After the favored concubine remarried, the aloof and powerful minister forcibly took her away.

Chapter 191: Another Assassination
Wen Caifu frowned slightly, wondering why Duan Zhuo wanted to capture Lu Jiamin.

The second brother's words implied that Duan Zhuo had arrested Lu Jiamin for his own sake.

Thinking of this, Wen Caifu turned her head to look at Duan Zhuo, who was wiping the knife in his hand.

Noticing Wen Caifu's gaze, Duan Zhuo looked up and met her eyes.

"Is something wrong?"

Duan Zhuo asked a question, and Wen Caifu looked away.

She knew that Duan Zhuo always had his own considerations when doing things.

Perhaps they have their own reasons for bringing Lu Jiamin back?

She stepped forward and looked at Lu Jiamin, whose mouth was gagged and whose eyes were full of anger and confusion.

Lu Jiamin shook her head frantically, making muffled sounds as if trying to express her dissatisfaction.

Wen Caifu ignored her and instead walked towards Duan Zhuo.

After wiping the knife in his hand, Duan Zhuo gestured for his second brother to take Lu Jiamin away.

"Thank you for bringing me here in my time of need, but I have a question..."

Before Wen Caifu could finish speaking, Duan Zhuo sat down and said, "The Wen family is fine."

"Oh... thank you;"

After saying this, Wen Caifu turned to leave.

Duan Zhuo watched her retreating figure, his eyes narrowing slightly.

“Lu Jiamin is the daughter of Prince Qing. Now that Prince Qing has launched a coup, capturing her might become a bargaining chip in the future. Moreover, there must be a deeper meaning behind Prince Qing sending her to Tingzhou at this time.”

"Of course, the second brother is right. Bringing her to the village was indeed for your sake."

Upon hearing this, Wen Caifu paused, turned her head to look at him, and asked, "For me?"

"She's in your hands now, you can take your revenge."

Duan Zhuo tapped his finger lightly on the armrest of the chair, as if to tell Wen Caifu.

He stopped her from harming Lu Jiamin back then, and now he's returned the favor to her.

"Since the boss thinks she's useful, I won't lay a hand on her."

After speaking, Wen Caifu left without hesitation.

Duan Zhuo watched her retreating figure thoughtfully, a hint of impatience flashing in his eyes.

"Boss, the man's locked in the woodshed. Are we still going to the city?"

The second son clapped his hands, walked over, picked up the teacup on the table, and gulped down several mouthfuls of water.

"I'm not going. I'll watch my words next time."

Duan Zhuo glanced at the second brother with some disdain, then stood up.

The second brother looked down at the water on his clothes as he met Duan Zhuo's gaze.

He used to drink water like this too, and the boss never said anything about it.

Is it because Miss Wen is here that the eldest brother is starting to pay attention to his image?

Lu Jiamin was locked up in the village for two days. Ever since she spilled the food that was brought to her the first time, Duan Zhuo stopped letting anyone bring her food.

She was in the woodshed, hungry and thirsty, and somewhat dazed.

"Help, help, help!"

Lu Jiamin's weak voice came from the woodshed, and Wen Caifu, who happened to be passing by, heard the faint cry for help.

She stopped involuntarily, and as if struck by a thought, she pushed open the door to the woodshed.

Lu Jiamin looked up, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes, as if she hadn't expected it to be Wen Caifu.

"What are you here for?"

She turned her head away, and Wen Caifu walked in and sat down beside her, just watching her.

"Are you here to see my joke?"

Wen Caifu remained silent, so Lu Jiamin asked again. Upon hearing this, Wen Caifu suddenly smiled and said, "I am different from the princess. At least I don't kick someone when they're down."

Hearing this, Lu Jiamin felt indignant, but she was too weak from hunger to do anything.

"If you let me out, my father will surely reward you handsomely."

Lu Jiamin leaned against the pillar and said this weakly.

Wen Caifu looked at Lu Jiamin, who was in a terrible state, and shook her head.

“I can’t save the princess.” “Besides, how would I know whether the princess would reward me handsomely or seriously injure me?”

She didn't believe Lu Jiamin was a good person; she had suffered such a humiliating disgrace.

He must be thinking of his own death, not that he wants to let her go.

Upon hearing Wen Caifu's words, Lu Jiamin felt a surge of despair.

Seeing that Lu Jiamin was no longer speaking, Wen Caifu silently got up and placed the small bag of dry food she was carrying on the ground.

"Eat something, don't starve to death, there's no one here to collect your corpse."

After saying that, he turned and left the woodshed, leaving Lu Jiamin staring at the bag of dry rations, her heart filled with mixed feelings.

The turmoil in the capital was becoming increasingly unbearable, and many people fled the city.

As the refugees scattered, Duan Zhuo took in many of them.

And Prince Qing's army came out in pursuit; it seemed they were about to...

For the sake of the people in the stronghold, Duan Zhuo decided to personally lead an elite team to launch a night raid on Prince Qing's camp and disrupt their plans.

Before setting off, Duan Zhuo went to find Wen Caifu.

He came late at night, which surprised Wen Caifu, but Duan Zhuo did not come in; he only spoke to her through the door.

"After I leave, the stronghold's defenses will be weakened. If you encounter danger, leave from the back of the mountain."

"I left a knife at the door for you."

After saying that, Duan Zhuo left, and Wen Caifu opened the door.

The man's figure gradually blended into the night, and then disappeared completely.

He placed the smaller knife on the steps. Wen Caifu recognized it; it was the weapon he always carried with him.

At midnight, Xiang Ning tossed and turned in her room, unable to fall asleep.

Seeing that her young lady was wide awake, Chunxi went forward and lit a lamp.

"Is something on your mind, young lady, keeping you awake at night?"

Upon hearing this, Xiang Ning sat up and nodded slightly: "Perhaps I slept too much during the day."

Upon hearing this, Chunxi couldn't help but smile.

Since the city was placed under martial law, the streets of Ling'an City are now almost deserted.

Xiang Ning was only busy for a short time before she was forced to stop working again.

I had a lot of free time and spent a lot of time sleeping.

"Could you please bring me that book I didn't finish reading before?"

Xiang Ning put on her clothes, sat down at the desk, and gave Chun Xi some instructions.

Chunxi nodded and soon brought the book over.

Xiang Ning opened the book on the table, but lost the desire to continue reading.

Xiang Ning heard a series of urgent knocks on the window. She frowned slightly, and then saw the man in black enter through the window.

For some reason, Xiang Ning felt that this man in black was in cahoots with the man in black who had failed last time.

After the man in black entered, he stabbed at Xiang Ning without saying a word.

The sword was aimed straight at her heart, as if it were going to pierce her through.

Xiangning pulled Chunxi back a step and picked up the inkstone next to her and threw it.

Having been splashed with ink, the man in black's eyes flashed with a sharp killing intent as he lunged at Xiang Ning once more.

Fortunately, the inkstone she smashed alerted the guards of the Lu residence.

Hearing the commotion, the guards rushed over. Seeing that things were not going well, the man in black tried to leave, but Lu Jiang shot him through the shoulder with an arrow.

"Ah Ning, are you alright?"

"Big brother? You've come at just the right time."

Hearing Lu Jiang's concerned words, Xiang Ning said softly.

The man in black was shot by Lu Jiang's arrow and could only fall to the ground in agony.

Seeing that Xiang Ning was unharmed, Lu Jiang went forward and removed the mask from the man in black.

Upon seeing that familiar face, Xiang Ning couldn't help but widen her eyes.

"you……"

(End of this chapter)