Liang Laifu had been planning for many days, and the inn he found wasn't doing particularly well. In addition, the innkeeper's wife believed him and intentionally covered for him. Liang Laifu spent the night at the inn without being discovered.

The next morning, Zhang Liang found the letter that had been left on the door, and immediately took it and gave it to Tao Wanniang, who hadn't slept all night.

"Fifteen hundred taels of silver, they really dare to ask for the moon!" Tao Wanniang said through gritted teeth as she looked at the letter, slamming it on the table. They wouldn't have set such a price if they hadn't known her family's financial situation. Moreover, the other party demanded that by noon tomorrow, the fifteen hundred taels of silver notes be wrapped in oilcloth and thrown into the moat upstream.

"Sister Tao, what do you mean?" Zhang Liang asked solemnly. He felt responsible for this matter, so he was particularly concerned.

"I'll prepare the money, and we'll deal with whatever comes our way tomorrow," Tao Wanniang said. No matter what, she couldn't abandon Xiao Qiao'er. However, she couldn't guarantee whether the person behind this would even have the life to spend the money.

Fifteen hundred taels of silver—she could pull it out without batting an eye. Zhang Liang glanced at Tao Wanniang; she was so devoted to her adopted daughter, truly a woman of deep affection and loyalty!

Ling Dahu, Wang Hongyu, and the others were all present. When they heard Tao Wanniang say 1,500 taels, they were all shocked. This was an amount they never dared to even dream of.

"Master Tao, should we talk to the General?" Gao Su Niang heard from Tao Wan Niang's tone that it seemed she wasn't planning to discuss it with the General's Mansion!

“We’ve been investigating for a whole day and night, and we haven’t found anything. Since we can’t find anything on his end, let’s do it my way!” Tao Wanniang said calmly, suppressing her anger. “I’ll go out and buy some waterproof oilcloth.”

"I'll go!" Zhang Liang said, thinking that Tao Wanniang hadn't slept all night.

"Mother, 1,500 li of silver... can you come up with that?" Ling Dahu asked, frowning.

"What, Qiao'er isn't your own sister, so you're reluctant to part with this money?" Tao Wanniang was already in a bad mood, and having waited all night for news without sleeping, Ling Dahu's words immediately ignited her anger.

"No, no, that's not what I meant..." Ling Dahu became a little nervous after being scolded by Tao Wanniang.

“Mother, I think Da Hu means that if we don’t have enough money, we can pool our resources,” Wang Hongyu immediately interjected.

Tao Wanniang glanced at Wang Hongyu. Although she didn't know if this was their true feeling, it sounded alright to her.

“No need.” Tao Wanniang’s expression softened slightly.

"Big sister, shall we... go to the bank to withdraw the money?" Bai Yumei asked, knowing that the restaurant's accounts were all held in the bank.

“No, the restaurant’s money will be split with Prince Rui’s Mansion at the end of the year, so you don’t need to worry about this,” Tao Wanniang said calmly. “You can go to work at the restaurant as usual and don’t let this affect you.”

"Mother, with such a big incident, I really have no mood to do anything!" Ling Dahu said truthfully. "You didn't tell me yesterday, but Hongyu only told me when we got back. Qiao'er, we're going to be sisters too."

"It's good that you have the intention. What can you do to help anyway?" Tao Wanniang looked unwell. "Alright, now that I have news, I can finally relax. Go do what you need to do. I'm going back to catch up on my sleep."

The others watched in disbelief as Tao Wanniang walked towards the main courtyard.

"Hongyu, can Mother really sleep?" Ling Dahu asked worriedly. "I wonder who would do such a thing to a little girl."

"How can I not sleep? It's good for Mother to rest," Wang Hongyu said with a worried expression.

After returning to her room, Tao Wanniang truly slept. The letter had also stated that once she threw the silver notes into the river, someone would inform her of Xiao Qiao'er's whereabouts. She did have the silver notes, but anyone who took them would have to pay with their life.

After waking up, Tao Wanniang was in much better spirits. She opened the door, and Gao Cuiniang came over.

"Boss, our general has arrived."

"How long have you been here?" Tao Wanniang raised an eyebrow, thinking it couldn't be such a coincidence.

"It's been quite a while; they've been in the front hall, playing with the young master and young lady," Gao Cuiniang replied. "Master, I've told the General about the bandits' demands."

"Oh, it's alright to tell." Tao Wanniang said calmly as she walked towards the living room, and from afar she could hear the two children giggling.

Tao Wan's mother saw Ling Yunzhou taking turns lifting the two children high in the air, making the two children laugh happily.

"Grandma." Ling Rui called out first when he saw Tao Wan's mother coming over.

"Well, take your little sister to play somewhere else. Grandma has something to say to him." Tao Wanniang said, winking at Gao Cuiniang.

Gao Cuiniang immediately coaxed the two children and led them out of the living room.

“I know you’re going to give him the money, but have you thought about what if he doesn’t release him after you pay him?” Ling Yunzhou questioned her directly. “Wan Niang, you’re being too impulsive.”

"Oh, then what do you think I should do?" Tao Wanniang asked in return.

“Yesterday, my men were checking every inn in the capital city one by one…” Ling Yunzhou said.

“How big is the capital? How long would it take you to search every single house?” Tao Wanniang interrupted Ling Yunzhou and asked in return, “Even if you guard the city gates and prevent anyone from leaving, how do you know if the person who kidnapped Xiao Qiao’er has a home in the capital? Are you going to search every single house?”

Ling Yunzhou couldn't answer immediately.

“If this is made public, it will damage Xiao Qiao’er’s reputation,” Ling Yunzhou added. “But I did send people to guard the four city gates, and they will question anyone who takes a girl out of the city.”

"Heh, what if the other party dressed Qiao'er up as a boy? Would you really let them take off their clothes to see?" Tao Wanniang retorted. Finding someone in ancient times was too inconvenient. "Don't worry about this for now. I have my own plans."

"Is your plan to just give them money? I know you can come up with 1,500 taels, but that would be too easy on them. What if you still can't bring Qiao'er back?" Ling Yunzhou said anxiously, seeing Tao Wanniang's stubbornness.

"But what can you do? You can't report it to the authorities or conduct a large-scale search for Qiao'er because of her reputation. If you search the entire capital by your method, it will take at least half a year, if not a year. Can my Qiao'er wait that long?" Tao Wanniang questioned. "Ling Yunzhou, if you really want to help me, then wait for my news!"

"How could I possibly just hand over the money I worked so hard to earn?" Tao Wanniang sneered. "I will save Qiao'er, I will get my money back, and I won't let her go either!"

Ling Yunzhou was shocked by Tao Wanniang's sinister words. Tao Wanniang's appearance was truly frightening to him.

"Wan Niang, don't do anything foolish," Ling Yunzhou warned. "This matter isn't as simple as you think."