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

Suddenly, a person flashed through Zhang Fei's mind, "Hu Biao, you're not talking about that little cook Xiao Tao, are you?"

She's married...

Zhang Fei was somewhat surprised. This second brother didn't like that girl at all. Wasn't he just bringing her over to get revenge on her?

Hu Biao burst into arrogant laughter, "Hahaha..."

The boss still knows me well.

I'm talking about her.

Although I know that you also have feelings for her, she is just a maid, and it is not appropriate for you to marry her as your wife.

Besides, there are also the First Madam and the Second Madam...

Why not give her to me? I'll stay quietly in this dark dungeon and won't cause you any more trouble.

No matter what, I'm in this mess today because of that brat.

If you don't let me vent my anger, I might go crazy one day!

Zhang Fei frowned.

Regardless of the circumstances, Xiao Tao offended the second brother today because of him. If he were to hand over Xiao Tao, he feared the brothers would gossip about him.

If we don't hand him over, Hu Biao is like a cannon barrel, ready to explode at any moment.

"Second brother, you've talked about other women, haven't you!"

It's not appropriate for her to be married.

Even I no longer have that thought.

There are plenty of women out there; I can just have someone bring a few more over to keep you company.

Hu Biao sneered, a smile that looked sinister in the dim light. "Brother, I know you better than you know yourself."

You just don't want her to serve me, you're afraid I'll kill her, right?

Zhang Fei was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Hu Biao, what exactly do you want to do?"

Xiao Tao just made you lose face, why should you, a grown man, make things difficult for her?

"How about this, I'll have her deliver your meals every day, so you can enjoy her cooking. Is that alright?"

Hu Biao sneered, "Boss, when did you become so chivalrous?"

Besides, didn't you just promise me I could get married?

I want Xiaotao.

"As long as she comes to keep me company, I'll stay here obediently and take that secret to my grave."

secret.

This word was like a knife plunged into Zhang Fei's heart.

The bloody battle three years ago is still vivid in my mind; many people died.

Later, he was hunted down by the Third Prince. Hu Biao saved his life, but from then on, he also learned a secret that could ruin his reputation.

"Are you threatening me again?" Zhang Fei's voice turned cold.

Hu Biao quickly shook his head, but a hint of ruthlessness flashed in his eyes: "I wouldn't dare, Boss."

I just want someone who cares about me and is considerate of me while I'm still alive.

Xiao Tao is gentle, beautiful, and a great cook—a perfect match for someone like me.

If you can't bear to part with me, then so be it. I'll just live out my days alone in this dark dungeon. I just don't know when I'll get bored and want to slit my own throat...

Zhang Fei clenched his fist.

Once that secret is exposed, he will die, and the Third Prince will be the first to not let him go.

Hu Biao had been in charge of so many brothers in the village, so he must have had his confidants.

"I need time to think about it," Zhang Fei finally said.

Hu Biao sneered, "Alright, boss, you can go back and think about it slowly."

I believe the boss will understand whether a humble cook is more important, or your secrets.

"Okay, I'll give you an answer in an hour."

This is a huge matter; I need to ask her directly!

Zhang Fei turned and left, his footsteps echoing in the narrow cave.

Hu Biao watched his departing figure, a cold smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

He knew Zhang Fei would agree; the betrayal three years ago was something Zhang Fei could never bear to have made public.

When Tao'er entered the chief's courtyard, she felt that the sunlight was particularly dazzling today.

I don't know if it's just my imagination.

Anyway, she always felt that the boss calling her here was definitely not for anything good.

Xu Xiaosi led her to the door and stopped, respectfully stepping aside.

Beside the stone table in the courtyard, Zhang Fei, the chief, sat leisurely, toying with a simple wooden box in his hand. Seeing Tao'er arrive, he raised his hand in a gesture of invitation.

"sit."

Tao'er shook her head slightly, then said directly, "Boss, just speak your mind. It's almost lunchtime, and I need to prepare the food before noon."

Zhang Fei didn't press the matter. He simply pushed the wooden box towards the center of the table and got straight to the point: "You've done a great job helping Chef Wang expose the Second Boss's evil deeds today. This is your reward."

Zhang Fei pushed the wooden box on the table and then said, "Little Peach, open it and take a look."

"Don't be so nervous. It doesn't matter if we make lunch a little later; we're not hungry right now."

Tao lowered her eyelids, didn't reply, walked straight forward, opened the wooden box, and found several silver ingots inside, which she estimated to be about fifty taels.

