“If Miss doesn’t help with this, it’s the same as sending me to my death. If you leave, I can only bash my head against the pillar outside and die. Death would end everything—I wouldn’t have to worry myself to pieces anymore or scrape together medical fees for my daughter. Once I’m dead, all troubles will be gone.” Matchmaker Hong sobbed pitifully.

She seemed to have truly prepared herself to go to her death.

The blue-clad woman beside her, seeing this situation, also quickly knelt on the ground, crying and pleading: “Miss, please help us. I beg you. If you don’t help with this, we’ll truly die. We servants’ deaths are insignificant, but my young lady is a good person. She’s never done anything unconscionable. Back then, I was almost sold to a brothel, but Miss intervened and saved me. This great kindness and virtue—I can never repay it in my lifetime. If there’s no money, Miss won’t have money to continue treatment. I’ll have no choice but to sell myself to a brothel to exchange for medicine for Miss.”

The other purple-clad woman also fell to her knees with a thud and said: “Me too. If Miss doesn’t help, I’ll also sell myself to a brothel together with Sister Jing’er. No matter what, I can’t watch Cuiyue Pavilion disappear like this, and even more so, I can’t watch my young lady die. Miss, please help us. You’re the reincarnation of Guanyin Bodhisattva—you must help us! Please!”

Having said this, she kowtowed several times on the ground with loud thuds.

Ji Yunshu had always been soft-hearted. Seeing this situation before her eyes, she was immediately at a loss. But reason told her she absolutely couldn’t agree. She’d finally found Jingrong with great difficulty. If this matter led to other complications, what would she do? What was most urgent for her now was to quickly leave the city and return to the bamboo house. Otherwise, by now, they must all be terribly anxious. Most likely A’Yi had already gone to inform Su Ziluo, and they were searching for her throughout the entire city. Once the matter blew up, who knew what would happen!

Moreover, having her impersonate someone else was simply absurd!

Even more ridiculous!

She didn’t know what that Matchmaker Hong was thinking.

But if she stood in her position, this matter also seemed to be done without choice. When people are driven to desperate straits, they can do anything.

Matchmaker Hong said with tears in her eyes: “Miss, I truly don’t want to make things difficult for you. You don’t need to agree to me right now. Think it over carefully. If you truly won’t agree, I… I also won’t make things difficult for you.”

Ji Yunshu: “…”

“It’s getting late now, and it’s inconvenient for you to leave the city. Why don’t you stay here tonight? Tomorrow morning, if you truly don’t want to help with this, I’ll have someone escort you away. Matchmaker Hong keeps her word.”

“Fine!” Ji Yunshu had already made the greatest concession.

After Matchmaker Hong and the other two women left, the few of them said something quietly outside. After Matchmaker Hong departed, those two women didn’t leave but remained guarding the courtyard, seemingly afraid Ji Yunshu would quietly leave.

They planned to watch her closely!

Ji Yunshu closed the door. This sudden turn of events had completely blindsided her—scorched on the outside and tender on the inside.

She didn’t know if Jingrong was currently looking for her.

She also didn’t know whether Jingrong was worried after discovering her disappearance.

Thinking of this, she actually felt that being brought here also had its benefits—it could test Jingrong’s sincerity!

…

At dusk, sunlight scattered down, reflecting the sky red on one side—quite rare in this rainy November.

Su Residence

Su Ziluo sat in his wheelchair with a grave expression, his brows and eyes carrying some anxiety and worry.

After Ji Yunshu was captured, A’Yi had also been knocked unconscious. Fortunately, the other party hadn’t struck heavily, and she quickly woke up. She immediately returned to the city to report. Su Ziluo also immediately dispatched people to search inside and outside the city. Until now, there was still no news.

Qi’er had never seen her master this nervous before.

Although she didn’t know about Su Ziluo and Ji Yunshu’s past, she knew that Miss Ji was the most important person in her master’s heart.

“Young Master, don’t worry too much. Miss Ji is blessed by Heaven! She’ll be fine.” Qi’er could only comfort him like this.

Su Ziluo’s gaze remained fixed in the distance. After a long while, he asked: “Is there any news?”

“Not yet. We’ve already increased manpower to search.”

“What about Lichuan?”

“I don’t know. A’Yi said he left early yesterday morning. Don’t know where he went.”

Either no one disappeared, or both disappeared together!

