How could I possibly be confined in a cage?

Song Yuanliang shook his head. "I don't know either. That's all I've found out. Don't worry, I'll keep investigating."

“Hmm,” Song Yuanliang seemed to have grown up overnight, and he could give Yan Ru an endless sense of security, so she inexplicably trusted him.

It was getting late, and Song Yuanliang was about to leave in the rain. Yan Ru was a little worried, but he gently brushed her hand away, saying, "I don't want you to be criticized."

Watching his figure disappear into the dark, rainy night, Yan Ru's restless heart finally calmed down.

His face turned cold, and he stared blankly into the distance, the scales in his heart regaining their balance.

Perhaps it was the warmth in their hearts that evaporated the moisture that had fallen on them. Despite being caught in the rain on this cold night and escaping the chill, neither of them fell ill. They took hot baths, drank ginger tea, and slept soundly.

Master Song didn't come over tonight. He dotes on Yanru, but he doesn't stay in her building all the time. Apart from handling matters alone in his study, he attends various gatherings every few days. It's just that he comes to Yanru's place the most often compared to his other women.

Sometimes he would come, depending on Yanru's attitude; sometimes it was to play chess or chat, but it wasn't always that kind of thing. In fact, the two of them had only shared a room twice.

However, since they now have a real relationship, it's no longer as pure as before. At least in Yanru's heart, she has given up on being with Song Yuanliang.

Because she always had something on her mind, Yanru never slept soundly. She was a very light sleeper, so she sent all the servants and maids who lived nearby to sleep on the side, especially when Master Song didn't come over. She wanted to send them all away, and it was only after repeated persuasion that she left only one maid on night duty downstairs to keep watch.

When Yanru woke up, her whole body ached. It had been another restless night. Ever since she fell into the water, she kept dreaming that she was suffocating at the bottom of the river. So she put a lamp on her bedside.

Yan Ru sat up in bed and reached out to turn on the bedside lamp. Just then, a silhouette became clear outside the corridor. Before he could knock, Yan Ru had already opened the door.

Song Yuanliang entered the room skillfully, his face full of fatigue. "Ever since I was sick last time, my family won't let me stay alone in the outer study anymore. They insist that Song Quan stay with me."

Yan Ru was at a loss for words, so she poured him a glass of water and said in a low voice, "You're not cold, are you? It's even colder today."

Song Yuanliang didn't take the water cup, but only drank a few sips from the water in Yan Ru's hand. After drinking, he lay down on the bed, his eyes too sleepy to lift.

Yan Ru said nervously, "You...you should get up quickly."

Song Yuanliang simply closed his eyes. "What? Can't I sit on this couch?"

Yan Ru sighed helplessly, "That's not what I meant, it's just that there are too many people in the building right now, and it's not appropriate for you to be here."

It would have been better if he hadn't mentioned it, but the mention of why there were so many people in the building made Song Yuanliang angry again. "Yanru, please have pity on me. I'm so tired because of you. Wait for me to rest for a while, and I'll leave once I've recovered."

Remembering that he had just recovered from a serious illness and had been caught in the rain, Yanru felt it wouldn't be right to send him away immediately, so she had no choice but to let him go.

Thinking of her plans, Yanru turned and went to the dressing table. Since her family's jade pendant was so important, and her father had given her four more, it seemed to be a deliberate attempt to mislead.

Knowing the principle of not putting all your eggs in one basket, Yan Ru took out the black jade ring.

Song Yuanliang lay on the bed, with Yan Ruxiang's soft quilt beneath him. He didn't seem to be asleep; he was just resting with his eyes closed.

Yan Ru gently woke him up. "Song Yuanliang, I have something important to tell you."

Song Yuanliang didn't even look up, and said in a deep voice, "What is it?"

Yan Ru became serious. "Get up, I'll talk to you properly."

Song Yuanliang propped himself up and leaned against the bedside, a playful look on his face. "What's the important matter?"

Yan Ru took out the jade pendant with two fish holding rings. It was radiant and had a warm texture. When viewed closely under the light, it seemed as if ink was flowing within it.

With such a rare treasure right before his eyes, Song Yuanliang put away his playful amusement and adopted a serious expression. "What is this...?"

Yan Ru said, "This is probably the root of my family's troubles. How about I give it to you now?"

Song Yuanliang was surprised, "Yanru, you... this is your family heirloom, why are you giving it to me?"

"My family's troubles may have started because of this, not because my father sold counterfeit goods and offended the Guo family. I think someone coveted it and wanted to take it openly, so they framed my father for other crimes. Otherwise, my father's crimes wouldn't have reached the point of affecting his children, so why would they issue a warrant for our arrest? So I've figured it out. Since this thing caused the trouble, we should just get rid of it. But you're an outsider, so I wonder if you're afraid?"

