"Alright, I've always been your Sister A Ning." Xue Zi Ning held Wei Dong's hand and led him to Lu Wan Ming.
Lu Wan Ming was startled. "Your Majesty, you..."
"General Lu, don't you think this child is a bit different?"
Lu Wan Ming shook his head. "No, Your Majesty. What are you trying to say? This subordinate is a simple man and doesn't understand your meaning."
Xue Zi Ning nudged Wei Dong. "Come, meet your father."
Wei Dong froze, and Lu Wan Ming also froze, looking at Xue Zi Ning.
"Your Majesty, what is this..." Lu Wan Ming didn't understand the Empress's intention. Even if he wanted a child, it wasn't just anyone's child he could give to him.
"Wei Hai, are there some things that still can't be said now? When else are we waiting?" Xue Zi Ning looked at Wei Hai.
Lu Wan Ming was even more confused and couldn't help but ask, "What does this have to do with Wei Hai?"
Wei Hai remained silent. Lu Wan Ming looked at Wei Dong and suddenly froze. He looked at Wei Hai and walked forward, asking, "Wei Hai, is there something you've been hiding from me?"
"I am your child," Wei Dong suddenly said.
Wei Hai trembled all over and looked up at Wei Dong. Wei Dong choked back tears. "Daddy, I know I'm not your child. I heard everything."
Wei Hai looked at Wei Dong and lowered his head. Wei Dong released Xue Zi Ning's hand and came before Wei Hai, kneeling down with a thud. "Daddy, even though you have no relation to me, you raised me. In my heart, you are no different from my own father."
Wei Hai looked up. Wei Dong kowtowed, very solemnly.
At this moment, Lu Wan Ming finally understood. A seven-foot-tall man, trembling and shaking, came before Wei Dong and choked out, "You... you are really my Lu Wan Ming's child?"
There was no need for Wei Hai to hide anything anymore. He said in a low voice, "Do you still remember our promise?"
Lu Wan Ming's gaze faltered, and he looked at Wei Hai.
Wei Hai gave a wry smile. "You've forgotten, but I haven't. I remember our promise. If one of us died in battle, the other would take care of their family."
Lu Wan Ming took several steps back in disbelief. "Wei Hai, you..."
Wei Hai looked up, his gaze firm. "Perhaps in your heart, it was just talk, but I took it seriously. Back then, I couldn't get any news from you. Later, your men brought back a letter you wrote to Sister Ming Jiao. I opened it and read it. In it, you told Sister Ming Jiao not to wait for you."
Lu Wan Ming's expression changed, his face turning somewhat pale. "At that time, I didn't know if I could return alive, so I wrote that letter..."
"Yes, I saw it. I decided to fulfill our agreement. I took the letter and the money I had saved over the years, intending to give it all to Sister Ming Jiao, so she wouldn't wait for you anymore...
But when I arrived at Sister Ming Jiao's home, I heard her parents questioning whose bastard child was in her belly. Sister Ming Jiao refused to say, so they ordered someone to give her medicine to drink. I rushed in.
Sister Ming Jiao was very happy to see me and asked where Brother Ming was. I didn't tell her the truth, only that you were injured and recuperating, and would come to pick her up soon. I gave the money to Sister Ming Jiao, and I hid the letter.
Seeing the silver, Sister Ming Jiao's parents stopped forcing her to drink the medicine. Sister Ming Jiao was a very intelligent person. She asked me if something had happened to Brother Ming. I had no choice but to give the letter to Sister Ming Jiao...
Sister Ming Jiao said she wouldn't marry anyone else, as she was carrying your flesh and blood. However, her parents would not agree. She hoped I could help her, and I agreed. So, Sister Ming Jiao and I got married. Three months later, Sister Ming Jiao gave birth to a child, who is Wei Dong."
Lu Wan Ming slumped to the ground. "You... why didn't you say anything sooner?"
Wei Hai lowered his head. "For so many years, I treated Dong Zi as my own child. I didn't want him to know that I wasn't his father."
Wei Dong's eyes were already streaming with tears. "Daddy, you will always be my daddy."
Wei Hai shook his head. "Now, your biological father is there. Go and see him!"
Wei Dong shook his head. "You raised me. In my heart, you are the only father."
Wei Hai smiled. "Silly child, hearing you say that makes me truly happy. But I cannot deprive you of the fact of recognizing your kin. He doesn't know he is your father. If you consider me your father, then go and recognize your father."
Wei Dong cried profusely, kowtowed to Wei Hai, and then looked at Lu Wan Ming. "Father..."
At this moment, Lu Wan Ming finally saw that this child indeed had Ming Jiao's features. He stepped forward and hugged Wei Dong. "Child, I'm sorry."
"Since you are my father, can you not let Daddy leave?"
Lu Wan Ming stroked Wei Dong's head. For all these years, he had never fulfilled his duty as a father even for a day. He said in a low voice, "I am your father, but Wei Hai is also your daddy..."
Wei Dong's eyes lit up. "Really?"
Lu Wan Ming nodded, pulling Wei Dong to Wei Hai. "Good brother, I misunderstood you. Please forgive me..."
Wei Hai looked up at the sky and said, "Take Dong Zi and go. Forgiveness is impossible."
"Daddy..." Wei Dong became anxious.
Wei Hai didn't turn his head. He said coldly, "Don't call me daddy. I have no relation to you. Go back with your father properly."
"Dad..."
"General Lu, since the misunderstanding is cleared up, take your people and leave. Never appear here again," Wei Hai said coldly.
Lu Wan Ming said, "Wei Hai, don't worry. In my lifetime, I will never set foot here again. However, aren't you coming back with me?"
Wei Hai gave a bitter smile upon hearing this. "What's there to go back for? I've gotten used to living here."
"Alright, after we return, I will send people to bring some provisions," Lu Wan Ming said.
Wei Hai nodded. "Thank you!"
He turned to look at Xue Zi Ning. He never imagined this young girl would be Empress Chang Ning, an existence he could never reach in his lifetime.
He lowered his head and slowly knelt. "This humble subject did not know it was you before and committed many acts of insubordination. I beg Your Majesty to punish me."
"Ignorance is forgivable," Xue Zi Ning said faintly.
"Be careful..." Suddenly, Wei Hai stood up and rushed towards her.
She instinctively let a dagger slide from her sleeve. When she saw the anxiety in his eyes, she finally didn't make a move.
She felt him run in front of her, and then she heard the sound of a sharp blade piercing a body.
But she felt no pain. She saw the tip of an arrow, stained with blood, pierce through Wei Hai's chest and out his back.
"Wei Hai..." she cried out.
Wei Hai fell backward. She stepped forward to catch him, watching as the arrow had pierced his chest and blood gushed out.
"Daddy..." Wei Dong struggled free from Lu Wan Ming's grasp and ran over.
"Dong... Dong Zi, listen to your father well."
Wei Dong cried, "Daddy, I want to be with you..."