The Shuntian Prefecture's clappers struck their third deep drum, the last drop of water from the third watch just dripping, and the thick night was shrouded in the chill of late autumn. A waning moon hung obliquely beside the bronze bells on the city tower's eaves, its clear light filtering through the lifelike silhouettes of animals on the eaves, casting a cold, white shadow on the bluestone pavement, as if covering the capital's night with a thin layer of frost. Wrapped in a luxurious black fox fur coat, Chen Weiwan stood before the gates of the Ministry of Justice's prison. The red-gold and kingfisher-embellished hairpins at her temples trembled with her every movement, and each diamond reflected the curious glint in her eyes. The two children clutched the corners of Shen Weiwan's clothes tightly, their noses red from the cold, but their eyes brightened with surprise at the thought of the "good show" that was about to take place.

Chuntao followed three steps behind, clutching a black lacquer lunch box. Its delicate lotus pattern was faintly visible in the moonlight. The aroma of red chili oil seeping from the cracks in the lid seeped into the air with such force that the jailer took three steps back, the copper lock clicking between his trembling fingers. "Big brother," Chuntao said, her dimples showing as she deliberately pushed the lunch box toward the jailer, her voice dripping with just the right amount of intimacy. "My wife brought Liu Ming 'breakfast,'" she said, shaking the box in her palm. The clattering sound of the croton seeds inside, mixed with the strong aroma of chili peppers, made the jailer subconsciously cover his mouth and nose, his face filled with helplessness and resistance.

As the heavy iron door slowly swung open, a foul stench of feces, urine, moldy grass, and rotten rice washed over them like a flood. It startled the night herons perched under the eaves and sent them flying, the thump of their wings piercing the still night air. Wa Wa immediately frowned, covering her nose with her hands, her voice muffled, "It stinks worse than the bones Da Huang secretly buried behind the doghouse!" Deep within the cell, Liu Ming huddled in the moldy straw like a discarded rag. The coarse linen shirt he'd been wearing when he was arrested was already caked with black grime. The tilted toilet seat was still stained with dried filth, a strange grayish-white hue in the moonlight. The moment he heard the noise, he scurried to the corner like a startled field mouse, his cloudy eyes fixed on the gleaming gilded token at Shen Weiwan's waist. His Adam's apple rolled violently beneath the grime, clearly gripped by fear.

Shen Weiwan walked slowly forward, stepping on the broken tiles all over the ground. The gorgeous hem of her fox fur brushed across the earthenware jars on the ground, making a crisp "click" sound. She lightly lifted her toes, and the broken pottery jar rolled away. Then, a basket of croton seeds poured onto the ground with a "clatter". The green-brown beans rolled along the uneven cracks in the bricks, and a few rolled directly to Liu Ming's twitching feet. Shen Weiwan played with the silver hairpin in her hand slowly. The hairpin turned flexibly between her fingers, and then, the tip of the hairpin lifted Liu Ming's saliva-stained chin. In the faint morning light, the tip of the hairpin shone with a cold light, as if it could cut through the suffocating atmosphere at any time. "Liu Ming," her voice was soft but with unquestionable pressure, "I heard that your aunt used to love to use croton seeds to cure the servants' laziness?"

"I...I don't know..." Liu Ming's teeth chattered uncontrollably, saliva dripping uncontrollably from the corners of his mouth, forming dark stains on his clothes. His mind flashed back to the cruel look of his Aunt Liu when she withheld the servants' wages. But when he met the cold smile in Shen Weiwan's eyes, he trembled like a sieve, and all his excuses were stuck in his throat.

"I don't know?" Shen Weiwan suddenly sneered and snatched the chili powder from Chuntao's hand. The silver hairpin pried open Liu Ming's teeth like lightning. "Three years ago, your aunt withheld my mother's pension, causing her to cough up blood for half a month. This debt—" Before she could finish her words, a spoonful of scarlet chili powder was violently poured down Liu Ming's throat.

"Ah! Spicy... so spicy it's killing me!" Liu Ming instantly rolled over in the slop, tears and snot coating his face. A drake-like whine emanated from his throat, a sound filled with pain and despair. Kenkeng rushed forward, his muddy shovel still stained with peach petals from yesterday's clay figurine making. His face flushed crimson, and he shouted fiercely, "My mother said! You and your thieving parents will all go to the soybean fields south of the city!" He counted solemnly, his chubby fingers flexing, "Ten baskets of beans a day. If you're missing one, you'll be forced to drink chili water!"

Wa Wa was even more rude. She grabbed Liu Ming's tangled hair, took out a small cloth bag from her sleeve, and said in a childish voice with every word clearly: "You still want to sing 'I'm a Little Fool Who Cheats Others'! If you sing out of tune, just sprinkle this--" As she spoke, she shook the cloth bag vigorously, and the Western Region Itching Powder immediately flew towards Liu Ming like smoke, choking him and making him sneeze and cry.

Shen Weiwan clapped her hands in satisfaction and winked at Chuntao. Chuntao immediately turned around and left with a dozen servants. Less than half a cup of tea later, the alley was filled with wailing. When the Liu family's parents were tied up and taken to the prison door, Liu's mother pounced on Shen Weiwan like a mad wolf, cursing viciously: "Evil woman! You will cut off my descendants——"

"Whether I have an heir or not is not important," Shen Weiwan dodged lightly to the side, took out the mutton-fat jade ruyi given by the empress dowager, and knocked it lightly on Liu's father's forehead. "But if you dare to be lazy in the croton fields..." Chuntao cooperated very well, shaking the bamboo tube in her hand at the right time, and the chili water inside shone with scarlet oil. "This thing can recognize your throats."

Meanwhile, in the Prince's study, Xiao Yu was scowling over a table piled with memorials when suddenly, deafening laughter erupted from the front yard. Frowning, he lifted the curtain to peer in, only to be met with a mixture of laughter and anguish—he saw that Shen Weiwan had actually stuffed Liu Ming into the manure cart! Kengkeng and Wawa stood on the cart shaft, excitedly waving crooked little flags with the words "Those who cheat others, beware!" Their faces still stained with unwiped candied haws, they looked both adorable and comical. The cart slowly rolled over the bluestone pavement, Liu Ming smeared with manure and in a state of disarray. His head and face were covered in rotten vegetable leaves and rotten eggs thrown by the people. His cries mingled with the cheers of the people, startling the sparrows perched in the locust tree.

My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!