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

When Tao'er learned that Xiao Yi was fetching water in the backyard, she went directly there.

There is an old well in the backyard. The well water is clear, sweet, and delicious.

Of course, it can't compare to the spiritual spring water in this space.

She stood not far away, watching Xiao Yi draw water bucket by bucket, the clear water reflecting his sharply defined profile.

He moved swiftly, filling each bucket to the brim, and the muscles and veins in his hands were clearly visible.

People who practice martial arts are different; look at those muscles...

He looks like he's bursting with hormones...

Xiao Yi was unaware that the officials had come.

He devoted himself to settling into his new house and repairing the courtyard wall. A man who once made decisive decisions on the battlefield was now rolling up his sleeves to do these rough jobs, and he did them quite diligently.

As Tao'er gazed at his strong and handsome figure from afar, her face flushed slightly, but this was quickly suppressed by a cloud of self-reproach.

"Tao'er?" Xiao Yi looked up and saw her. A smile immediately appeared on his face. The smile was clean and handsome, revealing a row of white teeth.

Tao'er was a little envious; those teeth were even whiter than her own.

"Why are you here?"

Where is Ayan?

Tao'er walked over and, instead of making a few jokes as usual, went straight to the point: "Seventh Brother Shi, Magistrate Qin has sent two officials over."

Xiao Yi's hand stopped moving.

He placed the bucket on the edge of the well, his brow furrowed into a deep frown, and his voice turned serious: "What happened?"

Tao'er took a deep breath and told the official everything he had said.

She tried to speak calmly, but when she talked about how Ayan was almost kidnapped by a kidnapper, she sounded somewhat angry.

"Brother Shi Qi, this is all my fault!"

Tao lowered her head and said with some self-reproach.

"I shouldn't have bothered with that scoundrel so much."

If I don't push him to the limit, he won't seek revenge.

Ah Yan will not suffer those torments!

If Ayan were really killed or maimed by those flower sellers, she would also be in trouble.

My mind is filled with those horrific images, like they're nailed to my brain, and I can't shake them off.

She had just been thinking that she sometimes handled things too impulsively!

After all, this is ancient times, not modern times where civilization has developed and everyone is equal.

She realized she had been too impulsive.

He hasn't changed his temper at all; he acts on impulse without considering the consequences.

Now look what's happened; trouble has come, and it's the people around us who are suffering.

She thought about it and realized she was still too young; she couldn't handle things like that in the future.

If she hadn't made a big scene back then and made that bastard lose his job, perhaps none of this would have happened.

She shouldn't have dealt with that bastard directly; she should have used other methods!

"Tao'er, you did nothing wrong, please don't think like that!"

Xiao Yi's voice fell steadily, like a stone thrown into her surging emotions, suppressing the ripples.

"That's how you deal with scoundrels like Ah Wang."

You did the right thing!

He looked at her with a serious gaze.

Tao'er raised her head and met his gaze.

There was no blame or complaint in those eyes.

Isn't he angry at all?

After all, Ayan was his nephew, and the kidnapping was because she had offended a villain.

But his expression told her that what she was talking about was not a big deal at all.

"You really don't blame me for letting Ayan get hurt?"

Tao asked in confusion.

"Fool, why would I blame you?"

Ayan is a son of the Xiao family, what's a little setback to him?

"If he can't even endure this much suffering, then he's not a member of the Xiao family!"

"this……

Brother Shi Qi, you're exaggerating.

Ah Yan is only five years old, don't treat him like an adult.

He must have been scared too!

Tao'er never expected Xiao Yi to say such a thing.

"Yes, you're right, that's just what I was saying."

You don't need to worry, that beast Awang has escaped, so be it.

He doesn't have any special background, so there's no need to be afraid of him.

A local thug wouldn't dare come knocking.

Xiao Yi softened his tone.

"That Ah Wang seems to have been following me, otherwise how would he know that Ah Yan is one of my people?"

That's why I'm a little worried.

"Even if he knows where we live, it's nothing to fear."

He said this in a very casual tone, not taking the man named Awang seriously at all.

"Yes, you're right. There's nothing to worry about. I was just being overly concerned."

Tao nodded, realizing that she had indeed been too tense.

"I will protect Ayan." Xiao Yi paused, glanced at Tao'er, and added, "I will protect you too."

He probably thought she was frightened, so after he finished speaking, he raised his hand and gently patted her shoulder.

The force was neither too light nor too heavy, carrying a kind of warmth that gave people a sense of inexplicable peace of mind.

His tone was unusually gentle, as if he were afraid of startling some small animal.

Tao'er nodded, not pulling away from his hand.

She wasn't the kind of girl who needed someone to protect her, but at that moment, she suddenly felt that being protected like that wasn't so bad.

"However, we still need to be careful."

Tao'er composed herself and said seriously, "Since that bastard Awang hasn't been caught yet, who knows if he might suddenly show up?"

I've already told Ayan to stay in the hospital for a while.

Xiao Yi nodded: "Yes, you've thought of everything."

Tao'er thought for a moment and then said, "Also... if you have time, teach Ayan martial arts."

"Now that he has martial arts skills, he'll be able to protect himself."

She had been thinking about this for a long time.

Ayan is a child of the Xiao family, and children from a family of that caliber are naturally not to be too ordinary.

The Xiao family has both civil and military officials, and is a century-old family.

Although his family has suffered misfortune, he is not an ordinary person.

The Xiao family's grudge must be avenged!

Such a child is unlikely to have a smooth path in the future.

Instead of waiting for danger to strike before figuring out a solution, it's better to give him the ability to protect himself from the very beginning.

Xiao Yi's eyes lit up after hearing this.

You're absolutely right.

Ayan is a son of the Xiao family. Even if he doesn't fight on the battlefield in the future, he can learn martial arts to defend himself and protect those around him.

When he said the words "protect the people around you," his gaze unconsciously drifted towards Tao'er.

Tao'er pretended not to notice and lowered her head to adjust her cuffs.

She thought to herself, "Why are this person's eyes always so bright?"

Ayan's reaction to this arrangement surprised everyone.

Tao'er was worried that he would find it too hard. After all, a five-year-old child has to practice martial arts, read books, and learn medicine every day. It would be considered strict in any family.

When she showed the schedule to Xiao Yi, he was quite satisfied and simply said, "Boys aren't that delicate," before readily agreeing.