As early as when Zhang Jin cried bitterly and then didn't show up at school for two days, Zhang Qi had already guessed what would happen today.

  She looks so "ordinary" and is still young and inexperienced, who would have thought that she could hook up with Xiao Mo?

  Fang Fang was startled by the maid's shout, but she didn't panic.

  She knelt down neatly, not in a flurry, but raised her head and stared at the old lady with a pair of astonished and somewhat innocent eyes, saying loudly: "Grandmother, I didn't seduce Mo Lang of the Xiao family."

  As soon as the words were spoken, the maid who had just opened her mouth glared at her. Zhang Qi was so frightened that she quickly lowered her head, but with her head still down, she couldn't help muttering: "Ah Qi isn't beautiful anyway, he wouldn't like her. Mo Lang loves Jin sister."

  The whispering voice had a clear and bright tone unique to girls, and it was transmitted clearly into the ears of several people in the room.

  The madam lowered her head and stared at Zhang Qi seriously.

  This girl in front of me has a delicate face, and upon closer inspection, she exudes a sense of refinement. Her eyes are also bright and spirited, and she doesn't lack courage either. Unfortunately, her slightly yellowish skin tone makes her overall appearance less radiant.

  In this era, whether male or female, they discuss beauty, and what they talk about is not just the five senses. In an era when makeup was still simple and cosmetics were only occasionally used to adorn oneself, a person's inner light shining outward was the key to beauty.

  Such a face, even the maids in the mansion can't compare. The madam slightly furrowed her brow.

  These two days, Zhang Jin has been making a big fuss, and on top of that, Xiao Mo is still not giving up, even getting Xiao Ce to mediate for him.

  Thinking of this, the madam's anger and resentment surged up. The reasons she had found before could be used to persuade the emperor or move other members of the Xiao family. But for someone like Xiao Ce, they were completely useless.

  Again and again she explained, but she was tongue-tied, always feeling that many eyes were suspiciously staring at her.

  The madam's face darkened at this thought!

  At this time, the maid servant sneered, "You didn't seduce him? Then what did you do to make a noble gentleman like him remember you constantly and insist on taking you as his concubine?"

  Zhang Qi bit her lip and argued in a small voice: "Ah Qi is talented too."

  Before her voice had fallen, the maid had already let out a cold laugh. Her voice was very loud and it scared Zhang Qi who had her head down so much that she trembled with fear.

  Then. Zhang Qi's face turned pale, and she said with a sob: "Ah Qi is really talented, Ah Qi's embroidery, as well as the piano score presented, were all liked by Your Majesty. On that day when Your Majesty summoned Ah Qi to the palace, Ah Qi heard some eunuchs saying that although Ah Qi looks ordinary, she is indeed a talented person."

  One word, "Ah Qi". In a crisp and clear tone, she spoke out her talents and also the fact that Your Majesty thought she looked ordinary.

  Some of them knew, some she didn't. Listening to the little girl kneeling on the ground sobbing and sniffling. The madam closed her eyes.

  Seeing her action, the maids knew that the madam was deep in thought. They stood still with their hands clasped together, not daring to disturb her.

  After a long while, the madam finally spoke up, "Take her away."

  This was the first time Zhang Qi heard Mrs. Big speak, with a slightly hoarse voice.

  The madam sat up straight and said calmly: "With Jin Guzi together."

  "Yes."

  The two maidservants walked forward, dragging Zhang Gui's arm as they went. Zhang Gui didn't struggle and was dragged out for several steps before she seemed to think of something. She turned her head back and called out in a clear and crisp voice, with a hint of naivety and straightforwardness: "Grandmother, I heard a monk say in the countryside that people with yin deficiency and fire excess should not get close to sandalwood, saying it can easily cause coughing up phlegm and bleeding."

  The madam raised her head.

  She looked at Zhang Qiying's clear and bright eyes, which still had a childlike innocence.

  Before she knew it, Zhang Qi was dragged out.

