Jiang Bai was about to retort when he noticed that Zhao Yi's hand was trembling slightly.

This person was genuinely terrified.

Seeing this, she softened her stance: "I understand, I won't do it again next time."

“There won’t be a next time,” Zhao Yi said firmly. “I will send several bodyguards to follow you and protect your safety.”

"Secret guards?" Jiang Bai's eyes widened. "I don't want them."

"You have to take it whether you want it or not." Zhao Yi didn't want to hear Jiang Bai's argument, so he grabbed her arm and pulled her towards the dilapidated temple.

With Lao Liu's cries of pain, the matter inside had already come to an end. Jiang Bai walked step by step to the door, backlit, and met Lao Da's gaze.

She thought for a moment, then turned to Zhao Yi and said, "They're not really bad people."

Hearing this from the side, Tanji said coolly, "They've even done kidnapping, yet they're still considered bad people!"

Jiang Bai pondered for a moment and said, "During the two days I was kidnapped, they behaved very well and didn't starve or thirst me."

"They promised to release me as long as I gave them the secret recipe."

"I think they didn't subconsciously want to hurt me."

After saying that, she turned to stare at the leader and asked, "Were you threatened?"

Before he finished speaking, Lao Liu's wailing suddenly stopped.

The eye that had been hit by the carbon powder was still tightly closed, and the area around it was red, making him look incredibly pitiful.

However, he was unaware of his appearance problem; a tear rolled down his intact eye, leaving a mark on his dark face.

Seeing this, Jiang Bai pursed his lips and said, "Sixth Brother, did they threaten you with your family? Where is your sister now?"

The sixth brother sobbed, "Can you save my sister?"

The eldest brother growled, trying to stop him: "Sixth Brother!"

"Big brother," the sixth brother straightened up, rubbed his eyes, and sidled over to the eldest brother, "Zhao Yi is here. We can no longer get the secret recipe, but your mother and my sister are still... in our hands."

When the key names were mentioned, Lao Liu paused for a moment, clearly still not quite trusting Zhao Yi and Jiang Bai.

Several bodyguards stood between Jiang Bai and the eldest and sixth brothers, their nerves on edge, fearing that the two might suddenly attack and hurt someone.

The eldest brother pursed his lips tightly for a long time, his eyes looking at Jiang Bai with pleading expressions.

He said, "If I tell you who kidnapped you, can you save my mother?"

"And my sister too," the sixth brother interjected.

“Actually, I can vaguely guess,” Jiang Bai quickly said, mentioning the name of a clinic owner in the county town, “is it one of them?”

Her collaboration with Ren Yunzhou had been subtly leaked by busybodies, but this couldn't be kept secret. Rumors of Ren Yunzhou's large-scale recruitment drive and his desire to expand the store had been circulating for some time.

With these two powerful individuals joining forces, it's no wonder some people are getting restless.

Even if these bosses do get the secret formula, Jiang Bai won't know how they treat their illnesses. Even if he does, he can say he bought it from someone else. Anyway, Jiang Bai has no evidence of their kidnapping.

Secondly, with so many people involved, the law doesn't punish everyone; they have nothing to lose.

Finally, Jiang Bai suspected that the shopkeepers never intended for her to return alive. Even if the eldest and sixth brothers didn't lift a finger, killing a defenseless woman would have been far too easy.

With just a small accident, they can shift the blame onto the eldest and sixth brothers.

With no one left to testify, what good is Zhao Yi's rage?

The shocked looks on the eldest and sixth brothers' faces said it all.

Jiang Bai nodded: "Tell Zhao Yi everything you know, and he will help you."

As she spoke, she looked at Zhao Yi, only able to see his sharply defined chin.

Zhao Yi lowered his head to meet her gaze, then reluctantly nodded.

Although Jiang Bai had no external injuries, the mental exhaustion that overwhelmed her after being rescued made her sway and unable to open her eyes.

Seeing how tired she looked, Zhao Yi reached out and took a thin blanket to wrap Jiang Bai's body, then picked her up and carried her to the carriage outside.

As he walked, he whispered instructions: "Tanji, you handle this matter. Make sure to expose everyone involved."

"Okay." Tanji nodded.

Jiang Bai's analysis has revealed most of the truth, and Tan Ji, listening from the side, is experiencing her boss's wife's work ability for the first time.

No wonder their business is so big!

Most women, when kidnapped, are too busy crying to even notice the kidnappers' identities or movements.

Not only was she not afraid, she also guessed that the kidnappers had something difficult to say.

Thinking of this, he watched Zhao Yi and Jiang Bai leave with a look of admiration.

Once the carriage carrying the two men had disappeared from sight, Tanji turned around and casually glanced at the two men who were now tied up.

He said, "Tell me what happened. Whether your family members can be rescued depends on your attitude."

-

Jiang Bai, nestled in Zhao Yi's arms and enveloped in a comforting scent, almost immediately drifted off to sleep.

The clattering of the carriage didn't disturb her sleep. She didn't know when she got home, but she felt herself being picked up again. After walking a short distance, the person placed her on a comfortable bed.

At this moment, she regained some consciousness, her eyes half-open, and she vaguely saw the lower half of Zhao Yi's resolute face.

She opened her mouth, but no sound came out due to the dryness and hoarseness in her throat.

Seeing this, Zhao Yi poured her half a cup of warm water, slowly fed her to drink it, then took off her shoes and covered her with a blanket.

After doing all this, Zhao Yi said softly, "Go to sleep. I'll take care of everything here."

Jiang Bai fell into a deep sleep with peace of mind.

When she woke up again, she heard a child sobbing.

Although the child was crying, he was afraid of waking her from her sleep, so he covered his mouth and cried pitifully.

Her voice was soft and sweet as she asked the person beside her, "Is Mother seriously ill?"

“How could that be?” the person next to her explained, “Your mother is just tired and is sleeping.”

“But she didn’t come home last night. She comes home every day,” the child retorted.

"Didn't your father tell you yesterday that she went to do business? Don't you believe your father?" Jiang Bai recognized the voice; the person answering was Xu, the wet nurse who served Zhao Xile.

"But she's still sleeping." The little one was still doubtful. "She's never slept at this time of day."

"Because doing business is too tiring." Nanny Xu picked up Zhao Xile and said, "Be good and don't disturb your mother's sleep."

Zhao Xile's eyes were brimming with tears. Hearing this, she nodded, not daring to let the tears fall.

No matter how the adults try to coax her, children have a special set of sensitive nerves. They can sense that something is wrong, but they don't know how to question it.

Jiang Bai struggled to open his eyes and smiled at Zhao Xile: "Xiao Le, why are you crying?"