He was worried about one problem too—he wasn’t afraid of a few country bumpkins; a little silver would send them away. But he feared these people might be unreasonable and keep coming back after one payment.

Their appetite might grow so large that even he, a County Magistrate, couldn’t satisfy them.

"That’s simple!" Madam Zhong said, "Feng Suyun isn’t a Lian Family member, so we can’t use the Lian Family to manipulate her. The Lian Family won’t worry about Feng Suyun, as she’s not one of their children. So let’s just be ruthless and get rid of the Lian Family members who know Feng Suyun’s identity. Once only Feng Suyun is left, we just need to convince her, and everything will be fine."

"Will Feng Suyun agree?"

"We’re offering her a chance to become a lady, not sending her to death. Why wouldn’t she agree?" Madam Zhong said, "Trust me on this."

So the decision was made. Within a few days, Madam Zhong arranged for the Lian Family members to be brought over.

Of course, she didn’t say Feng Suyun was being asked to impersonate someone. She simply said Feng Suyun resembled her niece on her maternal side, who sadly passed away, and she wanted to adopt Feng Suyun as a foster daughter.

Such a good deal—how could the Lian Family refuse? Feng Suyun naturally agreed too.

Clinging to the County Magistrate, the Lian Family was overjoyed. With the silver and jobs Madam Zhong promised, they packed up and moved from Hulu Village to the county town.

Due to Madam Zhong’s instructions, the Lian Family only said they had relatives in the county to whom they were turning. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

The Lian Family arrived in the county town full of hope, but they were arrested by Madam Zhong’s people that night, who then found a reason to exile them outside the city.

And waiting outside the city were people ready to claim the lives of the Lian Family.

As for the Lian siblings, they were desperately protected by family members to escape.

"It takes two hands to clap," Ye Haoxuan said, "If the Lian Family wasn’t eager to curry favor with those in power, Zhong Yongqian wouldn’t find it so easy to commit murder."

As he spoke, they arrived at the place where the two were being held.

Both had disheveled hair and visibly damaged clothing, clearly having been tortured.

"Take Zhong Yongqian out first."

Once only Feng Suyun was left in the room, she raised her head.

"You wish to see the prince? What do you want to say to him?"

A subordinate brought a chair for him, and he sat down.

"Prince, I beg you, please save my parents."

"Hah, save your parents?" This girl was amusing, Li Luru said with a smile, "You’re a fake. You’re not the real Lian Xue’er—the real Lian Xue’er has already confessed, saying you’re Feng Suyun. Isn’t it just you left in your family? Where are you going to save your parents from? Surely not hell? That place isn’t somewhere ordinary people can go."

"Pfft..." Everyone in the room laughed.

Ye Haoxuan also shook his head and said to Feng Suyun, "Everyone in the Lian Family is dead except for the siblings. You must know how they died, don’t you?"

Feng Suyun showed no reaction and just kept pleading, "Begging the prince, have mercy, save my parents."

"Without telling the truth, how can the prince save your parents?"

Feng Suyun finally stopped, looked around cautiously as if hesitating.

"Everyone here is on your side; don’t worry about your words being spread."

Li Luru burst out laughing at the phrase "everyone here is on your side."

"Prince, the commoner girl, the commoner girl is not Feng Suyun!"

"What?" Li Luru widened his eyes, "Then who are you?"