"Will you tell me or not?" Wu Caiwei, impatient, held her sword to the servant's neck. The servant, staring at the blade inches from his throat, was so terrified he no longer cared about the consequences and only thought of immediate survival.
"They... they haven't been here long before they escaped. I don't know where they are now," the servant's voice grew smaller and smaller.
He had hesitated earlier because his master had specifically instructed him to entertain the two guests well. To his surprise, they had escaped in the blink of an eye. He had dispatched many men to pursue them, but the pursuit led into the mountains and forests, and they were nowhere to be found. Fearing his master's wrath, he had stammered for a long time without being able to speak.
"What did you say? They escaped?" Sun Wenlin, who had thought he was doomed, immediately lifted his head upon hearing this, looking at the servants with a shocked expression.
The servant prostrated himself on the ground, begging for mercy. "Yes, Young Lady, they escaped. I've sent many men to search, and after days and nights, there's still no sign of them. But don't worry, we've already sent someone to find Liu Changhe, and I believe he must know the two's hiding place. Besides, if we can't find them, we can use Liu Changhe as bait..."
Before they could finish speaking, Sun Wenlin burst into laughter. "It's good they escaped, it's good they escaped! Who told you to chase them? Recall the people sent to find Liu Changhe and never bother them again."
Wu Caiwei also breathed a sigh of relief. She had thought their silence was because she had severely injured the two children. She hadn't realized it was because they had escaped and they couldn't explain it to Sun Wenlin.
Then the problem arose again: she had to send people to search for them. What if the two children encountered any difficulties outside?
Without a word, Wu Caiwei strode out. Just as she stepped out of the courtyard, she paused, then turned back to look at the frantically retreating Sun Wenlin, her face grim. "This isn't over between us. When I find the siblings, I'll settle the score with you."
Watching the fierce woman's retreating back, Sun Wenlin broke out in a cold sweat. He confirmed she had indeed left and quickly ordered his servants to get the carriage ready to take her home.
She wanted to return to the county town, which was her territory. Her uncle would protect her no matter what. As long as she still cared about her own children, she wouldn't easily harm him.
Upon returning to the prefectural city, Wu Caiwei fell into a dilemma. If she rashly sent people to rescue them, they wouldn't believe it. But if she didn't send anyone to search, she couldn't rest easy, fearing they might meet with misfortune.
It was then that everyone learned the owner of several highly profitable shops in the city, whose backer was extremely mysterious, was named Zhou Xue'e. Who was Zhou Xue'e? All the merchants were bewildered. However, recently, two portraits had spread throughout the streets and alleys, reportedly because this Zhou Xue'e was searching for her biological children. Anyone who could find them would be rewarded with ten thousand taels.
At first, no one believed it. It wasn't until the shopkeepers of her various businesses personally posted their portraits and the reward notice outside their establishments that people realized it was true.
Ten thousand taels of silver! How many people had never seen so much money in their entire lives? With such a reward, there were bound to be brave souls. Thus, people began to notice a strange phenomenon: the nearby farmers, who lived in the vicinity of their disappearance, had stopped working their fields for some time and were all heading into the mountains and forests to search for the rumored two individuals.
Everyone was trying their luck. If they stumbled upon them, ten thousand taels would be theirs, and they wouldn't have to toil so hard for the rest of their lives. The two had disappeared into that patch of forest a few days ago and should have long since emerged. Although they felt it was unlikely they were still inside, the world was so vast; where else could they search? There were always those who held onto a glimmer of hope. Unexpectedly, they actually encountered them. Upon seeing these two people, the mountain folk could hardly believe their eyes.
They hurried forward to ask for their names. Discovering they matched, the mountain folk stood there in shock. The siblings, seeing each other's strange expressions, exchanged glances and bolted.
However, after days in the mountains, they had only eaten wild fruits for sustenance and had not eaten anything else. Consequently, their bodies were weak and listless, and they lacked the strength to run far. They were soon caught up by the mountain folk. Realizing they had misunderstood, the mountain folk quickly explained, "Please don't misunderstand. I'm not a bad person. The reason I'm looking for you is that someone named Zhou Xue'e is offering ten thousand taels for your search."
"Who did you say? My mother? Is it really Mother who sent you to find us?" The two involuntarily showed expressions of joy. Although they had escaped from the courtyard that day, they had gotten lost as soon as they entered the forest and couldn't find their way out. They had thought they would starve to death inside, but unexpectedly, they had encountered someone.
As the mountain folk approached them, the siblings eagerly walked towards him, seeing him as their hope of getting out. However, when he immediately asked for their names, the siblings grew wary. Then, seeing his strange expression, they were frightened and tried to flee.
Now, hearing the familiar name, they felt as if they had found a savior. Yet, they had a nagging doubt: Mother was offering ten thousand taels to find them. They had never seen so much money in their lives. What if, after they left with this person, she couldn't produce the silver?
"Of course, it's true. Otherwise, why would so many people be searching for you in the mountains? You'll encounter others soon. You must tell your mother that I found you first and brought you out," the mountain folk said, looking at them with expectant eyes.
The thought of being the one who discovered them first, and that ten thousand taels would be his, made his heart pound. In the future, he could buy a house in the city and become a city dweller.
He wanted to see those city dwellers who looked down on him. For years, he had sold wild goods in the city and had endured countless scornful and disdainful glances. In the past, he had no choice but to endure it, though it made him uncomfortable. Now, he was the same as them and secretly resolved to live a better life.
The siblings nodded. As they followed him out, they asked about their mother. When they learned that their mother had opened many shops in the city, they were so shocked their mouths couldn't close. If their names hadn't matched, they would have doubted whether the mother the man spoke of was the one who gave birth to them.
To prevent being intercepted, the mountain folk took them along a secluded path. Even so, they encountered many people searching for them along the way. Whenever someone asked about the siblings, the mountain folk would lie, claiming they were their relatives. The others eyed them with suspicion.
As they walked, the mountain folk broke out in a cold sweat. Fortunately, the two young masters were dressed no differently from commoners, allowing them to pass unnoticed. Otherwise, something would surely have happened today.