However, as soon as Cheng Zhuo walked in, he smelled a sweet and cloying fragrance.

Before Cheng Zhuo could speak, Shen Shangxu asked, "Did you bring anything delicious today?"

Cheng Zhuo was taken aback, not expecting Lord Shen to have such a keen sense of smell, so he honestly replied, "It's the winter melon candy that Madam Liu gave me just now."

"Would you like to try some, sir?"

"Madam Liu...you mean that Liu family member?"

Shen Shangxu frowned, and that unfathomable face reappeared in his mind.

"Yes."

"Bring it here, let me see..."

Normally, Shen Shangxu wouldn't be interested in these kinds of foods, but knowing that the winter melon candy was a gift from Liu Shi to Cheng Zhuo, he inexplicably wanted to try it...

Cheng Zhuo took out the packet of winter melon candy from his pocket and handed it to Chen Shangxu.

Shen Shangxu opened the packaging paper, picked up a piece and took a bite. It was sweet and cloying, and tasted even better with light tea.

I immediately felt that my previous depressed mood had dissipated considerably...

Cheng Zhuo watched him eat one piece after another, and felt a surge of injustice in his heart.

This was given to me by Madam Liu, sir. You should just have a piece as a token of appreciation. Why do you keep taking more?

When Shen Shangxu ate the fifth piece, he finally looked up and noticed Cheng Zhuo's aggrieved little expression. He felt a little embarrassed but also wanted to laugh.

I rewrapped the candied winter melon and returned it to him.

"Take it!"

"I never imagined that Lady Liu possessed such a skill..."

After dismissing Chen Zhuo, Shen Shangxu stared at the piece of candied winter melon in his hand for a long time.

Suddenly he stood up and strode out.

County jail

Meng Renhun was held alone in a cell. His prison clothes were tattered and covered in bloodstains, indicating that he had been tortured.

Hearing footsteps, he looked up slightly and saw Shen Shangxu.

"Lord Shen, have you come to see me off?" His eyes were cold, and his tone was indifferent.

Shen Shangxu looked at him with a serious expression; "Three days later, I will send you to the capital to be executed in the autumn!"

"Meng Renhun, your current predicament is entirely your own fault, a consequence of your heinous crimes!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire cell fell silent.

A moment later, Meng Renhun suddenly burst into wild laughter, but looked at Shen Shangxu with contempt.

"I have committed numerous evils, and I have only myself to blame?"

"What did I do? I only burned, killed, and looted some unarmed civilians!"

When Shen Shangxu heard this, he was utterly astonished and stared at him in disbelief.

How can a human being utter such beastly words?

But Meng Renhun continued, "But Xijiu Mountain is right there, and the area we can plunder is very limited. Besides, not everyone living in this place has been harmed."

Shen Shangxu's brows furrowed even deeper; "What exactly are you trying to say?"

Meng Renhun scoffed disdainfully; "Let me tell you, you bookworm! In this world, the greatest bandits, in the truest sense, are in the imperial court!"

"Those in the halls of power are like a swarm of enormous maggots clinging to the bones. They can kill or take away anyone in the world at their mercy. As long as one has a breath left, no one can escape their shadow!"

"Compared to them, we bandits of West Vulture Mountain are nothing but small fry!"

These words left Shen Shangxu speechless, and he stood there stunned for a moment.

From these words, it is clear that Meng Renhun is not just a rough man who only knows how to fight and kill. If he could use his intelligence for the right thing, why would he not have a future?

Unfortunately, it's too late to say anything now!

Finally, he revealed the purpose of his visit.

Approaching Meng Renhun, he presented him with a pre-written statement.

"Being born as a human being is not about competing to see who can commit the greatest evil!"

"As the sage said, 'Do not do evil because it is small, and do not neglect good because it is small...' Never mind, you probably won't listen anyway, but right now I have something I need you to do!"

"Signing and sealing this document is the only good deed you can do before you die."

"After you sign the pledge, I can grant you one request, including taking care of your family."

This is the condition that Shen Shangxu can offer within his capabilities.

Meng Renhun took the paper and looked at it.

It stated that he should admit that during the time Liu Yingying was abducted to Xijiu Mountain, she only did odd jobs and that her innocence was not defiled by him or anyone else.

"So you came all this way for a village woman like this? How rare!"

Meng Renhun did not sign the document immediately, but looked up at him with a mocking smile.

The thought of how that woman had deceived him filled his eyes with hatred.

Shen Shangxu remained outwardly calm, but inwardly he felt somewhat uncertain.

After all, if Meng Renhun really doesn't cooperate, there's nothing I can do about him.

But when he thought of that woman who seemed different to him at first glance, he didn't want her to be driven to her death by those gossips!

Time is passing by, bit by bit.

Just when Shen Shangxu thought the negotiations were hopeless, Meng Renhun pressed his fingerprint on it.

He lowered his head, his disheveled hair obscuring his once handsome face, and a complex expression flickered in his bloodshot eyes.

Liu Yingying, you can't let rumors drive you to your death.

If we ever meet again in this life, you can only die by my hand!

Meanwhile, Liu Yingying took Zhao Di and began to wander around the city.

Since leaving home this morning, the mother and son haven't had a drop of water, so they ate two bowls of wontons at a street stall.

He also took five steamed buns, a serving of roasted goose, a stack of jade dew dumplings, and a packet of candied cherries...

There are many children in the family, and these are all brought back for the kids to enjoy.

No matter the time, the city is always more convenient than the countryside.

There's a shop selling the Four Treasures of the Study right across from the snack street.

She glanced at Zhao Di and said, "Come on, let's go buy some things you'll need for your studies."

Soon, the two entered the shop. The shop wasn't large, but it had everything a scholar would need.

Liu Yingying is a modern person and doesn't know much about the Four Treasures of the Study from ancient times, so she was a little dazzled by what she saw.

Soon, the shopkeeper came forward and asked, "What would you two like to order?"

Liu Yingying: "I'm here to pick out some writing implements for my children. They're all just starting to learn to write. Do you have any good recommendations?"

Upon hearing this, the shopkeeper immediately perked up and launched into a long, detailed introduction.

Liu Yingying felt a little dizzy and disoriented.

In the end, I bought two reams of semi-sized Xuan paper, four pieces of commonly used lampblack ink, and four sets of inkstones and calligraphy brushes.

She has three children, so buying three is enough for her.

But she had the means, and had already made up her mind, that she would teach Bao'er to read and write as well...

After buying these items, the mother and daughter wandered over to the grain and oil shop.

I bought ten catties of polished rice, ten catties of japonica rice, five catties of soybeans, and also a lot of seasonings for stir-frying, such as oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar.