After a brief silence, Steward Qi finally spoke again. “Let her rest. Have someone clean her up. Then she can leave.”

That single sentence had nearly determined Lü Ci’s fate.

“How can this be?!” Hongyi blurted out, growing more confused. After a pause, she added, “Shouldn’t this be reported to the authorities? Shouldn’t the local officials be catching the culprit?!”

Since when did victims of assault get sent to brothels as a resolution?

Everyone turned to look at her. Their expressions suggested that her thoughts were the strange ones.

“She’s no longer clean. How could she stay and serve in the Xi manor?” Madam Yu frowned as she countered.

Hongyi paused, then retorted, “She isn’t the young master’s concubine—she’s just a songstress! What does her chastity have to do with anything?!”

“But what if the young master takes a liking to her in the future? Then what?” Madam Yu pressed.

Hongyi couldn’t follow that logic at all.

“She can just be presented to the young master. If he minds, he won’t take her in as a concubine!”

That made the most sense to her. But Steward Qi’s next words hit her like a thunderbolt.

“How could such matters sully the young master’s ears?”

Hongyi froze in disbelief. “So you’d rather sacrifice a life just to keep the young master from being upset?! Lü Ci is already in such a pitiful state. Sending her to a brothel—how is that not the same as killing her?!”

“What nonsense is that?!” Madam Yu’s expression darkened. She looked Hongyi up and down, her smile turning cold and sharp. “The Xi manor has never seen such a disgrace. The other attendant who went with her returned unharmed. Lü Ci alone—clearly, she was unruly and brought this on herself. Sending her to a brothel suits her nature. If she’s truly innocent, let her prove it by taking her own life.”

She paused to catch her breath, then lifted her chin slightly. Her eyes swept over the other performers as she warned coldly, “You’d all better behave yourselves. If anything like this happens again, and it brings shame to the Xi family, you’ll all end up the same.”

Hongyi stumbled back a step in shock.

Honor killing.

The term flashed in her mind—something she had only read about in religious texts. Her heart sank.

Yes… she was witnessing an honor killing.

To preserve the “honor” of a household, a supposedly “impure” person was to be discarded—even if that person was the real victim.

These kinds of things still happened even in the 21st century. Here, it seemed even more “reasonable”—because the societal consensus supported it.

Be it due to religion, culture, or tradition, when everyone around you believes this is “right,” then anyone who objects is seen as abnormal.

Hongyi felt like a bone was stuck in her throat. She knew it would be nearly impossible to change their deeply rooted beliefs. But she couldn’t just sit by and watch Lü Ci be sent to a brothel… and die.

Lü Ci was clever. When an accident disrupted Hongyi’s performance of the "Graceful Lady Dance," she had quickly stepped in with a solo, buying both of them time.

She had even helped Hongyi. Of the 200 taels they received, Lü Ci had kept only 50 for herself and gave the rest to her—even though she claimed she didn’t lack money…

It was a generous sum.

Hongyi also knew that Lü Ci had her own plans. She hoped to earn her freedom. She wanted the two palace-bound girls she was mentoring to gain favor and request a royal pardon for her…

So Lü Ci had worked hard, sang with care, maintained good relationships… She had done everything she could. And now—before the two girls even entered the palace…

She was to be sent to a brothel.

.

“She wasn’t unruly at all!” Hongyi stepped forward, fighting to make her point. “To accuse her of defying the music director—that’s just baseless! She was attacked—why are we blaming her? What did she gain from this? Trouble?!”

Madam Yu snapped, “Enough!”

“You can’t do this!” Hongyi shouted. “The attacker roams free while the victim is ruined—how is that justice?!”

Madam Yu ignored her, turning to another songstress. “Go fetch a physician. Lü Ci may have damaged her voice. If she’s beyond repair, even high-end brothels won’t take her.”

—Outrageous!

“I’ll plead with the young master!” Hongyi cried, her voice trembling.

The songstress who had just turned away stopped, stunned.

Green Sleeve went cold all over and quickly tried to pull Hongyi back. “Don’t do this…”

“He doesn’t even need to help her!” Hongyi’s voice cracked with emotion. “Just let her go. Let her leave quietly and never cross paths with the manor again… How can you just send her to a place like that?!”

