It's all ruined, who cares about the chastity arch

As they walked along, Yuan's eyes were blurred with tears. Thinking of the suffering her daughter had endured, she felt heartbroken. She covered her chest with her hands, her heart beating like a drum, and she seemed as if she had lost her soul.

The carriage slowly stopped in front of the gate of Zi Yan Pavilion. Yuan's heart tightened and she opened the curtain with trembling hands. She saw her daughter standing on the attic in bright red clothes with a cold face.

Among the crowd of onlookers, there was a lot of discussion.

"This girl and the second young lady of the Pei family are exactly the same person!"

One person marveled.

"Do you think she is really the missing daughter of the Pei family?"

Another person speculated.

"I hope so. I'm willing to spend any amount of money!"

Another voice sounded, with a hint of evil intent.

Amid the laughter of men, Pei Qingzhi stood alone in the attic, her former pride having been worn away by the cruel reality.

She was thin and pale, obviously due to long-term imprisonment.

She bit her lower lip tightly, her eyes full of disdain and indifference. She swept past those greedy eyes and said coldly to the maid beside her: "How long does your master intend to keep me locked up? Don't you think this insult is not enough?"

The maid had a calm face and a cold tone: "Second Miss Pei, the master did not hide anything from you. If the Pei family really wants to take you back, they can come and pick you up at any time."

Hearing this, a glimmer of hope flashed in Pei Qingzhi's eyes. She almost bit her lip and looked down at the attic again.

This time, she saw a familiar carriage.

"That's the Pei family's carriage!"

Pei Qingzhi was surprised and delighted. She grabbed the railing and looked down, her eyes full of longing for reunion. "It's my mother, it's my mother who came to pick me up!"

The maid followed her line of sight, still expressionless: "Since it is the Pei family who is here, then you can leave."

"real?!"

Pei Qingzhi couldn't believe it, "Is your master really willing to let me go?"

During these long years of imprisonment, Pei Qingzhi didn't even know who imprisoned her. She only knew that this person had a deep hatred for the Pei family.

When she heard the news that she could leave, she was so excited that she almost cried. All her fear, despair and grievances seemed to have found an outlet at this moment.

The maid still maintained her cold and unmoved attitude, and every word seemed to be squeezed out from the cracks in the ice: "You can only leave this place if someone from the Pei family comes to pick you up in person."

There was unquestionable determination in her tone.

After receiving this rare affirmative answer, Pei Qingzhi felt a spark of hope in her heart. She desperately lifted up the hem of her dress that was as light as the morning mist. Her steps were as brisk as catkins in the spring breeze. She quickly shuttled through the corridor of the attic. Every step seemed to express her eagerness to return home.

Inside the carriage, the maid saw Pei Qingzhi rushing over and quickly reached out to stop her, with a trace of anxiety in her eyes: "Madam, please think twice. We'd better go back to the mansion and discuss it carefully with the master. If this matter is accidentally leaked, the master will definitely punish us severely, and our situation will become even more difficult."

Yuan gently lowered the half-closed car curtain, the tears on her face had not yet dried, her eyes were full of a mother's tenderness and struggle: "I can't sit idly by and watch my daughter suffer, even for a moment."

Her heart was filled with deep love for her daughter, but she had to take into account the family's reputation and all kinds of criticism from the outside world.

Over the years, all the daughters of humble origins in the mansion have been regarded as dispensable by the outside world. But for Yuan, how could she not be concerned about her own flesh and blood?

The maid's frown seemed to be able to catch the finest raindrops in the autumn, and her voice was filled with worry: "Madam, if you take the young lady back now, wouldn't it be announced to the world that the young lady faked her death and escaped? Have you ever thought about what kind of impact this will have on our Pei family? How will the master view you and the young master's future?"

Over the years, Yuan has silently endured many grievances and hardships in the Pei Mansion, all for the sake of protecting the future of her two children.

When she mentioned "Young Master", her heart felt like being pricked by a needle. She tightly grasped the handkerchief in her hand. While she was hesitating, the sweat on her palm had slightly soaked the delicate fabric.

Seeing this, the maid gently comforted her, "Madam, why don't we return to the mansion first and have a good discussion with the master to find a foolproof plan that can both preserve the young lady's reputation and bring her home smoothly. This way, it will be the best arrangement for you, the young master, and the young lady."

"But Qingzhi... actually wanted to be in a place like that..."

Yuan's voice trembled, tears welled up in her eyes again, the maid hurried forward to support her, patted her back to comfort her: "Although Zi Yan Pavilion has a bad reputation, the guests there are quite decent, young lady is safe for the time being. But if you cause trouble here, the consequences will be unpredictable."

Yuan weighed the pros and cons for a moment, finally closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and nodded helplessly: "Okay, let's go back to the house first."

Seeing that her master had made a decision, the maid turned around and shouted to the driver waiting outside the door: "Return to Pei Mansion! Madam has ordered that no matter what happens, the carriage must not stop!"

The driver heard the voice and responded respectfully: "As you wish, I will take note of it and will not delay."

At this moment, Pei Qingzhi was running down the stairs in the distance, running towards the carriage that was about to depart with great anticipation. With a smile of joy on her face, she shouted loudly into the carriage, "Mom!"

However, as soon as the words fell, the carriage slowly turned around and began to move slowly towards Pei Mansion.

Pei Qingzhi's smile froze instantly. She hurriedly quickened her pace and shouted, "Mother! I'm Qingzhi! Mother! Mother! Please wait for me!"

The carriages and horses were merciless, leaving behind only the receding dust and the mournful cries, echoing for a long time in the empty streets.

Yuan's heart tightened, and with trembling fingers she lifted the heavy curtain, leaving only a narrow gap, and looked back through the narrow space.

What caught her eyes was the bright red color, dancing in the breeze like a burning flame. It was her daughter, Pei Qingzhi, dressed in fluttering red, who was running towards her regardless of everything. Her beautiful face was filled with anxiety and pleading, and she kept shouting, "Mother! I am Qingzhi! Don't leave me alone! Mother! I want to go home!"

Pei Qingzhi held up the sides of her skirt with both hands, and her exquisite embroidered shoes tapped out a rapid rhythm on the bluestone slabs. Every step she took expressed her deep desire and unyielding spirit.

Her hair fluttered in the wind, a few strands stuck to her sweaty forehead, but they could not hide her tear-filled eyes, which were filled with longing for home and longing for maternal love.

Yuan's heart seemed to be cut by a sharp knife, the pain was beyond words: "Stop! Stop the car and let me get off!"

She shouted to the front almost pleadingly.