How could I possibly be confined in a cage?

Helpless, they had no choice but to go along with Guo Zixing's wishes.

Sitting in her own carriage again, Qingru felt very uncomfortable, but she had to pretend that she had never seen it before.

Guo Zixing squeezed in as well. With no more food on the cart, there was more space.

Lifting the curtain, Guo Zixing instructed, "Zhang Xun, you drive the carriage; Zhang Gong, you escort the men to prison."

"Alright, please go ahead with your business. Take care."

Chief Zhang smiled as he watched Guo Zixing leave, but when he turned to look at Skinny Monkey, his expression immediately turned serious.

"Skinny monkey, you'd better not fall into my hands again."

Skinny Monkey was used to hanging around this area, and he even recognized the police. Of all these people, he was most afraid of Chief Zhang.

"Thank you for taking care of us. Please, have mercy and take care of us brothers. This year was bad, and if it weren't for you and your brothers taking care of us, we would have starved to death. You are our second parents, a living Bodhisattva."

Chief Zhang glared at him and said, "Stop sucking up. Come on, let's go to the station and go through the formalities."

"This little bit of money..." Seeing Chief Zhang's expression, he immediately changed his mind, "Go, you must go. You are as impartial and incorruptible as Bao Zheng in the modern world."

The Lü family's carriage was a cheap one, with no soft cushions, only hard seats. Although the road was relatively flat, there was no such thing as shock absorption at this time, and the passengers were bounced up and down.

Qingru gripped the frame of the bicycle with great experience, stabilizing her body.

Guo Zixing noticed this and, imitating her, held onto the bicycle frame, saying, "You're quite clever, you have a firm grip on the ground."

Qingru was startled; this person was too thoughtful. She said embarrassedly, "I've ridden in an oxcart before, and it was even bumpier than this. If I didn't hold on, I was afraid I would fall off."

Guo Zixing scoffed and fell silent. Qingru avoided his gaze even more, wishing she could hide under the car.

The carriage was small and swaying, so the two of them inevitably ended up sitting close together, which Guo Zixing found very unpleasant.

Moreover... Qingru's face was really not flattering at the moment.

Her messy hair covered her face, and the half of her face that was exposed was swollen and ugly, even unbearable to look at.

However, she had a faint, sweet fragrance about her, perhaps it was an emanating sweetness.

Even though their clothes were tattered, they weren't as dirty as those of other poor people who couldn't afford to wash their clothes. Their clothes were starched and faded, not turning into the black grime of years of washing; they were just covered in some mud and dust.

Guo Zixing's eyes lit up, and he finally understood where the incongruity in her came from.

Feeling reassured, he wasn't in a hurry to expose her. He resolved to peel back her disguise little by little, uncover her problems, and claim all the credit.

Qingru couldn't help but feel a chill run down her spine. Guo Zixing's gaze was so undisguised, and it even revealed his delight!

That was definitely a smile… It made her wonder if Guo Zixing had some kind of unusual fetish, like a fetish for ugly things?!

Suppressing her discomfort, Qingru stuck her head to the window and said in a dry, "It's so stuffy, so stuffy."

After a bumpy ride, the car stopped, and Guo Zixing was the first to get off.

Qingru followed closely behind, and just as she was about to jump down while holding onto the door, Guo Zixing reached out his hand.

Qingru looked as if she had seen a ghost, "I...I can get down by myself."

Guo Zixing smiled warmly, "No, you're already injured. If you fall and hurt yourself again, I can't afford to pay for it."

Qingru was incredulous, and Zhang Xun couldn't help but take a look as well.

Guo Zixing still had his hand outstretched. Seeing Qingru frozen there, he grabbed her without saying a word and lifted her up with one hand.

This action stunned Zhang Xun; the young master was holding a dirty, ugly village girl!

Do you believe him when he says he has a kind heart? I, for one, do.

Qingru felt a sudden dizziness, and then she landed on the ground.

Guo Zixing's expression stiffened for a moment, but quickly returned to its cheerful and sunny tone. "Let's go. This is my Guo residence. I'll take you to change your clothes. Zhang Xun, go and fetch a doctor."

"Alright, alright." Zhang Xun snapped out of his daze and quickly spurred the carriage to fetch a doctor.

Qingru had no choice but to accept her fate, but she made her stance clear: "I'll see the doctor and then leave; I have family waiting for me."

"Oh? Who else is in your family?"

"My family..." Qingru thought to herself, "I'm the only one in my family. The harvest was bad, and everyone starved to death."

Guo Zixing asked curiously, "Didn't you just say that someone at home was waiting for you?"

Forgot about this!

Qingru said awkwardly, "I meant their memorial tablets. I burn incense for them every day. I'm scared when I'm home alone, so I burn incense every day as if they're still alive, eating with me and helping me with chores."

The more she talked, the more creepy it became, so Guo Zixing quickly stopped her, "Alright, your face is swollen, so don't say so much. Come with me."

Qingru quickly shut her mouth. Luckily, she managed to get away with it. If she were asked again, she would have to make up another lie. It's not easy to cover up even one lie, let alone several.

Guo Zixing was too lazy to listen to her nonsense anymore. He already had some doubts, so he didn't believe a word she said.

Entering through the side gate of the Guo residence, they encountered few people along the way. After several twists and turns, they led Qingru into the east courtyard, Guo Zixing's own courtyard.

Hongzhi Academy.

Qingru looked up at the large, elegant characters on the plaque and thought: Is this person openly revealing his ambitions?

"Literacy?"

