"Now can you tell me what you know?" Huo Chengche stared intently at the young girl in front of him, his deep eyes unfathomable.

When the little girl heard the word "not afraid," a glint of light flashed in her eyes, and she quickly said, "Refine, refine pills! That Master Wang is capturing these children, they're all...refining pills for Master Wen."

Alchemy?!

Ordinary human traffickers only care about money and don't kill, so at least these children can save their lives.

But if it's used for alchemy, it's like throwing dozens of children into the furnace and burning them alive—it's as heinous as eating children!

Upon hearing this, everyone present was shocked.

Even Huo Chengche's expression changed; his handsome face suddenly darkened, filled with rage and a fierce aura.

His gaze was deep as he looked at the young girl before him and asked, "How did you know they were used for alchemy?"

The little girl explained timidly, "It was when they asked us to clean the room that I... I saw it written on the scrap paper on the table."

"You can read?"

The little girl nodded, "I recognize some."

Huo Chengche frowned slightly, and asked again without changing his expression, "How did you come to know Master Wen?"

“I…I have met Master Wen…that’s why I know it’s him…”

"Have you met Master Wen?" Huo Chengche frowned even more deeply, his eyes unfathomable as he stared intently at the young girl. "As far as I know, girls from ordinary families don't usually have the opportunity to learn to read and write, let alone meet Master Wen."

As he spoke, the boy gave a helpless smile and gently patted the little bundle of joy squirming in his arms—

This silly girl, completely oblivious to what had happened, inadvertently eased the increasingly heavy atmosphere.

Seeing that the boy's expression had softened slightly and the atmosphere around them had eased a bit, the girl spoke more fluently.

The little girl explained, "I am actually the illegitimate daughter of the Prince Consort of Linhuang. My mother was originally the master's maid, but later the master took her as his concubine and gave birth to this servant. My mother was originally to be taken as a concubine, but later the master married the princess..."

The already faint sound grew softer and softer until it completely disappeared.

The little girl listened to her older sister's words with a blank expression. Although she didn't understand, she suddenly thought of a question and looked up at her slender older sister, asking, "Big sister, how old are you?"

"Ah, I... I'm nine years old." The little girl smiled shyly.

"Nine years old?!" Upon hearing this, Zhuang You's pupils contracted sharply. She squatted down and looked at the thin and frail little girl, who looked to be only five or six years old!

He took her small hand in his, but her wrist was so thin that she didn't dare to hold it.

Zhuang You's eyes blazed with anger as she looked at the pitiful little girl and asked softly, "Little girl, what's your name?"

"My name is Hua Xiao."

"Sister Hua Xiao!" the little boy immediately called out in his sweet, childish voice.

“I… I can’t accept being called ‘sister’ by you, Miss,” Hua Xiao quickly waved her hand, bowed her head and curtsied, “You can just call me Hua Xiao.”

The little boy looked at his awkward and respectful older sister with a puzzled expression, ran up to her, and asked in a childish voice, "Sister, what's wrong? Aren't you the sister of Lady Fende? Is it because Niannian taught Lady Fende a lesson that you don't like Niannian anymore?"

Did they teach or reprimand Lord Fende?!

This adorable little pink baby actually managed to teach His Highness the County Lord a lesson?!

Hua Xiao glanced at Huo Chengche and Zhuang You's expressions again, and saw no change in them. Clearly, this was a trivial matter.