After my inner voice was eavesdropped, I became the favorite of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 39

Li Qingge has read many novels about the Qing Dynasty. The complicated palace struggles and delicate emotional entanglements are like exquisite paintings that slowly unfold in her mind. She knows everything about the fifth daughter of the emperor mentioned in the novel, and she remembers every detail in her heart. At this moment, she is in this unfamiliar environment, and her heart can't help but ripples: "Didn't that girl die a long time ago? Why did she come to this world again?" Her eyes are full of doubts and puzzlement, as if she is looking for a reasonable explanation to comfort her uneasy heart.

[There are so many twists and turns in this, it’s hard to explain in a short time. Just know that you are now the fifth princess born after the emperor!] The system’s voice sounded in my mind, with a hint of unquestionable authority.

Li Qingge frowned, trying to make sense of this sudden change. She looked around, and saw that in this small woodshed, the dim lights were swaying, stretching the shadows of the people, adding a bit of weird atmosphere. Her eyes fell on the trapped girls, who either bowed their heads and cried, or looked up at the sky helplessly, and each of their eyes revealed deep despair.

[The system has started, please choose a life template. If you delay, I will say goodbye to you and go find a new owner!] The system's urging voice sounded again, with a hint of impatience.

Li Qingge took a deep breath. She knew she had no way out. Her eyes became firm, as if she had already made up her mind: "I choose the second one!" Although her voice was soft, it revealed an unquestionable determination.

The decision to rebel and become a king was not an impulsive one. She had a clear plan in her mind. She was a girl who grew up in the new era, and the concept of gender equality was already ingrained in her. Those old ideas that men are superior to women and husbands are the head of the wife were all nonsense to her. She thought of the history books she had read, and the princesses born to the queen had to share their husbands with other women after they got married, even if they were of noble status. She couldn't accept this kind of life. She was not willing to share her toothbrush and husband with others, this was her bottom line. She would rather die than not protect her self-esteem.

Moreover, her biological mother, Empress Dowager Nala, had fallen out of favor. She recalled the descriptions of Emperor Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty novels. He only had his white moonlight, Fucha, in his heart, and the only daughters he loved were Princess Hejing and Princess Hexiao, his old daughter. A princess without the love of her father, even if she recognized her ancestors, would just marry someone in the future, and if she was unlucky, she would have to marry far away. She would never accept this fate.

Furthermore, the feudal monarchy of Qianlong's time was almost coming to an end. Instead of competing for favor with her mother and other women in the palace, it would be better to relax and be the king herself. She imagined herself standing on a high tower, overlooking the thousands of subjects below, and the feeling of being in control of everything made her yearn for it.

In addition, Qianlong was a man who cared a lot about his reputation. If he knew that his daughter had fallen into prostitution, even if she was innocent, for the sake of the royal family's reputation, he would not only not recognize her, but might also order her death. This cold and ruthless royal rule chilled her. She did not want to be a victim of this rule, she wanted to change her fate.

Finally, the first industrial revolution was about to come, and the world was going to change dramatically. She thought of the humiliating history of modern times, that falling behind would lead to being beaten, which was a bloody lesson. She couldn't let this happen again, and she wanted to fight for a better future for her country and her nation.

Although she knew that the road to becoming a king was difficult, and that if she failed, she would not even be able to find a place to bury her bones, she still plunged in. Her eyes flashed with determination, as if she had seen the dawn of the future.

[Ding! You have made your choice. This system has now become the Queen System!] The system's voice sounded again, with a hint of approval.

[Newbie gift packs are being distributed, do you want to claim one?] The system's tone became gentle, as if it was encouraging her.

Li Qingge was worrying about how to solve the problem in front of her. When she heard this, she quickly replied, "Yes!" There was a hint of eagerness and expectation in her voice.

[Ding! Successfully received!] The system's voice was filled with a hint of joy.

[Congratulations on getting the three-piece gift package: Jiang Yuyan's peerless martial arts, 10,000 white horse soldiers, and 1,000 artillery pieces! ] The system's voice was full of surprise and congratulations.

