Li Man'er raised an eyebrow, "Oh, in the Emperor's Imperial City, under the broad daylight, such a thing can still happen?"
The fish porridge stall owner's wife's face flickered with resentment, "Isn't it just them bullying others, picking on a helpless weak woman like me? Esteemed sirs, please leave quickly, you cannot afford to offend them."
Hearing the owner's wife's words, the ruffians chuckled smugly, "Song Sanniang, since you know you can't afford to offend us, why don't you obediently come with us? Don't be ungrateful. Let me tell you, if you sell yourself into the princess's mansion, you'll never have to worry about food and clothing for the rest of your life, and people outside will look up to you. If you remain stubborn, this fish porridge stall of yours will never be able to open again, and you might even end up in prison."
The owner's wife trembled with anger, her pretty face pale. She gripped the knife, standing there without a word, but her gaze was resolute.
Li Man'er saw a determined spirit in her.
In this world, people are born into different classes. Even with a sound legal system in later generations, this notion cannot be completely eradicated. Some are born the children of the wealthy, second-generation elites, enjoying the best life and the highest quality educational resources. In both life and work, their starting point is a destination that many cannot reach in a lifetime.
Ancient society was even more so.
That saying, "Are kings and generals born noble?" did not apply to the vast majority of people. It was merely something to listen to.
Just like this Song Sanniang, she was just an ordinary person making a living with her skills. Who did she offend? She wasn't selling herself to bury her father, nor was she unable to make a living. Why should she forsake a life of dignity to become a slave?
Is she crazy?
Furthermore...
Li Man'er tilted her chin, "Who did you say you were a servant of?"
The man's chin was raised high, "Is that something you can inquire about? Mind your own business and get lost."
Li Man'er patted Song Sanniang's shoulder, "Step back."
"Ah?" Song Sanniang was stunned, not understanding what she meant.
Lüyi quickly pulled her back a couple of steps, "Stay away, lest you get splattered with blood."
"Ah?"
While Song Sanniang was surprised and dazed, Li Man'er had already swung her fist and charged forward.
"What can be done? She's all alone, how can she be a match for those household servants!"
Lüyi raised her chin, "Our young lady alone is like a thousand troops."
As they were speaking, the two sides had already begun to fight. Song Sanniang was astonished to find that the pretty young lady who was her patron was like a chivalrous hero. Those fierce household servants became weaklings under her hands. They collapsed at a touch and were kicked flying with a single kick.
In the time it took to drink a mouthful of water, five or six strong men were beaten to the ground. The young lady calmly clapped her hands and slowly uttered two words, "Trash."
"Ouch, it hurts so much."
"This little girl's blows are truly heavy."
The leader's eye socket was already bruised. He covered his injured eye and howled, "We are servants of the Grand Princess's mansion. How dare you, you dare to beat people from the Grand Princess's mansion."
Song Sanniang was terrified, "You should leave quickly. It's not worth offending the powerful for my sake."
Li Man'er, however, said, "The Grand Princess's mansion? Then I am even more interested. As a member of the imperial family, the Grand Princess does not work for the welfare of the world and its people, but abuses her power for personal gain, forcibly taking people into her mansion as servants. What kind of rule is this?"
When these household servants came to cause trouble, a crowd of onlookers had already gathered around the stall. Everyone enjoyed watching the excitement, but no one dared to speak a fair word for Song Sanniang.
Now that Li Man'er had stepped forward, the common people watching the commotion, upon hearing that the ruffians were from the Grand Princess's mansion, began to whisper amongst themselves.
"I never expected it to be servants from the Grand Princess's mansion."
"Who would have thought!"
"Why would a noble princess make trouble for a mere cook?"
"Who knows?"
"Could it be that the驸马 (consort) fancied her?" someone whispered with a lewd smile, "Perhaps he wants to take her as a concubine?"
That person widened his eyes, "Are you courting death, saying such things? Besides, in all the dynasties, have you ever seen a consort take concubines? Even if they did, it was done secretly, or the princess herself couldn't have children..."
The ruffians, seeing that the situation had escalated and was difficult to resolve, said, "Who are you? Do you dare to leave your name?"
"Oh, do you think I'm as brainless as you? If I tell you my name, will you arrest me? However, since you asked, I cannot refuse. My surname is Ni, and my given name is Niang."
"Ni Niang?"
Lüyi almost burst out laughing. Isn't that your mother?
But the ruffian didn't understand at all and said seriously, "Ni, you wait. If you have the guts, don't leave." There were no high-ranking officials with the surname Ni in the capital. This person might be from out of town, but speaks the official dialect quite fluently.
When he goes back to call for reinforcements, he'll make sure to drag this little girl to a brothel.
"Your mother is waiting!"
The ruffians fled in shame. Those who were quick-witted among the onlookers already understood the true meaning of the name "Ni Niang" and couldn't help but burst into laughter.
A kind person even warned her, "You should leave quickly, don't get into trouble. That is the Grand Princess's mansion."
At this moment, Song Sanniang also reacted and quickly said, "Three young ladies, please leave quickly. Sanniang will never forget your kindness today and fears she cannot repay it. You should leave quickly, they will be back soon, and then you won't be able to leave even if you want to."
Lüyi and Ziyan knew their young lady would not leave. If it were someone else's affair, perhaps they would have left, putting an end to it. If they were found later, they could simply deny it. But now, it concerned the Grand Princess's mansion, how could their young lady leave so easily? She was eager for things to escalate so that she could break off her engagement with the young duke.
"If we leave, what will happen to you?"
Song Sanniang sniffled, "At worst, I'll fight them."
Li Man'er found a stool and sat down. She took the fan from Ziyan and fanned herself leisurely. "How did you fall out with the Grand Princess's mansion? Did you offend someone, or did they just fancy your culinary skills?"
Song Sanniang looked astonished, "You're really not leaving? They'll be back with reinforcements soon."
"If it were someone else, I might leave, but today, I'm getting involved in this matter."
Seeing this, Song Sanniang put down the knife in her hand onto the table, "It's a long story. I was originally from Qinghe. Due to the decline of my family, I accompanied my widowed mother and brother to the capital to find relatives. However, as soon as we arrived in the capital, my mother fell ill. The cost of treatment and medicine depleted all our silver, and we couldn't find any relatives. To survive in the capital, my brother went out to find a job, and I occasionally did laundry for others. The three of us barely made ends meet."