Chapter 39: A single “Daddy,” and he would grant her anything…

Chapter 39: A single "Daddy," and he would grant her anything...

Clad in flowing white robes, he appeared to be seated at the very edge where time and light converge, as if abandoned at the end of the world. He turned his head abruptly, a shadow of desolation lingering in his eyes, like the lingering chill of deep winter.

Cheng Yian's heart tightened painfully. "Father..."

This side of Cheng Mingyu felt alien to her, yet somehow she sensed it was his true self.

The elderly servant passed Cheng Yian a flickering lantern, then closed the door behind her. Cheng Yian walked forward slowly, holding the lantern.

She had been unaware of the hidden passage behind the pavilion, concealed by dense foliage outside, yet unveiling a secret realm within.

As she approached, his face came into sharper focus, unmarked by the passage of time.

It was a modest wooden music room, about twenty feet square, with simple, unadorned furnishings. Only the north wall boasted a square glass window, outside which snow drifted down like goose feathers, transforming the wooden house into a secluded sanctuary, untouched by the chaos of the world.

Cheng Yian lowered her gaze, placing the lantern on the table and setting down the food box. She offered Cheng Mingyu a tentative smile.

"I apologize for disturbing you so late."

Recently, Cheng Mingyu had been overwhelmingly busy, and she hadn’t managed to catch him during the day.

By now, Cheng Mingyu had returned to his customary calm. Perhaps he had been deeply absorbed in playing the qin earlier, for now his expression was serene, his eyes glowing like the gentle warmth of sunlight. He sat on a wooden stool by the wall, radiating an aura of tranquil grace.

"Ping Ping, have a seat."

The room offered no other seating. Cheng Mingyu was perched on a stool typically used for clothes, so Cheng Yian had to move the brocade stool beside his qin table to sit.

Except for the elderly servant who cleaned daily, no one else ever set foot in this music room. It was Cheng Mingyu’s sanctuary, a place even his other children had never entered.

But Cheng Yian could.

If his life had been one of strict discipline, then Cheng Yian’s existence was his only indulgence, the sole skylight in his otherwise rigid and principled life.

To him, his youngest daughter had no boundaries.

Cheng Yian sat with her hands folded in her lap, her posture proper, as she discreetly observed the music room. The simple wooden structure, devoid of any decoration, would have seemed shabby in another household, but with Cheng Mingyu present, it took on an air of returning to simplicity.

"Do you often play the qin here?" Cheng Yian asked curiously, her almond-shaped eyes bright and clear, unable to hide her youthful innocence.

"Yes."

Cheng Yian sat facing him, not far from the jiaowei qin.

It was an ancient qin, its strings worn smooth from frequent use. Cheng Yian also loved the qin. In her past life, she had stumbled upon an excellent imitation of the Lüqi qin in Yizhou. Though a replica, it was made of fine wood and strings, producing a beautiful sound.

Seeing Cheng Yian’s eagerness, Cheng Mingyu encouraged her, "Would you like to try?"

"May I?"

Cheng Mingyu laughed heartily. "With Daddy, there’s nothing you can't do..."

Cheng Yian knew he doted on his daughters. She grinned, adjusted her posture, and began to play.

Her slender figure, in Cheng Mingyu’s eyes, was like a spring flower—full of vitality yet still tender. The music she played was light and cheerful, much like her personality.

After playing for a while, she seemed unsatisfied and started again, this time plucking the strings faster, mimicking his earlier technique. Cheng Mingyu was slightly surprised—was this a father-daughter connection? But her skill was far from his mastery; to him, it was still childishly chaotic.

Cheng Yian, having satisfied her curiosity, turned to him with a smile. "A fine qin."

Cheng Mingyu shook his head inwardly but said aloud, "You played beautifully."

Suddenly, he remembered the first time he saw Cheng Yian in the music room.

That year, she was five years old, having just started attending the family school. The school had a music room specifically for the younger members of the Cheng family to practice in.

That day, for some reason, she wandered into the music room, approached the nearest qin, and casually plucked a string. A series of notes sprang out, startling even herself. Then, out of curiosity, she couldn't resist plucking again, just like before, playing randomly.

The steward, seeing this, enthusiastically told him when he returned. He had just left the yamen and was preparing to visit the Military Governor's Office. Upon hearing this, he immediately put aside his official duties and hurried back home. When he arrived at the music room, he saw the little girl making a mess, trying out this qin, touching that one, as if searching for her favorite sound. What was even more endearing was that she could talk to the qins.

Cheng Mingyu called her over and personally taught her how to play the qin.

Back then, she was shy but had a strong passion for it.

Ping Ping's first teacher had always been her father.

Cheng Yian was in no rush to state her purpose, and neither was Cheng Mingyu. She wasn't yet so bold in front of him, needing to muster some courage before speaking. Cheng Mingyu poured her a cup of tea.

