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

After dinner, Xiao Yi couldn't sit still.

We're leaving tomorrow, and who knows when we'll be back.

I always feel inexplicably irritable.

He paced back and forth in the room, his boots making a dull thud on the floor.

A voice inside me was saying: Go, go tell Tao'er that you like her.

Another voice said: What if Tao'er refuses after we tell her?

Will she stop talking to me from now on?

But what if she falls for someone else if I don't tell her?

What if she marries someone else?

Elder Li was so dizzy from his dazzling presence that he finally couldn't help but speak up: "Xiao Yi, you brat, stop dangling around in front of me!"

My eyes are blurry and my head is spinning!

Xiao Yi paused, scratching his head sheepishly, "Godfather, I ate too much tonight, a walk will help digest it."

Elder Li glanced at him sideways, "Digestion?"

You only ate half a bowl of rice tonight, what do you mean you're full?

Do you think I'm blind?

Qingfeng, suppressing a laugh, chimed in, "That's right, young master, my eyes are blurry too."

Xiao Yi glared at him irritably, and Qingfeng quickly looked down, pretending to look at the tips of his shoes.

But Xiao Yi's feet seemed to have a mind of their own, and he started walking again, his eyes constantly drifting out the window as he walked.

In the courtyard, Tao'er was talking to Dong Kui, the moonlight shining on her, as gentle as a thin veil.

Seeing his absent-minded look, Elder Li finally sighed and said earnestly, "You brat, stop looking."

If you don't make things clear to Tao'er today, you might not have another chance.

Let me tell you, when it comes to pursuing girls, how can you succeed if you don't have a thick skin?

Back then, it was because I was too shy that I…

Elder Li stopped there, a hint of regret in his eyes.

"Godfather, did you also have someone you liked back then?"

Xiao Yi quickly leaned over and asked.

"Alas, what's done is done. You brat, hurry up and confess your feelings to Peach Girl!"

Otherwise, you'll regret it!

Elder Li did not pat Xiao Yi on the shoulder.

"Exactly!"

Qingfeng immediately perked up and whispered teasingly, "Uncle Li is right!"

"Young master, if you don't speak up, someone else will beat you to it, and then you'll have no one to blame but yourself."

Xiao Yi blushed, opened his mouth as if to say something, but the next second, he slammed the door and left like a gust of wind.

Elder Li looked at the still-shaking door and couldn't help but laugh: "That brat, he's really fast!"

After laughing, he turned his head and found Qingfeng still standing in the room, his eyes darting outside.

Elder Li immediately put on a stern face: "Qingfeng, you brat, don't stay in this room anymore, hurry up and go back to be with your wife!"

Making such a racket every night, aren't you afraid of hurting your back?

Qingfeng's face flushed red to his ears. He stammered for a long time but couldn't utter a single word. In the end, he ran away without looking back.

Behind me came Elder Li's hearty laughter, which carried far and wide into the night.

In the courtyard, the moonlight was like water.

Tao'er was squatting by the flower bed, holding a small shovel in her hand, loosening the soil haphazardly.

Dongkui squatted down beside her and said something to her, and the two of them laughed softly.

Xiao Yi walked to the courtyard gate, but his steps suddenly slowed down.

He stood under the old locust tree, clenching his fist and then loosening it, loosening it and then clenching it again.

The moonlight stretched his shadow long, like a tree that had taken root and couldn't be moved.

Tao'er spotted him first, looked up, her eyes sparkling: "Brother Xiao?"

Dongkui, with her sharp eyes, saw the commotion, smiled, dusted off her hands, and stood up: "Sister Tao'er, I remember now, there's still water boiling in the kitchen. I'll go check it out."

After speaking, she glanced at Xiao Yi, who smiled gratefully at Dong Kui.

Dongkui turned and ran away in a flash.

Only the two of them remained in the courtyard.

Tao'er stood up, patted the grass clippings off her skirt, and tilted her head to look at him: "Brother Xiao, what are you doing standing there?"

It's rather chilly outside, come and sit down.

Xiao Yi said "Oh," walked over, and sat down on the stone bench by the flower bed.

He sat down but felt too far away and wanted to move closer. He lifted his bottom slightly but was too embarrassed, so he just turned his body slightly towards Tao'er.

Tao'er was amused by his appearance: "Why are you acting so strange tonight?"

"No," Xiao Yi said.

After saying that, he felt that those two words were too awkward, so he quickly added, "I'm stuffed, so I came out for a walk."

"Are you full?"

