Upon suddenly seeing Dugu Xuancheng in the nunnery, who claimed to have come specifically to see her, Dugu Pingting felt a surge of warmth in her heart. However, the former then asked her if she knew what she had done wrong!
What did she do wrong?
The mistake was being born as Dugu Xuancheng's daughter!
Having such an irresponsible, cowardly, and incompetent father who can't even protect his own family!
However, Dugu Pingting knew very well that she absolutely could not say that. It was rare for Dugu Xuancheng to remember to visit her, so showing weakness and admitting her mistake was the best choice.
Therefore, she knelt down on the ground crying, tears streaming down her face. "I know, I really shouldn't have done those cruel things. I've disgraced you, Father, and made Uncle and Grandmother Emperor wary of you again."
If it weren't for my uncle's seniority, the late emperor would actually have favored my father more.
Although Dugu Pingting didn't fully understand Dugu Xuancheng, she was perceptive and insightful, able to discern from small details that Dugu Xuancheng's seemingly dissolute behavior was not genuine.
Whether it was to lower the guard of the palace or to let things take their course because he couldn't get what he wanted, he wasn't entirely without thoughts of that position.
The fact that the late emperor preferred his father was something his mother inadvertently revealed during a late-night conversation.
The mother was naturally indignant. If the late emperor had adopted her father, she would have been the empress in charge of the palace, and she and her sister would have been princesses of a great nation of unparalleled honor, just like Dugu Yue now.
I remember that she was depressed and sad for several days after she found out about this.
Later I realized that there is no such thing as "what if" in this world. If you want to become a superior person, you can only rely on yourself!
So she started targeting the old lady. Everything was proceeding smoothly and according to plan until that woman, Ji Yunyuan, suddenly entered the palace...
Now that she's the Crown Princess and has a little grandson, she must be living a very happy and fulfilling life.
Thinking of all this, Dugu Pingting cried even harder, her head down, her shoulders shaking, tears falling drop by drop to the ground. To Dugu Xuancheng, she looked like she was truly remorseful.
After all, he had raised this child for over a decade, and it was rare for someone to speak from his perspective. Even the hardest heart couldn't help but soften: "Alright, get up."
"Thank you, Dad."
“You are a smart child. In that situation, if I had tried to protect you, I would have only made the Empress Dowager angrier. So, it was better to say nothing. I know that your grandmother will not go so far as to kill us all.”
As expected, in the end, they just sent you here.
Although I suffered some hardships, it's better than losing my life, right?
"Right now, your father needs you to do something. If you do it well, you can leave here and go back to the good life you used to have."
While listening to Dugu Xuancheng's forced defense, Dugu Pingting felt an urge to vomit.
But she held back, and after deliberately gathering her thoughts, she raised her head with teary eyes, "Father... what do you want your daughter to do?"
Her clear eyes and obedient, endearing appearance made people's hearts soften even more.
Dugu Xuancheng raised his hand to let her stand up, and the resentment in his heart gradually dissipated. "The path that your father has chosen for you is naturally the most suitable one for you."
Do you know who these people outside are?
Father had just sent someone to inquire and learned that they had come from Ji Yun, and the leader was none other than Xiao Jing, the city lord of Ji Yun City, who came specifically to celebrate Dugu Chang's 100th day.
This man is exceptionally brave and was a hero who helped defeat Ji Yun's army from within and without. Even your imperial uncle praised him highly and readily approved his request for congratulations this time.
You're lucky to be living in the nunnery now, and you see him all the time. If you can find a way to become his second wife, and he can speak to your royal uncle, then you won't have to worry about leaving this godforsaken place.
Go with him to Ji Yun, where the mountains are high, the waters are far, and the seas are vast. You can gain freedom and revive your good old days. What a wonderful thing! Even your father and mother can benefit from your good fortune.
Pingting, your father only has you and your sister as his two children; he would never do anything to harm you!
His sincerity and gentle manner were unprecedented.
If Dugu Pingting hadn't seen Xiao Jing before—who was quite old and had a hideous scar on his jaw—she probably would have been tempted to believe him.
Right now, she blinked, feigning ignorance, "But... Father is talking about a second wife? I am a princess of Huaxu Kingdom, the apple of my father's eye, how could I... become someone else's second wife?"
Upon hearing this, a barely perceptible sneer appeared on Dugu Xuancheng's lips.
Princess? Beloved daughter?
Perhaps she was in the past, but now she has been rejected by the Emperor and Empress Dowager. Everyone in the capital knows about her morally questionable and lowly status. To him, such a daughter is no different from an abandoned child.
What right does she have to look down on being Xiao Jing's second wife?
If he can do it, he'll laugh three times and say, "May God help me!"
"Father said that Xiao Jing is a great hero, one of your royal uncle's most trusted generals, and he controls the vast Ji Yun City, no less than the local emperor over there."
What does it matter if she's a second wife if she can marry someone like that?
You don't know, there are many noble ladies in the capital who want to marry him as a second wife but don't even have the chance. The fact that you were able to get in touch with him is not only due to luck, but also because your father had to pull strings.
In short, your father has said what he needed to say and analyzed what he needed to analyze. As for whether you are willing or not, your father will not force you.
But this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Father has it tough too.
Your grandmother is still furious. Your father has pleaded with her at the palace several times, but to no avail. Now, apart from someone like Xiao Jing who has fallen for you and wants to marry you, your father doesn't know how to change your fate of spending the rest of your life in this austere nunnery!
They kept saying they wouldn't force her, but in reality, every word and every sentence left Dugu Pingting with no other choice.
The latter sneered inwardly; the rare surge of warmth he felt dissipated little by little amidst his false words.
On the surface, her smile grew even brighter. "I understand Father's intentions. Please give me a portrait of General Xiao. I will do my best to win him over, as you have said."
He coaxed and deceived me, and I pretended to be friendly with him.
Is there anything wrong with that?
Forget Xiao Jing, she doesn't want him. Isn't Xiao Chengyao Xiao Jing's son? Getting rid of him would have almost the same effect as getting rid of Xiao Jing; she could escape this misery just the same way, without having to endure the discomfort with an old man...
However, Dugu Pingting was unaware that if she really had an affair with Xiao Chengyao, it would probably infuriate Dugu Xuancheng to death!
Dugu Xuancheng could not have predicted that no sooner had he left than Xiao Chengyao found out about Dugu Pingting's room through other nuns.
The appointment made during the day, freeing him from the timid Xiao Jing and the aloof Prince Xiaoyao, with great ambitions within his grasp, was a perfect opportunity to spend the night with his beloved.
But all he could think about were those startled, deer-like eyes from the daytime.
A refined young lady with porcelain-like skin and a unique charm.
Xiao Chengyao slowly pushed open the door, his bright red lips, as red as if he had drunk blood, curled up excitedly to one side!
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