"What’s the matter?" Mrs. Dongfang asked.
"Madam, ahead, a woman is selling herself to bury her father. She’s quite good-looking, and two madams got into a fight over her, drawing quite a crowd and blocking the road!"
Mrs. Dongfang slightly furrowed her brows, "Go and say a word, just tell them I’ve bought the person!"
Mrs. Han looked at Mrs. Dongfang, "Madam has a kind heart!"
"Going to the City Lord Residence, even as a maid, is still better than ending up in those filthy places!" Mrs. Dongfang said, with a slight sigh.
"That’s true, it’s just that the girl’s appearance seems too..." Mrs. Han said, shaking her head with a wry smile, "Perhaps I’m overthinking it!"
Mrs. Dongfang hadn’t thought much of it, but Mrs. Han’s comment made her carefully contemplate the situation, growing more uneasy as she did.
The City Lord Residence, because of Dongfang Jingtian’s injury and poisoning, had undergone a major purge by her, followed by another by her two sons, making it airtight like iron. It was difficult to send a message in or out.
But if that woman were brought back...
Selling herself to bury her father—if her identity were to be verified later and it all turned out to be true, no one would suspect anything.
If she really was a spy...
Mrs. Dongfang broke out in a cold sweat.
She took Mrs. Han’s hand, "Thank you for the reminder, Madam!"
Mrs. Han slightly shook her head, "I’m glad Madam doesn’t mind my meddling!"
"Why would I mind your meddling, Madam? It’s just that I wonder why Madam would have such suspicions?" Mrs. Dongfang was still curious.
"The players are blind while the bystanders see clearly. The current City Lord Residence doesn’t allow any strangers near.
Mrs. Dongfang, let me ask you, if this girl, after burying her father, were to seek a position at the City Lord Residence, would you think her grateful and thus give her an important role?"
Mrs. Dongfang was at a loss for words.
Because she certainly would have given her an important role.
She then broke into laughter, "There was once a legend, saying that in the Capital City, the Han Family had a daughter, peerless and distinct, her talents and intellect unparalleled, matching even the top scholar. I didn’t believe it, but now that I have met you, Madam, I can no longer doubt it!"
"So many years have passed, Mingzhu has also gathered dust, no longer possessing the pride and ambition of her youth..." Mrs. Han said, her tone marked by desolation.
If she had listened to her father back then and not married Yun Qi, her life would not have turned out this way.
But fortunately, she had Yun Jinnian, a clever daughter, and a son, which made it all worthwhile.
Mrs. Dongfang felt a bitter sensation in her heart and held onto Mrs. Han’s hand, "Madam, do not speak like that. How could a lady like you, as bright as a pearl or the moon, be dulled? It’s just that Madam has chosen not to shine anymore. But, Madam, we women, in our youth we obey our parents and elder brothers, after marriage we listen to our in-laws and husbands. Have we ever lived for ourselves? Even if not for ourselves, we should live for our children, right?"
"What you say, Mrs. Dongfang, is very true!"
"It’s not about being right. It’s simply the accumulation of blood and tears," Mrs. Dongfang said with a sigh.
In her youth, Dongfang Jingtian was also romantic and handsome, attracting women everywhere, with over thirty concubines in the City Lord Residence and more than a dozen children. Overwhelmed with sadness, she was brought to the depths of despair.
As a result, her own children suffered immensely, living lives worse than dogs, legitimate children worse off than the illegitimate ones.
Her heart hardened with purpose.
She immediately returned to her parental home, requesting her brother to hire an assassin to kill Dongfang Jingtian. When the assassin came, all Dongfang Jingtian’s concubines were frightened and panicked, while only she stepped forward and took a sword strike for Dongfang Jingtian.
With the gratitude she earned, she cultivated her two sons and daughter with all her heart.
Mrs. Han did not ask Mrs. Dongfang what had happened.
Sympathetic as she was, she simply held her hand tightly, feeling as though it was a pity they had not met sooner.