Two years ago, after her older brother had an accident, her mother repeatedly demanded money from her, which caused her to have a premature birth and almost die.
But they are ultimately my only family in this world.
As mother and daughter, now that they are gone, she should buy them a coffin and give them a proper burial to show her filial piety.
Yu Qiutao raised her head, tears welling in her eyes, her throat choked with emotion.
"Young Miss, I..."
Yu Xunmei weighed her head on her hands, her eyes slightly narrowed, and a faint, cold smile on her face as she looked at her.
Tsk tsk, they really have forgotten the pain once the wound has healed.
"Butler, send a few people to help her, and tell her to go and come back as soon as possible."
The steward replied respectfully, "Yes, sir."
Ignoring the pain in her knees, Yu Qiutao knelt down on the cold ground and kowtowed deeply to Yu Xunmei. She knew she had disappointed the young lady.
"Thank you, Miss!"
The housekeeper led the way out, and Yu Qiutao quickly stood up and followed.
Before Yun Er could finish clearing out the scattered bandits in the city, Yun Shiyi successfully recaptured the granary, and Yun Zhenchuan had already sent people to take over the inventory.
Yun Mo frowned as he looked at the map in his hand. Nanzhou Prefecture was a large city with four gates in the east, west, south, and north. Several hours had passed, and he still didn't know which direction Morey had fled in.
However, at that moment, Yun Qi rode up on a fast horse.
"Master, we've found a clue. At the end of the Yin hour, Morey led less than ten thousand men out of the city through the north gate and headed towards Pingdu and Linjiang counties."
Morey is a treacherous and cunning man, and he has so many men under his command. If he escapes, he will surely make a comeback in the future.
He cannot allow such a hidden danger to be planted in Longtan.
Thinking of this, Yun Mo said with a solemn expression, "Yun Qi, Eleven, each of you select a thousand elite soldiers and come with me to kill Morey."
"Yes, I will take care of it right away."
The two accepted the order and left.
The secret guards were very efficient, and Yun Mo quickly led a thousand elite troops out of the north gate.
After traveling ten miles outside the city, they happened to meet the Yu family's carriage returning to the city.
Hearing the horse neigh, Yu Qiutao was so frightened that she clung tightly to the carriage.
"What's happening outside?" she asked the driver through the carriage curtain.
"Aunt Tao, we encountered a group of soldiers leaving the city."
"Soldiers? Then let's take cover."
As if remembering something, Yu Qiutao lifted the carriage curtain and immediately saw the handsome man sitting on horseback in front of her.
It's him!
"Stop right now, I want to get off."
The maid helped her out of the carriage.
As the saying goes, "To look good, one must be three parts filial piety."
Yu Qiutao was dressed in plain white mourning clothes, her face was unmade-up, and her figure was plump and slender after giving birth.
She walked gracefully to Yun Mo like a willow branch, bowed, and said with a pitiful expression, "Young Master Yun, could you please pass on a message to my two younger sisters?"
Yun Mo frowned and stared at her coldly.
Seeing that he didn't speak, Yu Qiutao assumed he had agreed, so she said, "My mother and elder brother died tragically at the hands of bandits. If my two younger sisters have time, I would like them to come and offer incense to my mother and elder brother."
After she finished speaking, she looked at him expectantly.
Yun Mo glanced at her, flicked his whip, and the horse reared up, about to trample Yu Qiutao.
Startled, Yu Qiutao and her maid quickly moved aside, and the horse galloped away.
The soldiers behind her hurriedly followed, bringing with them a sharp, cold wind that made Yu Qiutao shiver. She clenched the handkerchief in her hand, gritting her teeth in hatred.
Longtan
Lin Yinan received Yun Mo's message ten days later.
Yun Mo led a thousand elite troops in pursuit of Morey. The two sides fought two major battles in Pingdu County and Linjiang County, reducing Morey's tens of thousands of troops to less than a thousand.
Unfortunately, Morey, despite being seriously injured, escaped once again.
Yu Qiutao did not give up after returning home. She asked someone to deliver a letter to the Lin sisters, informing them of Yu Suqin and Lin Zhaohui's situation.
Their mother and elder brother never treated them well during their lifetimes, regarding them only as burdens and servants.
The two sisters did not go to Nanzhou Prefecture to pay their respects, but instead kowtowed three times in the direction of Nanzhou Prefecture, as a way of repaying Yu Suqin's kindness in giving birth to and raising them.
As the year draws to a close, Lin Yinan is busy distributing New Year's gifts and rewards to everyone.
In this battle to kill the bandits in Nanzhou Prefecture, thanks to the soldiers' hard training and Yun Mo's proper command, only nine soldiers were killed, more than twenty were seriously wounded, and over a hundred were slightly wounded.
The families of the fallen soldiers should receive generous compensation.
Next year, Lin Yinan is considering arranging suitable jobs for the families of the fallen soldiers so that their families can have sufficient livelihood support.
The Nanzhou Prefecture was nearly massacred by bandits, which also scattered the refugees heading south.
After a difficult long journey, they would often appear in groups of three or five in remote villages to rob villagers of their grain. They would run away after taking the grain, causing the villagers great suffering.
The villagers had no choice but to unite and form a security team to patrol the village day and night, prohibiting outsiders from entering.
Lin Yinan listened to the reports coming up from below and fell into deep thought.
As the saying goes, "You can only be a thief for a thousand days, but you can't guard against thieves for a thousand days."
"The New Year is just around the corner. If these malignant tumors are not completely eradicated, the people will always live in fear."
Yunye also realized the seriousness of the matter. "Sister-in-law, I will take stock of the troops right away. We must ensure that the people can have a peaceful New Year."
"Then I'll have to trouble you, Second Brother."
"There's no need for formalities among family members."
With Yunye around, Lin Yinan figured those refugees wouldn't be able to cause any trouble.
On the day of the Little New Year, Longtan County was unaffected by Nanzhou Prefecture, and the people who had been busy all year went to the county town to buy New Year's goods.
For a time, Longtan County was bustling with people.
On the same day, Yunye tied up the robbers and refugees he had captured in various villages and displayed them at the city gate. The people had already thrown rotten vegetable leaves and rotten eggs at them.
"It was them who stole my five chickens!"
“They also stole our cow. Luckily, the officials got it back for us, otherwise we don’t know how we would have survived.”
"Half an acre of radishes in my field were stolen!"
"These lazy, good-for-nothing bastards, beat them to death!"
"..."
The days of vagrants roaming and looting have finally come to an end, and the people can finally have a good New Year.
After the county government finishes its last day of work, it will be sealed off and closed for the Spring Festival holiday. It will not reopen until the 20th day of the first lunar month.
Lin Yinan was making up the last account when Qianwu peeked in from outside the door.
"Madam, Young Master Yunyu has returned."
She put down her pen, rubbed her aching neck, and said, "Quickly, invite him in."
Yunyu brought someone back with her this time, namely Liu Sisi.
"Miss Liu, you must be tired from your journey."
Lin Yinan warmly pulled Liu Sisi to sit down, looking her up and down at the girl Yun Sixin had mentioned many times.
Qianwu served tea at the right time.
"The road to Longtan is flat and wide, and the carriage ride is not bumpy." Liu Sisi held her tea, took a sip, and lowered her head shyly.
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