They stopped to rest in a small grove of trees about ten miles outside of Shanhai Prefecture. The Ling family members were puzzled by the sudden appearance of this person.

"I also have something to tell you while we rest here!" Tao Wanniang said with a serious expression.

The Ling family members, who had just finished their rest, exchanged bewildered glances. When did this imperial inspector come with them? The officials hadn't wronged them; Mother really had harbored an assassin!

“Our departure from Shanhai Prefecture has nothing to do with Xiao Qiao’er. Which of you has been gossiping about Xiao Qiao’er?” Tao Wan’s mother glanced at her two daughters-in-law and paused intentionally.

“Xiao Qiao’er’s grandmother died saving me, so Xiao Qiao’er is our Ling family’s benefactor. Don’t forget that!” Tao Wan’s mother continued.

"In addition, Xiao Qiao'er's biological father also helped us a lot. It was because of the money given by Xiao Qiao'er's biological father that you were able to live such a good life. Besides, without Xiao Qiao'er's father, would we have been able to get out smoothly?"

Wang Hongyu and Zhou Xiaoyun exchanged a glance. Finally, Zhou Xiaoyun spoke up, "Qiao'er, I'm sorry, I misunderstood you!"

Xiao Qiao nodded, accepting Zhou Xiaoyun's apology. However, she was still feeling down. Her biological father not acknowledging her was a painful hurdle in her heart.

"Furthermore, I must tell you that the Imperial Inspector is indeed hiding in our house."

Tao Wanniang continued, "As people, we must not forget our roots. You must not forget that the Imperial Inspector has helped us several times. As an important official of the court, his responsibility is to inspect various places and see if these officials have broken the law."

"It was because the Imperial Inspector found evidence of the Prefect of Shanhai Prefecture's corruption that he was persecuted. Since we can help him, we should do our part within our capabilities."

Tao Wan's mother spoke with righteous indignation, which inexplicably moved her son and daughter-in-law, especially the Ling brothers.

"Mother, why did you lie to us? If it's a righteous act, we should do our part," Ling Dahu said, puzzled.

"Ha!" Tao Wanniang scoffed without any politeness.

"Do you think the two of you can keep things a secret?" Tao Wanniang retorted. "If you knew, wouldn't you lose your appetite every day, sighing and complaining? If the authorities came to your door and tried to extort a few questions, wouldn't you spill everything?"

"I kept it from you because I knew you were inexperienced and timid, especially the two of you!" Tao Wanniang then looked at her two daughters-in-law. "Life in Shanhai Prefecture has already made you feel like you've reached the pinnacle of life, hasn't it? You don't want to move on, so you have many complaints about leaving there, don't you?"

"I'm telling you, this time, we're going to the capital!"

"Mother, are we escorting the master to the capital?" Ling Dapeng asked with great interest, his blood boiling from Tao Wan's mother's words.

Tao Wanniang looked at Xiao Yi. To put it bluntly, she didn't want to take on the task of escorting the young master to the capital.

"I need to go to the capital to report back. After I meet up with Cheng Feng and Lin Da, I will leave first. You can take your time," Xiao Yi said.

That would be perfect, Tao Wanniang said with a kind smile.

"Then I hope that Lord Cheng and the others can find you soon."

Xiao Yi understood Tao Wanniang's meaning, so he just smiled and remained silent.

"To prevent the people from Shanhai Prefecture from catching up, we need to rest for a bit before continuing our journey," Tao Wanniang said again. "Everyone, stop dawdling, eat and drink as you please."

Realizing the seriousness of the situation, the Ling family members didn't dare to dawdle and immediately began to fill their stomachs.

They set off again, traveling under the stars and moon, until the horses refused to go any further, at which point they rested in the nearby woods.

Compared to their previous escape from famine, this time was much easier. The group sat down around the campfire, the children slept in the carriage, and the adults rested against the tree trunks.

Half asleep, Tao Wanniang suddenly heard footsteps and woke up with a start, just in time to see two figures walking towards her with firelight.

"Wake up, someone's here!" Tao Wanniang quickly woke up Xiao Yi, who was standing to the side.

"You'd better find somewhere to hide quickly, in case they're from the Mountain and Sea Prefecture..."

Before he could finish speaking, the two figures had already pushed aside the bushes and emerged.

"My lord!" Who else could it be but Cheng Feng and Lin Da?

"You've finally arrived," Xiao Yi said. "I've been waiting for you for a long time."

"My lord, are you alright?" Cheng Feng asked worriedly. "I was being chased by the Shan Hai Prefecture officials and got separated from Lin Da. I couldn't find any trace of you in the city, so I had no way to look for you. Today, I saw your signal arrow and chased after it all the way here. I finally found you!"

"Have you been in Shanhai Prefecture all this time?" Tao Wanniang asked tentatively.

"Yes, without any trace of adults, we dare not leave the city rashly," Cheng Feng replied.

"Then why didn't you come to my house to look for me?" Tao Wanniang retorted. "Didn't you ever think that I would save your adults?"

Cheng Feng was stumped by the question. He really hadn't thought of that. Although Tao Wanniang's wontons were quite delicious, what could a village woman do? He'd heard that the government officials had searched the house twice, and he figured if the young master had been taken in, he would have been found by now. Since the government hadn't found him, then he was out of there!

"Enough of that, Cheng Feng, Lin Da, let's go back to Beijing immediately!" Xiao Yi said solemnly. "Do you still have all those things?"

"Reporting to Your Excellency, I have been keeping secret the accounts of Zhang Shicheng's collusion with local gentry in reselling the imperial government's disaster relief grain. I have successfully completed my mission!"

Cheng Feng replied solemnly, "My lord, you may return to the capital at any time!"

“Alright, let’s go back then. But the poison in my body from that day hasn’t been cleared yet, so I need a carriage,” Xiao Yi said, glancing at Tao Wanniang as he spoke.

"What...what do you mean? You want to requisition this carriage?" Tao Wanniang's heart sank. She had been thinking that the journey to the capital would be comfortable, but now that the young master had spoken, what were they going to do?

“I will give you everything I promised you before. Also, how much is this carriage?” Xiao Yi asked.

The carriage was free, arranged by Liang Laifu, so Tao Wanniang was conflicted. Did the young master mean that she had to pay for it?

"Here's two hundred taels, give me this carriage!" Xiao Yi said directly, and then had Cheng Feng pay him.

"Alright then, wait a moment, I'll have someone bring the children down!" Tao Wan's mother thought it wasn't a bad idea. Wasn't there a cargo truck? If all else failed, she could buy a carriage in the next town; she had money anyway.

Tao Wan's mother woke up her two sons, but they were all sleeping soundly and didn't wake up.

Upon hearing that the carriage was to be sold to the Imperial Inspector, the Ling brothers had no objections and immediately went to take the children down.

Tao Wan's mother held the drowsy little Qiao'er in her arms. Compared to her own grandchildren, little Qiao'er was already a big kid. Now that she had been woken up, she couldn't fall back asleep for a while.

Xiao Yi and the others left quickly, while Tao Wanniang let Xiao Qiao'er lean against her and continue sleeping.

Just an incense stick's time after Xiao Yi and his group drove away in their carriage, Li Jianghai arrived in pursuit. However, upon seeing the tire tracks of the carriage on the official road, he led his men directly after it without venturing into the nearby woods to examine the area closely.