A hint of pride flashed in Tang Mingfan's eyes as he said, "Go and get it."
Tang Zhuyun obediently went to fetch it.
Is her father suddenly going to tell her, "Daughter, for the past twenty years, I deliberately concealed the truth about our family because I was afraid you would lose your fighting spirit?"
Actually, you're not just the son of an official, but also the son of a wealthy family?
Wake up, wake up!
Even mountains of gold and silver couldn't withstand a father's desire to "help others when he's successful."
They say that money lost can be regained, but her father lost his fortune, and then... nothing happened.
The locust wood box is light and airy, with a vintage feel, and it has developed a patina from being touched so many times.
The small brass lock was quite exquisite.
What exactly is it?
Tang Zhuyun was incredibly curious.
Could it be a rare, unique copy?
Could it be his secret stash of money?
Tang Mingfan took a small key from his sleeve and handed it to Tang Zhuyun, his eyes filled with affection. "Open it and take a look."
Tang Zhuyun inserted the key into the lock and shook it laboriously.
It's clearly not very responsive, probably because it hasn't been turned on for so long.
"Should we try adding some tung oil?" Tang Mingfan asked.
With a "snap," Tang Mingfan exclaimed in surprise, "It's open? Hmm? Why wasn't it open?"
Tang Zhuyun said weakly, "It seems the key broke off inside..."
She hadn't expected the key to be so fragile.
As expected, the thinner ones are useless.
"Father, how about we get a locksmith to open it tomorrow?" Tang Zhuyun said nervously and breathlessly.
Tang Mingfan said, "Go find an axe and split this box open."
"Good!"
Tang Zhuyun said that she could do it.
"Xiu'er, bring me an axe!"
No sooner had she finished speaking than Xiu'er rushed in, carrying an axe.
Tang Mingfan, however, did not allow Xiu'er to stay.
Tang Zhuyun was even more confused. What kind of treasure was it that even Xiu'er couldn't know?
What other dark history does she have that Xiu'er doesn't know?
"Father, step back a bit—" Tang Zhuyun raised the axe, took a deep breath, and chopped down with all her might.
One axe stroke, and it's done in two!
Luckily, they used broken locust wood, otherwise it would have been a real shame.
But inside the box was just a letter?
This letter must have been quite old; when Tang Mingfan opened the envelope, the paper inside was yellowed.
"A-Yun," Tang Mingfan handed her the letter, a wistful look of reminiscence in his eyes, "You can read now, take a look for yourself."
Tang Zhuyun glanced down at it a few times.
I'm sorry, but the characters she recognizes are from a completely different country than the characters on this page.
--This wild cursive script is comparable to some doctors' prescriptions; who can decipher it?
Did you understand?
Tang Zhuyun shook her head honestly. "I don't recognize cursive script."
A smile actually appeared on Tang Mingfan's face, "Oh right, Father completely forgot, this is cursive script. This letter has a long story to tell—"
He leaned back in his chair, the candlelight casting a soft, dim glow on him, his eyes glazed over as he drifted into memories.
"Back then, when the Emperor was falsely accused of treason and thought there was no hope left, he wrote me this letter entrusting his son to me."
Entrusting an orphan to someone?
Tang Zhuyun's eyes lit up instantly.
Could her brother be the emperor's son?
"The Emperor told me about the existence of Prince of Jin and asked me to help the Xiao Family raise him..."
Tang Zhuyun: "???"
So, Prince of Jin almost became her brother?
The Prince of Jin has already been born, but the Emperor hasn't even become Emperor yet... and he almost became a stray dog, how tragic.
Wait a minute, didn't her father say before that he didn't know who the Prince of Prince of Jin's biological mother was?
It turns out he was lying to her!
Her father's love for the emperor was truly genuine; even his own daughter couldn't compare.
In short, Tang Mingfan helped the emperor resolve this crisis.
Tang Mingfan's statement was somewhat vague.
Tang Zhuyun is still waiting to see what happens!
Her traffic? No, no, no, does she even need that little bit of time?
"Father, back then you were not yet famous, and had no power or influence. How could you have helped the Emperor?" Tang Zhuyun asked curiously, resting her chin on her hand, staring intently at Tang Mingfan.
Tang Mingfan's face flushed slightly.
blushing?
Tang Zhuyun became even more curious.
Finally, after much pleading and cajoling, Tang Mingfan reluctantly revealed that back then, the daughter of the emperor's mortal enemy, the crown prince, had taken a liking to him and had revealed some important information to him...
"But A-Yun," Tang Mingfan said, "I have absolutely never done anything to betray your mother."
Tang Zhuyun nodded repeatedly. "I believe you."
At most, she just used her charm.
When even life is at stake, it's understandable, since life is the most important thing.
If you're dead, nothing you say will matter.
"Later, after the Emperor ascended the throne, he pardoned the First Princess," Tang Mingfan said, "And then the First Princess left the capital and was never heard from again."
Tang Zhuyun was actually very curious; what kind of woman was she?
In this era where men are the breadwinners and women are the homemakers, a woman who has access to the core secrets of her father and brothers must be quite remarkable.
As she suspected, he was right. From the past to the present, there has never been a shortage of women throwing themselves at her father, while at the same time... like moths to a flame.
In her father's heart, there was only Huainiang, who was already buried in the cold ground.
Tang Mingfan said earnestly, "That's why His Majesty has always remembered this matter."
Tang Zhuyun thought to herself, "The guillotine was right up to my neck, how could the impression not be deep?"
She now understood Tang Mingfan's intention.
"Father, are you going to give this letter to me?"
Tang Mingfan smiled and nodded.
"This... is it a get-out-of-jail-free card?" Tang Zhuyun reached out and stroked the letter.
"Exempt from death?" Tang Mingfan was taken aback for a moment, then shook his head and laughed, "Silly child."
Tang Zhuyun was stunned.
With such great merit, he still can't escape death; the emperor is truly a terrible scoundrel.
"The Emperor once offered to grant Father a pardon from death, but Father refused several times."
Tang Zhuyun's heart was bleeding.
Father, please don't! Give it to me!
Ever since she came to this wicked old society, she felt like her head was about to fall off.
After all, this place has the rule of law, but it is still a society ruled by an emperor.
If the emperor wanted to become incompetent, or simply disliked her, he could behead her without any reason.
He refused several times...
You are of noble character; you can refuse money, but you must refuse a get-out-of-jail-free card.
It hurt her terribly.
Tang Mingfan continued, "If you marry a prince, you will become a member of the royal family, the emperor's daughter-in-law."
Tang Zhuyun: I know.
Tang Mingfan: "... The royal family needs to maintain its dignity, especially since Prince of Jin is the emperor's own son. The Seventh Prince was so outrageous back then, but in the end, wasn't he just banished from the capital?"
Tang Zhuyun's eyes lit up immediately.
However, it only stayed lit for a moment before wilting.
What her father didn't know was that the Prince of Jin wanted the throne!
That was definitely a high-risk choice.
Just as he was feeling utterly hopeless, he heard Tang Mingfan say, "This letter is far more important than a get-out-of-jail-free card."
"Oh."
Perhaps sensing her disinterest, Tang Mingfan chuckled, "What a silly child! Listen to your father—"