Part 1: A Dream Within A Dream / Rebirth of Ill Fated Concubine

Chapter 020 Imprisonment

The beauty is like a painting, but under the sun she is like a red-faced skeleton. Her words are gentle, but with a ghostly aura. Chen Zhao unconsciously took a step back, and felt a layer of cold sweat on his back in broad daylight.

Seeing this, Zhang Lan smiled and said, "The dead person can't talk, don't worry, Miss, if anything happens, the master will take care of it, Miss, just stay here."

These words were vicious, as if they were certain that Jiang Ruan was the mastermind of the murder, and she was convicted of the crime in one sentence, leaving no chance for rebuttal. 

Jiang Ruan smiled slightly: "Madame Lan, why are you saying this? You are so sure. Is it such a coincidence that Madame Lan also saw me killing someone?"

Zhang Lan was stunned and laughed dryly: "This... I didn't."

"That's right," Jiang Ruan said softly: "Madame Lan, please be careful when you speak. If you don't know, people might think that Madame Lan deliberately framed me."

Zhang Lan's heart tightened, and she looked up at Jiang Ruan. Jiang Ruan was looking at her with a smile, but the smile didn't seem to reach her eyes. The spring water in her eyes seemed like a black abyss, with cold irony.

At this moment, she heard several soldiers running over and said to the thoughtful head of the yamen: "Boss, a female corpse was found in the well."

As soon as these words came out, it was like a stone breaking the sky. The maids and old women around immediately retreated to Jiang Ruan, and their eyes looking at the master and servants were full of fear and contempt.

Lian Qiao and Zi Su were startled and looked up at Jiang Ruan. They saw that Jiang Ruan's expression did not change. She was still standing there with a faint smile. Her body was weak but firm, which made people feel at ease. The two maids calmed down and stood there calmly without looking at the people around them.

The calmness of the master and servants impressed the chief of the yamen. After such a change, it was rare for someone to not show her emotions. He had been handling cases for many years. He was so calm, unless he had never done anything bad.

The chief of the yamen swept his eyes in the yard and saw that except for Jiang Ruan and the other two, the rest of them were in their own group. This was a bit unreasonable. These servants called Jiang Ruan "Miss", but their attitude was not respectful. Moreover, the yard was dilapidated and did not look like the boudoir of a lady. 

The chief of the yamen understood it a little. All the ladies sent to the farm were those who made mistakes and came to reflect on their mistakes. However, the lady of this family seemed to be unlucky. Not only did she live in dire straits, but she was also framed.

"Boss?" the officer asked.

The chief of the yamen came back to his senses and looked at Jiang Ruan: "Miss Jiang, I'm sorry, the female corpse was found in your yard. We have to ask you to stay in the prison with us for a while." After saying this, he looked at Jiang Ruan's expression.

Jiang Ruan accepted his gaze calmly, and even bowed to him politely: "I will follow your orders."

She did not cry or make a fuss, and she did not look like she was taken to jail. Instead, she looked like she was going to a banquet, and her demeanour was not damaged at all. 

The yamen runners were even more impressed by her in their hearts, and said thoughtfully: "Miss Jiang, don't worry. I, Li Mi, will definitely investigate this matter thoroughly and will not let any bad guy go."

These words were meaningful, and Jiang Ruan smiled slightly: "Thank you, Sir."

The officials around were all a little surprised. Their leader Li Mi was always a black-faced god, and he was not good to the prisoners. He was the most old-fashioned and stiff person. Today, he was gentle and caring to this yellow-haired girl, which was unexpected.

Chen Zhao also felt this and said with a smile: "My Lord, you should investigate the case carefully and make decisions for the people." Then he turned to look at Jiang Ruan and said: "Miss, Zhao will come to see you in a few days, don't worry too much."

"What a joke," Lian Qiao snorted: "You are framing us and trying to please our girl. Chen Zhao, do you think our girl is a fool for you to play with? Remember, you are just a son of a manager. You will never be qualified to mention your name in front of the girl. Your name is just two words, slave!" After that, she spit on Chen Zhao's face, and Chen Zhao's expression turned blue and white, and then white and blue.

Jiang Ruan smiled slightly and said to Li Mi: "Sir, since Chen Zhao said he saw me kill someone, it has nothing to do with these two girls. Please allow these two girls to stay on the farm and pass a message to my family." Li Mi thought about it and nodded: "Okay, I promise you." 

Lian Qiao held Jiang Ruan's hand with tears in her eyes: "Miss, be careful and don't be bullied." After thinking about it, she felt uneasy: "It's better for me to accompany you. I'm not afraid of going to jail." 

Jiang Ruan laughed and squeezed her hand: "Silly, it's not an outing, why am I looking for a companion? I will be out soon. If you follow me, who will help me pass the message to my family?" Jiang Ruan emphasized the word ‘pass the message’ a little more. 

Lian Qiao was stunned. Zi Su came over and pulled her away, saying to Jiang Ruan: "Miss, take good care of yourself. The servants will definitely deliver the letter." 

Jiang Ruan nodded and said to Li Mi: "Let's go." 

The officials around were stunned again. They had never seen such an initiative to go to the prison. Moreover, Jiang Ruan's action made her look like the master. These officials seemed to be the guards accompanying her. 

Chen Zhao's eyes also flashed with a hint of deep meaning. He wanted to see Jiang Ruan's miserable appearance, but he didn't expect that at this time, she was still calm and composed, and even looked at him with a smile. Her grace was still there, which made people's heart beats. 

After a long while, Zhang Lan slapped him hard: "What are you looking at? What is there to see? It's unlucky!" 

After Jiang Ruan arrived at the prison, Li Mi arranged her to a cell alone. There were other people in the prison. When he saw a beautiful girl, he said dirty words. Jiang Ruan looked at him coldly, neither angry nor shy. Someone in the next cell was surprised to see her like this. He curiously leaned over the iron bars to look at her. 

Seeing that Jiang Ruan had no intention of taking the initiative to pay attention to him, he said, "Hey, little girl, why were you arrested?" Jiang Ruan looked over and saw a dirty person looking at her. 

His clothes were covered with dust and mud. His hair was messy and his face could not be seen clearly. But his voice was very sweet. It was the voice of a young woman. Jiang Ruan glanced at her and ignored her. 

The woman was stunned and insisted, "Hey, why don't you pay attention to me? Are you deaf? You look pretty, but you are a person who can't hear sounds. Tsk, tsk, so pitiful." 

Jiang Ruan looked at her: "What does it have to do with you?" 

"So you are not deaf and dumb," the woman exclaimed in surprise, "I'm almost bored here. It's good that you are here. We can keep each other company." 

(End of this chapter)

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