After moving the things, Xiao Yunying had her maid run errands to call a farmhand to take the carriage away, and then she took a bath and changed her clothes.

Since being found in the mountains by Luo Sheng's subordinates, she had been in a hurry to get on her way and hadn't had a proper bath until today. Today, she finally got a good, comfortable bath.

When she came out, she saw Mu Lianrong and Xiao Yuntao coming over. Xiao Yunying dried her hair and walked into the reception room: "Mother, Third Sister, you've arrived."

Mu Lianrong poked her forehead with her finger and said, "You brat, you came back and didn't even let your parents know you were safe. Do you know how worried I was about you?"

Xiao Yunying quickly admitted her mistake: "Mother, don't be angry. I was thinking of bringing the gifts with me later, but I didn't expect you to arrive first."

Mu Lianrong said irritably, "Luckily, someone told me they saw a carriage coming this way. I thought I'd come and see if you were back, otherwise I would have had to worry for another day."

Xiao Yunying pulled Xiao Yuntao to the dining table: "Third sister, Mother is quite fierce. Let her calm down. Look what I brought you."

Xiao Yuntao also looked worried: "Yunying, it's no wonder I'm worried. Those documents you had Young Master Chen sign for us make it seem like you're not coming back."

Xiao Yunying asked in surprise, "Yuan Cheng has already given you the documents?"

Before she went to Beijing, she left a separate letter for Chen Yuancheng, thinking that if she didn't come back, she could divide her property in advance.

Speaking of this, Mu Lianrong was furious: "I didn't know my daughter was so capable, with so much private property, and she even divided it up quite carefully."

"The profits from the vegetable garden and Huiweilou will go to your father and me for our retirement; the winery to your eldest brother; the sugar workshop and black-boned chicken farm to your second brother; the profits from Jinxiuge to your third sister; even the assorted produce shop was given to Yuntao. What's wrong? You've gone to the capital and become rich, and you're not coming back?"

Xiao Yunying touched her nose guiltily: "Didn't I tell Yuan Cheng that I would only tell you if I was sure I wasn't coming back? Why did he tell you so soon?"

Madam Luo said, "Young Master Chen also went to the capital half a month after you left. Before he left, he prepared the documents and sent them to me for safekeeping. I was talking to him when your mother came over and overheard us, so we couldn't keep it a secret."

Xiao Yunying pulled Mu Lianrong to sit down: "Mother, calm down. This is my first time coming to the capital to face the Emperor. I'm nervous, aren't I? If I do something wrong or something unexpected happens, I have to make plans in advance."

Mu Lianrong wasn't fooled this time: "Don't give me that smirking look, Yun Ying. Although I'm just an ordinary country woman, I'm not stupid."

"If you thought there wouldn't be any danger on this trip to the capital, how could you have arranged all these things? Tell your mother the truth, what exactly happened to Luo Sheng? Will it involve you? Are you in danger?"

"Mom, don't think too much about it. No matter what happened before, look at me, I'm back safe and sound now, aren't I?"

Mu Lianrong frowned: "Why won't you tell me the truth, child?"

Xiao Yunying stopped laughing and composed herself, squatting down in front of her: "Mother, there are some things you can't help with. Knowing them will only make you worry, and it won't do you any other good, so I don't tell you."

Something did happen to Luo Sheng, but that was his duty as a general. Even if it implicated me, it wasn't his intention.

Besides, your daughter is smart enough not to get into trouble easily. See, I'm back safe and sound. So please don't ask about things that will only bother you, okay?

Mu Lianrong remained silent for a long time before sighing, "My daughter has really grown up. She's no longer the little girl who only asks her mother to stand up for her."

Xiao Yunying smiled and said, "No matter how old I am, I'm still my mother's daughter."

Mu Lianrong said with disdain, "I take back what I just said. It seems I still don't know how to be serious."

Seeing that Mu Lianrong was no longer angry, Xiao Yunying stood up and said, "Mother, I bought a lot of things for you. If you and Third Sister can't carry them, let Eldest Brother and Second Brother carry them."

Mu Lianrong pointed to a bright yellow brocade box on the table and said, "Let's take a look at that first."

Xiao Yunying knew what it was just by looking at the color of the brocade box. She opened it and looked inside: "It must be an imperial edict."

There was also a document, a gold medal, and a small square seal.

Mu Lianrong felt proud of her daughter when she talked about this: "My daughter is really accomplished. She has become a county princess, and her name is Wenhe County Princess."

Xiao Yunying glanced at the document and saw that she could be exempted from taxes, which were all rewards that were dispensable to her.

The only useful thing was that gold medal; from now on, she wouldn't have to kneel before anyone who wasn't royalty.

She packed her things: "My brother and his friends have been showing off quite a bit lately, haven't they?"

Xiao Yuntao said, "Given their personalities, it would be strange if they couldn't resist showing off."

"Too."

After finishing their business, Xiao Yunying began distributing the items.

First, select some for Mu Lianrong and Xiao Yuntao to take back, and let the eldest and second eldest brothers take the rest.

Madam Luo inquired about Luo Sheng's whereabouts. Xiao Yunying didn't want her to worry, so she simply told her about the difficulties she had faced from the Empress Dowager in the palace and the Empress Dowager's purpose in summoning her. She didn't mention that she encountered assassins on her way back and that she and Luo Sheng had fallen off a cliff together.

Just as I was sorting through the pile of things, a commotion suddenly broke out outside the door.

Xiao Yunying put down her things, and before she could leave, five government officials came in first.

The leading officer, his hand on the long sword at his waist, asked loudly, "Who is Xiao Yunying?"

"I am."

Just as she was still confused and recognizing her identity, the officer called to the people behind him, "Take her away."

"Wait a moment."

Madam Luo stepped forward and asked, "Who are you, and why are you here to arrest people?"

The officer bowed to her and said, "This must be Madam Luo. We are officers from the Donglin County government, here on orders to take Xiao Yunying back for questioning."

Xiao Yunying took this opportunity to carefully observe the appearance of the officials and found that none of them looked familiar.

This must be intentional; they can't even get close enough to ask for information.

When Madam Luo stood up, her imposing presence was still quite intimidating: "What is the matter?"

"This... cannot be said."

Madam Luo angrily rebuked, "Why can't you say it? Since you've come to take Yunying for questioning, you should explain why or what the case is. I suppose you already know that Yunying has been granted the title of County Princess, and you can't just arrest her whenever you want."

The leading official lowered his posture under the pressure of this imposing manner: "Madam Luo, please don't be angry. We are just following orders. Someone from above said that Xiao Yunying wanted to poison the Empress Dowager. We have taken back the county princess's title and imprisoned her to await further punishment."

Xiao Yunying was stunned when she heard the charge.

What the hell? Poisoning the Empress Dowager?

She knelt for half an hour during that trip and didn't even say a few words. She was ten meters away from the Empress Dowager, so how could she possibly have had the opportunity to poison her?

This is just a fabricated charge they made up to arrest someone, even if the charge has no basis whatsoever.