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

Xiao Yi was the first to mount his horse, his movements swift and decisive, his silver-gray cloak drawing a sharp arc in the air.

He sat on horseback, turned his head slightly to take one last look, looked at Ayan, looked at Tao'er, and finally looked at his godfather's tightly closed window.

My godfather ultimately didn't want to see this scene of parting.

Xie Jingchen also mounted his horse, his tall and imposing figure appearing even more upright on the steed.

He reined in his horse, clasped his hands slightly in farewell to the crowd, as a final goodbye.

The last gaze lingered on Tao'er's face, making her extremely uncomfortable. She thought to herself, "Why are they staring at me like that, in front of everyone?"

She pretended to lower her head and talk to Huanhuan. He was a prince, and she couldn't very well call him a lecher!

Seeing Tao'er like this, Xie Jingchen withdrew his gaze, his eyes filled with reluctance.

Who knows when we'll meet again after this parting?

The carriage was ready, and the accompanying guards were fully prepared and ready to depart. The guards were from a security escort agency.

These people can protect supplies and also provide cover.

These people were invited by Qingfeng, sent by Xiao Yi.

This time they disguised themselves as a caravan, which would make them much safer.

The horses snorted and pawed at the ground restlessly, as if they too sensed the reluctance of parting.

Let's go!

Xiao Yi took a deep breath, raised his whip, and spoke in a loud and resolute voice, as if leaving himself no room for regret.

The sound of horses' hooves rang out, and the withered leaves rustled underfoot.

Xie Jingchen followed closely behind, while Dongkui and Qingfeng rode together on a horse at the back of the group.

Ayan finally couldn't hold back any longer. He broke free from Tao'er's hand and chased after her for a few steps. His small figure looked particularly frail on the long street.

He desperately held back his tears, waving his little hands vigorously, his lips trembling, silently repeating "Fifth Uncle... Fifth Uncle..." over and over.

Tao'er caught up with him, hugged Ayan tightly, and choked out, "Ayan, don't shout anymore, don't let your fifth uncle worry, he will come back."

Everyone else will come back too…

Ah Yan could no longer hold back, and tears streamed down his face. "Waaah..."

Sister Tao'er, Fifth Uncle is gone...

Sister Dongkui has also left...

Brother Achen has left too...

And Brother Qingfeng, they're all gone...

Ah Yan felt terrible...

"Don't cry, Ayan. Don't be sad. Their departure is only temporary."

"Don't you still have Sister Tao'er and Sister Huanhuan to keep you company?"

Tao'er patted Ayan's back, gently comforting him.

He's still only five years old; how could he not be upset?

Huanhuan came running over with her short legs and said in her childish voice, "Brother Ayan, don't cry... don't cry..."

Huanhuan will play with you...

Ah Yan slowly wiped away his tears, looked at Huanhuan, and said, "Okay, Huanhuan, brother won't cry anymore!"

He's a man, how could he cry in front of a little girl?

The two children quickly held hands and laughed.

Tao'er laughed along with her. Ah, that's how kids are; they cry when they want to cry and laugh when they want to laugh.

Tao turned around and saw Uncle Li.

Elder Li also appeared at some point, his hands behind his back and his back ramrod straight.

My gaze followed the figure on the horse until it grew smaller and smaller, until it became increasingly blurry.

"Uncle Li, since you are so reluctant to part with him, why don't you come out and see Brother Xiao off?"

Even just a few words would be appreciated!

Tao'er spoke up.

"No, I've said everything I needed to say."

"Just watching them leave is enough; it will keep him from leaving uneasy."

Elder Li shook his head, his gaze still fixed ahead.

Peach fell silent.

She crouched down and hugged Ayan and Huanhuan.

She watched the departing procession, her gaze calm and distant, the smile on her lips never fading.

I silently prayed to myself: May you have a safe journey!

Until the carriage disappeared at the edge of the horizon, until the sound of hooves could no longer be heard.

"They've all left, let's go back to the courtyard!"

Let Ayan and Huanhuan go back to the yard to play!

By the way, Peach Girl, what are your plans?

Are we still going to Jiangnan?

Elder Li turned around and asked Tao'er.

As Tao'er led the two children into the courtyard, she said, "No, I don't plan to go to Jiangnan."

On these several occasions, King Cheng's men have been able to track us down.

He must have already investigated all of Xiao's relatives and friends.

If I go there and get found by his bodyguards or something, I'll only be a burden to others.

"Oh, you're not wrong to think that way."

That would be unsafe for you to take care of two children alone.

If you have nowhere to go, why don't you come with me back to the Seven Kill Pavilion in the capital?

With me here, no one can bully you.

Elder Li thought that keeping people under his watchful eye was the safest option.

Tao'er shook her head. "Thank you, Uncle Li, but no thanks. We finally escaped that place, and we really don't want to go back."

I plan to take Ayan and Huanhuan to my hometown, Taoyuan County.

Tao'er did not hide anything from Elder Li. She trusted him. If he wanted to harm her, it would be easy for him. Why would he bother to teach them medical skills?

"You mean you're taking your two children back to your hometown?"

Weren't you sold to human slaves by your family and went through many twists and turns before finally arriving at the Prime Minister's residence?

Aren't you afraid your family will sell you again?

Should we sell those two little ones too?

Elder Li asked with concern.

"I wasn't sold by my parents, but by my grandmother who tricked me into selling myself to a human trafficker."

My parents don't know.

I don't know how they are doing now, and I miss them too.

Now that I'm older, I'm not afraid of my grandparents anymore.

I need to go back and see my parents and family.

These past two days, Tao'er had another dream, only to discover that the original owner was tricked by her grandmother into being sold to a slave trader when she was just a few years old.

Then he went back and told his parents that the child had fallen into the river and been swept away.

Her mother cried until she went blind, and her father sighed all day long, his health deteriorating significantly.

Before she transmigrated, she only dreamed that she and Ayan died on a snowy escape route; the rest was not detailed.

She's going back now partly to find a place of refuge, and partly to see how her original parents are doing.

If they are good, she will help them; if they are bad, she can sever ties with them and establish her own household.

It seems that women could establish their own households in the Great Zhou Dynasty, but she didn't know the specifics and would need to look into it later.

Elder Li nodded after hearing Tao'er's words, "Alright, since you've made up your mind, then let's do it this way."

Message me if anything comes up.

I'm leaving now. Please be careful with your two children.

Don't be a show-off, and don't meddle in other people's business, lest you get yourself into trouble.

"Okay, Uncle Li, I'll be careful."

Tao'er agreed.

"I'm a little tired, I'm going back to my room to sleep for a while."

Without waiting for Tao'er to speak, Elder Li walked towards his room.

The next day, she made breakfast and went to knock on Uncle Li's door, but no one answered after knocking for a long time.

Pushing open the door, I found no one in the room. There was a letter, several small white porcelain bottles, and two medical books on the table.

The letter read: Peach Girl, Ayan, Huanhuan, I've returned to the capital.

If I leave for too long, I fear something might happen in the cabinet.

Two of the porcelain bottles on the table are beauty creams, and the other two are life-saving medicines. Remember to use them sparingly.

You and Ayan can study the other two handwritten medical books.

It contains many of my notes and insights; you can slowly ponder them.

Tao'er put the porcelain bottle into her spatial storage, thinking to herself: Master, have a safe journey!