Abandoning Wife and Selling Daughter? Turning Around to Marry a Powerful Minister and Wiping Out Your Entire Clan! - Chapter 6

There was no divine foresight—she simply knew the city’s curfew hours.

The master and servant duo left in a carriage as the fire at the Tao residence was finally extinguished.

Tao Yi Ming stood before his ruined home, his mother unconscious, and Zhang Xiaolan injured. Even he could not help but feel a heavy weight in his heart.

Fortunately, the household savings were only used for daily expenses—he still had some money set aside.

Taking a deep breath, he thanked the neighbors and settled his mother and Zhang Xiaolan in a nearby inn before the curfew drums ceased.

As he watched the flickering candlelight in the inn room, he kept replaying the events in his mind. The fire at his home seemed too strange.

The Tao family had no enemies. In fact, to ensure their neighbors took care of his mother, he often gifted them small things. Moreover, it was a neighbor who first discovered the fire.

Yet, his mother had remained unconscious since being rescued.

Exhausted after a long day, he sat on the bed and slowly drifted into sleep.

Dong! Dong! Dong!

The morning street drums sounded once again, and the streets quickly filled with people.

Zhang Xiaolan was startled awake. She tried to get up, but pain shot through her legs and spread to her head. She gripped the bedsheets tightly, barely enduring the agony.

Her pained cry soon brought the Tao mother and son rushing in.

Madam Tao looked at Zhang Xiaolan and blamed herself, crying out, “I don’t know what happened yesterday. I just wanted to tidy up the house, but I unknowingly fell asleep! Now, I’ve caused this disaster—not only is the house burned down, but you’ve also been terribly injured.”

With that, she began sobbing beside her.

Zhang Xiaolan wanted to comfort her wet nurse, but pain consumed her entire being. She struggled to speak, “Nanny… no one… wanted this… I don’t… blame you… I’m just… glad I… saved you.”

Her hoarse voice startled both mother and son. Madam Tao wiped her tears and quickly had her son bring some water.

Zhang Xiaolan drank slowly, sweat dripping from her forehead into the cup.

Only then did Madam Tao notice how pale her face was. The pain had already caused her to break out in cold sweat.

Her guilt deepened.

“Yi… Yi Ming… please… take some money… and bring Ning… back…” Zhang Xiaolan endured the pain in her legs, unwilling to give up.

Tao Yi Ming felt a deep sorrow. “Xiaolan, it’s already early morning. By the time I get there, A-Ning has likely already been taken out of the city.”

He bowed his head against the bedside, tears streaming down.

He had hesitated too long. Yesterday, he only thought of saving his home.

If he had sent someone, they could have brought Zhou Xiang Ning back.

Even if the house was gone, at least the little girl could have stayed with her mother.

Zhang Xiaolan reached out and patted his shoulder, showing she didn’t blame him.

How could she? People have different priorities, and she was already grateful that her wet nurse had taken her in. How could she ask for more?

But still…

She gently lifted Tao Yi Ming’s face, wiped his tears, and mustered a smile.

“Then… Yi Ming… rent a carriage… take me… to see… A-Ning off.”

As she finished speaking, she felt as if a fire burned in her chest, searing her sorrow.

She was an unworthy mother. Her daughter was being sold, and all she could do was send her off and ensure her safety.

“Xiaolan, the doctor warned you to rest,” Madam Tao wept uncontrollably, hurriedly trying to stop her.

“If you don’t take care of yourself, your legs may never heal,” Tao Yi Ming said gravely, worry evident in his eyes.

But he knew her personality.

If he refused to take her, she would crawl to the city gate if she had to.

“Take… me there… she needs… to know… her mother… never stopped… thinking of her.” Zhang Xiaolan forced a smile. Each word felt like a knife slicing through her throat, but no matter how much it hurt, she had to say it.

She had broken her promise, but she could not let her daughter lose her mother too.

Tao Yi Ming wiped his tears and went to find a carriage.

Madam Tao helped Zhang Xiaolan freshen up. If she was going to see her daughter, she had to look presentable—she didn’t want the girl to worry.

After finishing, Madam Tao stepped away to wash a cloth. The moment she turned her back, she couldn’t hold back her tears any longer.

Zhang Xiaolan knew her wet nurse was crying again, but she no longer had the energy to comfort her. Enduring the pain in her legs had already taken everything out of her. With what little strength remained, she could only think of how to find Xiang Ning.

Tao Yi Ming secured a carriage and also left a message at his workplace.

Seeing Zhang Xiaolan, now neatly dressed, he forced a smile despite the pain in his heart. “Xiaolan looks beautiful—just like when we were younger.”

She knew he was lying. She must have looked pale and gaunt. She could even feel the cracks on her dry lips.

But… let them believe she was well.

Zhang Xiaolan tried to smile back.

Tao Yi Ming borrowed a blanket from the innkeeper and, with the help of a servant, carefully wrapped Zhang Xiaolan before placing her in the carriage.

Madam Tao sat inside with her, while Tao Yi Ming took the reins.

The carriage swayed gently as they made their way to the city gate.

At the gate, soldiers checked travel permits. Two long lines, one entering and one leaving, moved steadily forward.

Not far away, a simple-looking carriage approached, driven by a plump man.

Tao Yi Ming recognized him—Lin Da, a steward under Madam Lin.

Hurriedly, he got out of his carriage and stopped Lin Da, slipping some silver into his hand. “I just want to say goodbye to the girl I was interested in before.”

Lin Da felt the weight of the money, chuckled, and parked the carriage to the side. “Go ahead, but make it quick.”

Seeing him try to bring the girl onto their carriage, Lin Da warned, “Hurry up! I’m on a schedule!”

Tao Yi Ming nodded. Lin Da stepped aside to count his silver.

Zhou Xiang Ning entered the carriage, initially filled with resentment. But the moment she saw her mother’s injured legs, her tears fell instantly.

“Mother!” She cried out, rushing to hug Zhang Xiaolan.

Madam Tao quickly stopped her, but Zhou Xiang Ning struggled fiercely. Zhang Xiaolan grasped her daughter’s hand, pulling her into her embrace, longing to cry her heart out.

But time was short. She could only swallow her tears and carefully instruct her daughter.

“A-Ning… no matter… where you go… no matter what hardships… stay alive. Only… by surviving… can we meet again. No matter how long it takes… I… will find you.”

Zhou Xiang Ning nodded, her eyes red. She knelt in the carriage and bowed deeply. “I will remember. Mother, don’t worry—I will protect myself.”

She then lifted her head, hugged Zhang Xiaolan tightly, and turned to leave.

Standing at the carriage door, she paused. “Mother, I will wait for you to find me.”

Then, she left.

Hearing Zhang Xiaolan’s words, Madam Tao sobbed uncontrollably. When Zhou Xiang Ning spoke, her tears poured like rain.

Zhang Xiaolan did not cry. After her daughter bade farewell, she simply whispered, “Good.”

No matter how far, no matter where—she would find her daughter!