Dan Qing regretted telling his father about his past with Qiao Ci, and even more so about her former status as Empress.
Although his father loved him, he loved the Empress more.
Two tigers could not share one mountain. If he informed his father that Qiao Ci was the Empress he had mentioned, his father might resort to extreme measures.
Having experienced over a decade of life as a consort, Dan Qing understood his father's thoughts perfectly. He would never allow anyone to threaten the Empress's position.
Furthermore, he had also recounted Qiao Ci's strategic brilliance, which would surely make his father more wary of her.
What was to be done?
Though a thousand thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant, Dan Qing quickly made his decision. He rose and knelt before Xu Qingfeng, saying, "Father, although it was but a fleeting dream, your son has become deeply entangled. I have lived in a daze for three years, and finally found solace. I implore Father to grant my wish!"
"I think you are possessed!" Xu Qingfeng pointed at Dan Qing with a trembling finger. Seeing his tearful eyes, he couldn't bear to say more and left with a flick of his sleeve.
The close personal attendant hurried forward to help Dan Qing up, saying, "Little Prince, why do you argue with the Imperial Consort? He only wants what's best for you. Why ruin yourself for a dream?"
"If you are not a fish, how can you know the joy of a fish?" Dan Qing slowly stood up, his voice cold.
"Yes." Ru Feng had served Dan Qing since childhood and naturally obeyed his words, replying in a low voice.
Qiao Ci did not return to the ruined temple, and most likely would never go back. She went directly to the residence of Qiao Wen, the Assistant Minister of Rites.
The doorman, seeing her dare to return, sneered with his nostrils flared and said, "Qiao Ci, you little thieving dog who steals even from your own home, and you still have the nerve to come back?"
"That's right. Our Miss Qiao treated her so well. Not only did she not repent after being caught stealing, but she even bit back at Miss Qiao. She truly is an ungrateful wretch."
"It's fortunate that Miss Qiao was merciful and did not implicate the housekeeper and his wife because of her affairs. The housekeeper and his wife are also grateful and immediately severed ties with this little thief, disowning her."
Qiao Ci crossed her arms, extracting useful information from their words.
She had to admit, Qiao Shan, a woman from modern times, was truly skilled. Disfigurement, broken legs, ruined reputation, expulsion from home... she knew how to harm people.
"I'm looking for your Assistant Minister of Rites," Qiao Ci said indifferently.
She had no intention of acknowledging this father.
In the original novel, when Minister Qiao Wen learned that the original host was his biological daughter, seeing that the original host's literary talent, martial arts, and character were far superior to Qiao Shan's, he unhesitatingly abandoned Qiao Shan, whom he had raised for over twenty years.
When Qiao Shan Shan transmigrated, Qiao Wen saw Qiao Shan's brilliance and doted on her.
Even after learning of his biological daughter Qiao Ci's tragic experiences, he was unmoved, only blaming the original host for her own inadequacy in not being able to contend with Qiao Shan.
Qiao Ci's visit today was solely to fulfill a wish of the original host: to see if her birth mother would choose her when her limbs were intact, and expel that imposter and the housekeeper and his wife from the mansion!
Qiao Shan came out first and her pupils constricted when she saw Qiao Ci. She did not know what kind of demon resided in Qiao Ci's body now, nor what she intended to do by visiting today.
Fearing that more trouble would arise, upon receiving the news, she immediately sent away the servant who had gone to find her father and came alone.
"Bring her in." Qiao Shan thought for a moment and felt it best to probe her first.
Qiao Ci, however, completely ignored them. Today, she would question Qiao Wen in public.
If he still chose Qiao Shan, it would be good to sever this relationship completely, to avoid future trouble.
"I want to see Lord Qiao Wen. Oh, and preferably Madam Qiao as well, and the housekeeper and his wife of this esteemed residence."
"You think you're worthy?" Qiao Shan knew Qiao Ci had already discovered her identity just by hearing these names.
Knowing her intentions, Qiao Shan actually calmed down.
Since transmigrating here, she had made considerable efforts.
The current Qiao Wen and his wife doted on her, especially Qiao Wen, who had provided her with much useful advice in official matters, and was very obedient to her.
This outsider had probably transmigrated into her novel by chance and truly considered herself the protagonist, Qiao Ci. How ridiculous.
She didn't realize who the real hidden protagonist was! And she actually dared to try and seize her identity. How laughable.
Did she know who was the true master of this world?
It was she, Qiao Shan, the author!
"Worthy or not depends on whether you dare to gamble?" Qiao Ci looked at her with a half-smile.
"Heh, then I will let you fully understand what it means to be overconfident and what a realistic beating is." Qiao Shan glanced at Qiao Ci with unconcealed arrogance, then ordered the attendant beside her, "Go and invite Father."
Qiao Shan's status in the mansion was sky-high, and the attendant dared not delay, quickly running back into the mansion to invite Lord Qiao.
About the time it took for an incense stick to burn, Qiao Wen finally arrived.
Decades of official career had made him portly, his flesh jiggling with every step.
In fact, she had not wanted to come; a mere servant should not have warranted her presence. However, since her insightful daughter had spoken, she had to at least give her some face, and after a long period of pretense, she finally emerged gracefully.
Upon seeing Qiao Ci, Qiao Wen's expression turned stern, his brows furrowed in disdain, "You lowly servant, Qiao Ci, what business do you have with this official that requires such a large mobilization?"
"It's nothing major, I just want to tell you about some old matters." Qiao Ci looked Qiao Wen up and down, clearly seeing the arrogance and disdain in his eyes.
She was not the original host, and naturally would not be hurt by this.
"On the winter solstice of the first year of Dan Kingdom, your husband Ma Zhuang gave birth to a baby girl. At that time, the wife of your steward was also about to give birth and also had a daughter.
What I'm about to tell you is that the person who delivered your husband's child was actually the maternal uncle of the steward's wife. At that time, she swapped your child with the steward's child.
Actually, this matter is easy to investigate. More than one person delivered the baby at the time, and the newborn girl had a birthmark that many people saw, including your husband Ma Zhuang, who should have some recollection of it." Qiao Ci said slowly, looking at the information given by Xiao Shaozi.
Ma Zhuang was also present. He appeared momentarily dazed, but looking at the disfigured and downtrodden Qiao Ci, and then at Qiao Shan, who had become more and more intimate over the past decade, he subconsciously did not want to admit it.
He decided to wait and see, so he did not respond to Qiao Ci, standing still without admitting or denying, waiting to see how his wife would choose.
The housekeeper and his wife, who had come with Qiao Wen, immediately knelt and said, "My Lord, please investigate thoroughly. This wicked creature, Qiao Ci, must be harboring resentment and is framing us. We raised her diligently, yet she is unrepentant and truly beyond hope!"
Qiao Wen narrowed his eyes and said, "Are you saying that you are my, Qiao Wen's, biological daughter, and Shan Shan is the child of the steward?"
"Precisely," Qiao Ci nodded, completely unfazed by the official authority emanating from her.