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

Ah Chen was startled by Xiao Yi's sudden words and quickly apologized, "I'm sorry, Ah Tao, I didn't think that much just now, maybe we should just forget about it!"

"I'll wash myself once my chest wound is completely healed!"

"Waiting for you to get better on your own would take too long, and you'd probably feel very uncomfortable."

However, Brother Shi Qi is right, it's indeed inappropriate for me to wash you, otherwise how about this..."

At this point, Tao'er smiled and looked at Xiao Yi, whose expression was cold. "Seventh Brother Shi, you are a man, so there's no need to avoid suspicion. Why don't you come and help Young Master Chen wash his hair in a couple of days?"

Tao'er smiled, her eyes crinkling, as if asking him casually.

Xiao Yi, however, realized that Tao'er had done this on purpose.

Ah Chen suppressed a laugh and deliberately dragged out his words, saying slowly, "Miss Ah Tao is absolutely right. Young Master Shi and I are both men, so there is no distinction between men and women."

"I wonder if Young Master Shi would be willing to do me this favor?"

Xiao Yi glanced at Tao'er, then called out towards the kitchen, "Qingfeng, come here for a moment..."

Qingfeng, who was talking to Dongkui in the kitchen, heard the shout and had to quickly run out.

"My lord, did you summon me for something?"

He wondered if his master would ask him the same question again.

"Qingfeng, in a couple of days, give Young Master Chen a proper hair wash. Remember, make sure it's clean."

Ideally, it should be the kind that makes your scalp bleed.

Who told you to be thinking about Tao'er?

Qingfeng was puzzled and scratched the back of his head. "Wash your hair?"

Shall I wash Young Master Chen's hair?

Tao couldn't help but burst out laughing.

It seems that Qingfeng is the kind of person who takes the blame.

Qingfeng was confused by the laughter, and after saying "oh," he ran back to the kitchen.

Xiao Yi muttered under his breath: This guy, he's forgotten his brothers now that he has a wife!

Afterwards, Tao'er pulled Ayan to wash her face and hands. After eating candied hawthorn, her face and hands were covered in sugar residue.

When Tao'er came out of the house, she saw Xiao Yi and A Chen chatting, but she didn't know what they were talking about.

The day passed peacefully like that.

Although there are more people now, life is pretty much the same as before.

The biggest change is that the task of applying medicine to Young Master Chen has changed from her, Tao'er, to Qingfeng.

Qingfeng was overjoyed, after all, that was the Crown Prince, and possibly the future Emperor.

As evening fell, Qingfeng helped tend the fire in the kitchen, while Dongkui helped pick vegetables.

Tao'er was in charge of cooking, since she was the best cook.

Everyone loves her cooking.

As the fumes rose, the aroma gradually filled the entire courtyard.

Ayan squatted at the kitchen door, waiting expectantly.

Xiao Yi was practicing martial arts in the courtyard, while Young Master Chen was still sitting under the locust tree, only now he had changed the book in his hand.

Dinner was very lavish; Qingfeng used all her skills to prepare four dishes and a soup.

Ayan ate with gusto, his mouth greasy, and even Young Master Chen ate half a bowl more rice than usual.

After the meal, it gradually got dark.

Ah Yan pestered Tao'er to tell him a story before finally going to sleep contentedly.

Young Master Chen returned to his room early. Qingfeng helped him apply the medicine and lay him down before quietly leaving.

The courtyard quieted down, with only the chirping of crickets and the rustling of leaves in the wind.

Tao'er was about to go back to her room when Xiao Yi called her back.

"Miss Peach, may I speak with you in private?"

Tao'er paused slightly, then nodded.

The two walked to the locust tree in the corner of the courtyard. Moonlight filtered through the branches and leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

Xiao Yi remained silent for a moment, seemingly considering how to begin.

Tao'er didn't urge her, but just waited quietly.

Finally, Xiao Yi spoke: "Last night, I had my secret guards deliver a message to my father, informing him of the discovery of the Crown Prince..."

I told him about what I found out about Young Master Chen.

I also told my father about his current situation in the letter.

Tao'er straightened her expression and listened intently.

"Just now, Father replied to my letter." Xiao Yi's voice was very low. "His thoughts are similar to mine."

King Cheng is cruel and inhumane, and is unfit for the great task. We must protect the Crown Prince.

This is not only for our Xiao family, but also for the common people of the Great Zhou!

