Chapter 58: Father Teaches Me to Be Humble

Xue Chengdong sat back down, regaining his usual composed and refined scholar-like demeanor.

Upon hearing the name of the King of Xuan, he didn’t immediately show any signs of panic or trepidation. Instead, he calmly asked, “I only heard from your elder brother that the King of Wei was smitten with you. How come I didn’t know you had any connection with the Prince of Xuan?”

“There are many things Father doesn’t know,” Xue Qingyin replied, sitting down as well.

Xue Chengdong’s face darkened: “Stand up!”

Xue  Qingyin pouted: “Didn’t I just tell Father? My legs hurt.”

“Spoiled, “Xue Chengdong said coldly.

“Am I not worthy of being a little spoiled, being the daughter of a high-ranking official?” Xue Qingyin retorted.

“…”

Xue Chengdong realized she had become increasingly adept at arguing. Continuing this pointless debate with her would be undignified.

He simply shifted his tone, turning cold: “I don’t care where you met the Prince of Xuan or what kind of relationship you have developed. I can tell you with certainty that you cannot marry him. The Emperor would never agree, let alone the Empress Dowager.”

“Why?” Xue Qingyin asked curiously, taking the opportunity to inquire.

Xue Chengdong was amused by her, laughing lightly: “Are you coming to me for advice?”

“If I don’t understand, I ask. It’s good to be humble, you taught me that,” Xue Qingyin defended herself.

Xue Chengdong retorted in a harsh tone: “Then why don’t you remember what I taught you about being honest, respecting your parents, protecting your siblings, and being a gentle and dignified woman?”

Xue Qingyin blinked: “When did you teach me those things? In my dreams?”

“Xue Qingyin!”Xue Chengdong roared.

“Aren’t I in front of Father? Why are you calling me?” Xue Qingyin said with a sneer. “I’m so obedient. Unlike last time when I was sick, I lay in bed calling for Father, again and again, but Father never came back.”

Actually, it was more likely she was calling for He Songning.

But it didn’t matter. She said she was calling for Xue Chengdong, so it was Xue Chengdong. Who knew she was making it up?

Xue Chengdong was choked, his words stuck in his throat.

However, he still maintained his fatherly authority, saying: “Are you blaming your father?”

Xue Qingyin sighed softly, whispering: “How dare a daughter do that? If I were that bold, I would have taken Mother and remarried long ago.”

“Xue Qingyin!”Xue Chengdong was amused again.

Outside the room, Madam Xue couldn’t see what was happening inside. All she heard was a series of angry reprimands. She rarely saw Xue Chengdong lose his composure like this. Her heart couldn’t help but rise with anxiety, fearing that Xue Qingyin would be beaten.

Seeing that Xue Qingyin was now completely unafraid of him, a fire flickered within Xue Chengdong’s heart. But soon, the fire was extinguished.

In the past, this daughter was truly a complete fool.

Xue Chengdong had even thought, perhaps it was because she carried poison in her womb that she developed such a foolish mind, dragging her own mother down with her.

Countless times,Xue Chengdong wanted to persuade Madam Xue to stop spoiling her, but whenever he brought it up, Madam Xue would immediately become emotional.

This current behavior, even more than before, stirred his anger.

But Xue Chengdong had to admit, this was finally starting to resemble his daughter.

Xue Chengdong lowered his eyes, silently pondering for a moment.

He didn’t use those inferior tactics from before.

He simply explained the pros and cons to Xue Qingyin: “Marrying the Prince of Xuan is impossible, but the King of Wei is possible.”

“The King of Wei has already been betrothed,” Xue Qingyin reminded him.

“So what? The King of Wei likes you, and Concubine Wan doesn’t. The Emperor would be happy to see you go and sow discord between their mother and son,”Xue Chengdong said.

His tone was like that of a refined scholar, but the arrogance in his bones was almost identical to He Songning’s.

Xue Qingyin whispered: “Father knows so much.”

The Prince of Xuan said the same thing.

It seemed that smart people all thought alike.

“But the prerequisite for all of this is that you haven’t acknowledged Zhao Xufeng as your father.”

Oh, in the end, he still didn’t want her to acknowledge another man as her father.

Xue Qingyin clicked her tongue.

“Do you think Concubine Wan is favored?”Xue Chengdong suddenly asked.

Having devoured countless palace intrigue dramas, Xue Qingyin thought, I can pretty much guess that! This doesn’t require any intelligence!

Xue Qingyin quickly replied: “The more favored one is, the more like a flame in a raging fire.”

Xue Chengdong couldn’t help but look at her a little longer, then continued: “Yes, Concubine Wan’s family is deeply rooted among the civil officials. Duke Zhao has spent many years on the battlefield and is highly respected among the military officials. A union of civil and military officials is something the Emperor would never want to see. If you want to marry high, you absolutely cannot be associated with the Duke Zhao’s mansion. Do you understand? I am your father, it’s appropriate for me to refuse on your behalf. You don’t need to worry about this.”

