Chapter 1

The prison was cold and damp.

I rushed to the prison door, my voice choked, and my eyes instantly reddened.

“Master! Mistress, you have suffered!”

I spent two taels of silver to bribe the jailer, leading the foolish Miss to visit the imprisoned Lord Shen and Lady Shen.

The two were originally sitting despondently in the corner, but upon hearing the commotion, they suddenly looked up.

Mistress staggered to the bars, excitedly touching Shen Yushu’s face after a long separation:

“Yushu… my precious…”

Shen Yushu timidly hid behind me, clutching my sleeve, and softly called me, “Sister…”

“Don’t be afraid.” I squatted down, wiped her little face with my sleeve, and showed a comforting smile: “Have you forgotten? They are your mom and dad.”

Shen Yushu was very obedient, calling out crisply, “Mom, Dad.”

The call of “Mom” made Lady Shen’s heart break. As for Lord Shen, he remained calm in the face of danger, his suspicious gaze falling on me.

His brows furrowed: “This is…”

I knelt down, tears rolling down at just the right moment:

“On the day of the confiscation, the officials spared no one, not even the young or old. In desperation, I hid Miss in a basket and secretly escaped.”

I lowered my voice, revealing a hint of fear:

“Afraid the officials would recognize Miss, I boldly asked her to call me sister…”

“We hid well, no one discovered us.”

Mistress raised her hand to wipe away her tears: “Good child… Do you work in my household? What’s your name? Why haven’t I seen you before?”

I kept my head down, my voice soft: “Slave’s name is Yuan Qiao.”

“Slave’s family fell into poverty and wandered the streets. It was Mistress’s kindness, donating monthly at the City God Temple. Without Mistress, slave would have starved long ago.”

“I swore before the City God that I would repay Mistress’s life-saving grace even if I had to work like a horse or ox.”

I spoke sincerely, tears brimming in my eyes.

Mistress listened, overwhelmed with sadness.

The Shen Family suffered, the Eldest Young Master was missing, and all those friends and relatives kept their distance. During the confiscation, servants fled or left, fearing implication.

Only I remained loyal.

My story was flawless, dispelling all doubts from Master and Mistress, who were moved to tears.

Lady Shen held my hand, thanking me profusely: “Good child, you are a great benefactor to our family!”

After a stick of incense, the jailer urged me to leave quickly.

I bowed deeply: “Master, Mistress, rest assured, slave will take good care of Miss.”

I secretly glanced around quickly, noticing that although Lord Shen and Mistress were imprisoned, their clothes were still splendid, without a single crease.

The food in the corner included both meat and vegetables, still steaming.

I was delighted inside!

I had gambled correctly; this confiscation was just a facade.