Chapter 4 A desperate move

Awakening Spring Courtyard.

Huo Aying was in a daze, clutching a silver hairpin. It was the only relic her mother left her.

Now, this silver hairpin has become her last line of defense.

She didn't want to serve that uncle of the emperor. Her father asked for 1,000 taels of gold. What did it have to do with her? Did she spend it on herself or eat it? Similarly, why should she be insulted and fettered because of her scumbag father's greed?

Thinking about the days when she would have to sell her smiles to please men, she felt scared. She had gone to great lengths to climb out of the quagmire not to fall into another quagmire.

Although she was only sixteen years old, she was not a naive woman. Serving a man was never something a woman could control. No matter how good the lady's words were, she could not believe them completely. Could the uncle really let her go? What if the uncle gave her to someone else? What if the uncle had abnormal habits and she would not survive for more than a few days? She had been rolling around in brothels and gambling houses since she was a child. She had seen too many high-minded prostitutes and crazy gamblers, and none of them had a good ending.

Wang Changyue was cold-hearted, so she could no longer count on him. If God was kind to her today, she would try to escape at the risk of her life...

At this time, Guan Yulan from Songhuayuan had just received a letter. After reading the letter, Guan Yulan silently dismissed everyone and sat in a chair, thinking.

Although Wang Ma didn't know what was written in the letter, she felt that it must be related to what happened today. However, since the lady didn't want to talk about it now, she could only retreat to the courtyard first.

Jin Ling came up slowly, gently placed her hand on Mother Wang's shoulder, and said with a smile, "Are you tired, Mother Wang?"

Mother Wang was so exhausted by Jin Ling's waiting that she retreated again and again, waving her hands and saying awkwardly, "Oh, no, no, Miss Jin Ling, you are the head maid in Madam's courtyard, I dare not order you around."

Jin Ling held Mother Wang's arm affectionately, looking even more affectionate than a real mother and daughter, and said coquettishly, "What are you talking about, Mother Wang? You are the prince's wet nurse and an elder in the mansion. The Marquis said he would respect you and Young Master Wang. What's wrong with that?"

No matter how flattering Jin Ling's words sounded, Mother Wang felt very comfortable listening to them, especially the look in Jin Ling's eyes when she looked at her son.

She understands better than anyone...

"Miss Jinling, you are joking. We are both serving the master. It's all the same, all the same." As she said this, she bowed and walked towards the side room in the west corridor with a smile.

Jin Ling waved her hands and said with a sweet smile: "Mother Wang, go slower..."

Yin Ling couldn't help but feel distressed when she saw her sister making herself look miserable. She muttered, "Sister, that prince is not someone we can marry."

Jin Ling, who was originally very enthusiastic, was instantly chilled by Yin Ling's words. She said with a gloomy face, "Just take care of yourself. You don't have to worry about my business!"

"Sister, I'm not being blunt, but Young Master Wang has a special status in the Marquis' Mansion. I'm just afraid that you'll be the one who gets hurt." Yin Ling has a simple mind and only wants to serve her master well and live her own life well.

But Jinling didn't think so. Not only did she not want to admit her lowly status, she also didn't allow others to remind her. So, she immediately said sternly: "Yinling! No one will care if you want to belittle yourself, but don't drag me into this!" After saying that, she shook her head and walked away without caring about the grievance in Yinling's eyes.

Yin Ling lowered her head and tried not to let her tears fall. Perhaps her sister was right...

Wang Changyue locked himself in his room as soon as he came back from Xingchunyuan.

As soon as Mother Wang entered the west corridor, she inadvertently noticed that her son was in a daze and had not even closed the door. She was wondering why her usually calm son was like this?
"Yue'er." Mother Wang stroked the door frame and called softly.

Wang Changyue was stunned for a moment before he frantically covered up, "Mother, mother."

Seeing her son's absent-minded appearance, Wang's mother couldn't help but feel anxious. She looked into her son's eyes and asked, "What's wrong with you?"

Wang Changyue avoided his mother's gaze and said, "No, nothing."

But Wang's mother knew her son better than anyone else. This was unusual. "Look at me. What's wrong?"

Wang Changyue sighed, and then he mustered up all his courage to ask, "Mother, is there really no way to help Ying?"

Huo A Ying!
Mother Wang's heart was struck by a heavy hammer. She was afraid of such a situation and almost blurted out, "Chang Yue, why are you so confused!"

Wang Changyue frowned slightly, without even a hint of excuse.

This is what makes Mother Wang even more worried.

Mother Wang was so shocked that her heart was blocked. After she calmed down, she remembered to close the door. After turning around, she took a deep breath and asked, "Yue'er, do you like that Huo Aying?"

Wang Changyue's heart moved. If he didn't want her to get hurt, then that meant he loved her. Then he was very sure, "Yes!"

