After the third prince ascended the throne, Grand Tutor Zhao and his sons were all beheaded, while the female members of the Zhao family were exiled to the frontier.
She once thought that Grand Tutor Zhao was an evil man.
However, she never expected that he was actually forced into prostitution. He went to great lengths to climb to the top of power, just to achieve a position that could rival the Third Prince, so as to avenge his daughter.
If someone can go to such lengths for their daughter, even if they have moral failings, how wicked can they be?
The young woman opposite her, Zhao, was unaware of Gu Qinlan's thoughts, but when she heard her mother mentioned, tears streamed down her face like pearls from a broken string.
Will she ever see her mother again in this lifetime?
Seeing that she was in tears, Gu Qinlan handed her her handkerchief.
In her previous life, if Zheng Huiyi hadn't run away from home and been kidnapped by Luo Mama's men, there wouldn't have been another Gu Qinlan. Therefore, this Miss Zhao's fate was already sealed.
The thought of such a pure and kind woman being persecuted by those scoundrels filled Gu Qinlan with uncontrollable anger.
"Don't be afraid. We've already gotten through the toughest times. The rest will no longer be a problem."
Miss Zhao wept uncontrollably, refusing to accept the handkerchief. She simply shook her head and said, "No, I cannot overcome this hurdle. After enduring such hardship, how can I face my family? If I return, I will only bring disaster to my sisters and dishonor to the family."
Gu Qinlan gently raised her hand to wipe away her tears: "You haven't even tried, how can you be so sure they won't accept you?"
Given that the Zhao family had gone to such lengths in her previous life, she didn't believe they would abandon her just because she had suffered misfortune.
Miss Zhao cried and said, "I dare not."
If she doesn't try, she can still retain a sliver of hope, comforting herself that she doesn't want to burden her family. But if she does try, even that last sliver of hope might be shattered.
How cruel this feudal ethics were to women!
Gu Qinlan knew Zhao's inner struggle and pressure, so she said no more and patiently waited for Zhao to calm down.
Miss Zhao was well-mannered, and her emotions didn't last long; she quickly controlled her tears.
Then, she suddenly knelt down before Gu Qinlan: "I will never forget your life-saving grace. Please accept my bow, my benefactor."
If it weren't for Gu Qinlan's rescue, she would have already committed suicide.
Gu Qinlan quickly stepped forward and reached out to help her up: "Miss Zhao, there's no need to be so reserved. Please get up."
Miss Zhao refused to stand up, her voice slightly choked: "My benefactor, I have a favor to ask of you, though it may be an unreasonable request."
Gu Qinlan could only gently comfort her: "As long as you are willing to get up, I will do my best to fulfill any request you make."
For her, the most challenging part was simply helping her reunite with her family during the process.
She wasn't actually opposed to the challenge, after all, it would be an excellent opportunity for her to establish connections with the Zhao family.
Grand Tutor Zhao's methods are indeed extraordinary. Although he acted extremely in his previous life, it was out of his determination to avenge his daughter. In this life, although there is no deep-seated hatred, the Third Prince is still the Zhao family's nemesis, and she can take this opportunity to form an alliance with the Zhao family.
However, after Zhao regained her footing, she said, "I hope to follow my benefactor and become a maidservant to serve him for the rest of my life in order to repay the kindness of saving my life."
She had thought it over carefully last night and knew that she could not return home and had no one to rely on, so she might as well beg her benefactor to take her in.
The person who rescued her from that hellish situation must have been kind-hearted. She was fortunate to stay with her benefactor, as it allowed her to repay the debt of saving her life and also provided her with a place to live.
Gu Qinlan was about to politely refuse when Miss Zhao added, "If my benefactor refuses to accept me, I will have no choice but to atone with my death. I am homeless and powerless to defend myself, and I am afraid I will encounter more traps in the future. Rather than live a life of dishonor, I would rather die with a clear conscience."
Faced with such a plea, Gu Qinlan reluctantly agreed.
"In that case, if you don't mind, come with me. I can't make too many promises, but I can make sure you're safe."
Upon hearing this, Miss Zhao once again tried to kneel down to express her gratitude.
This time, Gu Qinlan quickly calmed her down: "Alright, there's no need for the kneeling ceremony anymore. Since you've decided to come with me, then go pack your things and come back to the manor with me. Fuyu, go and assist Miss Zhao."
Turning to Aunt Lian beside her, Gu Qinlan asked gently, "Aunt Lian, how much silver did we spend last night?"
To rescue the person from Madam Luo's clutches, a sum of money would certainly be needed.
It should be noted that the message she provided the night before last was only enough to secure Zheng Huiyi's freedom.
Before confirming the authenticity of the statement, Luo's mother would absolutely not give her any more face.
Aunt Lian hurriedly waved her arms, repeatedly denying, "It didn't cost much."
Her family had finally managed to establish a connection with the prestigious Prince Duan's mansion, and they were absolutely unwilling to leave a bad impression on the heir's wife over such trivial matters.
Gu Qinlan, however, remained adamant: "Aunt Lian, even if we are siblings, accounts must be kept clear. I asked you and Uncle Jin for help, so how can I let them both put in the effort and spend the money? If you don't accept this money, how can I face you again in the future?"
Upon hearing this, Aunt Lian had no choice but to state the price.
It must be mentioned that the Xiaoxiang Pavilion was truly ruthless. The women they scoured from all over could be sold for as much as a hundred taels of silver after a single transaction. A talented and beautiful woman like Miss Zhao was even more priceless; Jin Tianming paid a staggering five hundred taels of silver for her.
This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