  The madam supported by a maid stood up and ordered solemnly: "Clean up the East Lotus Garden, we will move there today."

  A maid approached and whispered, "Madam, she's just a naive young girl..." Before she could finish speaking, the madam had already turned her head and stared at her, saying, "Let's hear it."

  The maids all curtsied in unison, "Yes."

  The courtyard where Zhang Jin was detained was not far from here. As soon as he entered the yard, a faint cry of sobbing came into Zhang Gui's ears intermittently.

  These cries were so sorrowful and desperate that as Zhang Gui listened, she lowered her eyebrows and eyes, feeling sympathetic towards Zhang Jin for the first time.

  The two maidservants quickly stepped forward, opened the lock on the door and pushed Zhang Gui inside. It wasn't until the sound of the lock falling into place that Zhang Gui came back to his senses.

  There are three rooms here. One is a living room, one is a bedroom and the other is a small room with a chamber pot and a bathtub. In this small room there is another door locked leading to the outside.

  Zhang Jinzheng fell onto the bed in her bedroom, covering her head with a quilt and crying loudly, opening and closing the lock, Zhang Qi came in, but didn't disturb her.

  Seeing her crying desperately, Zhang Qi walked behind her, his lips moved, but he couldn't persuade her with any words.

  No one knows better than Zhang Qi that Xiao Mo has no feelings for Zhang Jin, and marrying him may not be a blessing for Zhang Jin.

  After pausing for a moment, Zhang Qi turned around and walked out.

  At this time, Zhang Jin stopped crying and turned around, calling out with tearful eyes: "Who are you?"

  "Jin sister, I am A Qie."

  It wasn't until a while later that Zhang Jin came back to her senses, she stared with a pair of red and swollen eyes filled with bloodshot, hoarsely asking: "A Qiu? How did you get here?"

  It was grandma who asked me a few questions and then locked me up with my sister.

  "Don't call her grandmother! She's so stubborn, she'd rather die than let me be with Xiao Lang. She's not my grandmother!" Zhang Jin shouted hoarsely. She sat up straight, reached out and grabbed Zhang Qi's arm, her eyes brimming with tears as she asked: "Did Amo say something to you? Did he leave any instructions? Does he know I've been locked up?"

  One sentence after another, his eyes were full of expectation. Zhang Qi couldn't answer, and simply shook her head foolishly.

  Zhang Jin saw her shaking her head, and was extremely annoyed. She gave Zhang Qi a heavy push, causing Zhang Qi to stumble backwards, and fell to the ground with a thud. Then she started wailing again.

  Looking at Zhang Jin's tears flying horizontally, with a face of despair and pain, Zhang Qi couldn't guess the purpose of Madame locking herself in here as well. Since she couldn't figure it out, she simply didn't think about it anymore.

  Back in the main room, Zhang Gui leaned against the kang and lazily started dozing off.

  After a while, a maid's voice came from outside, "Qī gū zi, is there anything you need?"

  As soon as she heard this, Zhang Qi immediately stood up and shouted: "I want the best embroidery thread and..." Just as she said that, Zhang Jin in the bedroom scolded loudly: "Who allowed you to talk? It's so annoying!"

  Zhang Qi hastily closed her mouth, and the footsteps of that maid also gradually faded away.

  Against Zhang Qi's expectations. When she thought there would be no further developments, about half a time unit later, a package was handed in through the window.

  Zhang Qi hastily took over. Opened it and looked inside. Sure enough, it was a full package of the most expensive embroidery threads and brocade silk fabrics.

  All of these were even more precious than what she had obtained from Zhang Xuan in the past.

  With nothing else to do, Zhang Gui began to embroider.

  She knew that there were people watching from outside the window from time to time, and she also knew that her every move would be reported to the madam.

  She didn't know what kind of temperament the old lady had, but since Nanny wanted her to "be bolder", it showed that the old lady liked direct and straightforward speech, and also liked rational and determined people who were not annoying.

