Xue Zhao, ever since he t Jiang Li and learned that Xue Huaiyuan was also in Yanjing City, had gradually regained his forrly ebullient nature, not taking anything too seriously. Jiang Li had previously worried that he would be heartbroken about being unable to stand and fall into depression, but now it appeared she could rest easy. He could even joke about it, which showed he hadn’t changed much from before.
"So you’re saying that although you’re Ah Li, you now have the identity of the Jiang Family’s Second Miss?" Xue Huaiyuan asked. A sour feeling erged in his heart; she was clearly his daughter, yet she had to call soone else father and couldn’t openly acknowledge their relationship.
"It’s all right, Father, I’ve thought it through," Jiang Li said, "In the future, I’ll find a way to acknowledge you as my godfather. If Pri Minister Jiang agrees, then I can call you Father. Others will only think we have the relationship of godfather and goddaughter, but as long as we ourselves know, that’s enough."
"That won’t be so easy," Xue Zhao interjected. "There are many rules within the official family; acknowledging a godfather isn’t as simple as it is in Tongxiang. Sister, if you’re to acknowledge a godfather, choosing a high official or noble would be one thing, but acknowledging a father... I’m afraid the Chief Minister will think you’re being ridiculous."
Jiang Li said, "I have my ways."
"What ways?" Xue Zhao probed, "Are you planning to ask that person for help?"
Jiang Li was taken aback but quickly realized "that person" referred to Jih Heng. That night when she recognized Xue Zhao, she had not avoided Jih Heng, and he had even held her hand; Xue Zhao must have noticed that and could guess their relationship wasn’t ordinary.
"Who is that person?" Xue Huaiyuan asked, puzzled.
"It’s... it’s nothing," Jiang Li deflected with a laugh like a child caught doing sothing wrong. "Just soone who once helped us." She glared at Xue Zhao, who turned away, pretending not to see Jiang Li’s look.
"No wonder," Xue Huaiyuan, who hadn’t noticed Xue Zhao’s glance, remarked, "you’ve always been helping the Xue Family..."
Jiang Li indeed had a deep connection with the Xue Family, because she was originally their daughter Xue Fangfei!
"What’s the matter with Ah Zhao?" Xue Huaiyuan then turned to Xue Zhao, "How did you rescue Ah Zhao?"
Before Xue Zhao could speak, Jiang Li seized the conversation. "It was a friend of mine. I asked him to help rescue the Jiang Family’s Third Miss, Jiang Youyao, from the private prison. That friend saw Ah Zhao there, and Ah Zhao pleaded with him for rescue. He didn’t know Ah Zhao was my brother, so he rescued Ah Zhao as well. Later, when I... when I visited that friend’s house, I happened to see Ah Zhao and then learned that Ah Zhao was actually alive, having been deceived by Princess Yongning before. After recognizing each other, I decided to bring Ah Zhao to see you."
Xue Zhao winked at Jiang Li, hinting that she had concealed far too much in her story. Xue Zhao also found it incredible; when Xue Fangfei and Shen Yurong had developed feelings for each other, Xue Fangfei did not hide it from Xue Huaiyuan or him. Although she was shy, she was still open about it, yet when it ca to Duke Su, she was going to such lengths to conceal it?
Xue Huaiyuan, unsuspecting of anything, simply sighed, "That’s incredibly fortunate, Ah Li. You must properly thank your friend; he saved Ah Zhao’s life."
"I know," Jiang Li responded.
"That brother did more than just save my life; he also helped a lot with Sister’s and Father’s issues," Xue Zhao said with raised eyebrows. "I heard from the doctor who treated my injuries at his house that he also helped a lot with Father’s case in Tongxiang. You could say he’s a benefactor to our Xue Family."
Upon hearing this, Xue Huaiyuan asked in surprise, "Ah Li, this friend of yours, is he a gentleman?"
Jiang Li awkwardly affird and added, "I actually got to know him through his acquaintance with Minister Jiang..."
"That brother is a good man. Father, do you rember Doctor Situ, who treated your illness? He ca at the behest of that brother to help. Doctor Situ later saved as well. On the day Prince Cheng made his move, they all protected very well. I think, since they helped so much, it must have been for Sister’s sake, which ans he certainly helped Sister even more,"
Xue Huaiyuan was no fool; with Xue Zhao’s overt and subtle hints, he quickly caught on and looked at Jiang Li in astonishnt. Jiang Li was signaling Xue Zhao with her eyes, telling him not to talk nonsense. Xue Huaiyuan beca even more surprised; he knew well the temperant of his daughter whom he had raised. If there was really nothing between her and the "brother" Xue Zhao ntioned, she would have openly denied it. However, her insistence that Xue Zhao keep quiet without denying it spoke volus.
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