“Hongyi, shut up!” Green Sleeve hissed under her breath, terrified. “The young master came back from court this morning in a foul mood. Don’t—”

She didn’t finish. Hongyi had already burst through the door and ran.

Calls rang out behind her. Steward Qi shouted for someone to stop her, but it was too late.

Hongyi ran with all her strength. Several attendants chased her. Luckily, her body was strong from daily dance training. Gritting her teeth, she didn’t slow until she reached Xi Linchuan’s study.

She burst in without any regard for decorum, the attendants right behind her.

Before she could speak, one tried to cover her mouth and drag her out. Hongyi fought back and suddenly dropped to her knees.

Xi Linchuan, startled by the commotion, turned to look. His brows furrowed. “What is it?”

He had never seen her kneel before—not even once. This had to be something serious.

The attendants let go of her but stayed in the room.

Hongyi could feel their hostility and didn’t dare speak too freely.

Xi Linchuan grew more puzzled. He waved the attendants away. “Leave us.”

Now it was just the two of them.

Hongyi thought hard. The safest approach might be… say as little as possible. Just persuade him to let Lü Ci go without revealing the full story.

He looked at her curiously. He knew she feared him—always avoiding him. What could be so urgent?

“My lord…” Hongyi began carefully. “If someone can’t stay here anymore because of something that happened, and the place she’s being sent will kill her… would you… show mercy and let her go?”

Xi Linchuan listened, confused. After thinking a moment, he asked, “What happened to you?”

“…It’s not me,” Hongyi muttered. He stared, clearly sensing she was holding back. “Speak plainly.”

“It’s Lü Ci… a songstress.” Her voice grew weaker. “When she left the manor, something happened. Steward Qi and the music director said they’re sending her… to a brothel.”

There was no response, only the sound of the desk chair scraping as Xi Linchuan stood.

He brushed past her, walking quickly.

Hongyi was startled and immediately followed.

His face was grim. She didn’t know what he was thinking or what fate awaited Lü Ci. The only thing she could do was say her piece.

“My lord… it wasn’t Lü Ci’s fault. She looked terrible when she came back. The other girl who went with her was terrified. If you send her to a brothel, she might—she might really end her life…” Hongyi spoke quickly, keeping pace. “She just went to see a doctor for a sprain. This was a disaster from nowhere. My lord, please…”

Midway through her words, he suddenly stopped and turned.

Their eyes met. She went silent.

His expression froze. She didn’t dare say more. But because Lü Ci’s life was at stake, she couldn’t act indifferent either. She just stood there awkwardly.

Xi Linchuan gritted his teeth. “Because of last night’s banquet, I was scolded all morning by the Emperor and Empress. Quiet down.”

“…Yes.” Hongyi whispered and nodded.

.

Xi Linchuan resumed walking toward the music quarters.

His arrival was so sudden that the songstresses were caught off guard. Even Madam Yu and Steward Qi scrambled to greet him.

“Where is Lü Ci?” he asked.

“My lord…” Madam Yu tried to explain but quickly led the way.

Inside the room, angry scolding and desperate cries filled the air. Hongyi quickened her pace, worried about what she’d see.

As she reached the threshold, something white flew past. She ducked instinctively and looked back.

Xi Linchuan now held a porcelain teacup. He stepped inside calmly and placed the cup on the table, frowning at the chaos.

The maids retreated, heads down. Lü Ci huddled in a corner. Her lifeless eyes suddenly lit up as she saw him. Her shoulders tensed. Then she lunged forward.

The maids screamed and rushed to restrain her. She struggled but couldn’t break free. Finally, she fell to her knees and cried out with all her strength:

“My lord! Please don’t send me to the brothel. I’ll be careful, I swear…”

Hongyi looked at Xi Linchuan nervously.

Lü Ci’s pleas continued, filled with fear and panic: “I can do anything! Please let me stay… I’ll take any task, however lowly. I know I’m not clean, but I swear… I won’t ever displease you!”