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

Ayan stood not far away, still holding half a half-eaten steamed bun in his hand. He looked at Tao'er, then at the little girl, seemingly hesitating whether to go over.

Tao'er thought for a moment and said to Ayan, "Ayan, why don't you take your little sister to play in the backyard for a while, okay?"

"We adults need to discuss something, it'll be quick."

Some things are better left unsaid in front of children; she could tell that the little girl was a sensitive creature.

Ayan nodded understandingly, walked over, and stretched out his little hand.

He didn't speak or urge her, but simply stretched out his hand to the little girl, his palm still covered with crumbs of steamed bun.

The little girl looked down at the hand, and after a while, slowly extended her own hand and placed it in Ayan's palm.

Ayan took her hand and led her to the backyard.

The two children walked one after the other, with Ayan walking slowly to match the little girl's pace.

The spring sunshine shone on them, casting two small shadows on the ground, one taller and one shorter, very close together.

Tao watched their retreating figures, sighed, and shook her head.

Once the two children had gone far away, Tao'er turned her gaze away and said to the remaining people, "Brother Shi Qi, Brother A Chen, Brother Qing Feng, Sister Dong Kui, what do you all think we should do with this child?"

I felt something was off about her; she wasn't like the other children.

If we ignore her, I'm afraid...

She would have a hard time surviving.

Dongkui was the first to speak, her voice filled with obvious pity: "Sister Tao'er, that little girl is so pitiful, she just won't say a word."

Judging from her demeanor, it didn't seem like she was deliberately keeping quiet; it was more like...

They looked like they had been frightened by something.

"Why don't we take her in first, and then send someone to take her home once she's willing to tell us where she lives? What do you think?"

Qingfeng nodded repeatedly beside him, speaking in a carefree tone: "I agree with Miss Dongkui's suggestion."

That little baby was so pitiful, as thin as a kitten. He didn't look like he could eat much, and we wouldn't be short of food.

Let's keep her here for now; it's better than pushing her out.

Tao'er turned to look at A-Chen: "Brother A-Chen, what are your thoughts?"

Ah Chen sat there, resting his chin on his hand, seemingly deep in thought.

Hearing Tao'er's question, he slowly replied, "My thoughts are similar to those of Young Master Qingfeng."

I think the little girl seems to have something on her mind. It's not that she doesn't want to speak, but rather that she doesn't trust those constables.

He paused for a moment, then lowered his voice, "I noticed it on the way here. When those constables were questioning the other children, she kept shrinking back."

It's not that she can't speak, it's that she's afraid to speak.

Tao'er nodded; what A-Chen said coincided with what she had been thinking.

She thought for a moment and said, "Brother Chen makes a lot of sense. I'll go and have a good chat with that girl later to see if I can find out what she's thinking."

After speaking, she turned to Xiao Yi, "Seventh Brother Shi, you're the one who saved that little girl, what are your thoughts?"

Xiao Yi leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers lightly on the table, his expression indifferent: "Take them in temporarily is fine, I have no other objections."

"A little girl staying behind won't pose any threat to us."

He glanced at Tao'er, his tone casual yet serious.

"However, Peach, let's stick to your idea."

"Keep it or send it to You'an Hall, it's fine either way."

Tao'er didn't rush to answer.

She was silent for a while, her fingers unconsciously drawing circles on the table.

The little girl's every move kept replaying in my mind—she never looked people in the eye, and she would clutch her clothes tightly when someone got close to her.

She ate in very small bites, as if afraid of making a sound and attracting attention.

And most importantly, when the older constable squatted down to ask her questions, her body had a very subtle reaction.

She shrank back and used her arms to protect her head.

The movement was so subtle that perhaps only Tao'er noticed it.

But it was a symbolic gesture, an instinctive reaction that only a child who had been subjected to violence would have.

Tao took a deep breath and her voice became serious: "I've observed this little girl, and she seems to have a bit of autism."

What is autism?

Several people asked the question almost in unison, their expressions filled with curiosity and confusion.

"Uh..." Tao'er didn't know how to explain it in a way that the ancients could understand.

She thought for a moment and tried to put it simply: "Autism is a condition where people isolate themselves from others and immerse themselves in their own world."

This disease isn't a physical ailment and won't kill you, but it will severely impact her life and future.

People with this disease are unwilling to communicate with others and dislike being touched.

The group looked at each other; it was the first time they had ever heard of such a disease.

Tao'er added, "This little girl's condition doesn't seem to be congenital; it's more like..."

What trauma did I experience that caused this?

If she were placed in You'an Hall, those doctors and staff would all be men who wouldn't be able to take care of a child like that, and she probably wouldn't live more than a few years.

So I think we should keep her here for now and figure out her situation first.

Everyone finally nodded as if they had just realized something, and finally understood what Tao'er meant by autism.

Dongkui's eyes reddened slightly, and Qingfeng, unusually serious, put away his playful expression and said earnestly, "Then let's do as Tao'er says and take that girl back first."

Ah Chen stood up and looked at the sky: "It's getting late, we should head back soon."

He didn't return home last night; Elder Li must be worried.

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Qingfeng went to the backyard to find Ayan and the little girl, while Tao'er went to the inn entrance to arrange a carriage.

Of course, you have to pay a rental fee to rent a horse-drawn carriage.

The innkeeper was a kind man. When he heard that they had left the little girl behind and needed to rent a carriage to go home, he helped them contact two clean carriages without saying a word.

They even specially laid soft cushions in the carriage, saying that it would be more comfortable for those with children.

The carriages arrived. Qingfeng and Dongkui rode in one, while Xiao Yi, Achen, and Tao'er rode in the other with their two children.

When it was time to get on the bus, Ayan climbed up first, then turned around and reached out his hand to the little girl.

The little girl stood under the carriage, looking up at the hand, hesitating for a long time, so long that Tao'er thought she wouldn't get on.

But in the end, she reached out her little hand, grasped Ayan's, and was pulled onto the carriage.

The carriage swayed and rocked as it moved forward, the interior of the carriage bumping along.

The little girl sat next to Ayan, with her hands on her knees and her body slightly leaning towards Ayan.

Ayan didn't say anything, just let her lean on him, like a little adult.

Occasionally, when the carriage jolted violently, he would instinctively stretch out his arm to shield the little girl from the impact of her head.

As Tao watched this scene, a thought suddenly popped into her mind.