Chapter 94 Sister of the Zhao Family

Shen Ping'an looked at Su Ruoqing's fierce gaze as if he wanted to eat someone. He smiled faintly and took three steps back, rubbing his shoulder which hurt from the dislocation and realignment. "I've said what I wanted to say, and I've been out for a long time. I'm going back now." He met Pan Yueqing's gaze and deliberately smiled brightly in front of Su Ruoqing, "I'll invite you to Changxian Pavilion for a meal next time." Then he leisurely gave Su Ruoqing a provocative smile.

Watching Shen Ping'an's departing figure, Pan Yueqing let out a long sigh and looked at Su Ruoqing, who had furrowed his brows. Just as she was about to speak, she heard Su Ruoqing say anxiously. The next moment, he grabbed her wrist in his palm. Su Ruoqing didn't care if he would hurt his beloved sister, "Don't get close to him again!"

Pan Yueqing raised her eyes and saw the shocked and fearful emotions in Su Ruoqing's pupils. Her offended gaze finally returned to calm. She didn't speak, only feeling that the strength in Su Ruoqing's hand weakened a lot. And what reached her ears was Su Ruoqing's unprecedented helplessness, "Sister Yue, really, don't get close to him. I'm doing this for your own good."

He was a lone wolf.

Pan Yueqing remained silent. She lowered her head and, as Su Ruoqing loosened his grip, withdrew her hand under her long sleeves. She didn't know how to answer. In the silence between the two of them, Huitan, the maid beside Old Madam Zhao, was crossing the Ershui Bridge in front of the door. Seeing the expressions of Su Ruoqing and Pan Yueqing, she knew that something had happened and made them unhappy. She came forward and forced a laugh, covering her mouth with her hand, "Oh dear! What's going on?" Seeing Pan Yueqing raise her eyes and smile at Huitan, and softly greet her with "Sister Huitan", Huitan stepped forward and took Pan Yueqing's hand, smiling kindly, "Young lady, your Third Brother is always a reliable person. Don't be angry with him. Men naturally don't understand girls' thoughts. The Old Madam sent this servant to invite you!"

It wasn't yet lunchtime. Pan Yueqing looked at Huitan with some confusion. Before Pan Yueqing could ask the doubts in her heart, Huitan took Pan Yueqing's hand and pointed outside the Ershui Bridge towards Old Madam Zhao's courtyard, "Miss Zhao is here."

Old Madam Zhao was from the Weiguo Duke's Mansion. The Miss Zhao that Huitan mentioned was Old Madam Zhao's great-niece, named Pinxuan. Because the former Duke passed away early, leaving only a pair of children, the Su and Zhao families had a very good relationship. The Zhao siblings were able to keep their family business under the protection of the Dingyuan Marquis when they were young. So they often came to visit, and she was also a girl that Old Madam Zhao loved very much. When Pan Yueqing was raised in the Dingyuan Marquis's Mansion when she was young, she was quite familiar with Zhao Pinxuan.

When Pan Yueqing followed Huitan to Old Madam Zhao's residence, she heard Zhao Pinxuan's clear voice and the joyful conversation between her and Old Madam Zhao. She composed herself and followed Huitan to lift the curtain and enter the room.

A girl of the same age as Pan Yueqing was sitting beside the footrest of Old Madam Zhao's beauty couch, resting her head on Old Madam Zhao's knee and continuing their conversation: "...We were on Sheshan Mountain and had nothing to eat. The servant boy caught a wild rabbit and roasted it over the fire. I didn't want to eat it at first, but that servant boy was bold enough to lecture me with a straight face, 'If you don't eat, even if you freeze to death, you'll be a starving ghost. You'll keep eating all day long, and then you'll become as fat as a little pig!' " She paused, made a face at Old Madam Zhao, and made Old Madam Zhao laugh heartily.

Just at this moment of their joking, Huitan stepped forward and curtsied softly, "Miss Yue is here."

"It's my fault. I was so busy chatting and laughing with the Old Madam that I didn't notice Cousin Yue," Zhao Pinxuan stood up and curtsied slightly. Then she reached out and took Pan Yueqing's hand, and they smiled at each other, "Cousin, we haven't seen each other for several years. I thought that after you went back home, you wouldn't recognize us anymore."

"How could that be?" Pan Yueqing smiled gently and returned Zhao Pinxuan's courtesy, "How is the Duke?"

"Him? Not good, not good," Zhao Pinxuan's eyes rolled around. When she mentioned this matter, it was as if she had countless grievances and sorrows. Instantly, her eyes turned red. She took Pan Yueqing's hand and moved closer to Old Madam Zhao, her tone full of worry, "Some time ago, the Emperor said that he wanted to choose a wife for my brother among the women in the capital. But my brother just refused, saying that he should establish his career first while he was young. But I know that he goes to the brothels every day. Grand-aunt, now my brother still listens to you a bit. You have to take some trouble..."

"Is there really such a thing?" Old Madam Zhao frowned tightly. This was the only remaining descendant of her own brother. He had been raised under the strict discipline of the Su family since he was a child. How could he be so absurd just a few years after setting up his own household?

Seeing that her grandmother was very angry, Pan Yueqing stood up and stroked her grandmother's chest to soothe her, "Don't be angry, Grandmother. After all, the Duke is young. Uncle watched him grow up, so it's better for Uncle to deal with this matter."

"That's exactly the problem," Zhao Pinxuan covered her face and wept, "Uncle Su said that he wouldn't care about my brother anymore..." She stepped forward and took the Old Madam's hand, "Grand-aunt, you can't just watch my brother go on like this... My brother is just..."

"Sister Pinxuan," Su Ruoqing entered from outside the door. He looked at Zhao Pinxuan, who was crying her eyes out, but there was no trace of sympathy on his face. "Do you dare to say why Brother Zhao is like this?"

Old Madam Zhao looked at her little grandson with a cold gaze. She had always known that the three children in the family were all well-educated, especially the third one, who was Su Jing's favorite. Now this situation was unusual. Meeting Su Ruoqing's gaze, she said in a deep voice, "Speak."

"Grandmother, you don't have to blame Father and Second Uncle for being heartless. Brother Pindao can't be saved anymore," Su Ruoqing softened his tone. He furrowed his brows and dared not look at the old lady's ashen face when she learned the truth. He knew that his grandmother valued feelings the most. He carefully chose his words and said softly, "He... embezzled something."

"What did he embezzle?" Old Madam Zhao took a deep breath. Su Ruoqing raised his eyes to look at Zhao Pinxuan, who was as silent as a cicada in winter, and then met his grandmother's sharp gaze. He bowed deeply and simply stepped forward, lifted his robe, and knelt in front of his grandmother, "What he embezzled... were the palace maids presented to the Emperor."

The so-called palace maids were actually maids in the palace. Although they weren't important people, even a dog in front of the Emperor should be respected... Zhao Pinxuan closed her eyes silently, and tears suddenly fell. She had mustered up the courage to come to Old Madam Zhao just to beg this First-Rank Lady to save her own brother.

But Su Ruoqing's next words were like a thunderbolt that directly shocked Old Madam Zhao until her face turned pale.

Su Ruoqing lowered his head and didn't dare to look at Old Madam Zhao's eyes. His tone was calm, "And he sold all these palace maids to Yutangchun." Yutangchun was the biggest brothel in Yongzhou. This was such an audacious act!