Looking at her slightly flushed eyes, looking at her forced composure, his heart tightened a little.
To some, she’s endured pain that outsiders can’t fathom.
Lord Anle suddenly saw Xiao Qin walk in, and his face was startled for a moment, “Qin’er… you, how are you here?”
Mrs. Hou was also taken aback for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure. Although there was a hint of guilt in that instant, she thought of Xiaoqin being the cause of today’s scene.
She then didn’t feel guilty anymore.
In her opinion, after several years, everyone had already done enough for Xiao Qin, and it was time for Xiao Qin to give back to her family.
That’s what she was thinking, so her gaze at Xiaoqin was filled with conviction.
Xia Qin glanced at her father, then looked at her mother. She thought she was fine, but when she saw her mother’s attitude and indifferent expression, her heart still ached.
However, luckily I had already done some mental preparation before coming in, so I was able to quickly pull myself back together.
At this moment, Lord Anle had already walked to her side, looking at her with guilt and wanting to reach out and hold her hand.
I want to ask her… how much she heard.
Ke Xiaoqin, however, smiled and shook her head at him. Then she walked to Ye Er’s side and knelt down.
This move immediately caused the people present to change color in shock.
Ye Er rushed to help her, but he saw the despair in her eyes. His hand froze mid-air.
Perhaps… he shouldn’t have exposed those bloody details so bluntly.
For him, it was just a matter of saying a few words in front of the emperor.
After gaining the emperor’s trust, he also considered bringing back Xiao Qin’s two brothers to the capital. He knew she always carried a heavy sense of guilt about her brothers and yearned more than anyone for them to return.
He didn’t do so, not because he didn’t want to, but because he felt that returning to the capital for a post at court might not be a good thing in today’s circumstances.
The imperial court today is rife with corruption and intrigue. The current emperor is both blind to the truth and suspicious of everyone around him.
At such times, serving the emperor may not be a good thing.
And he was very clear that the emperor couldn’t live for long, and the court was about to undergo earth-shaking changes.
The Anle Hou Mansion has always been cautious and low-key. With the new emperor ascending to the throne, he needs to cultivate his own ministers. A family like Anle Hou, who has no achievements or merits, should show their loyalty at the right time. Then they wouldn’t have to worry about not being able to return to the capital?
> He just didn’t expect the Duke and Duchess of Anle to be so anxious.
Especially the fact that Madam Hou had proactively suggested marrying Xiaoqin to him was something he hadn’t even considered.
Xiao Qin’s eyes, which made anyone feel heartbroken, stared at Ye Er with a pleading expression, making him unable to move.
The Marquis and Marchioness of Anle were startled to see Xiaoqin suddenly kneel down. The Marquis’ face paled, but the Marchioness was displeased.
In her eyes, Xiaoqin was the county princess of Anle Hou. Besides anything else, just being a county princess shouldn’t make someone like Ye Er, who had just entered the officialdom, kneel down to her.
This is completely stomping on the face of their Anle Hou.
So, before Ye Er and An Le Hou could react, Hou Fu rushed forward with an angry expression. She grabbed Xiao Qin’s arm roughly and said through gritted teeth, “Get up!”
Xiaoqin refused, weakly saying, “Mother, I know what you want to do. Other daughters might be clueless, but I understand very clearly that the attitude when asking for help is definitely not like this.”
“You… you little bastard!”
Having been put in a difficult position by her own daughter, Madam Hou released Xiao Qin’s hand and suddenly raised it to slap Xiao Qin hard.
Xiaoqin knew this scene would happen. She didn’t think about dodging, instead, she closed her eyes, wanting to endure the slap.
But Ye Er was right here, how could he possibly bear to see her being beaten under his own nose.
Ye Er’s face darkened. Before Madam Hou’s hand could reach him, he grabbed her wrist and pushed her back with all his might.
Mrs. Hou staggered back a few steps, luckily An Lehou supported her in time from behind, otherwise she would have fallen.
After steadying herself, Madam Hou glared at Ye Er, “You dare…”
Before she could unleash her harsh words, Ye Er’s slightly cold voice interrupted her, “Madam Hou, haven’t you forgotten why you’re here? I think the County Princess is right. When asking for a favor… one should have the proper attitude. What do you think, Madam Hou?”
Ye Er is not a pushover either. He was willing to speak politely to these two people before, entirely because they were Xiao Qin’s biological parents.
Now she dared to attack Xiaoqin under his very nose. He certainly couldn’t stand by and do nothing, nor could he allow himself to give them any more face.
Especially Xiaoqin was so close to him, he could clearly see the slap mark on her face.
Mingming was fine when he left the teahouse today, but now there are these obvious marks. There’s no need to think much about it; this must be the work of Madam Hou.
The way she raised her hand just now, so naturally, spoke volumes. This was clearly someone who fought often.
It seems the Anle Houfu is no longer suitable for Xiaoqin.
<>
Xiaoqin glanced at Ye Er, a surge of emotion welling up in her eyes. But to spare her mother further embarrassment, she took the initiative and spoke, “Lord Ye, I know this is a difficult request, but right now, the only one who can help our Anle Houfu is Lord Ye. I implore you to lend us a hand. As long as you can help with this, Xiaoqin is willing to do anything for you.”
Actually, she was well aware that with Ye Er’s current status and his influence at the emperor’s side, he could have any woman he desired.
The Anle Hou Mansion had long been a dilapidated one. Without the hereditary title, they were nothing.
So she was very clear that the current Anle Hou Mansion couldn’t be compared to the prestigious Ye Mansion, which was currently in favor.
Thinking about this, she added, “As long as Lord Ye is willing to help, Xiaoqin is willing to sell herself into slavery and serve Lord Ye for a lifetime.”
“Qiner!”
“Xiaoqin!”
As soon as the words “selling oneself into slavery” came out, Lord Anle and Lady Anle immediately lost their composure.
Both of them shouted at the same time, but Xiao Qin seemed to be deaf to their words. She only looked at Ye Er, her mind racing to resolve the matter quickly.
Her skin was not as thick as her own mother’s, and she couldn’t bring herself to deceive people.
Has there been any rumor in the capital about her and Ye Er? She knew it, just as she knew that everything her mother said was nothing but her own fabrication.
But she understood that there’s no such thing as a free lunch.
To ask Ye Er for help means paying a certain price. This marriage clearly puts Ye Er at a disadvantage, so she doesn’t expect to become Ye Er’s wife, but she can be his slave.
Anyway, she would be married off by her mother if she stayed at the Hou Mansion. She had no desire for marriage in this life. If so, it’s better to sell herself into slavery directly, and in return, get her two elder brothers back. She felt it was worth it.