Xue Chengdong appeared very magnanimous: “Today’s incident, I’ll just pretend you were momentarily confused. It’s good to fight for yourself, but you shouldn’t point your finger at your own father. If this happens again, it won’t be so simple.”

He patted Xue Qingyin’s head, like a loving father, but not quite.

He said: “I’ll pretend you’re a good child. Qingyin, be smart.”

Xue  Qingyin couldn’t help but look up at Xue Chengdong and ask him: “Father is always like this, everything has to be calculated so clearly?”

“Isn’t it good to be smart?”

“It’s good, but if you have to be smart all the time, you easily lose your humanity.”Xue Qingyin said in a calm tone.

Xue Chengdong’s tone turned slightly cold: “What do you mean, Qingyin?”

“It doesn’t matter if I marry high or not, it’s rare for someone to like me. I still have to go to the Duke Zhao’s mansion.” Xue Qingyin was afraid of truly integrating into this era, and one day becoming someone who calculated everything for gain and loss.

Xue Chengdong’s brows furrowed, he looked at Xue Qingyin with disappointment: “You’re still not smart enough.”

“Then let me be stupid, at least I will definitely protect the people I need to protect, be close to those who deserve to be close, and love those who deserve to be loved, without considering the consequences.” Xue Qingyin said firmly.

Xue Chengdong knew she was referring to the incident of the concubine poisoning in the mansion.

He hadn’t protected his wife.

Xue Chengdong’s eyebrows twitched upwards, then quickly flattened.

He asked: “Did your mother teach you this?”

Xue Qingyin felt a sense of apprehension, was he going to go after Madam Xue?

She quickly said: “It’s because I saw Father’s behavior, so I thought, I don’t want to be someone who makes others sad.”

Xue Chengdong didn’t speak, he opened the door and went out.

He met Madam Xue’s angry eyes.

Madam Xue was very beautiful in her youth, otherwise she wouldn’t have married Xue Chengdong as a merchant’s daughter, and otherwise she wouldn’t have given birth to such a beautiful daughter like Xue Qingyin.

Xue Chengdong met her gaze and unconsciously became dazed for a moment.

Her eyes were rounder when she was young, and when she glared at people, it was more like a coquettish expression.

But he didn’t know when, wrinkles gradually appeared at the corners of her eyes, pulling the ends of her eyes upwards. When she glared coldly at people, it appeared sharp. There was no trace of the tenderness of her youth.

Xue Chengdong moved his lips, wanting to say something.

But Madam Xue quickly brushed past him, stepping into the room, and hugged Xue Qingyin: “Qingyin? Did your father hit you?”

Xue Qingyin shook her head.

Xue Chengdong ultimately said nothing and returned to the Ministry of Revenue.

Meanwhile, Xue Qingyin, with Madam Xue’s arm around her shoulder, slowly walked out the door.

Her gaze shifted, and Xue Qingyin could still see the maid standing nearby, with a clear slap mark on her face.

Obviously, when Madam Xue couldn’t get in earlier, she was truly furious.

Did Xue Chengdong never think about these things?

Did he never see the pain hidden in Madam Xue’s heart? Perhaps he did, but he felt that the past was already dealt with, so it should be over, why dwell on it and keep bringing it up?

Xue Qingyin bit her lip, then looked at Madam Xue’s disheveled hair and swollen eyes.

She thought, she had to find a way to take her mother and run away.

Otherwise, staying by Xue Chengdong’s side as “father and daughter” for a lifetime, one day she would be slowly eroded by this unspoken cold violence, losing the last bit of her vibrant spirit.

After today’s incident, Madam Xue was probably determined to oppose Xue Chengdong.

The next day, she personally combed Xue Qingyin’s hair and accompanied her to the Duke Zhao’s mansion.

Manager Zhao was still a little worried: “I heard that Minister Xue went home in a rage yesterday.”

As he spoke, he couldn’t understand either, saying: “This is clearly a good thing, why did it fall on the Xue family, and Minister Xue wouldn’t agree no matter what? He has more than just Miss Xue as a daughter. Besides, we’re just acknowledging a foster relationship, we’re not taking her to our mansion to raise.”

Duke Zhao said: “I’ve met Xue Chengdong a few times, you see he looks like a refined scholar, but he’s not. This man is scheming and cunning. Such people usually have a strong desire for control.”

Manager Zhao couldn’t help but say: “Such a Xue Minister, yet he can give birth to a sweet little girl, it’s not easy.”

But then he frowned, saying: “I just don’t know if Miss Xue will come today? To go against her own father’s wishes is tantamount to defying the world.”