After the favored concubine remarried, the aloof and powerful minister forcibly took her away.

Chapter 12 mentions that Sister Xiang Ning is in danger.

She didn't even glance at Pei Yongcheng, but simply kowtowed to Madam Pei and uttered those words.

When Madam Pei and Pei Yongcheng heard her words, they were first taken aback, and then Madam Pei asked, "What evidence do you have to prove it?"

Upon hearing this, Xiang Ning raised her head and looked at the brothel madam dressed in a flamboyant manner: "Madam said that you bought me for twenty taels of silver, so you must have a contract of sale for me in your possession."

"It's natural."

Upon hearing Xiang Ning's question, the brothel madam's expression changed slightly, but she quickly composed herself, revealing no hint of her true feelings.

"In that case, please have Mother produce this indenture and give it to me."

Xiang Ning spoke calmly and naturally.

His calm and composed demeanor made it seem as if he actually had some evidence in his hand.

Pei Yongcheng narrowed his eyes slightly, finding her truly fascinating.

Coincidentally, he liked that energy she had; he couldn't quite put his finger on it, but it was undeniably attractive.

"I'll have someone go back and get your indenture now."

As she spoke, the madam ordered someone to go to the brothel.

Xiang Ning didn't say much and let her do as she pleased.

Since this situation was set up by Pei Yongcheng, he must have made thorough preparations.

Therefore, Xiang Ning is not in a hurry. Only when they have released all the evidence in their hands will it be her turn to turn the tables.

Before long, the brothel madam's men brought Xiang Ning's indenture and handed it over to Madam Pei.

“Madam, please look at the date on this. Isn’t it three years ago? After this girl ran away, I sent many people to look for her. Who would have thought that she would sell herself into the Pei family? No wonder I couldn’t find her.”

Hearing the madam's words, Madam Pei only glanced at the time and name on the contract.

She didn't even want to take it, afraid of being tainted by the filthy atmosphere of a brothel.

"Xiang Ning, what else do you have to say?"

Madam Pei looked coldly at Xiang Ning and asked a question.

Xiang Ning then spoke up: "Madam, it is true that I was sold into a brothel."

Hearing her say that, Pei Yongcheng's smile deepened, and his gaze slid back and forth over Xiang Ning, as if he was thinking about how he would deal with her after bringing her back to Lingbo Pavilion.

That brat made him get beaten up for no reason; he won't let her get away with it.

Madam Pei's gaze sharpened, and she slammed her hand on the table, about to unleash her fury.

"But this is a contract with a fixed term. If I have the money to redeem myself, I can leave the Golden Jade Pavilion. May I ask, Madam, is that right?"

When Xiang Ning said this, her gaze fell on Pei Yongcheng.

Upon hearing this, the brothel madam nodded: "Of course, but where would you come from to pay twenty taels of silver to redeem yourself? If you could, would you still need to sell yourself into my Golden Jade Brothel?"

Her tone was full of disdain, as if to say that she had already presented the evidence, so what else could Xiang Ning say?

"Yes, I can't come up with twenty taels of silver, but my father sold our ancestral home and land to get the money. You took the money, so why won't you let me leave?"

Hearing her say that, the madam's face changed, but then she thought, "Silver can't talk, so how can she prove that she was given twenty taels of silver?"
"Money can't speak, but official documents can."

Xiang Ning lowered her eyes, her voice choked with emotion, and said, "Back then, when my mother was seriously ill, our family was poor and couldn't afford medicine."

"The madam of the brothel saw that the servant was beautiful and set a trap, causing the servant's father to incur gambling debts. Twenty taels of silver was nothing to them, but for the servant at that time, it was simply unaffordable."

At this point, she looked up at the brothel madam.

"I didn't escape. My father paid money to redeem me, but you took his money and refused to let me go. My father was so grief-stricken that he fell into the river in the dead of winter and froze to death." Xiang Ning's eyes were full of resentment, and two lines of clear tears rolled down her cheeks.

“You refuse to return the indenture and force me to take clients. I wanted to report you to the authorities, but you bribed the yamen runners to throw me out. With no other choice, I had to find a place of refuge myself.”

“The Pei family is a century-old aristocratic family, and the First Madam is a kind person. I am willing to sell myself into the Pei family as a slave or maid, which is better than being tortured by you in a brothel.”

After saying that, Xiang Ning kowtowed to Madam Pei again and said, "If Madam does not believe me, you can send someone to my home to inquire. That twenty taels of silver was obtained by my father selling our ancestral home and family property."

“Now, in the official documents, is your name, Jin Yulou, listed on the ancestral home and land?”

After she finished speaking, a hint of heartache flashed in Liao's mother's eyes.

I didn't know that Xiang Ning had such a difficult background. She was a girl with backbone. Under those circumstances, she could only seek powerful protection.

After all, Jin Yu Lou was the largest brothel in the capital, a place frequented by many high-ranking officials and nobles.

If Xiang Ning offends Jin Yulou, even if she manages to escape from Jin Yulou, she will likely be severely injured, if not killed.

Not to mention, she was driven to the point of losing her family and her life by Jin Yulou.

"you!"

Hearing her words, the brothel madam felt a little guilty. If she had known this girl was so difficult to deal with, she would never have been tempted by the gold and come here to give false testimony.

At this moment, outside the gate of Dali Temple, a kind and strong man anxiously looked at the guards.

"Brother, I am from the Pei family. I need to see the Minister of Justice. Please inform him."

Tang Peng was Xu Pozi's son. When she saw that the situation was not good, she immediately came to find Tang Peng and asked him to come to Dali Temple to invite Pei Yanzhi.

However, he couldn't just walk through the gates of the Dali Temple whenever he wanted.

I waited here for a long time, but the guards at the gate just wouldn't let me in.

"Without your identification badge, how are we supposed to know if you're related to the Minister of Justice? Go away, get out of the way."

As he spoke, the guard shoved Tang Peng.

"Lord Ming."

Tang Peng took a few steps back, and when he turned around, he saw a person wearing the uniform of the Dali Temple, with a knife at his waist and a cold expression.

"Are you related to the Minister of Justice?"

Upon hearing his inquiry, Tang Peng hurriedly stepped forward, bowed to him, and said, "I am a servant of the Minister of Justice. Could you please help me pass on a message that Sister Xiang Ning is in danger?"

Mingxiang frowned, but seeing his honest and simple face, he nodded.

Who is this Sister Xiang Ning?

Seeing Mingxiang nod, Tang Peng breathed a sigh of relief.

Mingxiang stepped inside and walked straight into the dark prison of the Dali Temple.

Today, an important prisoner is being interrogated, and Pei Yanzhi has personally come to the secret cell to oversee the proceedings.

"Sir, the evidence has been retrieved."

Mingxiang handed over something wrapped in a handkerchief, which Pei Yanzhi took.

The blood-stained gold bracelet emitted a faint fragrance, somewhat familiar, as if I had smelled it somewhere before.

For some unknown reason, a strange look flashed across Pei Yanzhi's eyes.

(End of this chapter)