Shen Can rushed home, panting heavily, and told everyone the news.
"Did the county yamen do anything to Ah Shu?" Shen Wei was the first to react and asked subconsciously.
His expression was tense, and killing intent flickered in his eyes. He had a plain face, yet it inexplicably made Shen Can's heart skip a beat.
But before she could think further, she heard Shen Tingyi suddenly ask, "How did the Li family get involved with the prefect?"
Shen Can panted and shook her head. "I... I don't know, but from what those two... two yamen runners said, the county magistrate probably can't help either."
Hearing this, everyone's hearts sank.
Finally, Mother Mo broke the silence. "Third Miss, go to the academy and inform the Eldest Young Master and the others. Brother Liu, go to the apothecary to find Doctor Chen for help. I and Aunt Liu will go to the county yamen to see Madam and see how Madam arranges things."
Everyone agreed with this decision.
Mother Mo had sent Mo Lian to the academy even amidst hardship, naturally possessing some foresight and wisdom.
Shen Wei suppressed the killing intent in his eyes. As everyone was preparing to leave, he suddenly spoke, "I'm not going! Ah Shu said I should stay home obediently and not wander around. I want to listen to Ah Shu!"
Ever since he was suspected of playing with feces in the back mountain last time, Li Yue Shu had repeatedly told him not to wander off.
Everyone knew about this, and besides, with such an incident, it was inconvenient to bring the mentally impaired Shen Wei along, so they left him and Wei Ling behind.
After everyone left, Shen Wei pressed Wei Ling's pressure points, rendering him asleep, and secretly sneaked to the back mountain.
...
On the other side, Hong Dai, as the楼主 (lóuzhǔ - head of the tower) of Ming Yue Lou, quickly investigated the matter.
"Prefect?" Hong Dai frowned. "He's even meddling in such trivial matters. It seems he's too idle as a prefect!"
She glanced indifferently at the person behind her. "Go and send something to that prefect. If he's so idle, I don't mind making him busy."
...
While Mother Mo and the others were rushing anxiously, Li Yue Shu lay on the straw mat, unable to sleep.
She wasn't worried about what the Li family might do to her, but rather that they might harm her family.
Her family consisted of the old, weak, women, and children, and the only adult able-bodied man, Shen Wei, was mentally challenged.
At this moment, a yamen runner suddenly came over and knocked on the cell door. "Madam Shen, your family is here to see you."
Li Yue Shu got up and saw that it was Mother Mo, Aunt Liu, and Shen Can.
She couldn't help but be surprised. "Why are you here?"
"Madam, are you alright?" Mother Mo anxiously observed Li Yue Shu. Seeing that she was standing there completely unharmed, her hanging heart finally settled.
Aunt Liu frowned. "Yue Shu, the duty officer said the county magistrate is already finding a way. Do you need us to do anything?"
Li Yue Shu shook her head. "Don't do anything. Just act as you normally would. I have a patient who happens to be the prefect's superior. The county magistrate has already sent a message, so the Li family wouldn't dare do anything to me."
The three looked surprised.
They had never heard Li Yue Shu mention knowing any influential person who could control the prefect, but seeing her so calm and composed, they also felt relieved.
Li Yue Shu comforted the three. "Just pretend nothing happened. Shen Can, go to Qing Feng Guan and hide for a few days. If you hear news of my misfortune, try to distance yourselves from me. The county magistrate will protect you."
"What are you saying!" Aunt Liu glared at her angrily. "Do you think we are that kind of people in your heart?"
Li Yue Shu felt both amused and exasperated. "That's not what I meant. I'm worried that if the message doesn't arrive in time, the Li family might take action."
Chong Zhou was over a thousand kilometers away from Tong Mu County. A round trip even by fast horse would take more than ten days.
Even if Elder Xu acted out of gratitude for saving his life, it would be too late.
She looked at the three seriously. "I might have to break out of prison first, and then reappear after the message arrives."
The words "break out of prison" made Mother Mo and the other two widen their eyes and instinctively look at the jailer beside them.
The jailer was also startled by Li Yue Shu's words and almost choked on his own saliva.
"Cough, cough, cough! You... you chat first, I'll go outside and keep watch."
With that, he hurriedly ran out, afraid he would hear more earth-shattering things.
Even as someone working in the dungeon, he had never seen anyone dare to utter the words "break out of prison" so arrogantly.
This Madam Shen was truly extraordinary!
After this episode, the originally anxious atmosphere in the dungeon significantly dissipated.
Li Yue Shu then gave a few more instructions about household matters, especially about A Yu, who couldn't sleep at night without being held.
...
Meanwhile, the prefect was strolling in the courtyard with his newly acquired concubine, enjoying his life.
At this moment, an arrow grazed his face and shot directly into the ground behind him.
"Ah—"
"Assassin, help! Assassin!"
Amidst the concubine's scream, the prefect directly pushed the person in his arms forward to shield him, shouting as he hid behind the rockery.
Hearing the commotion, the guards quickly rushed in, holding their weapons and looking around vigilantly.
But after a long wait, there was no movement around.
If not for the arrow still stuck in the ground, everyone would have thought the prefect was hallucinating.
One of the bolder guards stepped forward, pulled out the arrow stuck in the ground, found a note tied to it, and handed it to the prefect.
The prefect's face was somewhat grim, and his appearance was disheveled.
But when he saw the content, his face turned even uglier. "Did the steward of the Li family ask me for a stamped order a few days ago to apprehend an escaped servant in Tong Mu County?"
"This is indeed the case," the guard replied respectfully. "I heard that the sister-in-law of that servant is a fierce woman who severely injured the people previously sent, which is why they troubled your honor."
The prefect walked out from behind the rockery, his face full of displeasure. "How can a village woman from the mountains be involved with a martial arts organization like Ming Yue Lou?"
The guard was bewildered and clearly didn't understand his meaning.
The prefect was impatient and didn't explain. "Tell the Li family to recall everyone and don't cause trouble for me!"
He had been an official for so many years, and his hands were not clean. If Ming Yue Lou exposed these matters, his official career would be over.
He wasn't stupid, so he wouldn't risk it for a worthless servant.
Although the guard didn't know why he suddenly gave such an order, he didn't dare to ask further and quickly sent a message.
...
That night.
Although the dungeon had been specially tidied up, it was still not as comfortable as home.
If not for fear of being seen, Li Yue Shu would have entered her space directly.
Li Yue Shu barely slept that night.
The next day, as she was eating breakfast, the jailer suddenly ran in and said her husband had come to see her.
Li Yue Shu was surprised.
Hadn't she told them not to come to find her during this period?
The jailer saw her confusion and sighed. "He came alone. The brothers at the gate said they saw him standing outside at dawn."