"Number 019, you have a visitor."

Inside the women's prison cafeteria, Song Mingyi was having her meal when she was suddenly summoned by a guard.

Song Mingyi saw her father, Song Hongshan, in the visitor's room. This was the first time someone from her family had come to see her since she was deceived into taking the blame five years ago. She couldn't help but feel a rush of emotions.

"Mingyi, how have you been in these years?"

"I've been fine."

"That's good to hear." Song Hongshan displayed a comforted smile. "Besides coming to see you, I came here to tell you that the family has arranged for your release and also arranged a marriage for you. You're to marry Lu Shenxing of the Lu family. Once you are married, you will become Mrs. Lu and the most honourable woman in Haicheng. You'll have the best future."

Lu Shenxing was the heir of the Lu family, one of the four leading wealthy families of Haicheng. He was ruthless, decisive, and held a godlike stature since childhood. He was the man every heiress dreamed of marrying.

However—

"Dad, the prison isn't completely cut off from the outside world. I saw from the news a month ago that Lu Shenxing is critically ill and won't live much longer. Since when did being a widow become the best outcome?"

Song Hongshan hadn't expected Song Mingyi to know about this and he let out an awkward laugh. "I know this might seem unfair, but Old Master Lu insisted on marrying you. How could I disagree? Besides, you're a criminal. You have a criminal record. Without this marriage, how can you be qualified to step into the Lu family's house?"

Song Mingyi felt a chill in her heart. Any initial emotions she might have felt disappeared without a trace. With a mocking smile, she retorted, "It seems you've forgotten why I became a criminal in the first place, haven't you, dad?"

Song Hongshan pleaded awkwardly, "Mingyi, please help the family one more time, okay? No matter what, you are the daughter of the Song family, and your mother and I didn't have it easy bringing you up. You can't just stand by and do nothing."

Stone-faced, Song Mingyi replied, "Five years ago, you said the same thing when you made me take the blame. If I remember correctly, you even had me sign an agreement: 'Song Mingyi will take the blame and go to prison for Song Chengwei, and with that, all parental debts paid'."

Song Chengwei was her half-brother, and it was him who committed the illegal fundraising.

After the crime was exposed, in order to escape punishment, he made her take the blame, his half-sister from another mother.

"Father, if there's nothing else, please leave."

"Song Mingyi."

Song Hongshan called out to Song Mingyi. His face, previously masked with a false affection, was now cold and aloof: "You don’t care about the Song family’s life or death. Don't you care about the twins you gave birth to either?"

Song Mingyi abruptly stopped, her eyes coldly staring back at Song Hongshan.

Five years ago, she was deceived by Song Yuyao into bed with a stranger, birthing twin boys in prison.

Her father came over, took the two children away, and promised her that he would take good care of her children.

To ensure that her children could lead a normal life, Song Mingyi let Song Hongshan take them away despite her pain. But now, he was using the children to threaten her.

Song Mingyi began to question if her children were being treated properly under the care of the Song family.

She was both anxious and worried. What was really happening to her children in the Song family?

Song Hongshan delivered his ultimatum coldly: "You get married, the kids live. You refuse, we all die together."

Anger surged in Song Mingyi's heart. This was her father!

She clenched her fist, steadying her emotions through the sharp pain in her palm: "Fine, I'll marry. But this is the last time. If anyone uses my children to threaten me again, I’ll resist until my last breath! "

Hearing Song Mingyi's acquiescence, Song Hongshan finally breathed a sigh of relief. Just as he was about to say something to ease the tension, Song Mingyi turned and left without looking back.

…

Inside the prison cell.

Song Mingyi carefully withdrew the picture stowed underneath the pillow.

This was an old photograph, displaying two newborn babies lying side by side, their large eyes wide open, wavering their miniature hands, and smiling sweetly.

Song Mingyi's fingertips gently brushed along the cheeks of the children, her eyes brimming with a tenderness akin to still water.

"Can we leave now?" Song Hongshan urged impatiently.

Song Mingyi securely stored the picture close to herself and pulled open the door, her facial expression becoming frosty.

"Let's go."

Having left the prison, Song Mingyi bypassed the Song residence entirely and was sent directly to the Lu family residence in her clothing from five years ago.

The Lu family, a lineage tracing back centuries, with deep-rooted connections and intricate familial ties, was awaiting her arrival in the living room knowing Song Mingyi was to marry into their family.

