.

  The Dou family was very prominent in Zhending, and people came to seek help like fish crossing the river. However, alone they could not make a forest, so the Dou family wanted to firmly take root here, multiply and thrive. Not only did they want to get along with local officials and wealthy gentry from neighboring villages, but also entertain those rascals and idlers. For trivial matters that came to seek help, as long as it didn't harm the interests of the Dou family, they would help if they could, and if not, they would send some silver to the other party for emergency use. This was how they got their good reputation for being kind and generous today.

  I'm just a weak and timid person, this young girl has grievances, why doesn't she look for the master of the house, my third uncle, or my third older cousin who is always traveling outside, why does she come to me?

  Either this young girl is lying, or it's inconvenient for the Dugu family to intervene in this matter.

  She ordered Hai Tang: "Don't mind them, let's go back to the mansion."

  Was she forced to stop here and confront someone?

  Haitang was encountering such a scene for the first time, and she was so frightened that her teeth were chattering. She lifted the curtain and loudly ordered the coachman to move forward, then walked towards Duan Zhao.

  Dong Zhao couldn't help but secretly sigh.

  The people from the previous life have all been contacted. In a few more years, Cui will be in charge of her estate and Zhao Liangbi will help with business, so she can put her mind at ease about external matters... but as for internal matters... Ganluo and Suxiang cannot be close to her heart, and Haitang is not capable of handling important tasks, it's likely that more effort will be needed.

  As she thought of this, the little girl who had stopped the carriage spoke up: "Fourth Miss, I kowtow to you and beg of you to save my father! I'll set up a longevity tablet for you and repay you with all my might... They say that if the Duan family is willing to vouch that my father didn't collude with bandits, he can be released immediately... Please, Miss, just put in a good word for me with Lord Lu..." As she spoke, she burst into loud sobs.

  That crying sound, heart-wrenching and ear-piercing, makes one feel distressed upon hearing it.

  Dong Zhao frowned and said to Hai Tang: "Stop her from crying. Take her to see Third Uncle."

  Haitang got off the car at the sound of his voice.

  The little girl clung to the cart shaft and refused to let go. She said, "I've begged Third Master, but he says that this matter has solid evidence... My father is clearly being framed... It's all because of that dead fat guy, Shan Jie, who wanted to take my sister as his concubine, but my sister didn't agree. He slandered my father and forced him to sell my sister to him... Fourth Miss, I'm not deceiving you! If I deceive you, may I be struck by lightning and die a terrible death! Even if I said one false word, may I not be reincarnated after I die..."

  How could you make such a vicious vow!

  Dong Zhao was moved beyond control.

  No matter whether this little girl's father was framed or not. At least in the heart of this little girl, her father is innocent and guiltless.

  There are countless children in this world who, out of filial piety, always believe that their father is a man of noble character, but in reality, they are despicable scoundrels who will stop at nothing...

  I don't know why

  She suddenly felt a bit suffocated, took a deep breath, and then said to the little girl who was blocked outside the car curtain in a gentle voice: "You say your father is being framed, and you also say that my third uncle says that your father's thing 'has conclusive evidence', who do you want me to believe?"

  The little girl was taken aback and then hastily said: "Fourth Miss, if I can find evidence, will you be able to help my father make bail?"

  This little girl is clever and resourceful.

  Unfortunately, even San Bo Fu said her father's case was "ironclad evidence", I'm afraid it won't be that easy!

  Dong Zhao hesitated and said: "Who is Shan Jie?"

  "He is the only son of Single Old Master of True Dingzhou." The little girl said, "Single Old Master used to be the governor of Songjiang, and their family was very rich. My father opened a martial arts school, and one of his apprentices, Chen Xiaofeng, worked as a guard at Single Old Master's house. Last year, my father celebrated his birthday. Chen Xiaofeng came to congratulate him, and Single Jie happened to be free and followed him. My father treated him with good wine and food, but he took a liking to my sister. How could my father agree to let my sister become someone's concubine? Single Jie felt humiliated, and it just so happened that a family in True Dingzhou was robbed. He framed the robber as my father's friend and said that the robber had stolen because of my father's tip-off, and after the fact, it was also my father who arranged for the car and horse to let the person escape. My father knew he had offended Single Jie, so he sold all the family property and gave 3,000 taels of silver to Single Jie. Single Jie accepted the silver but didn't acknowledge his mistake, insisting that my father must give my sister to him as a concubine. How could my father bear to let my sister become Single Jie's concubine? He wouldn't even agree to help my father speak up in front of so many people... The little girl started crying, "Fourth Miss, I really didn't lie to you! If you don't believe me, you can ask anyone to go to True Dingzhou and ask around. Everyone knows about this matter... Mr. Chen next door said that Lord Lu used to be the parent official of True Dingzhou County, so the Duan family must have a good relationship with him. I secretly ran here, but who knew that Third Master Duan wouldn't come forward?" She knelt on the ground and started kowtowing to Duan Zhao again.

  Dong Zhao's face sank slightly.

  Since Mr. Duan was once the prefect of Songjiang, the Duan family must have had dealings with him.

  No wonder Third Uncle didn't want to get involved.

  Dong Zhao's heart already had some faint trust.

  In her two lifetimes as a human, she had lived in Kyoto before and didn't know how many wrongful convictions she had heard of, but this was the first time she encountered such a thing where men were deceived and women were forced into concubinage.

  As a woman herself, she was extremely indignant.

  Dong Zhaorong helped the little girl up and asked thoughtfully: "How did you find your way here?"

