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

Xiao Yi and Tao'er were both startled and turned around abruptly.

Ayan stood three steps away, his small face almost transparently white in the moonlight, his bright black eyes filled with disbelief and a hint of cautious anticipation.

"Ayan..."

Xiao Yi's Adam's apple bobbed, and his voice sounded as if someone was choking him.

"Uncle Shi Qi, you are my fifth uncle, right?"

"Isn't he the young general of the Xiao family that Father often talks about?"

After speaking, Ayan looked directly at Xiao Yi, then shifted his gaze to Sister Tao'er, "Sister Tao'er, am I right?"

Tao'er didn't know how to answer. She turned to look at Xiao Yi, a bitter feeling welling up in her heart.

That feeling is unpleasant.

Ayan took two steps forward, looked up at Xiao Yi's face, and said in a slightly trembling voice, "I remember when I was a child, my father told me that my fifth uncle had a scar on his left arm, which was cut by a bad guy's knife."

"Uncle Shi Qi, right?"

Xiao Yi subconsciously hid his left hand behind his back, stammering, "Ayan...nothing like that, your father might be mistaken?"

"Won't……

I can't be mistaken; I remember everything my father said to me perfectly clearly.

Ayan's voice was choked with sobs and filled with urgency.

Tao'er looked at A Yan's eyes, which were as red as a little white rabbit's, and felt extremely distressed.

She walked directly to Xiao Yi's side, rolled up the sleeve on Xiao Yi's left hand, and sure enough, there was a one-inch-long scar.

She sighed and said, "Xiao Yi, it's come to this, and Ayan has already heard everything. Why do you still need to hide it from him?"

After Tao'er finished speaking, she put down Xiao Yi's sleeve and said to A Yan, "A Yan, come here. He is your fifth uncle. He is not dead."

"Fifth Uncle!" Ayan's voice was muffled, tinged with tears, "I knew you weren't dead!"

Grandma said you are a great hero, how could a hero die!

Why don't you recognize me?

Do you not want Ayan anymore?

"Ayan can't see his parents anymore, does Fifth Uncle not want to see me either?"

Tao'er's eyes reddened, and she turned her face away.

Xiao Yi froze on the spot, his hand, which was being held by A Yan, trembling slightly.

After a long while, he slowly squatted down and looked at Ayan at eye level.

He reached out and touched Ayan's head; his eyes were also red and swollen.

"Ayan," his voice was terribly hoarse, "Fifth Uncle doesn't want you."

Fifth Uncle is afraid of implicating you.

Ayan's tears finally fell, and she threw herself into Xiao Yi's arms, clutching his clothes tightly: "I'm not afraid of being implicated!"

When Grandma passed away, she was still thinking about Fifth Uncle!

She said she wished her fifth uncle were still alive, so that the Xiao family wouldn't be bullied!

Fifth Uncle, please don't leave me behind, okay?

Xiao Yi closed his eyes and pulled A Yan into his arms tightly.

The night breeze swept by, carrying away the little boy's suppressed cries and sighs.

After a long silence, Xiao Yi finally spoke, his voice low, hoarse, and firm: "Alright, Fifth Uncle will never abandon you again."

Tao'er wiped away her tears and smiled through them: "That's good, young master won't have to secretly wipe away his tears anymore."

only……"

She looked around and lowered her voice: "This is not a place to talk too much."

"You two should go back to my room first, and we'll talk in detail later."

Xiao Yi nodded and picked up A Yan.

Ayan hugged his neck, buried her face in his shoulder, and whispered, "Fifth Uncle, you can't run away again."

"Let's not run anymore." Xiao Yi patted his back, a hint of tenderness flashing in his eyes that even he himself didn't realize. "Let's go."

The two arrived at Tao'er's room and closed the door.

"Ayan, listen to me, the fact that your fifth uncle is still alive must not be revealed."

You mustn't tell anyone, not even your sister Dongkui.

Tao'er whispered to Ayan.

Ayan didn't understand and asked, "Sister Tao'er, why can't we call Fifth Uncle 'Fifth Uncle' even though we've found him?"

"Because your fifth uncle died in battle, and now he appears here, suddenly coming back to life, that is deceiving the emperor."

Deceiving the emperor is a serious crime; you should know that.

Now that Sister Tao'er has said this, do you understand?

Tao'er explained patiently.

Ayan nodded. "Sister Tao'er, Ayan understands."

I promise I won't tell anyone.

This is a secret between the three of us.

Then I'll still call Fifth Uncle Seventh Uncle, just like before!

Ayan understood Tao'er's words instantly.

He swore to keep this secret.

He thought to himself how happy his grandmother would be if she knew that his fifth uncle was still alive!

My father, second uncle, and third uncle will surely be very happy to know!

"Ayan is awesome!"

Tao'er gave a thumbs-up in praise.

"Brother Shi Qi, now that A Yan knows your identity, you don't need to worry too much!"

This is all fate!

I will also protect Ayan and prevent anyone from hurting him.

Anyone who dares to harm Ayan, I'll be the first to face their wrath.

Tao'er looked at Xiao Yi's slightly furrowed brows.

"Yes, from now on we'll protect Ayan together. I believe in you."

Thank you, Peach!

Xiao Yi said this from the bottom of his heart.

"You two must have a lot to say, uncle and nephew. Take your time, I'll stay outside and keep everyone out."

You can talk to Ayan about the Prime Minister and the others' situation.

Although the child doesn't usually say it, I can tell he misses them a lot.

After Tao'er finished speaking, she turned around and left the room, then closed the door.

She looked around; it was quiet, and all the lights in everyone's rooms were off, except for hers, which was still lit.

This means everyone is asleep.

It's already past midnight, so it's normal for everyone to be asleep.

She glanced at the two figures reflected in the room, one large and one small, and smiled with satisfaction.

The uncle and nephew finally recognized each other.

This can be considered a fortunate thing.

Unfortunately, their conversation was overheard by the young master; otherwise, when would this uncle-nephew reunion have taken place?

Soft sobs could be heard from inside the room from time to time; she knew it must be Ayan crying.

This child may seem indifferent on ordinary days, and he rarely mentions the Xiao family in front of her, not even the little Madam Xiao.

She knew it wasn't that the little guy had forgotten his pain so quickly, but rather that he was afraid of upsetting her, affecting others, or causing her trouble, so he didn't mention it.

I just thought about it silently in my heart.

Now that he has a loved one by his side, he will be much happier.

Because he has something to rely on spiritually, his heart will feel more at ease.

Once he knows his parents are safe and sound, he won't be so anxious anymore!

After a cup of tea, Xiao Yi came out of the room, his eyes red, as if he had been crying.

If even an adult like Xiao Yi is like this, then that child, A Yan, must be crying even harder.

Xiao Yi bowed respectfully to her, thanked her, and then quickly returned to his room.

Tao'er knew he didn't want her to see him like this, which was why he did it.

When she returned to her room, she found that Ayan had actually fallen asleep, but she quickly realized that Xiao Yi must have coaxed him to sleep.

Tao'er lay down fully clothed; she was so tired today that she soon drifted off to sleep.