Chapter 4

Chapter 4

“The broker found someone?”

The next day, in the study.

Xiao Qibai looked up slightly, a hint of pleasant surprise in his eyes.

“She did. The woman has already signed the contract.”

Xiao Qibai’s subordinate, Pei Ren, handed over a deed.

On it were two crooked characters.

“Ah Fei,” Xiao Qibai read aloud. “Quite a unique name.”

My mother gave me that name, and it stayed with me until I was five.

That year, I entered the opera troupe and became Miss Hongxiu. From then on, no one knew my real name.

“What is the background of this Ah Fei?” Xiao Qibai asked.

Pei Ren lowered his head to report. “She comes from a fishing village. She claims her father is ill and her only sister is living a miserable life with her husband’s family. That is why she wants to sell herself to pay for her father’s treatment.”

“I have already sent men to check the household registry in the fishing village. It matches.”

“Very good.” Xiao Qibai nodded. “Send men to keep an eye on her family.”

He was indeed meticulous.

To find a girl from a poor background, he didn’t just need to bribe her with silver; he also had to control her family to use as leverage.

What Xiao Qibai didn’t know was that my family couldn’t be used to threaten me.

I hadn’t lied; my father was indeed ill, but the name of that illness was gambling addiction.

Because of this sickness, he had developed the urge to sell his daughters.

As for my sister, she was the one my father originally intended to sell. She was terrified, so she drugged me and sent my unconscious body onto a ship bound for Jiangling.

“This Ah Fei is a perfect fit. The broker did a good job this time. Reward her,”

Xiao Qibai said.

“Go contact a physician and an artist. Within three days, have the broker take Ah Fei to the clinic in the east of the city to tattoo the Lotus Mark.”

“Yes, sir!”

Pei Ren took his orders and left.

I stirred the spices in the incense burner, a faint smile touching my lips.

Three days.

In three days, I would no longer be the opera singer Liu Hongxiu. I would be Ah Fei again.

“What are you smiling at?”

I hadn’t noticed when Xiao Qibai had come to my side.

I lowered my gaze. “Your Highness has found someone who can save Miss Song. I am happy for her.”

Xiao Qibai had always wanted me to be submissive.

This answer should have been submissive enough.

Yet, he didn’t seem satisfied.

With a cold scoff, Xiao Qibai tilted my face toward him, his indifferent gaze sweeping over my features.

“Hongxiu, don’t think I don’t know what you’re thinking.

“Rong’er is now linked to the prophecy of the Lotus Girl. Even if someone takes her place, she must still change her name and keep a low profile.

“Therefore, I will not be able to marry her for a very long time.”

His rough thumb brushed against my skin as he whispered, “You’re quite happy about that, aren’t you?”