Li Yue Shu was slightly taken aback.
The prefect had stamped his official seal, instructing the Li family to trouble her, and then wrote a letter asking them to leave. Wasn't that a contradiction?
Li Yue Shu frowned and asked doubtfully, "Does Sir know why the prefect suddenly wrote a letter recalling the Li family?"
The county magistrate thought for a moment and said, "It should be because I received a reply from Elder Xu's letter. If both ends used fast horses on official roads, they should be able to reach the prefect's yamen from Zhongzhou in time."
Hearing this, Shen Wei raised an eyebrow slightly.
Imperial Tutor Xu would absolutely not send a letter by fast horse on an official road to save someone.
He had helped her erase her traces in Tongmu County earlier, which was helping him conceal his identity.
If they used fast horses on official roads, those people in Zhongzhou would definitely investigate, and they would definitely find him.
So the real reason should be the arrangements he had made with Chai Yang.
Li Yue Shu, however, was unaware of these details.
She bowed politely to the county magistrate, "Thank you for your righteous assistance, Sir. However, even if the prefect did not intervene, the Li family would certainly not let this matter rest."
Li Yue Shu smiled faintly, "If they come looking for trouble again, please protect my family, Sir, and blame everything on me, saying that I injured a yamen runner and fled."
The one who tied the bell must untie it.
To completely resolve this matter, she had to take Shen Can to the Li family.
However, during this time, the Li family would definitely retaliate against her family, and she had to ensure their safety first.
But others did not know her intentions and thought she had given up all hope.
"How can this be!" the county magistrate immediately objected, "If you do that, you'll never be able to clear your name as a fugitive!"
Li Yue Shu was stunned. Recalling the county magistrate's ready-to-risk-it-all demeanor just now, she felt touched.
She knew the county magistrate valued her medical skills, but she hadn't expected him to still choose to help her in such a situation.
Li Yue Shu comforted him, "Don't worry, Sir. I know what I'm doing."
The county magistrate became anxious, "Madam Shen, I know you are a person with your own ideas, but this matter is of great importance!"
He was truly unwilling for Li Yue Shu to live her life bearing the name of a fugitive, burying her miraculous medical skills.
"Once you become an imperial fugitive, you will have no place to stay not only in Chennan Kingdom but in the entire world!" the county magistrate persuaded her earnestly, "Are you... are you willing to abandon these children?"
The last sentence seemed to ignite something.
"Yue Shu, where are you going?"
"Madam, we'll all follow you!"
"A Shu..."
Li Yue Shu was stunned. She hadn't expected such a strong reaction from everyone, and her eyes felt a little sore.
Shen Zhi Yu seemed to understand something immediately. He ran over and hugged her leg, "Mom, don't go. You promised you wouldn't abandon A Yu."
Looking at the little one clinging to her leg, Li Yue Shu's heart softened immensely.
She had only intended to leave for a while, but seeing everyone's reaction, she still felt a pang of reluctance.
"A Yu, be good. Mom is only leaving temporarily. When things are over, I'll come back for you." Li Yue Shu squatted down, "A Yu, listen to your older brothers and sisters at home, okay?"
"No!" Shen Zhi Yu shook his head, his voice breaking into sobs, "Mom promised not to leave A Yu, not to become like before. Mom broke her promise, Mom is a liar! Wuwuwu..."
Seeing his tear-streaked face, Li Yue Shu felt a pang of heartache and quickly hugged him to comfort him, "A Yu, be good, don't cry, don't cry. It's Mom's fault. Don't cry anymore..."
Shen Wei watched this scene with a deep gaze, his hand by his side clenching unconsciously.
For a moment, he wanted to step forward and tell Li Yue Shu that even if the prefect and the Li family came looking for them, he could protect them.
But his reason stopped him.
The county magistrate sensed the sadness in the atmosphere and suddenly regretted it.
He had only intended to use the children to change Li Yue Shu's mind about leaving, but he hadn't expected such a strong reaction from everyone. He felt flustered.
When Li Yue Shu looked up, she happened to see the county magistrate's helpless expression and felt a little exasperated.
Just as she was about to explain, Shen Ting Yi, who had been standing at the back, finally couldn't help but speak, "Are you really leaving?"
She clasped her hands tightly together, looking at Li Yue Shu with a nervous expression, "A prefect... can you not leave?"
She clearly had more to say, but Li Yue Shu had never seen her like this and was a little stunned, thus failing to notice.
And her dazed look was interpreted by Shen Ting Yi as unwillingness.
Shen Ting Yi suddenly panicked and rushed over to grab her sleeve, her voice tinged with anxious sobs, "Don't leave us, okay? We'll be good. Don't leave us, Mom..."
The last word, spoken with a hint of caution, struck Li Yue Shu's heart like a hammer.
"You... what did you just call me?"
Shen Ting Yi's ears turned red, and her hands trembled slightly, but she still held Li Yue Shu's sleeve tightly and called out, "Mom."
At this moment, Li Yue Shu felt as if something had gripped her heart, and her eyes welled up with tears.
She had always thought that compared to A Wen, the little fox, A Yi, the bold and ruthless girl, would be harder to win over.
But she hadn't expected her to change her address first.
Li Yue Shu felt a wave of tenderness, gently stroked Shen Ting Yi's head, and her whole demeanor softened.
"Mom will not abandon you. You are Mom's treasures. Wherever you are, Mom will be there."
At some point, she had already regarded the four children as her own. As for Old Man Liu and his wife, Mo Lian and his son, Shen Tan and the seven others, as well as Shen Wei and Wei Ling, she had already considered them family.
In this strange world, she had unknowingly found a sense of belonging, a home.
She had lived two lives, and only with her best friend had she felt this way.
At that moment, Li Yue Shu missed her best friend terribly.
...
Whether it was her words that touched Shen Ting Yi, or the stone that had been hanging over her heart finally fell, Shen Ting Yi's tears began to flow uncontrollably.
She hugged Li Yue Shu tightly, as if seeking a sliver of strength from her.
If her mother had been this determined to stay with her and her brother back then, would they not have had to live in hiding like this?
Perhaps due to the telepathy between twins, Shen Ting Wen almost instantly guessed his sister's thoughts.
His eyes also reddened slightly, and he unconsciously turned his head away.
Shen Yi Min noticed his reaction, gently patted his shoulder, and comforted him in silence.
The county magistrate vaguely felt that this family was strange, but seeing that Li Yue Shu was finally willing to stay, he breathed a sigh of relief.
However, he then thought of the words the Li family members had said as they left, and his brow furrowed with worry.
Just then, the sound of loud horse hooves approached.
Everyone turned to look, and saw several men riding horses at a rapid pace, with a person tied up with clothes on their backs.
Those who were tied up were the people from the Li family who had just left.
Upon recognizing the person walking at the forefront, the county magistrate was shocked and quickly stepped forward, "Prefect, why are you here?"