A soft moan came from inside, followed by the sound of Jiang Shi hurriedly getting up. Gu Chaobei was still lying in bed, still struggling to wake up.

“Young Madam,” Jiang Shi came out wrapped in her clothes, smoothing her hair with embarrassment. “Master was too tired last night and can’t get up right now. If Madam has something to discuss, perhaps…”

“No matter.” Seeing she was already dressed, Shen Guiyan raised her head. “I’ll wake him myself.”

“Young Madam!” Jiang Shi frowned slightly. “Master has the worst temper in the morning. You…”

Shen Guiyan waved her hand dismissively and had already walked to the bedside. Gu Chaobei slept with his eyes closed, his face still carrying a childish quality.

She reached out to pinch his nose. As expected, he opened his mouth to breathe and continued sleeping. She then covered his mouth with her hand. Gu Chaobei frowned and raised his hand to swat it away. Shen Guiyan leaned down and pressed herself onto him, saying softly, “Husband, it’s time to get up.”

Jiang Shi’s eyes widened, not expecting the Young Madam to be so bold. When Master was woken up in the morning, he would certainly get angry. She had served him for so many years and never personally woke him in the morning to avoid provoking his temper.

Standing to the side watching, Jiang Shi thought Master would surely be furious. She couldn’t help feeling a bit schadenfreude, waiting to watch the show.

However, Gu Chaobei opened his eyes and smiled lightly. “I knew it was you.”

Shen Guiyan sighed. “Something happened outside. Husband, please get up first and help me think of a solution.”

“What happened?” Gu Chaobei rolled over and sat up. His body felt slightly uncomfortable. He coughed awkwardly twice. “You go over there first and let Jiang Shi help me dress.”

“Very well.” Shen Guiyan rose and truly went to stand outside the partition.

Jiang Shi was stunned for a moment before entering. Gu Chaobei said in a low voice, “Biyue, help me change into something looser.”

“Yes.”

Glancing up inadvertently, she could see Gu Chaobei’s slightly upturned lips. Jiang Biyue pressed her lips together and asked softly, “Is Master in a good mood?”

“Mm, the weather is nice.” Gu Chaobei’s eyes were full of intoxicating radiance. “Perfect for going out for a walk.”

Jiang Biyue looked back at the overcast sky outside and lowered her eyes. “Master seems to truly like the Young Madam very much.”

Gu Chaobei paused, then smiled roguishly. “A virtuous and beautiful woman—a gentleman seeks her. A beauty like Yan’er, how many men wouldn’t like her?”

“Is it only because of her appearance?” Jiang Shi raised her eyebrows.

“What else do women have besides appearance?” Running his hand across her face, Gu Chaobei laughed lightly. “You should also take good care of yourself.”

An unintentional teasing remark, yet Jiang Shi took it to heart.

Shen Guiyan watched Gu Chaobei emerge and pulled him outside. “Today some refugees offended my mother and she had them thrown into prison. Do you have any way to rescue them?”

Gu Chaobei was slightly stunned. “Rescue people from prison? Yan’er, your husband only knows how to eat, drink, and make merry. Why do you suddenly think I’m omnipotent?”

Shen Guiyan paused. Thinking about it, yes—besides living a life of drunken debauchery and obsessing over women, Gu Chaobei couldn’t do anything else. Why had her first reaction when trouble arose been to come find him?

Cursing herself for being foolish, Shen Guiyan sighed. “I have no other options. This matter was quite unpleasant today, so your wife cannot very well ask the Prime Minister for help.”

“Just some refugees—if they’re arrested, so be it,” Gu Chaobei said mildly. “Your good intentions are what matter.”

Shen Guiyan frowned.

She was the one who had harmed them. If she hadn’t wanted to turn the tables on Lady Shen and take the opportunity to have the magistrate’s office investigate the case, she wouldn’t have thought to involve these innocent refugees. Those refugees, knowing gratitude, had been so righteously indignant. If she didn’t care about them now, wouldn’t that be heartless and unjust?

“Can I go see the prison?” Shen Guiyan asked softly.

Gu Chaobei shook his head. “What’s good about going to a prison?”

When a woman asks a man to do something, her attitude must be soft—this was something Shen Guiyan had heard long ago.

Gritting her teeth, Shen Guiyan imitated the manner of her sisters in the Shen residence. She lightly stamped her foot, shook Gu Chaobei’s arm, pouted her lips, and swayed her body left and right. “Husband, please say yes~”

Gu Chaobei shivered as if he’d seen a ghost, staring at Shen Guiyan. Shen Guiyan’s face flushed red. Thinking perhaps this level wasn’t enough, she was just getting ready to sway even more dramatically when Gu Chaobei had already raised his hands in surrender.

“Let’s go. I’ll take you.”

Shen Guiyan’s eyes brightened. “You can take me inside?”

Gu Chaobei paused and hemmed and hawed for a moment. “I happen to know the prison warden.”

“Wonderful!” Shen Guiyan’s eyes sparkled. She thought what they said was indeed useful—she should learn more of this. Next time she had a favor to ask, she’d continue swaying.

Gu Chaobei found it amusing. He’d never seen her like this and had been quite startled. Today he had originally planned to discuss with someone how to enter the palace, but somehow found himself agreeing to accompany her to the prison.

Sighing, Gu Chaobei followed her out and boarded the carriage, quietly instructing Zhuiyun to make arrangements first.

The capital prison’s warden did indeed know him and was also a regular patron of brothels and pleasure houses. So after slipping him some silver, Gu Chaobei led Shen Guiyan inside.

