I started out with seven husbands, and I worked hard to support my family while crying.

Chapter 396: Hurry up and tell me, stop dawdling!

Fang Xiaoxiao glared at him fiercely, inwardly cursing him for being so secretive, but she still suppressed her anger, got up and poured him a cup of tea, saying irritably, "Here you go, drink it!"

Pei Yan took the teacup, took a small sip, and a satisfied expression appeared on his face.

Fang Xiao was extremely anxious and couldn't help but urge, "Hurry up and tell me, stop dawdling!"

Pei Yan then put down his teacup and said seriously, "I have discovered that Qingfeng Village not only colluded with the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, but also had intricate connections with the Minister of Rites."

Fang Xiaoxiao's eyes widened in shock, her delicate brows furrowed, and she exclaimed, "Minister of Rites? How is that possible!"

Pei Yan nodded slightly and continued, "As you know, the Minister of Rites is in charge of all the policies and decrees concerning rites, sacrifices, banquets, and the imperial examinations; under him are four departments: the Department of Ceremonies, the Department of Sacrifices, the Department of Guests, and the Department of Fine Food; and he also oversees the affiliated departments such as the Bureau of Seals, the Department of Courtesans, and the Department of Music. The Minister of Rites mainly makes a lot of money through the Department of Music."

Fang Xiao rested her chin on her hand, lost in thought. After a moment, she looked up, her eyes filled with doubt, and said, "Then tell me, do you think they want to use the Jiaofangsi (a government-run entertainment institution) to do something illegal?"

At this moment, there was a slight noise suddenly coming from outside the window.

Pei Yan listened intently, his brows furrowed, his eyes filled with vigilance. Fang Xiaoxiao, on the other hand, nervously looked out the window, her hands unconsciously clenching the hem of her clothes.

Just then, a figure suddenly leaped into the window—it was Long Jinyan, whom she hadn't seen in a long time. Fang Xiaoxiao's eyes widened in surprise when she saw him. Long Jinyan was disheveled, his clothes were covered in filth, and he looked utterly disheveled and miserable.

The moment Long Jinyan saw the teacup in Pei Yan's hand, his eyes lit up. Without thinking twice, he snatched it and gulped it down. Pei Yan was stunned by his sudden action, his face full of helplessness and disgust. He exclaimed, "Long Jinyan, what are you doing!"

Long Jinyan gulped down the tea in his cup, but still felt it wasn't enough. He reached for the teapot and gulped it down, saying, "Oh, I'm so thirsty!"

Fang Xiaoxiao stepped forward, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, and stared at him, asking, "Long Jinyan, where have you been all this time?"

Long Jinyan's eyes darted around, he scratched his head, and stammered for a long time before finally saying, "I...I went back to my hometown to pay respects to my ancestors."

Fang Xiao rolled her eyes at him and said irritably, "Go ahead and make it up. I know you too well."

Long Jinyan chuckled awkwardly and said, "Hehe, Xiao Xiao really knows me."

Pei Yan interjected, "Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. The commotion outside is not good."

Fang Xiaoxiao chimed in, "Yes, Long Jinyan, you just got back. Do you know what's going on outside?"

Long Jinyan shook his head and said, "I don't know either. I just arrived and this happened."

Long Jinyan looked hurried and said loudly, "I encountered a group of bald monks on the road who kidnapped a woman who looked very rich."

Upon hearing this, Fang Xiaoxiao frowned, her beautiful eyes filled with anxiety, and she quickly asked, "What happened next? What happened after that?"

Long Jinyan puffed out his chest and said proudly, "Of course I was just trying to help when I saw injustice and saved the person."

Fang Xiaoxiao then asked, "Where is this person now?"

Long Jinyan shook his head helplessly, sighed and said, "There are too many bald monks chasing us. To ensure her safety, I have no choice but to separate from her."

Fang Xiaoxiao looked suspicious and asked anxiously, "Long Jinyan, did that rich woman wear the same gold hairpin as me?" As she spoke, she reached out and took the gold hairpin off her hair and handed it to Long Jinyan.

Long Jinyan took the gold hairpin and examined it carefully for a long time before nodding and saying, "That's right, it's exactly the same."

Fang Xiaoxiao's heart sank suddenly, her face turned ashen, and her lips trembled slightly as she said, "Oh no, this is terrible."

Long Jinyan looked bewildered and asked, puzzled, "What? Is there a problem?"

Fang Xiaoxiao stamped her foot anxiously and said, "That rich woman is Princess Li Wan'er!"

Upon hearing this, Long Jinyan's eyes widened in shock, his mouth gaped open, and he stammered, "Princess...Princess?"

Fang Xiaoxiao asked anxiously, "Where is she right now?"

Long Jinyan patted his stomach and stammered, "I should... I should be at Lingxi Pavilion by now."

