In the alley, a young girl in embroidered clothes and skirt was hastily changed into a coarse hemp garment by several hands. The jade pendant around her neck, the tinkling anklet on her wrist, and the bright pearl-embroidered pouch at the hem of her skirt were also greedily snatched away by the old woman.

  Song Yi smiled, not crying or making a fuss, with her bright and clear apricot-shaped eyes wide open, curiously yet obediently allowing the heavily made-up woman to lift her onto the horse carriage.

  She was so cooperative that the woman frowned, and after shoving her into the carriage, she turned to the old lady who was removing pearls from her embroidery pouch and said: "Your familys young miss shouldnt be out of her mind, right? Shes already eight years old, how could she hear us clearly say were going to sell her and not make a peep? If its like this, then the price..."

  "You dont know: this young lady has always been taciturn, not even speaking in front of the old madam and master - otherwise, how could she have sold her within a year of entering the household? The servant saw her mention the price and hastily stuffed the embroidered pouch into her bosom, explaining urgently, "She must be a good person! Her birth mother, that previous lady, was renowned for her beauty, or else she wouldnt have married into the Wang familys high-ranking branch!"

  "The palace?!?" The woman exclaimed, interrupting her words. "Youre saying shes entered the palace as a royal concubine?!?" Suddenly jumping up, "Are you crazy from thinking about money?! I thought she was an orphan with no one to care for her, but it turns out her own mother is not only alive but also a noblewoman?! You dare to sell her into prostitution?! I wouldnt dare buy even if you sold her - return my money! Let your young mistress go wherever she wants, stop bothering me!"

  "Stop, stop, stop! This isnt my idea, its the new madams intention. The new madam cant be kind to you, can she? Besides, this child is only eight years old, even if you buy her back, youll have to hide her for a few years before bringing her out again. As the saying goes, a girl changes at eighteen, by that time, even if her features are still recognizable, the Song family is a respectable household after all, who would dare to associate your people with them without any evidence?"

  "Youve even met her before! A child as young as this can already recognize people - if you dont take her away now, when the truth comes out later, the new wife is already pregnant and will be able to get through it, but you wont be able to say anything!"

  "Im so unlucky, I must have owed blood debt for eighteen lifetimes!" The woman was furious, almost dying from rage, and snatched the money pouch, "Return my money! Your new wife dislikes your original daughter, I helped her by buying you, she should be paying me instead. How dare you ask me for silver?!"

  That old woman wouldnt give in. The two of them wrestled for half a day, and finally, fearing they would attract onlookers, they each retreated a step. The old woman returned half the silver to the woman: "Youve really taken advantage! Im telling you, if this child doesnt become famous throughout the land when he grows up, then its certain that all the men in the world have died out!"

  "Tell that new wife of yours to take good care of herself! Otherwise, by the time she grows up, well all be done for!" The woman took the silver and got into the carriage with a cold smile. As soon as she entered the carriage, she was stunned!

  The tea and dim sum in the hidden compartment were brought out, and a small table was filled with an assortment of dishes.

  The pretty little girl sat with her elbow on the table, picking and eating fruit daintily. Seeing her come in, she carelessly spat out a fruit pit and smiled: "Youre really good at enjoying yourself! These tea refreshments, even I could only have them when my mother was still at the Songs house!"

  The womans face turned pale, and she was stunned for a long time before regaining her composure. She raised her hand and slapped the girls wrist, which had tried to grab another thing, with a loud "slap". She sneered: "Ah! You finally know how to put on airs as a young lady? Too late! Your stepmother has already sold you to me, no matter how noble you were before, from now on, youre just a prostitute... Give me the things and collect them quickly!"

  "Otherwise, Ill flay you alive!"

  The usual intimidation tactics used on little girls had no effect on Song Yixiao - she lazily leaned back, still smiling: "The woman who just sold you to me is my wet nurse, Zhao Mama!"

  "It was actually Wu Mama, my stepmothers confidante, who openly brought me out today!"

  "Why?"

  "Because Madam Wu was hit on the back of her head with a club not long ago - of course, she must be delighted to have received this blow now. I bet she will find a place to hide and only come out when she has to, then go cry to me that Ive been kidnapped, in order to delay the time it takes to find me!"

  Song Yi smiled, her eyes narrowing as she gazed at the woman whose eyes were getting wider and wider. The corners of her lips, like flower petals, curled up, revealing deep dimples. "The one who hit Wu Mama was my grandfather, Zhao Mamas husband! They did this because... of course, it was my order!"

  The womans mouth was agape, her hair disheveled in the wind: "Wh...what did you just say?!"

  "Chengnan Weis residence, dont tell me you dont know it!" Song Yi smiled and stroked the back of her hand that was just slapped, smiling brightly at her. "That is my maternal grandmothers house... Youre sending me there now, saying that Wu Mama sold me to you, you couldnt bear to see a good young lady from a wealthy family fall into disrepute, and were also afraid it wouldnt be safe to send me back to the Song residence, so you had to ask for my maternal familys address, and muster up the courage to send me to their doorstep... Not only can I thank you with gifts of silver, but in the future, the Wei family will also owe you a favor, and my mother, who became the concubine of the King of Hengshan, will also have to repay your kindness!"

  She paused for a moment, her smile turning cold. "If Im not sent over there before sunset today... the crime of you and my stepmother conspiring against me will be confirmed!"

  He finished speaking without looking at the womans face, closed his eyes and rested his mind, "Thats all I have to say, you think for yourself!"

  She didnt do it on purpose, she really felt tired - anyone who has been through her mothers remarriage, fathers indifference, grandmothers dislike, and stepmothers constant trouble-making, barely surviving to the age of sixteen, finally reaching the age of marriage, hoping to escape by marrying out, but was forced into a failed rape attempt by her stepmothers nephew, slandered as "lewd and seductive, luring her brother-in-law", and was thrown out of the Song family, almost drowned in a pig cage... When she opened her eyes again and returned to being eight years old, just sorting through those eight years of memories was enough to exhaust her still childish body!

  "Heaven is just! ” Song Yi laughed and took the masters position to rest, thinking happily, "This life should also let you taste the flavor of a hundred mouths being speechless!"

  Who would have believed that a proud and arrogant young lady would actually sell herself to a madam?!

  Still just an eight-year-old young lady - really looking forward to seeing the expression on the Song familys face after the Wei family comes knocking!