Tao'er nodded; she understood the thoughts of the Xiao father and son.

"The Prime Minister is right; who becomes emperor in the future is indeed very important to the people!"

Xiao Yi paused for a moment, "The Crown Prince's current situation is special. He has lost his memory and doesn't remember who he is. He can't go north for the time being, otherwise he might be in grave danger!"

The father's idea was that he had to find a place to temporarily hide away and avoid the storm.

Once he regains his memory, we will escort him north to take up his new post.

Tao'er frowned slightly: "So you mean...?"

Xiao Yi turned around and looked at her seriously: "I want you to take the Crown Prince and find a safe place to live in seclusion for a while."

I am, after all, a dead man, and it is not appropriate for me to show my face in public.

If I were discovered by someone with ulterior motives, I would be guilty of deceiving the emperor, and the emperor might send people to hunt me down, not to mention the Prince of Cheng.

He certainly wouldn't want me alive.

Tao'er was stunned. She hadn't expected Xiao Yi to think this way, wanting to hand over the crown prince to her.

This is a truly heavy responsibility...

That was the Crown Prince, though he's no longer one, he's still a member of the royal family, the Prince of the North...

If anything goes wrong, she will be in deep trouble...

Tao'er felt increasingly overwhelmed; taking care of Ayan was already enough of a headache for her.

"I know this request is abrupt."

So I won't force you.

If you agree, I will be extremely grateful.

If you don't want to, I won't blame you.

Seeing that Tao'er didn't speak, Xiao Yi immediately began to explain.

At worst, he could take the prince away after he had settled them in a safe place.

Anyway, he has amnesia now and doesn't recognize him, so he can just leave with the crown prince.

Because he really didn't want to force her or cause her any trouble.

He was even more worried that Tao'er and the Crown Prince would develop feelings for each other as they spent more and more time together!

If the crown prince were a wealthy young man, he would absolutely not object.

After all, a good family background, good looks, and good character make her the perfect choice for a good husband.

But his identity happens to be that of a prince of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Tao'er fell silent.

Under the moonlight, she lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes casting a small shadow on her face.

Xiao Yi looked at her quietly, feeling somewhat uneasy.

He knew this request was a bit excessive. Tao'er was a young woman living in seclusion with a man who had lost his memory; if word got out, it wouldn't be good for her reputation.

However, he simply couldn't find a more suitable candidate.

Qingfeng wanted to go with him, and he didn't trust anyone else, only Tao'er...

I promise you.

The three simple words made Xiao Yi suddenly raise his head.

Tao'er raised her eyes and looked at him calmly: "Yes! I promise you."

Xiao Yi was stunned: "You...you really want to?"

Tao'er smiled slightly, a hint of cunning in her smile: "Young Master Xiao, I'm a businesswoman, I don't do business that loses money."

I was just thinking about it, what if the Crown Prince regains his memories in the future?

If one day he returns to the capital and ascends to that position, the Xiao family will be credited for his role in the rise of the new emperor.

When the Xiao family is exonerated, Ayan can return to the Xiao family openly and legitimately. As her older sister, I can also benefit from this and live a carefree and happy life as a landlady.

Once Ayan is safe, she will be safe too.

For the sake of a peaceful life ahead, and for the sake of dying a happy and healthy death, she had to do this favor.

Xiao Yi stared at her intently. In the moonlight, the girl's smile was bright and cunning, like a little fox who had stolen a chicken.

But deep within that smile, he saw a clear and kind heart.

She could have refused, she could have stayed out of it.

But she came up with so many reasons, saying it was for a peaceful future, but in the end, she was just helping him.

"Miss Tao'er," Xiao Yi's voice was low and hoarse as he looked intently at her, "you are truly... different from other women."

With a broad mind and a strong sense of righteousness, he is a hundred times better than many men!

I admire you!

Tao'er felt a little uncomfortable under his gaze and quickly waved her hands: "No, no, no, I don't have any grand principles. I'm just an ordinary person, the kind who likes to enjoy life."

Xiao Yi shook his head, a slow smile curving his lips, his eyes filled with an appreciation and joy he himself didn't realize: "No matter what, I will remember this favor."

The moonlight, like water, shone down on the two of them.

In the house in the distance, Ayan was sleeping soundly; he no longer had nightmares at night.

In another room, the amnesiac Crown Prince lay quietly, completely unaware of his future fate.