When Bai Qingzhou saw his father arrive, he finally gave him some face, jumped aside, and panted heavily.

Marquis Anning stared in shock at the lingering anger and ferocity on his son's face. This expression was the kind of fierceness that martial artists dreamed of. He had longed for it day and night, hoping that his son's peaceful, even somewhat cowardly, face would have such an expression.

But now that his son actually has it, he feels no joy at all; instead, he is worried.

"Qingzhou, what happened?" he asked.

Bai Qingzhou turned his face away. "Father, it's nothing, it's just... I suddenly feel like practicing martial arts."

Marquis Anning frowned. "Why are you suddenly practicing martial arts? Didn't you used to dislike it?"

Bai Qingzhou said coldly, "It wasn't a matter of liking or disliking before; it was just fear caused by being oppressed by my father. How could one have likes or dislikes when one is in fear?"

Guan Shui was startled—he also wanted to ask, what was wrong with the young master today? Why had his temperament changed so drastically? In the past, the young master would secretly tremble when he saw the Marquis, but today he actually directly contradicted the Marquis.

Marquis Anning was also dumbfounded. You see, he used to dream that his son would have some backbone, not be so obedient, and learn to talk back and disobey. Every time he put pressure on his son, he hoped that his son would resist.

The less his son resisted, the angrier and more anxious he became.

But only now, in his true rebellion, does he experience a complex mix of emotions.

For a moment, the father and son were locked in a stalemate.

Marquis Anning opened his mouth, but his tone softened unusually at the end, "You...do you hold a grudge against your father? In the past...yes...I was wrong, and I apologize to you..."

Guan Shui was stunned—the Marquis was apologizing to the Heir Apparent? What day is it today? Why is everyone acting so strangely?

Thinking this, Guan Shui looked up at the sky—would the sun rise in the west today? Would it rain blood later?

Bai Qingzhou was also startled. He looked at Marquis Anning, his brows twitching, and said, "Father, don't blame yourself too much. Put yourself in my shoes. If I were in your situation, I might have done the same thing."

Marquis Anning was secretly delighted, then tentatively asked, "You... really... no, can you... forgive your father?"

Bai Qingzhou glanced away again and said in a low voice, "If I were my father, I would make the same choice, but I wouldn't expect forgiveness."

"..."

Marquis Anning learned of his son's thoughts.

His heart ached as if pierced by a thousand arrows. He had long regretted it, regretting it every day, and regretting it more and more. If he could go back to those days, he would rather cut himself with a knife than let these things happen.

"Then... what should I... do?" Marquis Anning asked hesitantly.

The view of the water was astonishing!

In his memory, the Marquis was always a man of his word, an unyielding and stubborn man. Even when the princess rushed over with a knife and held it to the Marquis's neck, the Marquis did not change his expression. He could even push his neck forward a little, which frightened the princess into screaming.

But this stubborn person is now timidly asking the Crown Prince for his opinion!?

Bai Qingzhou was also startled. He turned his head to look at his father.

He then discovered that his once imposing and intimidating father was now... the same height as him, and had completely lost his imposing and domineering presence.

It was at this moment that he realized that his father was just an ordinary person, not that invincible... monster?

Yes, no one is perfect, everyone makes mistakes.

At that time, my father was almost paralyzed and later became disabled. He had no father to rely on, no brothers to help him, my mother died in depression, and my wife was weak-willed. What could my father do?

He suddenly wanted to go back to more than ten years ago, not to relive his life, but to go back at this age and in this body to help his father and protect him from the wind and rain.

I may understand it in my heart, but the hurt I suffered is an objective fact.

He could say he forgave his father now, but he wouldn't truly believe it. He didn't want to appease his father while betraying himself.

After a moment's thought, Bai Qingzhou said, "If I were the father, I wouldn't ask for forgiveness, but I would continue to live my life step by step, become a qualified father again, do what I should do, and leave the rest to fate."

Marquis Anning was taken aback.

Guan Shui thought this was a very good answer; it was both fair to himself and gave the Marquis a glimmer of hope.

After a while, Marquis Anning recovered and nodded with a stiff smile, "Do you still want to spar? I'll accompany you."

Bai Qingzhou pondered for a moment and said, "Okay, but we have to wait a bit. Let's go and tell Mother so they won't worry."

"Let's go." Marquis Anning turned around and walked towards the side of the training ground first, a relaxed smile on his lips that he hadn't seen in more than a decade.

In the corner.

Liu Xiangning whispered, "Master, what were they talking about just now?"

Chen Mianmian said, "What else is there to talk about? Just look at how the Marquis is turning from red to white, and you'll know he's apologizing. And look at how the Heir Apparent is sometimes conflicted and sometimes relieved, and you'll know he's struggling with his own contradictions."

Liu Xiangning suddenly realized, "Has the young master forgiven the marquis?"

Shen Mianmian raised an eyebrow. "I don't know, but whether or not she's forgiven, it should be a good outcome." As she spoke, she smiled.

Seeing her master smile, Liu Xiangning smiled too, "We'll catch Guan Shui and tell us about it later."

"Good idea."

As they were talking, Marquis Anning and the others approached.

The two first informed Ding that they were safe, and then Bai Qingzhou went to Shen Mianmian's side, his handsome face filled with apology, "Did I make you...worry?"

Shen Mianmian nodded honestly.

Liu Xiangning quietly ran to the side and beckoned Guan Shui over.

Chen Mianmian took out a handkerchief and wiped the prince's sweat—unlike Guan Shui, who was drenched in sweat, Bai Qingzhou, with his amazing stamina, didn't sweat much.

"Finished venting?"

"..." Bai Qingzhou pursed her lips, "...Mm."

"Feeling better?"

"……Um."

Chen Mianmian chuckled, "Let me ask you, if a stunningly beautiful woman who looks exactly like me appeared right now, would you fall for her instead?"

Bai Qingzhou knew what she meant. "This is different."

"Why is it different? If you resemble Prince Jin, I'll fall for someone else; but if I resemble another great beauty, you won't. So, you're more noble than me, and I'm more frivolous? Even someone as beautiful as Prince Ruyue didn't fall for me, let alone someone like Prince Jin?"

"No, that's not what I meant..." Bai Qingzhou explained awkwardly, pulling the woman far away, afraid that others would hear their conversation. "I...I...just...think I can be even better."

Shen Mianmian nodded, about to launch into a pep talk, when suddenly an idea struck her and her tone shifted, "I knew it! I had a feeling you'd be cursed if you got close to Prince Jin. What did I tell you? We've only met twice, and you've already got your mindset all messed up! Your Highness, trust me, from now on we'll stay as far away from Prince Jin as possible! We absolutely must stay away from him!"

Bai Qingzhou nodded, "I'll listen to you, I'll avoid him from now on."

Chen Mianmian curled her lips into a wide smile—"I've searched high and low without finding it, and now it's right here!" This has completely extinguished the trouble caused by the Marquis of Anning's rebellion with Prince Jin.

Next, let's just wait quietly for Prince Jin to rebel.

He paused for a moment—oh right, there's also Jiang Yinjin! He wondered if the King of Qin was square or round, and where to find him to pair him with Jiang Yinjin.