whereabouts of Captain Liu.
When it was time to light the lamps, none of the guards who had gone out had returned.
Shangguan Wanning felt a little uneasy.
The knock on the door brought Shangguan Wan Ning back to her senses. Lu Tong walked over and opened the door, only to see the innkeeper personally bringing in a table full of delicacies from land and sea, filling the entire table.
"Shopkeeper, we didn't order anything." Lu Tong said vigilantly.
The shopkeeper smiled repeatedly and said, "This is what Master Xiao ordered to prepare for you two. Young lady, I was blind and didn't know you were Master Xiao's friend. Please forgive me if I have been negligent."
"Mr. Xiao?" Shangguan Wanning felt even more uneasy. She thought for a moment and said, "I don't know any Mr. Xiao. No reward without merit. Please take away all the food."
The shopkeeper's face changed and then he became panic-stricken.
"If the lady finds it unpalatable, I will ask the kitchen to make it again."
"Why are you so annoying? My young lady has made it very clear. Just take it away when I tell you to." Lu Tong stood in front of Shangguan Wan Ning and glared at the shopkeeper angrily.
"Since the princess doesn't like it, then withdraw."
A loud voice was heard, and the shopkeeper, the waiter, and a group of small people automatically made way.
Shangguan Wanning saw a handsome young man in white clothes and holding a folding fan walk in.
He looked at her with his bright peach blossom eyes and a faint doting smile.
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