Yi Qing said, "How about calling Miao'er here and asking for her opinion?"
Just then, Xue Miao'er pushed the door open and came in. "I'm willing," she said.
Maybe she wasn't that smart, but she knew her father well! Seeing the look on Xue Tianlang's face when Yi Qing was mentioned, she vaguely sensed something was wrong. So she had been keeping an eye on this side and overheard the conversation between Yi Qing and Xue Tianlang.
"Don't go!" Xue Tianlang said, worried about his innocent daughter's IQ. "No matter whether she knows Deng Xiao or not, once she reveals your identity, you'll have no way out."
Yi Qing thought to herself that indeed, the older one is more experienced. He had hit the nail on the head.
She was just about to say that they could just find someone else to accompany Xue Miao'er when she heard Xue Miao'er say, "No, Dad, let me go. If she reports me, I'll say she's my stepmother."
Yi Qing was glad she hadn't been drinking water, or she would have surely spit it out.
"I can't be worthy of that," she said expressionlessly. "Don't elevate my status. I can't bear it."
"I mean just in case," Xue Miao'er said. "But I believe you won't do that. Actually, I believe what you said is true."
Then she looked at Xue Tianlang and pleaded, "Dad, for so long, you've always been worrying about me. Now it's my turn to do something. I hate the Meng family and Meng Qinglong. I don't want to marry into that family. Let's give it a try. If we can get on good terms with Deng Xiao, wouldn't it be more reliable?"
Xue Tianlang scolded, "Anyone else is okay, but not Deng Xiao. Don't you think about what he does? He's the commander of the Jinyiwei. What can't he find out? He can easily find out your background. And then..."
Yi Qing said, "Since the head of the family has so much faith in Deng Xiao's ability, you should trust that he can also find out that Miao'er has been growing up in the mountains and has no connection with the remnants of the previous dynasty. If I'm not wrong, Deng Xiao didn't come to Henan for no reason. The emperor must be dissatisfied and suspicious of either the Meng family or the Lin family, or even both."
Seeing that Xue Tianlang was about to retort, she sneered, "The head of the family is well - informed. Have you ever heard of a precedent where the commander of the Jinyiwei came to bestow rewards in person?"
Xue Miao'er said, "Yi Qing, I don't think you're necessarily right. Maybe the emperor changed his mind this time. After all, the imperial edict has already been issued."
"Do you think you're the emperor?" Yi Qing said bluntly. "If it's a favor, it should make the recipient grateful. Choosing a commander of the Jinyiwei just to make people tremble with fear. Do you think the emperor would play such a prank like you?"
The dog - emperor did everything according to a plan. He did this to intimidate these two families, making them as silent as cicadas in winter and as if facing a great enemy.
While they were busy dealing with Deng Xiao, Xiao Tian might be able to find a breakthrough.
Xue Tianlang looked thoughtful.
"Deng Xiao wants to make achievements. So if the head of the family can present the evidence and ask him to say a good word for Miao'er, it won't be as difficult as you think. Deng Xiao is moody, but I've never seen him take the initiative to hurt anyone outside the imperial order."
After all, he was just a knife in the emperor's hand. He had to stab wherever the emperor wanted.
His reputation must not be good. If he were well - connected and on good terms with the court officials, how could the emperor trust him?
He had to be heartless, with a terrifying reputation, avoided by everyone, and even wished to die immediately. Only in this way could he completely rely on the emperor, follow the emperor's orders, and be loyal.
Yi Qing understood all these tricks.
From this perspective, Deng Xiao had to be a loyal lackey of the emperor. Only when he was useful could he continue to live well.
Comparing in this way, the emperor seemed to be okay with Xiao Tian.
Xue Tianlang was in a dilemma.
What Yi Qing said made sense.
However, what worried him most was that if the Meng family fell before Xue Miao'er married into it, all his chips would be useless, and it would be difficult to find a way to protect Xue Miao'er in a short time.
At this moment, he even hoped that the Meng family could remain safe and sound. But what Yi Qing said was so reasonable that it was impossible to refute.
If so, then it seemed that taking the initiative to contact Deng Xiao was not a bad choice.
Xue Miao'er said, "Dad, let's give it a try. Yi Qing won't joke with her own life. I'll be with her all the time. If she really betrays me, I'll die with her!"
Yi Qing: "..."
Xue Tianlang waved his hand. "Yi Qing, go out first. I'll think about it."
Yi Qing said indifferently, "The head of the family should make a decision quickly. Don't wait until Deng Xiao fabricates charges and convicts the Meng family directly. By then, what you have in your hand will be useless, and you'll have to fend for yourself."
Xue Tianlang immediately showed a bit of anger.
But Yi Qing was not panicked. "You should know that what I said is true."
After saying that, she didn't try to persuade him any more and quickly turned around and left.
Xue Miao'er pulled Xue Tianlang's sleeve. "Dad, let's give it a try. I know you're reluctant to let me take risks, but this is originally my matter. I believe Yi Qing. Although I don't trust her completely, I think what she said makes a lot of sense. Even if I'm really caught by Deng Xiao, if you take those evidences to redeem me, I can come back."
Xue Tianlang sighed deeply. "If it were anyone else, Dad would have agreed long ago. Dad also knows that what she said is reasonable and undeniable. But Dad doesn't want to take any risk of losing you. Miao'er, do you understand?"
"I understand," Xue Miao'er nodded heavily. "But Dad, I've grown up. I can't rely on you for everything. You have to believe that I can do it. Give me a chance. Dad, please."
While the father and daughter were struggling here, Yi Qing went back to the kitchen to get some food and then went back to tell Xiao Tian about this.
Seeing her eating the egg custard carelessly, Xiao Tian's mind was filled with the tense situation when Xue Tianlang suspected Yi Qing, and he felt a sense of fear.
It was right for him to follow up the mountain, but obviously, he should have followed more closely.
"... Xue Tianlang will agree," Yi Qing said. "Deng Xiao came at just the right time. This fire he added is very timely."
"Are you really going to see him?" Xiao Tian asked sullenly.
Yi Qing: "… Do you think I'm going to have a tryst with him?"
Xiao Tian said, "He should be lucky that he got stabbed earlier. Otherwise, I'd really like to castrate him now."
Yi Qing laughed and fell into his arms.
But Xiao Tian was still very annoyed. "He can have anyone he wants, but he just has to set his eyes on you."
"You don't think he came to Henan for me, do you?"
"Why is it impossible?"
Yi Qing was speechless. After a moment, she said, "Of course not. Obviously, the emperor sent him here to help you. Anyway, let's finish this quickly. I miss Baozi. I want to go back and see him."
Xiao Tian also missed Baozi, but he comforted her, "He's grown up, and there are so many people taking care of him. Don't worry."