Cheng Yian quickly stopped him, "I've made you some midnight snacks, just wait a moment."

She quickly opened the food box and took out the first layer, which contained bird's nest porridge.

"I didn't add anything else, just some lily to soothe the heart. I thought, since you're busy with court affairs every day, this would help you relax and sleep better."

The bird's nest was served in a milky white porcelain bowl adorned with red plum blossom patterns. The lily was nestled among the snow-white bird's nest, with a few bright red goji berries as garnish, complementing the red plum blossoms on the bowl's rim.

The bird's nest was not too thick, quite delicate.

It was clear she had inquired about his preferences before coming.

Cheng Mingyu quietly glanced at the porcelain bowl but did not reach for it. Instead, he smiled and asked Cheng Yian,

"Has everything at Ping Ping's residence been taken care of? How long can you stay at home?"

Cheng Yian thought to herself that she had no desire to stay at the Cheng family home. If things went well, she would want to leave immediately. But she couldn't say that, so she smiled lightly, "Everything is more or less taken care of. I can stay for three to five days."

After speaking, she eagerly pushed the porcelain bowl closer to his elbow, her large, clear eyes looking at him with a pleading gaze, and said with a smile, "Please try it. If it's good, I'll make it for you again in the future."

Seeing this, Cheng Mingyu retracted his arm, leaned back against the wall, and replied calmly,

"Ping Ping, your intentions are appreciated, but don't wear yourself out in the kitchen. That's not something a delicate girl like you should be doing."

Look, that scoundrel Lu Xusheng still expects her to cook, but here, her father can't bear to make her work.

Indeed, a father's love is the truest.

Cheng Yian's face fell, pointing at the bowl of bird's nest porridge, she said with a pout, "You really won't try it? I put in a lot of effort to make this."

Indeed, she had gone to great lengths, running around the city to find this particular ingredient. Once consumed, it would cause weakness in the limbs, making it impossible to get out of bed for three days, and he wouldn't be able to attend the morning court. With this "illness," when Lu Xusheng presents the military pledge, the court officials would have no choice but to agree.

Cheng Mingyu remained expressionless, "Alright, I'll leave it here for now and have it later. It's getting late, Ping Ping, are you going to rest?"

Cheng Yian's disappointment was almost written on her face.

But she was not a girl who gave up easily.

"You don't like the bird's nest, do you?" Cheng Yian smiled softly, then stood up, opened the second layer of the food box, and took out the Five White Heart-Returning Soup she had prepared. "This kind of tonic soup is most nourishing in winter. After drinking it, you'll sleep soundly through the night."

He might not even get up for three days.

Cheng Mingyu wasn't fooled by this trick. Facing his daughter's relentless attack, he was starting to feel overwhelmed and said guiltily, "An An, be good. It's cold tonight, and the piano room is even chillier. You should head back soon."

Cheng Yian stubbornly glanced around, "It really isn't that cold..."

It really wasn't that cold. Cheng Yian couldn't resist getting up to look out the window. The snow was falling more heavily, clustering on the plum branches, the roof, and the wooden eaves outside the window. It was quite lovely.

"So, why isn't it cold here?" she turned back to ask Cheng Mingyu.

In such a cold winter, Cheng Mingyu was only wearing a robe over his underclothes, showing that the piano room was very warm.

Cheng Mingyu looked at his daughter, who was trying hard to stay, and laughed, "There's a hot spring beneath us."

Cheng Yian understood.

After wandering around aimlessly, she returned to sit beside him, her eyes glistening as she looked at him in a coquettish tone, "You're really not going to drink it?"

Cheng Mingyu firmly cut her off, "No."

Cheng Yian knew full well that her father had seen through her trick. She also knew she couldn't fool him; he was so sharp and well-informed, likely having seen through her plans long ago.

So what then?

The mind games had reached their final stage.

Cheng Yian stared at him unblinkingly.

Cheng Mingyu glanced at her, suppressing a laugh.

Cheng Yian kept staring at him.

Cheng Mingyu was nearly at his breaking point.

His eldest daughter was dignified and reasonable; when he laid out the logic and explained the stakes, she would listen.

His second daughter, though a handful, would back off once he got serious.

Only his youngest daughter, who neither cried nor made a fuss, with her soft and delicate nature, her gentle persistence was hard to resist.

She had put in so much effort; even if it was poison, he would have to drink it. But thinking of the situation in Jiangnan, Cheng Mingyu forcibly stopped his thoughts, "Ping Ping..."

Just as he was about to explain the stakes in Jiangnan to her, Cheng Yian suddenly reached out, grabbed the bowl of soup, and without hesitation, poured it into her mouth.

"Ping Ping!"

