I was sold when I opened my eyes! My sick and disabled husband comforts me every night after he wake

Yu Jie was speechless for a moment.

"But...but that's not what I heard."

"That's just what you've heard, not what you've seen with your own eyes. There are many families like Zhuzi's in the capital alone, not to mention other places far from the emperor's reach."

Yu Jie bit her lip tightly, clenched her fists, and murmured:

"I need to go to the Ministry of War and ask them what's going on with these people."

Lan Zhi gave a bitter smile and shook her head.

"Let alone you, even your father, that high and mighty person, probably wouldn't be able to get anything out of him just by asking."

"What can we do? Since we've encountered this situation, we can't just ignore it. The child is so pitiful, and the old woman is pitiful too."

Lan Zhi let out a soft sigh and said as she walked forward:

"This place is a completely different world from the main streets of the capital. There are many such things in this world, and many pitiful people like them. If you want to help them, go and talk to the Emperor and ask him to investigate this matter."

"Alright, I'll return to the palace now."

Yu Jie's gaze was firm, and Lan Zhi began to feel a bit more favorably toward her.

"There's no need to rush. Let's go back before the palace gates are locked tonight. It's getting late, let's go eat."

The group's good mood from when they first arrived had vanished, and Mao Mao even looked at Lan Zhi with reddened eyes.

"Sister, Zhuzi and the others are so pitiful. You just gave them the money, so let's skip the restaurant and eat at home instead!"

After he said that, Xiangxiu and Aqi nodded in agreement.

“Yes, let’s go home to eat. Mo Ning is still at home. I don’t know what Yuan Tianxiong and Nie Yuan have been busy with these past few days. They’re never around during the day.”

Lan Zhi then looked at Yu Jie.

"What about you?"

Yu Jie spread her hands and shrugged.

"I only regret that I left some silver in that outfit when I changed clothes, otherwise I would have definitely left more for Zhu Zi."

"You can save him for a while, but not forever. Right now, it's more important to help him find his father. You should go back and talk to your father about this and ask him to send someone to investigate thoroughly!"

Yu Jie nodded immediately.

"Okay, I'll talk to him when I get back tonight."

"Alright, Xiangxiu, Aqi, you two go buy groceries, we'll go back and wait for you."

After Xiangxiu and Aqi nodded together, they walked in another direction, while Lanzhi led Yujie and Maomao along the street toward their home.

When they arrived home, Yuan Tianxiong was talking to Mo Ning. Seeing her return, he hurried forward to greet her.

“Miss Lan, I’ve found your brother. I’ve given him our address, and he said he’ll come to see you after work tonight.”

"Really?"

Lan Zhi became a little excited when her brother was mentioned.

Where did you find him?

"Young master told me to go find him when I had nothing to do, so I asked around on the street. As it turns out, my efforts paid off, and I actually found him in a restaurant. He's working odd jobs there now and can only come to find you after he finishes work at night."

Lan Zhi looked at Mo Ning with great gratitude.

"Thank you for still remembering to help me find my brother. I was planning to go find him after the Empress Dowager's birthday celebration when I regain my freedom."

A slight smile played on Mo Ning's lips beneath the mask as he whispered:

"Anyway, he's just sitting around doing nothing. Finding it for you in advance will save you the trouble of running all over the capital."

Lan Zhi nodded immediately.

“Ever since I arrived in the capital, I’ve wanted to find my older brother, but I never had the chance. Now that Boss Yuan has found him for me, that’s wonderful! Mao Mao, go to the market and find Xiangxiu and Aqi. Ask them to buy a fish and some meat. My brother’s coming tonight, so let’s have something nice to eat.”

Mao Mao immediately nodded happily.

"I understand, I'll go now."

Yu Jie quickly grabbed his sleeve.

"Little brat, take me with you. I've never been to the market before."

Mao Mao pouted and glared at her.

"You're not a princess, and you've never been to a market. Why don't you just say you're out of touch with reality?"

"you……"

Yu Jie was so angry that her face turned red and her neck bulged. Lan Zhi quickly pleaded on her behalf.

"Mao Mao, you take Yu Jie with you!"

Mao Mao reluctantly glared at him, "Let's go!"

Yu Jie stuck out her tongue at his retreating figure and quickly followed after him.

Mo Ning hurriedly instructed Yuan Tianxiong:

"Keep up with her and protect Yujie."

Yuan Tianxiong nodded solemnly.

"Yes, son."

He then strode after him.

When only the two of them were left in the courtyard, Mo Ning asked softly:

"Where did you two go? Why do you seem a bit down when you come back?"

Lan Zhi sighed softly, recalling the scene she had just witnessed.

“I heard someone mention a few days ago that there’s a poor alley in the north of the city. I’ll take Yujie there to see it today.”

"Oh? What made you decide to go there? I heard it's rather chaotic there."

Lan Zhi immediately shook her head.

"It's not actually chaotic over there, it's just that the people there are a bit pitiful. I only realized today why they are so poor."

At this point, she let out a long sigh.

"If a person becomes poor because of laziness, it is their own fault. But if they become poor because of external reasons, then they are truly pitiful."

"What do you mean by that? Are you saying they're poor because they're lazy?"

"Of course not. They are poor because the people there are not able to work. They are mostly the elderly, children, and the sick and disabled. It would be strange if they were not poor."

Mo Ning looked at her with great curiosity and pressed her for an answer.

"Why are they all elderly, children, sick, and disabled? Where are the young people?"

This question weighed heavily on Lan Zhi's mind.

"The imperial court is incompetent and cruel to the poor, forcing all the able-bodied men there to join the army without providing their families with any compensation. As a result, those families who have lost their ability to work are left without clothes or food, and the fate of those who went to join the army remains unknown to this day..."

Lan Zhi's words made Mo Ning's expression even more unpleasant.

Only after she finished speaking did he grit his teeth and ask:

"Is that really true?"

"Well, the house I just went to only had a grandmother and granddaughter left. Judging from their condition, it's hard for them to survive. I gave them a few pieces of silver, but that's what happens to all the families in that area. How much can my few pieces of silver do? Besides, it won't solve their immediate problem. But I've already told Yujie to go back and find the Emperor and ask him to investigate where these people have been taken."

"Absolutely not."

Mo Ning suddenly looked at her with a serious expression.

"This matter must not be known to the Emperor."

"Why?"

Lan Zhi was very surprised.

"Those people's fates are unknown; are we just going to leave them to their fate?"

Mo Ning shook his head with a cold look in his eyes.

"This is not your business. Besides, if the Emperor finds out about this, he will definitely send people to investigate. Those who sent these people to the army will be anxious and might even do something desperate. At that time, not only will those who were sent to the army be in danger, but even the elderly, children, and the sick and disabled will be in danger."

Lan Zhi stared at him in astonishment.

"His Majesty ordered an investigation; isn't it clear by now?"