"Undercover?"
Hun Xiu blinked in surprise when he heard the little one's words. After a moment's pause, a realization dawned on him. He looked at her and asked,"Xun'er… you're going undercover? What's going on?"
He had already guessed what this was about. At her age, it was likely time for Gu Xun'er to head to the Xiao Clan.
Hun Xiu's eyes narrowed slightly, a cold glint flashing in their depths.
Gu Xun'er was now his fiancée—his childhood betrothed. There was no way he would just sit back and watch her go to the Xiao Clan and end up… cheating on him.
What's a man's greatest fear?Being called average—and being cheated on. Even if it's just a color, green, once it's on you, it's unacceptable.
He trusted this little girl in front of him. But that other guy? Not in the slightest.
No matter how "well-intentioned" he might act, if Gu Xun'er—disguised as Xiao Xun'er—went to the Xiao Clan, then the chances of betrayal were sky-high. There would be no suspense, only inevitability.
He had to stop this from happening. He had no intention of ending up "green." If you wear it right, it's fashion. If not?
Then it's just a big ol' cuckold's hat.
The little one shook her head in response to Hun Xiu's question."No… Father said I can't tell anyone."
As she spoke, she glanced around cautiously, then leaned in close to Hun Xiu's ear and whispered, as if afraid someone might overhear.
Her sneaky little posture was so adorable that Hun Xiu couldn't help but laugh.
He rubbed her head, smiled gently, and said,"Alright… then secretly tell me. If you do that, your father won't know, right?"
Though in his heart, he was thinking: What a cute little thing!
"Oh…"
The little one nodded seriously, thinking Hun Xiu made a good point. If she told her brother Hun Xiu in secret, then Father wouldn't find out.
But after a moment of thought, her tiny head shook again."No… Brother Xiu, I can't tell you. Father said I can't tell anyone."
"Hehe…"
Hun Xiu couldn't help but find her cautiousness funny. He mused silently:With this kind of vigilance, no wonder she's qualified to go undercover. It actually makes sense.
He leaned in close to her ear again and whispered:"Just tell me. I won't tell Father. That way, no one will know, right?"
As soon as the words fell, Hun Xiu felt a twinge of guilt rise up in his heart.
"Oh…"
The little one's eyes lit up as if she'd been enlightened.
Right! She could tell Hun Xiu as long as he didn't tell Father. Then no one else would know!
With her big, sparkling eyes staring into his, she asked,"Brother Xiu, you really won't tell Father?"
Her wide, glimmering eyes and delicate features were the very image of a beloved little angel. Who could resist such a face?
"Mm."Hun Xiu nodded solemnly and even raised his hand in a childish "pinky promise" gesture.
"I swear. If Xun'er tells me, I won't tell your father. I won't tell anyone."
Even as he said that, the feeling of guilt wrapped around him like a thick cloud.
"That's good then."
Satisfied with his promise, the little girl leaned in again. After looking around cautiously to make sure no one was nearby, she whispered:
"Father said… I have to go undercover. Once I leave, I won't be able to see Brother Xiu for a long time."
"But after I finish my mission, I can be with you every day again."
After she said that, her face turned gloomy. She looked heartbroken and pitiful, clearly expecting her Brother Xiu to comfort her.
She was still just a little girl. She didn't want to go undercover, didn't want to go somewhere far away, and certainly didn't want to be separated from Hun Xiu.
Xun'er is upset.Xun'er is just a baby.But Xun'er is strong… Xun'er won't cry.
"…That's it?"
Hun Xiu blinked. That didn't really explain much of anything, did it?
"Mmhmm!"
She nodded earnestly, looking utterly wronged and cute enough to melt hearts. Hun Xiu couldn't help but want to protect her.
"Good girl…"
He patted her head with a smile and gave her chubby little cheeks a firm squeeze.
Seriously. With how adorable she was, how could anyone not give her a squeeze or two?
Hun Xiu also understood clearly now—her destination was definitely the Xiao Clan. As for her mission?
Naturally, it would be related to the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade they held.
The little one didn't know the full details yet. She just knew she was going undercover. As for where, and what for—she hadn't been told.
From the look on her face, Hun Xiu could tell she didn't want to go. He asked gently,"Xun'er… you don't want to go undercover, do you?"
"Mm-hmm!"
She nodded fiercely, then suddenly seemed to realize something and shook her head just as fast.
That adorable reaction—first nodding, then shaking—once again melted Hun Xiu's heart.
He ruffled her hair again and asked,"So do you want to go, or not?"
With a tearful pout, Xun'er replied,"Of course I don't want to go! But Father said… if I don't go, I won't be able to see Brother Xiu anymore."
"I don't want that… I want to see you… I want you to be my pony again… wuwuwu…"
As she spoke, her tears started to fall, her face full of sorrow and longing.
She clung tightly to Hun Xiu's head, clearly unwilling to part.
Since she had already revealed part of the secret, she figured there was no harm in telling Hun Xiu the rest. After all, he wouldn't tell Father—no one would know she was the one who spilled it.
Hun Xiu gently patted her back to comfort her."Don't worry, Xun'er. Brother will never leave you."
But deep down, he gave a helpless smile.
Does this little one miss me… or does she just miss riding me like a horse?
That's a serious question. A question worth pondering.
Then there was something else that bothered him.
Why did Gu Yuan, that cheap future father-in-law of his, insist on sending such a young child to be an undercover agent?
She was still so small.
Was there really no one else in the entire Gu Clan who could go?
[Gu Yuan: I wish there were! But aside from my own daughter, who else can I really trust? You?]
Hun Xiu didn't know this, but the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade was something of incredible importance to the Eight Great Clans.
The Xiao Clan had declined, yes—forced to retreat from Central Plains to the edge of the continent just to survive—but aside from the Gu Clan, no one knew exactly where the Xiao Clan had gone.
Gu Yuan was determined to obtain the Tuoshe Jade. After all, Xiao Xuan had promised it to him.
Yes, the Gu Clan still had other people. But Gu Yuan didn't trust them the way he trusted his own daughter.
And besides… he also wanted his daughter to have a real childhood.
Because of her special identity, she had no friends in the Gu Clan. No one wanted to play with her.
Letting her go to the Xiao Clan undercover… in truth, it was all for her.