Su Ziluo’s heart grew increasingly anxious. No news was bad news. He didn’t know where Ji Yunshu was right now.

Was she safe?

Qi’er hesitated, then finally said: “Could it be… that the Wen family learned of Miss Ji’s whereabouts and took her away?”

Su Ziluo shook his head: “Impossible.”

“Why?”

“The Wen family wouldn’t do such a thing.” Su Ziluo understood them well, especially Wen Che. If Wen Che knew Ji Yunshu was at the bamboo house, first, he would confirm whether she was safe there. Second, he would respect her wishes. If Ji Yunshu didn’t want to go with him, Wen Che absolutely wouldn’t force her. Naturally, he wouldn’t do such a despicable thing.

Qi’er also had no clue.

If Lichuan were here, perhaps there would be a way to find her. But he had also disappeared.

All they could do now was wait!

…

On the other side

News from the palace had already reached the Qiu residence.

After Qiu Shu returned from Fengyage Pavilion, she drank several bowls of cold-dispelling soup. Braziers were also lit everywhere in the room. Only then did her body gradually improve considerably. When she heard that her sister wouldn’t let her participate in the courtesan grand selection, she was stunned for quite a while. She directly threw off the covers and got out of bed, questioning the little eunuch Xiao Shunzi who had come to relay the message.

“What did you say? My sister told me not to participate? Why? If she doesn’t want to help me, that’s one thing—how can she also interfere with me?” She was furious.

Xiao Shunzi was responsible for relaying the message and said truthfully: “This slave doesn’t know either. Her Highness said that if you have anything you want to ask or say, you should enter the palace yourself to see Her Highness.”

“So my sister is determined not to let me participate?”

“…Yes!”

How could that work?

It was precisely because her own sister refused to help that she had humbled herself to beg Zhu Yao for help. If she didn’t participate, why would she beg others?

But after thinking about it, she seemed to understand. She asked: “Did… my sister hear something?”

Today’s incident at Fengyage Pavilion had already spread throughout the entire capital. It must have also reached the Empress’s ears.

Xiao Shunzi lowered his head and answered: “Her Highness indeed already knows about your matter at Fengyage Pavilion today. However, Her Highness didn’t say anything about it.”

“Is it because of this reason that she won’t let me participate?”

“How would this slave dare speculate on the master’s intentions? You should enter the palace and ask Her Highness yourself. This slave truly knows nothing.” Xiao Shunzi was tight-lipped and naturally wouldn’t answer carelessly or speak randomly.

In any case, he would just follow the Empress’s previous instructions.

Qiu Shu’s body simply couldn’t take it right now. Where would she have the energy to go to the palace to find her sister? But to clarify matters, she still gritted her teeth: “Fine, I’ll enter the palace with you right now.”

The maid beside her didn’t dare try to dissuade her anymore!

Wasn’t she afraid of getting beaten enough already?

She could only silently hurry to prepare the carriage.

Qiu Shu boarded the carriage and headed straight for the palace.

When she reached the palace gate, she felt weak all over after just a few steps. Fortunately, Qiu Qu’er had already given instructions to permit her to ride into the palace.

Before long, she arrived at the rear palace hall.

Several palace maids helped her sit down in the main hall. They also prepared stomach-warming medicinal soup for her and lit several braziers to warm up her ice-cold body somewhat.

“Where is Her Highness the Empress?” Qiu Shu asked.

The palace maid said: “Her Highness is resting. Someone has already gone to notify her.”

“Mm.”

Who would dare rush the Empress?

Of course, she could only wait to the side.

When the sky had darkened somewhat, Qiu Qu’er finally came over.

As soon as she saw her, Qiu Shu was like a wriggling loach, immediately “slipping” over with tears in her eyes, saying: “Sister, why won’t you let me participate in the courtesan grand selection?”

Qiu Qu’er had always been strict with her. She waved her hand, dismissing all the eunuchs and palace maids from the hall, leaving only Weilan to serve.

“Sister?”

“You girl, causing such trouble this time, and you still ask this palace why?”

“How did I cause trouble? I was clearly bullied by others.”

“Still making excuses?” Qiu Qu’er glanced at her.

The look made her heart tremble with fear, and her confidence also became somewhat insufficient. Her gaze dropped, her voice also grew much softer as she said pitifully: “I… I almost drowned. If my life weren’t so fortunate, how would I have the chance to see Sister?”