The White-Bone Demon of the Farm is as rich as a country

That night, moonlight streamed across the courtyard. Ru Yue sat quietly by the window, gazing into the distance, her heart filled with anxiety and unease. She longed to see that familiar figure return, but time passed. Feng Ying returned, but there was no sign of Chu Ning'an or An Er.

As the night deepened, the surroundings were completely silent, broken only by the occasional chirping of insects. Ru Yue's heart grew heavier. She knew Chu Ning'an's character would never fail to send a message to let her know he was safe unless he was faced with something extremely important and difficult. Although she constantly reassured herself that he could handle any difficulty, the worry deep within her heart still surged like a surging tide.

The next morning, sunlight filtered through the clouds, illuminating the streets and alleys of Jiaqing Prefecture. The once bustling city was now permeated by a tense and oppressive atmosphere. While the street vendors diligently hawked their wares as usual, trying to maintain a semblance of calm, the occasional passing of stern-faced soldiers, armed with sharp weapons, instilled a sense of dread in the hearts of the people. They whispered to each other, speculating on the events unfolding in the city.

Ru Yue stood at the doorway, watching the crowds hurrying by on the street, her worries growing even more intense. Her brow furrowed, her hands unconsciously clenching the corners of her clothes, as if that would hold onto a glimmer of hope. The entire morning passed, and still no news of Chu Ning'an. Finally, unable to contain her anxiety, she sent Fengying out early in the morning to investigate.

Time passed incredibly slowly, each moment a torture for Ru Yue. She paced back and forth in the room, occasionally pausing to gaze outside, hoping Feng Ying would return with good news. It wasn't until late afternoon, when the sun was high in the sky, scorching and dazed, that Feng Ying finally returned, breathless and in a hurry.

"Miss!" Feng Ying said anxiously, not even wiping the beads of sweat from his forehead. "The prefect sent troops to seal off all of the An family's shops and arrested all the shop assistants and managers. They've been jailed for years. I heard the cells are already full! Furthermore, the An family's mansion and house are completely surrounded by officials. No one can get in or out. I've tried everything I could, but I can't get any news about the young master!"

After hearing Fengying's words, Ruyue felt her vision go dark and her body swayed involuntarily. She forced herself to stand, trying to calm herself down, her mind racing with countermeasures...

By the third day, the once bustling streets seemed to have suddenly become much quieter. The small vendor stalls that were usually filled with all kinds of goods were now sparsely scattered, far fewer in number than before.

The common people coming and going on the streets all looked hurried and walked quickly. They seemed to have something on their minds and did not dare to stop for a moment.

The police patrolled the streets in groups of three or five. They had serious expressions and sharp eyes and would not miss any suspicious points.

The news Fengying brought back was even more shocking. It turned out that the entire An family had been thrown into prison! Furthermore, anyone related to the An family within three clans by marriage was also under strict government control.

However, strangely enough, An Yiru, the eldest daughter of the An family, reportedly went to the Wanfo Temple outside the city to burn incense two days ago and has not returned since. Officials rushed to the temple to search for her, but were unable to find any trace of her. Consequently, a city-wide manhunt was launched, but to date, no news of the young man has been found.

On the fourth day, Ru Yue felt restless. At daybreak, she arrived at the shop's meeting room. She stood quietly by the window, her eyes fixed on the endless stream of people on the street, silently praying that she would see Chu Ning'an return safely.

In the afternoon, Fengying, who had been out gathering information, finally returned. This time, she not only returned by herself, but also brought An Er with her.

An Er hurried into the solemn and dignified conference hall. He bowed slightly, performed a standard salute, and said respectfully: "Master, are you well? The young master specially ordered his subordinates to report to you so that you can rest assured. He is now assisting Lord Huo in handling the major case of the An family's treason and collusion with the enemy. The progress is quite smooth, but it is estimated that it will take a few days for him to return. Here is a letter that the young master asked his subordinates to bring to you. Please take a look at it." After that, An Er carefully presented the letter in his hand and handed it to Ru Yue with both hands.

Ru Yue took the letter, but her eyes did not fall on it immediately. Instead, she looked at An Er in front of her. He was ragged and covered in dust, and his face was haggard. It was obvious that he had been traveling with Chu Ning'an for the past few days and had not had a moment's rest.

Ru Yue couldn't help but feel a pity in her heart, and she quickly said, "An Er, you've worked hard all the way, and you must be extremely tired. Go down quickly, have some food, and have a good rest. When you've rested, come back and tell me."

An Er responded with tears of gratitude, then turned and left. That night, the moonlight shone like water, casting a shadow over the quiet courtyard. After a short rest, An Er returned to Ru Yue. He was now in much better spirits, holding Ru Yue's letter to the young master. After a few brief words with Ru Yue, he quietly departed under the cover of night.

Since that night, Ru Yue seemed to have returned to her usual rhythm. However, those who observed her could still notice something different—she would often unconsciously cast her gaze toward the alley entrance, a look in her eyes that was difficult for others to understand. No one knew what she was looking at, perhaps only she knew...

Seven days later, deep into the night, all was silent, as if the world were lost in sleep. Ru Yue sat alone, quietly beneath the oil lamp, gently flipping through the letter Chu Ning'an had sent her, announcing his safety. The dim light illuminated her delicate figure, dressed in a white midriff-baring gown, her long, silky hair caressed behind her, a beautiful yet heartbreaking painting.

That once gentle and charming face now had a haggard look, her once round cheeks slightly sunken, and her entire figure noticeably thinner. It had been a full ten days since they'd parted, and every day had been a long, agonizing wait for her. She and he had never been apart for so long before.

At that moment, the door of the room suddenly creaked. Ru Yue didn't even look up, but said lazily, "Feng Ying, I've told you many times that I really don't need anyone to keep watch over me. Go down and get some rest. Don't worry about me." However, her hand remained tightly gripped around the precious letter, unwilling to let it go. It seemed as if as long as she held it, she could feel Chu Ning'an by her side.

Suddenly, a tall, dark figure silently descended upon her. Simultaneously, a familiar, crisp, cold pine scent filled Ru Yue's nose. She was startled for a moment, then, as if realizing something, she jerked her head up. When she saw the person before her, a smile of unconcealed surprise spread across her lips, but tears welled uncontrollably in her eyes.

Chu Ning'an, like a gust of wind, suddenly embraced her tightly in his arms, his strength so great that it seemed as if he wanted to completely rub her into his body. This powerful force made her body tremble slightly, even causing a slight pain, but she had no intention of breaking free from his arms. Instead, she willingly let him hold her so tightly. At the same time, she slowly stretched out her hands and hugged him back tightly, as if only this intimate embrace could truly make her sure that he had returned to her side.