How could I possibly be confined in a cage?

Yan Ru was terrified. She had just exchanged a few words with the little girl and hadn't even had a chance to ask her name when she was knocked unconscious and taken away.

She was woken up by a bucket of cold water and looked around.

This place seems to be a basement, but it also doesn't seem to be; it's pitch black all around.

With a "whoosh," the oil lamp was lit, and Yan Ru closed her eyes, unable to bear it any longer.

The girl in his arms shifted slightly, startled, and burrowed even deeper into Yan Ru's embrace.

"Who are you, and what brings you here?"

The other person didn't answer, dropped the basin of water they were holding, and ran out.

"Is it a child?" Yan Ru was unsure; the blurry figure didn't seem quite right.

But this was too torturous. Dozens of oil lamps were shining into her eyes, forcing her to squint. She could see nothing but the things around her.

There seemed to be someone in the room, yet there seemed to be no one.

The weather was already warm in April, and with so many oil lamps burning, the heat and smog made her sweat profusely.

The feeling of being confined made her feel like she was suffocating.

Suddenly, Yan Ru heard footsteps. She looked up alertly and saw several dark figures slowly approaching her.

The figures stopped about five or six meters away from her. It seemed that someone had brought chairs, and Yan Ru guessed that the leader sat down.

Yan Ru's heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was going to jump out of her throat. Her neck was in excruciating pain, probably because she had been hit hard when she was knocked unconscious.

The baby in her arms was even more uneasy, trembling.

This was the first time in her life that Yanru had encountered such a helpless moment, but now that she had no one to rely on, she had no choice but to stand up for herself.

"Are you seeking wealth?" Yan Ru forced himself to remain calm, not wanting to lose face at this moment. "If you are seeking wealth, please name your price; my Lü family can afford it."

There was no answer.

Only when Yan Ru's patience was almost worn out did she slowly speak.

"Who is Xin Mingshan to you?" A cold female voice came from the other end. Although it was a question, it was full of threat, as if she would be killed immediately if she said something unpleasant.

“Xin, Xin Mingshan?” A thought flashed through Yan Ru’s mind, and she finally realized, “There is no such person in my family.”

The person opposite him scoffed, their tone dripping with sarcasm.

"Then what about Xin Laohei? You must have heard of that name before."

Yan Ru felt a chill run down her spine, completely unable to understand the other party's intentions. "My butler is indeed named Lao Hei, but I don't know if he's the one you're talking about."

The other person was clearly losing patience. "Really? What's your relationship with him?"

It's truly baffling what the relationship is between the master and the butler. But the fact that this woman asked the question suggests that this isn't the answer she wanted to hear.

"I don't know what exactly you want to ask?"

At this moment, Fang Lao Jiu whispered a few words in the woman's ear, that is, the first wife, and then the first wife's sarcasm became even stronger.

"Oh? You're still the sixth concubine?"

Yan Ru's pupils suddenly widened. "I am not. It is just that you are deliberately being mysterious, which is truly laughable. I do not know what kind of person you are, and I dare not show my face or reveal my purpose."

The First Madam slammed her hand on the table. "Playing tricks? Humph, don't be ungrateful. I am the First Madam of the Song family. I can manage a concubine like you."

As she spoke, the First Madam blew out a few oil lamps. Yan Ru's vision blurred for a moment, but she was finally able to see the person in front of her clearly.

The face that suddenly appeared in front of her startled Yan Ru. Upon closer inspection, the person did resemble Song Fu somewhat, especially the delicate features in his eyes and brows. However, upon closer inspection, the resemblance diminished.

The person in front of me was too old. Although he smelled of sandalwood, his eyes were very sinister. He didn't seem like a kind person.

She was so close that Yan Ru could see the blemishes on her face, unlike Song Fu, who was young and didn't even have a single pimple.

Who is the person in front of me, Song Fu?

Fang Lao Jiu, who was standing next to the First Madam, quickly flattered her, saying, "She is the Sixth Concubine, Madam. She is very favored. Our Master has made many exceptions for her."

Yan Ru trembled all over. She hated it when people brought up this past event, and now this person was bringing it up so often, which showed that he didn't take her seriously.

Yan Ru didn't speak, but tried her best to identify who was speaking.

The person who could recognize her and know so much about her must be someone from the Song family's inner circle.

Considering that this man just called this woman "Madam," could she be Mrs. Song?

Yan Ru couldn't believe it. Wasn't Mrs. Song supposed to be a devout Buddhist for many years? She couldn't possibly be the arrogant person in front of her.

