Chapter 1999: Lu Wu’s Request

Lu Wu nodded, "They indeed aren’t girls who were originally settled, they are..." He paused, "girls who originally wanted to return to their hometown, thinking they would be cherished by their families. But unexpectedly, they were still abandoned."

Shu Yu instantly understood, earlier when entering the black market, many people were trafficked.

Some came from well-off families, some had loving parents and relatives, which is why after coming out of the black market, these girls still wanted to return home.

Unexpectedly, because the girls had once been trapped, their reputations were tarnished, their families ultimately did not accept them back.

These matters were not very clear to Shu Yu, but Lu Wu told her only two of the girls were kept by their families. Others were either forced to become nuns or to commit suicide to preserve the family’s name. The love and favoritism that once seemed real was like a dream.

Now that the dream has ended, the girls are thoroughly disheartened.

The girls who struggled in the black market, to put it plainly, really battled their way out; it was tough surviving and escaping the dark days again, how could they choose to die again?

Thus, these girls reunited, left their hometown together.

Ultimately they chose the southwest, firstly because it’s far from home, and secondly, it’s an exile area where people from various backgrounds and experiences gather; there they wouldn’t seem so out of place.

Originally, those who sent them home were arranged by Xia Yi. Lord Xia probably anticipated such a situation and had instructed that if these girls wanted to leave, arrangements for travel permits and registration should be made.

The situation of these girls is special, having received imperial permission, the local authorities aren’t an issue.

Lu Wu said, "Two of them are close with our family member Qiao Rou, a letter was sent recently explaining the situation. Qiao Rou knows the county magistrate stayed in the southwest for a while, thinks there might be acquaintances there, if possible, please consider looking after them."

In the southwest, they have no background. Although these girls have gone through a lot, going to the southwest would be unfamiliar territory, even if settled with the right permits, survival might not be easy.

Shu Yu understood and nodded, asking, "Which prefecture or county town did those girls go to in the southwest? What are their names?"

Lu Wu: "Qingxuan County under Linzhang Prefecture, as for names, I only know two, one is He Fang, the other is Kang Shuxian."

Qingxuan County?

Shu Yu does know it, it’s neighboring Heichang County where she was exiled, truth be told, Righteous Dao Village is actually closer to Qingxuan County.

Both places are rather impoverished counties, these girls have gone quite far.

But as Lu Wu said, various backgrounds exist in exile areas, it’s chaotic in a way. Yet due to the many exiled criminals, for ease of management, there are troops stationed there, and punishments for crimes are particularly severe.

The girls choosing there is a choice with pros and cons.

Shu Yu responded, "Alright, I’ve noted the names you mentioned, I’ll write a letter and have someone go to Qingxuan County to take a look."

Lu Wu exhaled, "Thanks, county magistrate, I’ll go back and share this good news with my wife."

Meanwhile, Meng Yunzheng had returned, Shu Yu nodded to Lu Wu, and the group boarded the carriage, slowly heading towards the city gate.