Chapter 78: Safe

Chapter 78

Safe

Nie Shuang and Wang Dongpo waited in the mansion for news. When they saw Da Shi return with a beaming face, they knew the plan had gone smoothly. The bearded man was none other than Yan Zhan, cleverly disguised so that no one could recognize him. The strong men accompanying him were all from the Shen Nong Protection Agency, who had hidden their identities well. The madam and everyone at the Baihua Brothel were too terrified to recognize anyone.

"Your plan was brilliant, Lady Boss. The madam even handed me and the Shen Nong man a total of twelve hundred taels."

Da Shi said as he pulled out seven hundred taels. He explained that the remaining five hundred taels were with Brother He, one of Yan Zhan’s men. Nie Shuang simply instructed him to distribute the money among all those who played a role in tonight’s charade. A while later, footsteps approached, and Yan Zhan entered, leading the two women they had just rescued.

"Lady Boss, I’ve brought Young Miss Mu and her maid. The others have already left on horseback with an empty carriage headed toward the capital, to cover our tracks, as you instructed."

Nie Shuang had told Master He that she would attend the auction, as he had suggested. She would then send the misfortune women back to the capital immediately. The woman was from a noble family, so for the sake of their reputation, Nie Shuang requested that Master He keep this matter confidential. She also asked for a pass allowing her men to leave the city under the cover of night. Seeing that it was a simple enough request, Master He provided her with the pass. That night, the people of the city witnessed a procession of black-clad men leaving town.

As the two women entered the room, they immediately knelt to bow before Nie Shuang. She hurriedly stopped them. Once they stood, both mistress and maid turned to bow and thank Yan Zhan, Da Shi, and Wang Dongpo.

"I am Mu Rongying, and this is Chunmei. We will never forget your kindness. If it hadn’t been for your help, we would rather not live at all. Our lives are indebted to you."

Both Da Shi and Wang Dongpo were too humble to accept the thanks, attributing the success of the rescue plan to Lady Boss’s strategy. Mu Rongying turned to Nie Shuang, and upon seeing her up close, she was taken aback. Having come from the capital, Mu Rongying remembered attending the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet, where she had witnessed the events of that night. General Song’s wife had been the most stunning woman at the feast, but because she was the daughter of a merchant, Mu Rongying’s aunt had warned her not to associate with her. Even though Song Furen had been targeted by ill-wishers, she had not only saved herself but had earned great credit for helping Princess An Le. But why was she here, in Huangjing City?

"You! You are our benefactor! You’re General Song’s wife!"

Nie Shuang chuckled at Young Miss Mu’s astonishment.

"That’s right, Young Miss Mu. Please, tell me what happened. How did you end up being captured?"

Upon hearing the question, Mu Rongying’s tears began to fall.

"It’s all my fault that Uncle Shen had to die. I ran away from home because I didn’t want to enter the palace. My father forced me to offer myself as a concubine to strengthen the power of my aunt, who is Guifei. I didn’t want to live like a bird in a gilded cage, sharing a husband with my aunt and thousands of other women. So, I decided to flee, planning to return home after the concubine selection process had passed. Uncle Shen, my wet nurse’s husband, raised me since I was a child. Not only did he not stop me, but he also took great care of me along the way. He was a guard at our manor and had martial skills, which kept us safe throughout the journey. But we never expected that when we arrived in Huangjing, we would encounter the vile madam of Baihua Brothel. They poisoned Uncle Shen to death and dragged us into the brothel without anyone knowing."

Upon hearing this, everyone cursed the madam. Murdering an innocent man and kidnapping women to sell as courtesans was a heinous crime. Most women who suffered such a fate could never return to their families, and these villains grew bolder by the day. Thankfully, this time the Lady Boss had intervened and saved them.

"Young Miss Mu, you’re safe now. Please don’t cry anymore,"

Nie Shuang gently comforted her, and Young Miss Mu finally began to calm down. Then Nie Shuang brought up the next issue.

"I’ve sent word to the Mu family, informing them that you were in danger here in Huangjing. If they hurry, they should arrive within fifteen days. But since you ran away from home, if you don’t wish to return, what will you do?"

Tears welled up in Mu Rongying’s eyes as she sighed.

"After everything that’s happened, can I really not go back? I must accept my fate. Entering the palace, at least, is better than being sold as a prostitute, isn’t it?"

"If you don’t want to return, there are still other options. Don’t lose hope just yet. We can think it through carefully,"

Nie Shuang reassured her. Coming from a modern perspective, Nie Shuang didn’t see anything wrong with choosing one’s own path in life. Mu Rongying was surprised—she had expected Nie Shuang to persuade her to go back to her family. Everyone else in the room, however, was used to the way Lady Boss thought. If she had followed conventional thinking, she wouldn’t have become their Lady Boss. Didn’t tonight’s plan go smoothly without any confrontation, without spending money, and without anyone needing to show their face? Everyone even got a share of the money they earned, and how the Mu family, the real victim, would deal with the situation afterward was their own matter.

Rui Wang, the fourth prince, born to the Empress, was the mastermind behind Baihua Brothel, which he used as both an intelligence hub and a significant source of income. Jun Wang, the sixth prince, born to Mu Guifei, was his rival. The two factions were clearly divided within the royal court. This time, the Mu family might even use the opportunity to weaken the Empress’s Pei family. However, Nie Shuang had no desire to get involved in power struggles. This time, she acted because it involved the lives of innocent people, and the victim might be the sister of one of her trusted allies.

"Oh, what is Young Miss Mu’s maid’s name? She looks somewhat familiar,"

Nie Shuang asked, turning to Mu Rongying, who was still wiping her tears.

"Her name is Chunmei. She has been with me since we were young, and we’re very close. Why does you ask, Young Furen?"

Mu Rongying replied, her curiosity piqued.

"To be honest, Manager Wang suspects that she might be his long-lost sister. Does Young Miss Mu know anything about her background?"

Chunmei, not having been addressed directly, stayed silent but glanced at Wang Dongpo with a puzzled look. Mu Rongying furrowed her brows as well.

"We are close in age, and I was very young, so I don’t know much from that time. I only remember that my mother brought her to me when I was seven years old. Chunmei, do you recall anything? How did you come to the Mu family?"

Chunmei shook her head.

"I don’t remember anything, Miss. The only thing I know is what your wet nurse told me—that when I first arrived, I had a high fever and almost didn’t make it. But after I recovered, I was running around again. I have no memories before that time."

Wang Dongpo looked disappointed, and Mu Rongying added,

"It’s a shame Uncle Shen is gone. If he were alive, he could have told us something."

"Let’s leave it for now. A lot has happened tonight. We should all get some rest and talk more tomorrow. Young Miss Mu and Chunmei, I’ve had guest quarters prepared for you both. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask."Everyone, exhausted from the night’s events, agreed and parted ways to rest.