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

"Xiaohe, go back and tell the Madam that we know and there is no need to worry."

By the way, did the second madam's maid also escape?

Tao'er frowned and asked.

Xiaohe shook her head. "Xiaocui didn't escape. She didn't have time to escape and was caught. She's still locked up in the woodshed."

"Then hurry up and take us to meet Xiao Cui."

Tao'er made a quick decision and came up with an idea.

Xiaohe nodded. "Miss Xiaotao, please come with me."

Tao'er and Xiao Yi followed Xiao He to the woodshed.

The door opened, and Xiaohe turned on the light, finally able to see the situation inside.

Xiaohe turned the lamp up a bit, and a figure was huddled in the corner of the woodshed—it was Xiaocui.

Hearing the door open, she abruptly looked up, her face still streaked with tears, her eyes filled with terror.

Tao'er walked over, squatted down in front of her, and asked directly without beating around the bush, "Xiao Cui, where did the Second Madam run away to?"

If you know, tell me.

Xiao Cui bit her lip, trembling all over, but refused to speak.

Tao sighed, her tone softening slightly: "Xiao Cui, I know you are loyal, but the person you are loyal to has abandoned you and run away."

The First Madam is furious right now. If you continue to protect her, you might lose your own life.

And have you forgotten that you betrayed the Second Madam together with the Third Master?

Do you think the second wife will let you off the hook?

Now the First Madam is in charge here, but I might as well tell you that the First Master is dead.

The third-in-command will be caught sooner or later, and he'll die sooner or later!

Tao'er's words made Xiao Cui even more frightened.

Her body trembled even more violently, and tears streamed down her face.

She regretted doing that back then, otherwise she might still be alive and well.

Tao'er looked at her and said in a steady voice, "How about this, Xiao Cui, tell me everything you know."

Help us catch those two scoundrels, the Second Madam and the Third Master!

I beg the First Madam to spare your life, and I'll give you some silver to send you down the mountain to marry. From then on, you can start a new life.

Xiao Cui suddenly raised her head, a glint of light flashing in her eyes, yet tinged with hesitation: "Miss Xiao Tao... are you serious?"

Tao looked at her seriously, "What I said is more real than pearls!"

But if you continue to keep it a secret, and the First Madam comes to ask about it later, then it will be beyond my control.

Xiao Cui gritted her teeth, as if she had made a great decision, and finally spoke: "This servant...this servant does not know exactly where the Second Madam went, but this servant heard the Second Madam mention that there is a secret dungeon on the mountain, which the chief uses to imprison people who have made mistakes in the stronghold."

This servant was thinking...

If they're hiding, they're probably hiding there.

Tao'er's heart skipped a beat: a secret prison?

I didn't expect that.

Just then, Xiao Cui reached into her bosom and pulled out a neatly folded piece of paper, which she presented to her with both hands.

"Miss Xiaotao, this... I found it by chance under the desk of the Third Master when I went to deliver tea to him last time."

I can't read the words, but it looks like a picture. I'll give it to you; maybe it'll be useful.

Tao'er took the paper, unfolded it, and her pupils suddenly contracted. It was a defense map from the mountainside to the back of the mountain.

The drawings were clearly marked, even showing several hidden paths.

Xiao Yi also came over to take a look, raised his eyebrows slightly, and nodded to Tao'er.

Tao'er understood what was going on, carefully put away the blueprints, and looked at Xiao Cui with much gentler eyes: "Xiao Cui, I have received this."

"I'll go talk to the doctor about your situation now and ask her to let you go."

She stood up and said to Xiaohe, "You watch over her for now, I'm going to see the Madam."

Xiaohe nodded. "Okay, Miss Xiaotao."

The First Madam was sitting in the main hall, her face ashen. When she saw Tao'er enter, she was about to speak when Tao'er quickly stepped forward and told her what Xiao Cui had said and the defense map.

The First Madam took the blueprints, glanced at them, and suddenly laughed: "Ma Jiakang certainly didn't expect this to fall into our hands!"

She looked up at Tao'er, "What about Xiao Cui..."

"Tao'er has dared to make a decision on behalf of the First Madam."

Tao'er gave a blessing.

"The maid promised her that if she told the truth, she would spare her life and give her silver to send down the mountain."

She handed over the defense map this time, which is quite a show of sincerity. Madam, what do you think...?

The First Madam pondered for a moment, then nodded: "You did the right thing."

Since you've agreed, then do as you're told.

She turned to the old nanny beside her and instructed, "Go to the accounting office and get twenty taels of silver."

The silver was quickly retrieved, and the First Madam personally handed it to Tao'er: "Take this to her and tell her that I told her to go down the mountain tonight, go far away, and never come back."

Tao'er took the silver and went back to the woodshed.

When Xiao Cui saw her come in, her eyes were fixed on the silver pouch in her hand, so nervous that she forgot to breathe.

Tao'er stuffed the silver into her hand and said softly, "Twenty taels is enough for you to buy a few acres of land and find an honest man to live a peaceful life."

The First Madam said you must go down the mountain now, before dawn, and hurry on your way.

Xiao Cui held the silver, her hands trembling violently, tears streaming down her face. She knelt on the ground with a thud and kowtowed several times towards the main hall: "Thank you, Madam!"

Thank you so much, Miss Xiaotao!

servant girl...

"I will repay you in my next life by being your ox or horse!"

Tao'er pulled her up and said to Xiao He, "Send her out through the back door, and come back when she's far away."

Xiaohe nodded and helped Xiaocui out of the woodshed.

The night was still dark when two figures silently disappeared into the depths of the courtyard.

Tao'er stood at the door of the woodshed, watching the direction they left in, and gently exhaled.

Xiao Yi walked up to her without her noticing and whispered, "You're quite kind-hearted."

Tao'er turned to look at him and blinked: "I'm doing this to accumulate good karma for Ayan."

A little girl like her can't cause any big trouble.

Xiao Cui voluntarily handed over the defense map, which shows that she genuinely wanted to repent.

Moreover, her previous actions were understandable.

Xiao Yi was stunned for a moment, then laughed.

Why do you think Xiao Cui's past actions are understandable?

"Xiao Yi, your background and status are completely different from hers."

Given her position, it's understandable that she wants to change her fate.

Moreover, the second wife treated her badly, constantly beating and scolding her.

If the second wife had treated her better, she might not have done that.

To put it bluntly, all she wanted was to live a good life.

We've given her a chance, a chance to start over, and of course she'll seize it.

"She's not exactly a heinous criminal, so let's spare her life!"

Tao'er explained a few things.

"I understand. You mean Zhang Mang, Hu Biao, and Ma Jiakang are all heinous criminals, unforgivable!"

Xiao Yi asked with a smile.

"That's one way to understand it."

Alright, let's not talk about this anymore, we need to get down to business.

Let's go to the dark dungeon now!

That guy really knows how to find places to hide.

Xiao Yi nodded.

The two walked together toward the dark prison.

"Madam, so he's not mute after all?"

Xiaohe stared at their departing figures, her mouth agape.

The First Madam smiled and said, "Of course not, you silly girl, you're only realizing it now."

"Call two people, let's go follow them and take a look."

When the First Madam arrived at the dungeon with her personal maid Xiaohe and two subordinates, she was shocked by what she saw.