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

Tao'er's eyes sharpened. "We can't sit idly by and wait to die. We must strike first."

This second wife is clearly not a kind person.

They've been targeting me before, and now they're probably even less likely to let us off the hook.

Today she dares to send people to arrest someone right under their noses; who knows what other things she might do tomorrow.

We need to think of a good solution.

However, we need to discuss this with someone first.

At this point, Tao'er called out to Shi Qi, who was standing guard outside, "Brother Shi Qi, come in."

She felt it was better to call him "Big Brother," and the two of them became even more familiar with each other.

"Miss Peach, it's evening now. Is it appropriate for me to come in?"

"Come in, Sister Dongkui has already changed her clothes."

It's alright, people of the martial world don't have so many old-fashioned rules.

Tao thought to herself that Qi was still quite polite at this moment.

Dongkui and Ayan were both shocked. "This Aqi isn't mute?"

Tao'er nodded. "He's not mute; he's only pretending to be mute because he has no other choice!"

At this moment, Shi Qi pushed open the door and entered. Tao'er asked him to sit down on the bench next to her.

Dongkui pulled Tao'er aside and looked warily at the mute Aqi. "Tao'er, we don't know him, so it's better to be careful."

"Sister Peach, Sister Winter Okra is right, we still need to be careful."

If he had to choose between the two, he would still prefer to believe Sister Dongkui.

Although the mute brother Ah Qi has been quite nice to him these past two days, he's not very familiar with him, so he certainly won't believe everything he hears.

"Hey, you two don't need to worry."

Anyway, Brother Shi Qi isn't a bad person, and he's secretly helped me twice.

He wasn't mute either; his real name was Shi Qi, not A Qi.

We call him by this name in private, but in front of others we still treat him as a mute and call him Ah Qi.

That's what it's called, at least in Hutou Village.

Tao'er said a few simple words.

Dongkui and Ayan nodded. Since he had saved Tao'er twice, he probably wasn't a bad person.

Shi Qi nodded as well, "Ayan, Dongkui, hello!"

Don't worry, I'm not a bad person.

I will not hurt you, and I will certainly not hurt Peach Girl.

I will only protect you.

"Brother Shi Qi, if you say that, Ayan and the others will believe you."

By the way, what are your thoughts on what just happened?

Tao'er wanted to hear Shi Qi's opinion.

For some reason, she felt that having more people involved always meant there would be a better solution.

She used to fight alone, and often made decisions on her own.

Even with the addition of Dongkui later on, she was simple-minded and indeed couldn't be of much help in some matters.

"I think what Miss Tao said earlier makes a lot of sense."

The fact that the Second Madam has let you off the hook for now does not mean that she will swallow her anger.

The affair between the Second Madam and that man surnamed Ma is, for the time being, our bargaining chip to restrain the Second Madam.

But we don't actually have any solid evidence, and instead, she might turn around and accuse us.

She just panicked for a moment, that's why she let us leave.

Tao'er understood what he meant: "Seventh Brother Shi, do you mean we don't have any evidence, so we need to find that guy surnamed Ma first?"

Shi Qi nodded. "Yes, we must find that man surnamed Ma."

"Brother Shi Qi, I have evidence..."

As if by magic, Tao'er pulled out a white brocade handkerchief embroidered with a peony.

Everyone in the village knows that the first wife loves to embroider red plum blossoms, while the second wife loves to embroider peonies.

Shi Qi's eyes lit up, and she asked in surprise, "Where did you get this handkerchief?"

"The second mistress left it in the woodshed last night."

Because it was white, it was particularly dazzling in the dark, and that's how she saw it.

Thinking I might need it someday, I picked it up without thinking.

Shi Qi looked like he had just realized something, then slapped his thigh and said urgently, "Miss Tao'er, you must not take out this handkerchief, otherwise if the Second Madam finds out, she may kill you to silence you."

"Seventh Brother Shi, what should we do?"

Ayan asked anxiously.

Dongkui also waited anxiously for Shi Qi's answer.

"You're so young, just call me Fifth Uncle. I'm the fifth child in my family."

He was originally Ayan's uncle.

Ayan called out in a clear, crisp voice, "Fifth Uncle."

Then Shi Qi continued, "Don't worry, we'll find that guy surnamed Ma and take him into custody."

"Make him obey us, and that will also keep the Second Madam in check."

"But the village is so big, how are we going to find it?"

I inquired around today and found out that there are three people with the surname Ma in this village.

One was a cook in the kitchen, one was a handyman, and the other was a child.

None of these men seem like the men you're talking about, the second wife's husband!

"I'm worried," Dongkui asked.

How could the beautiful second wife possibly be interested in a cook or a handyman?

"These people don't seem quite right, Sister Dongkui, are you sure you didn't miss anyone?"

Tao'er shook her head.

"Miss Tao'er did indeed miss one person, namely Ma Jiakang, the third leader of Tiger Head Village."

Ma Jiakang was never valued by the top leader and was suppressed by the second leader, so he had little real power.

But he was handsome and managed the village's accounts.

Shi Qi spoke up.

"Does Tiger Head Village have another third leader?"

Why didn't we see it last time?

Tao thought about it carefully.

"That's because he usually stays in his little apartment and doesn't show his face much. He only goes over the accounts once or twice a month."

I never expected him to be such a hidden talent.

Shi Qi said sarcastically.

Ayan suddenly interjected, "I know where he lives."

Once, I couldn't hold my pee any longer, so I ran behind a rock on the back hill and saw him come out of a separate stone hut.

Tao'er's eyes lit up: "Ayan, take us to check out the situation tomorrow."

Ayan nodded. "Okay, I'll take you there tomorrow."

Shi Qi continued, "Tonight is probably not going to be peaceful."

The second wife might send someone to silence them.

"I'll stay outside. Peach Girl, you take Dongkui and Ayan and get some rest. We have important things to do tomorrow."

"How can that be?"

"Go back to sleep. Dongkui and I will take turns watching over Ayan tonight."

Peach refused.

"I'm a man, it's okay for me to stay up all night."

It's not like this hasn't happened before. You're young ladies, this won't do.

Listen to me, go to sleep right away.

I'm not leaving tonight.

Before Tao'er could speak, Shi Qi vanished in an instant, with astonishing speed.

Tao'er: That lightness skill is awesome!

Ayan: Fifth Uncle is amazing!

Winter Okra: I wish I were that good!

As night deepened, Tiger Head Village was shrouded in silence.

But beneath this silence, undercurrents are surging.

The candlelight in the second wife's room never went out.

She sat in front of the dressing table, her reflection in the mirror showing a haggard face and eyes full of murderous intent.

"Xiao Cui, how are things going?"