If we’re going to fight for the throne in Nanchu, that target is too big!
Xie Yuan shook his head, "I don’t have such thoughts at the moment, after all, the Nangong family has too much power, and the myriad members of the Nanchu royal family are eyeing the succession to the throne, wanting the Nanchu King to adopt a successor from among them, and there has been endless dispute over the years. Although you have the shadow guards left to you by your mother, against the Nangong family and the Nanchu royal family, it is still like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, I don’t want you to get too deeply involved in danger."
Su Rong corrected him: "Throughout history, besides female members of the Imperial Harem gaining power due to relatives interfering politically, there has never been a woman inheriting the throne. You should say this."
Xie Yuan glanced at her, displeased, "Letting you read history earlier, you always lack the patience to read. Small countries are different from big ones, there has been precedent in the history of the Nanchu vassal state where women have held power and ascended the throne. If you were to inherit the throne, there would be precedent to follow."
Su Rong was shocked, "Ah? Really?"
She hadn’t really read the history correctly, if this was the case, then she would have the rights to the throne. She finally understood, "This should be the real reason the Nanchu Queen wants to kill me, right?"
"Perhaps." Xie Yuan nodded, "In any case, from her position, no matter what reason, she has no reason not to kill you."
Su Rong suddenly felt that it was justifiable for the Nanchu Queen to want to kill her resolutely and persistently over many years. Her Nanchu royal blood, only hers at that, was indeed highly valued.
She sighed for a moment, "The shadow guards left by my mother? Surely you don’t mean just Fen Ling?"
"The then Prince Mingrui was naturally weak, and had always been unwell. In the end, he hit a dead end medically, knowing his days were numbered, he specially formed a group of shadow guards to protect his only daughter, Princess Zhenmin. There were five hundred shadow guards. But back then in Dawei, almost more than half were lost. Afterwards, your mother lost the strength and the heart to train them, trusted me, and handed over the control of this group of shadow guards to me. In these years, I have filled up the vacancies. The Fen Ling you saw today is the head of the shadow guards, he might be young, but his martial arts are the highest, his actions most steady, and his character is also to one’s liking. He should suit your temper, he is the one I have chosen for you."
Su Rong thought that Fen Ling was indeed good, it must have taken a lot of effort to train such a person.
Xie Yuan stood up, walked to the bedside, and handed her a token, "This is the token of the Blossom Support, I was planning to find an opportunity to give it to you, but didn’t expect that you just had your coming-of-age ceremony and something like this happened."
Su Rong glanced at it, unable to move, "You keep it for me for now, give it back to me when I am healed."
"I’ll have someone inform the Governor’s Residence in a while, you’ll live in my residence from today onwards, keep it yourself! From today onwards, you hold the Blossom Support token, Fen Ling and the five hundred shadow guards will only listen to you, not even including me." Xie Yuan stuffed the token beside her pillow, "We’ve talked so long, you must be tired, rest! We’ll talk when you’re more awake."
Su Rong nodded, "Okay!"
At this time, the wet nurse Zhao asked Su Rong, "Miss Seven, would you like some water?"
Having said so much, Su Rong was thirsty, she nodded, "Thank you, wet nurse."
Wet Nurse Zhao promptly got up and poured a cup of water for Su Rong, feeding her with a spoon, and then asked her, "It’s almost noon, are you hungry?"
Su Rong shook her head, having slept for so long, it must be the medicine taking effect, she was sleepy again, "I want to sleep a bit more."
Wet Nurse Zhao nodded, "Then you sleep! I’ll just be in the outer room watching over you. If you’re hungry, just call out to me. From today onwards, I’ll be taking care of you here in Xie Residence."
Su Rong replied and closed her eyes.
Xie Yuan was surprised, Wet Nurse Zhao referred to herself as ’old body’ in front of him, but referred to herself as ’old servant’ in front of Su Rong.
After Su Rong fell asleep, Xie Yuan and Wet Nurse Zhao went outside together.
Once they reached the drawing room, Xie Yuan asked Wet Nurse Zhao, "Are you planning to stay by Xiaoqi’s side from now on?"
Wet Nurse Zhao confirmed this and repeated what she had said to Su Rong about taking her in, to Xie Yuan again.
Xie Yuan nodded in agreement, sincerely saying, "Having Wet Nurse Zhao stay by Xiaoqi’s side is indeed a good thing for Xiaoqi, thank you, Wet Nurse Zhao."
Wet Nurse Zhao shook her head, "From now on, I will take care of Miss Seven with the same attention as I did the Dowager Empress. You can rest assured, sir!"
