How could I possibly be confined in a cage?

Chapter 206 Recalling the Past

Yan Ru quickly dodged and was about to escape to the door when she suddenly heard a loud crash—the sound of the door bolt breaking and the door falling to the ground.

"Someone!"

Fang Lao Jiu was startled, and a figure quickly slipped into the room.

As soon as the air rushed in, the flames immediately shot up.

Fang Lao Jiu and his son reacted extremely quickly, leaping onto a table to avoid being burned, and grabbing a wooden basin to throw it away.

The man moved with incredible speed, easily dodging the attack, and grabbed Yanru and Gui'er as they left.

Yan Ru just saw clearly, "Mr. Xin?"

Old Hei nodded. "You guys wait here, I'll be right back."

Yanru nodded, desperately trying to hold back her tears.

Despite her young age, Gui'er was incredibly brave, biting her lip tightly to keep from crying.

Yanru patted her head. "Good child, what's your name? If you want to cry, just hug me and cry. Someone's coming to save us."

"My name is Gui'er, Gui as in osmanthus." Gui'er pouted, but stubbornly refused to cry out, and large tears rolled down her cheeks like beads.

Yanru held her in his arms, which conveniently covered his torn clothes.

Although Lao Hei had given instructions, Yan Ru dared not be careless. She looked around and saw that it seemed to be a courtyard with a main house and two side rooms.

She and Gui'er were just locked in the left-hand wing room.

After looking around, Yan Ru found a large vat and hid there, clutching the wooden stick she had just found tightly in her hand.

A scream came from the side room, then stopped abruptly.

Old Black emerged, flames shooting into the sky behind him.

Yan Ru looked at the two figures lying on the ground and felt an immense sense of satisfaction.

Old Hei scooped Yan Ru out of the water.

Yan Ru said gratefully, "Mr. Xin, thank goodness for you. But how did you know?"

"Shh," Old Hei quickly shushed, "This isn't the place to talk. You'll stay with me for a while and don't wander off. This is the Buddhist hall of the Song family. With such a big fire burning, it'll definitely attract a lot of people. You'll find a chance to stay by Master Song's side then."

"No," Yan Ru quickly refused.

Old Hei insisted, "Listen to me, your life is more important than anything else."

After saying that, Lao Hei pulled Yan Ru and led her to the main room, where he lit all the lamps, making the room brightly lit.

This place seemed to be a Buddhist temple, and the simple and unadorned furnishings around it made Yanru feel a little more at ease.

Old Hei ripped off the curtain and beckoned to Yan Ru, "Come here."

Yan Ru didn't know why he was so obedient; Mr. Xin was so different from before. Usually, Mr. Xin was unshaven, carefree, and elusive.

When I visited him today, I felt that he was both bold and resourceful. His words, demeanor, and actions were completely different, giving off a sense of aloofness and otherworldly wisdom.

Yan Ru just didn't understand, "Sir, why don't we go back?"

Old Hei said, "If this matter isn't resolved today, there will never be peace. You were just at home when you were kidnapped. How can I bear to see something like this happen again?"

After saying that, Lao Hei wrapped the torn curtain around Yan Ru's body, covering the parts of her body that were exposed.

Yan Ru blushed. "I can do it myself."

Old Hei paused, then handed over the remaining fabric, saying, "Sorry to offend you."

Yan Ru shook her head, but Lao Hei didn't care. He went into the inner room and closed the door.

Yanru concealed herself and sat down with Gui'er to wait.

The teapots in the room were all empty, and there was no water to drink, but for the two visitors at this moment, being alive was already a blessing.

Not knowing what Mr. Xin was up to, Yan Ru only knew that he wouldn't harm her.

Flames were shooting into the sky from the left wing room; logically, the people in the Song family should have noticed something.

In fact, Master Song did know about the fire at the Buddhist temple, but he was currently very troubled.

