Before the house was raided, the maidservant of the Prime Minister's residence absconded with t

The next day at dawn, Tao'er had the inn prepare a very lavish breakfast.

Millet porridge, steamed dumplings, a few side dishes, and a basket of steaming hot steamed buns.

The adults first invited the children to sit down, and Dongkui served them porridge one by one, while Qingfeng broke the steamed buns into small pieces and gave them to the younger children.

When the children were rescued, they were all covered in dirt, and the fear in their eyes had not completely faded.

However, after a night's rest, I've recovered somewhat and feel much better than last night.

Xiao Yi sat at the table, holding a bowl of porridge but barely moving it, his gaze occasionally sweeping over the children.

Ah Chen sat next to him, not eating much either. Occasionally, she would exchange a glance with Xiao Yi, both of them with resentment on their faces, cursing the heartless swindler in their hearts.

"Children, eat your fill. The officers will take you home safely later."

You will soon be reunited with your parents.

Xiao Yi spoke to the children.

"Thank you, big brother."

The children's eyes lit up when they heard Xiao Yi's words, and they said in unison.

Ah Chen gently served them food while comforting them, "You don't need to be afraid, those bad guys have all been arrested."

However, you must be careful from now on; you can't play alone and leave the adults' side. You must stay with an adult.

The children nodded repeatedly, saying they understood.

Ayan, however, showed no lingering fear.

He ate very seriously. He sat between two little girls. The little girl on the left, with her hair in two buns, had a good appetite. She ate two steamed dumplings and drank more than half a bowl of porridge.

The one on the right was different. She hadn't touched her chopsticks since she sat down. The bowl of porridge in front of her was steaming. She had her head down, her small hands on her knees, and her fingertips were gently tugging at the hem of her clothes.

Tao'er noticed and placed a steamed dumpling on the small plate in front of her, speaking in a very soft and gentle voice: "Little girl, be good, eat something, okay?"

The little girl didn't look up or respond, as if she hadn't heard at all.

Ayan glanced at her sideways without saying anything, but simply transferred another steamed dumpling from his bowl to her plate before continuing to eat his own.

After a while, Tao'er noticed that the little girl quietly reached out, picked up a steamed dumpling, and ate it in small bites.

Tao sighed inwardly. This little girl seemed a bit off. Could she have some hidden illness?

And then your parents disliked it and threw it away?

No sooner had the meal ended than footsteps could be heard outside the courtyard gate.

Two government officials walked in one after the other, dressed in dark blue official uniforms with iron rulers hanging from their waists. Their steps were steady, unlike the usual brashness of government officials.

The leader was a bit older, around thirty years old, with a square face. As soon as he entered, he clasped his hands in a respectful greeting and said in a very polite tone, "Gentlemen and ladies, we apologize for disturbing you."

Xiao Yi stood up and said, "You're too kind, officer. Thank you for your trouble."

"Of course, of course," the constable waved his hand.

"The county magistrate instructed last night that now that these children have been found, they must be sent back as soon as possible, as their families are probably extremely worried."

Another, younger constable pulled a small notebook from his sleeve, flipped through it, and said with a smile, "We checked the missing persons reports from several surrounding villages and towns last night. The addresses of these children roughly match. We'll send them back to their homes one by one today. We should be able to finish before dark."

"Sir, please verify this."

Tao'er felt relieved, thinking that the county government had handled things efficiently this time.

She squatted down and called to the children, instructing them to line up and follow the constables one by one.

The children were overjoyed, knowing they would soon be able to go home and see their parents.

The constables began to check each child's information one by one, asking for their names and addresses. Although the children were a little timid, they were generally able to answer the questions correctly.

Everything was going smoothly and was about to come to a perfect end when the young constable suddenly frowned, pointed at the little girl at the back of the line, and looked at Tao'er with a troubled expression.

"Miss, this...this child, from just now until now, she hasn't said a word no matter what we ask her."

Tao'er's heart tightened, and she looked at the little girl.

She was still wearing the same drab little dress from yesterday, and her hair was unkempt, with a few stray strands hanging down beside her face.

She stood at the end of the line, head down, hands tightly gripping the hem of her clothes, lips pressed tightly together.

Tao walked over and squatted down, gently asking her, "Little girl, what's your name?"

Where do you live?

Tell them, and they'll take you home!

The little girl didn't look up or react at all.

Tao asked twice more, her voice even softer and gentler, but the child was like a wall, and all her voices disappeared when they hit him.

She wasn't unaware of what she heard; her ears twitched slightly, and her eyelashes trembled, but she wouldn't speak, as if her mouth was sealed shut by something.

The older constable sighed, pulled Tao'er aside, and said in a low voice, "Miss Tao'er, this child is really difficult to handle."

She didn't speak, and we didn't know where she lived. If we took her home rashly, we wouldn't have anywhere to send her.

Take it back to the county government office...

A room full of grown men wouldn't be appropriate.

Besides, the county government office isn't a place to take in children.

He paused, looking troubled.

"What should we do about this?"

Tao'er turned to look at Xiao Yi.

Xiao Yi frowned slightly. He walked up to the little girl, squatted down, and looked her in the eye.

His gaze was not that of an interrogation, but rather like that of someone looking at a wounded little animal, with a mixture of inquiry and pity.

He asked softly, "You don't trust them, do you?"

The little girl still didn't answer, but her fingers clenched even tighter, her fingertips turning white.

Xiao Yi stood up, looked at Tao'er, and asked in his eyes: What do you suggest we do?

Tao took a deep breath and her gaze returned to the little girl.

At only four or five years old, she was thin and small, standing there like a little flower blown down by the wind, swaying precariously.

Tao'er suddenly remembered some children she had seen in her past life, those children who had been hurt.

Their eyes were like this child's—not stubborn, not rebellious, but fearful.

A deep-seated fear of adults.

She had already made up her mind.

Tao'er turned to the constables and said, "Brothers, please send the other children back first. Their families must be very worried."

"I'll leave this little girl with me for now, and I'll figure something out."

The two constables exchanged a glance, and a look of relief appeared on their faces at the same time.

The older one nodded repeatedly and gratefully clasped his hands in a fist salute: "Thank you for your understanding, Miss Tao'er. I'll leave it to you then."

This child…

He glanced at the silent little girl, hesitated, and finally just sighed.

"That's settled then, let's take the other children home first."

Tao nodded.

The constables left with the other children, and the courtyard suddenly became quiet.

The little girl was still standing there, like a wooden stake driven into place, completely still.