Climbing on the Sparrow Branch – CH 232

Chapter 232: House Arrest

Tao Hong’s heart skipped a beat when she heard her young lady say there was work.

After spending so long in West Alley, Tao Hong had subconsciously developed a habit of overthinking.

“Miss, what do you mean?” Tao Hong asked.

“Don’t worry, this is serious business.” An Zhi noticed Tao Hong’s nervousness and smiled. “My clothing store is about to open a new location in Yunzhou. I’ve noticed you’re very perceptive and have a good understanding of business tactics. I think life is long, and it would be so boring if you stayed in this small courtyard forever.”

After a pause, An Zhi tilted her head to look at Tao Hong as they walked side by side. “Besides, many people in the capital know you, so it’s best for you to leave. It takes two days to get from the capital to Yunzhou. Then you can change your appearance and start a new life. So I want you to go to Yunzhou and become the store manager. Are you willing?”

Tao Hong initially thought she was being asked to seduce someone with her beauty, but she didn’t expect her to leave the capital to make a living. She was so moved that she was speechless.

An Zhi continued, “You’ve been in West Alley for ten years, and you must have been through a lot of helplessness. In life, if you can survive independently, you won’t be afraid of going anywhere. Besides, you’re only sixteen, and you still have a long life ahead of you.”

Seeing they reached the kitchen, An Zhi stopped trying to persuade her and smiled as she stepped over the threshold. “There’s no need to rush to reply. When you figure it out, just send a message to the An Mansion.”

“Plop!”

As soon as An Zhi finished speaking, Tao Hong knelt down and kowtowed, her voice choking with emotion. “Miss, you are truly a rare and kind person. I’m willing to go to Yunzhou!”

Tao Hong had previously chosen to stay in the courtyard because she knew that if she left the capital on her own, she would be kidnapped, so she decided to stay put.

For Tao Hong herself, the capital was her city of suffering. The people and things here made her want to escape.

So, being able to leave the capital was something she longed for.

Seeing Tao Hong kneel down, An Zhi quickly asked Binglu to help her up. “Since you’ve agreed, I’ll make arrangements for you when we get home today. Alright, stop crying and let’s get cooking.”

Tao Hong wiped her tears and nodded repeatedly, agreeing, “We have fish tonight. I’ll make you West Alley’s signature sweet and sour fish.”

An Zhi had never been to West Alley, but she had heard it was luxurious, like a paradise on earth, and the food there must be the best. So, watching Tao Hong slaughter the fish, she felt a sense of anticipation.

While An Zhi happily cooked, Lin Shuyao wasn’t in such a good mood.

By the time Lin Shuyao realized what had happened, it was too late to cover her face, and the carriage had already left. She could only hide in a nearby clothing store and change into new clothes. The city guards then found a new carriage to take her back to the palace.

Her actions on the street immediately alerted the Eighth Prince.

Ever since Lin Shuyao married Li Yao, he had been secretly monitoring her.

Li Yao had just finished drinking his medicine when he heard someone accompanying Lin Shuyao return with a message. He was so angry that he threw the bowl in his hand. “You said she rolled off the carriage in public, and a bunch of beggars groped her?”

The servant who replied was already kneeling on the ground, not daring to raise his head as he said yes.

“Damn it!” Li Yao was so angry his chest ached. He pulled at his wound as he shook his hand and frowned. “I told her to behave, but she still went out and acted like a troublemaker! Tell me, what did she do today?”

The servant didn’t dare to hide anything and replied truthfully, “Master, the princess was on her way back and deliberately took a detour to buy rouge. That’s why the accident happened. So it couldn’t have been intentional.”

Li Yao didn’t care whether it was intentional or not. Pei Que had spread rumors that Lin Shuyao had loved Pei Yu deeply, which was embarrassing enough.

And then Lin Shuyao made a fool of herself in public, practically humiliating him.

If he hadn’t been recuperating at home, he would have been laughed at if he had gone to court as before.

Just thinking about what others might say behind his back made Li Yao want to divorce his wife immediately!

“Bring her here! Now! Immediately!” Li Yao roared.

The servant didn’t dare delay. He left the palace and ran to find someone. He happened to run into the princess consort at the palace gate and stopped her.

Lin Shuyao’s heart sank when she heard the prince had called for her and saw the servant’s pale face. She wanted to question him, but the servant, being the prince’s servant, only told her to be careful and refused to say anything else, which only made her even more frightened.

As she entered the palace, a vase flew towards her. If she hadn’t dodged quickly, she would have been struck and bleeding.

“Kneel down!” Li Yao was furious at the sight of Lin Shuyao.

Lin Shuyao’s legs went limp from Li Yao’s roar. She knelt before even reaching the center of the hall, her knees cut by the broken porcelain on the floor. “Prince…Prince, what’s wrong?”

“How dare you ask what’s wrong?” Li Yao sat on the bed, his hand trembling uncontrollably as he pointed at Lin Shuyao. “You’ve completely disgraced me! I’m so unlucky to marry a woman like you. I’m less fortunate than the ugly daughter of the Deputy Minister of Revenue!”

Li Yao was always outspoken, and now, in a rage, he blurted out whatever came to his mind, completely unconcerned about whether he and Lin Shuyao would have a future together.

But it was true. The Deputy Minister of Revenue was as wealthy as Minister Lin. Moreover, knowing his daughter wouldn’t be easily married, he would definitely pay for it.

To Lin Shuyao, these words were a profound humiliation.

Everyone in the capital knew that the Minister of Revenue’s legitimate daughter was ugly and fat. If it weren’t for her generous dowry, she wouldn’t have been able to marry.

The prince compared her to an ugly woman, and Lin Shuyao instantly bit her lip, tears streaming down her cheeks as she looked into the prince’s eyes.

Li Yao was even more upset when he saw Lin Shuyao crying.

He already disliked Lin Shuyao, so whatever she did seemed artificial to him.

“Why are you crying?” Li Yao no longer wanted to lecture her and simply gave her an order. “A woman like you is unfit to be a princess consort. But since I’ve married you, you must stay in the palace from now on. You are not allowed to leave without my permission!”

This was a disguised form of house arrest.

Lin Shuyao immediately shook her head and pleaded, “Your Highness, you can’t do this. I’m your princess consort, not a servant. And what happened today wasn’t my fault.”

“It wasn’t your fault?” Li Yao snorted. “If you hadn’t intended to harm others, how could anyone harm you? And if you hadn’t proactively provoked An Zhi, how could Pei Que have come to harm you?”

Li Yao grew increasingly angry as he spoke, his chest pounding. “Lin Shuyao, you’re not only cruel and vicious, you’re also incredibly stupid! Don’t think no one knows what you’ve done. I know everything. Someone, drag the princess away. From now on, she’s not allowed to leave the palace without my permission!”