Chapter 81: Answering Questions and Dispelling Doubts (Part Two)

Qin Siyu exclaimed, “You are much smarter than your mother! But as long as you know, don’t go around telling everyone.”

Tao Ming thought to herself, I’m not foolish, why would I broadcast it everywhere?

Then she heard Qin Siyu say, “Not even your mother. If she finds out, the entire Weishui would know before long.”

Tao Ming felt a little dazed. Was her mother’s mouth really that big?

Could it be that Softie’s chatty, chirping nature was inherited from here?

But Softie never revealed anything she shouldn’t.

Qin Siyu noticed Tao Ming’s subtle expression and chuckled, “Your mother was raised in the Brocade Mansion, secluded and cultivating since childhood, barely touched the outside world. Later, she spent a long time in the Chaos Blood Silks, so her nature is inevitably innocent.”

He seemed to remember something else and continued, “When I was traveling with the Qin family caravan, delivering goods, I met your mother in a small town. She was stunning, so I pretended to be hunted. She believed it completely and risked everything to save me, though my strength far surpassed hers.”

Tao Ming couldn’t help but look at him with disdain.

“Don’t look at me like that. To win a beauty’s heart, a little trickery isn’t too much.”

Tao Ming still looked at him with contempt.

“My father didn’t allow me to marry her, and she foolishly wanted to die with me. Fortunately, we stumbled upon a divine artifact, which dissuaded her.”

Tao Ming asked, “Father, you know about the Star Shifting Wheel. Why don’t you use it?”

Qin Siyu turned serious. “Relying on external strength cannot last; only relying on oneself is the true way.”

Tao Ming disagreed, “But the Star Shifting Wheel is incredibly powerful.”

“That’s why it should be used by your mother. But she only wanted to live her days with me, never bothered to examine it. Now it’s in your hands; I hope you will make full use of it.”

Tao Ming pondered and asked, “Then why does grandfather agree now?”

“You’re a mother yourself now. If Softie insists on marrying someone in the future, how long could you stop her?”

Tao Ming was speechless.

“Your mother returned with me to the Qin family, and within days, everyone in the mansion accepted her. My father told me, had he known she was so innocent and lively, he would never have stopped me from marrying her. He thought she married for the Qin family’s name.”

“What I just told you, don’t tell your mother. She still believes I can’t beat her.”

Tao Ming quickly promised not to reveal a single word.

Thinking again, she asked, “I heard from White Tiger that the previous Saint was from the Qin family, the grandson of the family head, and had a son with the Ninth Princess. Who is he?”

Qin Siyu’s expression darkened. “The Saint was of my generation. After he and the Ninth Princess had a son, one day he visited the Celestial Emperor in the palace, returned gravely ill, and died within two years. We all suspected something strange, but found nothing.”

“What about the Ninth Princess and the child?”

“The Ninth Princess followed soon after. You must have met that child.”

Tao Ming was astonished. She had met him?

“Did I see him at dinner today? Which one?”

Qin Siyu smiled lightly, “The Seventh Prince is that child.”

Tao Ming nearly choked in shock. What was going on?

“Few know of this. I am one. When the Saint and Ninth Princess passed, fearing the Celestial Emperor would covet the child, the family head—my third grandfather—devised a plan.”

“Coincidentally, before that, Sixth Sister had a son with the Celestial Emperor. The boy fell ill soon after birth, the Emperor disliked him and sent him to the Qin family to recover. He didn’t survive, but it made it easier for the Seventh Prince to take his place.”

Tao Ming felt this was too outrageous. “Did the two children really look so alike? The Emperor couldn’t tell?”

“The child was brought back to the Qin family as an infant. The Emperor never saw him again. Besides, the Seventh Prince was a Qin family member; saying he resembled his uncle wasn’t unusual.”

“The only concern was Sixth Sister, but she grew up in the Qin family, always thought herself a Qin. Moreover, losing her own son to illness, the Emperor’s resentment grew, so she was willing to conceal the truth. Eventually, she and the Seventh Prince developed real maternal affection.”

Tao Ming doubted the Emperor would be so easily deceived. “A blood test would reveal the truth.”

“Every Qin family member carries some royal blood. No matter the test, there’s nothing to worry about.”

Tao Ming argued, “If you test Sixth Sister’s blood, wouldn’t it give away the secret?”

“Sixth Sister died before the Emperor became suspicious.”

Tao Ming felt a chill. “You didn’t do it, did you?”

Qin Siyu shook his head. “For a thousand years, the Celestial Emperor has not been right. He committed vile acts in the palace, and Sixth Sister died because of it.”

Tao Ming knew well what those vile acts were.

Remembering what Su Nanxing had said, she asked, “Father, it’s strange. If the Qin and Su families are dissatisfied with the Emperor, why not replace him?”

Qin Siyu snorted, “Replace him with whom? Anyone who sits on that throne turns cold and ruthless. So it’s better to let him stay; at least the harm is less.”

Tao Ming disagreed, “Whoever dies, it’s still a life lost. If it were me, I’d overthrow him.”

Qin Siyu frowned, “The Seventh Prince is pulling you into rebellion?”

Tao Ming declared confidently, “Why not?”

Qin Siyu shook his head. “Rebellion leads to war, and war brings death. More would die than the Emperor ever harmed.”

“Why not just eliminate the Emperor?”

“That brings us back to the same question—who would take his place?”

Tao Ming replied as a matter of course, “We don’t need an Emperor. The other world doesn’t have one.”

Qin Siyu fell silent for a while, then spoke, “You make sense. What’s the term? Something about rigidity?”

“Rigidity of thought.”

“Yes, my thinking is rigid. I always feel there must be an Emperor for things to be normal.”

Tao Ming’s eyes curved in a smile, “Father, join us in rebellion!”

Qin Siyu furrowed his brow, “Rebellion? The Qin family might not care, but other Weishui families may not agree.”

Tao Ming knew this couldn’t be rushed. “Father, I never said we’d rebel today. Besides, Softie and Sticky still bear the Emperor’s restrictions.”

Qin Siyu assumed Tao Ming was caught up in a moment’s passion and replied, “Softie’s restriction isn’t serious. During the ceremony, the Emperor will lift it.”

Tao Ming persisted with her old question, “There’s always a price to pay.”

Qin Siyu felt great admiration for his daughter. Despite her youth, she was clear-headed and cautious. He asked, “Ming Ming, are all the women of the other world like you?”

Tao Ming was confused. What did he mean by that?

“Father, what do you mean? I’m just an ordinary person.”

Qin Siyu explained, “Girls your age in Weishui, as far as I’ve seen, aren’t like you. Most spend their days thinking about how to dress up and marry a good husband.”

Tao Ming understood. She leaned back in her chair, gazing at the ceiling. “Isn’t that normal? Weishui reveres men; women must depend on men to survive. Of course they focus on appearance, hoping to marry a decent man. As for what happens after marriage, it’s left to fate.”

“Women in the other world can survive without men. They study, work, and live their own lives. They don’t have to entrust all their joys and sorrows to a man.”