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

"Now that the annoying kid has been taken away, it's quiet. Can you hand over your things now?"

Xie Jingxing came closer and realized that the little girl was actually quite pretty.

"Xie Jingxing, how could you hit a five-year-old child?"

Have you no shame?!

Tao'er angrily cursed!

Xie Jingxing walked over, grabbed her chin, his eyes filled with lewdness, and said viciously, "That little brat was disobedient and deserved to be beaten!"

"Get that thing out right now, or I'll kill that brat!"

"Xie Jingxing, you don't need to threaten me, threatening me won't work!"

Even if Ayan dies, I will not live on alone, otherwise how can I face Old Madam Xiao?

If you can't get the parchment scroll, I'm afraid you won't be able to explain yourself to the old emperor, right?

I need to see the young master safe and sound right now!

Otherwise, don't even think about me handing it over...

Besides, we're too tired; we need a good night's sleep so we can remember where I hid the things.

Tao'er dared to say this because she had guessed what King Cheng's true purpose was.

King Cheng would certainly not kill them before he obtained the parchment scroll.

Xie Jingxing gritted his teeth in anger, but there was nothing he could do. With a flick of his sleeve, he ordered, "Guards, take her away and lock her up with the young master!"

Immediately, someone came and took Tao'er away.

Before Tao'er left, Xie Jingxing said fiercely, "I want to see this thing by midnight tonight, or don't blame me for being ruthless!"

Tao'er scoffed inwardly: Want what I have? Dream on!

However, this also made her realize the importance of this item, so she was even more determined not to hand it over.

I wonder if that little guy gets scared being locked up alone in the woodshed!

But she wasn't worried; she would soon be able to see Ayan.

Liu Wei had just returned from his patrol when he lifted the curtain of King Cheng's tent and saw his master sitting behind a table with a dark face, his aura frighteningly low.

He wondered to himself: Who is this fool who has offended the prince again?

Just half an hour ago, when I left, the prince was in a good mood and ordered the kitchen to warm wine and roast chicken.

He quickly stepped forward and asked in a low voice, "Your Highness, what's wrong?"

What happened?

Upon seeing him, Xie Jingxing's eyes lit up slightly, and he beckoned him closer: "Liu Wei, you've come back just in time."

"Our men have caught those two, that brat and that young cook!"

Liu Wei was taken aback, then his face lit up with joy: "This is fantastic news!"

Your Highness, why are our men moving so fast?

Then why did you...?

Could it be that those two are already dead?

He was halfway through his sentence when he saw that Xie Jingxing's expression had not only not brightened, but had become even more somber, and his heart skipped a beat.

Xie Jingxing snorted coldly, "Dead? You're perfectly alive!"

It was a good thing that it ended up in our hands; the young cook had already agreed to hand over the items.

Who knew that little brat would suddenly interfere and ruin my plans!

Enraged, I slapped that little brat across the face. That did just that; the young cook immediately turned hostile and refused to work there anymore!

When he got excited, he slammed his hand on the table, making the teacups rattle.

After listening, Liu Wei stroked his short beard and pondered for a moment, then suddenly laughed: "So that's how it is..."

Your Highness, you've used the wrong method.

"Using the wrong method?" Xie Jingxing raised an eyebrow.

"Your Highness, think about it. That girl risked her life to protect that young master all the way, showing that their relationship is extraordinary."

You hit that young master in front of her, isn't that like stabbing her in the heart?

No wonder she was furious.

Liu Wei's analysis was very logical and reasonable.

"It's like a mother animal protecting her cubs; if you harm her offspring, won't she fight you to the death?"

After hearing this, Xie Jingxing irritably took a sip of tea: "Then what do we do now?"

If you ask me, we should just go all the way and kill them both!

He then reported to his father that they had fallen off a cliff and their bodies were never found.

We never saw that thing from beginning to end, and nobody knows whether it's on them or not.

As he spoke, a ruthless glint flashed in his eyes.

Although this method is crude, it solves everything at once and saves trouble when reporting back.

Liu Wei waved his hand, took a few steps closer, and lowered his voice: "Your Highness, although this method can get the job done, it is the worst possible solution."

"I have a perfect idea that would satisfy both sides. I wonder if Your Highness would be willing to listen?"

"Oh?" Xie Jingxing became interested. "Tell me quickly!"

