"That's not so simple. If the elders in the family could truly change their minds, then Qingyun and his wife wouldn't have had to run off to the Luo family's place in the first place," Wang Qingshan said with a touch of resignation.

"Indeed. Once the Old Master and the others make a decision, who in the family dares to object?" Wang Qingtong chimed in.

Wang Qingchen, however, saw things differently. "I believe if Eldest Cousin and the Old Master told them you don't want an adopted son, they would likely agree. If that fails, we can approach the senior members of the clan! As long as they object, even the Old Master's decision alone will be meaningless!"

Wang Qingtong's eyes lit up upon hearing this. "That’s right, Big Brother! Qingchen is correct. We can seek out the clan members. No matter how determined the Old Master is, he can't completely disregard the opinions of the clan, can he?"

Wang Qingshan considered it and found the idea plausible. After all, adoption required the approval of the clan elders. If those elders refused to sanction it, the Old Master and the others would be powerless.

So, Wang Qingshan nodded. "Fine. If they still insist on the adoption later, I will ask the clan elders to lend us a hand."

Having settled on a plan, Wang Qingshan felt an immediate wave of relief wash over him. He would finally be free from the guilt of failing his younger brother's family.

Soon, the three men arrived at the Luo family home with the ox cart. They had initially planned to knock and persuade Wang Qingyun and his wife to return with them, but instead, they found Wang Qingyun standing by the gate of the Luo house as if in a daze. What was happening? The three men quickly dismounted and hurried over.

"Qingyun, why are you just standing here? Where is your wife?" Wang Qingshan asked.

Wang Qingyun slowly turned his head, only seeming to notice their arrival now. "Big Brother, you've arrived."

Wang Qingchen and the other two immediately sensed something was wrong with Wang Qingyun and pressed him. "What's the matter? Why are you just standing here?"

"Big Brother, Yin'er, she... she..." Wang Qingyun's voice caught, bordering on a sob.

"Qingyun, speak plainly. What happened?" Wang Qingshan urged anxiously.

"Yes, Second Brother, hurry up and tell us! We're worried sick," Wang Qingtong added, equally distressed.

"Yin'er came back holding the baby and promptly fainted. The physician said... things might not be good," Wang Qingyun lamented. "It's all my fault, all my fault! If I had been more attentive, Yin'er wouldn't have run back alone... Big Brother, what should we do now?"

Wang Qingyun was utterly lost, completely unsure of how to proceed.

Wang Qingchen and the other two were equally stumped. On the road, they had prepared arguments for persuading Wang Qingyun and Luo Yin to return, but they had never considered the possibility that Luo Yin might have harmed herself by returning to her maternal home. This complicated everything immensely. Even if they managed to persuade the couple, the Luo family would surely not let this matter rest.

"Qingyun, don't panic yet. What did the physician say? Is it very serious?" Wang Qingshan inquired.

Wang Qingyun nodded grimly. "The physician said Yin'er's constitution might become very frail afterward, and... and conceiving children in the future will be very difficult."

Now, the three of them didn't know how to offer comfort. The prospect of never having more children was a major issue in a farming family; although Luo Yin already had two, most households had several. Two was far too few.

At this point, Wang Qingchen suddenly realized they had overlooked something crucial and asked, "Second Cousin, since you are standing outside, are your sister-in-law's family refusing to let you in?"

Wang Qingchen’s question snapped Wang Qingshan and Wang Qingtong back to attention. They had been so caught up in worrying about Wang Qingyun that they forgot this aspect.

Wang Qingyun, hearing Wang Qingchen’s prompt, did not hide anything and simply nodded, stating helplessly, "Yin'er is in this condition now; it's only right that my in-laws blame me. I didn't look after her properly, causing her to end up like this."

Hearing this, Wang Qingshan, Wang Qingchen, and Wang Qingtong could only sigh. Who could have anticipated things spiraling this way? No one wished for this outcome, yet here they were.

Wang Qingshan thought for a moment before saying, "Qingyun, don't worry for now. Let's first see exactly what is wrong with your wife. Regardless, she is still our Wang family's daughter-in-law. If she is ill, we must see her to be at ease. Moreover, even if she is sick, shouldn't she be recovering at our home?"

Wang Qingchen and Wang Qingtong both agreed; it made sense.

With that, Wang Qingshan stepped forward and knocked on the courtyard gate.

A moment later, a voice drifted out from within. "I told you to go back. We, her own family, will look after my sister."

