Chen Yuezhi cupped Jiang Xiao's face and said, "Da Niu, do you hear me? Don't be foolish. You've finally made it through, and now you want to die? Aren't you giving your enemies a reason to rejoice?"
Jiang Pan also said, "Da Niu, put your heart at ease. No matter what you've been through, your father will protect you for the rest of your life. No one will dare to be presumptuous in front of you, including your brothers and sisters!"
The three elder brothers also kept comforting her, "Sister, don't be afraid. With us here, no one will bully you again."
Jiang Xiao looked at the family around her, her heart aching as if it were being stabbed again and again.
Jiang Wan quickly signaled to Da Lang and Er Lang to help their mother and elder sister up.
Jiang Pan then took down the rope hanging from the beam and threw it out through the broken window.
Zhang Qiaoxiu quickly brought over chairs, helped Su Shi to sit down, and then brought chairs for Jiang Pan and his sons.
The whole family sat down.
Chen Yuezhi gently stroked Jiang Xiao's hair, hardened her heart, and asked, "Da Niu, can you tell your mother how you got all those injuries?"
Since Jiang Xiao dared not face it alone, the whole family would face it with her!
Jiang Xiao closed her eyes in pain, her face turning pale and her body trembling.
Seeing her in so much pain, Chen Yuezhi couldn't bear it and patted her back, "If you don't want to say it, then don't. Mother won't ask anymore."
Jiang Xiao took a deep breath, opened her eyes, and clutched her chest, saying, "Mother, Father, I hurt so much..."
"The Zhang family brought me out of Jianzhou to escape. On the way, his mother fell ill. All the family's silver was spent on treating his mother. We suffered so much along the way, and it was only after a long time that we finally reached Jiangnan."
"He was a scholar, and by chance, he was favored by a noble person and kept by his side, being greatly reused. As a result, this so-called noble person didn't actually favor him but had impure intentions."
"He wanted to offer me to that person, even disregarding that I was already pregnant... When that person tried to take advantage of me, I bit him... He let me go, but the price was to have my tongue cut off..."
Those who didn't know that Jiang Xiao's tongue had been cut off before gasped in shock.
Jiang Xiao gave a bitter smile, "I almost died from the pain. After barely clinging to life and returning to the Zhang family, I was beaten by him and his parents together."
"Xiao Bao, to protect me... was pushed by his father and hit his head, dying on the spot..."
"He wasn't even three years old... Mother, he was so young... and he died in my arms like that..."
Jiang Wan's entire face was contorted with pain.
The entire Jiang family wept uncontrollably, for Jiang Xiao and for that small, frail child.
"Xiao Bao is gone, and I don't want to live either. I want to fight them, but how can I be their match?"
"They locked me up and tried every way to torment me..."
"A few days ago, his mother was too rough, and I miscarried the child in my womb."
"His mother disliked the blood flowing everywhere, thinking it was unlucky, so she found a slave dealer and sold me for three taels of silver."
Jiang Pan's eyes were red with rage, and he gritted his teeth, asking, "Where is the Zhang family now? Are they in the prefectural city?"
Jiang Xiao said tearfully, "They live in Wangling Town outside the prefectural city. Father, Xiao Bao's remains are buried there. Can you bring Xiao Bao back?"
Jiang Pan gritted his teeth and took a deep breath, "Da Niu, wait. Father will definitely bring Xiao Bao back!"
Jiang Xiao pulled at the corners of her mouth and smiled, then tilted her head and collapsed onto Chen Yuezhi's shoulder.
Chen Yuezhi was startled and quickly felt Jiang Xiao's pulse.
Fortunately, she had only fainted.
Chen Yuezhi and Zhang Qiaoxiu helped Jiang Xiao lie down on the bed, then asked Zhang Qiaoxiu to stay in the room and watch over Jiang Xiao.
"Qiaoxiu, from now on, you must stay by your elder sister's side at all times. Don't let her be alone, okay?"
If she could, she would have preferred to watch over Jiang Xiao herself.
However, there were still many things waiting for her to do.
Zhang Qiaoxiu nodded heavily, "Mother, I will stay with my elder sister every step of the way."
Chen Yuezhi pulled at the corners of her mouth, "Thank you for your hard work."
She got up and went out, seeing Jiang Pan and his sons sitting in the yard. Chen Yuezhi asked, "Husband, what are your plans?"
Jiang Pan gritted his teeth, "Of course, we're going to the Zhang family to get justice for my daughter, and then bring back Xiao Bao's remains for burial!"
Chen Yuezhi nodded, "Alright, we'll set off tomorrow morning!"
Jiang Wan immediately said, "Mother, I'm going too!"
Chen Yuezhi hummed, acknowledging her.
The family could no longer sleep and sat in the yard, their eyes wide open, waiting for dawn.
Chen Yuezhi, fearing that Su Shi would not be able to bear it, forcibly sent her back to her room.
When dawn broke, the Jiang family hitched up the carriage and prepared to depart.
Jiang Wan, worried about the home, left Little Pony behind to keep a close eye on Jiang Xiao. If she made any suicidal moves, Little Pony was to notify Zhang Qiaoxiu immediately, and then its companion would go to deliver the message.
After making all the arrangements, Jiang Wan jumped onto the carriage and followed her family towards the prefectural city.
Passing by the inn where Gu Chenzhou was staying, Jiang Wan asked Jiang Pan to stop the carriage. She went upstairs and greeted Gu Chenzhou, "I'll be going to the prefectural city for a few days, and my return date is uncertain. I'm worried you might have an episode, so I've come up to treat you."
With that, she sat beside Gu Chenzhou and transferred some of her special abilities to him.
Gu Chenzhou had always been curious about how Jiang Wan treated him. This was a rare opportunity to observe, so he stared with wide eyes.
Unexpectedly, Jiang Wan just pressed her hands on him for a while and then said, "Done. You should be able to hold on until I get back."
Gu Chenzhou was full of questions. It was done just like that?
He didn't feel anything.
He looked up at Jiang Wan and, seeing her dark circles, asked, "Did you go stealing at night?"
Jiang Wan was in no mood for jokes. She glared at him and turned to leave.
"Take care of yourself, wait obediently, and don't cause any trouble."
Jiang Wan got into the carriage, and the carriage went to the Cheng residence again.
Chen Yuezhi and Jiang Pan were both worried about the home, mainly because only three young women were left at home. If the Xu family were to cause trouble at this time, it would be disastrous. Therefore, they planned to ask Madam Cheng to look after the three sisters-in-law and sisters-in-law.
When Madam Cheng heard that the eldest daughter of the Jiang family had returned, had been severely abused, and had been sold by her in-laws, she was furious.
"If you few go, you might be at a disadvantage. I'll give you some people, bring more people, and beat that ungrateful family to death!"
Jiang Pan did not agree, "Madam Cheng, this is our Jiang family's domestic affair. We won't involve you. Our Jiang family men may not have other skills, but our strength is not bad."
Jiang Wan also said, "Aunt Cheng, don't worry, we won't be at a disadvantage."
With her here, if her family were to suffer a disadvantage, she might as well give up early.
Madam Cheng had no choice but to give up, but she had someone bring over a large chest.
When it was opened, good heavens, it was fully equipped with knives, clubs, forks, and halberds.
"Going empty-handed would make us seem lacking in presence. Take these things and give them all to that Zhang family!"