Some people said that in the North, especially in Song Zhou, this sort of scene played out almost every day. Duan Mu An Guo had taken all of the girls in the city, but not everyone wanted to enter his fake imperial palace. The girls were 13 years old and had not yet become of marriageable age. According to the Dashun people, those who had not yet become of marriageable age were considered young girls and could not be married.
But in the desolate North, they did not care about such things. Moreover, Duan Mu An Guo was extremely fond of women, especially young women. That was why these girls that were still children were constantly worried that they would be caught and brought to the Winter Palace. As for Duan Mu An Guo's 12 concubines, they were an existence that was on a higher level than the Winter Palace. It was equivalent to being promoted.
Now that another girl had escaped, there was nobody on the street that cared or stopped her. Either way, she would be caught by her family after just a few steps. The people of the North had already become accustomed to selling their daughters for glory. They even hoped that their daughters would be favored. After all, as long as their daughters remained in the Winter Palace, they would be exempt from all taxes.
Feng Yu Heng watched the girl very quickly be caught and brought back. Her family then stood on the side of the street and said to a middle-aged man that looked a bit more cultured: "Sir, please don't worry. My daughter will definitely be taught well by us husband and wife. We will definitely send her to the Illusory Hall later. We guarantee that she will be obedient."
The middle-aged man faintly sighed and said: "Every year, during the hundred family banquet, a few of our Illusory Hall's girls will be chosen by leader to enter the Winter Palace. That is a good thing that can change one's fate. Originally, the people of the Illusory Hall definitely would not casually come out to be chosen. Moreover, it was done in such a rush. Helpless, a group of people were sent to Qian Zhou to perform. Qian Zhou said that they would have an envoy bring them back before the new year. Unfortunately, the one that came this year was Prince Lian. He did not mention this matter, and it was not good for us to ask. Only then did we rush out to find a replacement. But if your daughter is unwilling, that's fine. This sort of thing cannot be forced. The Illusory Hall definitely will not bring an unwilling girl into the Winter Palace. "After he finished speaking, he slightly saluted then turned and left.
Feng Yu Heng stared at that person's back for a while. Her eyes moved, but before a thought could form in her mind, she simply raised her hand and pinched her arm. She then fiercely said: "Can you save me some trouble? Don't even think about it. "
Feng Yu Heng shrugged. "But if we don't come up with this idea, how are we going to enter the Winter Palace? I don't believe that you can sneak in with your Qing Gong. It's fine if there were many people at the leader's palace that day, but since the Winter Palace is Duan Mu An Guo's small imperial palace, he definitely would not let his guard down. Moreover, something just happened at the leader's palace. He doesn't even have time to find us. "
Ban Zou still shook his head, "No matter what you say, I won't agree."
"If you don't agree, then come with me." Feng Yu Heng winked at Ban Zou, "A hundred secrets will always have a flaw. I chose the path of the Illusory Hall. How about you also find a path?"
These words caused Ban Zou to seriously consider it. He knew that his master always kept her word. Wanting to change her way of thinking would not be easy. The only thing he could do right now was to go in as well. If something happened, at the very least, there would be someone to look after.
Seeing that Ban Zou had accepted it, Feng Yu Heng covered her mouth and smiled. The two just continued walking like this. Who knew when they turned, but after leaving the crowd, Ban Zou immediately flew up with her, heading straight toward the inn that magistrate Lu was staying in.
Now, Feng Yu Heng definitely did not believe that magistrate Lu would be foolish enough to run away. Without that list, even if he used his brain to remember it and gave it to Duan Mu An Guo, the authenticity of it would decrease. For magistrate Lu, the only person that he could rely on was Feng Yu Heng.
Sure enough, the two did not wait for long in the room before magistrate Lu returned dejectedly. He was not surprised in the slightest that Feng Yu Heng was already in the room. He just asked her with a bit of panic: "The day after tomorrow is the hundred family banquet. Imperial daughter, how should this lowly official get past Duan Mu An Guo?"
Feng Yu Heng spread her hands: "Tell him that there was a list of names. Unfortunately, it was burned in the fire."
Magistrate Lu trembled. If she said this, he would immediately be killed by Duan Mu An Guo, right?
Ban Zou poured himself a cup of tea. While drinking, he told him: "There will be many people in the Winter Palace tomorrow. The prince from Qian Zhou will be coming again. Don't worry. Duan Mu An Guo will not bring up this matter with you for no reason. Hiding for one day is one day. If you truly cannot hide anymore, I will personally send you out of the city. "This great one will personally send you on your way.
Magistrate Lu nodded and directly said: "I hope that is the case. Many thanks, young hero."
Feng Yu Heng and Ban Zou did not remain in the room for long. The two only sat for a while before immediately going their separate ways. Feng Yu Heng headed straight for the Illusory Hall; however, Ban Zou remained mysterious and refused to say where he was going. She could not be bothered with it. This kid was becoming more and more capable. Since he could chase her from the capital to the North without anyone noticing, he naturally had the ability to sneak into the Winter Palace. Duan Mu An Guo, you did not have a good birthday; however, you do not know that this imperial daughter does not have any plans for you to have a good new year.
