Shen Qingwan had the doctor prescribe some medicine to help regulate her mother’s health before leaving with her.

.Now that she had someone else to care for, she worried about not taking good enough care of her mother.

So, she decided to visit a broker’s house to buy a maid to take care of her mother.

That way, she wouldn’t always have to bring her along whenever she needed to go out.

When she arrived at the broker’s house, the broker greeted her with a bright smile.
“Young master, are you looking to buy a maid or a servant? We also have guards available for hire,” he said eagerly.

“I need a maid with some martial arts skills. If there’s a well-trained guard, I might take one as well,” Shen Qingwan said, thinking that someone with combat skills could at least offer her mother some protection.

The broker nodded quickly. “Of course! We are the largest broker house in Yongzhou City. Whatever you need, we have it. Please come inside. I’ll have them brought out for you.”

Shen Qingwan followed the broker inside.

Her mother, seemingly afraid of strangers, shrank behind her.

After a short wait, the broker brought out four men and four women.
“Young master, these people all have some martial arts training. These three maids know basic self-defense, but this one is particularly skilled.

However, her status is special—she is a convict slave. She is the daughter of the head guard of the Rong’an Escort Agency.

She trained in martial arts since childhood under her father. Unfortunately, the Rong’an Escort Agency offended some high-ranking people, and her entire family was punished.

The agency has since been disbanded,” the broker said in a hushed voice, glancing cautiously around as if still fearful of the incident.

A convict slave was different from an ordinary servant.

Having been convicted and sold into slavery, they could never regain their freedom and were doomed to a lifetime of servitude at the lowest rank.

Shen Qingwan glanced at the girl the broker had pointed out.

She was dressed in coarse, dull-colored clothing—far less presentable than the other three maids.

Her almond-shaped eyes were bright but carried a hint of sorrow.

With her head lowered, she did not dare to hope that she might be chosen.

Shen Qingwan looked at her and said calmly, “Raise your head.”

The girl slowly lifted her head, appearing surprised that Shen Qingwan was speaking to her.

“Would you be willing to follow me?” Shen Qingwan asked.

With a thud, the girl dropped to her knees. “I am willing, young master! But may I beg you to buy my brother as well? He is more skilled in martial arts than I am. If you purchase both of us, we will pledge our undying loyalty to you.”

“You lowly wretch! How dare you speak out of turn when a master is purchasing slaves?” the broker scolded before kicking the girl hard in the back.

However, despite the blow, the girl remained kneeling upright, unmoving and steadfast.

Irritated, the broker was about to order someone to fetch a whip when Shen Qingwan interrupted, “Her brother is here as well?”

Seeing Shen Qingwan’s interest, the broker forced a smile and explained, “Young master, you may not be aware, but Rong Yunfei has lost an arm. He’s nothing more than a cripple now. He struggles even with cleaning latrines. He would be of no use to you.”

Shen Qingwan cast a cold glance at the broker. “Just bring him here.”

The broker had never encountered such a peculiar buyer—ignoring well-trained servants in favor of a convict slave and a cripple.

“Yes, yes, I’ll bring him immediately,” the broker said, rushing off.

A short while later, he returned with Rong Yunfei.

The stench of latrines clung to him, making even the broker cover his nose in disgust.

Others around them looked at him with similar expressions of revulsion.

The girl’s eyes reddened upon seeing her brother.

The once-proud and carefree young man, dressed in fine clothes and riding high-spirited horses, was now reduced to this miserable state.

Her heart ached for him. If she couldn’t leave with her brother, then she would rather not leave at all.

Shen Qingwan took one look at Rong Yunfei and saw that his right arm was completely severed at the shoulder.

His head hung low, devoid of emotion, as if nothing in the world could stir his interest anymore.

Shen Qingwan turned to the broker. “I’ll take both of them. Name your price.”

The broker was taken aback, momentarily unsure if he had misheard.

“These… these two together would be eight taels of silver. Young master, are you sure?”

Even though Rong Yunfei was crippled, the broker wasn’t about to sell him cheaply—his identity still held some value.

Shen Qingwan nodded, took eight taels of silver from her sleeve, and placed it on the table.

The broker swiftly collected the money and soon returned with the siblings’ contracts of sale.

Rong Yunfei slowly lifted his head, finally looking at the person who had just purchased him and his sister. He saw a young man with fair skin, red lips, and bright, refined features.

From his appearance, he seemed kind and approachable.

It seemed they were finally leaving this hellhole. But why had this young master bought them?

“What are you waiting for? Let’s go,” Shen Qingwan said.

The siblings immediately got up and followed.

The girl could hardly believe they were truly leaving.

For them, the broker’s house had been a prison.

Now that they were free, even the air outside felt fresh and liberating.

Shen Qingwan took them to a clothing store and bought them each a new set of clothes before leading them to an inn.

By then, the sky had already darkened.

After booking two upper-class rooms for them, Shen Qingwan instructed them to clean up before meeting her again.

After washing and changing into fresh clothes, Rong Yunfei and his sister felt like new people.

When they entered Shen Qingwan’s room, they immediately knelt. “Master, please grant us new names.”

Shen Qingwan thought their original names were quite good, so she saw no need to change them.

“You will keep your names. You are Rong Yunfei. And you?” she asked, looking at the girl.

“Master, I am Rong Yunshuang. I am sixteen years old,” she replied.

She wasn’t used to calling herself a slave, so she addressed herself as a subordinate instead.

Shen Qingwan didn’t mind.

She gestured for them to rise.

“Stand up. From now on, you will still be called Yunshuang and Yunfei. Tell me about your past. Is there anything I should be aware of?”

Although she wasn’t afraid of trouble, it was still wise to understand the situation and avoid unnecessary complications.

Rong Yunshuang hesitated before replying, “Master, our family used to run an escort agency…”

As she recounted the past, Shen Qingwan gradually understood the full story.

No wonder the broker had been hesitant about selling the siblings—offending the Third Prince was no small matter.

Under normal circumstances, no one would dare buy them.

Rong Yunshuang explained that a year ago, her father, Rong An, had accepted a job to escort a shipment of valuable porcelain to the capital…