Fang Xiaoxiao looked hurried and grabbed Pei Yan, rushing out. Long Jinyan followed closely behind.

Upon arriving at the entrance of Lingxi Pavilion, they saw Princess Li Wan'er, disheveled and filthy, dressed in tattered clothes, squatting pitifully beside the stone lion like a beggar on the street.

When Fang Xiaoxiao saw Li Wan'er's appearance, her heart clenched, and she quickened her pace, rushing to Li Wan'er's side like the wind.

Hearing Fang Xiaoxiao's hurried footsteps and concerned calls, Li Wan'er trembled. She tried to look up, but her emotions overwhelmed her, and she fainted.

Long Jinyan followed them out and, seeing the scene, grinned and said, "Women are such a hassle. They should stay at home and not go out fooling around with bald monks." His face was full of disdain.

Pei Yan rolled her eyes at him, looking utterly speechless.

Fang Xiaoxiao turned her head, her eyes wide with anger, and glared fiercely at Long Jinyan, her gaze seeming to spit fire.

Upon being glared at, Long Jinyan immediately fell silent and quickly shut his mouth.

The next day, sunlight streamed into the room through the window. Li Wan'er slowly opened her eyes and saw Fang Xiaoxiao lying by the bedside. Tears instantly welled up in her eyes, and she began to sob excitedly.

Fang Xiaoxiao was awakened by the crying. She saw Li Wan'er through her sleepy eyes and immediately woke up. She quickly comforted her in a soft voice, "Princess, don't cry, don't cry. You are safe now."

Just then, Pei Yan walked into the room carrying a bowl of steaming rice porridge.

Fang Xiaoxiao saw Pei Yan and subtly gestured for him to leave.

Pei Yan understood immediately, nodded slightly, and then turned and left the room.

Li Wan'er calmed herself down slightly and said, choking back tears, "Xiao Xiao, I really escaped death this time. That day, I went to the temple to burn incense, and on my way back, I was suddenly attacked and kidnapped by a group of bald monks. They blindfolded me, gagged me, and took me to a dark and eerie place. I was terrified, thinking I would never come back." As she spoke, her body trembled again.

Fang Xiaoxiao gently held Li Wan'er's hand and said, "Princess, don't be afraid, everything is alright now."

After comforting Li Wan'er, Fang Xiaoxiao tiptoed out of the room. Her face showed a hint of fatigue, but her eyes still revealed concern.

Pei Yan had been waiting anxiously at the door. Upon seeing her come out, he immediately rushed to her, asking with a tense expression, "How is Princess Li Wan'er?"

Fang Xiaoxiao sighed slightly, her delicate eyebrows furrowing, and said, "She was just a little frightened and caught a cold. She should be fine after a few days of recuperation."

Upon hearing this, Pei Yan's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally eased a little. He let out a long sigh of relief, and his tense expression relaxed considerably.

At this moment, in the backyard, Long Jinyan was still shirtless, wielding an axe and chopping wood with all his might, sweat pouring down like rain.

Fang Xiaoxiao walked through the courtyard to the backyard and called out loudly, "Long Jinyan, come over to the stone table!"

Upon hearing the sound, Long Jinyan stopped what he was doing, put down his axe with a puzzled look, and muttered, "What's going on now?" He wiped the sweat off his face with his sleeve and dragged himself to the stone table.

Upon reaching the stone table, Fang Xiaoxiao stared intently at him, her gaze sharp, and asked seriously, "Long Jinyan, did you capture a bald monk and question him about capturing women?"

Long Jinyan's heart skipped a beat, and he secretly groaned, "Oh no, I forgot about that." But he forced himself to say, "I asked, I asked." But his eyes kept darting away, and he didn't dare to meet Fang Xiaoxiao's gaze.

Fang Xiaoxiao looked at his guilty expression and understood what was going on. She glared at him and said irritably, "Don't try to fool me. I can tell you're lying just by looking at your eyes. You must have been corrupted by Li Renyi!"

Pei Yan stood to the side, arms crossed, watching quietly with a slight upturn at the corners of his mouth. He had clearly seen through it all, but he didn't ask any questions.

Fang Xiaoxiao shook her head helplessly, took a deep breath, and said, "Long Jinyan, I have a task for you. In the next few days, go to the outskirts of the city and see if you can find any bald monks."

Long Jinyan still looked bewildered, scratched his head, and asked, "Why do I have to go?"

Fang Xiao rolled her eyes at him and raised her voice, saying, "Just go when I tell you to! Stop talking nonsense! If you run into them, give them a good beating first, then ask them how many people are in Qingfeng Village."

Although Long Jinyan was full of doubts, seeing Fang Xiaoxiao's firm attitude, he had no choice but to reply, "Okay, I'll go."