To avoid attracting attention, she slipped in through a side path.
As soon as she entered, she saw her father kneeling in front of the ancestral tablets. An Yuan'er felt that her father looked much more haggard.
Father is old and should not have to suffer such punishment.
An Yuan'er's eyes were red, and she whispered, "Father, it's Yuan'er who has come to see you."
An Chaoli looked out the window; it wasn't even dawn yet!
An Chaoli wiped away the tears from his daughter's eyes: "My silly daughter, you usually love to stay in bed the most. Is it because you're not used to the blankets at home? Daddy will get you new ones."
This daughter was pampered from a young age, and An Chaoli couldn't bear to see her suffer even the slightest grievance.
“Everything is fine at home. Why is Father still thinking about Yuan’er? Father should be taking care of himself.” An Yuan’er took out a small water bottle from her book bag, fed An Chaoli water, and stuffed a big steamed bun into her father’s hand.
For three days, she didn't give him any food or water. Her grandmother was heartless, but An Yuan'er couldn't bear to see her father suffer.
"Father, rest assured, Yuan'er will definitely clear my name of all the rumors and will not let you be ashamed because of me. Yuan'er will make everyone see that it is an honor, not a shame, for you to have me as your daughter."
An Chaoli sighed, "Silly girl, what nonsense are you talking about? No matter what the rumors are, my Yuan'er is as beautiful as ever in my heart. That will never change."
"Go back quickly, or you'll be punished too if someone sees you."
Urged on by An Chaoli, An Yuan'er reluctantly left.
After everyone left, An Chaoli looked at the large steamed bun in his hand and chuckled, "It's so good to have a daughter."
He took a bite of the steamed bun and found a note inside. The handwriting on the note was An Yuan'er's.
What your parents said then, you should understand now.
This is the last line of Bai Juyi's poem "Swallow Poem for Old Man Liu," which mainly expresses gratitude to parents for their upbringing.
As An Chaoli looked at the screen, his vision began to blur. He had always thought that spoiling his daughter was enough, but it turned out that it wasn't just him, as her father, who had been giving unconditionally all along. As his daughter grew up and became more sensible, she would also think of and miss her father.
The old father shed tears of relief. But he quickly wiped them away, lest others laugh at him if they saw.
An Chaoli finished his steamed bun, put the note away, and as a father, he couldn't help but praise her at the very end: "My daughter's handwriting is so beautiful! My daughter is truly the best!"
*
As for Chenyang Palace, where news always circulates, this matter quickly reached his ears.
With An Yuan'er's reputation at stake, Yi Chenli had long been unable to sit still.
The girl he had protected for so many years, he dared not touch her, and treated her with utmost care, afraid of ruining her. Yet, the girl he had cherished so dearly suffered such a great injustice.
He knew better than anyone what kind of girl she was.
She was definitely not the promiscuous and dissolute figure portrayed in the rumors. She was the kind of girl who would blush and shyly look away even when kissing the boy she liked. Many people did have designs on her, but that was not a fault of hers.
Yi Chenli was somewhat obsessed; he couldn't tolerate others gossiping about his girl.
These people all deserve to die!
He pushed his wheelchair out, his presence carrying a hint of murderous ruthlessness.
Li Gui was worried about Yi Chenli and kept following behind, saying, "Master, you can just leave it to the third brother to investigate. There's no need for you to go yourself."
Yi Chenli glanced coldly at Li Gui. Li Gui quickly shut her mouth.
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