After her transformation and rebirth, she manipulates the innocent and ruthless to overthrow the wor

Although it was called a detention center, it was actually just a converted small woodshed.

There were only two cells, one for Old Wang and one for her.

Xiao Ran pulled her clothes tighter. She had come back in the rain today, and although they were almost dry, she was still cold.

Ever since she died in the snow in her previous life, she has been particularly afraid of the cold.

"Why are you locking me up! I already told you I was just going hunting!" Old Wang next door was still angrily pounding on the wooden bars, expressing his dissatisfaction.

Xiao Ran slowly lay down on a bed made of straw.

"Stop howling, they can't hear you."

Hearing Xiao Ran's words, Old Wang next door, who was already seething with anger, came over and glared at her, saying, "You traitor! If it weren't for you, how would I have been discovered!"

Xiao Ran tucked in her clothes and retorted calmly, "I don't know if you're really stupid or just pretending, but can't you see that someone is looking for a scapegoat?"

Old Wang paused, then asked, "You mean someone in the village is trying to frame us?"

Xiao Ran shook her head and gestured to him: "It's not you, it's me."

"Then why am I locked up with you?" Old Wang asked.

"Your legs are your own, ask yourself." After saying that, Xiao Ran turned her back to him, not intending to talk to him anymore.

"I..." Old Wang scratched his head, trying to recall.

He was indeed a little flustered when everyone was reporting their whereabouts, but not much.

After all, you can report a false report.

But when it was finally his turn, he clearly heard several people doubting him, saying they hadn't seen him for the past few days.

He was very nervous, after all, this was a matter of life and death. He had elderly parents and young children to support, and he couldn't afford to collapse.

Just as he was getting nervous, someone suddenly gave him a hard shove and whispered to him, "Run!"

Then he ran away.

And then... he was brought here.

He looked at the man in the next cell, who was already fast asleep and had even curled up a little.

He scratched his head; maybe he really was stupid...

……

After the neighbor's wailing stopped, she finally got a good night's sleep.

She stretched and looked out the window.

The sky outside was already tinged with a soft amber color, giving her a long-lost sense of warmth.

As soon as she stood up, she saw Old Wang next door leaning against the wall, holding something in his hand.

Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a bamboo-woven dragonfly.

"Is this intended for your grandson?" Xiao Ran asked.

He looked up at Xiao Ran, somewhat surprised that she was awake, considering that only a few hours had passed since she fell asleep.

"Hmm." He looked away, then gripped the bamboo dragonfly tightly, a smile on his face, and said, "He's very sensible. He's only five years old, but he can already help gather firewood."

"You taught him very well."

He gave a bitter laugh and continued, "His parents passed away when he was a baby. At that time, his grandmother was bedridden, and I was the only one in the family who could support them. I worked two jobs a day back then."

"But I still collapsed, and in the end, it was the second-in-command of the village who took me in."

"Second-in-command?"

"Yes, it's him. That's why I don't believe he could do anything to hurt... your master, he was such a kind person."

"..."

Xiao Ran did not reply. She had never met the second-in-command and did not know his character.

I've only ever heard about this person from other people's ears.

From the beginning when the boy was looking for him, to the people in the village hating him, and finally even an old man named Wang was mentioning him.

Perhaps if she could return to the capital, she could investigate this person.

But right now, she should be most concerned about her own situation.

For example, who exactly wants to harm her?

They chatted casually until late at night, when Old Wang next door finally fell asleep.

Xiao Ran wasn't sleepy because she had slept during the day.

Besides, she's still waiting for someone.

Sure enough, a short while later, a person wearing a black cloak entered.

He walked straight to Xiao Ran's room, crouched down stealthily, took off the hood of his cloak, and whispered, "Junior Brother."

Xiao Ran stirred as she pretended to be asleep, looking at Mo Ping, who was dressed in black, with sleepy eyes.

"Senior brother?"

Seeing this, Mo Ping quickly took out two hot pancakes from his pocket and handed them to him.

"Are you hungry?"

Xiao Ran immediately took the pancake and started eating.

She already disliked the food sent from the prison—a bowl of yellowish rice bran and two spoiled steamed buns. Was that for human consumption? It was for livestock.

Seeing his junior brother eating so heartily, a hint of pity flashed in his eyes, and he murmured, "Junior brother, you've suffered..."

Xiao Ran shook her head.

"Junior brother, I—" Mo Ping was about to speak when Xiao Ran interrupted him.

"Thank you, Brother."

The light was dappled, and the junior brother in front of me looked ashen-faced, yet he was wolfing down the pancake. Coupled with his already thin and bony appearance, he looked truly pitiful...

He hesitated for a moment, then whispered to the person in front of him, "Junior brother, you should run!"

Xiao Ran was surprised, but seeing Mo Ping's extremely serious expression, she felt a warmth in her heart.

She was genuinely surprised. She had thought her senior brother would feel sorry for her and would definitely come to see her, like he had done now, by bringing her food.

But I never expected him to think of her in such a way...

"I've investigated. A rally will be held in the village tomorrow, which will be when the defenses are at their weakest. I'll come to find you secretly then and take you to the place where you leave the valley."

Xiao Ran frowned. "A rally?"

Mo Ping nodded. "Well... we're going to assassinate the Emperor the day after tomorrow, so it's best for you to escape tomorrow, Junior Brother."

"...But senior brother, if I really am a traitor, will you still let me go?"

Mo Ping stared intently into her eyes and said earnestly, "I believe you, junior brother."

But then he suddenly smiled with relief, "How could our junior brother be a traitor? He's still so young."

Looking at her senior brother's extremely serious expression, she remained silent for a moment before saying, "...Okay, I'll be waiting for you tomorrow."

Her senior then told her some things to keep in mind for the prison break the next day, and she listened attentively.

Until her senior brother suddenly stepped forward and tied a black cloak around her neck.

That was the one my senior brother used to wear.

The sudden action caught Xiao Ran off guard. She only saw her senior brother come over and hold her cold hands, saying, "Don't be afraid... they're really cold, let me warm them up."

"Take good care of yourself. I'll come pick you up tomorrow." It wasn't until Mo Ping finished saying this and left that she slowly came to her senses.

After Mo Ping left, Old Wang next door simply stopped pretending to be asleep.

"He's your senior brother, right? He's a really nice guy."

Xiao Ran recalled every little detail from the past and slowly said, "Yes... he was indeed very good to me."

Her senior brother seemed to be taking care of her all the time, no matter what mistakes she made or what she did.

He would always be tolerant of her.

But... what if we found out who she was?

Will he forgive her as he has now?

Her thoughts drifted back to her original state. Looking at the other uneaten pancake in her hand, she handed it to Old Wang next door without hesitation.

Old Wang was somewhat taken aback, but seeing the young boy glance at the food in his cell, he said, "Look, didn't you also complain about the food?"

Apart from the steamed buns on the ground being mostly eaten, the other food remained untouched.

"Aren't you going to eat?" Old Wang next door swallowed hard.

Although he said that, his hand had already obediently reached for the piece of bread.

Xiao Ran chuckled as she watched the pancake being taken away.

"You need to be strong to come out with me."