Upon hearing this, the mother-in-law's heart skipped a beat. She said with great worry, "Xiang'er, what have you been doing all day? How did you get involved with these dangerous people? Are you trying to kill your grandmother? Your mother didn't listen to me back then, insisting on leaving that man of unknown origin at home to recover from his injuries. Later, she fell in love with him and, even without a formal relationship, was willing to bear him a child out of wedlock. But in the end, wasn't she abandoned by that ungrateful man? When she died, she cruelly made me, an old woman, bury my child, leaving me and you, an old woman and a child. But why are you still so stubborn and unrepentant, never giving me a moment's peace?"
The old woman spoke of her unbearable past with overwhelming grief...
Hearing her grandmother's heart-wrenching lament, Lanxiang was also moved. After a moment, she said angrily, "Grandma, never mention that heartless beast in front of me again. I hope I never have to meet him again in my life. However, if, unfortunately, I do meet that person again, I will make him pay back double for all the humiliations that my grandmother, my grandmother, and my deceased mother suffered in life."
Lanxiang gritted her teeth and spoke bitterly, remembering how she was only five years old when she was so ignorant and naive that she lost her mother's love forever and became an orphan who could be bullied by everyone on the street.
The neighborhood children disdained to play with her, and the adults, devoid of any compassion, would often point at her and teach their children to call her a shameless little vixen, a bastard of unknown origin, someone who was born but not raised, throwing pebbles at her, and spitting on her...
Having grown up completely isolated from her surroundings, she possesses an extremely kind and simple heart, though also harboring some inferiority complex. She is filled with anticipation and curiosity about the people and things of the world. However, her ability to discern is too superficial; she is unaware that the world also has such a dirty and complex side.
In the year she turned fifteen, she blossomed into an elegant and serene young woman, a truly rare beauty in the area, and the envy of many around her.
At the same time, like all young girls, she was filled with hope for her future. Soon, she met a handsome young man from afar who showered her with promises, showed her great care and concern, and was completely unbiased. He told her about many people and things she had never heard of before, even saying that he would one day take her away from here to see the world…
Soon, the two fell deeply in love and couldn't bear to be apart.
Little did anyone know, this was a carefully planned trap of gentleness, and the handsome man was actually a wicked wolf in sheep's clothing.
He not only stole her virginity, but after she became his possession, when he grew tired of her, he ruthlessly tricked her into signing a contract of servitude and sold her to the hellish brothel.
From then on, she was left helpless and destitute, a woman of the night, ridden by thousands and trampled by thousands.
Even the pitiful money she received for selling herself was completely taken away by that beast in human form, disappearing without a trace...
All of this is thanks to those two men, and she will never forgive them, never.
I thought I would never believe a man's sweet words again, nor would I ever love again. But when I met Tuoba Ze in Wanjiao Pavilion, the man who captivated me at first sight, I felt my heart flutter again.
Although she knew that her body was no longer pure and innocent and that she was not worthy of such a noble person, she could never let go of this obsession in her heart.
With her looks and talent, she could easily be considered the most beautiful courtesan in the Wanjiao Pavilion. Therefore, Tuoba Ze would sometimes glance at her. But even that occasional glance was enough to satisfy her.
But after Yu Niang appeared, Tuoba Ze never looked at her again. Thus, a wicked thought arose in her heart.
In Wanjiao Pavilion, she deliberately sought opportunities to get close to Yu Niang, befriend her, and eventually the two even addressed each other as sisters. She felt that Yu Niang was truly the only person in the world who was genuinely good to her.
After learning about her tragic past and experiences, Yu Niang did not look down on her like others did; instead, she cared for her even more. And since Yu Niang was confined to Wan Jiao Pavilion and could not leave even a step, she often secretly sent things out for Yu Niang.
If it weren't for Tuoba Ze, perhaps she and Yu Niang would have truly become close sisters. But that wasn't the case, and afterwards, she did something she might never be able to forgive herself for.
Thinking about all this, she felt both angry and annoyed. Why does the world always play such cruel tricks on people?
Hearing her words filled with hatred, Grandma's already endless bitterness was amplified, and she began to sob even more sadly.
Upon hearing this, Lanxiang quickly stepped forward and patted her back, comforting her, "Grandma, don't worry. Once Lanxiang has earned enough money, she will take you to a place where no one knows us. We will leave this sad place forever and start everything anew, okay?"
"My poor Xiang'er..."
"grandmother…"
As the grandmother and granddaughter spoke, they embraced and wept bitterly...
When it comes to the money to redeem her from her servitude, it's not so easy. But the madam promised her that if she handled the matter well, she would return her indenture and set her free forever.
