My reborn husband and son are thinking about how to kill me every day.

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Gu Chunzhi said angrily, "When did Hu Chunjiao enter my house? Don't you dare to slander my Erlang's reputation."

"What?" The elderly couple from the Hu family exclaimed at the same time, "My Chun Jiao isn't at your house?"

Gu Chunzhi sneered, "Our two families have already broken off the engagement, how could your daughter possibly be with me? Are you out of your mind from sleeping?"

"But my daughter didn't come to your house. Where did she go?" Old Mrs. Hu wiped away her tears. "Where could a girl like her go by herself?"

Since they all escaped from the same village, Gu Chunzhi guessed from her appearance that Hu Chunjiao was truly missing.

She also felt a little uneasy.

However, thinking about the excessive demands the Hu family had made, her heart hardened again.

"How would I know where she went? Don't come here and cause trouble! Our two families have long since severed ties, so where she went is none of our business. You have nothing to do with our family either."

"Aunt Lu, even though our two families are no longer related, we're still from the same village. Please help us!"

Brother Hu knelt on the ground and said, "My sister is missing. We all thought she had come looking for you. We don't know where she went. Please lend us some money and food so we can go find my sister!"

Seeing Hu Erge kneeling on the ground, Gu Chunzhi's heart softened again. Just as she was about to agree, Ji Yunshuang asked, "How much do you want to borrow?"

Hu Erge looked at the Lu family's big house, then at the brand-new carriage. He first held up one finger, then thought for a moment and changed it to four fingers, saying, "Lend us forty taels to tide us over."

Ji Yunshuang asked, "If you borrow so much, when do you plan to pay it back? And what will you use as collateral?"

Hu Erge was speechless.

Because he never even considered paying it back, let alone when he would pay it back.

Gu Chunzhi was already very unhappy when he asked to borrow forty taels of silver.

Even if they were to help their fellow villagers through a difficult time, they would only lend them some grain or a few copper coins. They would never ask for tens of taels of silver.

Looking at him now, it's clear that the second son of the Hu family simply wants to get something for nothing from her.

Before Ji Yunshuang could even speak, she shooed them away, saying, "What kind of people do you take us for, asking for tens of taels of silver like that? Get out! So what if we're from the same village? We're from the same village, we don't owe you anything."

Brother Hu said, “You’ve all made it big now, what’s forty taels of silver to you? But this silver can save our whole family’s lives, so why don’t you just consider it a good deed?”

Gu Chunzhi was shocked that the second son of the Hu family would say such a thing. In her mind, both Hu brothers were honest people.

Unexpectedly, after not seeing him for some time, the second son of the Hu family had become so shameless and brazen.

She was furious and put her hands on her hips, saying, "Even if it's nothing to us, it's still our money. What's it to you?"

There are so many people outside starving and unable to survive, should I save them all? Can I possibly save them all?

"Old Hu, I never imagined you'd become so shameless. Thank goodness this marriage didn't happen; it's truly a blessing from heaven!"

Hu Quan glared at his son and apologized to Gu Chunzhi: "Sister, don't be angry. My second son was just joking with you!"

"We came here mainly to find Chun Jiao, but we haven't found her. We've been walking for two days and are completely exhausted. We originally wanted to ask you for a drink of water."

Grandma Hu quickly apologized as well, saying that they didn't mean it that way.

Hu Erge stood to the side, still looking bewildered. He genuinely thought so too; he figured the Lu family was so wealthy, what was a few dozen taels to them?

But he's not stupid; how could he possibly say everything he's thinking?

He intended to feign pitifulness and gain the Lu family's sympathy. But how did those words just slip out uncontrollably?

The elderly Hu couple had no idea what was wrong with their son. He had been telling them on the way here not to anger the Lu family and to maintain a good relationship with them. How come he had angered the Lu family after only two sentences?

Only Ji Yunshuang knew what had happened.

Because she had been using Brother Hu as an experiment, trying to influence his behavior with her mental powers.

The thought that he blurted out just now was the result of Ji Yunshuang using her telekinetic power.

However, influencing people's behavior with telekinesis is more tiring than moving several tons of objects into her space.

She had only controlled the second son of the Hu family for a short while, and now she felt tired and wanted to sleep.

It seems that it's best not to use telekinesis to do this unless it's absolutely necessary.

She was just conducting an experiment; the Hu family wasn't worth her using her telekinesis to deal with them.

Gu Chunzhi alone could verbally abuse the Hu family so much that they couldn't defend themselves.

Soon, the Hu family left in a sorry state.

After the Hu family left, Ji Yunshuang went to Hongdu as planned.

Perhaps because many families' male members have gone to serve in the military, the atmosphere in the city is very gloomy today, and Sweet Fragrance House has not had much business.

Ji Yunshuang simply asked Lu Xumu and Lu Zilin to go shopping for New Year's goods together.

Although Mingming now has a sister-in-law and the family has no shortage of food and drink, they are living a better life than they ever had before they fled the war. But the two brothers are still not very enthusiastic, and they can't help but worry about their two older brothers who are going to serve in the military.

Thinking of his sister-in-law's consistently impressive abilities, Lu Zilin couldn't help but ask, "Sister-in-law, will my eldest brother and second brother soon be going to the battlefield to fight?"

Ji Yunshuang said, "If the war weren't so intense, they certainly wouldn't need to go to the battlefield immediately."

Lu Zilin looked around, leaned close to Ji Yunshuang's ear, and whispered, "But I heard that the one above is suspicious of Prince Rui and deliberately didn't send troops. Now Prince Rui has to use his own troops to resist Northern Qi."

If Prince Rui is defeated, the court will be happy to get rid of a prince who may have rebellious intentions.

But if Prince Rui wins, he might still face repercussions from above. Are my elder brothers... in grave danger?

Ji Yunshuang raised an eyebrow, surprised, and asked, "Where did you hear that?"

Lu Zilin said somewhat embarrassedly, "When I had nothing to do, I went to the teahouse to eavesdrop and overheard people talking inside. Sister-in-law, are they right?"

Ji Yunshuang pinched her chin!

It must be said that this is indeed the current situation.

Ordinary people don't even know what's going on in the court, so how could they see the situation so clearly?

This news must have been deliberately leaked by someone.

At this time, for such news to be released in Prince Rui's territory, it has to be said that the Great Zhou Dynasty is truly in utter chaos.

She said, "Don't worry, no matter what, your eldest brother has the ability to protect himself. As for your second brother..."

Thinking of the weapons that Lu Wuzheng had been working day and night to make these past few days, Ji Yunshuang thought, "He might be able to make a name for himself!"