Duke Wang's righteous indignation lodged in his throat, unable to go up or down, leaving him thoroughly uncomfortable.
The sympathy and emotion on the ministers' faces froze in place, mingling with the shock that had surfaced upon hearing the little girl's thoughts. Their expressions were strange and comical.
She had laid a whole chain of traps?
This frail-looking girl, who appeared no more than sixteen or seventeen, had nearly fooled this bunch of old sly fo- ahem, old fellows?
[Aunties' self-rescue strategy was practically textbook-level!]
[First, she started scouting three years ago for well-spoken young men who weren't on the Ding Residence's list of targets. From among them, she picked out the rich, foolish, easily duped ones. After a few encounters, she kept only the hopeless romantics.]
[Then she asked around about their family backgrounds, continuing to see only those whose families had enough money to buy her freedom. Finally, she kept the one who actually wanted to pay for her release...]
[Hiss-] Jiang Yingcheng's little face nearly scrunched into a steamed bun. [This sucker was handpicked from thousands-]
Ding Ruihan had no idea why these ministers, who had been so moved just moments ago, had suddenly changed their expressions. With tears streaming down her face, she said, "Your Majesty, this humble commoner asks for nothing else. I only wish to be like the most ordinary woman in this world, to lead a life both ordinary and radiant. Please grant me your permission..."
During Ding Ruihan's years at the Ding Residence, every frown and smile had been specially trained. Even now, crying so miserably, her expression was the product of long practice: pear blossoms glistening with rain, so lovely and pitiful that anyone would feel for her.
Well...
Sympathy returned to the ministers' faces.
"Ah... she is a pitiful girl,