Abandoning Wife and Selling Daughter? Turning Around to Marry a Powerful Minister and Wiping Out Your Entire Clan! - Chapter 2

Zhang Xiaolan woke up at dusk. The glow of the setting sun outside was fading, and the dim light in the room cast vague, shifting shadows.

Someone was lying beside her bed.

“Linglong?” Zhang Xiaolan struggled to make out the figure. After a long moment, she recognized the maid who had served her before.

She had just recovered from a high fever, and her voice was hoarse. Linglong had always treated her well. Seeing her awake, the maid burst into tears.

“Don’t cry,” Zhang Xiaolan tried to reach out and pat her. “See? I’m fine now.”

Linglong wiped her tears, gently draped the blanket over Zhang Xiaolan, and then turned to report to Madam Zhang.

Zhang Xiaolan stared at the green canopy above her bed.

Returning to the manor—was it a blessing or a curse? She couldn’t afford any delay in finding Xiang Ning.
________________________________________

“My dear child, you’re finally awake…”

Before she even stepped through the door, Madam Zhang’s wailing reached Zhang Xiaolan’s ears. Zhang Xiaolan curled her lips in a bitter smile. How ridiculous.

Three people appeared before her, but her parents barely caught her attention. It wasn’t until her second brother stepped forward that her eyes lit up.

“Second Brother! Have you found Xiang Ning?”

“Don’t worry, Xiaolan. I’ve sent more people to search. There are only a few human traffickers in the city. We’ll have news within a day or two.”

Zhang Er smiled warmly and reassured her.

Finally, a trace of relief crossed Zhang Xiaolan’s face. She thanked him repeatedly.

Madam Zhang urged her to rest well and left with her husband and Zhang Er.

“Er Lang, you’ve been busy all day. Go rest now,” Madam Zhang said kindly, patting Zhang Er’s shoulder before leaving.
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Late Night, Zhang Manor’s Main Courtyard

“Did you find the person Er Lang asked for?”

“I did, Madam. I also told the trafficker not to sell her…”

“No. Tell that woman to sell the wretched girl as soon as possible.” A heavy purse of silver was thrown down. “This is her reward.”

“But, Second Young Master…”

“You haven’t reported back yet, have you? Just tell him you found nothing.”

“This…”

“Your little sister works as a servant in the back courtyard, doesn’t she? Why not send her to me? I’ll train her properly so she can marry into a decent family in the future.”

“I will do as Madam commands.”

“Leave now.”

The servant bowed and hurried out. The cool night breeze sent chills down his spine.

His sister must not be harmed. He had no choice but to betray the Second Young Master.

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Sunrise to Sunset

Zhang Xiaolan waited at home for news from Zhang Er.

A little maid entered and announced, “Madam invites you to dine in the flower hall.”

Zhang Xiaolan nodded, her heart anxious. She quickly took Linglong with her.

When they arrived, only her mother was there. Her father and brother had not yet arrived.

“Mother…” As soon as Zhang Xiaolan spoke, noises erupted outside the hall.

“Hurry, hurry! It must be your second brother returning,” Madam Zhang urged her to greet him.

With joy on her face, Zhang Xiaolan rushed to the door.

“Second—”

The man chatting with her father was definitely not Zhang Er.

He was short and stout, his face greasy, and he panted like an ox. Zhang Xiaolan quickly turned away.

“Xiaolan, don’t be rude. This is Qian Yuan, Second Young Master of the Qian family. Come and greet him properly,” her father said, sitting down in the hall.

Zhang Xiaolan had no patience for her parents’ scheming. She pretended to be flustered and greeted Qian Yuan, then let her mother press her into a seat.

Throughout the meal, her father and Qian Yuan toasted each other, while her mother beamed with joy.

The food was rich and spicy, but Zhang Xiaolan preferred lighter dishes. She only took a few bites before putting down her chopsticks.

After the meal, she and her mother returned to Madam Zhang’s courtyard. Madam Zhang dismissed the servants.

“What do you think of Qian Yuan?” she asked with a smile. “His family is wealthy beyond measure. Do you like him?”

Like him? Like what?

“Mother, when will Second Brother return? Has he found Xiang Ning?”