Ever since that madwoman left the Buddhist hall, the Song family has been in constant turmoil. No one knows what's gotten into her; she insists on acting like the head wife. Yet she herself only has a vague understanding of what it means to be the matriarch of the household.

He ransacked the rooms of all the concubines, just like the bandits of yesteryear. He also pushed his children aside, acting as if he wanted to take charge of the Song family.

Unlike the others who were crying and complaining, the second concubine simply shook her head. "Master, is there no other way to deal with her?"

Master Song was also very aggrieved. Although this crazy woman was crazy, she was very cunning. In the past few days, she had been going around saying how much she had contributed to the Song family and how she had helped Master Song back then.

But in his opinion, it's all bullshit.

Back then, he, Xin Mingshan, and Lü Peijun were all outstanding individuals, but they were all tormented by this bandit.

Back then, there were imperial examinations, and the group of them had agreed to go together. But on the way, they encountered this female bandit who not only killed their page but also kidnapped them all to the mountains.

Back then, the First Wife wasn't as infatuated with Xin Mingshan as she is now. She was prepared to take in other concubines, and she wanted them all, no matter who they were.

Fortunately, Xin Mingshan was both strong and resourceful, and with his cooperation with Lü Peijun, the three of them managed to escape down the mountain.

Who knew that this female bandit would inquire everywhere and finally find Sifang City, and then turn the city upside down.

She would steal from one house today and threaten another tomorrow; whatever she set her sights on, she would do everything in her power to get it.

Yet this person possessed extremely high martial arts skills and a group of loyal thugs as her subordinates, so before Commander Guo arrived, this place was practically her domain.

When Lü Peijun returned, he had already married. So she went and tormented the wife, secretly poisoning her.

At that time, Lu's mother, who had just given birth, did not know that she had been poisoned. Otherwise, she would not have died in childbirth while giving birth to Yanru, which also made Yanru physically weak.

Neither Master Song nor Xin Mingshan were married at the time, so she harbored the intention of taking them into her fold.

But by then, her mindset had subtly changed. She no longer thought of abducting the two men to the mountains to keep them as her own. Instead, she had come to love the city's prosperity and was determined to become a wealthy and powerful woman.

Who knew this woman was truly capable? She sent all the stolen money to the countryside and gave it to her younger brother. She told him to reform himself, change his name, and become a distant relative of a wealthy family. He rose from a local gentry to the current Master Huang.

The first wife, confident in her new status, forced Master Song to marry her. Since Xin Mingshan had outmaneuvered her and escaped, the first wife was determined to regain her dignity.

Master Song was her face; a rich young man, good-looking, and so the first wife held a knife to Master Song's neck, forcing him to marry her.

However, this woman had no sense of ethics or morals. Even after getting married, she did not forget Xin Mingshan, and he gradually became an obsession in her heart.

Later, for reasons unknown, Xin Mingshan came to question him, saying that the first wife had harmed his sister.

The First Madam didn't care about all that. She had planned to force Xin Mingshan out, so she made thorough preparations that night. Xin Mingshan was drugged the moment he rushed into the room.

The drug's effects were so potent that even a sow could arouse Xin Mingshan's passion.

After a night of debauchery, Xin Mingshan could not forgive himself and disappeared without a trace.

The first wife was pregnant at that time, and for some reason, she took the wrong medicine and began to feel melancholy and sentimental all the time.

The second concubine entered the family around that time, but the first wife, who was pregnant with another man's child, still didn't stop. She would beat and scold the second concubine all day long, scolding her when she was happy and beating her when she was unhappy.

Therefore, the second concubine harbored deep fear and resentment towards the first wife, and even now, those memories of being tormented by her remain vivid.

The two men's recollections ended there. Song Yi rushed in to report: "Master, the Buddhist hall is ablaze, but none of the people who went to put it out have returned. There might be something fishy going on."

Old Master Song clenched his fists so tightly they cracked, and after pondering for a long time, he finally decided to go and take a look.

"lead the way!"