“Let’s go.”
Yun Shu lit a fire starter and led the way.
The stone steps were narrow and steep, barely wide enough for a single person.
After descending more than thirty steps, a vast underground space suddenly opened up.
But the sight before them made Feng Zeyuan’s pupils contract violently.
The place was the size of two to three rooms. The air was filled with an indescribable stench.
Directly ahead were five iron-barred cages, thick and sturdy.
These were not rooms meant for humans—they looked more like enclosures for beasts.
Inside each cage curled up a strangely deformed person, heavy iron chains gleaming from constant wear wrapped around their ankles.
The other ends of the chains were deeply embedded into mold-covered walls.
At the entrance of each of the five cages, a young woman knelt.
Each of them also wore a thinner iron chain around her ankle.
At that moment, their eyes were hollow as they mechanically held porcelain bowls, spooning food into the cages one bite at a time.
The entire underground space was deathly silent except for the dragging of chains and the muffled chewing from within the cages.
【Ugh…!】
Feng Zeyuan’s stomach churned violently.
【This is not a place where humans belong at all!】
【Xuan’er, let’s finish this quickly!】 Feng Zeyu said, steadying her.
The five women feeding the captives suddenly froze upon hearing the noise.
A faint glimmer appeared in their numb eyes when they saw Yun Shu.
“Don’t be afraid.”
Yun Shu stepped forward, her voice trembling with excitement.
“Someone is here to take us out!”
“Take… us?”
One woman murmured blankly, a flicker of hope briefly igniting in her eyes—only to fade again.
“Stop lying, Sister Yun Shu…”
She lowered her head, her voice as soft as a mosquito’s buzz.
“Our indenture contracts are in that poisonous woman’s hands… we can never leave in this lifetime…”
Feng Zeyuan couldn’t be bothered with words.
Action was the best way to shatter despair.
She directly pulled out the keyring she had taken from a servant outside and tried a lock.
Click!
The lock popped open.
Cold iron chains slid to the ground.
Clang!
The sound echoed heavily, announcing the arrival of freedom.
The woman stared at her now-bare ankles in a daze.
Then, in her dead eyes, an explosion of disbelief and light erupted!
The other four instantly rushed forward like madwomen, crawling and scrambling.
“Save me! Please!”
“Miss! Please save us!”
They dared not raise their voices, their cries like blood-weeping pleas.
Feng Zeyuan wasted no time, quickly unlocking all their shackles one by one.
Feng Zeykai followed closely, supporting the women who collapsed from weakness and overwhelming emotion.
“Don’t be afraid. We will take you out of here.”
His gentle voice, like a spring breeze, carried a strange calming power that soothed their terror instantly.
“Let’s go.”
Feng Zeyuan turned away, not even glancing at the commotion rising inside the cages.
“Leave this damn place first.”
The five newly freed women staggered to their feet, supporting one another as they followed silently behind.
Each step they took felt like walking from hell toward the human world.
Heavy—but filled with rebirth.
【Host, what about those five fools in the cages?】 the system asked suddenly.
【Let the authorities deal with them!】
Feng Zeyuan did not stop walking.
【I don’t want to stay here even a second longer!】
She led the six girls up the stairs and returned to the surface.
Outside the wood shed, the two abusive old women were still groaning and rolling on the ground.
Their swollen faces looked like pig heads, leaving them no capacity to interfere.
She led everyone around to a secluded corner behind the shed.
There, a small, inconspicuous dog hole was hidden.
Before leaving, a cold smile curved her lips.
With a flick of her wrist, several account books she had “retrieved” from beneath the latrine appeared in her hands.
【Handing these directly to the authorities would be too obvious and would raise suspicion.】
【Better to let them appear ‘accidentally’ where they are meant to be found.】
She casually tossed this “surprise” into the grass beside the dog hole.
Only then did she lead the six girls out through the hole.
Not long after they left—
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The Zhang Residence’s main gate was hammered like thunder.
