Leaving the county town, Chen Li drove the cart toward Shangxi Village.

"Li Zi is here! Come in, come in. Miss Yun’er has been waiting for you."

Chen Yao’s eyes curved into crescents as she beamed at him.

After a few days of peace, much of the panic had faded from Liu Yun’s expression, and some color had returned to her cheeks. However, a wisp of sorrow still clung stubbornly to her features.

"Benefactor," Liu Yun said, her voice soft and faint. Upon seeing Chen Li, she quickly bent her knees in a curtsy.

She glanced up at Chen Li for a fleeting moment before quickly lowering her gaze, her hands nervously twisting the hem of her clothes.

"Let’s go home for now," Chen Li said with a nod.

The trouble with the San Dao Bang had temporarily subsided, and he had considered sending Liu Yun back to the vineyard.

But on second thought, he had no way of knowing what the Liu Family Vineyard’s attitude toward Liu Yun would be at this time.

Moreover, the people at the vineyard didn’t know about the deaths of the three San Dao Bang thugs. Liu Yun, however, had witnessed it firsthand and had seen Chen Li.

’If I let her go, there’s no guarantee she won’t expose me. She’ll always be a potential risk. It’s better to keep her at my home for a while and see.’

「Before they left.」

Liu Yun gave a graceful curtsy. "Sister, Yun’Er will never forget your immense kindness. If not for your comfort and care these past few days, I truly don’t know what I would have done."

Chen Yao helped Liu Yun up, then suddenly pulled Chen Li aside. "Li Zi, I’ve had a chance to get to know her for you these past few days. Yun’Er is a good girl—skilled with her hands and meticulous. She helped me with a lot of needlework. She’s literate, too, and especially good at arithmetic. It’s just that fate has been cruel to her. Take her back and treat her well. Yingying is good-natured, but you shouldn’t let Yun’Er be mistreated, either."

"I know. I’m heading home."

Chen Li started the ox-cart and, with Liu Yun aboard, returned to Lingxi Village.

It was already afternoon by the time they arrived back at the Chen Family residence.

As he entered the main hall, his wife, Song Ying, came forward to greet him. "Husband, you’re back."

Her gaze immediately fell upon the pretty, yet timid, unfamiliar woman by Chen Li’s side.

Chen Li nodded and led Liu Yun forward. "This is Miss Liu Yun. Her family has suffered a misfortune, so she will be staying with us for a while."

Liu Yun hastily curtsied. "Madam... Yun’Er pays her respects to Madam."

Song Ying shot a glance at Chen Li before quickly reaching out to help her up. "There’s no need for such formalities. The wind is strong outside, and you must be tired from your journey. Please, come in and rest."

She studied Liu Yun closely, noting her delicate features. Though tinged with fear, it couldn’t hide her beauty, which was enhanced by a pitifully lovely demeanor. A sense of compassion welled up in Song Ying’s heart.

Taking Liu Yun by the hand, she led her into the main hall and instructed Gin go to bring hot tea, then gently began to ask about her family situation.

Liu Yun answered each question in a low voice. When she spoke of being abducted by the San Dao Bang and how her parents and brothers were implicated, her eyes reddened again.

Chen Li had never intended to hide anything from his wife, so on the way back, he had told Liu Yun that there was no need to conceal the truth from his family.

After hearing the story, Song Ying sighed. "What a bitter fate. Now that you’re here, think of this as your own home. Don’t be reserved. Since my husband brought you back, he will certainly not let you suffer any more grievances. Just stay here and be at ease."

That evening, an extra set of bowl and chopsticks appeared at the Chen Family’s dinner table.

Song Ying frequently placed food in her bowl.

Mrs. Chen also asked Liu Yun a few questions, her attitude quite amiable.

Being young, Shouyue simply watched this new, pretty older sister with curiosity.

Throughout the meal, Liu Yun kept her gaze lowered, eating quietly and daring not to speak much.

...

「The next afternoon.」

Song Ying found Liu Yun alone.

