Chao Chao took steady little steps down the stairs, one by one.
"Uncle Nan Yi, my mother won't abandon you. The reason she didn't bring you this time is because you are part of the Nan family. If things really escalate with the An family, you would likely be put in a difficult position."
Nan Yi was taken aback. "Then the madam is overthinking things. I am her person now. Don't talk about the An family; even if someone from the Nan family tries to harm her, I'll deal with them."
Nan Xiao glanced at him. "Your madam keeping you here isn't abandoning you, but rather entrusting you with a significant role. Take your people and set up defenses. No matter if the intruders are from the Nan family or the An family, let none of them escape!"
"Yes! I'll go at once!"
Nan Xiao turned and picked up Chao Chao. "We're done here. Daddy will tuck you and your sister into bed."
"I can't sleep yet. Uncle Nan Yi can't command Xi Er's people. I need to go and inform them."
"When your mother left, she must have made all the arrangements. Nan Yi commanding only the Nan family's bodyguards should be enough."
Chao Chao pursed his lips. "Mother is unhappy today, also because of your mother, right? I sympathize with you. Why is it that you, as a son, didn't encounter a good mother like mine?"
Nan Xiao raised an eyebrow and pinched his son's cheek. "You don't need to sympathize with me, because I have a good wife, and I'm content with my life. I hope you'll be as fortunate as I am in the future and find a good wife like your mother."
"No wonder Mother gets angry when she looks at you. With you like this, it's no wonder she gets angry."
"What's wrong with me like this?"
"Argumentative and petty!"
Nan Xiao curved his lips slightly. "Coincidentally, you've perfectly inherited these two flaws of mine."
"Hmph!" Chao Chao huffed and turned his head away indignantly.
Nan Xiao's eyes tightened slightly, and holding Chao Chao, he rushed to the second floor at top speed.
Chao Chao's expression also turned serious. He raised his hand and patted Nan Xiao's shoulder, then pointed to the ground, indicating he wanted his father to put him down.
Nan Xiao quickly set him down and lunged into the bedroom. Inside, a masked figure in black was engaged in close combat with Ruan Sizhe. Nan Xiao clenched his fist and struck towards the intruder's face.
"This one is mine. Go and protect Chao Chao and Mu Mu," Nan Xiao said to Ruan Sizhe as the black-clad intruder dodged.
Ruan Sizhe didn't hesitate. He went to the bedside, reached out, and scooped up Mu Mu, who was still asleep.
Upon being held by him, Mu Mu's eyes snapped open. She flung out a hand and shot a handful of golden needles at the black-clad attacker.
Seeing this, Nan Xiao quickly dodged to the side. Just then, fighting sounds erupted from outside the door. Nan Xiao's face changed drastically. He kicked the black-clad intruder away and rushed out.
In the corridor, Chao Chao was fighting an opponent twice his height. Despite the height difference, Chao Chao showed no fear, executing each move with precision and vigor.
Chao Chao glimpsed his father coming out and flicked his wrist, sending a packet of white powder flying.
The black-clad assailant opposite him collapsed with a thud.
Chao Chao looked at Nan Xiao. "Where's sister?"
"With your second senior brother."
Nan Xiao reached out, picked up Chao Chao, and met Ruan Sizhe, who had just come out.
"What about the one inside?" Nan Xiao asked in a deep voice.
"He can't move anymore. Junior Sister is too formidable; almost all the golden needles are embedded in him."
As Ruan Sizhe finished speaking, Lan Mu Guo and the housekeeper, among others, hurried over.
Before anyone else could speak, Nan Xiao's gaze turned icy as he looked at the housekeeper. "How did these two get in?"
The house's surveillance was comprehensive, covering every angle. These two definitely didn't sneak in. The only possibility was that they had entered through normal channels during the day.
The housekeeper pulled off the mask of one of the black-clad intruders with an apologetic look. "This man was here to do masonry work. However, I saw him leave this afternoon."
"We need a mason at home?"
"Miss ordered it. She said with the weather getting colder, she wanted to build some coops for the animals."
Hearing this, Nan Xiao quickly took out his phone and dialed. "Nan Yi, dispatch more people to the back mountain. They are very likely to come in from there."
"Understood. However, most of the madam's people are at the back mountain. I heard her subordinates intend to let them in before engaging them."
"Then leave it to her people to handle. You are responsible for patrolling and seeing if anyone else has infiltrated."
"Yes."
After Nan Xiao hung up Nan Yi's call, he said to Nan Er, who was hidden in the shadows, "Come out. Get rid of them for now."
Nan Er flickered into view.
Ruan Sizhe frowned slightly. "You were here, so why didn't you intervene just now? If my junior brother and junior sister were harmed, how would you explain it to my master!"
Qiao Yisi snorted. "He's Prime Minister Nan's subordinate; how could he possibly consider explaining things to a master!"
Nan Er's mouth twitched. "It wasn't that I didn't intervene, but the madam ordered us not to act unless it was a critical moment. She wants to train the young master and young lady's emergency response skills."
Qiao Yisi looked around. "Us? How many people are hidden in this building?"
Mu Mu covered her mouth and yawned. "Senior Brother, if you want to know how many people there are, just clap your hands."
As Qiao Yisi raised his hand, Luo Wanqi immediately pressed it down. "Stop fooling around!"
Mu Mu extended her little hand to Nan Xiao. "Daddy, want to sleep."
Nan Xiao took her in his arms. After Nan Er had taken the intruders away, he entered the bedroom with his two children. "You two sleep first. I'll go make a call to your mother."
"Will Third Uncle be alright?" Chao Chao asked in a deep voice.
Nan Xiao stroked his head. "He'll be fine. Go to sleep. I've had Nan Er and the others guard here, so no one will disturb you again."
Chao Chao softly hummed and reached out to hold his sister's hand.
As Nan Xiao went out, he saw Lan Mu Guo looking at him with a dark expression.
"My third brother is in trouble? I heard it was your mother who sent people to do it?"
Nan Xiao pursed his lips tightly. "The matter hasn't been fully investigated yet. I'll check with the hospital first, and then interrogate the captured individuals later. We'll know if it was her."
Lan Mu Guo questioned sternly, "If it was her, how do you plan to deal with it?"
Nan Xiao's expression darkened. "Xi Er has already taken action. By dawn, she probably won't be able to speak."
Lan Mu Guo paused slightly. "I'll go to the hospital to take a look."
Nan Qiyue grabbed Lan Mu Guo's hand. "I'll go with you."
Nan Xiao looked at her. "Go get your aunt a change of clothes; she left in her pajamas. Also, bring more people with you. I'm afraid there might be danger on the way."
Lan Mu Guo narrowed his eyes slightly. "They'd better be glad they don't encounter me, or they'll be the ones in danger!"
Nan Xiao sighed inwardly with helplessness. His mother and the An family were walking towards their own doom. He had already offended Xi Er to protect his mother, and this time, he absolutely couldn't let anyone speak up for them again.