Chapter Fifty-One: The Fifth Master of the Qin Family (Part One)

Tao Ming immediately stood up, walked over to the mat, and picked up Softie in her arms. “When did you wake up? What did you hear?” She hoped that the chaos from earlier would not leave any psychological scars on Softie.

Softie rubbed her eyes. “I just woke up. I heard Cousin asking you for help.”

Sticky opened her eyes. “Mom, I woke up a little earlier than Softie. Those people are so pitiful.”

Tao Ming sighed and patted Sticky’s head. “All I want is for you two to live well. I’ve never wished for anything else.”

Softie wrapped her arms around Tao Ming’s neck and wheedled, “Mom, help Cousin, won’t you? He buys me tasty treats and gave me a treasure pouch.”

Tao Ming kissed Softie’s cheek and set her down on the mat, then turned to the Seventh Prince. “Give me a moment. I need to think this over.”

The Seventh Prince nodded. “Of course.”

He looked at Softie. “I’ll buy you even more delicious things next time!”

Softie rolled her eyes and said, “Mom, you were secretly drinking!”

Tao Ming hurried to stash away the beer cans, forcing a smile. “I just had a tiny sip. It’s nothing.”

“If I don’t get delicious treats, I’ll tell Grandma!”

Tao Ming pulled out two lollipops and handed them to Softie and Sticky. “One each. You must keep today’s events a secret!”

The Seventh Prince joked, “Seems I’ll have to curry favor with Softie in the future; you listen to everything she says.”

Tao Ming shot him a glare, just as she was about to speak, she felt the carriage slow and eventually come to a stop.

Outside, Mu Zhu said, “Your Highness, Fifth Master Qin Sihao of the Qin family has come to greet the Saintess.”

The Seventh Prince replied, “Your Fifth Uncle, my Fifth Uncle.”

Tao Ming kept silent.

The Seventh Prince rose and stepped out. “Let him come up.”

Tao Ming also took the two little ones and stepped outside.

Soon, a man entered the carriage, while Mu Zhu stayed outside.

Tao Ming looked up and saw a man around forty, with thick eyebrows, large eyes, a prominent nose and full lips, his skin a shade darker, exuding an aura of violence.

He removed his shoes, sat down, and scrutinized Tao Ming. She resembled his thirteenth brother’s wife by about eighty percent. He asked, “So you’re Tao Ming?”

Tao Ming nodded.

The man continued, “I am your Fifth Uncle, Qin Sihao. The family head is concerned for your safety and sent me to protect you along the way.”

The Seventh Prince sat facing Qin Sihao. “Fifth Uncle, did you run into trouble on the road?”

Qin Sihao snorted, “We had a fight with the Chen family.”

Tao Ming’s heart skipped a beat. What’s going on?

“Fifth Uncle, are you sure it was the Chen family?”

Qin Sihao’s face was full of anger. “The leader used the Chen family’s martial arts.”

The Seventh Prince pondered, “It may not be the Chen family. Someone might be deliberately sowing confusion.”

Qin Sihao was clearly irritable, his temper flaring, but he restrained himself somewhat in the presence of the Seventh Prince. He pressed down his impatience and said, “Aside from the Chen family, only the Su family remains.”

The Seventh Prince said no more, and silence fell in the carriage, broken only by the sound of hoofbeats and wheels outside.

Tao Ming grew increasingly anxious. If it was the Su family, did they come to kill them? Was Su Nanxing really one of the Su family?

Softie and Sticky were frightened, clinging to Tao Ming, their little heads buried in her chest, motionless.

Qin Sihao steadied his breath and, glancing at the tense faces of Tao Ming and the children, forced what he thought was a gentle smile. “Ming Ming, which one is the Saintess?”

The two little ones looked at him quickly, then buried their heads again.

Tao Ming thought to herself that the smile was even scarier than before.

Qin Sihao’s expression stiffened, and he tried an even gentler smile. “No need to be afraid of me. I’m your Fifth Grandfather.”