“Many refugees were sent in by the Shen residence today,” the warden said helplessly. “We almost ran out of space. That Lady Shen, I don’t know what got into her—she insists we torture them and cut out their tongues. No one likes this kind of task, so it’s been delayed until now.”

“Can you release them?” Shen Guiyan looked at the mass of people packed in the cells and asked with a frown.

“Well…” The warden was somewhat helpless. “We can’t very well offend Lady Shen either. After all, she’s a court-appointed noblewoman. With Assistant Minister Shen’s marriage alliance with your Prime Minister’s residence, he’ll certainly be promoted again next year.”

In the end, it meant Shen Guiyan and Gu Chaobei didn’t have enough face. Although they were from the Prime Minister’s residence, they held no official positions—how could they ask the warden to offend the Shen family?

“Corrupt officials treating human lives like grass! We neither killed anyone nor committed arson—just cursed a vicious woman a few times and we’re thrown in prison?” a refugee said angrily. “If someone with more face than her came to curse at her, would you arrest them or not?”

The warden cracked a whip against the bars. “What are you shouting about? Are officials people you can curse? You deserve to be sent here.”

“When we entered this capital, we saw imperial decrees saying all people are equal. Aside from the Emperor, aren’t the rest all commoners? Why should cursing her a couple times land us here? Let us out!”

“The Emperor?” The warden sneered. “Go look outside at those imperial decrees written so beautifully—how many are actually implemented? Lady Shen is an Assistant Minister’s wife. Do you really think she’s the same as you refugees whose lives are worth less than grass?”

Shen Guiyan was slightly angry. “Sir, why not speak plainly—what will it take to release them?”

“Does the Fourth Young Madam of the Gu family truly believe human lives are valuable?” The warden laughed twice. “Since they’re valuable, then redeem them. One tael of silver per person. You understand—this business of offending people isn’t easy.”

One tael of silver per person, and there were at least thirty or forty people here—wouldn’t that be thirty or forty taels? Shen Guiyan’s face paled slightly. However, Gu Chaobei laughed. “Good heavens, who’s going to redeem them? Might as well sneak in at night and steal them out. They’re quite valuable indeed.”

The warden smiled mirthlessly. “You two have seen enough. It’s time to leave.”

Shen Guiyan pressed her lips together. “Where is the magistrate’s office?”

“What?” The warden turned to look at her.

“I’m asking where the magistrate’s office is. I want to beat the drum and appeal for justice.” Shen Guiyan took a deep breath. “Since people are so expensive, a case should naturally be opened for trial.”

The warden snorted. “Young Madam, why be so serious? It was your own mother who sent them in. If you go file a complaint, wouldn’t that be slapping your own family’s face?”

“So what if I do?” Shen Guiyan looked serious. “Is face more important than human lives?”

The warden glanced at Gu Chaobei. “Fourth Young Master Gu should advise your wife. These days, the magistrate’s office is run by officials. How can one smash one’s own establishment? They’re just unrelated people—why harm family harmony?”

A snort came from among the refugees. “Isn’t the magistrate’s office supposed to serve the common people?”

“Nonsense!” The warden cracked his whip again. “That’s said for the Emperor to hear. Do you actually take it seriously?”

There were no more words, only a few laughs.

Gu Chaobei leaned against the prison door and looked at the person who had spoken for a few moments. A glimmer flashed in his eyes. He suddenly straightened up. “Let’s go, Yan’er. I’ll accompany you to the magistrate’s office.”

What? The warden was stunned. “Fourth Young Master Gu, your wife is being foolish, but why are you also…”

“We’ll take our leave now. Warden, keep watch over them properly and don’t actually carry out any torture.” Gu Chaobei gave a well-meaning reminder.

Then he embraced Shen Guiyan and walked outside.

Shen Guiyan looked at Gu Chaobei with some emotion. The latter wore a righteous expression. “Wife, we must rescue all the refugees!”

“Yes.” For the first time, Shen Guiyan felt she hadn’t married the wrong man. She smiled and followed Gu Chaobei to the magistrate’s office.

Lady Shen had returned to the residence and her anger still hadn’t subsided when she heard that Shen Guiyan was going to accuse her of abusing official power and had already gone to the magistrate’s office to beat the drum.

“Such an unfilial daughter!” Lady Shen immediately went to cry to Lord Shen. “Yan’er has no regard for the mother-daughter bond at all. Not only did she let lowly commoners insult me, but now she even wants to sue me for the sake of those commoners! My lord, what will become of the Shen family’s reputation? Truly, a married daughter is like spilled water!”

Lord Shen was already plagued by troublesome matters today. Hearing this, he immediately said angrily, “Take my official seal. Let’s see who dares to sue you!”

“Yes!” Lady Shen smiled. She took Lord Shen’s official seal and went to the magistrate’s office.

Since taking office, the Capital Magistrate had never encountered such a matter—the Prime Minister’s daughter-in-law wanting to sue her own natal family. This was simply…

The people standing in the hall—the Capital Magistrate didn’t dare make them kneel. Instead, he sighed. “Why must you all do this…”

Lady Shen held the official seal in her hands and snorted coldly. “The lowly commoners were disrespectful first, and the daughter sued her mother second. Today in this court, I want no face at all. I only ask that Your Honor beat those commoners to death and not listen to my daughter’s wild words.”

Shen Guiyan hadn’t expected her father would even bring out his official seal. This was truly absurd.

“How has Yan’er spoken wildly?” Gu Chaobei was rarely serious. “Officials should serve the people. Please, Your Honor, release the common people from prison!”