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

Upon hearing that bandits were coming, Ayan immediately grabbed Sister Tao'er and tried to run, crying, "Sister Tao'er, run! The bandits from Jingmeng Mountain are coming..."

Tao'er grabbed him, smiling, and said, "Ayan, don't be afraid. Aren't you going to see your father?"

Upon hearing that he had to see his father, Ayan stopped, but after a moment, he shook his head. "Sister Tao'er, if the price of seeing Father is that Sister Tao'er will die with me, then I would rather not see Father."

Ayan bit his lower lip and silently prayed: Father, I am an unfilial son. I am afraid I will not be able to see you this time.

"Ayan..."

Hearing Ayan's words, Tao'er felt a lump in her throat, and something seemed to well up in her eyes.

She knew these were Ayan's true feelings, because Ayan had no idea about her plans and arrangements.

They were unaware that the bandits of Jingmeng Mountain were actually beggars in disguise, not real bandits.

For his own safety, he even made his father, who was right next to him, disappear.

"Ayan, I promised you that I would let you see the Prime Minister tonight, and I can't go back on my word."

Tao'er said with a smile.

"No, Sister Tao'er, you don't understand. The bandits of Jingmeng Mountain are extremely powerful. They are all ruthless and merciless, killing without blinking an eye."

I heard it from my third uncle.

Let's run away quickly!

If I were captured by bandits, I certainly wouldn't survive.

Ah Yan was extremely anxious, but why did Sister Tao'er not seem scared at all?

Although Sister Tao'er has some martial arts skills, she is no match for the bandits.

Moreover, there were many bandits; judging from the deafening shouts, there were probably dozens of them.

Just then, the gates of the Prime Minister's residence opened, and a leader led twenty or thirty imperial guards out.

"You team go east, the rest of you follow me west."

Soon the officers and soldiers split into two groups and chased after them in opposite directions.

Tao'er smiled slyly: The opportunity has arrived.

"Ayan, those aren't real bandits, they're just beggars in disguise. You don't need to be afraid."

Now that the guards have left, our opportunity has arrived.

"Let's sneak in through the back door; Uncle Chen will be there to meet us."

Ayan suddenly realized that this was Tao'er's scheme to lure the tiger away from the mountain.

Her eyes lit up instantly. "Sister Tao'er, let's hurry and go see Father!"

Ayan pulled Tao'er and ran towards the back door.

Upon reaching the door, they indeed carried Chen Ping'an there.

"Uncle Chen, how many soldiers are still inside?"

Tao'er got straight to the point and asked directly.

"About seven or eight of them were already under the influence of the sleeping potion you gave me."

Peach Girl, that thing you gave me is just so useful.

They smelled it for a while and then all collapsed.

Chen Ping'an was increasingly impressed by the girl's intelligence; she was truly clever and worthy of being a maid from a wealthy family.

"Thank you for your hard work, Uncle Chen."

Let's go inside quickly!

Is the Prime Minister keeping vigil at the mourning hall?

Tao'er led Ayan inside, asking as she went.

"The Prime Minister's residence was basically burned down, and the mourning hall was just a simple one set up in the front yard."

As Chen Ping'an said this, he glanced at A Yan next to Tao'er.

Ayan said, "Given the current situation, it's already the best outcome that Grandmother can be laid to rest."

We'll rebuild her tomb in the future.

"Ayan has grown up!"

"Come on, let's go see your father."

When they arrived at the mourning hall in the front yard, they saw a coffin made of medium-sized wood, not even nanmu.

Ayan's cries were particularly clear in the quiet night as he rushed toward the figure kneeling on the prayer mat in front of the mourning hall.

The man slowly turned around; it was none other than Xiao Wen, the current prime minister.

In the firelight, his once refined and dignified face was covered with stubble, and his eyes were sunken, with only his eyes still faintly showing the sharp light of the past.

He was dressed in plain clothes and looked more than ten years older than before.

"Father!" Ayan suddenly threw himself into Xie Yuheng's arms, tears streaming down his face.

Xiao Wen was stunned for a moment, then his hand trembled as he stroked A Yan's back, his voice hoarse: "Yan'er."

Is it really you?

"Am I dreaming?"

"Father, it is your son, it is Ayan!"

Sister Tao brought me here.

Ayan raised his teary-eyed face and pointed to Tao'er standing to the side.

