Xiao Xi Tian came in carrying a basket of frozen pears. When she saw Xiao Jin Heng, her expression was blank...
"Little, little village boy, why are you here?" Xiao Jin Heng quickly stood up, walked over, and took the bamboo basket.
Xiao Xi Tian twitched her lips and asked dully, "Is what you and Brother Kong were just saying true? Are those people really coming to Dashui Village to kill you?"
She didn't mean to eavesdrop on their conversation; her mother had asked her to pick some frozen pears and bring them to the brat...
But as soon as she reached the doorway, she heard Brother Kong say something about returning to the capital to get reinforcements.
"Little village boy, you, you heard everything?" Xiao Jin Heng asked in surprise.
Xiao Xi Tian nodded, a flicker of anxiety appearing on her face. "Brat, you should leave quickly. If those people catch you, you'll surely lose your life..."
Although Xiao Jin Feng was blocking them for now, Consort Xian was the mastermind. Who could stop her from killing someone she wanted dead?
Moreover, Gu Ming Yan was not in Dashui Village, and even Yun Si Man had gone out treasure hunting.
"Don't be afraid. Before my uncle left, he left all the dark guards in Dashui Village. If those assassins dare to come, they will have no return..." Xiao Jin Heng said calmly.
Xiao Xi Tian breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this and reached out to poke Xiao Jin Heng's forehead, saying helplessly, "You, you're just puffing yourself up. Even if the dark guards block them, can't those assassins find another way? You're in the open, and they're in the dark. What if they trap you in Dashui Village? It's easier to dodge an open spear than a hidden arrow, don't you understand?"
Alas, this brat didn't care about his own life at all...
If anything happened to him, wouldn't the old emperor in the capital die of anxiety?
"Does the little village boy mean for me to go with you?" Xiao Jin Heng asked curiously.
"Not at all, not at all..." Xiao Xi Tian shook her finger. "You leave, and our family stays put!~"
Having lived in Dashui Village for so many years, this was the first time Xiao Jin Heng had encountered such a crisis.
If he could turn misfortune into good fortune, would his future path be smoother?
Xiao Jin Heng frowned upon hearing this. "If I leave, what if those people threaten you? We leave together, or not at all. There's no room for discussion..."
If he implicated the Yun family, old and young, because of himself, he would never forgive himself.
He knew Consort Xian's methods too well; she would do anything to achieve her goals.
Knowing he had lived with the old Yun family for so long, she was sure he would develop feelings. If she simply captured someone as a bargaining chip, he would be helpless...
"Hmm?" Xiao Xi Tian blinked her big eyes and looked at Xiao Jin Heng. "Where are you going with us? To the capital?"
"That's right!" Xiao Jin Heng sneered. "The more dangerous the place, the safer it is. This is called 'hiding in plain sight.' Consort Xian, no matter how clever she is, never expected me to return to the capital on my own..."
With that, Xiao Jin Heng walked to the desk, picked up a plate of pastries, and stuffed it into Xiao Xi Tian's hand. "Little village boy, let's take the family back to the capital with us. Shen Du Cai will probably arrive at Dashui Village in about three days. Within these three days, have your uncle and aunt pack their things, and we can leave here anytime!~"
Xiao Xi Tian: "..."
Leaving already?
She still had many things to do.
She had originally agreed with Uncle Yan and Uncle Zhuang to build windmills tomorrow, but it seemed she would have to postpone it for a while.
Besides, her elder sister-in-law and elder brother had a restaurant in the county town; they couldn't just close it down, could they...
And what if her third and fourth brothers returned?
Grandpa Sun was so old; he couldn't withstand the hardships of a long journey.
Her second nephew, Jin Shan, was studying in the county town and couldn't take leave, as he had to take the Tong Sheng exam in just over two months.
As if sensing Xiao Xi Tian's concerns, Xiao Jin Heng took her small hand and gently comforted her, "Don't worry, I'll settle your family's affairs and won't let your uncle and aunt worry..."
"Brat, I still need to discuss this with my father and mother. I can't make the decision!~" Xiao Xi Tian said with difficulty.
Although she knew the brat was doing it for their own good, there was a saying: 'A caged bird longs for its old forest, a fish in a pond misses its former abyss.' When people get old, they don't want to move; they just want to stay in their old house and grow old slowly...
Xiao Jin Heng smiled slightly. "Then I'll go talk to Uncle and Aunt. Let's go!~"
After saying that, he took Xiao Xi Tian's hand and walked out of the study into the main hall of the east house.
The Yun family had just finished dinner. Old Man Yun and Old Man Sun were sitting at the table drinking tea. Yun Er Man and Jin Xiao Lou had just finished milking the cows and entered the house, squatting by the brazier to warm themselves...
Du Tie Shan and Jin Huai Hua were tidying clothes in the west wing. Tomorrow was Du Tie Shan's first day taking over the snack shop, so she was packing her luggage, deciding to move to the shop to live.
Xiao Xin Ling had taken Yun Xiao Bao to the guest room to play Galaha...
Ever since Yun Si Man and Shangguan Fang Er left, Xiao Xin Ling had no playmates in the old Yun family. Although Han Chi Jiao was noisy every day, Xiao Xin Ling couldn't play with her.
Seeing her daughter and Young Master Xiao walk in, Madam Gu smiled and beckoned, "Young Master Xiao is here! Come over to the warm wall, it's so cozy!~"
Xiao Jin Heng smiled and bowed, "Thank you, Auntie, I'm not cold..."
Chu Jiang Tun walked in carrying a teapot and greeted Xiao Jin Heng, "Oh, this little kid, you're getting more and more handsome!"
Xiao Jin Heng: "..."
"Uncle, Auntie, I have something to say!~" Xiao Jin Heng gathered his emotions before starting to talk about business.
Old Man Yun was stunned for a moment. "Young Master Xiao, why are you being so polite with us? Just say what you have to say!"
"Okay!"
Xiao Jin Heng nodded and slightly embellished the story, saying that his father had offended some local ruffians during his business dealings. The ruffians had threatened to come to Dashui Village to capture him, and anyone associated with him would have bad luck...
Therefore, as a precaution, Xiao Jin Heng suggested that the entire Yun family accompany him to the capital to lie low until the matter was over, and then they could return.
Old Man Yun listened, stared blankly at Xiao Jin Heng, and then looked at his wife...
Even though Xiao Jin Heng had used a more tactful way of putting it, Madam Gu and Old Man Yun could still understand the general situation.
Could the trouble the Crown Prince encountered be a small matter?
What ruffians? If those people swarmed Dashui Village, would they still have a way to survive?
Although Xiao Jin Heng hadn't directly revealed his identity yet, the old and young of the Yun family knew it clearly. His merits and temperament couldn't be hidden...
Just as the Yun couple looked troubled and didn't know how to reply to Xiao Jin Heng, Chu Jiang Tun suddenly burst into laughter, "Haha, that would be great!~"
Old Man Yun: "..."
Madam Gu: "..."