Chapter 211
Power, power, power! She wants real power! The reason she's so constrained now is simply because she hasn't stood high enough.
Although she was not a politician and did not understand politics, she still wanted to experience what it was like to be second only to the emperor.
Everyone has desires, and there's nothing wrong with her thinking that way. As long as she finds the right person, she can step on him to reach the pinnacle of power.
Wait a little longer, observe a bit more, and don't be impatient. If you make the wrong judgment, you won't have the chance to choose again.
Tao Tao looked down at the motionless rabbit in her arms. It was so docile and obedient, completely under her control, allowing her to knead and shape it as she pleased.
"Little rabbit, little rabbit? Little rabbit, where did you run off to..."
Outside, Xixin bent down to search, calling out as she went, muttering, "Strange, where did it go?"
Suddenly, a pair of embroidered shoes appeared before her. She looked up and saw the little rabbit she had been longing for was in Tao Tao's arms.
She exclaimed in surprise, "Boss!"
She hadn't seen her in so long. "When did you come back?"
"How's the family business?" Tao Tao asked with a smile.
Xi Xin said confidently, "Everything is fine. Don't worry, we're here, and with Brother Ji also on the team, things are going very smoothly."
"Xixin, if I ever have to go on a long trip, you should all be able to handle it, right?"
"Going on a long trip? Where are you going?" She looked at her with a puzzled expression.
Tao Tao smiled faintly and said, "Let's go out and travel around and see if we can open another branch in other places."
She nodded and smiled, "Then please go ahead, boss. We'll take care of everything at the shop."
Seeing this, Tao Tao put down the rabbit she was holding, walked over and hugged her, and sighed, "Xi Xin, it's good to have you all. You've shared a lot of things with me, otherwise I wouldn't be able to do anything else."
Xi Xin had not expected her to make such an intimate move. She stood there stunned, then her heart was filled with immense joy, pounding so hard that her blood rushed to her head and her cheeks turned red in an instant.
"Boss, you saved my life. I'm willing to give everything for you."
Give everything? That's a huge word. Who can truly give everything for someone else? Anyone can say nice things, but putting them into practice is incredibly difficult.
She opened her innocent almond-shaped eyes, her gaze clear, and said words that were completely contrary to her true feelings.
I believe what you say.
"By the way, has my mother been acting strangely lately? Like, who has she met or where has she been?"
Xi Xin listened carefully and thought about it. "The place where Madam spends most of her time is either at home or in the shop. When she meets customers, it's either us or her customers."
"Ah, I remember now. A few days ago, a caravan came with a corpse to buy a coffin. I heard from you, Madam, that it was a merchant caravan from the Xia Kingdom. You even chatted with them for a bit afterward."
Tao Tao responded with an "Oh," looking quite intrigued. "Did you hear what they were saying?"
"Hmm... I heard Madam ask them who the current emperor of Xia Kingdom is. After hearing this, Madam was stunned for a moment, and then they left shortly afterward."
"...Okay, I understand."
Xi Xin bent down and picked up the little rabbit. "Then I'll head back now, boss."
Tao Tao smiled slightly and nodded.
After everyone left, she sat there lost in thought. Finally, she stood up, walked to the west wing, and knocked on the door.
After a while, a voice came from inside, "Who's outside?"
Her voice sounded calm, but she could faintly detect a sob and a choked sob.
She pursed her lips, furrowed her brows slightly, and replied, "Mother, it's me."
The room fell silent instantly. After waiting for about half an incense stick's time, Tao's mother replied, "Go back now. I need to rest. We can talk about it tomorrow."
"Mother, let's solve this together. Hiding things from each other won't end well."
After she finished speaking, Tao's mother fell silent again.
Tao Tao simply reached out and pushed the door open. The door wasn't locked, which surprised her. She thought that maybe Tao Tao had been waiting for her all along.
The room was dimly lit, with no candles lit, only a slightly ajar window letting in a pale moonlight.
As I walked inside, I saw a figure sitting on the edge of the bed, head bowed, silent. Her expression was obscured by the shadows.
She stood there for a while before slowly walking over and asking softly, "I heard Xixin mention that a Xia Kingdom merchant caravan came to the shop to buy coffins a couple of days ago. They must have died of illness during their long journey."
"It's still sad to see people from my hometown again after so long."
"...What do you want to say?" Tao's mother's tone was colder than ever before.
"Do you want to go back? You want to go back, don't you, Mother?" Tao Tao asked herself, answering her own question.
She did not deny that she was from the Xia Kingdom, but directly asked Tao Tao about her purpose.
The atmosphere during their confrontation was devoid of the usual warmth and tenderness between mother and daughter.
"Didn't I tell you? As long as you find your father, I'll tell you everything." She suddenly sobbed as soon as she finished speaking.
"I found it. Do you need me to dig it out for you?"
Tao Tao's tone was smiling, yet it carried a chill.
Tao's mother suddenly looked up at her. In the pale moonlight, her pupils dilated in shock as she stared at the girl before her.
"Tao, Tao'er, what are you saying? Where is your father now?!"
She stood up excitedly, went over and grabbed Tao Tao's arm, her expression showing only surprise and panic, without a trace of joy.
The grip was so strong that it hurt her a little.
Tao Tao frowned slightly. "Right under that big banyan tree, isn't it?"
Upon hearing this, her eyes widened even more, and her gentle and kind face became slightly ferocious. "You...you remember everything?"
"What?" What do you mean by "remembered"? What does that mean?
Her face was full of doubt and confusion. Even though she saw things clearly, she was still completely confused. Could it be that the original owner had forgotten something?
"No, you are not her. You are not my daughter!"
She suddenly became agitated and shouted loudly.
Tao Tao suddenly felt a chill run down her spine, her mind went blank, and she froze on the spot. At that moment, she couldn't hear anything; all she could hear was the frantic pounding of her own heart.
“You are different from her. My daughter likes to eat crystal sashimi and longevity noodles that I make. She is obedient, sensible, and gentle. She never loses her temper with me!”
"She's not as unrestrained, flamboyant, greedy, and scheming as you! She's not like you, who is full of calculations and schemes!"
Tao's mother screamed in despair, her emotions growing increasingly agitated. She gripped the girl's shoulders tightly with both hands, shaking the pale-faced girl who was now speechless.
She even grabbed Tao Tao's neck with both hands, squeezing harder and harder, as if she wanted to kill her.
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