  Living in a dark room, this is what Zhang Yi likes to do quietly. At this time, she can cast aside those lingering worries and forget her own background, the fact that she is growing older day by day.

  By dusk, Zhang Jin had cried herself to sleep for a while, and Zhang Qi had also embroidered a corner of the scenery.

  The door was unlocked and two maidservants came in. They laid out the meal on the table, poured clean water, and then withdrew.

  Zhang Jin sat at the head of the bed, coldly watching their movements. She had obviously tangled with them for the past two days, and her expression now showed a hint of resentment.

  The door creaked shut again with a "click", and the courtyard inside and out returned to absolute silence.

  Looking at the crude and despicable food, no hot water with flower petals, no comfortable and clean clothes, and the unwashable room, Zhang Jin suddenly picked up the jade pillow on the couch and heavily smashed it towards Zhang Qi.

  It happened suddenly, Zhang Qi couldn't dodge in time, and her shoulder was heavily struck. She fell back, uttering a muffled cry of pain. However, she only retreated one step backward, without accusing anything.

  Zhang Jin Chao gave her a cold glance and cursed: "Cheap goods!"

  Zhang Qi retreated to a corner, lowering her head to look at her toes, without making a sound.

  Zhang Jin's resentment had not dissipated, she rushed to the table, and with a heavy sweep of her arm, sent Zhang Qi's portion of food flying, "clattering" sounds filled the air as bowls and chopsticks scattered all over the floor.

  Zhang Qi still lowered her head, motionless and silent.

  At this time, Zhang Jin was obviously a bit tired. She sat down and panted for a while before suddenly turning to Zhang Jin and shouting in a shrill voice: "You scoundrel! Has Xiao Lang been in contact with you these past two days?"

  In the gradually dimming light, Zhang Qi shook her head and said softly: "No."

  "Useless fool!"

  In the room, Zhang Jin's sobbing sound started again.

  Perhaps she was tired of crying, a minute later, Zhang Jin ate her share of rice while still shedding tears.

  It's late at night.

  Zhang Jinfa vented and then fell onto the kang in his bedroom, feeling drowsy. Zhang Qi curled up on the kang in the main room, her stomach growling loudly.

  But this is nothing, when she was at her maternal grandparents' home, being starved and locked up was a common occurrence.

  Before I knew it, the night had passed.

  Zhang Jin had also thrown away her breakfast and torn up the embroidered handkerchief that Zhang Gui had given her, and she was quietly led out of the courtyard by two maids.

  She met the lady again, but this time, it was not in that sandalwood house, but in a beautiful courtyard covered with lotus leaves.

  Looking at Zhang Gui, who was kneeling respectfully at her feet, having been starved for two days and beaten to the point where she couldn't even lift her arms, yet still looking spirited and without a hint of fatigue or resentment on her face, Madam's voice came from above, "Ah Gui, is it? You're young, indeed capable of endurance!"

  The madam's voice had just fallen when a middle-aged woman also sneered coldly by the side: "At such a young age, you can hide so deeply, no wonder you can bewitch Xiao Shi Lang!"

  Zhang Qi raised her head.

  She looked at the madam with a lost expression, slowly lowered her head and muttered: "When Ah Gui was four years old, his mother had already passed away... Although there is land and people in the maternal grandparents' house, and food and clothing are not a problem, Ah Gui is a person without a surname or father. Being beaten until his head is bleeding and being locked up, and then starving for two meals, that's the most common thing." She knew that someone like Madam, such a big shot, wouldn't be patient enough to listen to her long-winded talk.

  After saying this in a calm and ordinary tone, Zhang Qi lowered her head, "Jin sister is just straightforward, she's not bad at all." She said this with unusual determination and conviction.

  The madam didn't know if she believed her or not, but after a glance, she nodded at the maid. The maid then called out in a clear voice, "Go and invite Young Master Xiao over."

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