"How could I, Yanru? You gave it to me as a token of our love?"

Yan Ru turned her head away in embarrassment. "No, I just want you to take it out and throw it away or destroy it. It's a family heirloom, and I can't bear to do that to it myself. So I'm giving you a difficult problem. Are you willing to take it on?"

Song Yuanliang tucked the jade pendant into his pocket, saying, "Once it's given to me, it's mine to do with as I please."

Yan Ru then turned her head back and said, "It's up to you, but I'm afraid it might bring you trouble. You'd better destroy it."

"Don't worry about that." Suddenly remembering something, Song Yuanliang said, "You said you gave my father a piece too, what was that?"

Yan Ru was startled, realizing she had almost forgotten about it. She also warned herself not to say anything more, so she explained to Song Yuanliang, "It was an ordinary antique jade pendant, with two dragons playing with a pearl. It wasn't a family heirloom. I used it to pay for my room and lodging at the Song family's house."

Song Yuanliang was relieved and lay down again. "I'll sleep a little longer. Don't wake me. My father went to Shanghai and won't be back for three to five days. Don't worry."

Yan Ru frowned, somewhat hesitant, yet she cherished the peace of mind he brought her. Though she knew it was impossible, she still went with him.

She then walked to the chaise lounge on one side, intending to catch up on some sleep.

Song Yuanliang stood up, pulled her close, and made her fall onto the bed, startling her so much that she gasped, "Ah!"

Song Yuanliang grinned wickedly and held on tightly, refusing to let her go. Yan Ru felt a chill run down her spine, fearing that Song Yuanliang might do something inappropriate.

The exclamation attracted the maidservant, Du Juan, who was on night duty that night and was exceptionally attentive and considerate than the others, so she came up quickly.

"What's wrong? Do you need me to come in and keep you company?"

Alarm bells rang in Yan Ru's heart, but she forced herself to remain calm in a trembling voice, "It's nothing, I just had a nightmare. You should go, I don't like having anyone with me."

"Okay, I'll stay at the door for a while. I'll be there anytime you need me."

Since she was so considerate, Yanru didn't want to push her too far and arouse suspicion, so she said, "I can't sleep well with someone upstairs. You can go downstairs now. I'll call you if I need anything."

Du Juan anxiously peered out the door, but she knew Yan Ru's rules. The kerosene lamp in her hand flickered, and she couldn't see what was going on inside. Fearing that interfering too much would offend Yan Ru, Du Juan had no choice but to leave.

"Then you should rest well. I'll be at your service anytime."

Yan Ru was held in Song Yuanliang's arms, his breath brushing against her face, his hot, stiff body pressed tightly against hers. She dared not breathe and could not utter a word.

Seeing that there was no more movement in the room, Dujuan was relieved and went downstairs.

As the sound of footsteps faded into the distance, Yan Ru finally breathed a sigh of relief. "Let me go."

A suspicious touch came from behind. Yan Ru, who was already aware of human affairs, naturally knew what it was, so she dared not move anymore and whispered, "Song Yuanliang!"

Song Yuanliang stood stiffly. "Don't move anymore. I won't do anything to you. Do you think everyone is like my father, taking advantage of others in their vulnerable state?"

It seemed he was really bothered by it, and would bring it up every now and then. Yan Ru neither refuted nor moved, and the two of them lay there stiffly.

But this is too uncomfortable. Yan Ru said, "Go back to the outer study. If you delay any longer, it will be dawn."

Song Yuanliang adjusted his position accordingly, moving his lower body away from Yan Ru a little, while still keeping his arm around her. "What are you afraid of? I told you my father went out of town and won't be back for two or three days. All the maids in this building are afraid of you. I'm just staying here. I believe you have a way to make sure they don't find out."

Yan Ru was furious. "How could you become such a shameless person?"

"I learned it from my father. It turns out that following the rules doesn't get you what you want; it's more practical to be shameless."

Whenever he mentioned Master Song's banquet, he felt guilty and would back down. Fortunately, Song Yuanliang only held her and didn't do anything to embarrass her.

Their breaths mingled, their arms intertwined, and they slowly drifted off to sleep.

Yan Ru slept soundly in his arms, while Song Yuanliang remained awake. He reached out and gently stroked her jade-like cheek, his face showing desire, but even more so tenderness.

He pressed a kiss to her, brushed her hair aside, and held her as she drifted off to sleep.

Fortunately, Yanru's recent behavior frightened the maids, and even though it was already dawn, no one went upstairs to disturb her. The servants quietly went about their business, afraid of disturbing Yanru's good sleep.

