Li Yue Shu personally prepared a lot of delicious food and packed it into a food box. She then took Shen Yi Min, Mo Lian, and Li Hu to ride in an ox cart.
As for Shen Wei, he found an excuse of feeling unwell and stayed at home.
Although Li Yue Shu did not see what illness he had, she did not suspect anything. She just told him to sleep at home for a while and to check on him when she returned.
The reason Shen Wei stayed behind was because he had heard a message from Chai Yang Xing He.
He found an opportunity to sneak out of the house and went to the remote back mountain.
"Greetings, Master!" Chai Yang Xing He knelt respectfully and bowed.
Shen Wei stood with his hands behind his back, his tall and cold demeanor clashing with the surrounding environment. "What is the situation in Chongzhou?"
"Reporting to Master, the news of your survival has spread. Those who were previously restless about the military forces have all quieted down. However, they are secretly searching for your whereabouts, and some have already started investigating towards Tong Mu County..."
Chai Yang reported the situation one by one, not missing any details. "Regarding the news of Li Yue Shu, there is still no reply from Chi Yun Lou."
Upon mentioning Li Yue Shu, Shen Wei's expression changed, and he subconsciously thought of the scene he had glimpsed that day.
For some reason, he instinctively chose not to mention this matter. "Continue investigating. What about the item I want?"
Hearing this, Xing He, who was beside him, took out a small box from his embrace, opened it, and respectfully handed it over.
Inside the box was only a neatly folded, flesh-colored object.
Shen Wei raised his hand to his neck and felt it. He then tore off the human skin mask that had been stuck to his face.
This human skin mask had been worn for quite some time. If he continued to wear it, it would likely reveal a flaw soon.
Beneath the mask was a face exquisitely carved by heaven.
His stern cheekbones, high nose bridge, and those beautiful, slightly downward-sloping phoenix eyes made him look like a deity descended to the mortal realm, noble and inviolable.
The next moment, his bony hand reached into the box, took out another human skin mask, and put it on. He instantly returned to Shen Wei's ordinary-looking face.
...
Meanwhile, Li Yue Shu, with the three children, arrived at the county yamen's dungeon and went to see Zhang Lao San first.
Seeing that she had brought three children today, Zhang Lao San raised an eyebrow. "I thought you would no longer come after getting what you wanted."
Even though he said that, his body moved honestly towards the table, looking as if he was ready to feast at any moment.
Li Yue Shu replied directly, "I came to check in case you suddenly went back on your word."
Mo Lian cupped his hands and bowed to Zhang Lao San, respectfully opening the food box and serving the dishes.
Zhang Lao San was not polite. He picked up his chopsticks and started eating.
After a few bites, his eyes lit up. "Did you change hotels? The dishes today taste really good!"
Li Yue Shu smiled. "I cooked this myself."
Zhang Lao San was a bit surprised and couldn't help but wonder what this young madam couldn't do.
He did not spare his praise. "If you opened a restaurant with this cooking skill, the business would definitely be good!"
Li Yue Shu was naturally happy to be praised, but she was too busy with the pharmacy and had no intention of opening a restaurant.
After delivering the meal to Zhang Lao San, she took the three children to Wei Niang's cell.
Hearing the commotion, Wei Niang, who had been resting, turned her head.
When she saw the figures of several people, the curiosity on her face turned into surprise.
"Ling'er?!"
Wei Niang immediately saw Li Hu next to her.
It was the first time she had seen her daughter wearing such fine clothes and looking so clean. She almost didn't recognize her.
"Mother!"
Li Hu clearly recognized her mother. He immediately ran out from behind Li Yue Shu and threw himself into Wei Niang's arms.
"Ling'er, it really is you! My good daughter... my Ling'er..."
Wei Niang's eyes instantly reddened, and her voice was choked with tears.
Li Yue Shu took out another food box. The food in this box was several times more than that for Zhang Lao San.
This portion was for them to eat together with Wei Niang.
When Wei Niang had recovered, she wiped away her tears and looked at Li Yue Shu. "Madam Shen, this is..."
She clearly didn't understand the current situation and pulled her daughter over.
Li Yue Shu looked at her with a gentle smile. "I plan to raise your daughter personally. I wanted to ask for your opinion."
Wei Niang was stunned and didn't understand what she meant.
Li Yue Shu stood up, pulled her to sit at the table, and explained, "Your daughter was chosen by someone from Chongzhou before, wasn't she? But I got her back and plan to raise her myself. Would Wei Niang be willing?"
Wei Niang nodded without hesitation. "Of course, I am willing. It is Ling'er's good fortune to be adopted by Madam Shen."
Although she had only met Li Yue Shu three times, she believed in her kindness and felt much more at ease leaving Ling'er with her than with a stranger she had never met.
Therefore, she didn't ask Li Yue Shu the reason for doing this. After all, they, mother and daughter, had nothing to gain. If Li Yue Shu wanted to do anything to Ling'er, there was no need for her to make this trip today.
Li Yue Shu had already prepared her speech, but she didn't expect Wei Niang to agree so easily. This caught her off guard, but it also saved her trouble.
Li Yue Shu directly sat beside Wei Niang, with Shen Yi Min on her other side.
"Actually, it's not quite an adoption. I plan to go to the county yamen this afternoon and register the child under your name. From now on, she will take your surname and be called Wei Ling."
After all, she was Amin's future wife. If she were registered under her name and adopted, wouldn't the two of them become nominal siblings!
Wei Niang was stunned.
She looked at her daughter who was leaning on her, then nodded, her eyes slightly reddening. "Alright, I will listen to Madam Shen."
Li Yue Shu smiled knowingly, knowing that her first step was completed. "Don't worry, Wei Niang. I will treat Ling'er as my own daughter and will definitely find her a family that will never bully her in the future."
Marrying Amin, she would absolutely not be bullied!
Wei Niang didn't know the last sentence Li Yue Shu had added in her mind. She nodded with a smile, her eyes full of gratitude.
Li Yue Shu patted her hand. "This is something to celebrate. Let's have a good celebration. Wei Niang, try my cooking!"
Although they were in the dungeon environment, everyone at the table ate happily.
Mo Lian was simply there to make up the numbers. Shen Yi Min, however, was occasionally instructed by Li Yue Shu to help Wei Niang with food or to talk about what he had learned in school.
As intelligent as Shen Yi Min was, he naturally sensed her strange behavior. However, he couldn't figure out why and could only obey for now, doing whatever he was told.
After the meal was finally over, Li Yue Shu stayed a little longer, allowing Wei Niang and her daughter more time to interact.
When they left, Wei Niang's face was tear-streaked, and she was very reluctant to part. Li Hu, who should now be called Wei Ling, also held onto her tightly, unwilling to let go.
Seeing this, Li Yue Shu could only promise to bring Wei Ling to see her every day from now on.
Wei Niang knew that her time was short, and this "every day" would probably not last long.
Wei Ling, not understanding anything, was soon coaxed away by Li Yue Shu.
After leaving the dungeon, Shen Yi Min turned directly to Li Yue Shu and asked, "What did you mean by bringing me here today?"