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

Tao called out twice more, but still no one answered. Her expression immediately changed, and she turned around to run out to call Old Man Chen and the others.

Just then, Ayan's voice came from behind, "Sister Tao'er, I'm here."

Tao'er turned around and still couldn't see anyone. Finally, she discovered that Ayan was hiding under the table.

He held his head in his hands, his face buried in his arms, his shoulders trembling slightly.

"Ayan, why did you hide under the table? You scared your sister half to death!"

Tao'er squatted down and asked gently.

She felt a little relieved when she saw that Ayan was alright and hadn't disappeared; her heart had been pounding in her chest.

Ayan hurriedly wiped his face with his sleeve, raised his head, his eyes were red, but he tried to smile at Tao'er: "Sister Tao'er, I was just a little sad so I hid under the table."

I was so lost in thought that I didn't hear you call me. I'm sorry, Sister Tao'er, I made you worry.

Tao'er felt a pang of sadness upon hearing Ayan's words. She reached out and pulled him out from under the table, gently picked him up, and placed him on the edge of the bed.

Then she took out a handkerchief and gently wiped away his tears that hadn't yet dried. "Ayan, if you're sad, just cry. You don't have to hold it in in front of your sister."

Ayan leaned against her, his voice muffled: "Sister Tao'er, am I really useless?"

They can't do anything, and they always want to cause trouble.

I miss my father, I miss my mother, I miss my second and third uncles, and I miss my cousin Qingyu and the others...

They're leaving tomorrow, going to such a far and hard place, and I can't even see them off...

I even...

I don't even know if I'll ever see them again in this lifetime...

By the end, she was sobbing uncontrollably.

Tao patted his back, her own eyes welling up with tears.

She also longed for Ayan to meet them, after all, these were his closest and dearest people.

Especially the lady; they didn't even say a final goodbye that night.

But she wasn't entirely confident that they could meet; last night's meeting was a huge risk!

She wouldn't dare to do it in broad daylight; she wouldn't knowingly walk into a trap set by the enemy.

Ayan cried for a long time before stopping. When Tao'er saw that he had stopped crying, she gently comforted him, "Ayan, you are not useless. On the contrary, you are very useful."

Your being alive, living peacefully, is more important to your parents than anything else.

Your safety is their biggest concern right now; you are their hope for the future.

You should eat well, sleep well, and keep your body strong. That will be the greatest comfort to them.

As for the future...

As long as people are alive, there will always be a day when they meet again.

When you grow up, you'll seek justice for your parents and clear their names.

All she could do was comfort and encourage Ayan.

She also had a moment of weakness, thinking that she could secretly take a look with Ayan, even if they didn't say anything, or even just see him off from a distance, that would be fine!

However, this requirement, though seemingly simple, is actually fraught with danger.

Ayan didn't realize the seriousness of the situation, but she couldn't ignore the dangers.

Ayan raised his tear-filled eyes and choked out, "Sister Tao'er, I understand what you're saying!"

Ayan just wants to see his mother, and I'm worried...

I'm worried I'll never see her again...

Waaaaah………

Those officials were all very fierce and evil. My mother and the others usually had maids and servants to serve them.

Now they're going to such a far place in the north, I'm afraid they won't make it there...

Ayan couldn't help but cry again as he said this.

It seems like he can't do anything but cry right now.

"Ah, Ayan, going to the North is indeed very tough, and those officials are indeed ruthless and not good people, but your father, second master, and third master are all grown men, and they won't just stand by and watch them bully your mother and the others."

There were only four officials escorting them, not many people, so you don't need to be too upset.

Your father and your second and third uncles are all real men. You should believe that they will protect your mother and the others.

You should stay at the Chen family's house now. We won't go anywhere for the next few days because it's not safe.

Be a good boy, okay, Ayan?

Ayan nodded as if he understood, but hesitated and ultimately remained silent.

He didn't understand. Grandpa Chen had clearly said that all the soldiers in the city had withdrawn and even the city gates had been reopened, so why wouldn't Sister Tao'er let him see his parents off?

Can't I even sneak a peek?

Perhaps Sister Tao'er was doing it for his own good, after all, too many things had happened, and it was indeed dangerous.

She's a girl, so she must be scared.

Thinking about all this, Ayan immediately felt that this must be the case, which was why she dared not take him along, since it was broad daylight and he was afraid.

That's alright, we'll see when the time comes...

Thinking of this, Ayan looked up and said obediently, "Sister Tao'er, I'll listen to you."

"I promise I won't run around these next few days and will stay obediently at Grandpa Chen's house."

"Mmm, Ah Yan, be good..."

Go eat some candy!

Tao'er patted Ayan's little head and said.

"Okay, thank you, Sister Tao'er!"

"You're talking nonsense again..."

They both laughed.

"Come on, Ayan, let's go out into the yard for some fresh air. Staying inside all the time will make you feel suffocated."

"Shall we loosen the soil in Grandpa Chen's vegetable garden and catch the pests?"

Although we can't go out to play, we can't stay cooped up at home all the time.

The air inside is nowhere near as good as outside!

Keeping him cooped up in his room all the time makes him more prone to overthinking. Being outdoors and getting some exercise will improve his mood and distract him from things.

"Okay, but Sister Tao'er, what are pests?"

Can insects harm people?

After all, Ayan is a five-year-old child who is curious about everything.

Peach: Okay!

It's time to start another round of "100,000 Whys"!

"Pests are..."

These are insects that eat vegetable leaves. We need to catch them and eliminate them so they won't steal the vegetable leaves anymore.

"I'll teach you how to catch bugs later, okay?"

"good!"

Ayan answered crisply.

The two then went into the yard; one weeded, and the other caught insects.

Old Man Chen came over and saw the two of them, one weeding and the other catching insects. He immediately stepped forward to stop them, "Miss Tao'er, young master, you mustn't do this, you mustn't do this. How can you do such work?"

Stop! Stop! Don't get your clothes dirty, and your hands are covered in mud...

Go wash up quickly...

Tao'er and Ayan both laughed heartily.

"Uncle, it's alright, I know how to do this job. I used to do it at home before."

Although Ayan had never done this before, he still needed to learn how to do some work.

"It's alright, Uncle. He's no longer that pampered young master."

Peach smiled and continued weeding.

"Grandpa Chen, I'm catching pests for the vegetables, it's so much fun!"

Clothes that are a little dirty can be washed off easily, and muddy hands can be washed clean too.

Ayan was very excited as it was his first time encountering this thing.

Seeing how happy the two of them were, Old Man Chen stopped trying to stop them and let them go.

As long as the child is happy.

Unbeknownst to them, danger was slowly approaching from the other side.