Jiang Yuyan's peerless martial arts? Li Qingge gasped in shock when she heard this. This reward is really generous. Who is Jiang Yuyan? She is the super female villain with innocent bangs who killed almost all the protagonists. She is the female character with the highest martial arts value in martial arts dramas, and no one can compare to her. Tianshan Tonglao, Lin Chaoying, Shi Guanyin, etc., are far inferior to her. Li Qingge's heart was filled with an indescribable excitement and joy, as if she had seen the day when she would become the world's number one master.

She closed her eyes and felt the power surging in her body. It was Jiang Yuyan's peerless martial arts flowing through her body, bringing her unprecedented strength and confidence. She knew that with this power, she would be the best in the world, and even gods and Buddhas could not stop her, and no one could defeat her!

And the 10,000 white horse soldiers, according to the system, were elite troops created by a male protagonist in a historical time-travel novel. Although they were few in number, each of them was a tough guy who could fight a hundred enemies at once. Wherever they went, they were unstoppable. Li Qingge seemed to have seen the brave and fearless army in front of him. They rode on white horses, held spears, charged into battle, and were invincible.

Her heart is full of expectations and longings. She knows that she still has a long way to go, but she is ready. She wants to use her wisdom and courage to create a future of her own. She wants to become the queen of this era and let everyone remember her name - Li Qingge!

After all, those thousands of modern new artillery pieces, neatly arranged, looked like a forest of steel, emitting a cold and powerful aura, and were truly powerful. Whenever they fired, the heaven and earth seemed to tremble, and the roar made people's hearts beat fast and they were terrified, as if the whole world was about to be swallowed up by this power.

When I think back to the feudal monarchy, the artillery technology of the Qianlong Dynasty was already quite good, but compared with the modern artillery given by the system, it was a world of difference. Those ancient artillery were like children's toys, but these in front of me were artifacts that could shake the world. Li Qingge stood in front of these artillery, with endless pride and ambition surging in his heart.

With these powerful artillery, Li Qingge's road to becoming a queen was naturally much smoother. She seemed to have seen herself standing on the high tower, holding the scepter, looking down at the thousands of subjects under her feet. The feeling of controlling everything made her yearn for it. The immortal who traveled through time treated her very well! Giving her such an opportunity, allowing her to write her own legend in this strange era.

In the blink of an eye, endless energy poured into Li Qingge's body like a tide. These energies carried an indescribable mystery and power, and instantly spread throughout her body. She felt as if she had been reshaped, her tendons were stronger, her blood was fresh, and she was strengthening rapidly. This power made her feel as if she could shake the world and control life and death.

Li Qingge closed her eyes and felt the surge of power. She felt that she was so powerful that she could kill an elephant with just one palm. This powerful feeling made her happy and strengthened her belief. She wanted to use this power in the right way to fight for a place for herself and for women of this era.

She took a deep breath, absorbing all of Jiang Yuyan's cultivation, exhaling the foul air and inhaling the fresh air. Between the inhalation and exhalation, she seemed to have some kind of wonderful connection with the world. She opened her eyes, and her eyes, which were originally dull and lifeless, now became crystal clear, like pearls flowing, emitting a faint light. These eyes seemed to be able to see through all hypocrisy and evil, leaving no sin unnoticed.

It is said that the success of a general is the result of the sacrifice of thousands of people. The road to becoming a queen is also long and difficult. Li Qingge knew that if she wanted to reach that height, she had to walk carefully step by step. She could not be lax or careless, otherwise she would fall into the abyss. However, she was not afraid. She had a firm belief and strong power, and she believed that she could definitely reach that height.

Now, what Li Qingge wanted most was to avenge her former self. She wanted to get rid of the madam and her followers, and burn down this filthy place where women of good character were forced into prostitution. She wanted everyone to know that women were not weaklings who could be bullied by others, and they also had their own strength and dignity.

Li Qingge was decisive, and just as he was about to take action, the wooden door was suddenly pushed open. The dazzling sunlight shone in, as if to illuminate the dark woodshed. However, the sunlight seemed to be blocked by an invisible force, and could only barely let in some weak light.

"Why are you crying? It's so unlucky!" A fierce and brutal voice came in, breaking the silence in the woodroom.

"Once you enter Baixiang Tower, you must do your job obediently." Another voice continued, its tone full of threats and intimidation.

"If you dare to cry again, I will beat you to death." The voice was cold and heartless, as if it did not take the lives of these girls seriously at all.

