"County Master, what should we do next?"

Qiann Yan put down the letters, gathering them into a pile: "Of course, we capture him. I’ll go expose him at dawn."

Qiann Yan took out a bottle of medicine and handed it to Ashui: "Go and make everyone else in the mansion unconscious. Don’t let anyone know about this."

Given Cheng Jiren’s actions, it wouldn’t implicate the others in the mansion, but Mrs. Cheng couldn’t escape blame. There’s no way she didn’t know about this. Anyone could not know, except her.

Ashui obediently went to carry out the task.

Soon, he returned. Besides Cheng Jiren and Mrs. Cheng, everyone in the mansion, including the chickens, ducks, livestock, and even the two pigs, had already been knocked out.

"Good." Qiann Yan stood up, "Stay here and make sure nothing goes wrong."

Ashui felt worried and wanted to follow, but Qiann Yan insisted that this matter was of utmost importance, so he had to stay behind.

The quiet Cheng Mansion was almost devoid of any sound, as Qiann Yan walked lightly to the outside of the room of the Cheng couple. She raised her hand to knock, and faint noises came from within.

"Who is it?"

"Mother, it’s me."

There was a brief silence inside, and Qiann Yan didn’t speak again, as she had already heard soft footsteps.

Soon, the door opened, and Mrs. Cheng appeared at the entrance draped in a robe. Seeing Qiann Yan, she whispered, "Yan’er, why have you come? Your father is still upset, just bear with it in the other room for a few days. Once his anger subsides, you’ll be able to return."

"Over the years, have you been sleeping well at night?" The surroundings were already terrifyingly quiet, and Qiann Yan’s sudden question made Mrs. Cheng’s face turn pale instantly. She gripped the doorframe with her hands, turning them white.

"I suppose it’s not been very good, right?"

Qiann Yan pushed past Mrs. Cheng, and Mrs. Cheng, unsteady for a moment, nearly stumbled but was caught by Qiann Yan who grabbed her arm and pushed her into a chair: "After all these years, shouldn’t some things be resolved? Continuing to live like this, unable to eat or sleep well, do you really feel at ease?"

Mrs. Cheng might not have much affection for the original owner, having been distant over the years. Her sudden concern this time likely stems from fear. Or perhaps, the person lying there is not as she thought, not as good to her, and Mrs. Cheng deeply regrets this.

Mrs. Cheng snapped back to herself, seeing Qiann Yan heading towards the inner room, and she was instantly terrified, shivering as she got up and rushed to grab Qiann Yan’s arm, lowering her voice: "Yan’er, what are you doing?"

Mrs. Cheng’s voice was urgent and a mixture of anger and shame, tinged with fear. She fiercely gripped Qiann Yan’s arm: "You’d better leave, don’t make your father angry."

Qiann Yan lowered her eyes, quickly focusing on the panic-stricken visage of Mrs. Cheng: "Is he really my father?"

Mrs. Cheng’s pupils dilated as she looked at Qiann Yan in disbelief, her limbs suddenly powerless, and her lips quivering as she struggled to speak, ultimately unable to say anything.

Qiann Yan freed herself from Mrs. Cheng’s grasp and continued towards the inner room. Suddenly, Mrs. Cheng shouted, "Master, she knows!"

Qiann Yan paused, turning back to see the terror in Mrs. Cheng’s eyes.

Mrs. Cheng wore an expression suggesting it was nobody’s fault but Qiann Yan’s own for knowing. That expression was painful and conflicted, finally turning resolute.

"Yan’er, this time even mother can’t protect you."

Mrs. Cheng continued to shout, "Master!" 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

After shouting, she dashed inside, and at that moment, Qiann Yan sensed a gust of wind sweeping from behind her.