The dark and gloomy cell was filled with the stench of decay and mold. Rats crawled out of their holes in the corners of the walls, climbed onto the woman sleeping on the pile of straw, and circled around a few times.
Suddenly, the sound of an iron gate clattering echoed, and an imperial envoy, as fierce as a demon from hell, approached, roaring, "Get in!"
Zhou Chenyu was pushed inside. Looking at the peeling walls, the cobweb-covered corners, and the pile of thatch in the corner that looked like a zoo, she felt there was nowhere to put her feet.
She turned back, pleading pitifully towards the iron bars. "Brothers," she cried, "this place is pitch black. Won't there be rats and cockroaches? I'm scared. Could you please have some mercy and give me a brighter spot? Hey, don't go!"
Hearing the voice, the woman slowly sat up, opened her sleepy eyes, and was pleasantly surprised to see the newlyweds opposite her. "Oh, you're here too?"
A woman's voice, who is speaking?
Zhou Chenyu looked across at the woman leaning against the wall, looking relaxed as if she had just finished watching the show. She asked warily, "Do I know you that well?"
The woman stood up, leaned against the iron bars, and said with a sarcastic laugh, "You don't recognize me, but I recognize you. When Yang Xi arrested me that day, didn't you like this man a lot? You certainly didn't expect that he would send you to this place, did you? It's truly a blessing from heaven that you were sent here to keep me company."
Deceived by a man?
Zhou Chenyu smiled and said, "Big sister, I'm really sorry, I don't have any other skills, but I have a knack for judging men."
Besides, as long as she runs fast enough, no man can catch her.
She looked at the woman with a gossipy gaze, "Sister, from what you're saying, you seem to have a lot to say about it?"
The woman hadn't expected to run into Zhou Chenyu, so she decided not to provoke him further. She threw down a cold remark and returned to her original spot, sullenly saying, "It's best not to speak too definitively."
Looking at the skylight on the top of the wall, Zhou Chenyu couldn't help but yawn. Not knowing when she could leave, she sat down next to the pile of straw and simply covered her eyes to take a nap.
She had many dreams during that sleep, and vaguely heard Qian Rushan's voice. Startled, she opened her eyes and saw that the idiot was indeed standing outside, now free.
They're all fighting and brawling, so why can he come and go as he pleases?
Zhou Chenyu jumped up from the ground with a start, calling out to the group, "Hey, gentlemen, if Qian Rushan can leave, can I leave too?"
To Zhou Chenyu's surprise, the official did not turn back; it was Qian Rushan who did.
Qian Rushan treated the prison cell like his own home, swaggering over with his head held high. Pointing to his bruised and swollen face, he pressed his tongue against his back teeth and cursed through gritted teeth, "Zhou Chenyu, you beat me up like this and you still want to leave? Keep dreaming!"
Zhou Chenyu retorted without hesitation, "You pig-headed idiot, you can walk? Why can't I?"
He stepped forward, a wicked smile on his face, and whispered provocatively, "You forgot? I have connections. With just a word from me, everyone here has to listen to me."
What?
Two shady-looking jailers stepped forward and helped Qian Rushan up, acting like lackeys. "Master Shan, it's getting late. You should leave soon so you don't get dirty from the bad luck of the dungeon."
"Alright." Qian Rushan looked at her and delivered the fatal blow: "Zhou Chenyu, just wait for the big gift I'll give you! Hahaha, let's go!"
Zhou Chenyu was struck as if by lightning, suddenly becoming alert.
Qian Rushan is a well-known spoiled brat in the area!
Wait a minute, if everyone here has to listen to him, then doesn't that mean Yang Xi is all his man?
The woman watched Zhou Chenyu pace anxiously, then leisurely lay on the pile of straw, crossing her legs and mocking, "Oh dear, I thought it was already miserable enough for a weak woman like me to be locked up here. But compared to you, I'm much better off. I only stole someone else's silver, so I'll be out after a while. But you offended the Qian family, so even if you get out, you won't have a good life."
"Shut up!" Zhou Chenyu glared at her angrily. The woman was startled and reluctantly shut her mouth, silently waiting to see the show.
Zhou Chenyu grabbed her hair in frustration, regretting it deeply. Lust is a dangerous thing; how could she have forgotten something so important?
"A grand gift? What is this idiot's grand gift? Torture? Poisoning? Or something else..."
Zhou Chenyu was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. Seeing someone approaching, she pried a brick off the wall and hid it behind her back. "Anyway, I've already died once. I might as well take you all down with me!"
She waited by the door, and a jailer carrying food came over.
Zhou Chenyu looked at the man warily, when suddenly she heard the woman opposite her say in a loud, teasing voice, "Oh, Yang, what brings you here today?"
Yang Xi is here too?
Zhou Chenyu looked into the distance and saw the man disappear into the shadows of the dark corridor, his hands behind his back. The cold, dappled moonlight shone on his face, making him look extremely sinister and terrifying.
She had looked at that face before, and although she also thought it was cold and stern, it had a unique charm when paired with that upright and righteous aura.
Looking at him now, he's clearly a despicable and shameless scoundrel who colluded with Qian Rushan!
She's absolutely blind!
Well, when you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head.
Zhou Chenyu blinked, then smiled modestly, "Brother, Qian Rushan can leave now, when can I?"
"Ha, who is Master Qian? Who are you? How can you be compared?" the jailer shouted angrily.
Zhou Chenyu was startled and stood there dumbfounded. She secretly gripped the brick tightly and replied pitifully, "Why are you yelling so loudly?"
The jailer glanced sideways at the person standing in the distance, a chill running down his spine. He composed himself and spoke kindly, "Miss, you've beaten this pampered young master to this state, and locking you up for just one night is already more than enough. If you ask me, just stay here quietly for the night and leave at dawn. I only earn a few coins a night. The grievances should be settled with the perpetrators; whoever wronged you, go find them for revenge. Don't make things difficult for me."
That's right, working people never make things difficult for other working people.
Zhou Chenyu nodded, "Big brother, every wrong has its perpetrator, and every debt its debtor. If I want revenge, I'll definitely go after that guy surnamed Yang and that guy surnamed Qian!"
who?
The jailer squeezed the still-warm silver coins Qian Rushan had given him in his pocket, his eyes welling up with tears of gratitude. "Indeed! You, young lady, are so kind and understanding. How did you end up with these kinds of people!"
“Who says otherwise?” Zhou Chenyu rubbed her eyes, trembled her lips, and squeezed out several tears. “Big brother, I have an elderly mother to support and a younger brother who is crying for food. I am the pillar of the family. The family can’t do without me. Please help me and secretly let me out. I promise I won’t tell anyone.”
"Let you out? How could I dare?" The jailer looked at Zhou Chenyu's tearful eyes and softened for a moment. He secretly stepped forward and threatened, "Miss, although I can't let you out, I can still help you this time. You can't eat this food."
Zhou Chenyu's eyes widened. "Is this food poisoned?"
"Yes!" The man mouthed, then whispered, "Just pretend the food went bad, whatever you do, don't eat it, and whatever you do, don't say I told you. I'm leaving!"
"Brother, you're my savior! What's your name?" Zhou Chenyu warmly extended his hand. The jailer glanced at Zhou Chenyu's appearance, and when no one was paying attention, he took Zhou Chenyu's hand and said, "Just call me Brother Zhong. I'm leaving now!"
The moment he turned around, Zhou Chenyu almost couldn't resist taking off her shoe and throwing it at him.
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