The male supporting character was actually myself.

Moreover, I had previously heard a rumor, which I just verified and returned to report to the Commander-in-Chief.

The air was thick with cold in the early winter morning, and people seemed much more lethargic. The Marshal's Mansion was quiet and still.

Li Dongchen hadn't gotten out of bed yet when he suddenly heard the door being kicked open with a loud bang.

He was half asleep, dreaming of holding his dream lover Ruan Xiangqin, feeling all lovey-dovey. He thought he was in the Qinxiang Xiaozhu of Bai Moli and her sister. Suddenly he was awakened and sat up. He opened his eyes and looked blankly at his father, who rushed to the edge of the kang and slapped him hard.

"Snapped!"

The slap, delivered without any hesitation, left Li Dongchen seeing stars and completely bewildered. He covered his right cheek, which had instantly turned bright red, and asked with a mournful face, "Dad, what's going on? Didn't you already hit me last night? I didn't do anything this morning, so why am I getting hit again?"

"Didn't do anything? I think you're just trying to piss me off!" Li Tianxing swung his hand and launched another big tirade.

Hearing the commotion, Zhang Ziqiu rushed into the house and hurriedly stepped forward to try and calm things down, "Father, what has Dongchen done to upset you again? Let me apologize on his behalf, please don't be too angry..."

"Don't stop me!" Li Tianxing pointed at his daughter-in-law, his face twitching as he gritted his teeth and said, "Do you know that Li Dongchen goes to brothels and spends thirty silver dollars a day to hire a pair of used and defiled women? Your father-in-law is here to settle things for you. Stand aside and watch me teach this good-for-nothing a lesson!"

Zhang Ziqiu was stunned. She hadn't expected that her father-in-law would know about this before she even secretly reported it to him.

Sure enough, the commander-in-chief is so well-informed even without leaving his house!

For a fleeting moment, the joy of her triumph prevented her from immediately getting into character. Then, Zhang Ziqiu thought about the magic weapon that Xiu'er had taught her—if you don't know what to do, just cry. Whether you cry loudly or softly, it will make people ignore other suspicious expressions. If you really can't cry any tears, just cover your face and pretend to cry.

Her lips twitched a few times as she tried to recall the misery of being alone in her empty room, and then she burst into tears, "Going to brothels? Dongchen, how could you be so shameless as to go to such a dirty place?"

Waaaaah~ My life is so miserable!

Although we weren't from a prestigious family, I was a girl who was pampered by my parents since childhood. Since I came with you, I asked for nothing but to grow old with you. But you...you went to find a dirty woman who's been ridden by thousands and worn by thousands!

My father repeatedly warned me a few days ago not to ever set foot in a place like that. How could you be so heartless...?

Zhang Ziqiu cried and got more and more into the role, directly revealing his secrets: "It costs thirty silver dollars a day to find a dirty woman. Nobody has seen that the school's cultural salons and other such nonsense have cost two hundred silver dollars in just a few days. Did they all go to those prostitutes?"

No wonder you were furious yesterday when you found out I spent the money in the account at school, and finally agreed to come home last night. You only came back to me after you spent all the money and were kicked out by the prostitute.

Father! Father, you have to do me justice! I can't live like this anymore!

If he gets blinded by those vixens and spends money at this rate, he'll squander our little family and the dowry my family gave me sooner or later..."

A single sentence awakened Li Tianxing.

Previously, he was furious that his son had explicitly forbidden the sons of the Marshal's Mansion from visiting brothels and seeking out unclean women, but his most beloved eldest son had ignored his orders and defied them. So he came over in a huff to confront him, without even considering where the thirty silver dollars a day that the son was keeping as a prostitute came from.

After all, thirty silver dollars wasn't much money for the Marshal's Mansion.

Hearing his daughter-in-law crying, Li Tianxing finally realized what was happening and his anger flared up even more.

The two sons divided the family property and each had their own business. The youngest son fought in various battles and brought back countless wealth and territories for the general's mansion.

I had originally planned to be biased and give my eldest son a school with no risk, where he could easily gain fame and prestige to the Marshal's family. I even specially increased the funding so he could have money to pursue his ambitions. I thought he could bring honor to his father and I could show off that both of my sons were accomplished in both academics and martial arts.

The results of it?

Damn it, they took my money and went to brothels while pretending to comply!

The angrier he got, the more Li Tianxing slapped him again with all his might, roaring, "I spent so much money to send you to school, and this is the piece of trash you turned out to be! From today onwards, you're confined to your room and not allowed to go anywhere. You're also dismissed from your position as school principal, and you'll never again have the right to issue notes and take money at will!"

Then he turned to look at his daughter-in-law, who had been behaving dignifiedly and acting properly since she entered the house, and said in a deep voice: "Stop crying! How can you accomplish anything if you cry all the time? You will be in charge of the school for the time being. You have to learn even if you don't know how. The women of the Marshal's Mansion must be able to hold up the sky when they go out."

