I attained immortality through meditation in the Great Qian Dynasty.

Zhao Zian stopped in front of his own courtyard gate.

"arrive."

Zhao Zian raised his hand and knocked on the door knocker.

The next second, the bolt was pulled open, and the door was yanked open from the inside.

Li Suqin stood at the door, her hair slightly disheveled, her eyes dark and swollen.

She first saw Zhao Zi'an, then looked past him.

"Red Clouds..."

Li Hongyun's tears flowed uncontrollably.

"sister!"

She cried out and rushed over.

Li Suqin also hugged her younger sister.

"It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back..."

The two sisters hugged each other and wept bitterly.

Zhao Zian stepped aside, leaving them alone.

The little fox poked its head out, looking around, before being pushed back down.

After crying for a long time, Li Suqin finally calmed down a little.

She held her sister's hand and looked her over.

"Did they do anything to you?"

Li Hongyun shook her head, crying.

"It was my mother, it was my mother who sold me..."

"To pay off my brother's gambling debts, she pushed me into this mess..."

Li Suqin swayed and lost her balance.

"How could she be so heartless!"

If she hadn't gotten married and had stayed at home, would she have been able to protect her younger sister?

She's useless!

It's because she, as the older sister, is useless!

"I'm sorry, Hongyun, it's my fault for being useless, it's my fault for not protecting you..."

Li Suqin held her younger sister, sobbing uncontrollably.

Zhao Zian felt that things couldn't continue like this.

Sadness doesn't solve problems; it only drains your energy.

"Take her to take a hot bath and change her into clean clothes first."

Li Suqin looked up at him through her tearful eyes.

"Go boil some water and make something to eat. She's terrified and needs to replenish her strength."

Li Suqin came to her senses.

Yes, now is not the time to cry.

"it is good."

Li Suqin helped her younger sister, "Hongyun, come on, let your sister take you to take a bath."

Li Hongyun subconsciously followed her sister.

As she passed Zhao Zi'an, she stopped and said, "Uncle... thank you."

Zhao Zian hummed in agreement and said nothing more.

Li Hongyun changed her clothes, took a hot shower, and calmed down considerably.

The three sat inside the main room.

The two sisters' eyes were fixed on him.

They were all waiting for him to speak.

"Have you ever considered severing ties with them?"

Zhao Zian asked.

After he finished speaking, the room became eerily quiet.

Severing ties?

In this era, filial piety is of paramount importance.

Marriage is arranged by parents and matchmakers.

Being unfilial is a heinous crime that can be condemned to death by the spittle of one's fellow villagers.

Severing kinship ties?

This is utterly outrageous!

She instinctively wanted to refute, but couldn't bring herself to say it.

Because every time she closes her eyes, all she sees is the tragic scene of her younger sister being sold.

Are those relatives, that home... still worth maintaining?

Unexpectedly, Li Hongyun reacted.

She only looked up after the initial shock.

"Severing ties...is that alright?"

May I?

Can I escape that nightmarish home?

Can I stop facing that mother who would sacrifice her daughter for her son?

Can I finally stop being endlessly dragged down by that gambling addict brother?

If she could, she would!

She's willing to do anything!

Zhao Zian looked at Li Suqin.

The key to this matter lies with Li Suqin.

Li Hongyun is a victim, and her stance is very clear.

But Li Suqin was different.

If she doesn't agree, this matter cannot be accomplished.

"Sister-in-law, do you think that just because your mother sold Hongyun today, she might come knocking on your door tomorrow to force you to hand over money from your husband's family in order to pay off your brother's debts?"

Li Suqin's body trembled.

Zhao Zian continued, "Severing ties with relatives is not unfilial."

"It's about self-preservation."

"Your mother is no longer fit to be a mother. Your brother is even less fit to be a brother."

"What you call family affection is nothing more than merchandise that can be sold at any time in their eyes. Your filial piety and tolerance towards them will only become the basis for them to bleed you dry next time."

"Think carefully, over the years since you married into this family, besides supporting your own family, have you ever received even the slightest bit of warmth and care from them?"

No.

Li Hongyun reached out and took her hand.

"Sister, let's break it off."

"I don't want to go back to that home. I don't want to acknowledge that mother anymore."

"From now on, you'll be my only family. I'll be your servant, I'll take care of you for the rest of my life, and we'll depend on each other for survival, okay?"

My sister's hot tears fell onto the back of her hand.

Li Suqin couldn't hold back any longer.

"Uncle...we...are severing ties!"

......

The next day.

Zhao Zian pushed open the door, and Li Suqin and Li Hongyun were already waiting in the courtyard.

"Uncle."

Li Suqin spoke.

Zhao Zian nodded.

"Let's go."

County government office.

Zhao Zian said to Li Hongyun, "Go."

Li Hongyun walked to the drum.

Early risers passed by and stopped in their tracks.

"What is that girl trying to do?"

"Beating the drum to appeal for justice? What's the big deal?"

Li Hongyun raised the drumsticks.

"Thump!"

The constables scoffed, thinking it was just children playing around.

Li Hongyun used all her strength to lift the drumsticks.

"mighty--"

The yamen gates were wide open, and two rows of yamen runners rushed out and lined up on both sides.

Magistrate Zhang, dressed in his official robes, walked into the courtroom.

"Who is beating the drum to appeal for justice?!"

Li Hongyun pulled her sister into the courtroom and knelt down.

"I, Li Hongyun, a commoner, kowtow to Your Honor!"

Magistrate Zhang exchanged a glance with Zhao Zi'an.

"Who is this person below, and what do you wish to say? Speak quickly!"

Li Hongyun raised her head.

"Li Hongyun, a commoner, is suing her birth mother, Zhang!"

The onlookers were in an uproar.

"To sue one's own mother? That's the greatest act of filial impiety!"

"Has this girl gone mad? Of all people to sue, why her own mother?"

Since ancient times, filial piety has been of paramount importance. Anyone who sues their parents, regardless of the reason, will first be branded as a person who is extremely disobedient.

Magistrate Zhang was serious.

"In court, you must not speak nonsense! Do you know what crime you are accusing your own mother of?"

"I understand!"

Li Hongyun's voice suddenly rose in pitch.

"But if this woman doesn't report it, she will have no way to survive!"

"A young woman is suing her birth mother, Zhang, for disregarding human ethics and utterly lacking conscience! To pay off her gambling son's debts, she drugged her and sold her into a casino!"

"I beg Your Honor to grant me justice!"

The people quieted down.

Selling his daughter... or selling her to a casino?

How is this any different from pushing your daughter into a fire pit?

If what she said is true, then this mother is incredibly cruel!

Li Suqin knelt to one side, already sobbing uncontrollably.

Is there any evidence to support this claim?

"This woman is the witness!"

Li Hongyun raised her head.

"If it weren't for my uncle risking his life to save me, I would already be... I can't even imagine what would have happened!"

"Summon the plaintiff's mother, Ms. Zhang, to the station!"

Magistrate Zhang slammed his gavel.

"grown ups."

The head constable that Zhang Jing had arranged stepped forward.

"We detained the person yesterday and have been holding him there ever since."

"Bring it up."

"yes!"

A series of harsh shouts and curses came from afar.

"Let me go! You damned lackeys! What right do you have to arrest me?"

"What law did I break?"