Qiao Ziming's heart stirred slightly.
Should we treat Su Muxi more gently?
He understood what his father meant.
He wasn't opposed to it at first, but now he felt angry.
Seeing the expression on Qiao Ziming's face, Qiao Xiuyuan slapped him without saying a word.
"Damn it! Have you already forgotten what I just said?!"
"I told you not to doubt Xi'er's character, what were you thinking just now?"
Seeing that Qiao Ziming remained silent, Qiao Xiuyuan sighed.
“I had an old nanny observe Xi’er, and Xi’er’s innocence is still intact.”
"If I had known you were this stupid, I should have made these things clear to you much earlier... Sigh!"
Upon learning that Su Muxi's innocence was still proven, Qiao Ziming's depressed mood suddenly lifted.
But then he pressed on, "I'm stupid, so Father, can you tell me why you insist that I marry Su Muxi, and why you care so much about Su Muxi?"
Qiao Xiuyuan's eyes trembled slightly, and after hesitating for a long time, he asked softly, "Do you know why your father abandoned martial arts for literature?"
Although he had been handling matters related to the Ministry of War, he had now become a civil official through and through.
Qiao Ziming nodded slightly.
If Prince Yu's prestige in the army ranks first, then Lin Zhisheng's prestige in the army must rank second.
His father not only produced the letter from Prince Yu, who had colluded with the enemy and betrayed the country, but also personally beheaded Lin Zhisheng.
If I were to return to the military, I would certainly be targeted in various ways, and I might even lose my life.
Then Qiao Xiuyuan said quietly, "The world has misunderstood your father. They think you are a traitor who sells out your master for personal gain. But I can't defend myself. Even now that I've become the Marquis of Anyang and the Minister of War, I still can't shut up those people in the army."
"Then what does this have to do with Su Muxi? Isn't Su Muxi Su Xing's biological daughter?!"
The thought of this possibility made Qiao Ziming's hands tremble involuntarily.
So Su Muxi is actually Prince Yu's daughter?!
But then Qiao Xiuyuan said, "Yes, Xi'er is actually General Lin's daughter."
Upon hearing this, Qiao Ziming was surprised, but also somewhat disappointed.
If Su Muxi is the daughter of Prince Yu, then she and Ye Zeyu are cousins.
Therefore, the two could not get married.
But now…
Qiao Xiuyuan seemed to have opened a floodgate of words, his eyes gazing ahead as if reminiscing or missing someone.
"General Lin has been incredibly kind to me. I have served under him since I joined the army."
"General Lin is like an elder brother to me, but he is too sentimental and loyal, and was actually willing to help Prince Yu rebel..."
"That day in the palace, Prince Yu's crimes were exposed, and General Lin actually seized a steel knife from a guard, intending to assassinate the Emperor. Torn between loyalty and righteousness, for the sake of Qi's stability, I had no choice but to kill General Lin..."
Upon hearing this, Qiao Ziming was filled with mixed emotions.
He even suspected at one point that his father had killed Lin Zhisheng in order to get promoted and receive a higher rank.
I never imagined his father had endured so much…
"So you want me to marry Su Muxi to make up for my guilt towards General Lin?"
As Qiao Ziming spoke softly, a sense of guilt towards Su Muxi welled up within him.
Qiao Xiuyuan nodded slowly, "Hmm, not bad. But it's not entirely true."
"Although Prince Yu and General Lin have been dead for nineteen years, there are still many hidden forces in the court, especially in the Xuanwu Army."
"Otherwise, why do you think Ye Zeyu was able to establish himself in the military so quickly, and why was he so calm even after being stripped of his military power upon entering the capital?"
Upon hearing this, Qiao Ziming had a bold guess in his mind, so much so that his heart began to race.
Is his father planning a rebellion?!
Qiao Xiuyuan patted Qiao Ziming's head affectionately, "As expected of my son, he doesn't do stupid things. He's quite smart."
Qiao Ziming's pupils dilated suddenly, and he said in a trembling voice, "Father, this could lead to the extermination of your entire family!"
"Scared? But what if we don't? Do you think our family will be better off after Ye Zerui ascends the throne? You don't really think Ye Zerui is as courteous and approachable as he seems on the surface, do you?"
Thinking of Bai Mengying's hypocrisy, Qiao Ziming fell silent.
Then she thought of Ye Zerui's condescending manner before he left that morning.
They fell even more silent.
Their family appears glamorous on the surface, but in the eyes of others, they are nothing more than dogs serving the empress.
He could tell that his father always wanted to break free from the Empress's control.
The Empress should be able to see it too.
Therefore, after Ye Zerui becomes emperor, his family will likely be quickly discarded after they have served their purpose.
Therefore, the only way out is to rebel...
Qiao Xiuyuan patted Qiao Ziming on the shoulder and slowly stood up.
"Alright, don't overthink it. I'll take care of everything for you. Just treat Xi'er well."
"As for those little tricks you're thinking of, it's fine to use them, so you can truly understand Bai Mengying's ruthlessness."
After saying that, he slowly walked away.
Qiao Ziming watched Qiao Xiuyuan's departing figure, his heart filled with complex and incomprehensible emotions.
His father saw through his purpose in taking Qiaohui to the princess's mansion at a glance.
But he couldn't see through his father.
Su Muxi is General Lin's daughter...
His father wanted to rebel...
So what kind of person was his father...?
Meanwhile, Xie Xuan returned home drunk. Seeing that Xie Chi's study light was still on, he hesitated for a moment before swaying as he walked over.
The door was pushed open with a "bang," startling Xie Chi who was inside.
Upon seeing Xie Xuan, Xie Chi quickly put away the scroll on the table.
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