"What kind of idea?" Rong Qiu asked while furrowing his eyebrows in confusion.

Yao Ling didn't know anything about the rules of n.o.bles or officials' household, so she could only listen to both men talking while her eyes kept darting around between the two of them. It would be better if she stayed quiet on the side.

Rong Heng answered, "Just spread to the outside world that Yao Ling has saved your life and you want to take her in as your legal daughter and already gain my permission."

"But... about her background?" Rong Qiu still felt that it didn't make any difference.

"We can use 'showing grat.i.tude' as a reason to evade their accusation. Could we choose our own benefactors' background? We couldn't, right?" Rong Heng answered with a soft smile. "Besides, in this way, Yao Ling could become the Di Daughter as well and no one would ask a question about her mother."

Rong Qiu nodded his head in agreement while Yao Ling was shaking her head --- just for the sake of recognizing each other, they needed to go so many troubles ah~!

"Father... don't you have something else to say to me?" Rong Heng asked.

Rong Qiu was taken aback while sweating. "What? What are you talking about?"

Rong Heng scoffed. "Don't you have a conscience? You still don't want to tell me about it. Don't you already make a plan before you tell me everything about Yao Ling, huh?" He asked in displeasure.

"What... What do you mean?" Rong Qiu pretended to be stupid while evading eye contact with his own son. He wasn't ready to tell him ah~! He thought that he wasn't being that obvious, how come Rong Heng could understand his thoughts so well ah~?! Was he the worm inside his stomach?

Rong Qiu frowned.

Yao Ling didn't know whether she should laugh or cry. The role between these two was indeed being reversed ah~! Which one was the father and which one was the son ah~! Rong Qiu's aggrieved look looked like a guilty kid being reprimanded by his parents.

Rong Heng said, "You don't need to lie to me! When you lie, you keep pinching your own sleeve and your eyes keep darting around!" He looked pointedly at Rong Qiu's hand and Yao Ling couldn't help but look in the same direction. She wanted to know whether it was true or not ah~!

Rong Qiu was dumbfounded when he heard his son's accusation. Did he really do that? When he looked down at his own hand, he really pinched his own sleeve and he quickly let it go like he was being burned. He really did that!

Was this the reason why his son always knew that he was lying?! Why did he tell him at this moment ah?!

"What are you talking about?! Nonsense!" Rong Qiu quickly denied. It was too embarra.s.sing ah~! How could he admit it?

Yao Ling really wanted to laugh when she listened to their banter. No wonder her father was feeling afraid to meet this Da Ge, he could hide nothing from Rong Heng ah~! Besides, why did she feel that Rong Heng was even more mature than Rong Qiu?

Rong Heng laughed sarcastically. "Please... I already know that you have reached a decision. I can see it in your eyes. You want to go and follow Yao Ling, right?" Rong Heng was too lazy to play around with words and directly asked the questions. It would be better if they talked everything out as soon as possible.

Rong Qiu stunned. "How... How do you know?" He forgot to cover up his lie and directly admitted that what Rong Heng had just said was true... When he realized it, it was already too late. Rong Qiu really wanted to slap his own mouth ah~!

Rong Heng's face darkened because it meant that his guess was true. "You've just told me about it yourself! Previously, it was just a mere guess but... now I know the truth..."

Rong Qiu could only look down guiltily and sigh helplessly. "If you already guess it, then I will tell you everything. You know... I want to spend more time with Yao Ling, become a good father to her, but... at the same time, I also can't bear to let you go. That's the reason why I haven't told you yet... It's because I'm still confused. Why don't both of you live in the same kingdom ah~! This matter really gives me a headache."

Rong Qiu ma.s.saged his forehead in despair.

Rong Heng sighed and looked at Yao Ling who looked helpless as well --- he also knew that she yearned for her father's love as well. If he continued holding onto his father, wouldn't it make him appear so selfish? After all, he was older than Yao Ling. The bigger one was usually the one who should succ.u.mb to the younger one.

"If you want to go, then just go... You can retire and let me handle everything here..." Rong Heng decided to take a step back, after all, how could he fight with a girl? Besides, he could see that Rong Qiu really wanted to go.

"You mean...?" Rong Qiu asked in disbelief. "You agree...?!"

"You can go... but..." Rong Heng wanted to give him a condition.

"But what?" Rong Qiu asked warily.

"You have to visit me from time to time. Your grandchildren also want to see you..." Rong Heng answered with a smile. He already had his own family and decided not to be petty. Rong Heng actually wanted to say that he would also miss him but he was too embarra.s.sed to say that in front of Rong Qiu and Yao Ling.

However, the other two could see it clearly and didn't point it out. Rong Qiu would never think that their talk would go so smoothly and felt happy because he had an understanding son. "Thank you," Rong Qiu said gratefully. "Of course, I will come back. I will miss you!" He admitted.

No matter what, Rong Heng was his son ah~! That condition was so easy to fulfill so he had no objections.

"There is also another reason for Father to go," Yao Ling said in between their sweet talk. She wanted her brother to understand his father better.

"What kind of reason?" Rong Heng asked in confusion.

"He wants to search for my real mother, his real wife," Yao Ling answered softly. "She has gone missing and from the latest information that we have gotten, it seems like she's imprisoned..."

Rong Heng was taken aback and blurted out his question, "She's not dead? Imprisoned? Why?!"

Rong Qiu smacked his head. "Of course not! Watch your mouth! She's still alive and kicking!" How could he jinx his wife ah~?!

Rong Heng knew that what he said was inappropriate, so he only grinned sheepishly while apologizing. "Sorry! I will help you find out about her as well," Rong Heng offered. "Tell me everything about her!"

The father-daughter duo told him everything and Rong Heng got a headache once they were talking about the weird mystical power, but he believed in them now. Thus, he listened to everything carefully. After that, their conversation became smoother and they looked like one big happy family.

Yao Ying didn't try to listen in but he wanted to know whether his wife was being bullied or not by her new brother, thus, he stealthily went near to the main room where those three were talking. When he found that the atmosphere was quite nice, he was able to sigh in relief and go back to their room in a smile.

It seemed like everything had gone well.

----------

In the end, Rong Qiu really did what Rong Heng had suggested. Everything became easier because Feng Yong Rui acted as the regent around this time. His retirement was approved without the need to beg and he could follow Yao Ling back to the Shu Kingdom as soon as possible. She had gotten the ident.i.ty of an official's daughter at the moment, even though Rong Qiu had retired, Rong Heng was still powerful so he could become a pillar of support for Yao Ling in the future.

It took less than two weeks and everything had been ready. However, in between the preparation, they found something out... and it seemed like they needed to be more careful on their way back home...