Mother Wang held her forehead and sighed, "If she were an ordinary maid, I would fight for you even if it cost me my reputation, but she is very useful to you, Madam. Even if you really like her, you can't have this idea anymore!"

Wang Changyue's heart sank and he remained silent.

"Back then, your father died for the Marquis, and I wanted to follow him, but the Marquis took us in and took good care of us. Not only that, the Marquis also told the Marquis's Mansion that you were honored as a young master and lived in an independent courtyard in the Marquis's Mansion. We can't forget this affection and honor, let alone forget it! I once asked you to swear that you would be proud of the Marquis's honor and ashamed of the Marquis's shame in this life, and you would never do anything to betray the Marquis's Mansion. Do you still remember these?" Mother Wang had endured them all these years, but when she mentioned these things, her voice couldn't help but tremble and choke. How could Wang Changyue dare to forget, and he replied heavily: "Changyue will never forget it until his death!"

Mother Wang tilted her head to wipe away the tears from the corners of her eyes, and then she said to her son earnestly, "Since you remember everything, you should also know the importance of Huo Aying to Chengyi. If you find this task today difficult, I will go find Madam and ask her to send someone else."

Wang Changyue's eyes gradually dimmed, and he suppressed the passion in his heart, saying without sadness or resentment: "I can go!"

When her son stood up, Mother Wang almost leaned against the door to support herself. She murmured in a sad voice, "Son, I am sorry for you..."

After a moment, Wang Changyue walked towards Songhua Courtyard with a serious expression.

Jin Ling was cutting flower branches in the courtyard. When she saw Wang Changyue, her body seemed to go limp. She walked towards Wang Changyue and said with a smile, "Master Wang, I'll go tell the lady."

Wang Changyue nodded slightly and said nothing more.

Jin Ling ran a few steps excitedly, stepped onto the stairs, and said in a crisp voice: "Madam, the prince wants to see you."

Guan Yulan was in a state of panic at the moment. She quickly tucked the letter into her sleeve and said calmly, "Come in."

Wang Changyue bowed and said, "Madam, is it possible to do it at this time?"

Guan Yulan was stunned and paused for a moment, "Jinling, you go out first."

Jin Ling looked at the lady suspiciously, but said nothing and slowly walked out.

"Someone from the Prince's Mansion will come to pick up Huo Aying in a while, so you don't have to show up." Guan Yulan thought about it and decided that it would be safer.

Wang Changyue was startled at first, then he asked anxiously, "But what happened? Wasn't it decided that I should go and take him there?"

Guan Yulan said calmly, "You have been in the Marquis' Mansion for many years. It would be too ostentatious to send him off in person. It would be better if someone from the Prince's Mansion could come to pick him up."

Wang Changyue was not at ease, "Madam——"

"Okay, I've decided. Just hand the person over to them later." Guan Yulan had been having a headache because of this matter for a while, and she didn't want to bother with it any more.

Since his wife had ordered him to do so, Wang Changyue had no reason to persist any longer. After a long while, he finally uttered a word: "Yes."

In less than an incense stick of time, a car came in from North Point Gate.

"Young Master Wang, I'm Steward Li from the Prince's Mansion. I'm here to pick up Miss Huo." Steward Li looked neat and tidy, and he didn't notice anything wrong.

When Huo Aying was led out of the house, she saw Wang Changyue at a glance. She gave him a cold look and walked towards the carriage. Since he was of no help to her, there was no need to please him.

"Miss Huo, please come in!" Steward Li bowed and invited her.

Huo Aying was about to go up with her skirt lifted when she heard Wang Changyue's voice, "If you need anything, send a message at any time."

Huo Aying heard it, but she didn't want to respond. Need? What else could she need him to do? She really needed to be rescued right now, but she still had to be sent away? If she couldn't be rescued now, she wouldn't have to be rescued in the future.

"Aying..." Wang Changyue couldn't help it after all and called softly.

Huo A Ying stared at him coldly without saying a word.

Wang Changyue felt a little pain in his heart as he looked at Huo Aying who seemed determined to die. He thought that she must hate him very much...

After Li Guanshi sat down, he gently pulled the reins and shouted, "Go!"

The moonlight was dim, and Wang Changyue's urge to stop the carriage became stronger and stronger, so he had to clench his hands and grit his teeth.

The carriage went out quietly.

On the other side, Wang's mother looked at the empty bottle in her hand and trembled. This was also the first time she had hurt someone. She couldn't let her son be willful and betray him because of a woman.

In this case, Huo Aying can only be wronged...

Huo Aying lifted the curtain and waited quietly. Even if she had to risk everything, she would fight for herself one last time on this road to the devil's cave...

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(End of this chapter)