Upon seeing Song Mingyi in her shabby attire, the Lu family members could not help but mock her.

"Isn't the Song family supposedly rich and prestigious? How can they not afford to give her decent clothing?"

"What good would fancy attire do when she reeks of criminal notoriety? Better to save the expense; these lesser families do know how to economize, after all. Otherwise they wouldn't trade their criminal daughter for a three-billion bride price."

"There's nothing we can do, her compatibility is just too good. In order to bring good fortune to Shenxing, whether it's three billion or even thirty billion, we would have to swallow it."

Grandfather Lu cast his icy gaze over everyone, immediately silencing the mocking voices. His face softened slightly, "So you are Mingyi, now that you are married into our family, please take good care of Shenxing and live well."

Song Mingyi's eyelashes quivered slightly as she understood the implicit meaning of Grandfather Lu's words - her well-being in the Lu family would depend on her taking good care of Lu Shenxing.

Bowing her head demurely, Song Mingyi replied, "Yes."

As soon as the voice fell, an alarmed voice came: "The young master is critically ill!"

The old master Lu suddenly stood up and rushed to the second floor, walking fast even with his walking stick. The rest of the Lu family followed him urgently.

Song Mingyi thought for a moment, then followed them upstairs.

By the time she made it upstairs, the doctor spoke in a tone full of apologies, "Master Lu, we've done our best to save the young master, but his condition is so severe. Whether he can survive this crisis is entirely up to his willpower."

The woman standing by the door, whose demeanour suggested wealth and refinement, instantly burst into tears, crying, "My poor son!"

Old Master Lu staggered back a few steps.

"Master!" The butler quickly steadied Old Master Lu.

Old Master Lu waved him off, his face lined and seeming to age more in that moment. The sorrow of surviving one's child was tearing him apart, too much to bear even though he had been a veteran in the business world for most of his life.

Suddenly, Old Master Lu noticed Song Mingyi standing quietly to the side. His spirit was lifted, "Mingyi, come here quickly!"

Madam Lu also remembered Song Mingyi, who had come to bring good tidings. Without caring about appearances, she rushed forward, grabbed Song Mingyi by the arm and pulled her over, "Save my son quickly!"

Without waiting for Song Mingyi to say a word, she pushed her into the room.

Bang—

Song Mingyi stared at the closed door in front of her, feeling somewhat speechless. They had pushed her in without any word of instruction. Was she supposed to heal Lu Shenxing through sheer will?

Song Mingyi took a deep breath, walked to the bedside, and looked at the man lying in the pristine white bed.

He was exceedingly handsome, with deep features and a face akin to a work of art, godlike in its perfection. Even in his unconscious state, his aura of self-assured superiority remained undiminished.

Such a man was born as if he were an emperor, high above the rest, naturally receiving the respect and worship of the masses.

Yet at this moment, his abnormally pale face, emitting a cyan-grey color between his brows, was telling everyone that his life was nearing its end.

Song Mingyi sat by the bed for a while, and finally reached out and held Lu Shenxing's wrist to feel his pulse.

"Huh?"

Song Mingyi's expression suddenly changed. Lu Shenxing was not terminally ill as they all believed, he was evidently poisoned.

Song Mingyi's first reaction was to pretend she knew nothing. After all, who knew how many dirty secrets were hidden in a powerful and influential family like this? If she got involved, she might even lose her life.

However, she ultimately couldn't stand by and do nothing. It was not about whether she cared for the survival of her nominal husband or not, but because she cared for her children held by Song Hongshan.

If Lu Shenxing died on her first day in his house, his family would surely vent their anger on the Song family. Given Song Hongshan's ruthless personality, he wasn't going to spare her children.

Song Mingyi took a deep breath and took out a bag of acupuncture needles from her purse.

Like lightning, the silver needles pierced into the acupressure points all over his body.

As her fingertips swept across, the silver long needle emitted a humming sound.

Several minutes later, the humming sound stopped. Just as Song Mingyi was about to withdraw the needles, the door was pushed open.

Song Mingyi felt a sudden thud in her heart and immediately pulled out the silver needles.

Lu Shenxing, lying on the sickbed, turned his head and vomited a mouthful of fresh blood. The dark red blood soaked his bedsheet beneath him.

His face instantly turned ghastly pale. Blood oozed from the corners of his eyes, nose, ears. It was a horrific and terrifying sight.