Chapter 73: Chapter 73: Let Them Stay at the Yamen

"Officers!" Chen Huayun and Liu Hua almost fell to their knees.

They also sent both Xiao Yuxi and Xiao Yuyuan a pleading gaze. Alas, Xiao Yuxi had the look of someone who gloated over their misfortune while Xiao Yuyan bit her lip and looked away.

The two yamen runners had coincidentally passed by the market village after they had investigated a case. Unexpectedly, they met Han Tingxun.

Upon remembering him getting along so well with their magistrate, they went to greet him and planned to return soon.

They never guessed they would stumble upon a group of people who wanted to visit their office. Since the magistrate had specifically told them to assist Han Tingxun in anything, they immediately followed his words.

The two yamen runners turned to the people who were planning to escort the two women to their place. "Report the case!"

Everyone began to speak at once.

"Officer, please arrest them, they want to poison us!"

"They sell poison and want us to pay for it!"

"Please do a thorough investigation, Officer. I suspect they are spies sent by the enemy country!"

The two yamen runners frowned. "Don’t shout! One person, come forward and tell us what is happening."

They were planning to let each person retell their experience to ensure a thorough investigation before making a decision.

As each accusation rang out, Chen Huayun and Liu Hua’s faces already became as white as papers. A few seconds later, their eyes rolled and they fainted.

***

"Thank you, Old Shun! If not for you, we would have been escorted to the yamen." Xiao Yuxi said enthusiastically, obviously in a good mood despite the initial fright.

Xiao Yuyan also thanked him in a soft voice, shifting a little uneasily.

"You two are too kind. They are also slandering my Master, so I can’t just stand by and watch." Old Shun sighed.

One of the men under him happened to see the commotion and grew curious. Upon getting closer to the center of the scene, he saw the twins getting into trouble.

He wasted no time and immediately informed Shun Zi about the matter. Shun Zi was in the middle of negotiating with a farmer when he heard the report from him. He didn’t even hesitate to abandon the discussion and hurriedly went to the location.

Unexpectedly, Han Tingxun and his men also followed him. There were also the two yamen runners. It was truly convenient.

"Do you get any buyer today, Old Shun?" Xiao Yuxi couldn’t help but ask curiously.

Shun Zi didn’t mind her bluntness at all. He nodded. "Mr. Han is going back to visit another province. He wants to try to see whether growing the paddy rice seeds in less fertile land is possible."

The twins immediately understood. It was known to all that the Emperor was looking for high-quality rice varieties which could even survive pests and the most harsh weather.

All farmers from the country had each offered the rice they had grown in their fields. Alas, they haven’t found any variety that could yield a decent harvest. Most of the grain head remained empty, and most lands still suffered from lack of supplies, especially food.

They guessed that Han Tingxun might be working under an important minister or even the Emperor’s direct people.

"We will be going back home, Old Shun." Xiao Yuxi muttered, and Xiao Yuyan added, "Mother might be worried about us."

Shun Zi nodded, and he watched as the twins enthusiastically went to the stalls to buy snacks before they headed home.

On the way, as there were less people around, the gloom in Xiao Yuyan’s eyes also slowly faded. She took a bite of the scallion pancake and heard her sister’s question.

"Yan’er, the two yamen runners even splashed water to wake them up. What do you think their punishment will be? They won’t come to us to take revenge, won’t they?" Xiao Yuxi muttered.

Her worried eyes morphed into fierce light. "I am really tempted to splash them with itch powder."

Suddenly, her eyes lit up at her whimsical idea. She clenched her fists and stomped the ground hard. "That’s right, I will splash itch powder on them! Let’s gather the materials after this."

They would need to visit the back mountain to find some plants.

Xiao Yuyan bit her lip and shook her head. "They keep making trouble lately. Grandfather will definitely be angry..."

"The people who get poisoned are demanding money compensation. There are so many people. That’s a lot of money," she continued to mumble. "They won’t have the time to give us trouble for a while."

Zhou Wenzhi was also quite scary when he got angry. He will most likely punish them by stripping Chen Huayun from controlling the household money and confined them both just like he did to Zhou Shiming.

"Grandfather might let them stay for a while in the yamen..." Xiao Yuyan trailed off.

Xiao Yuxi’s eyes brightened. "I hope Grandfather lets them stay there for at least three months!"

She was so happy that she was skipping as she walked, unable to hide her good mood. Xiao Yuyan’s lips twitched helplessly when she heard her sister’s words.

Soon, Xiao Yuxi slowed down and let her sister catch up with her steps. Xiao Yuyan heard her regretful sigh.

"Nevermind... it’s impossible for them to stay there for so many months. I think the people at yamen wouldn’t be able to stand them for so long. The poor yamen officials would need to get a physician to have their hearing checked." Xiao Yuxi shook her head.

Halfway home, they actually met their mother, who was almost running.

Zhou Anran had a worried look on her face, and she was noticeably shaking slightly as she walked. There was Aunt Dong beside her who accompanied her, walking at equally quick steps.

When she saw her twin daughters, her eyes reddened slightly. She paused before she ran toward them, hugging them both.

"Xi’er, Yan’er, are you two alright?" She let go of her tight hug and scanned them from head to toe.