As the voice fell, a middle-aged man with a rat-like face but a tall and strong figure walked in. He was wearing gorgeous clothes, but those clothes could not cover up the stench and evil on his body. He had a cruel and cold smile on his face, as if it would burst out at any time and destroy everything.

Li Qingge knew this man. He was the pimp of Baixianglou and a professional thug trained by the madam. He was ruthless and notorious. There were countless innocent girls who had been tortured and abused by him. Li Qingge was beaten to death by him.

Seeing this ferocious face, Li Qingge was furious. She stared at him closely, as if she wanted to see and remember everything he did. She wanted to avenge herself and those innocent girls.

At this time, Gui Gong didn't know that his death was coming. He walked straight to Li Qingge, cursing, "Mother Zhang wanted to train you to be a courtesan, but you didn't know what was good for you. Do you really think you are a chaste woman? Humph, once you enter Baixiang Tower, no matter how pure you were before, you will end up being tasted by thousands of people. You better be smart, otherwise..."

Before she finished her words, Li Qingge suddenly broke the hemp rope on her body. Her movements were swift and powerful, as if she was not restrained at all. She slapped the turtle man in the face, and the slap was accompanied by a strong sound of wind, as if it was going to destroy everything.

Snapped!
A crisp sound was heard, and the turtle man was hit so hard that stars appeared in his eyes and blood spurted out. He never thought that this girl who had always been bullied by him would have such a strong power. He screamed and wanted to retreat, but it was too late.

Under the shocked gazes of the girls, Li Qingge slapped him again. This slap was more violent than the last one, deforming half of the turtle man's face. His teeth and nostrils were full of blood, and he screamed in pain. He struggled to get up, but Li Qingge didn't give him the chance.

She lightly tapped his knee, and the powerful force shot out like a bullet, instantly shattering his kneecap. Gui Gong screamed again and fell to the ground. He struggled to get up, but Li Qingge flicked her finger again, shattering his other intact kneecap.

The turtle man was lying on the ground, his mouth and eyes were crooked, and his face was covered with blood. He kept begging for mercy: "Lady, spare me! Lady, spare me! I won't dare to do it next time!" His voice was full of fear and despair, as if he had seen his end.

"You've provoked me, your aunt, and you still want to do it again? Humph!" Li Qingge sneered, her voice full of coldness and determination. She stretched out her right hand, and the wind from her palm whistled, hitting the turtle man's chest. Her palm was called the 'Heart-Breaking Palm', which was an extremely vicious palm force. Anyone who was hit by this palm would have their heart shattered instantly, and die.

When Turtle saw this palm, he was so frightened that his soul flew away. He wanted to dodge, but it was too late. The palm had already hit his chest heavily. He only felt a sharp pain, and then his consciousness became blurred.

Li Qingge looked at the turtle man lying on the ground, without a trace of pity in her heart. She knew that such a person did not deserve sympathy at all. She turned and looked at the imprisoned girls, their eyes were full of fear and anxiety. Li Qingge took a deep breath, and then slowly said: "Don't be afraid, I am here to save you. From now on, you will never be bullied by such people again."

Her voice was gentle and firm, as if it had a magical power that calmed the hearts of the girls. They looked at Li Qingge and seemed to see hope and the future. They knew that this woman was their savior.

Li Qingge led these girls out of the woodshed, and their figures were particularly dazzling in the sun. She knew that she still had a long way to go, but with these artillery and power, she believed that she could definitely reach that height. She wanted to let the women of this era know that they also have their own power and dignity, and they can also control their own destiny.

Those who were hit by the Heart-Breaking Palm may be able to maintain a superficial calm at first, as if the palm force was just a breeze that could not cause any ripples. However, the good times did not last long. The palm force hidden in the body was like a sleeping beast that suddenly awakened, and it suddenly wreaked havoc in the victim's body with the power to destroy the world. The bones of the whole body seemed to be broken by an invisible force in an instant. The pain went straight to the bone marrow and was unbearable. In the internal organs, the blood was like a flood that broke through the dam, surging and pouring out, as if to dye every inch of the body red. And the heart was like being crushed by an invisible hand. The pain was like a broken mirror that could not be repaired. It was so painful that people almost suffocated, as if the whole world collapsed at this moment.