The First Madam stood up and carefully examined Yanru from head to toe. She was so beautiful, yet she also had a cool and aloof air about her. She was truly a sight to behold.

“Not bad. Song Wenqu has shown some taste this time out of all these years. I’ll reward you.”

Fang Lao Jiu was momentarily stunned. "You mean..."

The First Madam smiled cruelly, "I never mistreat those who follow me. After all these years, you still remember your former master, so you deserve a reward. Although this beauty is a second-hand woman, she is still incredibly beautiful and a rare find. I'm giving her to you to enjoy; it's my way of showing my appreciation."

Yan Ru was furious. "How dare you treat people like objects? Besides, I am not your property at all. Who are you? Even if you are Mrs. Song, you have no right to do so."

Fang Lao Jiu chuckled, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth.

"Of course, Madam can make decisions about the concubines. Sixth Concubine, don't struggle anymore. I, Fang Lao Jiu, am not someone who doesn't know how to cherish people. If you take good care of my daughter, I can forgive and forget about it."

Then, changing the subject, she said, "If you make me unhappy, think carefully about who caused my daughter's downfall?"

The first wife smiled smugly and turned to leave the room.

A lewd laugh suddenly rang out from inside the room, and then the two Fang Lao Jiu father and son pounced on her and pinned her down. Yan Ru struggled desperately, and even Gui'er was exerting her strength.

However, Fang Laojiu and his son had worked hard all year round, and their strength was far beyond that of the weak Yan Ru. For a time, Yan Ru was in dire straits.

No, she would rather die than let those two scoundrels touch her body.

In a flash, Yanru knocked over the oil lamp.

Oil lamp!

Yan Ru grabbed a lamp and smashed it down at the lunging Fang Laoda, shouting, "Kid, find a way out!"

Gui'er scrambled to her feet and, just like Yan Ru, grabbed an oil lamp, ignoring how the lamp burned her skin.

No one stopped Gui'er; she rushed in the direction where the First Madam had just disappeared.

"There's a way, sister, there's a way."

Yan Ru waved the oil lamp wildly, and for a moment she actually forced the two thieves to retreat.

But they didn't notice that the dripping lamp oil had burned the straw on the ground, and the sounds of fighting drowned out the crackling.

As Yan Ru ran and retreated, the oil dripping from the lamps caused fires wherever it landed, not to mention the dozen or so oil lamps that had just been kicked over.

Gui'er held the lamp and pounded on the wooden door desperately, hoping someone would hear her and open it.

The flames had already licked the window paper, and Yan Ru felt a stinging pain. Her eyes were burned by the sparks, and tears instantly welled up in her eyes.

Driven by lust, Fang Lao Jiu and his son finally noticed the fire and cursed viciously, "You slut, how dare you start a fire?!"

After saying this, one person went to capture Yan Ru, and the other went to put out the fire.

Yan Ru dared not let the fire stop. She would rather be burned to death than be defiled by these two disgusting people. She then ran and poured lamp oil on everything she touched.

Her hands were red and swollen from being burned by the lamp and oil, but Yanru dared not let go of them; they were her only weapon at the moment.

Ke Yanru was already weak, and after several struggles, she gradually became exhausted. Fang Laojiu's lips twitched, and his eyes were full of bloodthirsty madness. "Run! Why aren't you running anymore?"

He approached Yanru step by step, cornering her against the wall, and pinched her delicate cheek hard with his hand.

"Run! Why don't you run? You don't want to serve me, your servant? Today I'll show you what a real man is."

Yan Ru shook her head desperately. There was a small sharp spike on the lamp. Seeing that she had been subdued by Fang Lao Jiu, Yan Ru desperately pointed the spike at herself and stabbed herself downwards.

With a crash, the lamp in Yan Ru's hand was kicked to the ground by Fang Lao Jiu. Fang Xi and Fang Xi held Yan Ru down on either side, and it looked like that stinky mouth was about to touch her.

Yan Ru gathered her strength and fell backward, then slammed her head against the object.

Despite feeling dizzy and lightheaded, he managed to shove Fang Laojiu aside. Then, ignoring his dizziness, he bit down hard on Fang west's arm, and the taste of blood immediately filled the air.

Fang Xi shoved the person away, and Yan Ru landed heavily on the ground.

Both father and son were injured by Yan Ru, and their eyes became even more fierce and bloodthirsty. Fang Lao Jiu spat on the ground and said, "Pah, I'm giving you face. Just wait and see how I play you to death."