Even when it was time to get up, no one woke her up. The little thing looked at her a few more times, and Dujuan explained, "Perhaps she didn't sleep well last night and had a nightmare. She's catching up on her sleep now."

The little creature gave the cuckoo a cold look. "Do you think I don't know? Don't I care about people?"

Du Juan smiled and didn't argue with her.

Yan Ru slept soundly, and when she woke up, it was almost lunchtime. Song Yuanliang hadn't left yet; seeing that she was awake, he hugged her and kissed her.

Her face flushed crimson instantly, and Yan Ru pushed him, "Why haven't you left yet?"

"I want to leave, but someone is sleeping so soundly that they're pressing down on my arm, so I can't move."

Yan Ru hurriedly got up, looked at Song Yuanliang swinging his sore arm, and felt that he deserved it. "I'm sorry."

Song Yuanliang leaned closer to her and said, "If you're really sorry, then give me a son."

Yan Ru looked at him in surprise, and Song Yuanliang laughed, "Just kidding, stepmother."

Yanru was both angry and ashamed, and reached out to hit him, saying, "You should leave now, son."

Seeing Yan Ru's gritted teeth, Song Yuanliang felt much better.

The Marshal's Mansion.

Guo Zixing was in a bad mood at this moment because Commander Guo had finally found out about what happened at the Zheng family banquet.

Seeing Guo Ziyou sitting obediently in the study in the front hall, Guo Zixing's mood worsened.

"father."

Commander Guo sat down, his face revealing neither joy nor anger. "Sit."

Guo Zixing sat down awkwardly, while Guo Ziyou beside him wore an expression of anticipation.

There was a moment of silence in the air before Commander Guo slowly spoke, "Who is that woman you brought to the Zheng family?"

Guo Zixing's heart skipped a beat. He thought to himself that what was bound to happen had finally happened. Just as he was carefully choosing his words, Commander Guo suddenly slammed his fist on the table. "What exactly are you hiding from me? I'm not dead yet! What are you all up to?"

Guo Zixing immediately knelt down. Before Guo Ziyou could even mock him, a heavy book was thrown at him. His eye stung, and bright red blood gushed out. Guo Ziyou didn't dare to wipe it away and immediately knelt down as well.

"Dad, I...I didn't do anything wrong..."

"Shut up!" Commander Guo was furious. "It's a big no-no for brothers to fight amongst themselves. I don't care how you fight, but I absolutely forbid you from plotting against your family members. No matter who it is, if they dare to plot against their brothers, then they don't recognize me as their father. In that case, get out of the Guo family and find someone else to be your father."

These words were quite serious, and neither of them dared to refute them, repeatedly saying, "No, no, we dare not."

Looking at his two trembling sons, Commander Guo sighed inwardly that perhaps he had been too busy expanding his power in recent years and had forgotten to educate his two sons, resulting in one being incompetent and the other a spoiled brat, neither of whom seemed capable of taking over the family business.

Guo Dashuai closed his eyes briefly to calm his breathing. "Second brother, go outside. I have something to say to your eldest brother."

Guo Ziyou quickly crawled out, making sure to close the door tightly.

Once outside, without the imposing face of Commander Guo, Guo Ziyou's expression immediately darkened. "Pah, what a load of bull, what a big brother."

Inside the room, Commander Guo had regained his composure. "Boss, tell me, what happened?"

Guo Zixing dared not hide anything, briefly recounting his encounter with Qingru, and then laid out his plans in full, "...I think that besides Lü Peijun, the only other person in the Lü family who helps him manage his business is his eldest daughter. Perhaps she has some useful information. Therefore, I plan to gain her trust first, and then get her to hand over the Lü family's wealth. Why kill the chicken to get the egg? We can achieve our goal without harming them."

Commander Guo pondered, “It is so. It is good that you have such a kind heart. The Lü family is not an enemy, but a fat ox. However, you have overlooked one point. Lü Peijun has already been imprisoned by me. This is an enmity. Aren’t you afraid that Miss Lü will bite you if she finds out the truth? Furthermore, you have overlooked many details. For example, you probably don’t know that Lü Peijun’s imprisonment has alarmed the Japanese envoy, who said he would vouch for him.”

Guo Zixing looked up in surprise; he truly knew nothing about this. He hadn't paid any attention to Lü Peijun being imprisoned, assuming nothing unexpected would happen.

"These……"

"I know there's a guy named Zhang Xun at the police station who's become your henchman, but he didn't tell you about this. Think about why. Is it because he's not capable enough? Or because he's not loyal enough?"

Guo Zixing was terrified. He hadn't expected that Commander Guo already knew about Zhang Xun's existence. Yes, he had never hidden their relationship. He broke out in a cold sweat. "Son... Son just wants to make something of himself."

Commander Guo nodded. "No need for explanation, I only care about the results."