Qin Yining nodded with an indifferent expression, as if she couldn’t care less whether Zhao Wanjin had crippled or killed someone. She stood up and brushed off her sleeves, took her cloak and draped it over her shoulders, then said to Zhao Wanjin, “Let’s go.”

“Yes.” Zhao Wanjin and Zhao Yinuo led the response.

Yu Shifang’s face was deathly pale, and she had closed her eyes in despair.

Her plea for help hadn’t succeeded, and unexpectedly these people had actually beaten Young Master Gao—and from the looks of it, quite severely.

Assistant Magistrate Gao doted on Young Master Gao so much, indulging him without any principles. If he learned that Young Master Gao had come to Yicui Pavilion looking for her, and that it was because of her that he had gotten into a conflict over romantic rivalry, she and her sister would certainly not be allowed to live.

Yu Shifang was so desperate she didn’t know what to do. At this moment, she couldn’t even shed tears.

Could this really be the fate of the two sisters?

If they were truly destined to reach this point, why weren’t they allowed to go with their parents from the beginning? Instead, they were left in this world to suffer all kinds of hardships, with heaven not answering their calls and earth not responding to their pleas. What had they done wrong?

At this moment, Yu Shifang’s mind was filled with complete despair. She truly didn’t dare harbor any hope toward Qin Yining and her group.

Who would have thought that in the blink of an eye, someone gently patted her shoulder.

Yu Shifang turned around in a daze and met a pair of eyes as gentle as water.

“You…”

“What’s wrong with you?” Seeing Yu Shifang’s utterly lifeless appearance, Qin Yining couldn’t help but ask worriedly, “Aren’t you coming with us to see the madam and redeem your sister?”

Yu Shifang stood frozen in place, her ears ringing, unable to recover for a long time.

“You, you mean…”

“Come with me.” Qin Yining smiled. “Or would you rather stay here with your sister?”

“No, of course not! But how could you…”

“Trust me, I won’t harm you.” Qin Yining smiled reassuringly, like comforting a frightened little rabbit.

Light suddenly appeared in Yu Shifang’s dim eyes. Though she didn’t know this person’s background, since she dared say such words, it meant she wasn’t afraid of Young Master Gao. This was the old capital, after all—what kind of high officials and nobles weren’t here? Perhaps this person was some family’s young lady out for entertainment.

Yu Shifang’s hopeful eyes looked at Qin Yining with watery brightness, as if afraid she might change her mind at any moment.

Qin Yining shook her head with amusement and nodded to the Zhao brothers.

The two brothers immediately understood and ordered someone to fetch the madam.

The madam was now sitting in a corner of the first-floor hall, drinking hot tea and brooding.

Those in their line of work most feared being dragged into disputes between high officials and nobles. One careless step could ruin their business entirely. Like today’s incident—guests had beaten the local tyrant’s son, and in the end, their establishment would likely suffer the consequences, possibly even being ordered to close permanently.

“What sin have we committed!” The madam sighed repeatedly, picking up her pipe to smoke, but in her agitation, she couldn’t even pack the tobacco properly. In frustration, she tossed the pipe aside.

The hall was still noisy. Many people had seen the scene earlier when everyone worked together to carry Young Master Gao on a door panel to seek medical treatment, and most were now discussing the incident.

Zhao Wanjin came downstairs and found the madam in the corner.

Upon seeing Zhao Wanjin’s relatively mild face, the madam immediately remembered how imposing this man had been upstairs. She couldn’t help but tense up all over, trembling lips stammering:

“This… gentleman, what are your orders?”

“Come with me.” Zhao Wanjin dropped these words and turned to stomp up the wooden stairs.

The madam stood frozen nervously for quite a while, considering what consequences she might face if she didn’t follow. Only then did she hesitantly lift her skirt and slowly sway her way upstairs.

Arriving at the earlier private room, she entered to see the mess still covering the floor.

The madam grew even more nervous. Meeting the gaze of the handsome young man sitting in the center, she didn’t dare look more and lowered her eyes with a bow: “Young master, please give your orders for whatever you need.” This person clearly wasn’t someone to mess with, but Yicui Pavilion was full of women—surely he wouldn’t make things difficult for women?

Qin Yining kept a stern face as she put her arm around Yu Shifang’s waist, having Yu Shifang sit beside her.

Zhao Wanjin said, “Tell us, how much is the redemption money for Miss Lamei and her younger sister?”

The madam looked at Zhao Wanjin, her mind already imagining many possibilities. Her eyes rolled as she said, “Oh my, gentleman, you truly have excellent taste.”

Giving a thumbs up, the madam boasted, “This Miss Lamei and her younger sister are both people our Yicui Pavilion spent big money to train. Miss Lamei turned out beautifully and was originally a wealthy young lady. Her little sister is just the right age for proper training. I really can’t bear to let them go.”

This was her silver tongue planning to drive up the price.

Zhao Wanjin sneered coldly and grabbed the madam by the throat.

“You old hag aren’t any good thing either. Looking at you, you’ve probably done plenty of forcing good women into prostitution! Today I’ll kill you to rid the people of harm—let’s see if you know what’s good for you!”

The madam was scared pale, desperately clawing at Zhao Wanjin’s sleeves with both hands, making “heh, heh” sounds in her throat, rolling her eyes as she struggled to say, “I, I’ll release them, I, I understand, understand!”

Zhao Wanjin flung her away and sneered, “Seems you’re not too stupid. Now hurry and bring Miss Lamei’s sister here!”

“Yes, yes.” The madam turned and ordered the procurer who was hiding at the door watching the excitement.

The procurer was so frightened his legs nearly cramped. Getting the order, he hurried to find the person, soon returning with a pretty little girl wearing a green satin jacket, her hair in double buns with two red palace flowers inserted.

The eight-year-old girl was clearly terrified. Upon entering, she didn’t dare lift her head, trembling and shrinking into a corner, not even noticing her own sister.

Seeing her sister like this, Yu Shifang sobbed and quickly stepped forward to embrace her sister tightly.

“It’s okay, don’t be afraid, it’s okay!”

When Yu Shifang held her sister, it took quite a while for the girl’s eyes to clear. She cried with both joy and fear, only knowing to call “sister” over and over.

Seeing the two like this, Qin Yining’s face showed some smile.

Zhao Wanjin pushed the madam aside and respectfully asked Qin Yining to go first.

Qin Yining walked ahead with a cold expression, while Zhao Wanjin, Zhao Yinuo, and their followers escorted the Yu sisters outside.

They took the people away without giving any redemption money, but the madam didn’t dare to stop them. Only after everyone had left did she dare cry out “Aiya!” in great sobs.

Hearing this inauspicious sound, a client still in the building pushed open a window and shouted, “Who’s that, mourning the dead!” A teacup came flying out.

The madam covered her mouth and didn’t dare cry anymore, while the procurer and other girls hurried to apologize with smiling faces.

Who would have known that at this moment, a group of men stormed into the building downstairs. The leader had angry eyebrows and furious eyes, a sword hanging at his waist—it was Young Master Gao’s own father, Assistant Magistrate Gao.