“No wonder…”
No wonder he looked wild but had clear, proper features.
If only his skin were paler, his stubble shaved clean, and the sharpness in his eyes softened, he’d look like a refined young man.
“But I’ve forgotten everything about those childhood days. Hearing your name today suddenly made me recall that I might have had a little sister named You Ran…”
“Do you want to find your real family?”
“Of course.”
Shen Youran saw a glimmer of hope for escape: “Then let me go. When I return, I’ll have my father look for your family. My father is the Minister of Rites; he knows many people and can surely help you find your true family…”
The boy scratched his head, troubled.
“You can’t leave. Big Father and Second Father won’t let you go. They raised me, and I can’t betray them.”
“Then you don’t want to find your family?”
“They told me my family died in a big fire. Maybe it’s true. Whether or not I look for them…it doesn’t really matter…”
The hope just sparked was extinguished.
Shen Youran hugged her knees, utterly despondent.
Seeing her sorrowful expression but no tears, the boy felt pity.
“I know it’s hard to accept now, but staying here alive is already fortunate. They’re not good people. If they hadn’t promised to give you to me as my wife, you’d probably be…better off dead.”
Shen Youran looked up.
“Then, are you a good person?”
He didn’t hide anything.
“I was raised by them. What kind of good person could I be?”
More fear bloomed in her eyes.
“But for now, I won’t hurt you. Don’t expect me to let you go. I’m soft with you only because of your name. But letting you go is absolutely impossible…”
“Then why did you kidnap me?”
Though escape was impossible, Shen Youran wanted to understand if this was just bad luck or a deliberate scheme.
Especially since before the boy came, someone else had visited her—someone gentle who wiped her face but left angrily after seeing her expression.
Who was that person?
The kidnapping happened in Yongan Ward, not far from the Lu mansion.
Could this be connected to Lu Yi?
But she had only gone there on impulse to escort Liang Qingluo home, and the ambush was clearly planned…
“Of course, it’s for ransom,” the boy didn’t expose Lu Yi.
“They demanded 100,000 taels from your family.”
“100,000 taels?”
That much?
Could the Pei Family afford it?
Even if they could, would they be willing to pay so much to ransom her?
After all, they all disliked her…
“Also, the Pei Family’s Seventh Young Master foolishly followed us and was captured. Big Father wants to raise another 100,000 taels ransom…”
“Pei Huaian is here too?”
“Yes. A ransom of 200,000 taels. I reckon even the Pei Family can’t gather that fast. So they’ll probably ransom their own son first. Once we get the money, we’ll leave. As for you, you definitely won’t go back. Stay with me and be my wife…”
They never intended to release her, and the Pei Family would surely ransom Pei Huaian first.
Thinking about having to follow a bandit to live on the run, Shen Youran’s heart filled with sorrow and anger.
But she couldn’t act on impulse now.
At least the boy didn’t seem to be a complete villain.
If she could win his favor and lower his guard, perhaps there would still be a chance to escape.
So she swallowed her grief and softened her tone, “I’m willing to be your wife. Can you give me a little more time to accept this…”
“Fine.”
The boy agreed readily, though Second Father had shown him some messy books earlier, he felt no improper thoughts when facing her.
“It’s late. Sleep now.”
He took the hairpin from her head and tossed it on the floor, so she wouldn’t poke him or herself with it in the middle of the night.
Then he pulled the animal hide blanket over and lay down beside her.
After a while, he suddenly sat up and resumed undressing.
He had already removed several layers, now wearing only a cotton undergarment, revealing most of one shoulder.
Shen Youran covered her eyes, trembling.
“You promised to give me more time…”
“I just suddenly remembered they said I have a birthmark on my back,” he turned his back to her. “Look at it. Does it remind you of anything?”
Shen Youran peeked through her fingers, then covered her eyes tightly again.
“No, I don’t remember anything.”
“Forget it.”
He straightened his clothes and lay back down.
Wrapped in the cloak, Shen Youran curled up in the corner, enduring the night between fear and hunger.
Pei Residence.
The lights burned through the night at Chunxuan Hall, waiting anxiously, but Pei Huaian did not return.
Early the next morning, Shen Tingyu, who had learned their “eldest daughter” had been kidnapped, arrived at the Pei Family with Lu Zhun, Yunshu’s stepfather, to discuss the situation.