Li Qingge stood there, staring at the fallen toad with a sharp gaze. Her eyes were filled with deep hatred and endless anger. This toad, who helped the tyrant to commit atrocities and forced women of good families into prostitution, pierced Li Qingge's heart like a sharp blade with every evil he did. She swore that she would make this toad suffer and die in pain to relieve her hatred. She clenched her fists, her nails dug deep into her palms, but she was unaware. That hatred had penetrated deep into her bones and could not be removed.

The old man was knocked unconscious by Li Qingge's palm. He fell to the ground, unconscious. However, he didn't know that when he woke up, the real retribution had just begun. A cold light flashed in Li Qingge's eyes. She knew that the suffering of this old man was far from enough.

Just as Li Qingge was punishing the pimp, thousands of soldiers in blood-stained clothes had surrounded the Baixiang Tower. They held swords and had grim faces, as if they were the gods of death walking out of hell, with endless killing intent and destruction. Li Qingge felt their presence and her heart shuddered. She immediately ordered all exits to be sealed off, not letting the evil procuress and her thugs escape. Her voice was cold and firm, with unquestionable majesty.

At this time, Zhang, the madam of Baixianglou, had no idea that a disaster was about to happen. She was sitting in front of her dressing table, proudly counting the money she earned from the auction of the courtesan's virginity last night. In her eyes, those banknotes and gold seemed to represent endless glory and status. She counted them with great joy, and a smug smile appeared on the corner of her mouth. After counting the banknotes and gold, she carefully put them into a Huanghuali box and hid it under the bed. The box seemed to be her lifeblood, and she hid it tightly for fear that it would be discovered.

Then, she twisted her fat waist and staggered out. Her face was covered with thick powder, but it still couldn't hide the traces of time and the ugliness in her heart. When she walked, the flesh on her body seemed to tremble, as if it would fall off at any time.

"Hello, Madam Zhang!" The two thugs guarding the door greeted her with a smile and a flattering look on their faces. They knew that Zhang was their backer, and only by pleasing her could they gain a foothold in Baixianglou.

"Okay, okay, what about the new girls?" Zhang smiled and nodded, then asked. There was a hint of eagerness and expectation in her voice. She knew that among the new girls, there would always be a few with outstanding looks who could bring her more wealth and status.

Among the new girls, the one she liked the most was a girl named Li Qingge. Although she was only thirteen years old and her body had not yet fully developed, she was stunningly beautiful, with eyes as bright as stars and teeth as white as jade. She looked like a flower tree covered with snow, or like a hibiscus blooming in the morning dew. Every time Zhang saw her, she couldn't help but admire her. She thought that as long as she dressed up well, this girl would be able to fascinate those officials, gentry and local tyrants, and even forget her own mother.

Therefore, Zhang treated Li Qingge as a cash cow and paid special attention to her. She often sent people to send some clothes and jewelry to try to make Li Qingge feel her "goodwill". However, Li Qingge never appreciated it. She knew that everything Zhang did was just to use her.

"That girl is very stubborn and still refuses to listen, but Uncle Zhang has gone there and will teach her how to be disciplined. Even the most chaste girl will succumb." A thug answered. A cruel smile appeared on his face. He knew how cruel Uncle Zhang's methods were. Even the most stubborn girl would become obedient under his hands.

He didn't expect that this girl was so stubborn. If it was any other girl, she would have cried and begged for mercy. But this Li Qingge seemed to have no fear and always stuck to her bottom line.

"If I starve this ungrateful girl for two more days, I don't believe she can still be so stubborn." Zhang said angrily, but she was very happy in her heart. She felt that the tougher the girl, the more personality she had. The beauties in Baixianglou were all gentle and docile, and those stinky men were tired of them. Only this kind of pretty lady with personality and temper could arouse their desire to conquer and make them spend a lot of money.

Zhang was thinking proudly when she suddenly heard a loud bang. The door of Baixianglou was violently kicked open. The door seemed to have endured endless anger and power, and was instantly kicked into pieces.