I will issue the order immediately: from this day forward, Ziqiu, you will be the acting principal, fully responsible for all matters concerning the school.

"Li Dongchen..." He pointed at his eldest son with trembling fingers and said with heartache, "If it weren't for the gossip, I wouldn't have known that you frequented brothels and kept other women who had been with other men."

Last night on the busiest and most prosperous East Street, that prostitute was crying and begging you to redeem her.

Now the whole of Yucheng knows that you, Li Dongchen, are two-faced, unambitious, and spend all your time in brothels. You shameless bastard, how could I have given birth to such a good-for-nothing?

Your brother is fighting desperately outside, bringing glory to the Marshal's Mansion, while you have completely disgraced me!

Think carefully about what to do. If I hear anything like this again, I'll immediately expel you from the Marshal's Mansion and sever all ties with you. I won't want to see you again!

After roaring for a while, the dragon finally managed to vent some of its anger.

Li Tianxing snorted coldly and walked out of the west courtyard with his hands behind his back. He ordered Lieutenant Li to pass on the order that, starting today, his eldest son's position and monthly salary would be suspended, and all financial departments of the Marshal's Mansion would be prohibited from paying Li Dongchen a single coin.

When Jiang Chen heard this part from the description gesturing by the fluffy little dumpling on the monitor, he couldn't help but laugh out loud. "Not bad, not bad. Zhang Ziqiu is indeed not a piece of rotten wood. With this kind of tinkering, our next plan can be launched more smoothly and naturally."

Long Er is very capable. As usual, you can go and deliver another reward to him for me later.

"Host, what kind of generous gift have you prepared for the protagonist?" The little white cat tilted its head, unable to figure it out.

"Just wait and see, I'll go back today and put on a grand show of brothers turning against each other for the main character!"

The little white cat scratched its ears as it listened; were the brothers turning against each other?

Is the host going to go head-to-head with the protagonist?

But there are still three days until the start of winter, isn't that a little early?

Qinxiang Xiaozhu.

Last night, the fat, pig-like guest finally left. Completely limp and powerless, Ruan Xiangqin lay on the sofa, staring blankly at the exquisite perfume bottle that had just been delivered yesterday.

"Sis, why are you so silly?"

Ruan Xiangyun came over with a bottle of medicine, lifted up her fine silk nightgown to reveal the numerous scars on her back, and said with heartache as she applied the medicine: "You know that disgusting pig always comes over and pervertedly interrogates us about whether we have served other men, yet you still shouted in front of him that Li Dongchen should redeem us."

Isn't this just asking for trouble?

Look what he did to you in a fit of anger!

Last night, my heart trembled as I listened to your screams. Those damned bastards at the Paramount said that since the customers paid money, they should be allowed to have their fill, and they didn't care what anyone said!

Big sister, didn't you say we should make money so that we could go somewhere where nobody knows us and start over under an assumed name?

Didn't you say that you approached Mr. Li to get revenge on the Li family?

Li Dongchen has already taken the bait, why don't you kill him to avenge yourself? Looking at how tender and affectionate you two are, I can't believe you're not pretending at all! Tell me the truth, do you still love him?

Ruan Xiangqin stared blankly at the perfume bottle, her mind filled with images of Li Dongchen's handsome, smiling face.

The wound on his back burned with pain. Last night, that pig went berserk, gnawing and tearing at him, almost biting off several pieces of flesh! While venting his animalistic desires, he grabbed his hair and demanded to know how many men he had served while he was away.

Recalling the tragic experiences of her sisters in less than three months, Ruan Xiangqin finally couldn't help but cry out, "I'm a fool! I'm the biggest fool in the world!"

I used to teach you to lie, to tell that pervert our business was bad and no one came to stay overnight except him, so you could suffer less and get more tips.

But I really can't take it anymore, I can't stand it at all.

I love Dongchen!

No matter what kind of person he is, no matter what he has done in the past, I love him! I can't drive him out of my heart; I want to be with him forever! I believe he loves me just as deeply, and knowing my difficulties, he will definitely find a way to buy our freedom.

At this point, Ruan Xiangqin, her emotions running high, turned around and grabbed her sister's wrist, her gaze firm and resolute as she declared, "This doesn't conflict with our plan to take revenge on the Marshal's Mansion!"

Once we're carried into the Marshal's Mansion as his concubines, we'll join forces to turn the mansion upside down and make it never peaceful again. Then... all the property will belong to the eldest son, Dongchen. If we sisters work together to win him over and make him love only us, we can possess all the wealth and military power of the Marshal's Mansion. Wouldn't it be easy to take back Yuqin Mountain and rebuild the manor?

We don't need to hide our identities and go to a distant place. I even want to persuade Li Dongchen to dig up his family's ancestral graves and worship our parents! I also want to... make sure that the children I have in the future take our surname, Ruan, so that the Marshal's Mansion will ultimately belong to our Ruan family.

Dongchen loves me so much, he won't object! Now..."

