She made a quick decision, "Brother, you and your fourth aunt take Cousin Tiankuang and the others back to Sanyang Village first. I and..."
However, Jiang Youchen said, "I had an appointment with the troupe leader yesterday, so I'm afraid I'll have to go back a little later today. Fourth Aunt, please take your cousins back first."
Xiao Youran nodded, then looked at the Princess and Wen Yuanbai questioningly, "I would like to go with Sister Yueyue to see those poor abducted girls. After all, we are in the same boat. Is that alright?"
Wen Yuanbai pondered for a moment, then said, "I'll go with you."
He looked at the eldest princess and said, "Aunt, you go first. Steward Zhang will take care of you. I will go to the county government with them. Once I have definite news, I will come back and tell you."
He then instructed Doctor Gu, "I would like to trouble Doctor Gu to return to the estate and treat my aunt."
He turned his head and looked one last time at the monk Wuwang, who had finished his snacks and was slowly drinking tea. "I trouble you, Master, to escort my aunt for a while."
Only then did the eldest princess notice Wuwang's presence. "Huh? Master Wuwang is here too."
The monk Wuwang stood up, walked slowly to the princess, raised one hand, and said slowly, "Female benefactor, this humble monk greets you."
After saying that, a smile slowly appeared on his face.
Coupled with his long white robe, at that moment, his handsome face seemed to bloom like a flower, capable of captivating a nation.
No one could imagine how he had wolfed down his food just fifteen minutes earlier.
Doctor Gu stared in astonishment at Monk Wuwang, and moved his lips, "You old monk!"
Wu Wang glanced at him sideways, then turned and bowed slightly to Doctor Gu, his voice warmer and gentler than ever before, “The Buddha said—one should not speak ill of others or be two-faced. Doctor Gu, please be careful with your words.”
Doctor Gu glared at him: ...
The rest of his words got stuck in his throat, and he couldn't utter a single one.
Jiang Youchen also looked at his master in astonishment. When had the monk Wuwang ever been so reserved and polite?
Xiao Youran glanced at Senior Brother Yuan Bai's calm gaze, then at Master Wu Wang's pretentious act, and finally at the Princess's suppressed laughter, as if she understood something.
The eldest princess had no objection to this, so the group split into several groups. Monk Wuwang followed behind the eldest princess with his head bowed, leaving Doctor Gu and the others dumbfounded.
Here, Wen Yuanbai, accompanied by two young maids, followed Sun Chengyuan's carriage to the county government office.
In a small, secluded courtyard next to the county government office, the group indeed found the girls huddled together.
They were all little girls, aged five or six to seven or eight, and they looked like they had just eaten.
An old woman came over and explained, "They've been terrified since last night and refuse to believe that they've been rescued by the government. They've eaten some food, but they're probably starving. They refuse to wash up, fearing it's another scam. Lord Sun has already sent urgent reports to all the surrounding counties, and it will probably take some time for their relatives to find them."
Sun Chengyuan nodded. "What about those two little girls from this county?"
The old woman replied, "Their family members just took them away, but the remaining girls don't believe those people are their family. They all think they've been sold, and they're all terrified."
Xiao Youran asked, "None of these people are from this county?"
Sun Chengyuan said, "The two families in this county who went missing last night have already come to report the case. These should all be from neighboring counties. My father has already sent someone to inform the prefectural government."
Xiao Youran glanced around and saw that the girls, some as old as eight or nine and others as young as four or five, were all huddled together.
Her eyes darted around, and she said to Wen Yuanbai, "Senior Brother Dabai, why don't we let them stay at the manor first? The Divine Physician Father's herb garden needs manpower to manage the herbs, perhaps they can lend a hand."
Upon hearing this, the girls' faces immediately showed expressions of terror.
Wen Yuanbai remained noncommittal.
Yueyue walked towards one of the older girls and asked curiously, "What are you all afraid of?"
The girl shrank back. "What...what are you going to do with us?"
Yueyue asked curiously, "You Ran already said it! Go help out in the herb garden!"
The girl shook her head frantically, "No, we don't believe you! You're all bad people! I want to go home... Waaah..."
Yueyue said softly, "Don't be afraid, she and I..."
She pointed at Xiao Youran, "We were also captured by them last night and sold to a pleasure boat. We escaped at the cost of our lives, which is how the authorities exposed this thieving monk's true colors. You really don't need to be afraid."
The girls remained wary.
Wen Yuanbai glanced at them and said gently, "Very well, take them all with you."
Sun Chengyuan stepped forward and said, "Hey, they are all hostages who have just been rescued. How can you just take them away like that? Besides, judging from their appearance, they don't want to go with you."
Although he agreed with Xiao Youran's words, he felt uncomfortable all over whenever Wen Yuanbai spoke.
He had also heard of this young master Wen; he was so mysterious, and he just couldn't stand him.
Wen Yuanbai glanced at him indifferently, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, "If they are unwilling, then so be it. Let the government settle them first."
Xiao Youran, however, was preoccupied with her luck points. She glanced around; there were about twenty people here, and her luck points were currently at 81. The gratitude of these girls would allow her luck points to break through 100. Last time, breaking 30 triggered an automatic detection function; this time, breaking 100 should bring some kind of upgrade, right?
Thinking this through, she had an idea. "If you're unwilling, I won't force you. How about... I'll have you send a letter home so your family can come and pick you up? Would you be willing?"
Several of the older girls showed unusual expressions.
The girl who had spoken earlier questioned again, "You're not trying to find out our home address, are you? Are you planning to harm our family?"
Xiao Youran was almost laughing in anger. "Is your family very rich or powerful? You must have been kidnapped while out shopping during the New Year season, right? To be kidnapped, your maids and servants must not have been keeping a close watch on you, or perhaps you didn't have any maids or servants with you at all. Your clothes may be dirty, but they don't look like expensive fabrics. How much wealth do you have that we're eyeing? Look at the fabric of my sister's clothes, and what about mine?"
The few girls who were a little more sensible looked at each other and lowered their heads, not daring to say a word.
Xiao Youran frowned, realizing the problem lay in the fact that the girl in the lead had been stirring things up, causing the other girls to have doubts.
She said to Sun Chengyuan, "Brother Sun, could you take them to the front yard of the government office? So they'll know that this is indeed the government office and that we're not bad people."
Sun Chengyuan naturally agreed.
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