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

When Tao'er returned to the house, the moon was already setting in the west.

Only a soybean oil lamp was lit in the room, the flame flickering slightly, casting a long shadow of Dongkui as she lay on the table waiting for her.

Dongkui was actually so sleepy that her eyelids were drooping, but she still forced herself to stay awake, unconsciously clutching a half-embroidered handkerchief in her hand.

"Sister Winter Okra..."

Tao called out.

He then added, "I came back a little late today, I'm sorry I worried you."

"Sister Dongkui, it's so late, you don't really need to wait for me to come back. You should go to sleep first."

Tao'er spoke softly, then closed the door behind her and carefully bolted it shut.

The sound of the wooden latch sliding made Dongkui's mind clear up instantly.

She rubbed her eyes and hurriedly stood up: "You're finally back!"

How can I sleep if you don't come back?

My heart was in my throat the whole time.

She lowered her voice.

"I'm not going out alone; Shi Qi is with me. What's there to worry about?"

This way you won't be able to get proper rest.

Don't do that again.

Tao'er knew that she was worried about her.

Dongkui nodded. "Okay, I'll remember."

After saying that, he leaned closer to Tao'er and asked, "How are those three people...?"

Who sent them?

Are they coming to kill us?

The room was so quiet that you could hear the crackling of the burning lamp wick.

Insects chirped outside the window, one long chirp followed by another short one, making the night seem even quieter, a quietness that sent chills down one's spine.

Tao'er didn't answer immediately. Instead, she walked to the table, poured half a cup of iced tea, and slowly took a sip.

The tea was lukewarm, so it must have been brewed recently.

The tea slid down my throat, taking away some of my fatigue.

She relaxed her slightly sore shoulders before speaking, "Who else could it be but the assassins that Xiao Cui hired on her master's orders?"

Actually, it sounds scary. There were no assassins; it was just that the Second Madam had Xiao Cui bribe a few gambling addicts in the village.

Dongkui gasped. Although she had suspected it, hearing it with her own ears still sent chills down her spine.

She walked around the table and behind Tao'er: "Is your shoulder uncomfortable?"

Let me massage it for you.

Tao'er didn't refuse and nodded: "Okay, then thank you very much, Sister Dongkui."

She knew that Sister Dongkui was skilled in massage, having honed her skills over many years.

I used to give her a massage occasionally when I had free time at the Prime Minister's residence.

However, he spent most of his time massaging the shoulders and back of Li Nanyu, the eldest daughter of the Li family.

She has indeed been feeling unwell these past two days.

My shoulders and neck are sore and stiff, and my back is also a bit stiff.

Tao'er knew in her heart that this was not only due to the commotion tonight.

My period is usually approaching around this time of month, and I always have these health problems.

She had her first period when she turned sixteen, and every month thereafter she suffered from abdominal pain and backache, sometimes so much so that she couldn't get out of bed.

Fortunately, after she transmigrated, she secretly used the spiritual spring water in her space to treat herself, and her abdominal pain was mostly cured, but the soreness all over her body was not completely eradicated.

The cooking skills of Dong Kui are surprisingly good.

She stood behind Tao'er, half-squatting down, her fingers pressing on Tao'er's shoulders and neck with just the right amount of pressure.

Tao'er could feel her tense muscles slowly relaxing under Dong Kui's acupressure, and she felt so comfortable that she almost sighed out loud.

"Sister Dongkui's cooking is quite good."

Tao'er closed her eyes, her voice carrying a hint of languor.

I'll make you fried chicken legs tomorrow as a reward.

Dongkui is a little foodie. Back when she was in the Prime Minister's residence, she often came to the small kitchen to mooch delicious snacks from her.

Dongkui's hands kept moving, but her voice couldn't hide her joy: "Then I'll be waiting!"

"But Peach Sister, you still haven't told me what you and Brother Shi Qi did with those three people?"

Dongkui had been pondering this question for a long time.

From the time Tao'er left the house with Shi Qi until she returned alone, nearly an hour had passed, and Dong Kui's heart felt like it was being fried in oil.

She was afraid that Tao'er would be soft-hearted and let the tiger return to the mountain, and even more afraid that the three vicious people would hurt Tao'er.

Tao'er remained silent for a moment.

A sudden gust of wind picked up outside, making the paper windows rattle.

