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

Tao'er smiled at Shi Qi, shook her head, and said in sign language, "It's nothing serious, just a little injury."

The bandage is already in place, let's get back to cooking!

Otherwise, lunchtime will take too long...

The masters in the stronghold couldn't help but grumble a few words...

Xiao Yi nodded, thinking that the chief had definitely not been hiding anything when he called Tao'er over earlier. He would ask her about it after he finished cooking.

More than an hour later, the food was ready.

Xiao Yi then found an opportunity to pull Tao'er to a secluded place.

"Tao'er, is the chief boss making things difficult for you?"

What did that bastard say to you after calling you over?

"You're not going to force you to marry him and become his third wife, are you?"

Xiao Yi glanced around and, seeing no one, immediately asked anxiously.

Tao'er shook her head and chuckled, "No, Brother Shi Qi, you've misunderstood."

Zhang Fei didn't make any excessive demands, let alone ask me to be his third wife.

It's really nothing serious, just a small matter.

Actually, hehe...

"He gave me fifty taels of silver ingots, don't worry."

Tao'er's tone was nonchalant, as if it were really true.

"It's nothing serious, and there were no unreasonable demands. So why were you distracted while chopping vegetables?"

If the boss is just giving you a reward, he can simply have Xu Xiaosi deliver it directly; there's no need for you to make the trip yourself.

You'd better tell me quickly, what does the boss want you to do there?

This way I can prepare in advance.

Xiao Yi didn't believe it; his eyes were full of doubt.

"Brother Shi Qi, sigh, nothing can be hidden from you."

The boss did indeed assign me a task.

Besides rewarding me with fifty taels of silver ingots, he also ordered me to deliver food to that bastard Hu Biao, the second-in-command, who was locked in the dark dungeon.

I wanted to refuse, but the boss's orders were not to be refused, so I had no choice but to agree.

Tao'er initially said that she really didn't want Shi Qi to worry, so she didn't tell the truth.

But Shi Qi kept asking, so she had no choice but to tell the truth.

Sigh, sometimes dealing with overly intelligent people can be a burden.

"What did you say?"

Zhang Fei asked you to deliver food to Hu Biao?

Is he out of his mind?

I think he did it on purpose; isn't he just sending you to your death?

Knowing full well that you are one of the main figures in exposing the second-in-command, and that the second-in-command hates you to death and would love to tear you apart alive!

If I send you to deliver food to him, what if Hu Biao loses his temper and kills you?

You can't go!

Xiao Yi angrily started swearing.

"Brother Shi Qi, delivering food to the second-in-command Hu Biao is indeed a dangerous job."

But nothing ventured, nothing gained!

This trip is a must.

The head of the gang just met with the second-in-command, and when he came back, he immediately summoned me and assigned me the job of delivering meals.

I suspect that the second-in-command has some kind of leverage over the top leader.

Unable to kill the second-in-command, he could only imprison him in a dark cell.

They sent me in to deliver food, probably because they wanted to use me to kill the second-in-command.

It's also possible that they'll use the second-in-command to kill me.

Because the second-in-command hates me and wants to kill me to vent his anger.

The head of the gang sent me in just to please the second-in-command, didn't he?

There are only three possible outcomes if I go in to deliver the food.

The first and second leaders, Hu Biao, died; the second leader, I, died; and the third leader, both of us, died.

As the saying goes, "When the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman benefits!"

"Tao'er, your analysis is very correct. Zhang Fei is indeed very cunning. So why did you take his job knowing this?"

You should find a way to refuse.

Do you have other intentions?

"You previously said you wanted to get information from the second-in-command, Hu Biao, so that's why you agreed to the boss's request?"

This leader is even more terrifying than the second leader!

No wonder Zhang Mang was able to deceive them back then; it turns out he was such a cunning person.

"Brother Shi Qi, you're right, I am exactly as you think."

But while the boss is using me, am I not also using him?

Don't worry, I have my own ways of dealing with Hu Biao.

I've already inquired; the secret prison is located in a remote area behind a cliff, guarded by two people day and night.

There was no one in the dark dungeon.

I took this opportunity to probe the second-in-command's words to confirm my suspicions.

If the leader is truly cunning, he might have someone sabotage things and then watch her and the second-in-command...

In any case, no matter which of the two of them dies, the boss will not suffer any loss.

"Tao'er, it's too dangerous there. I'm worried about a girl going alone. Why don't I go with you?"

Anyway, the boss told me to protect you.

Seeing that he couldn't persuade Tao'er, Xiao Yi had no choice but to accompany her himself.

"Alright, but you can only stay at the entrance of the cave; the guards won't let you in."

Tao'er thought that since he was worried, they should go together!

"Even if... even if I can't go in, I'll stay outside. If anything happens, just shout for help and I'll come in to save you."

Xiao Yi immediately said.

Tao'er nodded, thinking that if something really happened, she could shout loudly, and Shi Qi outside might be able to hear her.

However, she felt it was unlikely she would need to use this trick, because the second-in-command, Hu Biao, couldn't hurt her at all. She could hide in her spatial dimension, or use stun guns, pepper spray, and other things to kill the second-in-command.

Of course, Shi Qi knew none of this, so it's normal for him to worry about her going in alone.

She felt a warmth in her heart, after all, this person's concern for her was genuine, even though it was because of Ayan.

Suddenly, Tao'er laughed, "Shi Qi, you forgot, you're pretending to be mute, so you can't hear anyone speaking at all..."

If you could hear me calling for help, wouldn't that reveal your identity?

"Then you should tell the two guards that you haven't come out after the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, and they'll let me in."

They dared not refuse.

Otherwise, if something happens to you, they'll be in deep trouble.

Xiao Yi quickly came up with a solution.

"Okay, let's do it this way!"

It's getting late, we should go deliver food to the second-in-command.

Meanwhile, Xu Xiaosi went to the dark prison, exchanged a few words with the two guards, and then left.

Then he found a reliable person and told him, "Go and investigate the identity of the mute Ah Qi."

The man then nodded and turned to leave.

After finishing his business, Xu Xiaosi returned to the head of the household's courtyard.

Tao'er and Shi Qi arrived at the cave together, where they saw two village guards, each holding a knife, standing at the cave entrance.

Upon seeing the two of them approach, one of them immediately asked what they were doing there.

Tao'er took out the token and said, "I am Xiao Tao, the cook. The head of the household sent me to deliver meals to the second-in-command."

The man behind me is my bodyguard; he protects me.

"So it's Miss Xiao Tao. Xiao Si has already told you that you can go in, but this mute A Qi can't go in."

The man immediately put on a smiling face and his tone became much gentler.

"Then he can stand guard at the door, right?"

If I haven't come out within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, then something has happened.

You have to let him in to save me.

"Little Peach, people aren't allowed to come in here casually."

"Isn't that inappropriate?"

The man looked somewhat embarrassed.

"If something happens to me, do you think it's appropriate or inappropriate?"

Do you guys even want your heads?

Don't forget, I'm not only the boss's savior, but also the one who only eats my cooking.

Tao'er said sternly, at this time the title of the chief was still very useful.

Now that the second-in-command of Tiger Head Stronghold has run into trouble, the only remaining leader is the top leader, and they dare not offend him.

Xiao Tao is now a favorite of the boss, so they'd better not offend her.

So the two of them got scared, hesitated for a moment, and then quickly nodded in agreement.

Tao'er gestured for Shi Qi to light an incense stick and insert it into the soil next to him.

Then, at seven o'clock, he nodded and went inside.