TSFLIP Chapter 302

Xiaoxiao let go of her father’s hand and instinctively stepped back. She stammered awkwardly, “Daddy… in the room behind me… there are so many… so many…”

“Xiaoxiao, those are called renzhi,” Gu Yan explained kindly, knowing she wouldn’t understand.

Xiaoxiao froze in place. She had never heard the term before, but she could sense the horror in those two words. Staring blankly, she asked, “Daddy… why would someone… create renzhi?”

“Because they were bad people who wanted to harm your mother,” Gu Yan replied with a calm smile. “Xiaoxiao, do you think Daddy was wrong to do it?”

Slowly, Xiaoxiao shook her head. She wasn’t smart, but her intuition was sharper than most. Trembling, she hesitantly reached out and clung to the corner of her father’s robe, speaking in a placating tone, “I won’t tell Mommy. Daddy, please don’t be mad at me, okay?”

“You’re such a clever girl,” Gu Yan said softly, his eyes narrowing slightly as he patted her head lovingly and chuckled. “Why don’t you stay at Daddy’s estate for a while, Xiaoxiao?”

Xiaoxiao shivered and released his robe. She glanced at Su Bi for help, but Su Bi remained silent. Her face paled as she forced a smile and turned to leave. “I don’t want to stay at the estate. I want to go back to the palace to see Mommy. I miss her…”

“Xiaoxiao.” Gu Yan grabbed her by the shoulders. “You’re being very disobedient.”

Seeing Gu Yan raised his hand, Su Bi cried out, “Master!”

But it was too late—Gu Yan’s hand came down.

Xiaoxiao shut her eyes as her body went limp, collapsing into her father’s arms. Gu Yan glanced at Su Bi and asked lightly, “Why are you shouting?”

“Master… Xiaoxiao is your daughter,” Su Bi said, his voice trembling.

To Gu Yan, Su Bi’s stunned expression was almost comical. Holding Xiaoxiao, Gu Yan let her head rest against his shoulder. Gently stroking her back, he truly appeared to be a doting father. “What are you thinking?” he asked indifferently. “I simply wanted her to take a little nap.”

Only then did Su Bi notice Xiaoxiao’s faint breathing, and he sighed in relief. But Gu Yan’s next words, spoken with his usual air of elegance, sent a chill through Su Bi.

“If Xiaoxiao were gone, Feng Guang would be heartbroken.”

He spared Xiaoxiao for the same reason he had spared Xia Fengya over a decade ago. But deep down, Su Bi was horrified. Had Gu Yan truly harbored the thought of killing his daughter just moments ago?

Su Bi didn’t dare ask, knowing he would never receive an answer.

Gu Yan glanced at the renzhi in the room. Hearing his voice, they seemed to stir excitedly. He spoke softly, “Bring Twelve here and have him erase this memory from Xiaoxiao’s mind.”

“Yes, Master,” Su Bi replied.

Gu Yan’s subordinates all had unique talents. The one called Twelve specialized in hypnosis. Forgetting this incident would be a mercy for Xiaoxiao.

Looking down at his daughter, Gu Yan smiled faintly. “Xiaoxiao, your mother wants you to grow up happy and carefree. How could Daddy ever ruin her wishes?”

Su Bi suddenly understood. Gu Yan’s affection for Xiaoxiao wasn’t because she was his daughter but because she was Feng Guang’s daughter.

By the time the sun began to set, Feng Guang had been waiting anxiously in her palace quarters. When Gu Yan finally returned, Xiaoxiao was asleep in his arms. Worried she might catch a cold, he had even draped his outer robe over her.

Feng Guang took Xiaoxiao and gently placed her on the bed. Sitting by her side, she tucked her in and noticed her pale face. “What happened to Xiaoxiao?” she asked Gu Yan. “You said you’d be back quickly.”

“She wandered off and got into trouble. We ended up staying out longer than planned,” Gu Yan explained as he sat beside Feng Guang. “There were crowds on the streets today, and Xiaoxiao almost got lost. She was frightened. Feng Guang, when she wakes up, don’t scold her too harshly.”

Hearing the first part, Feng Guang was alarmed, but by the end, she huffed coldly. “You think you’re the only one who cares about Xiaoxiao? I carried her for ten months and treated her as my life. Even when I reprimand her, it’s for her own good!”

“Of course, Your Majesty is right.”

“Don’t brush me off.” She shot him a glare but lowered her voice so as not to wake Xiaoxiao. “Fengya’s second child will be born soon. What should we prepare as a gift?”

“A box of century-old ginseng will do.”

“I gave her century-old ginseng when she had her first child. Isn’t it a bit repetitive?”

Over a decade ago, after Lan Tingyu took the antidote Su Bi delivered and was cured of his poison, he chose to retreat into monastic life. Rumors of scandalous affairs later emerged from the monastery, but it was only natural—after all, it was full of men.

With two fewer men in Xia Fengya’s household, Feng Guang had always felt a bit guilty, which was why she insisted on preparing generous gifts every time.

Gu Yan chuckled. “Precisely because there are so many people in her household, she needs the extra nourishment.”

Feng Guang caught his insinuation and scowled. “You’re so indecent, Gu Yan.”

“Thank you for the compliment, Your Majesty.” Gu Yan’s smile deepened. “Unlike Your Majesty’s palace, where one husband surpasses the three in hers.”

Feng Guang froze before blushing. “You’re shameless.”

“Indeed, I am,” he said, lifting her into his arms. “Xiaoxiao is fast asleep… How about I serve Your Majesty properly tonight?”

She covered her face in embarrassment. But as he carried her away, she knew arguing was pointless—he wouldn’t listen anyway!