How could someone die so suddenly? Qingying gnced at Song Chuyi, who nodded, allowing her to lift the curtain and go outside to speak with Qin Chuan. Meanwhile, Song Yan's gaze was intense as he looked at Song Chuyi. "These days, I've seen many such things at the gambling den—people losing everything, their families destroyed, all for the sake of a bet."

  It seemed that Song Yan had grown up several years overnight. Anxiously clutching the hem of his clothes, he lowered his head and admitted his mistake. "I almost became one of them."

  If not for the Song family's vigince, if not for Song Chuyi's preparations and her blunt warning yesterday, he might still be lost in his own heroic fantasy, oblivious to the trap he was caught in—just like the gamblers in the den, losing his mind and his sense of right and wrong

  Song Chuyi didn't comfort him gently. Instead, she nodded in agreement with his words. "That's why, regardless of what others do, you have to take care of yourself. No matter what, you shouldn't get involved in such things. You may think you can walk away, but how many actually can in the end..."

  She hadn't finished speaking when Qingying re-entered the carriage with a grave expression and told Song Chuyi in a low tone, "He was thrown out of the gambling den. He borrowed money at high interest and had nowhere left to turn—his wife was seized by the den and sold to a brothel to pay off his debt. Now they're pnning to sell his children, too... He ran away... The young girl, his sister, threw herself against the wall in the gambling den and died. They threw her body out..."

  Song Chuyi gave Song Yan a meaningful look as he sat there, visibly shocked, and sighed deeply. "The rich feast on wine and meat, while the poor freeze by the roadside. Yan'er, you used to think the noble css looked down on us because of the Ninth Princess's demand that I become her secondary wife. But look now—Han Zhi treats these people just as mercilessly, and even that runaway husband didn't care about his wife. The human heart is truly the hardest to fathom."

  Song Yan finally understood why his teacher always said he still had much to learn and was far from ready. Pressing his lips together, he asked, "Sister, can we... can we help them? At least find a proper pce to bury that girl..."

  This was Han Zhi's "welcome gift" to them, a warning of the fate they might face. Song Chuyi gave Qingying a slight nod, and she immediately understood, stepping out of the carriage.

  After traveling a bit further, their carriage was suddenly stopped. Qin Chuan's voice, strained with anger, came from the front, "Sixth Miss, they're demanding that we change carriages..."

  Han Zhi wanted to prevent them from having any outside help, such as Ma Changjiang's men, so he treated them like criminals, even insisting they change carriages to avoid any disruptions.

  Song Yan, realizing the implications, clenched his fists—making a young dy switch to an unknown carriage was another form of leverage. Han Zhi was clearly doing this on purpose.

  But Song Chuyi remained unfazed, gncing at Song Yan and shaking her head gently. "A wise person knows when to advance and when to yield. There's no need to csh over something trivial."

  After switching carriages, they traveled for about half an hour more. By the time they finally entered a three-part estate, dusk was falling. Qin Chuan stealthily approached and informed them, "This is Douge vilge, not far from our own estate..."

  As they passed through the second gate and turned in through a side door, they heard loud cheers and shouts. Song Yan kept his expression neutral as he expined to Song Chuyi, "The loudest cheers are likely for the dogfights. Han Zhi only enjoys dogfights. The two times I saw him, he was at the dogfighting ring and paid no attention to other forms of gambling."

  Such a callous man would only find stimution in blood-sport scenes like dogfighting. Nothing else could excite him.

  Guanshan appeared to welcome them, wearing a polite smile. "Our young lord has been awaiting Sixth Miss Song and Fourth Young Master Song for some time. Please, come inside."

  The main hall was empty, the tables and chairs meticulously arranged. Han Zhi was seated in an upstairs window alcove, zily raising a cup toward her with a mocking smile. "Since I was young, I've enjoyed an old saying... How does it go? 'Trying to steal a chicken only to lose the rice.' Now, with your brother in my hands, Sixth Miss Song, under my control, I wonder if this is karma for trying to steal the chicken?"

  "Young Lord, I assume you didn't call me here just to throw insults," Song Chuyi said calmly as she sat down on the nearest chair. She watched as Qingying and Ziyun set out tea and refreshments from their portable chests, then looked up at Han Zhi. "I'm not one for wasting words either. We both know the situation well, so let's be direct. What will it take for you to return my brother's jade sachet?"

  Song Yan, sitting upright next to her, also turned his gaze to Han Zhi.

  Han Zhi chuckled, swirling his wine cup while fixating on the swirling liquid. His voice casual, he replied, "Didn't I already say? All he has to do is gamble with me. If he wins, I'll return his junior brother's family to him."

  His dark, almost unnaturally bck eyes glinted ominously in the sunset, and his smile was chillingly sinister. After a pause, he added, "Not just his junior brother and the sachet—I'll return whatever else belongs to Sixth Miss Song as well."

  Song Chuyi felt her right eyelid twitch and immediately realized what Han Zhi was alluding to... the boy who looked exactly like her te son from her previous life.

  Not getting the reaction he expected, Han Zhi seemed a bit disappointed. Leaning on the windowsill, he sneered, "When you first saw him three years ago, you were terrified to the point of desperation. Have you forgotten so soon? Women are always..."

  Before he could finish, Song Chuyi abruptly stood up, looking at him with the same disdain she might show to a poisonous snake or scorpion. "So if he wins, you'll return them to me. And if he loses?"

  "If he loses..." Han Zhi's eyes narrowed with satisfaction as he lifted his gaze zily, "then he or you will pay with your lives."

  He watched Song Chuyi intently, hoping to detect even a hint of fear or unease in her eyes. After all, he held her brother's future and her own in his hands, and this was his domain. If he wished, both siblings could disappear without a trace tonight. He wouldn't even fear the Song family's retaliation; he'd simply arrange a scapegoat.