The flame in the lamp flickered violently, almost going out, and the room darkened for a moment before brightening up again.

Between the light and shadow, Tao'er's expression appeared somewhat indistinct.

"Those three were dealt with by Brother Shi Qi."

But he wouldn't let me see; he told me to come back first.

Tao'er told the truth.

Dongkui paused in her work, lowering her voice even further, "Did you handle it?"

It means...

You put them...

Dongkui made a throat-slitting motion.

"Um."

Tao'er responded with a sound of agreement, without saying anything more.

Dongkui's hand started moving again, this time with a bit more force.

She bit her lip and after a long while said, "Well done!"

These three people are really going too far; they actually tried to kill us.

"Pah, he's dead, serves him right!"

She spoke through gritted teeth, but Tao'er could tell that Tao'er's tone was full of resentment.

"That second wife is ruthless and cruel; she really couldn't wait even one night."

She's genuinely afraid we'll tell the boss she's cheating on him!

Dongkui continued, her face full of disgust for the Second Madam.

Tao'er chuckled softly: "Of course she's afraid."

Her entire life of wealth and glory depended on the head of the household.

Without the head of the household as her support, the second wife is nothing.

But she didn't understand that no matter how much a man pampers and loves you, he will never tolerate his woman cheating on him.

"Sister Peach is right."

Men are all like this, whether they are emperors high above or ordinary commoners, their thoughts are the same.

Tao'er sighed and said, "I can't understand why the Second Madam, who seems so smart, is actually not as good as the First Madam!"

She changed the subject, her voice now tinged with worry, "Sister Tao'er, those three people are dead. That's no small matter in the village."

Even if they aren't important, they are still people from the village.

"What if someone finds out it's us..."

"Don't worry about that."

Tao interrupted her, her tone resolute.

"You'll find out tomorrow that someone will take the blame."

Before Dongkui could ask anything else, Tao'er stood up and said, "Sister Dongkui, let's not talk about this anymore. The matter has been resolved."

"You should rest early. I'm going to the washroom to shower; I just worked up a sweat."

I did sweat.

Although I didn't put in much effort, after all this commotion, my undershirt was soaked through and felt very uncomfortable sticking to my body.

Not to mention that the tension in my heart had been constantly high, and now that I've relaxed, I just feel completely exhausted.

Dongkui nodded, watching Tao'er pack her change of clothes, then suddenly asked, "Tao'er, what about that mute girl..."

"Oh no, Brother Shi Qi, is he really trustworthy?"

Tao'er paused in her movements.

Dongkui walked to her side and lowered her voice: "I always feel that this is too much of a coincidence."

Why was he arrested and taken to the village on the same day as us?

They've been unexpectedly kind to us, especially to you and Ayan; their kindness is almost abnormal.

I'm worried...

Does he have some ulterior motive?

Under the dim light, Dongkui's eyes were full of worry.

Tao'er knew what she was worried about. In this mountain stronghold where danger lurked at every turn, the sudden protection and care from a strange man was indeed bound to arouse suspicion.

Tao'er hugged the clothes to her chest, turned to face Dong Kui, and looked earnestly into her eyes: "Sister Dong Kui, don't worry."

He won't hurt us, and he certainly won't hurt Ayan.

"Why are you so sure?" Dongkui pressed.

Tao hesitated for a moment.

Shi Qi's true identity should have been kept secret, but Dong Kui was the eldest of the three, and they had relied on each other all the way. If it was kept from her, it would only make her more uneasy.

"Because his true identity is the deputy general under the young general of the Xiao family."

Tao'er finally decided to tell Dong Kui, since she knew she had to tell her sooner or later anyway.

"When he learned that we had been captured and taken to the mountain stronghold, he went to great lengths to get himself captured."

He was still wearing the young general's jade pendant; it couldn't be fake.

Dongkui's eyes widened suddenly, her mouth slightly open, and she remained silent for a long time.

"So, my dear sister, stop worrying unnecessarily and go to sleep."

Tao smiled, picked up the clothes, and walked towards the door.

Only after Tao'er's figure disappeared outside the door did Dongkui murmur, "So it was Fifth Master's deputy general..."

No wonder……"

She breathed a long sigh of relief, a huge weight lifted from her heart. She then blew out the light and groped her way to lie down on the bed.