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

Tao ladled out a bowl and tasted it. The temperature was just right, and the taste was perfect. It wasn't so bitter that it was hard to swallow, and it retained the medicinal properties.

She nodded in satisfaction and served a few more bowls.

"Go and call them all out, and have each of them drink a bowl."

Tao'er carried the tray out, giving Xie Jingchen instructions as she went.

"You should drink a bowl too. Even though you look sober, you still smell of alcohol."

Xie Jingchen obediently took the bowl, tilted his head back, and drank it all in one gulp.

The soup has a slightly bitter taste upon first sip, followed by a sweet aftertaste. The warm sensation slides down the throat into the stomach, bringing indescribable comfort.

Xiao Yi had already brought out A Yan, who was now clean and tidy.

Ayan changed into a moon-white shirt, his hair still wet and stuck to his forehead, his face flushed pink from the steam, looking just like the money-scattering boy in the painting.

She's so beautiful at such a young age; she'll probably charm many girls when she grows up.

Tao'er thought to herself, "I'm so annoyed."

One by one, everyone came out of the house and each took a bowl of hangover soup and drank it.

After being woken up by Qingfeng, Elder Li groggily drank a bowl of water and then fell back asleep.

Tao'er drank half a bowl herself, and her stomach felt warm and comfortable, and the effects of the alcohol had dissipated considerably.

She went to the kitchen and ladled out some porridge. The white porridge was cooked to a perfect consistency, with the rice grains already split open and a thin layer of rice oil floating on top, making it very soothing for the stomach.

Everyone sat around the stone table in the courtyard, enjoying a bowl of hot porridge with a few small dishes of pickled vegetables.

The night breeze was cool, dispersing the last vestiges of alcohol fumes, and everyone's face bore the satisfied look of someone who had eaten and drunk their fill.

As Ayan drank, his head began to droop little by little.

Xiao Yi reacted quickly and pulled him into his arms.

I figured the little guy must be sleepy.

The little guy immediately found the most comfortable position, curled up in Xiao Yi's arms, and his breathing gradually became long and even.

Xiao Yi looked down at the small figure in his arms, his hard jawline softening considerably.

He reached out and gently brushed Ayan's soft, black hair aside.

Huanhuan was also sleepy. She rubbed her eyes and leaned against Dongkui, mumbling "No, no, no," but she couldn't even open her eyes.

Seeing this, Tao'er said softly, "Go to sleep, everyone. You've had a long day."

The crowd dispersed, their footsteps gradually fading into the night.

The courtyard quieted down, with only the chirping of insects echoing throughout.

About an hour later, the entire courtyard was completely asleep.

Moonlight streamed through the window into the room, covering the floor with a thin layer of silver frost.

Xie Jingchen lay on the bed, breathing evenly, seemingly already fast asleep.

However, in the midst of complete silence, a dark figure silently slipped in through the window, as light as a falling leaf.

The man landed almost without making a sound; his movements were agile, clearly indicating he was a master.

Xie Jingchen suddenly opened his eyes.

Those eyes shone brightly in the darkness, showing no sign of sleepiness.

He remained lying down, not moving, and coldly asked, "Who goes there?"

At the same time, he gently flicked his finger on the pillow, and the bamboo torch placed by the bedside lit up.

It was a specially made fire extinguisher that emitted a soft light, yet was enough to illuminate the entire room.

The orange light dispelled the darkness, revealing the figure of the person.

Dressed in black night clothes, tall and with a resolute face, he was kneeling on one knee in front of the window.

"Your Highness, I deserve to die. I arrived too late to save you. Please punish me."

The man in black spoke in a low voice, filled with barely suppressed excitement.

Xie Jingchen sat up abruptly, and upon closer inspection, his eyes suddenly lit up with surprise: "Jiang Zhen?"

You've finally arrived!

Get up quickly; there's no need for such formalities outside.

He paused, his voice slightly tense, "Where are the others?"

Jiang Zhen stood up, and a complex expression of anger and sorrow instantly appeared on his resolute face.

He lowered his head, his voice hoarse: "Your Highness, they are all dead..."

Only one subordinate remained.

Upon hearing this, Xie Jingchen's expression changed drastically. He remained silent for a long while, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down.

After a long silence, he finally spoke, his voice so low it was almost inaudible: "Are they all Cheng Wangqian's?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

Jiang Zhen's fists clenched so tightly they cracked.

"They were all assassins sent by King Cheng; there were just too many of them..."

"Your subordinate is incompetent and failed to protect you."

He looked up, his gaze eagerly scrutinizing Xie Jingchen.

"By the way, Your Highness, has the poison in your body been cured?"

Are your injuries healed?

He still thought His Highness had died from the poison, but he had to see the body with his own eyes before he could give up.

Until he saw the Crown Prince's exclusive communication signal.

Xie Jingchen nodded slightly, his expression softening: "The poison in my body has been neutralized, and my injuries have fully healed, so you don't need to worry."

Jiang Zhen visibly breathed a sigh of relief, but then looked guilty: "But did the young lady at the inn ask a doctor to save you?"

When his subordinates went to fetch a doctor, they encountered King Cheng's assassins and were chased by them. He fell off a cliff and was unable to return in time.

"Your subordinate... deserves to die!"

He said he was about to kneel down again.

Xie Jingchen grabbed his arm and said solemnly, "Jiang Zhen, you risked your life to protect me, what crime have you committed?"

Please stop saying that.

He paused, then solemnly said, "I was not saved by a doctor, but by a girl named Tao'er in the inn."

From now on, you must respect her as you would me; she is my savior.

Jiang Zhen's expression hardened, and he immediately clasped his hands in a fist salute: "Your subordinate obeys!"

He sensed an unusual weight in his master's unusually solemn tone.

This Miss Tao'er is far more than just an ordinary benefactor to His Highness.

Xie Jingchen then asked about his experiences after falling off the cliff, and Jiang Zhen reported back one by one: "I was lucky; I got caught in a tree when I fell."

When your subordinates finally managed to climb back up and go to the inn to look for you, they found you were gone, the girl was gone, and the entire inn was deserted.

"I was worried about the poison in Your Highness's body, so I had to rush back to the capital to inform His Majesty that someone had tried to assassinate you and that you had been injured and poisoned."

His Majesty was furious and sent two top imperial guards with me to find you, ordering us to escort you to the north.

Xie Jingchen's eyes flickered slightly: "Oh? I see."

What about those two experts?

"I saw your signal and rushed over as fast as I could."

I arranged for those two to stay at the inn. They didn't know I was here and thought I was sleeping.

"Yes, Jiang Zhen, you did a very good job."

Xie Jingchen nodded.

Jiang Zhen lowered his voice, "I came here tonight to confirm whether Your Highness is here."

Xie Jingchen pondered for a moment, a cold glint flashing in his eyes: "Those two cannot be kept alive."

They were sent by my father to monitor me.

Find an opportunity to take them out.

He raised his hand and made a gesture as if he were about to swiftly strike with a knife.