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

Tao'er tossed and turned on the bed in the west wing. Moonlight streamed in through the window, spreading a silvery-white frost on the floor.

She stared at the top of the tent with her eyes open, her mind a jumble of thoughts, constantly thinking about the Qilin key, and also noting that Xiao Yi's expression and tone were somewhat different from usual.

Xiao Yi said the Qilin key was a thank-you gift, but she wondered if the favor she had done for the Xiao family was really worth that much.

She turned over, buried her face in the pillow, and felt a strange, indescribable feeling welling up inside her.

Forget it, I'm going to sleep. At worst, I can just return the jade pendant and the Qilin key to him later.

If the Xiao family is exonerated one day, then we can just give her a large sum of money for her retirement.

Meanwhile, Xiao Yi, in the east wing, also found it difficult to fall asleep.

He lay on the bed with his eyes closed, his breathing so steady it seemed he was asleep, but his slightly trembling eyelashes betrayed him.

As the young master of the Seven Kill Pavilion, he had long since mastered the ability to maintain a calm expression even if he stayed up all night. But tonight, his chaotic thoughts were like willow catkins blown by the wind, impossible to suppress.

Qingfeng, standing to the side, didn't have the same composure as his master.

The guy tossed and turned in bed, making the mattress rustle, like a stranded fish struggling desperately.

Xiao Yi suddenly spoke, his voice unusually clear in the darkness, "Qingfeng, what's wrong with you, kid? Got fleas on you?"

He opened his eyes, his deep pupils gleaming faintly in the night, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Qingfeng sat up and, clutching the blanket, began to complain: "Master, I can't sleep."

"Oh? What's wrong?"

"Could it be that you're thinking about Miss Winter Mallow and can't sleep?"

Xiao Yi joked.

Qingfeng hesitated for a moment, but couldn't hold back his words: "Master, what nonsense are you talking about?"

Why would I think of the girl named Winter Mallow...?

I was thinking about the Qilin key you gave to Tao'er tonight!

I know that Miss Tao'er has been kind to the Xiao family, and you are grateful to her, so of course I am also grateful to her.

But... but you can't give her your entire fortune!

You know perfectly well what that Qilin key is...

"Gentle Breeze!"

Xiao Yi's voice suddenly turned cold, like ice in the twelfth lunar month, abruptly cutting off Qingfeng's words.

He sat up as well, his expression obscured by the darkness, but the imposing aura in his voice was palpable: "The matter of the Qilin Key need not be mentioned again."

He must not utter a single word about it in front of Tao'er.

I won't repeat myself, do you hear me?

Qingfeng shivered and lowered his head: "Yes, Your subordinate understands."

After a moment of silence, Qingfeng raised his head again and changed the subject: "Master, actually, your Heart-Eating Cold Poison is not entirely without a chance of being cured."

Elder Li has already sent out many people to search for the thousand-year-old ginseng and the Tian Shan snow lotus.

Although both of these are rare treasures, money can make the devil turn the millstone, and you can always find them.

We might hear news soon.

"You...you didn't really need to make arrangements so quickly."

As he spoke, a hint of urgency crept into his voice.

Having served Xiao Yi for so many years, he knew all too well what his master was planning.

He gave the Qilin Key to Tao'er, dispersed and arranged the Seven Kill Pavilion's assets, and even began to make arrangements for his death. Every single thing he did seemed like he was making arrangements for his own affairs after death.

Xiao Yi remained silent for a while, and when he spoke again, his tone was more calm and relieved: "My cold poison, let nature take its course."

Life and death are preordained; they cannot be forced.

"master……"

"Let's not talk about that anymore." Xiao Yi waved his hand, turning the topic to the important matter at hand, "Right now, the Crown Prince's affairs are the most important thing."

He has lost his memory, so things are difficult to arrange now.

Qingfeng immediately became serious: "What does Master intend to do?"

