"Okay, I'll do as you say."
Ji Minxiu smiled indulgently and put a veil on Yun Zhourong.
Makeup takes a long time, so there's definitely not enough time.
The two paid the entrance fee, and the guard simply glanced at Yun Zhourong's face to make sure she wasn't a wanted criminal before letting them pass.
Yun Zhourong breathed a sigh of relief.
That makes sense, since she rarely appeared in public before, and it would be difficult for her to be recognized unless you knew her well.
After asking for directions, the two headed towards the Song family's residence.
Meanwhile, Song Shuyi hurried home, initially walking quickly but eventually running.
I've often traveled before, but never before have I felt such an intense longing to return home.
However, when he returned to his house and saw the tightly closed door, he couldn't help but slow down and subconsciously looked down at the memorial tablet placed in the carrying pole.
If my mother and sister were to learn the devastating news of my father's accident, I can only imagine how heartbroken they would be.
"Go to the Zhao family's place and see what's going on. Madam Song is really pitiful."
"Yes, she just lost her husband and son, then her family property was taken away and she was kicked out of her home. Even her only daughter is going to be sent to a playboy as a concubine. Her life is truly miserable..."
"That's right. Those Song family members are too ruthless. Old Master Song treated them so well back then, and now they treat his wife and daughter like this. Aren't they afraid he'll crawl out of the ground and come back to haunt them?"
"Madam Song went to snatch the person, but we don't know what happened."
"I think it's highly unlikely that she'll be able to get it back. She's just a sheltered woman with no one to help her. What can she do?"
"..."
Before Song Shuyi could even knock on the door, he saw several people running past him, talking amongst themselves.
These words made him abandon his carrying pole and excitedly grab one of the people, demanding, "What did you just say? What happened to my mother and sister?"
"You...ah...Young Master Song...a ghost!"
The passerby recognized Song Shuyi the moment he saw him and was so startled that he fell to the ground.
"This...Young Master Song, there's a cause for every grievance, and the debtor should be the one to settle the score. If you want to take our lives, you shouldn't be coming after us!"
Upon seeing this, the others also retreated in fear.
"No... I'm not a ghost. My father... my father was murdered, but I didn't die!" Song Shuyi quickly explained.
"Ah, he's not dead!"
"Yes, there's a shadow on the ground!"
"My God, she's still alive! There's hope for Madam Song now!"
"Thank God! The Song family's plans are about to be shattered!"
"By the way, Young Master Song, Miss Song has been married off by your eldest uncle to Master Zhao's son as a concubine. You must go and rescue her immediately!"
"..."
Once they confirmed that Song Shuyi was not dead, the people immediately started talking all at once.
"Song Zhengtian, how dare you!"
Upon hearing this, Song Shuyi was instantly enraged. He left his load at a familiar shop nearby, hailed a donkey cart, and headed straight for Master Zhao's house.
I was extremely anxious.
Master Zhao's only son was a notorious playboy known throughout the capital. He was good for nothing and constantly harassed his sister.
The family had always protected her well, which was why everything had been peaceful until a sudden change occurred in the family, and her younger sister fell into the clutches of a monster.
"Mother... Waaah... I don't want to be that纨绔's concubine..."
"Don't be afraid, Su Su. If they dare to touch you today, they'll have to step over my dead body first!"
"..."
As soon as Song Shuyi arrived at the place, he saw Madam Song protecting the Second Miss Song behind her, holding a hairpin in her hand and confronting the Zhao family.
She is no longer the dignified and elegant woman she once was. Her hair is disheveled, and her face is full of fatigue, as if she has aged ten years in an instant. But her eyes are incredibly firm and resolute.
This scene made Song Shuyi feel so suffocated that she could hardly breathe, and tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.
He had always lived a life of luxury in a wealthy family, surrounded by kind-hearted people. He never imagined that his family would be treated this way so soon after his father's accident.
If he had returned even one day later, wouldn't his sister have suffered a terrible fate?
"Hmph, Madam Song, don't be ungrateful. Now that the Song family is gone, she can only continue to live a good life by coming to my Zhao family. Do you want her to be homeless with you?"
The Zhao family's steward said coldly, "If it weren't for my young master's deep affection for your second young lady, she wouldn't be worthy of becoming a concubine in the Zhao family given her current status."
"Mother, I don't want to. I'm willing to stay with you for the rest of my life rather than marry that playboy." Upon hearing this, Miss Song immediately shook her head repeatedly with tears streaming down her face.
"Steward Zhao, you heard it too. We are not worthy of the Zhao family, nor do we have any interest in them."
Madam Song tightly protected Miss Song and said, "Besides, I still have my family home, so I won't be sleeping on the streets."
"Going back to your parents' home? Madam Song, don't deceive yourself. If your family were willing to take care of you, would they still be here?" Butler Zhao sneered disdainfully.
These words struck a nerve with Madam Song, who was devastated after receiving the devastating news of her husband and son's deaths.
She also wrote a letter to her parents' home, but apart from coming over to inquire about the situation on the first day, they never showed up again.
Even when Susu was about to be sent to be a concubine, she sought help but received no response.
From that moment on, she knew that her family could not be relied upon.
But under the current circumstances, she absolutely could not admit it, yet she couldn't find the words to say.
Seeing her like this, Butler Zhao already understood everything.
After all, the Zhao family had previously sent many benefits to Madam Song's family, and they had already accepted them.
A widow who has lost everything, or easy profits—which should she choose? The choice is quite simple!
So, he ruthlessly shattered Madam Song's last hope, saying, "Our Zhao family has personally visited your family, and they agree to the idea of the Second Miss becoming a concubine."
"What did you say…"
Madam Song never expected this outcome; she swayed violently and almost lost her balance.
Overwhelmed by grief, I was almost completely consumed by despair.
Now that even her only way out has been abandoned, do the mother and daughter still have a chance to survive?
Miss Song was completely distraught. Finally, she gritted her teeth and asked, "If I agree to become a concubine, can I live with my mother?"
"Susu, you can't!" Upon hearing this, Madam Song immediately grasped her hand and shook her head repeatedly.
"Mother, if we don't agree, given the Zhao family's methods, we'll have nowhere else to go..."
Miss Song, tears streaming down her face, choked out, "Father and eldest brother are both... gone. You are my last remaining family member. I don't want to be separated from you."
"Mom doesn't want to be separated from you either, but we can't do it this way... There's another way... We're sure we can find a way..."
Madam Song kept muttering to herself, but her mind was blank, filled only with helplessness and fear.
Suddenly, she felt that she couldn't find a place to stand in this vast world.
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