  The young girl said anxiously: "Dong San Ye doesn't want to help me, so I had to ask around who can speak on my behalf in front of Dong San Ye. Someone mentioned you. They said that not only are you elegant and beautiful, but also dignified and generous, and willing to help others. Not only does the old lady of the Dong family love you like a treasure, but several ladies also like you very much... I was wondering if I could ask for your help..." She murmured.

  Dong Zhaowu frowned.

  Is this talking about yourself?

  How could she feel so cold-blooded, if the oil bottle hadn't fallen in front of her and blocked her way, she wouldn't have even helped...

  However, Third Uncle was unwilling to show his face, which shows that this matter still had some impact on the Duan family. She couldn't just take on this matter with a few points of hot blood.

  "You may know that even if you find me, I'm afraid I won't be able to help you," Dou Zhao said, lifting the car curtain and revealing a face still with some childish features.

  That little girl stood beside Haitang, looking like she was only twelve or thirteen years old. Her skin was slightly dark, with thick eyebrows and big eyes. She had a sturdy build, wearing a light pink short-sleeved shirt, and at first glance, looked like a boy.

  I don't know what her sister looks like?

  Dong Zhaos mind flashed with an idea.

  The little girl jumped up: "You, you're so short!"

  "You" also changed to "you".

  Dòu Zhāo countered with a puzzled expression: "When you came looking for me, didn't you ask clearly?"

  The little girl said with a hint of embarrassment: "I heard them mention you with great respect, I thought you were already married...". She suddenly became spirited and said: "Fourth Miss, if it's inconvenient for you to appear in person, can't you ask the elder of the Duan family to help my father speak to Third Master Duan on his behalf? I can go find Third Master Duan again." Then, as if remembering something, she hurriedly added: "This time when I see Third Master Duan, I won't go empty-handed. Instead, I'll bring the evidence that Fourth Miss mentioned and have a lawyer write it up to give to Third Master Duan. Who knows, maybe he'll change his mind after seeing it!"

  At a young age, it's hard for her to be so clever. If one thing doesn't work out, she immediately thinks of another idea and seizes the opportunity without letting go.

  Dong Zhao couldn't help but secretly praise him.

  This reminded her of when she first arrived at the Hou Mansion in Jining, seeing that spring had only brought two rains and suspected that the capital would suffer a drought. Thinking of Xuan Ning Hou's brother-in-law working at the Grain Transport Command, she visited Madame Guo three times to persuade her to do grain business with her, earning a large sum, which gave her the confidence to stop Wei Tingzhen from interfering in the Hou Mansion's affairs.

  She felt some sympathy for this little girl.

  "What's your father's name?" she asked the little girl. "Where is your family's martial arts school? What's it called?"

  "My father's surname is Bie, his name is Dayong. His courtesy name is Gangyi." The little girl said, "The martial arts school is located in my home, on Dongxiang Street in the east of the city, it's called Bie's Martial Arts School, you can ask anyone when you enter the city and they'll know." She added, "My name is Sulan."

  Dong Zhao pointed at Hai Tang: "You can find her when the time comes."

  Bie Sulan was overjoyed upon hearing this, her small eyes curved into crescent moons as she smiled, and she hastily pulled Haitang's hand, sweetly calling her "sister" and asking what Haitang's name was.

  That joyful emotion, let alone Du Zhao, even the wives of the cart drivers felt it.

  Bie Sulan respectfully knocked three heads on Du Zhao: "Fourth Miss, your great kindness and virtue, I will never forget for the rest of my life."

  Dong Zhao smiled slightly and returned to the Western Mansion, then had someone summon Zhao Liangbi over and said: "You go to Zhending Prefecture, investigate the situation with the Bie family's martial arts school, and report back to me as soon as possible."

  Zhao Liangbi nodded and retreated.

  Dong Zhaoruo went to Liu Bomu's house as if nothing had happened, but unexpectedly saw Wu Shan.

  He smiled and explained: "The master's words are somewhat unclear, and I've been pondering them at home for the past two days. Why did Fourth Sister come so late today?"

  She deliberately chose to come here for lessons at six o'clock in order to avoid Wu Shan, who was on his way to school.

  "Something's come up," said Du Zhao with a smile. "Next year Wu Si will be taking the field, I wonder how prepared he is?"

  "It's okay!" Wu Shan laughed and said with a very confident look.

  The two of them chatted for a couple more sentences before Wu Shan returned to the east wing.

  Had lunch at Ji's place and took a nap. Ji and Duan Zhao returned to West Duan together.

  Dong Zhao found someone to buy the original Jianlan seedlings, and she has been busy dealing with the orchid seedlings these days.

  Ji helped her with the task, carefully planting the softened orchid roots into a pot.

  Grandma watched from the side and also fetched water for them to wash their hands.

  Everyone chatted and laughed, then went to see those few tea flowers with a pleasant growth, until nightfall, the Ji family finally stood up to bid farewell.

  Zhao Liangbi, who had been waiting outside, finally came in to respond to Dou Zhaos words: ...San Jie has made a statement, as long as Bie Gangyu is willing to sell his daughter to her as a concubine, he will immediately come forward to guarantee Bie Gangyus safety. However, Bie Gangyu refused to budge and was said to have been beaten until he could only inhale but not exhale. I specifically changed into casual clothes to visit him in prison and the rumors were true. If no one guarantees his safety, he will be finished within these few days.

  Dou Zhaoyan's eyes flashed with a hint of anger, and he said, "Is there any connection between Bie Junyi and that case?"

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  Sisters who are reading the book, I'm adjusting the schedule right now. The updates for these two days might be a bit messy, please give me some time.

  The update will be sent later, everyone can check it out tomorrow morning!

  o(n_n)o~

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