Seeing Tao Ming and the children remain silent, Qin Sihao searched himself for something to offer, but found nothing, his face reddening—though his dark skin hid it—he said awkwardly, “I left in a hurry and forgot to bring a gift.”

The Seventh Prince, having watched for a while, laughed. “Fifth Uncle, you’re still as impatient as ever.”

Qin Sihao rubbed his head, embarrassed. “I said Thirteenth Brother should come. Your own father is more approachable than I am, but Thirteenth Brother is injured…”

Tao Ming instinctively tightened her embrace around the two children. “My father is hurt?”

Though she couldn’t recall her parents’ faces, Tao Ming was deeply worried for their safety.

Qin Sihao realized his slip and quickly reassured her, “It’s nothing. He’s almost recovered, and your mother is with him.”

Tao Ming looked at him searchingly. “Is my mother injured as well?”

Otherwise, why would she know Softie is the Saintess yet not return to the Qiluo tribe?

“Don’t jump to conclusions—nothing of the sort,” Qin Sihao replied, but his evasive gaze betrayed him.

Tao Ming stared at him and spoke slowly, “Fifth Uncle, has anyone ever told you you’re not good at lying?”

Seeing he couldn’t deceive her, Qin Sihao spoke plainly, “Your parents were attacked by the Su family and badly injured, but thanks to timely treatment, they’re almost healed. You’ll see them in the capital.”

Tao Ming’s heart twisted at the thought of her parents lying in bed, nearly separated forever. She quietly added another name to her little book of grudges, striving to keep her voice steady. “Who hurt them?”

The Seventh Prince looked at Tao Ming. “I know about this, too. The old head of the Su family died recently. The Su brothers fought bitterly over the succession, turning on each other. The second branch set a trap intending to wipe out the main branch. Your parents were unlucky, passing by at the wrong time, and got caught in the crossfire.”

Tao Ming’s feelings were complicated. What kind of mess was this?

Father, mother, could you not be so dramatic?

Looking back, their lives had been nothing but melodrama.

After a pause, Tao Ming asked, “So who finally inherited the position?”

The Seventh Prince’s tone hinted at schadenfreude. “The third branch, Su Yanfeng.”

Well, a classic case of two fighting and a third benefiting, like the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.

Qin Sihao held back for a moment, then said, “Ming Ming, the family head will avenge Thirteenth Brother and his wife. Rest assured.”

What else could she do but try to rest assured?

As a second-stage weakling, she couldn’t do anything.

Now Qin Sihao’s smile seemed less frightening. Tao Ming kissed the two little ones in her arms and said, “Softie, Sticky, call Fifth Grandfather.”

Sticky peeked out, Qin Sihao quickly smiled, and Sticky retreated again.

Tao Ming gently reminded, “Fifth Uncle, you carry too much killing intent. They’re scared. Try not to smile.”

Qin Sihao suppressed his smile. Tao Ming urged again, Softie poked her head out and called, “Fifth Grandfather.”

Sticky followed suit, “Fifth Grandfather.”

“Ah!” Qin Sihao beamed, and the two little ones ducked back again.

Qin Sihao: “……”

Is it my fault I look fierce…?

Tao Ming soothed the children for a while until they finally emerged and began to play nearby.

Qin Sihao watched them, delighted, and said to Tao Ming, “Ming Ming, in a thousand years, there’s never been a child in the Qin family of your generation. This is the first time!”

Tao Ming turned to the Seventh Prince, whose face darkened. “Why are you looking at me? I’m not married yet!”

“Why haven’t you married?”

Now even his neck darkened. “None of your business!”

Tao Ming laughed and said to Qin Sihao, “Fifth Uncle, he says he’s close friends with my father. Is that true?”

Qin Sihao glanced at the Seventh Prince. “Keep your distance from him—there’s not a single good person in the palace!”

The Seventh Prince pretended to be pitiful. “Fifth Uncle, you never treated me like this before!”

Qin Sihao turned his face away. “Now that I have granddaughters, who cares about you?”