"Who are you? How dare you come here and make trouble? Don't you want to live?" Zhang was furious. She looked up and saw that the people who came were wearing blood-stained clothes and holding long swords. They looked ferocious, just like the devils in hell. Her face turned pale in an instant, and she shut her mouth immediately in fear. She knew that these people were definitely not people she could afford to offend. "Oh, what gust of wind blew you gentlemen here? The girls are still resting. Please come back in the evening." Zhang changed her face like a Sichuan opera face-changing, putting on a flattering and mercenary smile. She waved her handkerchief with a strong scent of powder and said with a smile, trying to resolve the crisis with her smile and sweet words.

But the White Horse soldiers seemed to have not heard anything. The leader shouted loudly: "Smash it!" His voice was cold and firm, with an irresistible majesty. At the command, the White Horse soldiers quickly took action and smashed it crazily. The long swords in their hands swung like lightning, smashing everything in Baixiang Building to pieces. Those exquisite furniture and gorgeous decorations were instantly turned into ruins under their hands.

Zhang was so scared that she collapsed on the ground. She looked at the crazy white horse soldiers, her heart was filled with fear and despair. She knew that her Baixianglou, her cash cow, everything she had, would be destroyed at this moment. She wanted to cry, but she couldn't. She could only watch everything turn into nothing. And those thugs had already fled in fear, fearing that they would be affected.

In this crazy smashing and looting, Li Qingge seemed to be standing aside. She stood there quietly, watching everything happen. In her eyes, there was no fear, no despair, only determination and resoluteness. She knew that this was the beginning of her revenge and the beginning of her freedom. She would use her power to destroy the cage that bound her and embrace her future.

"What are you doing? Stop, stop, how can you just do this?" Aunt Zhang's screams echoed in Baixiang Tower, her voice full of fear and confusion. She watched helplessly as everyone started to fight without saying a word. In a blink of an eye, those exquisite tables and chairs, carved doors and windows, and solid fences were smashed to pieces, and the fragments flew everywhere, as if a sudden storm swept the entire Baixiang Tower. Her heart ached like blood dripping, because she spent countless efforts and money to build these!
She repeatedly scolded the thugs, her voice filled with anxiety and anger: "Are you dead? Go and stop them! Don't let them smash things anymore!" However, the thugs seemed not to hear her words. They just stood there, at a loss.

Finally, two thugs heard Zhang's order, and they rushed forward with their fists waving, trying to stop this crazy destruction. But how could their courage and ability compare with those well-trained White Horse Army? Before they could throw their fists, they were kicked away by the White Horse Army, fell heavily to the ground, and groaned in pain.

Then, screams rang out. The two thugs were covered in blood, their arms were broken, and their bodies were twisted. It was obvious that they would not live long. When Zhang saw this scene, she turned pale with fear. She knew that she had encountered a strong enemy today, and hurriedly summoned all the thugs in Baixianglou.

"Hurry up, hurry up!" Zhang's scream rang out again, and she waved her arms, trying to get more people to hear her call. Soon, dozens of thugs waving sticks and long knives rushed towards the White Horse Army, with fierce light flashing in their eyes, as if they wanted to tear these invaders into pieces.

However, the fighting power of the White Horse Army was far beyond their imagination. Although those thugs were fierce, they seemed to be vulnerable in front of the White Horse Army. Not long after, they all fell to the ground, some groaning in pain, and some had already lost their breath.

By the time Li Qingge walked to the lobby, all the thugs had become corpses, blood had stained the ground red, and the air was filled with a strong smell of blood. The girls in the building saw this scene from the window and were so frightened that they closed their doors and dared not come out. They curled up in the corner, trembling, as if they would become the target of these fierce invaders in the next moment.

Li Qingge glanced coldly at the scene in the hall, and then her eyes fell on Zhang. She slowly walked in front of Zhang and asked in a cold voice, "Where is the madam?"

"Your Majesty, she's here!" Shi Shuyu, a leader of the White Horse Army, carried Zhang to Li Qingge and slapped her on the back. Zhang screamed in pain and was forced to raise her head. She saw Li Qingge standing in front, surrounded by the White Horse Army. She widened her eyes and asked in surprise: "You, why is it you? How can you, an orphan girl, gather so many people?"

Li Qingge heard this and sneered. She said slowly, "You don't need to know so much! Aunt Zhang, you have forced women of good families into prostitution for so many years and used these innocent women to make ill-gotten gains. Have you ever thought that you would get such a retribution today?"