Xiao Yi pondered for a moment and said, "If he hasn't lost his memory, our people can send him to the north, where our people will meet him, along with other officials from the imperial court."

No matter how audacious King Cheng was, he couldn't extend his reach to the north.

But in his current state, he doesn't even remember who he is, so sending him to the north would be of no use.

But if we abandon him, and he regains his memories and finds out we didn't help him, we'll be the first to be beheaded.

He paused, his brows furrowing even more: "Moreover, since the Prince Cheng's assassination attempt failed this time, he certainly won't let it go easily."

If we really abandon the Crown Prince, he will become a victim of those assassins within a few days.

Qingfeng scratched his head, thought for a long time, and then suddenly his eyes lit up: "Master, why don't we send the Crown Prince to Tiger Head Village?"

That place is far from the emperor's reach, beyond the court's jurisdiction, and even the Prince of Cheng's men cannot be found!

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yi almost laughed out of anger: "Qingfeng, you've got quite the nerve."

"To dare hide the crown prince in a bandit's den, they must be tired of living, right?"

He shook his head and patiently explained, "Tiger Head Stronghold is my secret foundation now and in the future, and it will also be the Xiao family's fallback plan."

Putting that aside, what kind of behavior is it for the dignified Crown Prince to mingle with a bunch of bandits who rob and plunder?

If he ascends the throne in the future, this matter will be a stain on his record, and how will the court officials talk about it?

How would the historian record it?

More importantly, people's hearts are fickle.

The current crown prince is gentle and kind, and grateful for kindness, but who knows what he will become once he sits on the dragon throne?

Those bandits were all bad people, and it's not impossible that the Crown Prince would kill them to silence them in order to protect his reputation.

When he kills those bandits, the court officials will only praise him for ridding the people of a scourge; who will say he is ungrateful?

Upon hearing this, Qingfeng's excitement vanished, and he hung his head, saying, "I was inconsiderate."

Then, Master, what do you suggest we do?

They can't throw him away, they can't give him away, they can't keep him—this crown prince has truly become a hot potato.

We can't just...

"We can't exactly send him to our Seven Kill Pavilion, can we?"

Xiao Yi shook his head: "We can't let him go to the Seven Killings Pavilion either."

That's the Xiao family's trump card; it can't be revealed easily.

He took a deep breath, his voice low and firm: "And we can't abandon the Crown Prince."

Qingfeng, you must remember, whether the Xiao family's wrongful conviction can be cleared, and whether the hundreds of members of the Xiao family can live uprightly in the sunlight, all depends on the Crown Prince.

King Cheng was ruthless and cruel, harming loyal officials. The old emperor pretended to be confused, watched coldly, and even secretly fueled the flames.

This court needs a wise ruler.

"What does Master mean?"

"right!

We must not only protect the crown prince, but also help him ascend to the throne.

He was the legitimate son of the Empress, and his succession to the throne was perfectly legitimate.

He still has the support of ministers in the court.

Qingfeng stared blankly at his master. Under the moonlight, Xiao Yi's profile was resolute, and a flame burned in his eyes.

He suddenly realized that his master, with whom he had grown up since childhood, was more profound and far-reaching than he had ever imagined.

"My lord, whatever you wish to do, I will support you."

Qingfeng said solemnly.

"So what should we do now?"

The Crown Prince's injury should heal in five or six days; we need to make arrangements as soon as possible.

He knew this because he changed the prince's dressing today.

Xiao Yi rubbed his temples: "I don't have a better solution for the time being."

No rush, there are still a few days, let me think about it some more.

Treat these few days as a break and relax properly.

This little courtyard is quite nice; it's quiet.

Qingfeng hummed in agreement and lay back down.

This time, he fell asleep quickly, and soft snoring filled the room.

Xiao Yi closed his eyes again, and his chaotic thoughts gradually calmed down.

He drifted off to sleep after an unknown amount of time.

That night, he had a dream.