Yan Hong sighed and replied, "My mother originally wanted to let things rest and not make a big fuss. Besides, she's already pregnant. If he were willing to admit his mistakes, explain everything clearly, stop hiding things from the family, and start afresh, she could forgive him and pretend nothing happened, and continue living a good life. But after giving him so much time and space to consider, and waiting for him to turn over a new leaf, who would have thought that what awaited him was the calamity of patricide and the extermination of his entire family? Sister Xiang'er, how can there be such heartless, ungrateful, and treacherous people in this world..."
Upon hearing this, Lanxiang also sighed deeply. It was no coincidence that the world was full of infatuated women and heartless men. Yan Hong's mother and her mother were both such foolish women in the world.
After a while, Lanxiang suddenly asked Yanhong, "Where is your mother? And how did you end up in this brothel?"
Yan Hong hesitated for a moment, then said sadly, "My mother... passed away a few months ago. I searched everywhere afterward and finally heard someone say that the woman who took us in and saved our lives was making a living in this small town, so I came here to try my best to find her. When my mother was dying, she had no one else to entrust her care to, so she told me to do my best to find that great benefactor, saying that she would definitely take me in or help me."
"Have you found it?" Lanxiang asked hurriedly.
But then Yan Hong's eyes suddenly flickered, her face showing difficulty. She seemed hesitant, unsure whether to speak, or perhaps burdened with unspoken thoughts, stammering, "I...I..."
Lanxiang said angrily, "Hmph... What time is it? If you really consider me your sister and want me to help you, then tell me everything in detail, the more detailed the better. If you are still hesitant and don't want to talk, then forget it. You can handle your own affairs from now on. I'm too lazy to worry about this for you."
After Lanxiang finished speaking, she pretended to stand up and turn her back to her, showing a disdainful look on her face. "You can leave now. I'm busy and don't have time to waste with you."
Seeing this, Yan Hong quickly stood up, grabbed her hand, and pleaded, "Sister Xiang'er, please don't be angry. I...I'll tell you...I'll tell you everything."
Originally, Yan Hong also thought that she could find this so-called benefactor as her mother said on her deathbed, and that she would have a new support in this life. But who would have thought that things were not as simple as they imagined.
It turns out that this so-called benefactor's identity was never that simple.
She had lived with the mother and daughter for over a decade, yet she had kept herself so well hidden, as if they had never known her at all.
Now, this only support has not only lost its ability to be her safe haven, but has also dragged her into the endless sea of suffering that is Wanjiao Pavilion...
Yan Hong then slowly strolled around the inner and outer rooms of Lanxiang's room, taking in the decorations throughout the room.
Lanxiang, not understanding her meaning, followed Yan Hong's footsteps slowly, looking at the places Yan Hong had gazed at.
After a long while, Yan Hong suddenly stopped and stared intently at the blue fox and butterfly painting in Lan Xiang's room. She then asked Lan Xiang mysteriously, "Sister Xiang'er, do you know why, as soon as I arrived at Wan Jiao Pavilion, I stayed in the room next door, which is even better than yours? If I'm not mistaken, the blue fox and butterfly painting hanging on the wall in your room was made by the madam of Wan Jiao Pavilion. She copied it from the original in my room. Am I right, Yan Hong?"
"That room, didn't the madam say, was specially vacated and furnished as a superior room for the girls of Wanjiao Pavilion to use? Because the guests paid a high price, every new girl's first time with a guest, starting with you, will be spent in this room, right? If that's the case, then it's perfectly reasonable for the original Blue Fox Butterfly painting to be placed in your room!" Lanxiang replied with a serious expression.
Yan Hong smiled slightly and shook her head dismissively, saying, "That was just an excuse the madam made up when Yan Hong entered Wan Jiao Pavilion to cover her tracks. How could Sister Xiang'er believe it?"
"Oh, what do you mean? Could it be... that room was specially arranged for you, Yan Hong?" Lan Xiang asked in surprise.
Yan Hong looked into Lan Xiang's eyes and nodded affirmatively with a smile.
Lanxiang hesitated for a moment, then guessed, "In that case, Yan Hong must have someone she knows very well in this Wanjiao Pavilion. To be able to stay in such a room, the person she knows must be able to speak with the master above."
Suddenly, Lanxiang was startled and realized how foolish she had been. She couldn't help but recall all the disasters she had risked her life to shield Yanhong from, only to find that she had been deluding herself.
Unexpectedly, Yan Hong had such a solid backer in Wan Jiao Pavilion, so she didn't need her help at all.
After a long while, Lanxiang came to her senses and gave a bitter smile, saying, "Hmph... Since that's the case, why are you still pretending to be pitiful in front of me? I suffered so much for you before, and almost lost my life. Wouldn't it be better if you went to beg that powerful backer who can make things happen in Wanjiao Pavilion?"
