In prison.
Lu Hua, Lu Yin, and Ding Xiang, covered in blood, huddled together tightly.
"Don't be afraid, my eldest brother and sister-in-law will definitely come to save us, and Concubine Mei will definitely find a way to save our lives, she will," Lu Hua repeated this sentence incessantly, it filled her with courage and strength.
Lu Yin said, "And the bodyguards from the Ye Sheng Sect, they said they would definitely save our lives."
"Yes, we will live," Ding Xiang whispered, sobbing softly.
Bai Sheng and Lu Ye flashed into the prison cell.
At the entrance of the prison corridor, there was a square wooden table, littered with leftover food and wine. Four prison guards were dead drunk, snoring on the edge of the table.
Most of the prisoners in the cells were already fast asleep, their heavy snores rising and falling. Those who had been subjected to severe torture occasionally let out a cry of agony.
Bai Sheng and Lu Ye appeared in the cell of Lu Hua and the other two.
Lu Yin and Ding Xiang were so startled they almost screamed.
"Sister-in-law!" Lu Hua murmured softly, then rushed towards Bai Sheng.
"Madam!"
Lu Yin and Ding Xiang also rushed over, and the few of them hugged each other tightly.
The whip marks on their bodies caused a tearing pain, but this pain was drowned out by the excitement of seeing their sister-in-law (Madam) arrive.
"Eldest Master, Madam, how... how did you..." Lu Yin asked in a low voice, the scene they had just witnessed had truly overturned her worldview.
Bai Sheng placed a finger on her lips, making a "shushing" gesture, "This is... the bone-shrinking technique that my husband and I have been practicing."
"Yes, bone-shrinking... technique can pass through narrow gaps," Lu Ye explained in a low voice.
"Bone-shrinking... technique?" Lu Yin and Ding Xiang looked bewildered.
Lu Hua quickly leaned in and whispered to them, "Yes, this is my brother and sister-in-law's ultimate martial art, not to be revealed. You must keep it a secret. But now is not the time to discuss this."
"Oh, yes, yes, yes!"
Lu Yin and Ding Xiang immediately forced themselves to accept the reality of the eldest master and madam appearing before their eyes, attributing this imagination-defying event to the bone-shrinking technique.
"How are your injuries?" Bai Sheng asked in a low voice.
"Sister-in-law, it's nothing, just superficial wounds," Lu Hua said, feigning ease.
"Yes, these minor injuries are nothing," Ding Xiang added.
Bai Sheng poured some spiritual spring water for them, "I've added some medicinal herbs for healing to this water, it's very helpful for treating external injuries. Drink it all quickly."
Lu Ye opened the food box he was carrying, which contained chicken soup and meat buns.
The three girls hadn't eaten at noon or in the evening and were already dizzy with hunger. They immediately held the warm chicken soup and drank it, then each ate two meat buns.
Ding Xiang was still a bit strange, how did such a large food box get in? Did they also practice the bone-shrinking technique?
However, she didn't like to dwell on things. Whatever Madam and Eldest Master said was what it was. She just needed to hear the result and would never be overly curious.
As they ate, Bai Sheng said in a low voice, "Bear with it a little longer in prison. After dawn, when the Dali Temple officials conduct the roll call, my husband and I will come to replace you, and you will be able to go home immediately."
The three girls stopped chewing simultaneously, staring at Bai Sheng blankly.
"Sister-in-law, what did you say? You and my eldest brother are going to replace us?" Lu Hua swallowed the bun in her mouth.
Lu Ye nodded, "Yes, you will be able to go home soon."
"No, eldest brother, sister-in-law, since we're already in here, let's continue to stay. It will be more convenient for you to find a solution outside," Lu Hua said anxiously.
Bai Sheng said, "Hua, be good. For my husband and me to replace you, we will have the opportunity to confront the Fifth Princess directly. Moreover, I am skilled in medicine and adept at using poison, which will allow me to uncover the truth about the Fifth Princess's disfigured face more quickly. We are all commoners; if we were outside, we might not even have the chance to participate in the trial."
"Yes, what your sister-in-law said is correct. This is the most advantageous arrangement. Don't push back and forth. Moreover, my wife and I are absolutely capable of protecting ourselves and will definitely not lose our lives," Lu Ye said with considerable firmness.
Only then did Lu Hua and the other two nod.
Lu Hua wiped the corner of her eyes and instructed Bai Sheng, "Sister-in-law, before you go into prison, you must ask Concubine Mei for help. If she hadn't protected us today, the faces of the three of us would have been ruined by the Fifth Princess."
Bai Sheng stroked her head and comforted her, "Don't worry, I have my own arrangements."
After leaving the prison, Bai Sheng took Lu Ye back to the space.
Since she and Lu Ye might not see the children for several days, Bai Sheng told them everything truthfully.
Although the children were young, they understood everything. She hoped that the fourth child would listen to Sister Huo and stay at home waiting for them to return.
The fourth child's eyes widened when he heard this. He looked quietly at Bai Sheng, not crying at all.
After a long while, Hua Hua was the first to extend her little arms to her, "Mommy, hug me."
Bai Sheng's heart melted. She picked up Hua Hua and kissed her repeatedly.
The other three children also began to ask for hugs from their mother.
Lu Ye stepped forward and embraced the mother and children.
Bai Sheng actually detested these power struggles. She just wanted to earn money and live a simple, happy life with her family, but it seemed that no matter where she went, she would be entangled by these despicable people and their messy affairs.
The young nobles of the capital were truly bored enough to cause trouble just to appear superior and arrogant, believing they could casually manipulate the fate of the weak and play with their lives.
Bai Sheng would not give them that opportunity.
She held the four children and lay on the bed, falling asleep unknowingly.
Seeing that she had fallen asleep, Lu Ye covered her and the four children with a blanket, then quietly got up and went to the study in the woods.
Previously, Bai Sheng had also obtained many books from the Empress and the Crown Prince. To create a family atmosphere of loving reading for the children, she had specially built a study in that forest.
Lu Ye took a book titled "Laws of Da Xia" from the bookshelf and sat at the desk, reading it intently.
He read almost at a glance, turning the pages at an extremely fast speed.
Heng Heng saw this and was dumbfounded. The master's second silly son was actually a hidden master, a genius at reading!
The next day, Bai Sheng and Lu Ye arrived at the entrance of the Dali Temple.
The Dali Temple was located on a five or six-tier staircase, tall and majestic. Two huge stone lions stood solemnly at the entrance. Four thick, tall courtyard pillars supported the wide front porch. The vermilion main gate was slightly ajar, with a guard holding a saber on each side.
Seeing Bai Sheng and Lu Ye approach, the guard on duty immediately shouted sternly, "This is a place where the Dali Temple handles cases. Unauthorized personnel are not allowed entry. Violators will be severely punished!"
Lu Ye took Bai Sheng's hand, walked forward slowly, then cupped his hands and bowed to the two guards, "Officers, yesterday's case of the Fifth Princess being disfigured by the 'Red Powder Beauty' involved the wrong people. That shop belonged to my wife and me, and those young ladies have nothing to do with it. Therefore, we are here today to replace the suspects. We hope you will inform someone."