The woman, expecting a scolding, had braced herself, but to her surprise, her master was still showing concern. Tears streamed down her face as she kowtowed several times.
With one woman taking the lead, several more stepped forward, each with her own reason. Wu Caiwei appeased them all, believing that forcing someone into marriage was futile, and besides, she couldn't prevent them from marrying for a lifetime.
"Is there anyone else? I'll ask one last time. If no one else comes forward, I'll assume you're all willing to stay," Wu Caiwei stood up and declared with seriousness.
"Alright, since everyone is willing to stay, let me outline my rules. We've lived together for years, and we all know each other well. My requirements are simple: we don't provoke trouble, but we also don't fear it. Furthermore, you must be loyal to me and not betray me."
With that, she clapped her hands, and two women in black were immediately brought onto the stage. These were the very women who had attempted to escape the previous night.
Seeing them, the crowd stirred. They had grown up together and shared a bond. Some women showed expressions of worry, but they also knew their master wouldn't punish someone without reason; these women must have made a mistake.
"Master, you must save us! This woman wants to kill us!" As soon as the two women were unbound, they rushed to Ouyang Chenxi's side and knelt, begging for mercy.
"Aren't you bringing this upon yourselves?" Ouyang Chenxi toyed with her fingers, her voice calm.
"We did all this for your own good. She has offended the Emperor, and the Emperor wants to put her to death. That's the Emperor! How can we common folk fight against him? As long as she dies, we'll plead with the Emperor on your behalf, and he will surely spare the Ouyang family." The two women gazed at him with admiration.
Ouyang Chenxi felt disgusted. He looked calmly at the people below, "Did you all hear that? We have offended the Emperor. If anyone wishes to leave, you may do so now."
"We were taken in and diligently taught by Master. Without you, we would have starved to death on the streets. Living a few more years is a gain. Never mind the Emperor; even if the King of Heaven himself came, it wouldn't matter. If you want to kill them, you'll have to step over my dead body first!" Liu Yi, usually silent, was the first to declare her resolve.
"Yes, we're not leaving! Wherever Master is, that's our home..."
Wu Caiwei was touched. Normally, they all had their own little schemes and engaged in infighting, but at a crucial moment, they stood united against outsiders.
In the end, the couple, in front of everyone, crippled the martial arts of these two women and expelled them from the manor.
"These young girls are pouring their hearts out for you, considering you in every way, yet you are so heartless to them. Aren't you being a bit too cruel?" Wu Caiwei teased him. She hadn't paid much attention before, but looking closely today, she realized he was indeed quite handsome.
"Don't tease me. Everyone knows I prioritize you in everything. I've emphasized this to them so many times, and yet someone still knowingly breaks the rules." Ouyang Chenxi shook his head in helplessness. They looked at each other and burst into laughter.
"I can't believe you two were so foolish! How many times did I tell you not to have such selfish thoughts? You just wouldn't listen." Qiu'er chided them while pressing the items she had brought into their arms.
"We understand, but we couldn't control our hearts. Thank you for visiting us. Perhaps we won't see each other again in this lifetime. Can you give me a hug?" Ye'er looked at them with tear-filled eyes. This time, five or six women had come with Qiu'er to visit them. They exchanged glances and unhesitatingly stepped forward to embrace the two.
"Even without your martial arts, you still have your medical skills. What Master has taught you over the years is enough for us to live well. Being a female doctor isn't bad either," Zhen'er comforted her. But as she was comforting her, the ground suddenly trembled, and she involuntarily fell to the side. Su Dan Novel Net.
As soon as they fell, a group of dark-clothed figures entered, picked them up, and carried them out.
"You promised us you wouldn't harm them. You must keep your word!" Qiu'er anxiously looked at them, reminding them, but no one paid them any mind.
By evening, the women had still not returned. The others dared not conceal it and quickly informed Wu Caiwei. Due to the large number of people, Wu Caiwei and Ouyang Chenxi had divided them into two groups, each apprenticed to one of them for personal instruction. Today, the missing women were all Ouyang Chenxi's disciples, leading her to a bold guess.
"I saw them packing a lot of food and silver, and sneaking out," one of the women stammered under Wu Caiwei's scrutinizing gaze, confessing what she had seen.
With her suspicion confirmed, Wu Caiwei personally led a search party. Soon, following the traces, they found the two women's hiding place.
Seeing Wu Caiwei's gaze fall on the bundle in her arms, Ye'er clutched it tightly, defending them. "They were just sympathizing with us and sent us a little something. I hope Madam Ouyang won't blame them. If you have anything to say, say it to us."
"They've gone missing. Do you know anything about this?"
"What? They're missing? They were advising us to live our lives properly at noon, how could they suddenly disappear? Please, Madam, help us find them. Ye'er will repay your kindness by being a beast of burden in the next life." Ye'er exclaimed in surprise and quickly begged Wu Caiwei to search for them.
The two watched them leave. After a while, Zhu'er, who was beside her, raised her head. It was then that Ye'er noticed she was already in tears.
"Ye'er, we won't have harmed them, will we? I regret it. I shouldn't have listened to them and dragged our sisters into this. If anything happens to them, I don't want to live anymore." Her heart was filled with self-reproach, sadness, and grief. The thought of their cold, arrogant demeanor as they led them away made her heart ache.
"No, they promised us," Ye'er said, her heart uneasy. She also regretted it but was unwilling to admit it.
"You believe their words? Let alone them, you two still have value. They've let you go for now, but when you no longer have any use, then..." Wu Caiwei made a throat-slitting gesture with ill intent.
Seeing her, the two women were so terrified that they collapsed onto the ground. They never imagined their conversation had been overheard by Madam. They were doomed.
"Please, Madam, save them. They were taken away by the Emperor's men." Zhu'er, having recovered, quickly ran to Wu Caiwei and knelt, kowtowing several times. Compared to them, she trusted Madam more.
"You can keep your lives for now. You'd better pray they're alright. If anything happens to them, I won't let you off." Wu Caiwei shot them a fierce look and continued her search.
That night, she, along with two highly skilled female martial artists, donned black clothes and sneaked into the imperial palace.