Liu Qi POV

Eh?

“Father, your illness is not life-threatening, what are you talking about?”

“That’s right! Father, I won’t let you speak such words!”

I was rather anxious at how pessimistic father was. Liu Cong seemed to have gotten a shock from these words and leapt to father’s side as she exclaimed.

“Ah… Alright.” Lady Cai said.

… Un? I am not sure if it’s my misconception but I seemed to have detected some peculiar emotions from Lady Cai’s expression.

There was panic, worry, confusion and fear. In an instant, Lady Cai’s face blanched and these emotions appeared in turn.

Un… That’s really suspicious, I thought as I looked at Lady Cai.

“Ah…” She seemed to have noticed my glance and folded her arms in an attempt to show that she was not being overly defensive. But at the same time, she turned away and evaded my gaze.

What is Lady Cai so nervous about?

Just then, father gave a long sigh, shut his eyes and spoke in a more calm tone, “In any case, Cai Mao.”

“… Your retainer is here.” Though she was clearly angry, she still put up a show of respect and saluted.

“You have committed a grave offence and based on the laws, you should be executed.” Father said and raised his arm, giving a signal to the surrounding guards who came over.

“Jin Sheng!”

Just as I was steeling myself for Lady Cai’s howls, father put down his hand and signalled to the guards to stop. This action silenced Lady Cai as well. All this while, Cai Mao did not speak a single word and kept her head lowered.

It seemed like she did not care if she were to die because of this. Even though this resolve seemed admirable, I could only look on her with disdain. Her brazen crime is unforgivable after all and even now, the seething hatred I have for her burns as strongly as ever.

And just as I was beginning to gnash my teeth, father spoke up once more.

“But on account that you are my Lady’s little sister, and your service, I won’t kill you.” From the beginning up till now, father’s eyes remained closed, “From now on, you needn’t bother with Xiangyang’s affairs. I will let Kuai Liang and Kuai Yue handle it.”

“Jin Sheng!”

“Don’t say anything, my Lady! I will not change my mind!”

“Wu…”

Father’s voice beheld power and resolve which shut down Lady Cai effortlessly, who could only cover her mouth and cower.

Father sighed, seemingly out of breath, and continued, “Cai Mao, I won’t kill you. Go to Jiangling and tell the Administrator there that you will take over her position.”

“Ah…” Lady Cai stepped forward and wanted to say something but when she saw father’s face with his eyes shut, she could not say a word.

“Your retainer,” In comparison, Cai Mao finally spoke up, “Hears and obeys.”

When she finished, she got up and bowed deeply and respectfully. However, father did not pay her any heed whatsoever. Cai Mao knew this and left quietly after staying in a bowed position for a long while. Lady Cai wanted to stop her but her hand stopped midway.

“My Lady.”

“… Jin Sheng.” Lady Cai’s expression grew worse by the minute and she seemed extremely anxious.

In comparison, father was calm as he continued, “Your little sister is leaving soon, won’t you go and send her?”

“That’s…&rdqu

o;

Father’s implied meaning was plain and clear. I could understand it and I am sure Lady Cai does as well. She blanched again and looked at me, then at her daughter, before looking at father, the same emotions from before flas.h.i.+ng in her face all this while.

“Yes.” She quickly a.s.sented and turned around as she jogged away.

In the end, only Liu Cong and I, as well as father, were left in the room. Though Liu Cong was still here, Cai Mao and Lady Cai were not around anymore so this is more or less some alone time with father.

Logically speaking, I ought to be elated at what just transpired. But yet, I feel no joy at all. Instead, all I felt was gloom. The atmosphere also seemed like father was going to recite his will in the next moment.

“Cong’er…” As I thought so, father called out to her.

“Ah! Yes! Father!” When she heard him, she hurriedly raised my head revealing a red nose sitting on a tear-streaked face.

The thought that she might be faking this flashed in my head but it was just a thought and I very quickly threw it out. I hate Liu Cong but her respect for father is, without a doubt, no less than mine.

“While I’m recovering, you must continue your studies. Try to speak with and learn from Kuai Liang and Kuai Yue from time to time.” As he said so, father took a few deep breaths while Liu Cong nodded profusely. After a while, father continued, “If they are willing, you may a.s.sist them in the administration of Xiangyang. The both of them will be swamped with work.”

“Ah, yes! Your daughter will remember this!” Liu Cong said with resolve, unlike how timid she usually was.

… No, no, no, why am I feeling impressed? I seem to be getting into dangerous territory here. Why is it that I cannot bring myself to hate that fellow now?

…

Just as I was sinking into my thoughts, father suddenly spoke up, “Qi’er…”

“Father, what do you have to say?” I hurriedly replied and went up, all the while grasping father’s hand.

“Qi’er, father has wronged you.”

“…Eh?”

Without any warning at all, father’s sudden words gave me a shock. In an instant, I found it difficult to breathe and it took me several seconds to realise that father was apologising to me. I frowned and looked at father, who happened to be slowly opening his eyes as well.

Usually, father’s eyes would be filled with a domineering gleam that made feel distant from him. But now, father’s eyes, rather than a Governor or a royal, looked more like those of a father, a father who has aged a fair bit.

“Father has wronged you…” Father repeated himself once more.

“… F, father, what do you mean by this…” I stuttered as I tried to suppress various impulses and shook my head profusely.

“You’ve been made to suffer all these years.” Father said, “Back when your mother died, I shouldn’t have left you alone. Back then, I shouldn’t have let you leave me and join the army.”

“Un, un.” I nodded.

“Even though I did all that, I’ve always hoped… Always hoped that you know that your father, deep down inside, loves you…”

“Un, un.” I continued to nod and held father’s hand tighter.

Ah… I really am useless huh.

Even though I’m in front of father, and the detested Liu Cong os beside me, even though father is speaking to me…

Why am I crying?

I have been waiting for these words, for so long…

“Perhaps your father’s methods were too harsh…”

“… No!” I hurriedly shook my head and said, “I now know that as royalty, this is the way it was meant to be!”

“Ah… Royalty huh?”

Eh? Father sighed at the word “royalty”. Usually, father would be invigorated at the mention of royalty. At the very least, he would smile proudly. But yet, father had a sorrowful expression on.

I do not understand why.

“… Father?”

“Yes, I am royalty.” Just as I asked him, father spoke out, as though he were speaking to himself as he gave a self-deprecating smile, “I had actually prepared rooms for you both to live with me. But… As expected, this wasn’t something I should, or perhaps, could do.”

So that’s why…

…

I looked up and spoke to father, “… Father, if you let me move in, I will definitely–”

At the same time, Liu Cong got up and said, “I too–”

But in the next instant, father only shook his head.

“No, no need for that.” Father sighed, “I am royalty and so are you. Father and daughter relations should not be so intimate…”

As father spoke, his voice diminished and the gleam in his eyes darkened.

When I saw this, I silently berated myself inside on what I said at such an inappropriate time. Now that father wishes to be more intimate with me, I am more than happy to do so as well.

He is my only father after all, and the father that I respect deeply.