Tao blinked. "I noticed you only ate half a bowl of rice tonight."

Xiao Yi: "..."

He hadn't expected that Peach Girl had also noticed this.

"I...ate too much at lunch, so I'm not very hungry tonight!"

Xiao Yi gave an awkward explanation.

"Oh, I see. If you get hungry later, you can have some porridge!"

There's still porridge in the kitchen.

Tao'er said with a smile.

A night breeze blew by, and a few strands of Tao'er's hair fluttered up and brushed against her cheek.

She reached up and tucked her hand behind her ear; the moonlight illuminated her profile, making her look serene and beautiful.

As Xiao Yi watched, the pent-up energy he had been holding in all night suddenly surged up.

"Tao'er," he said, his voice hoarser than he had expected.

"Um?"

I'm leaving tomorrow.

Tao'er paused for a moment, then quickly resumed her hand and said with a smile, "I know, you'll be gone for quite a while this time."

Be careful on your journey, and always prioritize your safety.

When you get there, remember to write to me, Ayan. Don't worry about Ayan, I will...

"good!

Peach...

I'm leaving Ayan in your care now, thank you!

I have something to tell you.

Xiao Yi interrupted her.

Tao'er paused, looking at him.

Xiao Yi took a deep breath, as if to bolster his courage.

He remembered what his godfather had said, and what Qingfeng had said.

Then he said it.

"Tao'er, I like you."

The moment the words left his mouth, he felt his whole body lighten, so light he felt like he could be blown away by the night breeze.

But the next second I felt like my heart was about to jump out of my throat, thumping like a drum.

Tao'er was stunned.

Although she sensed that Xiao Yi treated her differently, she didn't bring it up in public!

The moonlight reflected in her eyes, like shattered silver foil scattered on the ground.

She didn't know how to answer for a moment.

Xiao Yi had confessed his feelings once before when he was drunk, but that time was different because Xiao Yi was not in a sober state.

Now I am fully awake!

Xiao Yi didn't dare to look at her. He lowered his head, staring at the tips of his boots, and said quickly, "I know I'm saying this at the wrong time. I'm leaving tomorrow, and I don't know when I'll be back."

But I couldn't hold it in anymore, I really couldn't hold it in anymore.

"If you don't like me, just pretend I didn't say anything. I'll treat you the same way I always have, and I'll never make things difficult for you."

If... if you have me in your heart, then I, Xiao Yi, will only ever have you in my life.

He finished speaking and kept his mouth tightly shut, like a prisoner awaiting sentencing.

The courtyard was extremely quiet; even the chirping of insects in the grass seemed to have stopped.

After a while, he heard Tao'er sigh softly.

That sigh made his heart clench.

"Brother Xiao."

Tao'er's voice was soft yet calm.

"Hmm," Xiao Yi responded sullenly, still not daring to look up.

"Brother Xiao, you are a good man, probably the dream lover of many young girls."

It's Tao'er's good fortune that you've taken a liking to me, but I haven't considered that matter yet.

You are Ayan's fifth uncle and the fifth young master of the Xiao family. I never even considered that possibility.

so……"

Tao'er said this to avoid embarrassing Xiao Yi, so she could only say that she wasn't considering it for the time being.

Xiao Yi is indeed a good man in this era, but right now she only wants to save her life.

To live a rich and free pastoral life.

She didn't crave love, because love and sincerity are the easiest things to change.

She didn't want to gamble on someone's sincerity!

Xiao Yi was afraid that she would say she didn't like him and directly reject him, so he quickly interrupted Tao'er again, "Miss Tao'er, it's okay if you haven't thought it through or considered this matter."

I don't need you to answer me right now.

I just wanted to tell you how I feel about you.

I will keep waiting...

Furthermore, I guarantee that I, Xiao Yi, will only marry one wife in my life and will never take a concubine!

I……

I still have some things to pack, so I'll go back to my room first...

After saying that, Xiao Yi ran back into the house as if he were fleeing.

"Brother Xiao... Brother Xiao..."

Tao called to him, but he ran away without turning his head, as if a ghost was chasing him.

Hey, she hasn't even finished speaking yet!

I originally wanted to call Ayan out so that the uncle and nephew could have a few words.

Never mind, I'll just wait until tomorrow morning, it'll be the same.

Just then, Dongkui ran over with a mischievous grin. "Little Peach, what did Young Master Xiao just say to you?"

Now that Dongkui knows Xiao Yi's identity, she can no longer call him "elder brother" and instead calls him "young master" like Qingfeng does.