When Aunt Zhang heard this, a fierce light flashed in her eyes. She gritted her teeth and said, "Who are you? Let me go! The boss behind my Baixianglou is the governor Yu Sance. If you dare to cut off his financial resources, I will make you die sooner or later!"

Li Qingge sneered when she heard this. She was familiar with history and knew who Yu Sance was that Zhang Ai was talking about. This man was a famous corrupt official in the Qianlong Dynasty, second only to Heshen and Li Shiyao in terms of corruption. He was well versed in the unspoken rules of officialdom and liked to use money to get ahead. In a few years, he started as a county magistrate by buying an official position, and was promoted to the second-rank governor, and later became the governor of Zhejiang. But now, all his power and status seemed worthless in Li Qingge's eyes.

"You are about to die, but you still dare to be stubborn. Slap him!" Li Qingge gave the order coldly. She knew that for such a person, only violence could make her surrender.

"Yes!" Upon hearing this, Shi Shuyu immediately ordered his men to hold down Aunt Zhang and slap her left and right. The slaps hit her old face covered with powder, making her scream. The crisp slaps echoed in Baixiang Tower, as if seeking justice for those innocent women who were victimized.

"Ouch! Lady, spare me! Lady, spare me! I won't dare to do it again." Zhang was beaten so hard that blood gushed out of her mouth and nose, splattering everywhere. She finally realized her situation and began to beg for mercy. She thought she was cruel and vicious, but she didn't expect Li Qingge to be a hundred times more powerful than her.

Li Qingge looked at Zhang's miserable appearance, but she had no sympathy in her heart. She knew that only by thoroughly attacking this kind of person could she really wake up. So, she said coldly: "You are wrong, you are really wrong. Do you think you can do whatever you want just because you have money and power? You are wrong! In this world, there is still justice and fairness! You forced women of good families into prostitution, causing many innocent women to lose their families and become homeless? Do you know your crime?"

Zhang was shocked when she heard this. She finally realized her mistake and her deep sin. She said tremblingly, "I was wrong. I was really wrong. Lady, I didn't recognize the great man. Please forgive me. I have a lot of money here. If you are willing to forgive me, all of it will be yours."

However, Li Qingge just looked at her coldly and turned away. She knew that this kind of person was hopeless. What she wanted was not money, but justice and fairness. So, she said slowly: "I don't want your money! I just hope you can remember the lesson today and don't do such evil things again in the future!" After that, she turned and left, leaving Zhang shivering there, full of regret.

Zhang's wails echoed in the Baixiang Tower, like dead leaves blown by the wind in the middle of the night, carrying endless sadness and despair. Her face was twisted in pain, beads of sweat oozed from her forehead, and her eyes were full of fear and unwillingness. The wails, one after another, seemed to be the last bit of strength squeezed out from the depths of her soul, trying to find a trace of redemption in this endless darkness.

Li Qingge stood in front of her, her face stern, but her eyes were filled with unnoticeable anger. She was wearing a tight-fitting outfit, and her figure was straight, like a sword about to be unsheathed, with its edge exposed. Her voice was cold and firm, without a trace of emotion: "The dirty money you made, and the indentures of those girls, all must be handed over to me, not a single cent less."

Zhang was trembling, her eyes lingered on Li Qingge's cold face for a moment, then she quickly lowered her head, not daring to look directly at him. An indescribable fear surged in her heart, as if the person standing in front of her was not a mortal, but a messenger from hell, who came specifically to take revenge for the sins she had committed over the years.

"Okay, I'll give it to you, I'll give it to you!" Zhang finally broke down. She no longer cared about the money and only wanted to save her life. She pointed with a trembling finger to a hidden corner in the house, where all her savings over the years and the girls' indentures were hidden.

The soldiers of the White Horse Army acted quickly. Following Zhang's instructions, they searched the house and soon found all the money and the indenture. The gold, silver, jewels and jades sparkled brightly in the sun, but also reflected Zhang's face, which was distorted by greed.

"Ouch!" Aunt Zhang looked at the money that was searched out, and her heart ached as if it was cut by a knife. Her savings over the years were taken away by Li Qingge in one go. She almost wanted to commit suicide, but she didn't dare to. She could only watch her hard work being taken away bit by bit.