Madam Zhang’s warm smile vanished. “Since that child is already gone, it’s better for you to marry a good man while you can.”

Marry? Her daughter had been sold, yet she was happily arranging another marriage?

Zhang Xiaolan regretted trying to keep the peace. She had walked right into their trap again.

Second Brother meant well, but she had forgotten—he obeyed their parents completely.

“You really want me to marry?”

“You’ve already divorced once. Naturally, you need to remarry,” Madam Zhang said leisurely, sipping her tea. In her mind, she was already counting the bride price promised by the Qian family.

“If Lin-ge’er were sold, would you be this calm and urge Sister to remarry?”

“Of course not. Lin-ge’er is part of the Zhang family,” Madam Zhang blurted out. Then, realizing her mistake, she swallowed her anger. “That’s different. Lin-ge’er carries the Zhang family bloodline. I would never leave him outside.”

Putting down her teacup, she walked over, gently patting Zhang Xiaolan’s shoulder and warming her hands with her own.

“It’s not favoritism. The Qian family is in a hurry. If you agree, I’ll start preparing your dowry.”

Zhang Xiaolan turned her head. Her mother’s eyes were warm, hopeful—yet a flicker of calculation flashed across them.

Tears slipped down Zhang Xiaolan’s cheeks, but she suddenly smiled. Her dimples deepened, making her look sweet and innocent.

“Why bother?”

“Why waste time on such fantasies?”

“I should have known last time.
”
Seeing her daughter’s tears, Madam Zhang pulled back her hand. She didn’t even bother pretending anymore.

“Whether you like it or not, you’ll be taken to the Qian family in three days.” She rose to return to her seat.

“And that little burden of yours? Forget about her. I already told the trafficker to sell her quickly.”

Crash! The teacup shattered on the ground, porcelain shards scattering. Madam Zhang frowned and stepped toward the door.

Zhang Xiaolan crouched down, picking up a shard. “Mother,” she called softly.

Madam Zhang thought she had relented and smiled inwardly.

Just like last time. Say no all you want—after a few days locked up, you’ll give in.

This time, even weaker. One harsh word, and she’s surrendering already.

Soft-boned coward. She would never be a reliable daughter.

“You think—”

Before she could finish, pain seized her throat. Her eyes widened in disbelief. The porcelain shard pressed against her neck, and Zhang Xiaolan clamped a hand over her mouth.

Forcing her onto the bed, Zhang Xiaolan stuffed a cloth into her mouth and tied her to the bedpost. Throughout it all, she kept her sweet smile.

Looking into her mother’s terrified eyes, Zhang Xiaolan murmured, “Mother, do you know why I came back?”

“Xiang Ning was sold. I have to buy her back.”

“Second Brother was helping me—so we were even.” Zhang Xiaolan stroked her mother’s face. “But you stopped him and tried to sell me instead. That’s too much.”

“So, your money… is mine now.”

She opened her mother’s jewelry box, taking gold, silver, and banknotes, tucking them close.

Madam Zhang thrashed, but her muffled cries were useless. Zhang Xiaolan calmly examined herself in the mirror, then changed into her mother’s clothes.

When she turned around, Madam Zhang’s eyes widened.

Before her stood another Madam Zhang—proud, round-faced, with a condescending smirk.

Carefully applying makeup to her mother, Zhang Xiaolan sighed. Pity she couldn’t swap their clothes, or it’d be perfect.

She grinned. “I wonder what will happen when the Qian family welcomes you in three days?”

Fear finally dawned in Madam Zhang’s eyes. The daughter she had always dismissed had outmaneuvered her.

With a sweep of her hand, Zhang Xiaolan sent a vase crashing down.

Breaking another, she shouted in her mother’s voice, “You wretched girl, reflect on your sins! In three days, you will marry!”

Turning, she became the imperious Madam Zhang.

Behind her, was just a disobedient daughter.
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That night, Zhang Xiaolan slipped away.

At the edge of the capital, she knocked on the door of a small house.

A peasant woman opened it, startled, then quickly pulled her inside, glancing around before shutting the door.

Under the warm glow of an oil lamp, the woman’s voice was full of concern.

“Xiaolan, what happened to you?”