"I don't know... but I recognize a few characters." I almost let it slip. It's best to be half-truthful and not lie completely.

Guo Zixing gradually confirmed his suspicions: how could a poor girl in these days have the opportunity to learn to read?

Upon entering the courtyard, he immediately summoned a maid and said, "Go and find her a set of clothes that fit her size, and also get some hot water from the kitchen for her to wash up."

"Her?" The maid stared in astonishment.

Guo Zixing nodded.

"Yes," the maid replied, though she had some doubts in her heart. She didn't dare say anything and silently went to prepare.

Guo Zixing was very kind to Qingru, saying, "Just stay here and relax. If you're worried about no one being home to burn incense, I'll send someone to do it for you."

"No need," Qingru said, not daring to let him do it for her. "I'll treat her and leave; it won't take much time."

Guo Zixing arrived at his courtyard and relaxed. He poured himself a cup of tea and started drinking it, trying to figure out how to keep her there. "I see you're quite strong. I happen to be short of a maid to do odd jobs. Why don't you stay and fill in?"

Qingru became alert. Why was he being so kind to her for no reason, treating her injuries and arranging things for her to do?

"No need, I'm perfectly content with farming. If the Guo family needed maids, word would be out that they'd be lining up to wear out their doors. They don't need me."

Guo Zixing wasn't in a hurry. "Alright, think about it some more. Treating your injuries is the priority. Come to think of it, I was the one who hit you."

"I'm fine, I was the one who startled the horse first."

Guo Zixing grunted in response and then fell silent. Qingru, not wanting to make conversation, stood there awkwardly, dawdling.

A moment later, the maid returned nimbly, "Young Master, I've found a set of clothes for this... young lady, and the hot water has already been brought to the side room."

"Okay, you take her there."

Qingru thanked her and followed the maid into the side room.

This maidservant, who was probably just an ordinary servant, became bolder once she was away from Guo Zixing. "Hey, who are you? Why is the young master treating you so well?"

While testing the water temperature, Qingru said, "I'm just a poor village girl. I was robbed on the road and almost trampled to death by a horse. The young master took pity on me and said he would take me to find a doctor."

The maidservant didn't believe it. "That can't be right. There are so many unfortunate people on the street, and the young master didn't help them all. Besides, you..."

The maid interrupted, saying that Qingru was indeed a bit ugly now.

She lifted her hair, revealing half of her swollen face, which startled the maid. "Oh! How can you look so frightening?"

Qingru said embarrassedly, "This was done by your young master."

The maid blinked. "Oh, I see. It must be because you're too ugly that you scared him." She herself had almost kicked him just now.

This maidservant is truly "a child who speaks without restraint."

Qingru smiled awkwardly, "Well, I can wash myself. You can go out first, and I'll call you when I'm done."

"That won't do. The young master instructed me to take good care of you."

"Then you can sit outside and rest for a while. I'll take a quick shower."

The maid shook her head, indicating that it was not allowed.

Qingru let her do as she pleased, but didn't ask her to scatter flower petals or pour fragrant dew.

"Stand outside the screen. I'm dirty, I don't want to scare you."

The maid looked at her covered in mud and was indeed a little disgusted, so she pointed to the octagonal table outside the screen and said, "I'll sit there and wait for you. Call me if you need anything."

Qingru nodded in agreement, and only after the maid was seated did she slowly take off her clothes.

Qingru dared not take off the last layer, so she immersed herself in the water wearing only her underwear.

The warm water enveloped my body, and I felt so comfortable that I just wanted to sigh.

However, Qingru dared not enjoy it. She only applied the pomegranate peel juice to the areas that were easily exposed, while the rest of her skin remained fair and tender.

The moment the maid enters, the deception will be exposed, so he dares not be distracted, splashing water while keeping an eye on the maid's movements.

Guo Zixing was determined to verify Qingru's authenticity, so he went around to the outside of the room. Seeing Qingru hesitate to take off her clothes because of the maid, he regretted pretending to be a good person and telling the maid to take good care of her in front of everyone.

Therefore, he instructed another maid to call away the maid in the room.

"Hongyu, come out quickly, the young master wants to eat osmanthus honey glutinous rice balls. Only you know how to make this."

Hongyu was sitting in the room when she heard this and felt conflicted. The young master had asked her to take good care of this ugly girl, but now he wanted her to make glutinous rice balls.

"I'm busy right now, maybe later."

"I can wait, but the young master's belly can't wait."

Qingru could tell that Hongyu was probably a bit stubborn, so she advised, "You go first, I can manage on my own here. Taking care of your young master is the most important thing."

Hongyu struggled a lot, but in the end, the words "Young Master" prevailed.

"Alright then, I'll be right back. You stay here for now. If you need anything, just call out loud. There's always someone in the young master's courtyard."

"Okay, go ahead and close the door."

With Hongyu gone, Qingru finally breathed a sigh of relief. With someone around, she always felt restricted.

Without even thinking about taking another shower, I stood up from the water, intending to dry myself off, change my clothes, and leave quickly.

Good heavens, Guo Zixing almost had a nosebleed from that graceful figure. Her curves were all there, and her thin clothes underneath, soaked with water, made her look even more exquisite.

With just one glance, Guo Zixing withdrew, but this did not affect his judgment. This "Cui'er" was probably the person he was looking for.

He could see clearly that this "Cui'er" only had a sallow complexion on her face and arms, while the rest of her skin was as white as porcelain...

He couldn't think about it anymore. As for the rest, Guo Zixing still needed to get a photo of Qingru from Zhang Xun for comparison.