Chen Yuancheng lowered his voice: "You don't need to worry about arresting Liu Xiucai; the county officials will handle it."

There were some calming medicines in the car. That girl must have been quite frightened. I thought you might need them, so I had someone get a few doses. You can brew them for her to drink.

It's past lunchtime now, so I've packed some pastries for you. You can eat some if you get hungry on the road.

Xiao Yunying forced a smile: "You're very thoughtful."

Chen Yuancheng didn't say anything more: "It's nothing, you should take her to the restaurant to pick up Xin'er and go home."

Xiao Yunying did not see a second carriage: "Come on up and come back to the restaurant with us."

"No need, I think that girl doesn't want to see strangers right now."

"Then what will you do?"

Chen Yuancheng is in poor health, and it is springtime now, with various plants gradually blooming. We dare not leave him alone in this sparsely populated place.

Chen Yuancheng gestured for Xiao Yunying to look behind her. There were two people dressed as ordinary people guarding the corner of the alley.

"You don't need to worry about me, I've already sent someone to fetch the carriage."

Seeing that there were Chen family guards there, Xiao Yunying said, "Then I'll be going now."

Chen Yuancheng helped Xiao Yunying into the carriage and watched it leave.

Once the carriage had completely disappeared from sight, his expression turned cold, and he walked out of the alley.

Two guards followed him at a distance, thinking their young master would return to the restaurant or his residence, but instead they followed him all the way to the county government office.

On the other side, Xiao Yunying went to Huiweilou to pick up Luo Xin, and they returned to the village together.

On the way, Zheng Yunwan remained curled up in her cloak, lost in thought.

Xiao Yunying didn't speak to her, but simply put her arm around her and let her lean on her shoulder.

This time, Zheng Yunwan didn't struggle and quietly leaned on her shoulder.

Luo Xin didn't know what had happened and thought Zheng Yunwan was frightened, so she didn't say anything and sat quietly on the other side of Xiao Yunying.

When the carriage arrived at the door, Xiao Yunying helped Luo Xin and Zheng Yunwan down.

The door wasn't bolted, and as soon as Xiao Yunying pushed it open, she sensed something was off about the atmosphere in the house.

Neither of the two dogs came out to greet her.

Lingqi helped carry the things from the carriage into the house, then helped deliver the carriage to the farmhands' quarters, and took the carriage that had brought Dai Jincai back to the city.

Xiao Yunying only saw the scene inside when she approached the reception room.

Her parents sat near the door, while her brothers, sisters-in-law, third sister, and her young nephews and nieces who were not yet in school stood behind them.

His entire family came.

They must have discovered that Luo Sheng has returned.

But Xiao Yunying has no time to deal with this matter right now.

When Mu Lianrong saw her daughter return, she got up and went to the courtyard.

"Yunyun, what's wrong with you...?"

As I got closer, I saw that my daughter looked unwell, and the girl I had picked up next to her had even paler lips, red and swollen handprints on her face, and looked completely disoriented. Something seemed wrong.

The questioning tone suddenly shifted: "What happened? What's wrong?"

Zheng Yunwan stepped back, trying to get Xiao Yunying to block the gaze falling on her.

Xiao Yunying pulled her cloak tighter: "Mother, we can talk about it later. Go sit down for a while and let Father and Brother go back first."

Mu Lianrong was puzzled, but did not press the matter further and stepped aside.

After her daughter escorted the girl into the house, she thought for a moment and went to the living room.

"Father of my children, you take our two sons back first."

Xiao Shanhai kept staring at Luo Sheng across from him, not paying close attention to his daughter's expression just now.

He slammed his hand on the table: "What's wrong? Is Yunyun afraid I'll beat him up or something?"

Mu Lianrong nudged him: "Don't throw a tantrum. I think the girl your daughter picked up is a bit strange. You two take the children back first, and let the eldest and second sons' wives stay behind to see what's going on and whether they need any help."

Xiao Shan Hai's expression immediately changed: "What's wrong with my daughter?"

“Our daughter should be fine, stop nagging and take the children home quickly.”

Mu Lianrong pushed and shoved Xiao Shanhai and his son and grandson out the door, then pulled Luo Xin into the reception room and asked what had happened.

Once home, Luo Xin felt completely at ease. She recalled what had happened with lingering fear, and recounted it in a broken voice, her voice trembling with tears.

Luo Xin didn't know what Zheng Yunwan had gone through, only that she hadn't spoken a word the whole way, probably because she was frightened.

Adults' thoughts are much more complex than children's. Mu Lianrong recalled Zheng Yunwan's appearance just now and felt a bad premonition.

"Eldest daughter-in-law, go and boil some water."

Zhang didn't ask any more questions, pulled Wang along, and went to the kitchen together.

Luo Sheng, who had been silent all along, suddenly asked, "How did the government deal with those people? Have they found out who ordered them?"

Luo Xin glanced at him, then turned her head and hugged Mu Lianrong without saying a word.

Mu Lianrong rolled her eyes at him, but swallowed back the words she wanted to say.

She doesn't know what her daughter is thinking yet, and she can't afford to make things too tense.

Thinking of this, Mu Lianrong gently comforted Luo Xin and ignored Luo Sheng.

Inside the house.

Xiao Yunying helped Zheng Yunwan sit down by the bed and asked softly, "Yunwan, take off your cloak and let me see your injuries."

Zheng Yunwan shrank back and gripped the collar of her cloak tightly.

"Sister Yunying, I...I want to take a bath."

Xiao Yunying withdrew her hand: "Okay, don't be afraid, I'll go boil some water for you."

"Um."

Xiao Yunying left the room and closed the door behind her.

She went to the reception room first: "Mother."

Mu Lianrong stood up and asked worriedly, "Yunyun, are you hurt? And that girl, is she alright?"

"I'm fine."

Xiao Yunying glanced at Luo Sheng standing to the side, but said nothing.

She said to Mu Lianrong, "Mother, could you boil some water for me? I'm going out for a bit."

Mu Lianrong sighed inwardly; she had probably guessed right.

Where are you going?

"Mom is staying home with Xin'er. I'm going out for a bit and will be back in a little while."

Xiao Yunying didn't say anything more, turned around and left.

Mu Lianrong felt uneasy no matter how much she thought about it.

"Eldest son's wife."

Zhang hurriedly came out of the kitchen: "Mother, what's wrong?"

"Keep an eye on Xin'er. I'm going to check on Yunyun. Oh, and you and your second brother's wife make something to eat. Xin'er said they didn't eat lunch."

"Okay, I got it."

Mu Lianrong hurriedly chased after Xiao Yunying. Zhang Shi and Luo Sheng had nothing to say to each other, and led Luo Xin into the kitchen.

Luo Sheng stood quietly in the waiting room for a while, then finally followed him out.