Lamei’s tearful lament was filled with blood and anguish in every word. Even those who didn’t understand her family’s circumstances would inevitably feel compassion upon hearing such words. This woman no longer cared about her own life or death for the sake of her younger sister.

Zhao Wanjin frowned and asked in a deep voice, “I can understand your distress, but you and I have never met before, and I don’t understand the circumstances you’ve described. Whether this matter of being harmed by villains is true or not.”

Lamei nodded, wiping away her tears as she said, “I don’t blame the gentleman for asking this. Indeed, this humble woman has been presumptuous. This humble woman’s surname is Yu, given name Shifang. My father and mother ran a stationery shop, supporting my sister and me. Though we weren’t wealthy or noble, our days were peaceful and harmonious.

“Who would have known that later, I would encounter Young Master Gao. Young Master Gao is the only son of the local assistant magistrate, with considerable influence. He often does despicable things, even forcibly seizing common girls.

“At first, he would constantly come to my family’s shop, insisting on seeing me before he would leave. Whether my father politely declined or sternly refused, nothing worked with Young Master Gao. Young Master Gao even had people climb over the wall into our family courtyard to kidnap me, but fortunately, our family’s big dog bit them and drove them away…”

“When Young Master Gao’s several attempts failed, he became even more relentless in harassing our family. We were thoroughly annoyed and planned to sell the shop and leave this place, but then my family was suddenly embroiled in a legal case. They claimed my father had killed someone. My father was an honest man who would feel guilty for days after killing even a chicken – how could he kill a person? He refused to confess, but was forcibly tortured for a confession and beaten to death on the spot! When my mother heard the news, she fainted immediately. After lying in bed for just a few days, she also passed away, leaving only us two sisters!”

When Yu Shifang reached this point, tears fell like rain, and her sobbing made her words almost incomprehensible.

What she described made everyone in the room feel heavy-hearted, and even the girls outside who had been playing music and singing felt sorrowful.

Every woman who had been sold to this place – who among them didn’t have a bitter ledger in their heart?

Yu Shifang cried for a long time before continuing, “The yamen judged my father guilty and ordered us to compensate the Sun family, the orphans and widows of the deceased. They confiscated our family shop and said the money wasn’t enough, finally forcibly selling my sister and me to the Yicui Pavilion. When I refused to comply, they threatened me with my sister… Gentleman, every word this humble woman has spoken is true. If even half a word is false, let me be struck by lightning and die a horrible death! After death, may I descend to the eighteenth level of hell and never be reborn!”

After making this poisonous oath, Yu Shifang realized her words were too harsh and feared the distinguished guests would find it inauspicious. She forced herself to squeeze out a smile, “I don’t ask the gentleman to forgive me – I’m already like this, and that’s just how things are now. But my sister is still young! I cannot let my sister be ruined here. Even if she has to go out and beg for food, that would be better than her current situation! Please, gentleman, save my sister! Save my sister!”

As Yu Shifang spoke, she began kowtowing to the three people with loud thuds. Because she used too much force, her forehead quickly became bruised and discolored.

After hearing Yu Shifang’s account, Qin Yining confirmed that her words matched what Steward Zhong had investigated, and her desire to save her became even more resolute.

She glanced at Zhao Wanjin. Zhao Wanjin immediately understood and said, “I understand. Get up first.”

Yu Shifang’s forehead was bruised, and tears had smudged her small face. Without receiving a definite affirmative answer, she was very anxious. She truly hoped the people before her would nod and agree, but she also knew that as strangers with no obligations to her, given that these people appeared to be from wealthy families who wouldn’t lack servants, they might not think much of an eight-year-old girl. Moreover, redeeming an eight-year-old girl from this place would cost many times more than buying someone from human traffickers. If they needed servants, wouldn’t they find traffickers to select people with clean backgrounds and no troubles?

Thinking of this, Yu Shifang felt utterly despairing. She understood she couldn’t continue pestering them, nor could she force others to help her just because she was pitiful.

Yu Shifang closed her eyes in despair and performed a deep bow, saying, “This humble woman was ignorant and troubled the gentlemen in her desperation. Please don’t hold it against me.” After speaking, she stood up as instructed and retreated to a corner behind the group to compose herself.

Both Zhao Wanjin and Zhao Yinuo sighed. Although they had once been mountain bandits, they firmly believed in the principle of honor among thieves and had never harmed honest common people. The kind of things Young Master Gao did – if their mountain brothers had known about such behavior, he would have been scorned for life.

Seeing Yu Shifang being so tactful when she was actually despairing, both men simultaneously looked toward Qin Yining.

Qin Yining had already decided to save Yu Shifang and naturally nodded.

Zhao Wanjin quietly breathed a sigh of relief and turned to call out, “Miss Yu, you…”

Before he could finish speaking, they heard a commotion outside the door. The madam’s voice, sticky yet tinged with helplessness and panic, came through the door.

“…Oh my, Young Master Gao, you mustn’t say such things. How would we dare!”

“Don’t dare? This young master has long said that Miss Lamei will sooner or later be this young master’s woman. Sooner or later, I’ll redeem her. I’ve given you the money, and you agreed nicely – why are you going back on your word now?” The one questioning her was a somewhat shrill male voice.

The madam said, “Young master, you’re really joking. No matter how unseemly our establishment is, we still need to stay open for business. Otherwise, what would the girls in the building drink – the northwest wind? Please be magnanimous and understanding. Besides, today Lamei is only here to accompany guests for a drink and sing a little song. No one wants to spend the night with her. Lamei is still being saved for you!”

“Bullshit!”

With the man’s curse, the private room door was kicked open.

The sound of the door being kicked was so loud that it frightened the girls playing music outside, causing them to scream and scatter in all directions.

Zhao Wanjin’s eyes immediately flashed with excitement. He cracked his knuckles and abruptly stood up, pushing aside the pearl curtain to go to the outer room.

“What’s this? Has this young master perhaps entered the wrong room?” As he spoke, he looked Young Master Gao up and down. He saw an ordinary-looking man with an oily, powdered face, wearing a fur-collared cloak and a warm hat with a pink palace flower inserted in the brim – the very picture of vulgarity.

Young Master Gao sneered and looked up at Zhao Wanjin, who was considerably taller than him, with a scornful laugh, “This young master thought it was some formidable important person, but it turns out to be some nameless nobody.”

The madam was so frightened she trembled all over. Just as she was about to introduce Zhao Wanjin, Young Master Gao waved his hand to interrupt her.

“No need for your introduction. This young master has no interest in dealing with irrelevant people.” Speaking arrogantly, he lifted his chin, “You, call Lamei out. This young master won’t hold it against you.”