Holding their mother, they wailed and cried for a long time. Once they finally settled down, they began making all sorts of trouble.

First, they wanted food, then they wanted drinks, even complaining about the heavy odor in the prison cell.

Initially, the prison guards didn’t want to deal with them, but as they became more and more unruly, even yelling and shouting in the cell.

The guard came over with the whip, lashing it several times at the bars, "If you keep making noise, this whip will be used on you."

Gu Anliang said, "...Then can we be moved to a cleaner place? There are fleas here."

"Oh, you’re picky now," the guard laughed at his request, "You look old enough but still don’t understand the ways of the world?

Don’t you realize your current situation? If you don’t want to suffer, stay put obediently. In a couple of days, you won’t even be allowed to stay here."

"Why’d you say that?" Gu Anliang panicked; he and his cousin were directly brought here by soldiers from the Minister’s Mansion, and their mother couldn’t clarify things.

"What do you mean? Your Gu Family has been raided. Once everything is settled, you’ll be exiled.

You’ve read books; surely you know what exile means?"

Gu Anliang turned pale; he certainly knew what a raid meant—his friends had even been beheaded before. Though exile was somewhat better, it still meant leading a hard life.

"Stay put and don’t get hurt. With your delicate skin, you’ll suffer on the road to exile," the guard warned kindly.

Not out of pity, but because these people weren’t exterminated, their relatives might come to pull strings, which could be an extra income for the guards.

Until it’s certain which one is the fat sheep, they won’t offend anyone to death.

After speaking, the guard ignored them. The first day was always like this; by the second day, they’d behave.

The two children finally stopped making trouble, but they were sitting there blankly, not understanding how their home changed so suddenly?

As time went by, two guards came in with two buckets, knocking as they walked, "Time to collect meals, time to collect meals."

At each cell, they set the portions. When it was Bai Suihe’s turn, they directly threw down two filthy basins, placing some black, uneven, and ugly wild vegetable buns inside.

"Two per person, no fighting, no snatching."

After saying this, they continued forward.

Bai Suihe had eaten earlier, combined with the smell here, had no appetite.

But Xu Huizhen had spent the night fighting with Gu Baijiang, and hadn’t had a drop.

Upon looking closely at the contents, she couldn’t help but shout, "Why are these the only things? Can people eat this?"

The guard distributing rations next door turned his head and gave her a grin, "If you don’t like the taste, you can change it. As long as you pay in silver, I can order a table for you from the tavern."

This wasn’t a death prison; the higher-ups wouldn’t manage it too strictly.

He glanced over Xu Huizhen contemptuously, "Just afraid you can’t even fork out a copper coin."

Xu Huizhen, "..."

Xu Yulan came over, picked up a bun from the basin, and pinched it, "It’s so hard. How do you eat this?"

Bringing it close to her nose, she quickly abandoned it in disgust, "It even smells sour."

If you don’t like it, then don’t eat. It saves a meal anyway. These things continue to be distributed at night. Why else would people be willing to pay silver?

As for the other long-term prisoners, they hardly complain.

They know, skipping this meal means the next will be the same, only staler and harder.

But the pampered Gu Family members naturally didn’t touch it. Bai Suihe knew skipping one or two meals wouldn’t hurt, hoping they could persist.

Even hiding in this corner, some people, lacking insight, still wanted to cause trouble.

Sure enough, Xu Yulan stared maliciously at Bai Suihe, "Third Sister-in-law, you’re pregnant. You should eat something. Don’t say as a sister-in-law, I’m not caring for you. This meal is yours."

Liu Yun glanced over without speaking. Bai Suihe didn’t join them in resisting those old women before, sparing herself much suffering.

Seeing them muddled, oblivious to caution, causing them unnecessary hardship, it was time to teach them a lesson.

Bai Suihe looked up at Xu Yulan, "Thank you, Second Sister-in-law, for your concern. I just worry about Father and Husband, wondering about their condition now? I really can’t eat.

The little nephew is still growing, facing a long road ahead, not to be deprived.

As an aunt, I won’t compete for food. Let it be for the children."

Bai Suihe jabbed back mildly, wondering how this mindset was formed—even at this point, instead of dealing with the approaching hardship, they’re squabbling.

"Enough," Xu Huizhen eyed Bai Suihe, "Knowing that’s inedible, you’d let your nephew eat it. Truly cruel."

"Mother, why say that? Isn’t Second Sister-in-law being considerate of my unborn child? One good turn deserves another. Of course, I should care for the two nephews."

The cell fell silent. Then, Xu Yulan aggressively pointed at Bai Suihe, "I always knew you, the most pretentious woman, now that the family is in trouble, showing your true fox tail."

Bai Suihe, "Second Sister-in-law, do my previous words have any mistakes to warrant such accusations?"

Xu Yulan, "...You know that’s inedible, yet you let your nephew eat it..."

"How would I know? I didn’t even look; wasn’t it your ’consideration’? As the elder, I obviously shouldn’t compete with the children."

...

Gu Antong covered her mouth, briefly forgetting their plight, amused.

...

On the first day, everyone was hungry, but occupied with worries, they didn’t feel much.

Once night fell, things became tough; the prison was damp, making the night colder.

Even with cotton clothes, Bai Suihe piled dry straw into a circle, blocking some wind.

"It’s too cold, can’t we get some blankets?" Liu Yun held Gu Anliang tight; Gu Antong nestled against them.

Xu Huizhen, Xu Yulan, and Gu Anwei huddled together, teeth chattering.

They had long noticed Bai Suihe; she hid alone in the straw pile, clearly cold too, but no one called her.

"If you want blankets, buy with silver."

"Can’t we get them on credit?" Liu Yun pleaded, "Someone should come see us tomorrow; I’ll pay double."

"Yes, yes, yes," Xu Huizhen added quickly, "I have several family connections and relatives; surely they won’t ignore us. Just bring the blankets over."