They were accompanied by a letter stating that Pei Huaian was also in their hands, and the ransom demanded another 100,000 taels.
Three days later, cash for hostages.
Old Madam Pei clutched her chest, nearly fainting from shock.
The three families calculated their combined wealth but still couldn’t gather 200,000 taels within three days.
Unless Pei Family’s Third Young Master could bring a large sum from Quanzhou.
Although a messenger was already dispatched to inform Pei Third Young Master, even if he returned immediately with silver certificates, it would take at least five or six days—more than the three days the bandits allowed.
They could barely scrape together over 100,000 taels, not enough to ransom both hostages.
For now, they could only ransom one and then negotiate an extension to raise the other 100,000 taels.
As for who to ransom first…
Pei Family Eldest and Second Masters wanted to ransom Pei Huaian first.
After all, he was the only son of the third branch.
If anything happened to him, that branch might be wiped out.
Shen Tingyu disagreed, insisting they ransom the eldest daughter first.
As a young woman trapped in such a den of wolves, if they delayed two more days, she might already be completely ruined.
Lu Zhun was stuck in the middle, unable to say who should be first.
He just kept calculating how much the Lu Family could contribute.
Old Madam Pei drank a cup of ginseng tea, calming down slowly, then made a difficult decision: “Since they’re targeting our Pei Family, and if the Shen Family’s girl hadn’t married into ours, this wouldn’t have happened. Sigh…let’s ransom An Ge’er’s wife first…”
In truth, they all knew the bandits might not give them a second chance.
Dali Si.
The informant monitoring the Lu Family reported that Lu Yi returned early this morning.
Xiao Ci held evidence of Lu Yi secretly communicating with bandits.
The arrest warrant with official seal was ready.
Capturing Lu Yi and interrogating him in jail was the most direct and effective method, but might alert others.
“After Lu Yi returned, what did he do?”
Shen Yunshu asked the informant.
“Shortly after arriving, he took some household guards and pretended to look for someone…”
Yunshu immediately had an idea.
“Since we can’t arrest him at the government office, I’ll lure him aside for a private interrogation…”
Xiao Ci looked shocked.
“Miss Shen, using private punishment is illegal…”
“I don’t care,” Yunshu said, doubting he would agree.
She turned her gaze to Pei Huaijin.
“Big brother, will you help me?”
Having stayed awake all night, Pei Huaijin’s clear eyes were bloodshot, shadows beneath his brows, and his dry, tight throat said, “I’m thinking the same.”
Xiao Ci sighed.
“You can’t break the law. Fine, I’ll go with you. I know an interrogation method that leaves no marks…”
Once ready, they left Dali Si and soon found Lu Yi wandering the streets.
Pei Huaijin pointed to an inn not far away.
“That inn is part of the Pei Family’s holdings. Lead him there. Xiao Ci and I will wait in Room Number One.”
“Understood.”
After agreeing, they split up.
Yunshu, still wearing the Hechang from the day before, easily caught Lu Yi’s attention.
On the noisy street, he looked at her in disbelief.
Yunshu stepped forward, lowering her eyes to appear vulnerable, her voice tinged with tears: “You Ran was kidnapped. I know it was you. Please let her go. If you do, I’ll do anything you want…”
Lu Yi was stunned for a moment, clearly not believing her, feigning innocence: “A-shu, what are you saying? I heard you were kidnapped and have been looking for you. You’re safe? That’s such a relief…”
“A-brother,” to ease his guard, Yunshu forced down her disgust and grabbed his hand.
“We both know the truth; there’s no need to pretend. I give up. A-brother, I’ll divorce the Pei Family’s Seventh Young Master. I won’t run anymore…”
Perhaps the redness in her eyes made her sorrow more convincing, or maybe the resignation in her tone convinced him she truly gave in.
His expression changed, no longer feigning innocence but showing a trace of triumph.
“A-shu, have you really made up your mind?”
“If you don’t believe me, I’m willing to prove it…”
“How?”
She took his hand and placed it on her cheek, her eyes shimmering with tears, making his breath catch sharply.
Naturally, she led him to the inn’s Room Number One.
Lu Yi’s emotions surged as he let her push him inside…