"Little Peach thanks the boss for the reward!"

Silver is a valuable thing; why not take it if it's free!

Zhang Fei's voice was calm. "Xiao Tao, what do you think is the best way to handle the situation with Second Leader Hu Biao?"

"Is the boss in a difficult position?"

Tao'er was taken aback, then immediately realized what was happening and asked.

"Yes, I am in a bit of a dilemma."

If he hadn't taken a knife for me that year, I wouldn't be sitting here now.

If I kill him, my brothers will think I'm ungrateful.

Not killing them would make it difficult to gain public support.

He paused, then turned his gaze to Tao'er: "Little Tao, I see you're quite clever. Do you have a way to have the best of both worlds?"

Tao'er's heart skipped a beat.

That's a very serious question.

She was just a cook, and it was only because she cooked so well that the head of the household took a liking to her and kept her by his side. How dare she comment on such matters?

What will the people in the village think if she says the second-in-command should be killed?

What would the leader think if we didn't kill him?

"I……

I don't know either……"

Her voice was soft, yet every word was clear.

"I trust that the Boss is wise and capable and will make his own decisions. Xiao Tao just needs to do her job well."

Zhang Fei looked at her silently, his eyes as deep as an ancient well in the back mountain, unfathomable. After a long while, he finally spoke: "Very well."

"Then spare his life, lock him in a dark dungeon in a mountain cave, and imprison him for life."

Tao'er had just breathed a sigh of relief when she heard the head of the household continue, "Starting tomorrow, you will be responsible for delivering his meals every day."

I don't trust anyone else to go.

This is the only arrangement he can make now; he can't tell the truth!

To be honest, I'm afraid she definitely wouldn't want to.

She looked up abruptly, as if to say something, but met Zhang Fei's unquestionable gaze.

There were too many things in those eyes that she couldn't understand.

A test?

Scheme?

Or something else?

Tao'er didn't dare to think about it too much, and just nodded subconsciously.

It's just delivering food, isn't it?

She is not afraid.

Tao'er walked out of the courtyard with fifty taels of silver in her hands.

As soon as she left, Xu Xiaosi spoke up, "Boss, why didn't you tell Xiaotao the truth?"

"To be honest, she definitely wouldn't agree."

Let her try it first...

Go over there and give some instructions to the two brothers guarding that spot...

Upon hearing this, Xu Xiaosi suddenly looked up and asked, "Boss, won't Miss Xiaotao be in danger if we do this?"

The second-in-command is no weak scholar...

"I know whether this girl can escape or not depends on her own fate..."

Perhaps she can escape this calamity through her intelligence and wit.

"Xiao Si, if she kills Hu Biao, then it has nothing to do with me anymore..."

"Boss, so that's what you meant..."

The leader is truly brilliant; what a clever move to use someone else to do the dirty work!

But isn't doing this going too far?

After all, Miss Xiaotao...

Xu Xiaosi immediately understood what the boss meant.

"Little Si, a man who is not ruthless is no man, and a man who is petty is no gentleman!"

I had no choice; sometimes small sacrifices are necessary.

The leader's eyes were dark and unreadable as he looked at the departing figure.

"I have learned a lot."

Xu Xiaosi responded repeatedly.

Also, go and investigate the mute person next to Xiaotao…”

That person always gave him an invisible sense of intimidation.

"Alright, I'll go and take care of it right away..."

When Tao'er stepped out of the courtyard, her clothes were soaked with cold sweat.

The kitchen was filled with the smells of cooking, the sounds of chopping boards and knives clattering, oil sizzling, and the shouts of the workers all blending together.

Tao'er mechanically chopped the vegetables, but her mind had already wandered far away.

Why should she be asked to deliver the food?

The dark dungeon is located deep within the mountain stronghold, where sunlight never shines, and it can only be accessed through a narrow passage.

Locking up the second-in-command there was less about sparing his life and more about making him wish he were dead.

And it was she, the whistleblower, who was a young cook, who delivered the meal...

That's really weird!

"Could it be that they're trying to kill the second-in-command and then make me take the blame?"

The thought made Tao'er's hand tremble, and the sharp blade left a bloody mark on her fingertips.

She quickly put the wound in her mouth, the salty, fishy taste spreading through her mouth.

Xiao Yi quickly walked over and asked her in sign language, "How could you be so careless?"

Did the boss give you a hard time today?

As he spoke, he tore off a piece of his clothing and used it to bandage her wound.