It was dark and silent in the confinement cell.

The claustrophobic and dark environment can infinitely expand the fear in the hearts of human beings, and An Ruoxian's calm composure when she first entered the confinement room has now become depressed and neurotic, and she will burst out screams from time to time.

A day, or two days, or more? In a confinement chamber that is always pitch black, it is impossible to feel the passage of time.

Curled up in a shady corner, looking at the endless darkness in front of her, An Ruoxian just wanted to scream madly, wanting to escape regardless of it.

However, even at this point, she has never regretted it, she would rather bear the current pain than being exposed and driven out of the Hou Mansion.

She is actually not afraid of what the old lady will find out, since she knew that the old lady arranged a secret whistle in the backyard four years ago, she will guard against the old lady in everything, just like this time, when discussing with her mother about the design of the fourth brother, all their conversations were written on paper, and immediately burned afterward, she didn't believe that those secret whistles had the ability to reach the sky, and even knew what they wrote! As long as there is no evidence, she will be able to get out sooner or later!

Yes, she is not afraid at all, as long as she is still the tenth lady of the Hou Mansion after she goes out, the current suffering will be worth it!

An Ruoxian gritted her teeth, trembling with fear while comforting herself.

Compared with An Ruoxian, who was stoic and scared, Meng was noisy at first, and then almost weirdly calm.

Besides, Huang Ying, after receiving ten rods, she almost went to half her life, and after being locked in a dusty firewood room, because of the hot weather and bad environment, the wound began to become inflamed and pus, and after only one day of detention, her body was itchy and smelly, and the fishy smell filled the entire firewood room, and even she couldn't bear it.

Compared with An Ruoxian and Meng, who were only mentally tortured, Huang Ying can be said to have suffered both mental and physical torture.

In order to get out of the predicament as soon as possible, Huang Ying, who had planned to wait for some more time, had to take out the jade bracelet hidden on her body in advance, buy off the maid who guarded her, and let the maid send the handkerchief with blood written on it to An Ruolan for her.

The jade bracelet was given to her by An Ruolan when she followed An Ruolan, because it was in good condition, she had always treasured it and wanted to use it as a dowry in the future. If it wasn't a last resort, she wouldn't be willing to take it out.

The maid who was bought by Huang Ying was not very bold, she didn't dare to go to An Ruolan, so she had to find an opportunity to secretly stuff the handkerchief to Bailing, she thought that as long as the handkerchief could reach the hands of Miss Six, she would not be able to collect Huang Ying's things in vain.

Bai Ling only felt inexplicable, and heard that the veil was to be handed over to her own lady by Huang Ying, thinking that Huang Ying was going to do some kind of trick, so she immediately wanted to throw away the veil, but after all, she had worked with Huang Ying, and she still had some affection in her heart, so she didn't make an assertion, but sent the veil to An Ruolan.

An Ruolan was also very surprised, she thought that Huang Ying was asking her to help intercede, but she didn't want to open the veil, but what she saw was unexpected.

After a little hesitation, she asked Bai Ling, "Have you read the content on this handkerchief?" ”

"The slave has never seen it." Bai Ling shook his head again and again, "The slave just wants to throw it away, where do you have the heart to see it." ”

"Hmm." An Ruolan nodded, believing her.

The green vulture smiled and lifted the curtain and came in, and asked with a smile: "What's the matter, what can't you see?" ”

An Ruolan's gaze fell on the carved tourmaline beads in her hair, shook her head and smiled: "It's nothing, I asked Bailing if she had seen my coral bead hand, and she said she hadn't." ”

Bai Ling was stunned, and then echoed with a dry smile: "Yes, I said that the handpiece is ugly and I just want me to throw it away, and I don't want to see it." ”

She didn't know why Miss was hiding it from the vulture, but she just had to follow Miss.

The green vulture believed it, and immediately got anxious, and said, "But the bracelet of red coral? It was a birthday gift that the fourth master specially brought back from Haicheng and gave to the young lady, but it was precious, if you really didn't see it, you had to find it quickly! ”

As he spoke, he was going to rummage through the cabinets.

An Ruolan hurriedly stopped her and said, "Don't worry, Xu I forgot where I put it in my hand, and I will be fine when I remember it for a while." ”

"But......" The vulture was not at ease.

Bai Ling followed and persuaded: "Miss didn't go out today, she should be in this house, and she can't lose it." ”

"Then, that young lady think about it carefully, it's a pity to lose it." Only then did the vulture calm down.

An Ruolan smiled and bowed, "You guys go out first, I'll write a letter to my father-in-law." ”

"Yes, miss." The two of them answered, and they stepped back together.

Out of the door, the green eagle sighed: "Miss is really rich, and she is not in a hurry if she loses something, but I have heard that the bracelet is worth a thousand taels of silver." ”

Bai Ling smiled dryly and agreed, so he didn't say much.

The matter has not been mentioned.

An Ruolan really wanted to write a letter to Zhong Siye, and after writing the letter, she burned the handkerchief sent by Huang Ying's entrustment, and then called Bailing and went out to Qianxunju to deliver the letter.

She was not in a hurry to see Huang Ying, if Huang Ying really hid valuable news, then the longer she delayed, the more news she would get.