This matter… Lanxiang leaned on her grandmother’s thin shoulder, her eyes blurry with tears, and her gaze involuntarily drifted to Yi Shangyun, who was sleeping soundly beside the bed…
With a creak, the door to an empty, dark, damp, gloomy, and cold room was opened.
Then, a man and a woman slowly walked in. The first to enter was an obese woman with a distorted figure. She walked in awkwardly and went to a extinguished oil lamp in the corner, and used the candle she was holding to light it.
Suddenly, the dark room brightened, and the dust particles that filled the room began to dance merrily with the light of the lamp. It was as if a power that had been dormant in the darkness for a long time had finally come to take the stage and unleash its power.
Then, a man walked in slowly, his hands behind his back. He was tall and handsome, with refined features, and exuded an extraordinary aura, displaying a kingly demeanor. However, the man was dressed in black night clothes, and his face was covered by a black and white horse-shaped mask.
This person was none other than Tuoba Ze, the eldest prince of the Northern Lie Kingdom, and also the true master of the Wanjiao Pavilion, which was famous throughout the Western Qin.
In a corner of the dark room, Yu Niang, bound hand and foot, her eyes blindfolded and her mouth gagged, lay unconscious on the cold floor. Suddenly awakened by the sound of the door opening and the footsteps that followed, she stirred slightly and struggled to sit up against the wall.
Her lips twitched slightly, as if she had a premonition of something, but she couldn't speak.
Tuoba Ze gave the madam a wink, and the madam immediately stepped forward and ripped off the gag from Yu Niang's mouth, and also slowly removed the black cloth covering her eyes.
Yu Niang finally breathed a sigh of relief and tried to slowly open her eyes, which had not seen the light for a long time.
Not knowing what the newcomer intended, a sense of panic welled up within him. After a moment's hesitation, he gave the two men a cold, almost desperate laugh, then lowered his head and asked in a low voice, "Has my time come?"
The two men didn't rush to answer her question. Instead, Tuoba Ze held up two fingers, and the madam took out a portrait from her person, walked up to Yu Niang, slowly unfolded the portrait, and asked, "Do you recognize the woman in this portrait?"
Upon hearing the voice, Yu Niang slowly raised her head and glanced at the portrait in front of her, but was instantly stunned. After a moment's thought, she cautiously replied, "Who is she? I have never seen her before."
After saying that, he slowly lowered his head again. Seeing that he was unwilling to tell the truth, Tuoba Ze coaxed, "Have you ever heard of Zhao Ping'an?"
Upon hearing this, Yu Niang was immediately startled and abruptly raised her head to ask, "Who are you, and how do you know Zhao Ping'an?"
Tuoba Ze remained silent upon hearing this, seemingly unwilling to say too much and risk revealing himself to Yu Niang.
Yu Niang glanced at the madam, who was extremely respectful in front of this person, and guessed, "Are you the true master of Wan Jiao Pavilion?"
Tuoba Ze then changed his tune, saying, "You don't need to ask any more questions. Today, I'll only ask you whether you want to know news about Zhao Ping'an or not. If you want to know news about him, then first tell me honestly the identity of the person in this portrait."
Yu Niang hesitated. Yi Shangyun was their family's savior, and she absolutely could not repay kindness with enmity. Their inquiries about her meant they must have ulterior motives. However, she also had news of her beloved husband, Zhao Ping'an. This opportunity was too rare and too tempting; she didn't want to miss it.
After a moment's deliberation, she finally said hesitantly, "The woman in the portrait is named Yi Shangyun. I only saw her once when I was working at the Prince of Qin's residence. I didn't stay at the Prince of Qin's residence for long, and I don't know much else. I only know that she was a medicine girl in the palace."
"Why would a mere palace medicine maid appear in the Qin Prince's mansion? Yi Shangyun?" Tuoba Ze asked in confusion after hearing this.
At this moment, Yu Niang came to her senses and hurriedly asked, "What about Zhao Ping'an? Can you tell me about him now?"
Tuoba Ze glanced at her, hesitated for a moment, and then said to her in a deep voice, as if he could not bear it, "He has already died on the battlefield."
"No, no, you liar, Ping An won't die like this, he definitely won't..." Upon hearing this, Yu Niang instantly lost control and burst into a hoarse, desperate cry.
Tuoba Ze looked at her heartbroken appearance and let out a deep breath.
After a long while, Yu Niang suddenly stopped crying, but she didn't even bother to wipe away the tears still clinging to the corners of her eyes. She slowly raised her eyes, filled with despair, and said, "So be it. Now that Ping An is gone, what's the point of Yu Niang living? Come on, kill me or torture me, it's all up to you. Anyway, having been to a place like this, even if I could get out, I would never have the face to see my family again. It's better to die, at least it'll be a clean end."
As soon as she finished speaking, Yu Niang raised her head, leaned against the wall, and slowly closed her beautiful eyes.
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