The more cowardly a person is, the more wild they are; I've driven the villainous minister craz

Even though they've become sworn brothers, Yun Shang still hasn't completely let down his guard against her.

Realizing this, Yu Wan felt a chill run through her body.

All the excitement I had felt vanished completely.

She actually thinks Yun Shang likes her? How shameless can she be?

Yu Wan chuckled inwardly, letting Yun Shang tickle her palm as if she didn't feel anything.

Seeing that Yu Wan had not responded for a long time, Yun Shang suddenly remembered that Yu Wan seemed to be illiterate.

He had completely forgotten about it.

Yun Shang couldn't help but feel annoyed.

Although women at that time did not attend formal schools, whether they were daughters of noble families, officials, or commoners, they would teach their daughters to recognize some basic characters. However, Yu Wan lost her memory when she was abducted and remembered nothing.

He had never learned to read or write while living in the Yun family, so he was practically illiterate.

They are not even as good as children a few years old in the same village.

She must have been feeling terrible inside.

The two were thinking completely opposite things and were not on the same wavelength at all.

After a while of silence, the mine manager and the big man came over. The big man said, "Take off their blindfolds."

Soon, the blindfolds covering Yu Wan and Yun Shang's eyes were removed one by one.

They also got a clear look at the appearance of the mine manager and the surrounding area.

The mine manager was about thirty years old, dressed in a gray long gown. He had a refined and scholarly appearance, looking more like a schoolteacher, which easily put people at ease.

They are now outside the cave.

The mountainside was surrounded by sentry posts, with a guard every five steps. These men had serious expressions and never looked away, clearly well-trained.

Yu Wan noticed that Yun Shang's gaze lingered on their eyes for quite a while.

The mine foreman sized up the two men and asked, "Do you want to work here?"

Yu Wan pulled Yun Shang along and nodded, "Yes, yes, as long as there's money to be made, we're willing to do any dirty or tiring work."

The foreman nodded, seemingly offering a kind reminder, "You're not allowed to go home for three years if you work here. If you can accept that, I can let you stay."

"The first month is a trial period. Men will receive 20 taels of silver per month, and women 15 taels. After one month, depending on your performance, the maximum increase can be 50 taels per month."

Yu Wan was delighted to hear this.

I never expected this place to offer empty promises.

It's still a hard, unpalatable pie.

However, for people who are desperate and have nowhere else to turn, this job is like a windfall, and it is hard for anyone to resist the temptation and refuse.

Yu Wan thought to herself, "Isn't it time for me and Yun Shang to perform again?"

Sure enough, the next moment, she heard Yun Shang beside her exclaim with delight, "We're willing! We're willing! As long as we can make money, we can stay away from home for three years!"

Yu Wan just smiled and didn't say anything.

A man's words are like a devil's lies; whoever believes them will suffer the consequences.

The manager did not suspect them, perhaps because the burly man had already tested them, thus allaying the manager's suspicions.

Or perhaps, the two of them came here alone, and whatever their purpose, these people were confident that they wouldn't be able to leave.

As long as we can't get out, aren't we at their mercy?

In this way, whether they are suspicious becomes irrelevant.

The foreman nodded upon hearing this and said to the big man, "You continue your patrol. If you encounter any more people who want to work, you can bring them back."

The burly man's eyes flashed, and he nodded in agreement.

The steward beckoned to Yu Wan and the others, "Come with me."

Yun Shang held Yu Wan's hand, and the couple acted more and more realistically than the other. One was timid and shy, and the other was honest and cowardly, just like a migrant worker going out alone.

Upon entering the cave, the view instantly darkens.

The steward led them along the mountainside. In the dim candlelight, Yu Wan could vaguely see tracks laid on the ground, which looked like they were used to transport ore out.

The mine manager led them through a maze of twists and turns, until Yu Wan was completely disoriented. She could only vaguely sense that many passages had been dug out inside the mountain, leading in all directions.

Even if this place is discovered, nothing can be caught in the short term.

So, did Prince Chen send Yun Shang infiltrated to let Yun Shang find out what was going on inside the cave?

Lost in thought, Yu Wan accidentally bumped into Yun Shang's back.

She let out a soft cry of pain, and when she looked up, she realized they had already arrived.

The foreman stood outside a cave entrance and said to them, "This is where you will rest. Rest for half an hour, and then I will send someone to take you to your work area."

"Yes." Yu Wan and Yun Shang bowed their heads in response, appearing very obedient and easily fooled.

The manager, with a smile on his face, turned and left.

Yu Wan approached the cave.

This is a shallow cave that was dug by hand, which can probably only accommodate two people at most. There are no bedding or other items inside, only some dry grass on the ground.

It looks like the dwelling of primitive people.

Yu Wan peeked outside and discovered that there were many such caves in the vicinity, which were probably specifically for miners to rest.

Yun Shang entered the cave and whispered to Yu Wan, "Come in."

Yu Wan bent down and walked in, sitting down next to Yun Shang. She lowered her voice and said, "What exactly is your plan? We've all been brought here now. If you have any plans, tell me in advance so I don't disrupt them."

They knew absolutely nothing about the cave, and no one knew what would happen next, so they had to take precautions.

Looking at Yu Wan's serious expression, Yun Shang slowly leaned closer to her.

Yu Wan was startled and almost cried out, "What are you doing?"

Yun Shang whispered, "Be careful, the walls may be eavesdropping."

Upon hearing this, Yu Wan could only let Yun Shang approach, and the two were almost pressed together.

Yun Shang leaned close to her ear, his voice low and deep: "It's like this..."

……

Half an hour later, a dark-skinned man in his early twenties appeared outside their cave.

“Niu Dazhuang, Ma Cuicui, Manager Zhu asked me to take you to work,” he said, standing at the cave entrance.

Yu Wan couldn't help but twitch her lips.

How can these surnames not be considered a coincidence?

Yun Shang pulled Yu Wan out of the cave. He subtly sized up the young man outside and asked, "May I ask how you are addressed, brother?"

The man seemed exhausted and glanced weakly at Yun Shang before saying, "My name is Duan Tong. From now on, you two will work for me."

“Brother Duan,” Yun Shang readily agreed.

While following behind Duan Tong, he asked, "What kind of work do we do in this cave? Manager Zhu told us that we can earn at least fifteen taels of silver a month working here. We can't earn that much even if we work outside for half a year."

Seeing his enthusiasm, Duan Tong's eyes flashed with something, and he said, "Mining."

Yun Shang paused, as if startled. "Mining? What kind of mining? Doesn't the imperial court strictly prohibit unauthorized mining? This doesn't seem to be an imperial mining area..."

Duan Tong seemed surprised that Yun Shang knew these things. He stopped, turned around, looked at him, and said, "This is indeed not a mine owned by the imperial court."

Yun Shang was even more frightened. "If we are found to be mining without permission, our entire family will be executed. We dare not do this job."

He started to back out.

Duan Tong looked at him with pity, "Once you've entered here, do you really think you can leave?"

As if he had just thought of something, a hint of sadness flashed in his eyes. "Once you're in here, don't even think about leaving unless you die."