“Open the door! The Capital Prefecture is here handling a case!”
“If you refuse to open, we will break in!”
Prefect Zhou Zheng’an of the Capital Prefecture arrived with a large group of officials, his expression stern and murderous.
Old Master Zhang was hurriedly pulled out of his pleasure quarters by the steward, disheveled and half-dressed.
Forcing composure, he squeezed out a smile uglier than crying.
“Lord Zhou, what is the meaning of this?”
When his eyes flicked toward Yun Shu’s family, he instantly understood.
“Lord Zhou, this is a misunderstanding! All of this is just a family quarrel between my son and Yun Shu!”
“Married couples argue—head of the bed quarrels, end of the bed reconciles. Why trouble you with such a matter?”
“Family matter?”
Zhou Zheng’an let out a cold laugh.
“Someone has accused the Zhang family of murder and unlawful imprisonment of innocent women!”
“This court is acting under imperial order. And you call this a family matter?”
He no longer wasted words.
“Search!”
“Even if you have to dig three feet into the ground, find them!”
“Yes!”
The officers swarmed inside like wolves and tigers, searching every corner of the estate.
Soon, a report came from the back courtyard.
“My lord! We found it!”
“There is a secret chamber under the woodshed—but no women inside… only five strange human beings!”
Zhou Zheng’an’s gaze sharpened.
He strode toward the back courtyard.
Old Master Zhang felt his legs give way. Cold sweat drenched his inner robes as he stumbled after him.
When Zhou Zheng’an personally saw the five deformed, mentally impaired figures being dragged out into the sunlight…
Even someone as experienced as him couldn’t help drawing a sharp breath.
The onlookers who had sneaked in to watch the drama were even more terrified.
“Oh… oh my god…”
“So these are the five idiot sons?”
“My heavens… this really is the punishment of close-kin marriage!”
“How sinful!”
Old Master Zhang watched his darkest secret laid bare under the public gaze.
His vision went black. His body swayed—nearly collapsing on the spot.
Madam Zhang, dragged out from the woodshed and having her acupoint released, remained speechless despite now being able to move her mouth.
“Father! Mother!”
The Zhang family’s two well-groomed “legitimate sons,” long considered the family’s pride, rushed over upon hearing the commotion.
When they saw the grotesque “brothers” in the courtyard—and the ruined state of their parents—
Their faces turned deathly pale as realization dawned.
The Zhang family was finished.
And this was only the beginning.
An officer rushed in from the side gate, holding several account books high with excitement.
“My lord! We found these in the grass beside the dog hole at the back wall while searching all possible exits!”
“They appear to be… financial ledgers!”
Zhou Zheng’an took them and flipped them open casually.
Just one glance made his pupils contract sharply.
He quickly opened the other books, his expression growing more and more shocked.
Years of money laundering by a Deputy Minister of Revenue…
Private records of illegal salt sales by the Salt Transport Commissioner…
Even bribery records involving several high-ranking court officials…
Each entry was shocking, each line chilling.
These were not account books.
They were a net capable of shaking the heavens.
Old Master Zhang saw those familiar ledgers and lost the last trace of color in his face.
His body trembled violently twice before his eyes rolled back—he collapsed straight backward.
“Master!”
“Father!”
The Zhang residence descended into complete chaos.
But Zhou Zheng’an showed no mercy.
He snapped the ledgers shut.
“Men!”
He waved his hand sharply.
“Arrest everyone in the Zhang family who holds authority!”
“Seal off the estate and confiscate all assets!”
“Anyone involved in this case—none shall be spared!”
“Yes!”
The officers surged forward, shackling the collapsed Zhang couple, the terrified sons, servants, accountants—everyone.
The five mentally impaired sons were also placed under guard pending further judgment.
The courtyard’s chaos finally came to an end.
Meanwhile, deep within the lake-side rockery—
A pair who had just finished discussing gossip and were still in affectionate warmth…
Had, by sheer misfortune, perfectly avoided this earth-shaking raid.
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