Li Qingge looked at the money, and a hint of coldness flashed in her eyes. She knew that the money was earned by the blood and tears of those prostitutes, and was earned by their youth and dignity. She looked at Zhang coldly, and her voice was as cold as ice: "Is that all? Is there anything else? Tell me quickly, or I will search it out and make you live a life worse than death."

Aunt Zhang was trembling all over and shaking her head like a rattle: "No more, it's all here, lady, you see I'm so old, please spare my life!" As she spoke, she kowtowed to Li Qingge repeatedly until her head was broken and bleeding, and she didn't even bother to wipe it.

Li Qingge looked at her with a sneer, and that smile was filled with endless coldness and ridicule. She spoke slowly, her voice as sharp as a knife: "You are begging me to forgive you now, but did you forgive others in the past? Look at those girls upstairs, they were all forced to leave their families. You forced them to do that kind of thing for your own selfish desires, and separated their flesh and blood, ruining their reputations. How many parents cried blind because of their daughters, and how many parents died on their sickbeds, hoping to see their daughters but couldn't, and finally died with hatred. If I forgive you today, how can I be worthy of justice and conscience?"

The more she spoke, the angrier she became, and her voice gradually rose, until she was almost roaring: "Drag her away, chop her into meat paste, and throw her into the wild to feed the dogs!" Her voice echoed in Baixiang Tower, shaking people's hearts.

If male superiority and female inferiority are the cancer of feudal society, then the black forces such as madams and pimps are the cancer among cancers. They harm women and use them as tools to make money. They have no humanity at all. Li Qingge knew that these people deserved to die, and she would never show mercy.

In addition to Zhang, Li Qingge also called down all the girls upstairs and released the girls in the woodshed. They were all ragged and haggard, but their eyes were shining with hope. Li Qingge looked at them, and an indescribable pity and anger surged in his heart.

She asked the girls to stand in two rows in the lobby, and then said loudly: "The madams and pimps who persecuted you are dead, and you are free now. If you want to go home, tear up your indentures and live a good life; if you want to do great things with me, tear up your indentures and follow me. I treat you as sisters, and we will share happiness and difficulties in the future."

Her voice was firm and powerful, like a warm current flowing into the hearts of those girls. As they listened to Li Qingge's words, tears flashed in their eyes, as if they saw a ray of hope in their lives.

Li Qingge asked Shi Shuyu to hold the contract and read out the names one by one. The girls whose names were read came forward to take the contract, looked at the paper that had bound them for their whole lives, and angrily tore the contract into pieces, and then burst into tears. The cry was filled with endless sorrow and release, as if to cry out all the grievances and sufferings of the past years.

Li Qingge looked at these crying girls with mixed feelings. She knew that these girls had experienced too much suffering and torture. Their cries were an accusation against the feudal society and a desire for a free life. She gently patted a girl on the shoulder and said softly, "Don't cry. I'm here, and you won't suffer anymore."

The girls gradually stopped crying as they listened to Li Qingge's words. They looked at Li Qingge with gratitude and trust in their eyes. They knew that from this moment on, their lives would turn a new page, and all this was thanks to this brave and kind woman - Li Qingge.

This further strengthened her determination to eradicate the remnants of feudalism and build an equal and civilized society. In this ancient and heavy land, Li Qingge is like a fresh breeze, vowing to blow away the haze that shrouds the woman's heart.

The indentures were torn into pieces one by one, like broken shackles, finally freeing the souls of these women. Some women chose to go home to serve their families, their faces filled with longing for the future, although that future was full of unknowns, but at least they were free. Li Qingge distributed the more than 100,000 yuan of property confiscated from Baixianglou to them one by one, allowing them to go home with the money to live. Those heavy silver coins were not only material help, but also a restoration of their dignity.

However, most women stood still, with confusion and helplessness covering their hearts like fog. Among these prostitutes, only 20% to 30% were actually trafficked into prostitution, and the rest were sold by cruel parents. Some were sold because of natural disasters and man-made disasters, heavy taxes from the imperial court, and their families had no choice but to sell their daughters to survive; some were forced to sell their daughters for dowry in order to marry their sons because of the preference for boys over girls; even worse, there were unscrupulous fathers who were addicted to alcohol, drugs, and debts, and used their daughters to pay off their debts. Their life stories were different, but the sufferings they encountered were so similar.

