Ruan Ning’s mention of the Meng family’s courtyard was a ploy. If Meng Chi was fine, Wu’s wife would be walking into danger; if he was in trouble, the Meng family still had neighbors and servants. Ruan Ning believed that Meng Chi, having lived on the streets for years, would have friends who could help her escape from Wu’s wife.
Wu’s wife didn’t believe Ruan Ning and immediately slapped her. Ruan Ning dodged, insisting, “I’m telling the truth. The items are in the Meng family. Believe it or not!”
Wu’s wife tried to intimidate her, saying, “Are you plotting something? I used to walk the streets of the capital. If you lie to me, I’ll break every bone in your body!”
“I’m not lying,” Ruan Ning replied. “There’s a well in the courtyard where I lived, surrounded by a circle of stones. The silver notes are hidden under one of those stones. I’ll tell you which stone when we get there.”
Her specificity convinced Wu’s wife, who then ordered a group to head to the Meng family.
Upon entering the city, Meng Chi quickly received the news about Ruan Ning. Worrying she would seek him out, he had already spoken to people at various city gates. So, when Ruan Ning verified her identity at the gate, the information reached the Meng family quickly.
With Wu’s wife and a group of fierce-looking servants accompanying Ruan Ning, Meng Chi sensed trouble, and his face darkened.
When Ruan Ning arrived at the Meng family, the main gate was tightly closed, and the front was eerily quiet. She instinctively guessed that Meng Chi probably hadn’t been acquitted. With anxiety, she knocked on the door. After a long wait, an old servant emerged, looking her up and down, saying, “Isn’t this Miss Yuan Ning? Why have you come back?”
“Where is my brother?” Ruan Ning asked.
“The master is still dealing with the official case,” the old servant replied vaguely.
Ruan Ning’s heart sank. “Is there any way out? Or does my brother have good friends who can help? I’ll go find them!”
Behind the door, Meng Chi’s eyes brightened.
Wu Shi, impatient, pushed Ruan Ning and said harshly, “Stupid girl, with Meng in trouble, hurry up and find something inside!”
Ruan Ning stumbled but quickly signaled the old servant to call for help. She looked around; there was not a single person in the courtyard. Had all the servants fled?
Ruan Ning did not intend to enter. With Meng Chi absent and the servants gone, she felt no one could deal with Wu Shi. She tightly gripped the door ring and shouted towards the street, “Help! Someone is trying to rob and murder!”
Wu Shi covered her mouth, cursing, “Stupid girl, Meng Chi is finished. How dare you play tricks on me!”
“Who says I’m finished?” Meng Chi suddenly appeared from behind the door, grabbed Wu Shi’s arm, and twisted it lightly. With a crack, Wu Shi screamed; her arm was broken.
Meng Chi did not stop there. He grabbed her other arm, dislocated her jaw, and Wu Shi collapsed, begging him with her eyes. He showed no mercy, stomping on her legs until they were broken. Wu Shi twitched and passed out.
Her servants scattered in fear, quickly getting caught and tied up by Meng’s servants.
“Send my card back to Lin Zhou,” Meng Chi instructed the steward, “and say the Zheng family tried to harm my sister. Let the authorities handle it properly. Don’t let a single one go.”
Ruan Ning leaned against the door post, trying to calm her emotions. Her mind was in chaos.
Meng Chi seemed fine, but what should she do? Should she really provoke him? No, she instinctively feared him and could not develop any affection. If she were locked up, she might as well die.
And then there was Meng Yao.
Meng Chi would not abandon Meng Yao, making her a danger that could explode at any moment.
Just then, she heard Meng Yao say, “Brother, why is she here?”
Meng Yao’s face was pale, her splinted hand hanging from her chest as she stared at Meng Chi: “Why is she here again? Brother, why?”
Meng Chi hesitated, then softly said, “I won’t let her leave again.”
He would never let her find Zheng Yu again, even if it meant locking her up for life. He would not let her be bullied again.
“Brother, why? What right does she have?” Meng Yao’s tears fell, wetting the bandage. Meng Chi raised a hand to wipe her tears, but she turned and ran.
Ruan Ning was in turmoil. With one foot inside the door and one outside, countless thoughts raced through her mind without resolution.
Meng Chi approached, gently taking her hand down and whispering, “Good sister, you still remember me after all.”
“I, I don’t, I’m not…” Ruan Ning answered incoherently.
Meng Chi laughed softly, his voice gentle: “I’m very happy.”
He suddenly picked her up horizontally, walking into his bedroom. He placed her on his lap, stroking her hair: “You’ve suffered, haven’t you?”
“No,” Ruan Ning turned her face away, unable to describe her feelings.
“Be good and stay with me.”
With me here, no one will dare to bully you,” Meng Chi said, lowering his head to kiss her, his gaze deep. “Be good, obedient.”
Ruan Ning didn’t know how to respond and just lowered her head. She then noticed Meng Chi pulling out chains from his sleeve.
Ruan Ning looked up, surprised: “You’re going to lock me up again?”
Meng Chi’s lips lingered by hers, his breath heavy: “I’m very busy lately and don’t have time to watch you. Locking you up is more reassuring.”
Ruan Ning felt desperate. “I don’t like being locked up,” she said, pushing him away and turning her head.
Meng Chi gently turned her back, taking her wrist and skillfully fastening the silver chain. His voice was hoarse: “I’m happy that you came back to save me, but I don’t want to risk you escaping again. Stay obediently at home, and tell me if you need anything.”
His lips kissed her wrist gently, as if trying to kiss away the chain’s restraint. For a moment, Ruan Ning felt a bit soft. However, the jingling of the chains reminded her that if she softened, she’d become a bird without freedom, locked in his cage for life.
She looked at him in silence, expressing her resistance. Meng Chi didn’t mind; he was used to her attitude.
He passionately kissed her, from her wrist to her palm, then to her cheek and lips. Their entangled lips expressed many days of longing, mirroring their complicated relationship.
Outside the window, Meng Yao’s vacant eyes stared blankly at them, longing for her brother’s embrace to be hers. Her body trembled as she felt Meng Chi’s passion, and tears fell—knowing it would never be her.
Meng Chi had been caring for her day and night. She once thought they would always be like this, but then her mother returned, like a vengeful ghost seeking to haunt her for a lifetime.
After a long time, Meng Chi reluctantly let go of Ruan Ning, saying, “Rest for a while, I’ll go check on Yao Yao.”
He left, and Ruan Ning lay on the bed, her chaotic emotions calming down. She disliked being controlled; her options were either to fail the mission or eliminate him.
From that day on, Meng Yao’s injuries fluctuated, and her mood deteriorated. Meng Chi spent a lot of time with her, while Ruan Ning rarely saw him. She would remain quietly in the room, but Meng Chi remained uneasy and refused to unlock the chains.
Sun Jia Cong had not been found. That day, Meng Chi went with the officials to search, and he had not returned by nightfall.
Meng Yao entered, moving around and touching things before approaching Ruan Ning. She picked up a chain and said softly, “Chaining you up is useless. My brother hasn’t managed you these days.”
Ruan Ning sensed a stronger murderous intent in her eyes.
Two servants arrived at the door, respectfully saying, “Young Mistress, the Master said you’re not allowed to come here.”
Meng Yao quickly left, but Ruan Ning sensed she was planning something dangerous.