Hearing the voice, Wang Qingshan looked quizzically at Wang Qingyun. Wang Qingyun rubbed the bridge of his nose. "That's Yin'er's younger brother, Zhuzi."

Having received confirmation, Wang Qingshan called out toward the courtyard. "We are here to take Qingyun's wife back. Zhuzi, please open the gate for us."

"I already said my sister isn't going back to the Wang family! We will take care of her ourselves!" Zhuzi remained unmoved.

"That can't be said. Your sister is still a member of the Wang clan. Are you implying that she is no longer one of us?" Wang Qingchen interjected.

Zhuzi inside the courtyard hesitated. He knew, of course, that his sister was still legally married into the Wang family. Despite his dissatisfaction with the Wangs, his sister was, by propriety, the Wang family's daughter-in-law.

Uncertain how to proceed, Zhuzi quickly went inside to consult his mother.

When Old Man Luo and his wife heard that the Wang family had arrived, they instructed their son to open the gate. Zhuzi, receiving the order, hurried to unlock the door and invited Wang Qingshan and the others inside.

Once they entered, Old Man Luo and his wife greeted them.

After Wang Qingshan stated their purpose, Mrs. Luo spoke first. "You Wangs still think of taking my daughter back? What took you so long? My poor daughter still hasn't woken up, and who knows how much she suffered in your Wang family!"

Hearing Mrs. Luo's words, Wang Qingyun could no longer sit still. "Mother, Yin'er hasn't woken up yet? May I go in and see her?"

Mrs. Luo ignored him, leaving Wang Qingyun anxious.

"We dare not accept the title of 'in-laws' based on what you just said. While our Wang family is not wealthy or noble, we would certainly never mistreat a daughter-in-law," Wang Qingshan stated calmly.

Mrs. Luo merely scoffed. "If that were true, why would my daughter still be unconscious now? And the physician said her health will never be as good as it was before."

Saying this, Mrs. Luo began to weep sadly.

Wang Qingshan glanced at Wang Qingyun, then said, "To be precise, the elders in our family were initially unaware of this matter. Had they known, they certainly wouldn't have allowed Qingyun and his wife to both come here."

"Unaware? Does that mean no one in your Wang family was looking after my daughter?" Mrs. Luo seized the perceived loophole.

Wang Qingyun immediately clarified when he heard this. "Mother, an issue arose at my Second Uncle's house today, and we all went to help. It's not that Yin'er had no one to care for her. The family had spoken to her earlier, and Yin'er agreed, saying she could manage herself and just needed meals sent over. But when I went to bring her food today, I found she and the baby were gone, which is why I rushed over here."

Wang Qingchen, upon hearing this and realizing Luo Yin had returned on her own rather than with Wang Qingyun, quickly jumped in. "Yes, everyone was helping at my house because we were preparing a banquet! Truthfully, the family assumed Second Cousin had brought Sister-in-law to her parents' home together. We had no idea Sister-in-law came back with the baby all by herself!"

Wang Qingchen’s statement gave the Luo couple pause. If this were to spread—that their daughter returned alone with the infant—people wouldn't blame the Wang family; they would blame the Luo family and their daughter.

Wang Qingtong picked up on Wang Qingchen’s cue and added, "Exactly. If Sister-in-law missed her parents, she should have informed the family elders. Returning like this without notice only caused everyone back home to worry!"

Mrs. Luo, hearing Wang Qingchen and the others, became exasperated. "No matter what you say, my daughter wouldn't have returned so recklessly without a reason. She must have been wronged in your Wang family."

Luo Yin had already fainted before reaching home, so they still didn't know the exact reason for her departure. However, she must have been wronged; otherwise, why would their usually sensible daughter run off with their son while still in her confinement month?

After hearing Old Man Luo, Wang Qingtong turned to Wang Qingyun. "Second Brother, did Sister-in-law suffer any mistreatment at home? Why don't you tell them?"

"This, this..." Wang Qingyun hesitated. The matter of adoption was something the Luo family had no right to interfere with. If he revealed it, the Luo family would lose all standing. But he truly did not wish to see that happen; he didn't want to cause the Luo family to lose face.

Seeing Wang Qingyun’s hesitation, Wang Qingshan knew he was in a difficult spot, so he spoke before his brother could manage it. "It's like this: the family elders wished for me to have a son, as I have none, so they suggested Qingyun and his wife adopt one for me. Sister-in-law likely couldn't bear to part with her own child, which is why she brought the baby and returned alone."

Wang Qingyun, realizing his older brother had laid the matter bare, could only concur. "That is the situation."