Xie Yuan asked, "Have you informed your nephew and niece?"
"I did. Today was a rush, didn’t pack anything. I’ll go back tonight to grab some stuff." responded the nurse Zhao.
Xie Yuan nodded, "Tonight, I’ll arrange for someone to accompany you."
Zhao expressed her thanks with a nod.
Xie Yuan sent word to the Governor’s residence to inform them that from today henceforth, Su Rong would be staying at his residence for a short while. The Governor’s wife was accustomed to this, but Governor Su found it suspicious and promptly went to Xie’s Residence.
Upon seeing Xie Yuan, who did not look well, Governor Su immediately asked: "Xie, Xiaoqi was supposed to escort Zhou Gu out of the city. Why would she decide to stay at your place without even returning home first? Did something happen to her?"
Xie Yuan, not wanting to hide anything from Governor Su, nodded, "After she sent Zhou Gu off, she was attacked by twenty Nanchu assassins at the Shili Pavilion outside the city. She is seriously injured..."
The color drained from Governor Su’s face, "How is she?" he asked urgently.
"The doctor has seen to her wounds. Her life is not in danger, but she will need about half a month to recover."
Governor Su asked, "Were it the people sent by the Nanchu Queen again?"
"Likely so, they are from Nanchu."
Governor Su was furious, "Under broad daylight, how dared the Nanchu Queen, so shamelessly and openly, send assassins? She no longer holds any restraint?"
"Perhaps knowing Xiaoqi has come of age flustered her, or perhaps there’s turmoil in the Nanchu Dynasty that has made her lose any regard for discretion. She has started to quite ruthlessly dispatch assassins."
Governor Su said, "I’m going to check on Xiaoqi."
"She just fell asleep. Wait till she wakes up before you visit," Xie Yuan stopped him.
Upon hearing this, Governor Su stopped in his tracks but internally he was panicking, "It has been so many years, Xiaoqi has been constantly targeted for assassination. Such a sweet girl, who should have been gently nurtured, has never been able to live peacefully. Now things seem to be getting worse. What can be done?"
"Don’t worry just yet, there’s always a solution. Throughout these years, even though the assassins from Nanchu kept coming, Xiaoqi grew up safely. She is not a delicate princess who cannot bear a bit of hardship."
Governor Su was distressed, "I’ve always said it to you before. Such a sweet girl, yet you allowed her at such a young age to resist assassins herself. She also has a big heart, always tricking her mother by saying she was involved in fights. Sometimes she even deceived me."
"Nurturing her too delicately, considering her origins, even if we guard her till she grows up, she’d be easily compromised. We can’t always protect her forever, so sooner or later, she will have to rely on herself. It isn’t necessarily bad for her to face some hurdles and training in her younger years. Only in doing so, she can handle the truth about her origins, and stand the test of trials and tribulations," Xie Yuan, understanding Su’s feelings, added, "Do you think I didn’t hesitate? But I had no choice but to hone her this way. Do you know, she killed 19 out of the 20 assassins today? It was only because she ran out of weapons that Fen Ling had to step in for assistance. Even Fen Ling, who has been trained since he was young, could only manage as much if he faced today’s assassins."
Governor Su was shocked, "When did Xiaoqi get so formidable?"
Xie Yuan smiled, "She gradually grew formidable in the places you couldn’t see." He then added, "For Prince Mingrui’s secret security force, if she couldn’t command their loyalty, it would be hard to extract absolute loyalty from the entire force. After today’s incident, the security force will acknowledge and respect her as their lord. It’s something bad, but also beneficial."
For a moment, Governor Su fell speechless, "She grew up in front of me. Whenever I had to go on a long journey, the longest duration would be about half a month."
He could hardly believe it, "Xiaoqi is so thin, with thin arms and legs. Oh my goodness, how is that child so strong? If it were up to me, I wouldn’t have been able to kill even one. Now I’m quite impressed with your approach and I acknowledge it wholeheartedly, Xie. You were right. Parents ought to love their children but also make long-term plans for them. It was right for the Princess to entrust Xiaoqi to you for tutelage back then. I’m far inferior to you."
Xie Yuan shook his head with a smile, "You don’t need to belittle yourself. The Princess knew you well, that’s why she let you raise Xiaoqi and have me educate her. You’ve fulfilled the role of a loving father. Over these years, you’ve indulged her while she grew up and bestowed her with fatherly love. You are indispensable."
Su Xu sighed, "Well, you’re right. Speaking of it, Chu Rong is really the luckiest one among us."
He and Su Xu, one of them her foster father, the other her uncle, Chu Rong was her biological father.
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