The next morning, Madam Yan lay nestled in Li Yuan's arms, clinging to him.
They hadn't enjoyed this morning together in a long time.
As dawn broke, they began to talk.
Li Yuan asked, "Sister Yan, have you heard of the Blood Blade Sect, the Wei family, or the Sun family?"
Madam Yan hugged her husband's waist, pressing closer, and said, "The Wei and Sun families seem to be wealthy and powerful families in the county. The Blood Blade Sect… I've heard of them too; they seem to have quite a reputation in the county."
Li Yuan asked again, "Last month, while I was away during the day, did any tax collectors come to collect taxes at the ink shop?"
Madam Yan said, "Yes… there was a family in the village who couldn't pay their taxes, and their little girl was taken away. The family cried and
