The Song family's farce circulated in the capital for several days, but then new events occurred, and it was gradually forgotten by everyone.
But the Song family has become a laughing stock in the entire capital. Their two daughters married well, one to a prince and the other to become the emperor's concubine; but their two sons, one became a good-for-nothing with no future and the other has been largely forgotten.
"The New Year is almost here again!" Granny Qin happily directed the people to clean the courtyard, muttering, "If only we could have a little master next year!"
Song Yaozhu picked at her ear, feeling quite regretful that Qin Yu had been sent away by Xie Liwei; otherwise, she would have made him carefully choose his future wife.
"Grandma, I'm going out!" Song Yaozhu took Caijin and Caiyin and went to the opera house to listen to a play. Today, Shen Qingyu invited her to celebrate her successful admission to the Tzu Chi Foundation. She will be able to start working there after the New Year.
After she returned home following the divorce, although no one said anything to her face, they still complained about her behind her back. If she had stayed with her husband's family to remain a widow, it would have been better for the Shen family's reputation. This angered Old Master Shen so much that he threw his cane several times, intending to hit her, but unfortunately, his age and frailty prevented him from catching up.
Those words were spoken by her aunts; the sisters and brothers in the clan had all treated her well, so she was even less willing to be a burden to them. Because of her presence at home, their marriage prospects had become difficult.
The Tzu Chi Foundation not only takes in children, but also accepts women with nowhere else to go to do work. There are old women who do menial tasks such as cooking and tending the fire for the children, as well as women like Shen Qingyu who are young, widowed, and unwilling to remarry, and are disliked by both their husband's and their own families.
Those with a skill could tutor children, while those without could learn to cook, sew, and clean. In a way, this provided these poor women with a place to go.
It was snowing lightly outside, and a warm charcoal stove was placed in the private room of the Pear Garden. Song Yaozhu had come in wearing a thick fox fur coat, so she wasn't cold.
"Your Highness, please sit down!" Shen Qingyu's expression was excited, but she was trying to restrain herself due to her upbringing, though her bright eyes still revealed her joy. "It's a pity Yongle isn't here, otherwise the three of us could have a good chat."
She poured Song Yaozhu a cup of tea from the teapot warming on the small charcoal stove, saying, "This is citrus tea, please try it."
Song Yaozhu took a sip of tea and praised, "It's delicious, with a strong orange aroma."
After finishing a cup of tea, the show downstairs began.
Song Yaozhu didn't really enjoy watching the play from upstairs. Although she could see everything, she lacked a sense of immersion. She didn't like the feeling of looking down on everything; it even made her wonder if she was being too arrogant.
Just as she was engrossed in watching, she heard a noise from the next private room, as if something had hit the wall with a "thud." Startled, Shen Qingyu's hand holding the teacup trembled, and she spilled half a cup of tea.
"What happened?"
Cai Jin, who was standing guard outside, immediately said, "The people in the next private room are fighting."
Song Yaozhu frowned unhappily, but that was someone else's private matter, so she could only help Shen Qingyu with her wet clothes.
"I have a change of clothes in my carriage. I'll have Caijin bring them to you so you can change."
Shen Qingyu was flattered. The princess's clothes were all regulated, and she dared not wear them carelessly.
As if sensing her thoughts, Song Yaozhu explained, "These are my everyday clothes, I haven't worn them much, please don't mind."
Shen Qingyu looked at her clothes, which were already soaked to the point of being soaked through, and pursed her lips to thank her.
Caijin quickly brought over the clothes, and Shen Qingyu changed into them. The two then went out to Changkeju for lunch. After finishing their meal, they returned to their respective residences. Song Yaozhu was just about to lie down for her afternoon nap when someone from the Shen family arrived, hurriedly saying that Shen Qingyu was missing!
"What's going on!" Song Yaozhu hurriedly asked the person who came to ask what was happening.