Chen Ping'an didn't come in; he stayed outside.

Xiao Wen's gaze passed over A Yan's shoulder and landed on Tao'er, who was standing at the entrance of the mourning hall.

A complex emotion flashed in his eyes, a mixture of gratitude and doubt.

Why is Ayan with the young cook in this household?

Even if Mother were to entrust Ayan to someone else, she couldn't entrust him to a little girl with no background or connections, could she?

Isn't this just risking another life?

I'm afraid we won't even be able to get out of the city gates of Shengjing!

"Prime Minister." Tao'er stepped forward and curtsied. "This servant, Tao'er, is a maidservant of the Old Madam."

Before she passed away, the old lady instructed me to take care of the young master. It just so happens that I have learned that Prince Cheng will bring you tonight to help the old lady with her funeral arrangements.

I thought this was the only chance, and I had to bring the young master to see you no matter what.

Xiao Wen gently released A Yan and stood up.

Despite his impoverished state, his innate air of nobility and authority remained: "How did you get in?"

There should still be imperial guards stationed outside the mansion.

Not to mention that there were imperial guards inside the mansion, there should also be guards outside.

"Your Excellency need not worry, we are using a diversionary tactic."

Now King Cheng has taken some soldiers back to put out the fire, and the bandits of Jingmeng Mountain have lured away the soldiers who were left here.

The rest were sleeping like logs, not waking up for even an hour.

She dared not administer too strong a dose of medicine, otherwise, if it went on for too long, Prince Cheng would discover that they had met with the Prime Minister in private.

"What?"

The Prince Cheng's mansion is on fire; have the bandits from Jingmeng Mountain entered the city?

How did you sneak in?

Also, were those officers and soldiers drugged?

Could it be that it's all you...?

Xiao Wen's incredulous gaze swept over Tao'er, filled with amazement!

Even he himself was impressed by the depth of the thinking and the strategy!

Tao'er didn't have time to think about anything else and quickly explained the situation briefly, "Prime Minister, time is of the essence, so I can only give a brief account of what happened."

Your Excellency, if you have anything to say to the young master, please do so as soon as possible.

We must leave in an hour.

Otherwise, if King Cheng were to launch a surprise attack, all our previous efforts would be in vain.

Xiao Wen nodded, took Ayan's hand, and walked to the old lady's coffin: "Yan'er, kowtow to your grandmother."

Ayan obediently knelt down and respectfully kowtowed three times.

Xiao Wen then said to Tao'er, "Miss Tao'er, I, Xiao Wen, will never forget your great kindness."

"From now on, you belong to the Xiao family. You should also burn some incense for the old lady!"

Tao'er nodded. "Yes, Prime Minister."

Tao'er personally burned incense for the old lady and bowed three times.

He thought to himself: "Old Madam, if you know this in the afterlife, please bless me and Ayan with peace and safety!"

After burning incense, she turned and left, leaving the father and son in the mourning hall alone.

When Ayan got up, he looked at the simple coffin, his little face full of sorrow: "Father, don't be too sad."

Although my grandmother is physically dead, she has actually gone to a very beautiful place in heaven.

There is no place where there is pain.

She can see us, but we can't see her.

She will protect us, so you and your second and third uncles will be safe and sound.

We'll have opportunities to meet again in the future, so Father, you and Mother must take good care of yourselves.

Surprise flashed in Xiao Wen's eyes. After a moment of silence, he asked with delight, "Yan'er, who told you all this?"

Ayan would never say such a thing.

"Father, what I said is true. Sister Tao'er told me."

Sister Tao said that we should all live well, because there is hope only when we are alive.

Father, did I say something wrong?

Or do you think Sister Tao'er is wrong?

But I think what Sister Tao'er said makes a lot of sense.

"No………

My Yan'er has grown up, and Daddy is very pleased.

Your sister Tao'er is right, your grandmother went to heaven, a very, very beautiful place.

Yan'er, remember your father's words. From now on, you must listen to her and only believe her. Don't believe anyone else, including your other relatives.

You must promise your father, okay?

This time, the Xiao family suffered such a great calamity, and he always felt that there was a traitor within the family!

"Okay, son, I understand!"

"Ayan, go and call your sister Tao'er in. Father has something to say to her."

"it is good."

A moment later, Tao'er led A-Yan in.