Qiu Yue was stunned, and Lu Youtiao was also at a loss. She didn’t quite understand what the ancestor meant by saying they would leave through the Yang family’s main gate openly.
Qiu Yue nervously swallowed—were they going to fight their way out?
But there were only three of them, including Dong Shuang, and none of them could even lift a sword. How were they supposed to fight their way out?
Lu Youtiao was also worried, her gaze drifting toward Qiu Yue. She didn’t want to drag her maidservants into danger because of her own predicament.
Pale-faced, she said, “Actually, I’m doing fine here. There’s no rush to leave.”
Gu Xingzhao, however, saw right through her. She knew Lu Youtiao was only saying this because she feared they couldn’t escape and didn’t want to burden her two maids. Gu Xingzhao reassured her, “Don’t be afraid. I protected your entire family of 26; protecting you is no problem.”
“I’ll bring paper and ink. You write the divorce letter and then a petition.”
Lu Youtiao was confused. “A petition?”
She understood the need for a divorce letter, but what was the petition for?
Gu Xingzhao explained, “Write down everything Yang Fang has done recently, including the poisoning, clearly and in detail. No need to sugarcoat it.”
Although Lu Youtiao was still puzzled, she didn’t ask further questions.
Gu Xingzhao returned to her house, fetched paper, ink, and a brush, and even checked her system’s store. She used 200 contribution points to buy an all-purpose antidote and a pill to restore vitality.
Don’t ask why she didn’t just use money—the system wouldn’t allow it!
Though she was reluctant to spend her precious contribution points, Lu Youtiao was the beloved granddaughter of the old man, and if something happened to her, the old man would be devastated.
Lu Youtiao’s condition required rest and proper care, and one pill wouldn’t cure her completely, but it would give her enough strength to leave this “den of wolves.”
Without hesitation, Lu Youtiao swallowed the pill. Since her grandfather had entrusted her to this ancestor, she believed there was nothing to fear.
Within moments of taking the pill, she felt her strength returning. She no longer felt weak and lethargic; her energy was restored, and she could speak without effort.
Before, confined in this room, she had thought she was nearing death. Now, her gratitude toward the deity was beyond words.
“Thank you!” she said sincerely.
Gu Xingzhao smiled. “Save your thanks for after we’re out. Now, finish writing the petition, then move on to the divorce letter.”
At this point, Lu Youtiao had complete faith in the deity.
While she wrote, Qiu Yue called for Dong Shuang to join them.
Noticing the bruises and swelling on Dong Shuang’s hands, Lu Youtiao gently pulled her closer, but didn’t dare touch her injuries. Her heart ached; she felt immense guilt. These two maids had followed her since childhood, and now they had been hurt because of her poor judgment.
Choking up, she asked, “Who did this to you?”
Dong Shuang quickly pulled her hand away. “Miss, it’s just a minor injury. I’ll be fine in a few days.”
Lu Youtiao’s hands trembled. “Who did this?”
Dong Shuang remained silent, but Qiu Yue, unable to hold back her anger, spoke up, “Miss, it was the new concubine in the manor! She’s been Yang Fang’s mistress for years and is even pregnant now!”
“She’s the same woman we met six months ago at the fabric shop, the one you gave your chosen fabric to. You even spoke to her for quite a while, not knowing she was this kind of person!”
Qiu Yue was fuming. Out of fear of upsetting Lu Youtiao, she and Dong Shuang had kept this information to themselves, but now that their mistress seemed stronger, Qiu Yue felt it was time to reveal the truth.
Dong Shuang, however, was still concerned for her mistress’s health and shot Qiu Yue a warning glance, signaling her to stop.
Initially, Dong Shuang had been skeptical about the ancestor’s appearance, but after seeing the pen, ink, and paper materialize out of thin air, she was a believer.
Lu Youtiao remembered the woman they had met at the fabric shop. At the time, she had felt an instant connection with her and shared many personal thoughts. Never had she imagined that woman would turn out to be Yang Fang’s mistress.
The irony was not lost on her—she had even praised her husband to that very woman, who must have secretly mocked her the entire time.
But now, all she could focus on was her overwhelming hatred for Yang Fang and her burning desire to escape.
With Qiu Yue and Dong Shuang assisting her, Lu Youtiao began to write the petition. Her anger fueled her words, and soon the paper was filled with the grievances she had suffered, but it still felt like too little to express her pain.
Gu Xingzhao watched from the side, growing more sympathetic. The price Lu Youtiao paid for her naive trust in others would likely haunt her for the rest of her life.
When the petition was finished, Gu Xingzhao took it, scanned it with her phone, and said to Lu Youyao, “I’ll be gone for a bit. You continue with the divorce letter.”
Armed with Lu Youtiao’s handwritten petition, Gu Xingzhao returned to the modern world, printed it out, and prepared a wheelchair to bring back to the ancient world, ensuring that Lu Youtiao would have an imposing presence when confronting Yang Fang.
After Lu Youtiao finished the divorce letter, she signed her name and pressed her bloodied thumbprint onto the paper.
Seeing the bright red bloodstain, Gu Xingzhao knew this was a symbol of Lu Youtiao’s resolve.
Looking at the unfamiliar object with two large wheels, Lu Youtiao, Qiu Yue, and Dong Shuang were all curious.
Gu Xingzhao tied the petition securely to the wheelchair handles. “Help your lady into the chair. Someone strong can push it from behind. We’re leaving now.”
Lu Youtiao still worried. The divorce letter required both parties to sign for it to take effect, and she knew Yang Fang would never agree to it, especially to save face.
But the deity’s voice echoed in her mind, “Don’t worry. Hold onto the divorce letter. When we meet him, just be firm. I’ll be right behind you.”
Gu Xingzhao secured the petition, and with Qiu Yue pushing the wheelchair and Dong Shuang walking beside them, the three women ventured out into the courtyard.
Before they could leave the estate, two guards armed with long staffs blocked their path.
Qiu Yue reacted quickly, scolding them, “Fang Er! Fang Yuan! Young miss has treated you well! Last year, when your family had trouble, she was the one who paid to resolve it. Don’t forget her kindness!”
The two guards exchanged uneasy glances. “My lady, please don’t make things difficult for us. The master ordered us to watch you. If you leave, we’ll be dead.”
They knew all too well how cruel their master could be.
Lu Youtiao clenched her lips. She didn’t want to make things hard for anyone, but now they were standing in her way. “Are you really going to stop me?”
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