well……
Li Baobei felt a pang of sadness. Where is there true fairness in society? It's the same in both ancient and modern times.
She wanted to say something to comfort Zhang Pan'er, but the words just wouldn't come out.
She felt that anything she said now would seem pale and powerless.
Zhang Pan'er gently wiped away the tears on her face with her sleeve, slowly stood up, and struggled to take out an exquisite purse from her sleeve.
The purse is embroidered with a lifelike lark pattern, and it exudes a faint fragrance of chrysanthemums.
Zhang Pan'er handed the purse to Li Baobei with trembling hands. She was very afraid that Li Baobei would not accept her gift because it was too cheap.
She sewed for seven or eight days straight, repeatedly unstitching and restitching, afraid of any flaws. This He purse was the most presentable gift she could offer.
As she handed it to you, she said, "I heard from the doctor that the fragrance of chrysanthemum has a calming and sleep-inducing effect, so I made this sachet for you. You don't need it..."
The purse in her hand disappeared, and when she looked up, she saw Li Baobei carefully examining it.
Li Baobei smiled gently and said, "It looks great, I like it very much."
The tension and unease I felt earlier have gradually disappeared.
Zhang Pan'er felt that she had been there for too long and that others would get tired of her, so she hurriedly stood up again.
"Thank you, Miss. I'd like to thank you again. It's getting late, so I'll take my leave now."
After saying that, she turned to leave.
"Do you have time to teach me embroidery? I really like your embroidery skills and would like to learn."
Zhang Pan'er was stunned in surprise. "Is the Third Miss inviting me to teach her embroidery?"
How could a mere concubine's daughter from a wealthy family be a suitable match for her?
Seeing that she was in a daze, Li Baobei then said, "Miss Zhang, do you think I'm too stupid to teach me?"
She said it in a playful tone.
"No, no, it's my blessing to be with Miss San."
Zhang Pan'er was deeply moved; she had never been a likable person.
Her birth mother had long since passed away, and the eldest wife and her sister disliked her; they even pushed her into the lake last time…
But she didn't dare tell her father and aunt, because they would only scold her.
Zhang Pan'er's eyes reddened again.
"Third Miss, I'll take my leave. I'll come to visit you when I have time."
She turned and hurried away.
"She's a girl who grew up in despair."
Li Baobei sighed inwardly as she looked at Zhang Pan'er's slender figure.
There are too many people suffering misfortune, but they are all buried in the dust of this outwardly glamorous but inwardly cannibalistic society. No one pays attention to them. Like most ordinary people, they are just scraps of society, passersby.
As night fell, candles were lit in every household, making the darkness seem less quiet.
Li Baobei sat on the bed, holding a purse in her hand and repeatedly sniffing it near her nose.
"It smells so nice. It makes me feel a little calmer. I wish I could embroider such a beautiful purse myself. I would like to give it to Lord He."
I hope he'll be able to forgive me then!
Li Baobei smiled sweetly as she looked at the purse; she had already imagined the scene of giving the purse to He You.
"Um……"
"What kind of flowers should I put in my purse? Let me think... plum blossoms? Lotus blossoms?"
"Never mind, I'll ask the imperial physician sometime which flower scents are good for your health if you smell them too much."
She happily placed the purse on the table not far from the bed so she could keep smelling it.
She lay quietly in bed, wondering, "Will I dream of Lord He again tonight?"
She slowly closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.
She saw that familiar face again.
He You and the sleazy-looking man had already arrived in the city.
The little boy stood quietly inside a room, looking out at the dark building.
The man's sleazy figure stood in the room, seemingly discussing something with someone.
After arguing for a while, the two of them both showed satisfied smiles.
Finally, the sleazy man came out with a grin and said to He You, "You can work here, they will give you food. Uncle will come to pick you up this afternoon. You have to be a good boy."
After saying that, the man pulled He You into the house.
The little boy offered no resistance and simply walked into the dimly lit room.
Li Baobei quickly followed.
The man pulled He You inside, handed her over to the room's owner, and then turned and left, satisfied, without a moment's hesitation.
He You was about to turn around to look when the man in the room grabbed him tightly.
The man looked fierce and menacing, with a thick beard covering his face. His left eye appeared to be blind, and there was a hideous knife scar under his left eye, making him look extremely terrifying.
"You think you can leave my territory once you've entered? Don't you know who I am?!"
The scarred man spoke in a fierce tone, pulling He You inside as he did so. Inside was a deep, dark corridor that looked like it would be swallowed by darkness if you went in.
He You followed the man expressionlessly, still holding onto a sliver of hope that they would come back and take him out.
The further you go in, the stronger the unpleasant smell becomes.
Finally, after passing through the narrow corridor, we arrived at a relatively spacious courtyard.
The scarred man then opened a door and forcefully pushed He You inside.
"Stay here and I'll come back tonight to deal with you."
With a bang, the door slammed shut again.
It was too dark inside. He You closed his eyes, and the unpleasant smell filled his nose. He slowly opened his eyes and could see the things in the room.
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