Li Qingge looked at these women, and an indescribable anger and sympathy surged in her heart. She knew that these women were afraid of being sold by their parents again after returning home, and they were even more afraid of being criticized by their fellow villagers. The literati and scholars at that time all advocated that "starving to death is a small matter, but losing one's chastity is a big matter". Once a woman lost her chastity, no matter what the reason, she would be unacceptable to society. This kind of feudal etiquette was heavier than any shackles.

"Don't worry, with me here, no one will dare to bully you." Li Qingge's voice was firm and powerful. Her words were like a beam of light, illuminating the darkness in the hearts of these women. After careful consideration, the women decided to follow Li Qingge, the Bodhisattva who saved them from the water and fire. They knew that only by following Li Qingge could they find true freedom and dignity.

So, Li Qingge set fire to Baixiang Tower, and the raging flames were like the anger in their hearts, completely destroying this prison of sin. With hope for the future, they left this place that had once made them miserable with their heads held high.

As night fell, the flickering candlelight in the study of the governor's official residence illuminated Yu Sance's gloomy face. He was wearing the uniform of a second-rank official, sitting upright on a grand master's chair, his eyes as sharp as a knife. His fingers tapped lightly on the table, making a dull sound, as if it was an echo of his inner anxiety.

"The rainstorm in the south has caused disasters, and the people are displaced. The emperor has only allocated 500,000 taels for disaster relief. How can this amount of money be divided and used to save the people?" Yu Sance's voice was low and powerful. He looked at the imperial edict in his hand with a frown. To him, disaster relief was just a cover, and the real purpose was to make money. He thought that the disaster was serious and the court would allocate at least one million taels, but he didn't expect it would only be half of that. It was simply a fantasy to use 500,000 taels to help so many victims.

However, Yu Sance was a master of corruption, and he had already figured out how to make money. Although 500,000 taels was not much, it would not cost much to buy the old rice that the big merchants had hoarded for many years at a low price. Those poor people didn't need to eat any delicacies, just having a meal was good enough. Thinking of this, Yu Sance's mouth curled up with a sneer, his wishful thinking was going well, but he didn't know that he was about to face a disaster.

Suddenly, the butler rushed in, his face full of panic and anxiety. "Master, it's not good, it's not good." The butler's voice trembled, as if something terrible was about to happen.

Yu Sance frowned, he didn't like this panic atmosphere. "What's the matter? How can you be so panicked?" His voice was stern and cold, as if he wanted to completely suppress the butler's panic.

"Master, it's really bad. Something happened in Baixiang Tower." The butler's voice became even deeper, as if he did not dare to face Yu Sance's sharp gaze.

"What's the matter?" Yu Sance's voice suddenly rose, and an ominous premonition surged in his heart.

"Baixiang Tower was burned down, and Mother Zhang and others were killed by thieves." The housekeeper's voice was like a bolt from the blue, causing Yu Sance to stand up suddenly.

"What?" Yu Sance was horrified, his face full of disbelief and anger. Baixianglou was his cash cow, but now it was burned down, how could he not feel distressed?
"I don't know. That group of thieves had unknown origins and acted efficiently and ruthlessly. They disappeared without a trace a long time ago." The butler's voice trembled, as if he could feel Yu Sance's angry breath.

"Useless! A bunch of useless!" Yu Sance was furious. He slammed the table repeatedly, as if he wanted to vent all the anger in his heart. "Investigate! Even if we have to search the entire capital, we must find the thief. If they dare to touch my wealth, I will kill them!"

"Yes!" The butler was about to pass on the order when he suddenly heard a crisp voice.

"Why bother with all that trouble? I'm right here. Come and kill me if you dare!" The voice was as clear and pleasant as a nightingale, but it carried an arrogance and determination that could not be ignored.

Yu Sance turned his head suddenly and saw a woman in tight clothes and holding a long sword standing at the door. Her face was full of confidence and determination, as if she was not afraid of him, a second-rank official, at all.

"You... who are you?" Yu Sance's voice trembled, as if he could feel the powerful aura emanating from the woman.

"Me? I am the thief you are looking for - Li Qingge!" The woman's voice was crisp and powerful, and her words were like a sharp sword, piercing Yu Sance's heart.

(End of this chapter)