PROOFREAD BY AFREANA

Chapter 39.2

An Ruoxi wiped her tears while saying: “I know. You must be suspicious of me, but I do not know who else I can turn to for help. You have the ability. You escaped and now live a good life in this Purple Cloud House. You must have a way to help me. Please help me. Please, sister.”

“What do you want me to help you with?” An Ruochen finally asked after a long time.

“I ……,” An Ruoxi sobbed. “I want to marry into a good family in another county. With all these incidents at home, which decent family in Zhonglan City, no, in the whole Pingnan County, would dare to marry An Zhifu’s daughter?”

An Ruochen said nothing. She did not say that no decent family was willing to tie a marriage with the An family since a long time ago.

“I’ve thought about it. Father only thinks about profit. Even if I avoid Master Qian this time, there will be other masters. Moreover, you are still in the city, and Master Qian is still interested in you. Father and mother will force me to continue to get entangled with you. For this reason, Master Qian will not let me go. In Zhonglan City, I do not see any hope for the future. Sister, with the General’s support, you now have some influence in the city. Help me negotiate a good marriage outside the county. Help me beg the General. Father dares not disagree with the General’s pressure. I’ll marry far away and leave this hellish place, leave these grudges, and you don’t have to worry about me plotting against you, right?”

An Ruochen did not speak, neither agreeing nor refusing.

An Ruoxi bit her lips and busily added: “I will naturally repay you if you help me. I’ll monitor my parents’ side as well as Master Qian’s. They asked me to meet you because they want you to be confused, which would allow me to report the news straightforwardly. I will be much more useful than Lu Daniang.” She paused and said, “By the way, did I say Master Qian asked Father to write a report and say he’ll find an opportunity to sue the government in the capital? Sue the Lord Governor and General Long. You need to warn the General! Do not leave any future problems. Also, the fourth mother is a bit crazy. She always scolds you, saying you killed the fourth sister and wanted you to pay with your life. Although ridiculous, you must be vigilant and careful if you see her. It is better to avoid her.”

She finished in one breath and looked at An Ruochen in expectation.

An Ruochen asked, “What else?”

An Ruoxi said: “I’ll come back to tell sister if I find out anything else.”

An Ruochen said, “Is there anything unclean about Father’s jade trading?”

“What?”

“Father’s goods were not yet available when the Governor ordered the trade’s closure. There were merchants from outside the county who came to the residence, remember?”

An Ruoxi remembered. After Father obtained his goods, he fixed the fourth sister’s marriage. “It was Master Qian who helped.”

“This I know. But there must have been some dirty dealings there. I need to know what they have done.”

An Ruoxi got nervous: “Father will not talk to me about the business.”

“But he will talk to Ronggui. Isn’t Ronggui working at the jade store? If you find this out for me, I will help you find a good marriage outside the county.”

An Ruoxi gritted her teeth: “You want to take revenge on Father and ruin the An family?”

An Ruochen laughed: “Oh, yes, I forgot you are kind-hearted. Since you can’t do this, then forget it. Go back and say that you delivered the things. I appreciated it. But I won’t see you again.”

An Ruochen stood up as if ready to send off the guest. An Ruoxi hastily stood up, pulled An Ruochen’s sleeve, and said: “Okay, I promise you. When I have news, I will come and tell you.”

An Ruochen looked at her sister’s hand holding her sleeve, then raised her eyes to look at her sister’s face and said, “If there is any news of the fourth sister from home or Qian Pei’s side, you must report to me quickly, whether alive or dead.”

“Okay.” An Ruoxi agreed.

An Ruoxi walked out from the Purple Cloud House with some confusion. She could not tell whether her trip was a success or failure. When the palanquin was halfway home, Mei Xiang, her maid, suddenly said, “Miss, someone is stopping the palanquin.”

An Ruoxi heard someone outside the palanquin say. “Second Miss An, my master sends an invitation.”

Mei Xiang asked, “Who is your master?”

“Master Qian Pei.”

An Ruoxi’s heart sank.

Qian Pei’s carriage was parked in the alley by the roadside, and An Ruoxi went up alone.

As soon as she got on, she saw Qian Pei’s smile. “How are you, second girl?” He said.

“Hello, Master Qian.” An Ruoxi greeted and tried to remain calm.

“Where did the second miss come from?”

He knew, yet still asked.