Chapter 559: Originally a Young Miss
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Upon hearing Chen Lin’er’s articulate words, Qin Zhenzhen regarded her with curiosity. The eloquence seemed incongruent with the image of an illiterate woman. Furthermore, Chen Lin’er had just claimed to understand Wang Nian’s confession.
“You received an education?” Qin Zhenzhen asked, her expression revealing a hint of surprise.
Chen Lin’er responded with a bitter smile. “If I were to tell you that I was once a wealthy young lady, would you believe me?”
Qin Zhenzhen wasn’t particularly astonished. “I had already suspected something. ”
“Can you share your story? How did you end up in this situation?” Qin Zhenzhen inquired.
Chen Lin’er fell into a momentary silence, as if grappling with something difficult to express.
“If you’d rather not tell me, that’s fine. Consider my question withdrawn,” Qin Zhenzhen added.
“It’s alright. I’m on the brink of death anyway. There’s no need to conceal it any longer,” Chen Lin’er began, opening up about her childhood.
“Are you aware that over a decade ago, officials from the Court of Judicial
Review were exposed for colluding with the enemy and betraying the country? The evidence was irrefutable. By imperial decree, more than 50 individuals from the Chen family were thrown into prison!”
Qin Zhenzhen asked in astonishment, “Are you a descendant of Governor Chen?”
Over a decade ago, Governor Chen of the Court of Judicial Review had offended the Public House and was unjustly exterminated by them. This information wasn’t part of the original book, but Qin Zhenzhen had come across it in the data Su Bin had gathered.
During that time, Governor Chen faced conviction by the emperor. The men were executed, and the women were registered as slaves, sent to military camps as military prostitutes. Younger girls were taken by brokers, some were sold as maids, and those deemed beautiful were fetched at a high price by Yihong Courtyard.
At that time, Chen Lin’er was about eight years old. Logically speaking, she should have been sent to the military camp to be a military prostitute. He did not know how she came here.
Chen Lin’er nodded. “The governor was my grandfather…”
“I was eight and a half years old at that time. I was escorted to the military camp by my mother and a group of women in the residence.”
“On the way, my mother said to me: You must think of a way to escape! Once you reach the military camp, your life will be over!”
“After that, Mother used the only golden hairpin she had and her innocence to bribe an official who was escorting us. That official wrapped me in tattered clothes and threw me into the forest by the roadside.”
“I listened to my mother and ran in the opposite direction. I didn’t dare to stop and rest until I couldn’t see the escort team.”
“I stole the boy’s clothes from the farmer’s house and disguised myself as a dirty little boy. I ran all the way and begged for food. When I couldn’t get food, I ate wild vegetables and tree bark.”
“Later on, we arrived at Shanglin Prefecture.”
“Chen Lin’er isn’t my original name. I just didn’t lose my surname.”
“After I was picked up by my husband’s family, I was afraid of exposing my identity. I’ve been pretending to be an illiterate country girl and living carefully.”
“I never went to my mother. I knew she must be dead. How could a proud woman like her become a military prostitute?”
“She told me that after I escaped, she would end her life. She also told me that if I was unlucky enough to be captured by those people, I would choose to die. I would rather die than be sent to the military camp to suffer that kind of humiliation.”
“Mother said that if we can escape, we have to work hard to survive and forget the past. We must not let our descendants avenge the Chen family, because we can’t beat them.”
“I listened to my mother and tried my best to forget the past. I thought that I had finally come to an end.. I didn’t expect that the heavens still wouldn’t let me off…