Chapter 289: Live or dead

Hearing Xie Zhuoning's question, Qingyue's expression suddenly fell.

She said slowly, "My family was originally a famous embroidery family in Jiangnan. However, because we were unwilling to hand over the needlework of double-pattern cloud embroidery, our rivals colluded with the government to frame us, and all of us were imprisoned."

"In the prison cell, my parents died from the torture. Fortunately, we met Inspector Yu Shi, who uncovered this unjust case, so my sister and I were able to save our lives."

I didn't expect that this little girl had such a tragic past. At such a young age, she experienced the pain of her family being broken up.

Xie Zhuoning was now thankful that he had rescued her out of a momentary pity.

Otherwise, wouldn't she have to live in hardship and frustration in the first half of her life, and spend the second half of her life in hell?

Then her life must be too miserable.

Qingyue continued, "After my sister and I were released from prison, my sister was afraid that the double-patterned cloud embroidery would bring disaster upon me again, so she didn't allow me to show it outside again."

"So we could only embroider some ordinary patterns and sell them to make a living. Although our life was not rich, it was also simple and happy."

When she mentioned the brief days of happiness when the two sisters depended on each other, a faint smile appeared on her face.

But the smile quickly disappeared, because Song Yuqiu asked curiously, "Then how did you get to Yihonglou?"

Speaking of this, Qingyue clenched her fists and gritted her teeth, "That day, my sister and I were on our way to sell embroidery when we met a few beggars asking for food. My sister was kind-hearted, so she bought them some steamed buns, but she didn't expect that those people were beggars!"

They had been eyeing the two sisters for a long time. Knowing that they were lonely and beautiful, they seduced them and sold them to Yihonglou in the capital.

"When I entered the brothel, I was still young. The madam saw that I was good-looking and was reluctant to let me be a maid, so she made me learn the arts of music, chess, calligraphy and painting, intending to sell me for a good price."

"But my sister..." At this point, she couldn't help choking up, "But my sister disappeared not long after she arrived at Yihonglou..."

Hongxiu hurriedly hugged Qingyue and comforted her with soft words.

Xie Zhuoning asked, "What does missing mean?"

Hong Xiu said, "After I entered Yihonglou, I also asked the madam about the little girl's sister. The madam said that her sister was too stubborn and didn't obey discipline. She was forced to receive customers but she didn't want to, so she hit her head and died."

This kind of thing is common in Yihongyuan.

Many women were forced into brothels. Those with a stronger character would rather die to preserve their reputation than to entertain such brothels.

If Jian Liang hadn't allowed her to live, she might have committed suicide on the first day she was imprisoned.

Qingyue shook her head desperately, her face excited, "No, my sister won't die. She said she would never leave me for the rest of her life! Besides, I want to see her alive or dead. If she's dead, where is her body?"

Seeing this, Hongxiu couldn't help but sigh and didn't feel like hitting her.

Since she has entered a brothel, she can hardly protect herself, so how can her sister care about her?

Not to mention, there were dozens if not hundreds of corpses carried out from Yihongyuan. They were all wrapped in a piece of torn mat and thrown into the messy grave. Wild dogs and crows gnawed them until only a pile of bones were left. Where could the corpses be found?

Song Yuqiu hated to see such sad scenes, so she quickly tried to liven up the atmosphere, "Hey? Aren't we talking about embroidering a wedding dress for Sister Zhuoning? Qingyue is so amazing, I can't even imagine how beautiful Sister Zhuoning will look wearing the wedding dress you embroidered herself!"

This compliment made Qingyue burst into laughter.

Song Yuqiu walked over and hugged her shoulders, "Right, smile more. Look, we are all older than you. We are all your sisters. You can't even call us to be sisters."

Qingyue glanced at a few people and her eyes turned slightly red.

Yes, when she was in Yihongyuan, Sister Hongxiu protected her.

Later, it was Miss Xie who saved her from suffering.

Sister, did you see it?

There are so many sisters who have been protecting me!

Xie Zhuoning asked Fuling to clean up a room for Qingyue and settled her down in the mansion.

Making a wedding dress is already a tedious task, and embroidering it will take several months. I'm afraid the little girl will have no rest for the next few months.

Fuling responded and went there immediately.

Xie Zhuoning asked Xia Ju to deliver the letter to Murong Yan.

"Go find Mr. Murong and ask him to ask around for Sister Qingyue's whereabouts. Qingyue is right. She wants to see her alive or dead. She needs a definite answer so that she won't have a knot in her heart forever."

"yes."

…

Ever since Xie Heng went to the palace to seek help that day, Xie Zhuoning and Xiao Jinxuan have been waiting to see who will come to plead for Xie Mingyuan in the end.

Empress? Or Sima Youxiang?

The two of them got bored of waiting and even made a bet.

"I guess Sima Youxiang!" Xie Zhuoning was the first to choose.

That day in Wanshou Palace, when Emperor Zhaowen woke up, he was extremely dissatisfied with the Empress's performance. The Empress was still busy covering up the incident of Xiao Bicheng, and she probably didn't have the time to care about Xie Heng's trivial matters.

But it is obviously unrealistic to ask people of lower positions to plead with Xiao Jinxuan.

After much thought, Sima Youxiang is undoubtedly the most suitable candidate.

Xiao Jinxuan asked, "What should the loser do?"

If you want to gamble, of course you have to have a stake.

Xie Zhuoning raised the corners of his pink lips, "Then what do you want to do?"

He didn't say anything, just raised his hand and pointed at his cheek.

Xie Zhuoning: "..."

Shameless!

But she had a good chance of winning, so she wasn't afraid of him, "Okay, if I win, you have to do one thing according to my request!"

"Okay." Xiao Jinxuan agreed readily.

The two of them high-fived, "It's a deal!"

Not long after, Ling Xiao hurried in, "Master, Miss, there's movement!"

"Who is it?" Xie Zhuoning asked hurriedly.

Ling Xiao: "It's the Queen Mother."

"Empress Dowager... Doesn't that mean I lost?" Xie Zhuoning lowered his eyes and muttered softly, but then he realized something was wrong, "Wait, who are you talking about? The Empress Dowager? Isn't it the Queen?"

Ling Xiao shook his head, "It's not Empress Sima, it's Empress Dowager Yin!"

This choice was quite unexpected to everyone.

How is Xie Heng connected to Queen Mother Yin?

Xiao Jinxuan stretched out his hand and tapped the edge of the table, motioning him to continue.

Ling Xiao said, "Yesterday, news of the Queen Mother's illness began to spread from Ci Ning Palace. Today, Qin Tian Jian said that it was because of the evil star that attacked her and the evil spirit entered her body. We need to find a male born on the third day of the twelfth lunar month in the first year of Zhao Wen in Sui'an Lane, southwest of the capital, and go to Fu'an Temple to pray for the Queen Mother for 49 days to relieve the evil spirit!"

Xie Zhuoning's mouth twitched.

The Xie family lived in Sui'an Lane. Xie Mingyuan was a boy, and he was born on the third day of the second lunar month in the first year of Zhaowen.

This is just short of naming Xie Mingyuan!