At this moment, Yan Hong slowly said, "Things are not as Xiang'er thinks. Xiang'er would never guess that the great benefactor who took us in and saved our lives back then, after leaving the small house at the foot of the mountain where we lived alone, actually became the madam of Wanjiao Pavilion."
"What? It was her, no wonder..." Lanxiang exclaimed in surprise upon hearing this.
After a long pause, Lanxiang still asked, puzzled, "Since the madam was your former benefactor, she should have taken extra care of you. How could she have made you a girl in this Wanjiao Pavilion? What exactly happened? Why is this happening? If it's really as you say, how could such a kind woman who saved people from danger back then have become a madam here today, aiding and abetting evil and forcing good women into prostitution?"
Yan Hong was still somewhat puzzled. After a moment's recollection, she said, "Actually, I'm not entirely sure of the real reason. It seems the madam has been given some leverage by the master, so she obeys his orders without question and dares not disobey. Therefore, when I first appeared at Wan Jiao Pavilion, the master, knowing I was a distant relative seeking refuge with the madam, feared that letting me go would reveal some of his secrets. So, without further ado, he ordered the madam to either execute me immediately or keep me in Wan Jiao Pavilion as a girl, controlled by him." I was furious. How could I be so unlucky? My former benefactor had become my nemesis. At first, I was determined to die rather than submit. But in the end, after her desperate pleas, she said she was sorry for failing my mother's dying wish, and that she would do her best to protect my health and provide me with a comfortable life. She promised that if she could find even the slightest opportunity, she would do everything in her power to help me escape. So, Yan Hong's heart softened, and she was moved by her words and actions, agreeing to stay. Although it's better to live a miserable life than to die, Yan Hong simply couldn't bear the constant fear and anxiety anymore…
After saying that, Yan Hong gently wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes again.
At this moment, Lanxiang frowned, a strange melancholy rising in her heart. "So it was him. Who exactly is he? What does he want? It seems it's time for me to wake up. I absolutely cannot be like myself and Yan Hong's mother, blinded by emotions, losing my reason, and setting myself on fire..."
After a long silence, Lanxiang came to her senses and looked at Yanhong, who was looking down with tears streaming down her face. For some reason, the more she looked at her, the more familiar and affectionate she felt, and the more she wanted Yanhong to cherish her with her whole life.
Finally, she lowered her voice and said to Yan Hong, "Don't worry, I will definitely help you, protect you, and make sure you don't get hurt in any way."
Upon hearing this, Yan Hong threw herself into Lan Xiang's arms, tightly embracing Lan Xiang's slender waist, and cried so hard that Lan Xiang's heart broke.
After a while, she suddenly remembered what the madam had promised her, and the maid named Yun'er in her house.
So she slowly reached out and pushed away Yan Hong from her arms, saying to her, "I have some family matters to attend to these few days, so I will ask the madam for a few days' leave. You can stay here in Wan Jiao Pavilion without worry. With the madam here, I believe no one will easily harm you. Also, I will tell you my address outside. If you really encounter any serious trouble, send someone here to find me."
As she spoke, Lanxiang quickly got up and went to the desk. She picked up a pen and paper and wrote down her home address. Then she went back to Yanhong and put the address in Yanhong's hand. She then took Yanhong's other hand and they held it tightly in their palms. Lanxiang said with concern, "Keep it safe. Remember, you must not tell anyone!"
Yan Hong pursed her cherry-like lips and nodded vigorously. Lan Xiang smiled gently at her while using one hand to smooth the stray hairs that had fallen down her temples.
After seeing Yan Hong off, Lan Xiang walked out of the room and came to the railing in the corridor. She happened to see the madam who was about to come upstairs, so she took two steps forward and called out to her, "Madam, please wait."
Actually, the madam came upstairs because she saw Yan Hong come up, as if she had something to say.
Hearing Lanxiang call her, she quickly adopted her usual cheerful demeanor, waving her handkerchief and exclaiming, "Oh my, Mother, who do we have here? It's my good daughter Lanxiang! How was that handsome young master from the west of the city that I introduced to you today? I didn't treat you badly, did I?! That young master is truly rich and handsome, and most importantly, he's still a virgin! Are you satisfied, daughter? By the way, where is he? Is he still bedridden?"
As soon as the madam finished speaking, she covered her nose and chuckled.
However, Lanxiang ignored the madam's hypocritical behavior. As soon as she stepped closer to her, she lowered her voice and reminded her, "Mother promised me that after Yu Niang's matter is over, she would return my indenture to me. Mother hasn't forgotten, has she?!"
Upon hearing this, the madam immediately grabbed Lanxiang's arm and looked around nervously and alertly...
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