Song Zhou only had one Illusory Hall, and it was specially created for the leader's palace. The so-called illusions were nothing more than magic tricks from the modern era. It was just that the modern era relied on high-tech lights and props as support. The requirements for an illusionist's skills were much lower. The ancient era was different. There were no high-tech gadgets. Everything relied on simple props and the hands of an illusionist. Right before leaving, magistrate Lu told her that the Illusory Hall in Song Zhou had been passed down for many generations. The creator was someone from Qian Zhou, and the illusions were all related to ice and snow. It was very wondrous. Duan Mu An Guo's obsession with illusions was no less than a woman's, thus the Illusory Hall was passed down from generation to generation. In the end, it became Duan Mu An Guo's personal item.
Feng Yu Heng dressed as a normal girl and headed toward the Illusory Hall. Gradually, the number of people on the street began to increase. The majority of them were young girls around her age and height. Looking in the direction that they were heading, they were all heading toward the Illusory Hall. There were a few girls that liked to talk that said: "It's rare for the Illusory Hall to recruit new people. In the past, even if they wanted to recruit new people, they would be very selective. But this time, I heard that they lost quite a few girls. They were all kept after going to Qian Zhou. This has benefited us. I heard that as long as one can enter the Illusory Hall, they will be able to receive a sum of money. The monthly reward is also quite large. The most enticing thing is that every year, no fewer than ten girls from the Illusory Hall will be chosen by the leader to enter the Winter Palace. Xiao Ya, your mother is seriously ill. The family can no longer support her. This is an opportunity! "
The girl called Xiao Ya had a worried expression, and her expression was a little conflicted. It was clear that she did not want to make this trip. She asked the girl that had just spoken: "Is there no other way? I really don't want to go. "
The girl helplessly said: "Ever since your mother fell ill, your family has already borrowed money from all of the families that you are familiar with. Yesterday, I saw your father go to the Li manor and knock on their door, but they did not even open it. Speaking truthfully, unless you give up on your aunty, you really do not have any other choice. "
Another girl to the side advised her: "Xiao Ya, you are the most beautiful among us. As long as you can enter the Illusory Hall, there is no need to worry about not being chosen! As long as you can enter the Winter Palace, lord Duan Mu will give your family a large sum of money. Not to mention your mother's illness being treated, but your future life will be a little better. "
Xiao Ya smiled bitterly and gently sighed. Helplessly, she continued to walk forward with them.
Feng Yu Heng quickened her pace and took a few glances at Xiao Ya. She saw that the girl had delicate features, and she really was quite beautiful. Not only was she beautiful, but the thing that surprised her the most was that the girl's features faintly resembled her own. Feng Yu Heng observed and gradually felt that if this degree of similarity was removed from Xiao Ya's worried expression, it could reach around 70%. That was already quite similar!
She slowed down her pace and made a decision in an instant. Thus, she slowed down a bit and simply followed Xiao Ya from a distance, all the way to the entrance of the Illusory Hall.
The Illusory Hall's recruitment had alarmed many of the girls in Song Zhou City. She saw at least a few dozen girls gathered in front of the door. There was a gentleman who had set up a small table at the entrance and was recording the visitors one by one. At the same time, the girls had to show their household registration certificates to the other party for inspection.
Xiao Ya also did the same, but she was a little unwilling. In the end, she could not resist the urging of her sisters and submitted her household registration certificate.
These girls did not immediately enter the Illusory Hall. Instead, they all returned home after registering. Feng Yu Heng heard someone say that the Illusory Hall was conducting a preliminary selection for identity and appearance. Those who were selected would be picked up by a carriage the next morning.
She followed Xiao Ya all the way back to her home. The house was not shabby, but it was too cold and cheerless. In the courtyard, there was only an old man guarding the door and a little boy cleaning. As they walked further in, they could hear the sound of a woman coughing. Xiao Ya pushed the door and called out, "Mother."
Feng Yu Heng hid in her space and followed in. She appeared in a corner of the room and immediately saw the seriously ill woman lying on the bed, as well as the tear-stained Xiao Ya.
The woman asked her, "Where did you go?"
Xiao Ya said, "To borrow money." She raised her hand to wipe her tears and did not say anything else.
The woman coughed for a while and finally managed to calm her pulse. She hurriedly warned Xiao Ya, "If you and your father want to borrow money, I can't stop you. But Xiao Ya, you must remember, no matter what thoughts you have, you must not have any thoughts about the Commander. You must not enter that Commander's Palace."
Xiao Ya was unable to hold back her tears. She turned around and quickly wiped them away. Then, she said to the woman, "Mother, don't worry. This daughter will not."
The woman sighed. She did not believe it, but there was no other way. She said, "If you used that kind of method to get the money, I would rather bite my tongue and commit suicide than use a single cent!"
Following that, a burst of intense coughing caused her to fall into a new round of unconsciousness. Xiao Ya was finally able to cry out loud. She said over and over again, "Mother, I'm sorry. Xiao Ya does not want to lose you, but there is really no other way. The Commander's Palace is gone, but there is still the Winter Palace. This daughter may not have the opportunity to be filial to mother in the future. "
The more she cried, the sadder she became. She did not even know when someone was standing behind her. She only felt a hand gently covering her shoulder. Then, a girl's voice sounded. It was a girl who said to her, "I can cure your mother's illness."
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