The reason why she went to Qianxunju to deliver the letter in person this time was because she had items that she wanted to give to Zhong Siye, which were handkerchiefs she embroidered herself, purses, and woven silk hair bands, although they were all scattered small objects, but they contained her mind, and she valued them very much, and she could only rest assured if she handed them over to Mr. Yi in person, and asked him to send them.

Of course, she also wanted to take the opportunity to visit Mr. Yi.

Since Zhong Siye began to run between Haicheng and Shengjing, most of He Ji's business has been handed over to Mr. Yi to take care of, and Zhong Siye has also resolutely implemented the principle of pampering An Ruolan, not letting her bother with anything, only letting her sit and enjoy happiness. Among them, there are many worries that she will be embarrassed by the Zhong family and coveted by the Marquis of Wenxin as before.

However, the gold and silver building in Liyuwu is still taken care of by An Ruolan, in the words of Zhong Siye, it is to leave her a place to earn extra pocket money.

Back to the present.

An Ruolan rushed to the small inn in the outer courtyard of Qianxun with the letter, but unfortunately, she ran into Zhong Yueshan, who was turned away.

This is the first time she has met Zhong Yueshan since last year's temple fair.

I have to say that she was taken aback, because Zhong Yueshan's changes were so great that neither the outside nor the inside could be compared with before, and she almost didn't recognize it.

And after the surprise, her heart was like a mirror.

She had more or less heard about the situation in the second room of the Zhong family, but she didn't expect the situation to be stricter than she knew.

After Mr. Zhong resigned, he took Mrs. Zhong and Mr. Zhong Sanye back to his hometown in Liuzhou, without the blessing of Mr. Zhong's identity as a subordinate, Zhong Erye's business was very difficult in Shengjing, and now the Zhong family is in charge of Mrs. Zhong, without Mrs. Zhong's partial help, the business is beyond her means, and the situation of the second room is getting worse, not to mention taking the Zhong family's silver to eat, drink and have fun as before, just go out, please go back, Zhong Erye and Zhong Er's wife have to calculate for a long time.

If it is only economic hardship, it is fine, but there is no peace in life.

The few concubines sent by Zhong Siye are used to ingratiating favorably, coaxing Zhong Erye into a daze, and Zhong Erye is naturally angry, so she thinks about learning about those concubines, and at the same time quarrels with Zhong Erye, if the two couples quarrel behind closed doors, it will not be in the way, but neither of them is ashamed, and they quarrel at all regardless of the occasion and place, and the entire Zhong Mansion is made by them.

The ups and downs in life and the endless quarrels between her parents made Zhong Yueshan transform rapidly. In the past, she was rich and powerful, sought after by thousands of people, elegant, beautiful and talented, and she could treat money like dung, but now she has to be like a woman in the market, worrying about saving money every day.

Beautiful dresses, sparkling jewelry, and the latest fat powder, she used to be able to get it lightly as long as she wanted, but now she can only wear the clothes she made last year, using cheap marital gouache, and she doesn't know when she can add a piece of jewelry.

And her pride, with the loss of money and power, had to be hidden in her heart.

In the past, she could disdain those famous sons and sit on an equal footing with those young ladies of the family, but now she has to turn around to please those self-righteous men, and grovel to those arrogant young ladies, which is the most unbearable thing for her compared to material embarrassment.

One can imagine how much hatred she felt when she saw An Ruolan, who was brightly dressed and radiant.

However, even if she gritted her teeth with hatred, she had to disguise herself.

Hardship smoothed out her pride, and now she could bow to anyone, as long as it was profitable.

An Ruolan saw the hatred flashing in Zhong Yueshan's eyes, but before she could see it clearly, Zhong Yueshan put on a happy look, ran over affectionately to hold her arm, and said excitedly: "Sister Lan, it's really you, it's so good to see you!" ”

It is undeniable that An Ruolan was frightened by her "enthusiasm", and was stunned for a while before coming back to her senses, and while withdrawing back the arm that was held without a trace, she smiled politely: "Why is Fourth Sister Zhong here?" It's been a long time. ”

"Yes, since the temple fair last year, we haven't seen each other for half a year, I still remember when I took you to wander around the temple fair, you saw everything new, very cute." Zhong Yueshan covered her lips and smiled lightly, looking like she and An Ruolan were close friends.

An Ruolan smiled dryly, if it weren't for her normal memory, I'm afraid she would have to believe Zhong Yueshan's words.

Zhong Yueshan complained again: "Sister Lan came just in time, you are familiar with Qianxunju, with you leading the way, I am not afraid that I will not be able to enter." I won't tell you anything, because I have never been here, and the people here don't let me in at all, you have to explain for me, I am the niece of the fourth uncle, not an outsider. ”

An Ruolan raised her eyebrows, no wonder she was so enthusiastic about her, it turned out to be this purpose.

Qianxun is heavily guarded, and without the permission of Zhong Siye, even if he has a message, he can't enter, so it's no wonder that Zhong Yueshan can't enter.

With a slight turn in her eyes, An Ruolan asked, "What happened to Sister Yueshan coming to Qianxun Residence?" ”R1152