Her eyes were filled with despair as she looked around, a single tear streaming down her face. "Right now, all I want is to escape this luxurious cage, to escape this inferno. I never want to sleep with another man again, I only want Dongchen! I don't want to keep taking medicine and ruining my health, and I want to have many, many children for Dongchen in the future!"

“But… Sister!” Ruan Xiangyun gritted her teeth and said angrily, “You’ve loved the wrong person! That good-for-nothing Li Dongchen couldn’t even come up with the thirty silver dollars from last night. He just stood there dumbfounded downstairs watching us get violated by that pig. You expect him to redeem us? That’s wishful thinking!”

You may have forgotten what he did, but I will never forget it!

Li Dongchen burned down our Qinya Manor and killed our father, then left without saying a word. He could have taken us in back then! In that situation, who wouldn't feel sorry for us orphans and widows? Couldn't the mighty Marshal's Mansion even provide us sisters with a courtyard to stay in temporarily?

The fire was started by Li Dongchen, so it's only right that he compensates us with a Qinya Manor!

If he truly cared for you, he would have helped us even if it meant turning against the warlord. How could he just stand by and watch you go off to marry someone else?

Chapter Thirty-Two: How Much Does Your Face Cost Per Pound?

"He...he has his reasons."

Ruan Xiangqin said with a resentful look, "Dongchen doesn't love Zhang Ziqiu at all. Marrying her was just an arranged marriage. A marriage without love is dull and tasteless, so he always wanted to escape. He loves me, I'm sure of it!"

Ruan Xiangyun curled her lip and snorted coldly, "Come on, how many men have we sisters seen? Doesn't everyone say the same thing?"

On the one hand, he complains that the women in his family are rigid and boring, saying that he has no feelings for them;

He's had so many children, one son on the left and one daughter on the right, and he keeps bringing back concubines one after another! Men's words are deceitful, my silly sister, you must have been fooled by Li Dongchen's sweet talk again.

Homegrown flowers never smell as sweet as wild ones. He's just after your body!

He'll just use the guise of love and romance to recite a few sentimental love poems, hoping to get you to willingly provide him with more value-added services.

"No! He wouldn't lie to me. I can feel his sincerity. Dongchen has already started trying to find a way to redeem us, but he doesn't have much power right now, so he doesn't have that much money or influence to force the Paramount owner to lower the price."

Xiangyun, starting today, we can no longer let Xiaomei and Yunfei spend money recklessly. We need to save all the money.

Dongchen said his school earns four hundred silver dollars a month, and with the money from secretly selling Zhang Ziqiu's dowry, they should be able to redeem us.

I'll find a chance to sound out Manager Lin and see if he can put in a good word for me and get the boss to lower the ransom. If that doesn't work, we'll use all the money we've saved. As long as we can earn our freedom and go to the Marshal's Mansion with Dongchen, we siblings will finally have a better life!

Ruan Xiangyun pouted, looking displeased. "Then why bother? You could have sold your art instead of your body, but you insisted on seducing Manager Lin and pushing me into the fire pit. We agreed that once we had earned enough money, we would live a carefree life together and find an honest man to marry. But you changed your mind again and now want to save money to redeem yourself!"

"If I had known earlier, I would have preferred not to enter this industry. At least my sister and I would have had clean reputations and pure bodies."

"You can't say that. If we hadn't sold ourselves back then, how would we have had the chance to get in touch with Dongchen again? We sisters had no choice but to get to this point. It was really a case of 'saving ourselves through a roundabout way'."

"Anyway, you're always right, and I can't argue with you! Hmph, tonight when Li Dongchen comes, I'll see how I get revenge for you. If he can't get past me, he won't be able to touch you tonight!"

…………

"Achoo!" Li Dongchen, who had been subjected to several tough fights early in the morning, sneezed twice and sat listlessly at the entrance of the west courtyard.

Although his father had ordered him to stay home and reflect on his mistakes, the security level was clearly not very high this time. The gate was unlocked and there was no one guarding it, so it would be easy for him to sneak out.

The only problem is that I don't have any money in my pocket!

Damn it, I shouldn't have bought that perfume. So much money for something that's barely the size of my palm is hardly noticeable. It would have been much better to pay for a night's stay.

If she hadn't bought the perfume and could have stayed another night, she would definitely still be enjoying herself in the arms of a beautiful woman. Why would she have gone to school to cause trouble, been reported, and had Xiangqin cry out in anguish that she needed him to redeem her from her servitude, a story that even reached her father's ears...

Wouldn't that save us from the two beatings we received last night and this morning?

The passionate romance was suddenly broken up, and at this moment, Li Dongchen felt as if a dozen kittens were scratching at his heart.

He longed to see his dream girl immediately and soothe her ravaged and fragile heart.

He wanted to redeem her from her servitude. He hoped that as long as she could escape her misery and live in a small rented courtyard, and have a son or daughter in a year or two, her father would understand her goodness and surely accept the strong, brave, and practically perfect Ruan Xiangqin as his concubine.

Xiangqin said that she didn't care about titles or status as long as she could stay with him forever.