Meng Fu's ears perked up, and hatred welled up in his eyes as he looked at the man. "So! You have hidden money outside! Since you're rich, why didn't you say a word when I was being chased by the gambling den for debts and begging you for help every day!"

"Silver?! My silver outside?" At the mention of silver, Meng Yongfu's eyes became blurry again. He covered his head and shook it vigorously. "What silver do I have left! You gambled it all away, it's all gone, not a single coin left, all gone..."

Halfway through his sentence, he suddenly rushed to the edge of the thicket and grabbed Meng Yun'er's neck tightly. "What Princess Mingzhu, what about rescuing me? You lied to me, didn't you? You liar, you're a fraud!"

"Father, what are you doing? You're hurting me!" Meng Yun'er was terrified and bit the man's hand.

"Ah!!!" The man cried out in pain, releasing his grip. Looking at the bloodstains on his hand, he sobbed softly like a child, "It hurts, it hurts so much, why did you bite me..."

Meng Yun'er frowned as she watched. Had he gone mad?

Meng Fu narrowed his eyes, stood up, walked to Meng Yongfu, dragged him to a corner, and sneered, "You'd better leave now. Even if Father still has some money, it belongs to me, his son, and has nothing to do with you."

"Brother, do you think I came here for the money?" Meng Yun'er stomped her feet in anger.

"Let's not even talk about the money needed to bribe the princess to save the person. Even if we assume the person can't be saved, as Father said before, buying a sturdier coffin will also cost money, won't it?"

Meng Fu scoffed and waved his hand dismissively, "Don't give me that nonsense, get out of here!"

"You!!..." Meng Yun'er's face turned black with anger. She was about to say something when the cell door was pushed open from the outside.

The yamen runner's cold, deep voice rang out, "It's time for visiting the prisoner. All bystanders, leave immediately!"

Two coins could only buy enough time for an incense stick to burn during a prison visit.

Meng Yun'er felt extremely frustrated. Looking at Feng Zicai, she felt utterly humiliated. In just three months, her father had become a murderer, and her brother had become a gambling addict who ruined the family business. Even if she could rescue him, she was afraid she wouldn't be able to hold her head up in front of him.

"Yun'er, don't be sad. Let's go outside and talk first." Feng Zicai glanced at the girl's clothes and the gold hairpin in her hair, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.

"Mm." Seeing that his attitude was as usual, Meng Yun'er's heart softened considerably.

Upon seeing the familiar figure, Meng Fu's mind raced. "Feng Zicai, so it was you who orchestrated all of this behind the scenes! You even dared to fabricate a lie about Princess Mingzhu! You..."

However, before the words "gambler" could be uttered, the door slammed shut.

"Feng Zicai! You gambling addict, you've ruined our family, you jinx, you short-lived devil!"

The man gripped the thorny bushes of the cell with both hands, cursing furiously. He cursed for a long time, still not satisfied, then turned and kicked the man in the corner hard. "Old man, tell me! Where did you hide the silver? Tell me! Tell me! You're going to die tomorrow, what are you keeping the silver for? Do you want to end up in a mass grave?"

Inside the cell, the sounds of beatings and curses continued. Outside, Meng Yun'er listened anxiously to the night watchman's drumbeats. "Zicai, what do we do now? Curfew has passed. How are we going to get out of the city?"

She wished she could just abandon the two of them, but she didn't want to be labeled the daughter of a murderer for the rest of her life, so she had to hurry back and ask Jun Qingcheng for help.

“It’s alright, we’ll stay in the county for the night and rent a horse-drawn carriage to go back to the village early tomorrow morning. We’ll definitely make it in time.” Feng Zicai took the girl’s hand and led her out of the county government office. They walked around three alleys and stopped in front of a low bungalow.

QQ QQ—

The man knocked on the door with his fingers.

A moment later, footsteps approached from afar, and then the door was opened, and a hunched old man came out. "It's Master Feng. Are you staying here tonight?"

"Yes, please bring two rooms." Feng Zicai took out his somewhat deflated money pouch and glanced at the old man.

The old man understood immediately, glanced at Meng Yun'er discreetly, and then smiled apologetically, "Master Feng, it's really unfortunate, there's only one room left in the house today."

"Only one room left?" Feng Zicai frowned slightly. "Yun'er, we..."

The girl bit her lip, her face slightly flushed. "Zicai, how about we go to another place?"

"Young lady, would you like to go to another place?" The old man snorted indifferently. "After the curfew, anyone wandering around the county will be arrested. If it weren't for Master Feng's sake, I wouldn't be willing to do this untimely business."

Feng Zicai nodded to Meng Yun'er, then quickly took out thirty copper coins from his purse. "Take care of this room, shopkeeper."

"Alright, Mr. Feng, please follow me." The old man chuckled as he took the copper coin and led the two to the innermost room in the backyard. He opened the door and said, "If you and the young lady need anything, please just tell me."

Looking at the fairly tidy room, Meng Yun'er's resistance eased slightly. However, when only the two of them were left in the room, blushes crept up her cheeks again. She had never shared a bed with him when they were in Tangshan Prefecture.

The thought had barely formed when she felt a tightness around her waist. Looking up, she realized the man had pulled her into his arms. In an instant, her face flushed red to the roots of her neck. "Zicai, what are you doing..."

Before she could finish speaking, she felt the man's hand on her waist tighten, and his hot breath sprayed all over her ear. "Yun'er, do you know how hard I've searched for you in the city these past few days, but I haven't even caught a glimpse of you."

I was so worried about you, I couldn't eat or sleep. Thankfully, you're back safe and sound. It's a blessing from God. Don't run around like that again, okay?

Upon hearing this, Meng Yun'er's hand, which was about to push Su Hua away, froze in place. She was moved but also felt a pang of sadness. He was still unaware that Su Hua had been granted the title of County Princess, and his heart and eyes were filled with her. Once he returned tomorrow, he feared that things would never be the same again.

The girl bit her lip and looked directly into the man's eyes. "Zicai, given my family's current situation, don't you care?"

"Fool!" The man chuckled and gently tapped the girl's forehead. "They are them, and you are you. Whatever Uncle Meng and your older brother did in the past has nothing to do with you. Why should I care?"

All I know is that the person I cherish in my heart is the kindest woman in the world, and that's enough for me.

"Zicai, you're so good to me." Meng Yun'er gently bit her lip, her hands softly climbing onto the man's chest, her eyes as tender as water.

Her delicate face, crimson lips, and affectionate eyes were like clusters of flames that suddenly ignited in his heart and spread throughout his body in an instant. Feng Zicai's Adam's apple bobbed uncontrollably. He carried the girl to the window and blew out the oil lamp.

Despite their own thoughts, they couldn't resist the swirling red waves of blood in the quilt.

Above the sky, the moon, shyly hiding behind the clouds, had somehow managed to escape.