tallest building

Xiaoyue had just asked a eunuch who frequently left the palace to deliver a package home when she turned around and bumped into Xiaoshunzi.

Xiao Shunzi took the initiative to step forward and strike up a conversation with her, saying, "Little Yue, what are you doing here?"

Seeing his awkwardness, Xiaoyue knew it wasn't good news, so she replied indifferently, "You've seen it all, what else is there to ask?"

"Miss, could we talk in private for a moment?" Xiao Shunzi was met with a rebuff, but he didn't seem to mind. "I know your mother and brother live in Liuzhifang in the west of the city."

Upon hearing his words, Xiaoyue immediately stopped in her tracks, her expression becoming somewhat tense: "What do you mean by that?"

"It's nothing," Xiao Shunzi said with a grin. "I just wanted to talk to you alone for a bit, and it's also to look after you. Don't misunderstand, brother."

Xiaoyue had no idea what he was up to, and with a heavy heart, she followed him to a secluded place.

"Just say what you have to say quickly." Xiaoyue didn't want to argue with him.

"Little Yue, don't be in such a hurry. To tell you the truth, your brother has delivered a great fortune to you. It's just a matter of whether you have the guts to accept it." Xiao Shunzi's tone was full of smugness. "Now that you serve Lady Wen, you have a great advantage. This matter should be handled by her."

When Xiaoyue heard him mention Wen Mingqian, her heart stirred. She remembered that she had previously bumped into Xiaoshunzi talking to Wen Mingqian, and they parted ways when they saw her coming.

"Do you have something to ask of Lady Wen? You can just talk to her, why bother me?" Xiaoyue's words implied a rejection.

"Listen to me! To tell you the truth, there's a nobleman who admires Lady Wen and wants to get close to her. If you help make this happen, you'll be well rewarded," Xiao Shunzi said in a low voice.

"Who is it?" Actually, Xiaoyue already had a guess in her mind when she asked this question.

"I can't keep this from you, but you have to understand that this must never be spread, or we'll both be dead." Xiao Shunzi was certain that Xiao Yue wouldn't dare tell anyone unless she was out of her mind.

"I've changed my mind, you'd better not say anything more." Xiaoyue suddenly stopped him. "This matter is of great importance, I don't have the guts. Just pretend you didn't tell me anything, and that I know nothing."

Xiaoyue was about to leave when Xiaoshunzi stopped her: "Girl, to tell you the truth, you can't refuse this."

That important person is none other than Prince Consort Dong. You know how capable he is. He told me that if you're willing to help, he can not only get you out of the palace to reunite with your family, but also provide you with a proper house and property, ensuring you live a life of plenty.

But if you don't agree, not only will you not be able to leave the palace alive, but your mother and brothers will also suffer the consequences.

At this point, it was pure coercion and enticement. Xiaoyue was both angry and scared, and couldn't help but tremble all over.

Seeing her reaction, Xiao Shunzi became even more smug. He grabbed her hand and groped for it, saying, "Good sister, don't be afraid, brother loves you. This isn't anything immoral, what are you afraid of? Let me tell you the truth! Doesn't Lady Wen also have feelings for Prince Consort Dong? It's just that women are shy and can't let go of their pride."

If she were to marry Prince Consort Dong, what would be wrong with that? She certainly wouldn't be mistreated. With such a powerful patron, wouldn't we be foolish not to take shelter under his shade?

Xiaoyue understood everything at this point. Of course, she wouldn't help Dong Gang harm Wen Mingqian, but she needed to extricate herself from the situation first. So she said, "I've never done anything like this before, and I'm completely at a loss. You have to give me some time to think about it."

Xiao Shunzi knew she was terrified and said, "You're still young and inexperienced, but I believe you're not stupid. Go back and think about this carefully. I'll wait for your reply."

In his opinion, Xiaoyue would agree, she just hadn't figured it out yet.

So he added, "I have to tell you again, if you agree to this, you'll have wealth and honor for the rest of your life, and Lady Wen will have someone to rely on. If you don't agree, you'll probably live a life worse than death. You can surely weigh the pros and cons, right?"

Wen Mingqian was preparing spices when Xiaoyue rushed back, her face changing color.

"What's wrong with you?" she asked Xiaoyue, straightening up.

Before Xiaoyue could even open her mouth, tears were already streaming down her face: "My wife..."

"Don't cry, what happened? Where did you suffer a grievance?" Wen Mingqian stepped forward and wiped her tears with his handkerchief.

"Wife, please give me some advice, what should I do?" Xiaoyue wiped away her tears haphazardly. "They are so shameless."

Then he told Wen Mingqian everything Xiao Shunzi had said when he stopped him: "My wife has been kind to me, how could I conspire with others to harm you? But I didn't know how to deal with it, so I just told him to let me think about it and then I'd say something."

“Xiaoyue, you’ve done so much for me, I want to thank you.” Wen Mingqian helped her sit down. “Dong Gang and his gang have no shame or conscience. They only care about their own selfish desires and don’t care about the lives of others.”

"My wife is right, but what should we do?" Xiaoyue asked anxiously. "We're about to be driven into a dead end. Even if we take this to the Empress, she probably won't stand up for you. She might even suspect you of seducing Dong Gang."

Xiao Shunzi dared to be so arrogant because Dong Gang was backing him up, and Dong Gang's fearlessness also stemmed from the Dong family.

“Xiaoyue, everyone says that we won’t offend others unless they offend us, but when we encounter someone like this, we have no choice but to fight back in order to protect ourselves,” Wen Mingqian said. “Otherwise, neither of us will have a good ending.”

"I know what you said makes sense, but how are we going to fight back?" Xiaoyue felt like Dong Gang was trapping them like a big net, and it seemed like they would have a hard time escaping.

“Here’s what we’ll do: tomorrow you go to Xiao Shunzi and tell him you’ve thought it through and are willing to listen to him,” Wen Mingqian said. “Afterwards, he will definitely tell you what to do so we can turn the tables on him. Xiao Shunzi and the others won’t suspect you’re up to no good, since they think you’ll just obediently comply. As the saying goes, ‘Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will win every battle.’ As long as we know what they’re going to do, we can turn the tables and check them.”

"Alright, I'll listen to you, my lady." Xiaoyue had already wiped away her tears. "They say even a grasshopper will fight to survive before it dies. Although I'm just a lowly palace maid, I'm not willing to stoop to their level and do shameful things."

Humans are naturally divided into different classes, not based on their social status or position.

Some people, though born into wealthy families and blessed with good fortune, are selfish and of low moral character.

Some people, even those born into humble backgrounds and living in poverty, remain kind and upright, refusing to do anything despicable. (End of Chapter)