The previous night, Song Ying had asked Chen Li if he planned to take Liu Yun as a concubine.

Chen Li had shaken his head, saying that she might not be willing. He suggested letting her stay for a while until the trouble blew over, then allowing her to choose her own path.

He, on the other hand, had long wanted to find a suitable woman to take as a concubine to continue his grand enterprise of producing heirs and milking the system for more rewards.

’After all, what else was he to do with an awakened Martial Dao Clan System?’

In every aspect, Chen Li was quite satisfied with Liu Yun.

She was beautiful, educated, and well-mannered. She knew her place and understood how to repay a debt of gratitude.

’But taking her as a concubine isn’t the same as taking a proper wife through formal marriage. The girl has just been through a major crisis. If I were to propose it now, I’d be taking advantage of her vulnerability, no better than a scoundrel.’

Chen Li didn’t dwell on it, but Song Ying considered the matter more deeply. After much thought, she decided to seek out Liu Yun.

Seeing Song Ying, Liu Yun stood up, looking a little flustered. "Madam."

"Yun’Er, sit. I have something to talk to you about."

Song Ying pulled her back down to sit, her face holding a gentle smile, but her eyes grew serious.

Liu Yun’s heart clenched for reasons she couldn’t explain.

Song Ying chose her words carefully. "Yun’Er, you are all alone and have been through such a terrible ordeal. It truly makes one’s heart ache for you.

I shouldn’t bring this up, but for a young woman like you, living in our home is not a long-term solution. Your status here is ambiguous, which could lead to gossip and be inconvenient for you."

"Madam, are you asking me to leave?" Liu Yun’s eyes suddenly reddened, and she unconsciously clenched the hem of her clothes.

"No, no, that’s not what I mean at all..." Song Ying was startled and hurriedly explained, "I see that you have a gentle temperament, that you’re a decent person, a good girl who knows her manners. My husband... he is an upright and kind man, someone dependable. So, I was thinking..."

Song Ying looked at her, paused, and gently took Liu Yun’s cold hand. "Why not... join my husband and become his concubine?"

Liu Yun’s mind went completely blank, filled with a buzzing sound. Her cheeks instantly burned hot, a crimson blush spreading all the way to the tips of her ears.

She was rendered speechless, just staring blankly at Song Ying, her lips moving but no sound coming out.

Shyness, shock, confusion... all washed over her heart like a tidal wave.

"This..."

Liu Yun managed to force out a single word, her voice as faint as a mosquito’s buzz, before lowering her head deeply, not daring to look at Song Ying again.

Song Ying gently patted the back of her hand. "Ultimately, this is something you must be willing to do. If you are unwilling, neither my husband nor I will force you. You can just keep living here as you have been; we’ll simply treat it as having gained another sister. Why don’t you think it over?"

With her head bowed, tears began to roll down Liu Yun’s cheeks without warning.

After a long time, so long that Song Ying thought she wouldn’t answer, she heard Liu Yun’s extremely soft, yet incredibly clear reply, tinged with a suppressed sob: "Yun’Er... is willing."

Song Ying gently embraced her. "Don’t cry. From now on, we are family."

...

「That evening.」

When Chen Li returned from his training to rest, Song Ying turned to him. "Husband, I spoke with Yun’Er today. She... she agreed."

A look of clear astonishment appeared on Chen Li’s face; he clearly hadn’t expected his wife to bring up the matter so proactively and so quickly. "Didn’t we say we’d talk about it later?"

Song Ying’s tone was calm. "Husband, she’s a young woman living in our house without a proper status. How could she possibly rest easy? I see that she is lonely and helpless, and also a good girl. It is better to give her a proper place sooner rather than later, to put her mind at ease."

Chen Li looked up at Song Ying and nodded. "Ying’Er, you’ve been very thoughtful. Let it be so, then."

Song Ying gave a gentle smile. "Since you agree, Husband, we should pick a day, arrange a small banquet, and have Yun’Er serve you tea to complete the ceremony."

"Mm, you can arrange it," Chen Li agreed with a nod.