Liu Wei hesitated for a moment before speaking carefully: "Although that little girl is a cook, she is pretty and clever."

In my humble opinion, Your Highness, perhaps... you should take her in?

Xie Jingxing nearly choked on his tea, staring at him with wide eyes, "What?"

Liu Wei, are you out of your mind?

How can I, a prince, take in a country cook?

The concubines who serve in my household are at least daughters of officials of the sixth rank!

"She's some wild girl who popped out of who-knows-where in the mountains, does she even deserve it?"

Liu Wei hurriedly bowed and smiled apologetically: "Your Highness, please calm down, please calm down."

That's not what I meant...

Think about it, those who achieve great things don't concern themselves with trifles.

You just need to appease her for now, give her a nice look, and let her think that you are interested in her.

These naive young girls are the easiest to fall for.

Once she's completely devoted to you, won't that thing be a piece of cake?

Once you have the goods, what you do with them is just a matter of a word, isn't it?

As he spoke, he raised his hand and made a gesture as if he were about to slash a knife.

Xie Jingxing narrowed his eyes and remained silent in thought.

After a moment, he slowly put down his teacup, a cryptic smile playing on his lips: "That's one way..."

"Fine, for that thing, I'll humble myself this once and sacrifice my beauty."

As he spoke, he suddenly remembered something, "However, Father wants them alive."

"What if they die by then? How will we explain that?"

Liu Wei chuckled: "Didn't Your Highness just say that they fell off a cliff and died?"

Let's use this as an excuse.

Anyway, the cliff was bottomless, so it's understandable that someone would fall and be completely destroyed.

As for what Chen Ergou said, who knows if it's true or false?

He might have made it up to claim credit.

They fell from such a height and were completely unharmed?

Who would believe that?

Xie Jingxing nodded, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes.

Actually, he had other plans.

There must be some secret hidden in that parchment scroll.

The Emperor was tight-lipped about it, but insisted on capturing people while keeping them alive.

If there's anything truly remarkable inside, it's better to keep it for yourself than to hand it over.

When the person dies, there will be no way to verify the story, and the emperor will have no way of knowing whether the item has fallen into his hands.

He slammed his hand on the table and said, "Fine, let's do it!"

"Bring that little girl over when it gets dark."

Meanwhile, in the woodshed.

Tao'er was squatting in front of Ayan, carefully examining the injuries on his face by the sliver of moonlight filtering through the crack in the broken window.

On her fair face, a clear handprint was shocking, and half of her cheek was slightly swollen.

"Does it hurt?" She felt so sorry for him, and gently touched the red and swollen area with her finger. Ayan subconsciously flinched.

She quickly took out a small porcelain bottle from her bosom.

That was a medicinal ointment she had prepared herself, with a little bit of spiritual spring water added, which was excellent for reducing swelling and relieving pain.

She picked up a little with her fingertips and gently applied it to Ayan's face.

The ointment has a faint herbal scent and a cool feel.

In a short while, the redness and swelling visibly subsided, and the handprint also faded considerably.

Ayan blinked and exclaimed in surprise, "Sister Tao'er, it feels cool, it doesn't hurt anymore!"

Tao'er put away the porcelain bottle and rubbed his head: "Silly boy, don't be so impulsive in the future."

Do you really think I'm going to give him the thing?

That was a lie.

Even if they give it to you, it will be fake.

Your shout completely ruined my plans.

Ayan was stunned, then her face flushed red with regret: "So that's how it is..."

So, Sister Tao'er was lying to him?

Am I... too stupid?

He lowered his head, his voice growing softer and softer.

Looking at his self-reproachful little face, Tao'er's heart softened completely. She bent down and hugged him tightly, saying, "You're not stupid. You're still young. You'll understand in time."

"I learned my lesson this time, and I'll be better next time. A fall into a pit, a gain in your wit."

Ah Yan buried himself in her arms, mumbled an "Mmm," and asked, "So what do we do now?"

Is it possible to escape?

He looked up and around. It was a makeshift woodshed used for storing miscellaneous items. The doors and windows were tightly closed, and there were vague figures moving around outside.

Tao'er also looked up at the two pairs of feet that were faintly visible and swaying outside, then listened to the sounds outside, and lowered her voice: "Wait until it gets dark."

She already had a plan in mind.