The maid who came was Shen Qingyu's attendant. Although she was anxious and her eyes were red from crying, she still forced herself to remain calm and said, "After you left, Miss said she was going to relieve herself, so I accompanied her to the outhouse. But we waited and waited and waited and she didn't come out. When I went in to check, there was no sign of her at all!"
"Has anyone reported this to the authorities?"
The maid shook her head with tears in her eyes, "I dare not report this to the authorities. Miss is already a divorced woman. If rumors spread that Miss has been kidnapped by thieves, Miss will only have one way out: death!"
Song Yaozhu put on her clothes. "Do Lord Shen and the others know?"
"Master and young master have already taken people to Changkeju to search, but the capital is so big..." The maid choked up, fearing that the thieves had already left the city, and her young mistress really wouldn't survive!
The master and young master wouldn't allow her to trouble the princess with such matters, but she really didn't want anything to happen to her young lady! Thinking that having more people would be more helpful, she still went to Song Yaozhu for help.
Song Yaozhu's expression turned grave. She immediately sent someone to the Pear Garden to inquire about which guests had gone that day. Since it was a kidnapping, it must have been premeditated; it couldn't have been a spur-of-the-moment decision.
If it's for ransom, that's fine; but I'm afraid it's for revenge.
"Have someone keep an eye on the Fang family. Report back immediately if anything unusual happens!"
After arranging everything, Song Yaozhu kept thinking about the people who had grudges against Shen Qingyu. Apart from the Fang family and the Xu family, she couldn't think of anyone else.
Soon, the person sent out returned with a list.
Song Yaozhu glanced at the list and suddenly realized that the people in the room next to theirs today were actually from the Yongwang Mansion.
"The Princess Consort of Yong took her concubine out to see a play?" She thought of Zhao Ying'e, who acted recklessly without considering the consequences. That woman possessed a kind of mindless madness. She actually dared to kidnap her in the Yong Prince's residence and even wanted to drown her in a pig cage! She wasn't afraid of being found out, nor was she afraid of implicating her family.
"Yes, Princess Yong took her concubine out to watch a play today, and I heard that they had a quarrel. Princess Yong looked unwell when she returned."
Song Yaozhu pondered, recalling how she had lent her clothes to Shen Qingyu earlier that day. Her spare coat had been left in the car before the snow fell; it was a bit thin, so she had also given Shen Qingyu her fox fur cloak.
Perhaps that crazy woman Zhao Ying'e wanted to harm me, but ended up grabbing the wrong person because of my clothes!
Having found a direction, Song Yaozhu immediately sent someone to the Prince Yong's residence to inquire about the situation.
"Your Highness, it's getting dark."
If Shen Qingyu is still missing when it gets dark, her reputation will be ruined!
It was dark, but the streets were still lit, especially the red-light districts and alleys, which were brightly lit.
In the backyard of a brothel, a madam with thick makeup obscuring her true face stood with her hands on her hips and sneered, "This girl is good, but she's no longer a virgin. She won't fetch a good price! You're asking me for a hundred taels for this risk-free business. Aren't you afraid of ruining yourself?"
The lecherous man rubbed his hands together, grinning obsequiously as he bargained, "Eighty taels, that's the lowest I can go!"
He was in a hurry to get rid of her and run away. Although he didn't know the woman's identity, she looked like the young mistress of a powerful family. But in their line of work, they didn't care who you were. Once you were taken to this place, even if your family found you, they wouldn't recognize you, let alone pursue the matter. They would just consider you dead.
"Mom, I know your customers are all rich and powerful, and some of them like young married women, don't they?"
Mother chuckled, "Seventy-five taels, that's the most I can give you!"
Shen Qingyu's mouth was gagged, and tears streamed down her face. She knew where she was, and looking at the dozen or so burly pimps behind the mother, she felt a deep sorrow and despair.
Why is her life so miserable? She finally saw a glimmer of hope, but is it all going to vanish again?
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