His posture was humble, his tone respectful, yet his attitude was exceptionally firm.
He clearly had no intention of acknowledging Lu Qing Wan as his nominal daughter.
Lu Qing Wan, not slow to react, turned to Lian Yu. "Big Brother, Master Liao Kong doesn't seem to fancy me as his daughter. What about you? Do you still want me as your sister?"
Lian Yu nodded hastily. "Of course. To have a sister as intelligent, discerning, and clear about grudges as you are is an honor for this brother."
Having said that, seeing Master Liao Kong's restless demeanor, he stated decisively, "Master, if you intend to advise me against becoming sworn siblings with the Princess, please refrain from speaking. You are loyal to Crown Prince Cheng An, and wish to be a pure minister; I do not object. At least within your capacity, you have given me the greatest care. Without you, I would not have become the strategist for the Xuan Jia Army, nor would I have entered officialdom to assist the Prince and Princess. You remain loyal to your Crown Prince Cheng An, and I am loyal to the Prince and Princess. Let us not force each other to pay for the other's loyalty, and let this preserve the last shred of dignity between father and son, alright?"
In just a few sentences, Lian Yu had composed himself entirely. When he spoke, his voice was unnervingly calm, and his eyes were like a dead pool, undisturbed. Master Liao Kong's every word was choked back by those eyes, which seemed to hold no emotion yet were filled with apparent disappointment. His mouth opened and closed, but no sound came out.
Lu Qing Wan nudged Si Feng Wu's arm, signaling him to take the man away and comfort him. She herself then directly faced Liu Xun Ran.
"The imperial secret guards of Southern Qi, the Xiongnu Eagle Division's Teqin, and those from Great Qin who were once our enemies – were you the one who dealt with them?"
Liu Xun Ran nodded calmly. "Yes."
Lu Qing Wan, though her heart stirred, maintained a placid expression. "The reason? Or rather, what are your conditions for helping us with these matters?"
Liu Xun Ran's gaze softened slightly, yet he remained benevolent. "What are you saying? I am your maternal grandfather; isn't it natural for me to help you? Why must there be a condition?"
Lu Qing Wan looked directly into his eyes, giving him no room for prevarication. "In ordinary families, it is indeed natural. But in my case, not being chosen, is that not the natural state of affairs?"
Liu Xun Ran had forced her to become the Saintess of the Reincarnation Hall for Liu Han Yan. Xue Hong Yi, for Liu Han Yan, had forbidden her from having her own family. And Si Feng Wu did not seem much better… When these two were together, apart from clinging to each other for warmth, it seemed no one had truly chosen them. Now, seeing Liu Xun Ran standing before her, Lu Qing Wan felt that even if he asked her to give her life for Liu Han Yan, she would not be particularly surprised.
Having prepared herself to face the worst outcome, Liu Xun Ran offered a completely unexpected answer. He said, "I was a poor father, so it is understandable that you would have such misconceptions. But I am not here today to plead for that unfilial daughter. I merely wish to tell you personally: do whatever you intend to do, and do it with all your might. Be it the Sansheng Tower or the Han Xiao Hall, they should have been purged long ago. Here are maps to the headquarters of Sansheng Tower and Han Xiao Hall. Their foundations are stronger than you can imagine. When you go, do not confront them head-on; use fire. If anyone threatens you with family ties or ethics, simply send them to me. I wish to see what words, from those who disrespect their fathers and do not raise their daughters, can make you show them utmost respect and yield to their every demand."
No one had expected Liu Xun Ran to come all this way not to urge Lu Qing Wan to continue indulging Liu Han Yan, as Xue Hong Yi had, but to support Lu Qing Wan. Knowing her familial ties were thin, Lu Qing Wan had never imagined receiving such affection from a relative. Those around her also did not expect the Hall Master of the Reincarnation Hall, who had once deliberately taken a shot from Lu Qing Wan to inquire about Liu Han Yan's whereabouts, to now choose the latter over Liu Han Yan.
A profound silence fell upon Master Liao Kong's meditation room. After a long moment, Lu Qing Wan finally found her voice. "Although it might be narrow-minded of me to suspect a gentleman's intentions, with the Hall Master being so understanding, can I assume you are now certain that Liu Han Yan did not do anything honorable during her disappearance?" The sudden appearance of Liu Xun Ran, and his incomprehensible attitude, made Lu Qing Wan feel uneasy rather than overjoyed. It was the anxiety of having gained something undeserved and an instinctive repulsion towards closeness.
Liu Xun Ran's eyes darkened slightly, but he was not annoyed. He patiently explained, "Whether her actions were honorable or not is another matter, but she indeed failed in her responsibilities as a mother. Therefore, besides yourself, no one has the right to demand that you compromise without limits for her. I am aware of the good deeds done by that wretch Xue Hong Yi. Rest assured, before you finish what you need to do, he will not appear before you again, nor will he have the opportunity to cause trouble. If you wish, you can bring these young children to visit the Hall for a few days in the future. Even if you do not come to see me, at least come to see that little fellow Yuan'er. You have been parents for many years; it would be truly improper not to check on him, would it?"
Having heard Liu Xun Ran say this, Lu Qing Wan no longer wished to delve into the depths of his thoughts. Without definitive evidence of ulterior motives, she did not want to be like a startled bird, rejecting all goodwill. She responded gracefully, "Regarding little Yuan'er, even if you hadn't said anything, we would have gone to see him. After raising him loosely for so many years, if we don't go see him soon, our fully-cooked son will fly away." She then said seriously, "Tomorrow, I will officially establish my household and become sworn siblings with my adopted brother. I have already invited Elder Wen and Elder Chi to be witnesses. I had originally intended to invite Master Bai, but it seems that is no longer possible. With three witnesses, one spot is vacant. Does the Hall Master have time to be this witness?"
Under normal circumstances, the Hall Master of the Reincarnation Hall was such a distinguished guest that many would have booked him half a year in advance. Lu Qing Wan's invitation was exceptionally casual. Yet, Liu Xun Ran was not only not offended but seemed delighted. He cast a smug glance at Master Liao Kong and readily agreed, "Of course, I am willing. Do you have enough guards and servants for your residence? My disciple Zi Yi has a group of retired individuals who have nowhere to go. Why not have them serve as your household staff? It would save you from hiring from outside."
Lu Qing Wan's mouth twitched incessantly. "Let's forget it. My residence is not that noble. If I have a group of fifth-level martial artists guarding my home, I fear I might lose years off my life." Besides, he shouldn't assume she didn't know that Feng Zi Yi's people were mostly Xiongnu. As the new Empress, she would be insane to employ a group of Xiongnu around her.