Cheng Mingyu's face changed drastically. By the time he reached out to stop her, Cheng Yian had already drunk a mouthful, her cheeks bulging, blinking at him.

Cheng Mingyu stood up abruptly, snatched the bowl from her hand, threw it on the table, and urgently said, "Spit it out!"

Instead of spitting it out, she swallowed it all in one gulp.

Cheng Mingyu: "..."

Apart from the bitter trick, there was no other way.

Cheng Yian had moved too quickly and ended up choking, clutching her throat as she coughed violently.

Cheng Mingyu's face turned livid with anger.

"Call a doctor, quick!"

He then bent down and picked up Cheng Yian, who was coughing so hard she could barely catch her breath, carrying her swiftly to the study.

The old servant outside panicked at the noise and hurried out to get the guards to call a doctor. By the time he returned, Cheng Mingyu had already laid Cheng Yian on the soft couch, tucking her under thick blankets. Cheng Yian curled up in a ball, still gasping for breath. The medicine was as strong as ever; one sip was enough to make her feel drunk and dizzy.

In a previous life, Cheng Yian had traded medicinal herbs in Yizhou.

Yizhou was surrounded by rugged mountains and thick forests, abundant with rare medicinal herbs. Selling these herbs across the Great Jin Dynasty could bring huge profits.

Years of dealing with herb farmers had given Cheng Yian a knack for identifying medicinal plants.

Lu Xusheng had come to Princess Minglan earlier to tell her that if she could stall her father for three days, he would surely obtain the emperor's edict within that time. This made Cheng Yian think of a herb she'd seen in Yizhou, called Golden Goose Severance. Despite the scary name, it was actually a rare tonic for insomnia. One dose would knock you out for three days, making it impossible to get up.

Of course, it came with side effects like weak limbs and no energy.

Cheng Yian figured if Cheng Mingyu fell for it, it would be a good opportunity for her father to rest for three days. If not, she'd have to go with the bitter medicine plan.

The medicine took effect quickly. Soon after lying down, Cheng Yian felt like her bones had turned to mush, her small face beginning to pale.

Cheng Mingyu's eyes welled up with regret as he sat on the brocade stool in front of her, glaring at her.

"Yian, if you wanted to persuade me, you could have just talked. Why risk your health like this?"

He should've drunk it himself and not given her the chance.

Seeing his youngest daughter poison herself to force his hand, Cheng Mingyu felt like his heart was being ripped out.

Cheng Yian retorted softly, "Lu Xusheng has been trying to persuade you for so long. Did you listen? You knew my intentions all along but refused to fall for it."

"You still have the nerve to argue!"

Cheng Mingyu rarely lost his temper because he always had a way to handle things, but today he was at a loss with Cheng Yian.

He had underestimated his youngest daughter's determination.

At that moment, the physician hurried into the room. He was a retired imperial physician from the royal hospital. Cheng Mingyu quickly stepped aside, allowing him to take Cheng Yian's pulse.

Cheng Yian, hiding under the covers, shook her head.

"Don't waste your effort. There's no antidote for this medicine."

The physician looked at the father and daughter in confusion.

"What medicine?"

"Golden Goose Severance," Cheng Yian said.

The physician rubbed his forehead and remained silent.

It was a highly potent tonic, not strictly a poison.

Cheng Mingyu's expression darkened as he asked the physician,

"Is there really no way?"

The old imperial physician smiled bitterly, "There is a way. Acupuncture is needed, but..." After all, she's a young lady, and it would obviously be inconvenient for her to undress and receive acupuncture from a male physician.

The physician could only advise Cheng Mingyu, "It's not a serious illness. Rest for three days, and I will give her a few acupuncture treatments on her fingers later. She'll be as good as new, full of energy."

Seeing that Cheng Mingyu was still frowning, the old imperial physician stroked his beard and said, "If you're still concerned, I can boil a bowl of white radish water for her. Drinking it can somewhat alleviate the effects of the medicine."

Cheng Mingyu waved him off.

After the physician left, he sat down in front of Cheng Yian, looking at his smug little daughter, and chided her,

"Why didn't you let Dad go?"

Cheng Yian slowly wrapped herself in the quilt and sat up in the corner of the bed, looking at him sheepishly,

"If I told you I had a nightmare, dreaming that something happened to you in Jiangnan, would you believe me?"

Cheng Mingyu believed her, but it wasn't enough to stop him from heading south.

"An An, Dad has trained secret guards with him. They will protect me and ensure I don't get hurt."

Cheng Yian glared at him, "It's not about injuries. It's about overworking yourself, getting sick when you return to the capital, and then..."

She couldn't bring herself to continue, her eyes already red, tears welling up.

He couldn't afford to die. The Cheng family needed him, the Great Jin Dynasty needed him, and she absolutely couldn't lose her father.

Confucius said not to speak of strange forces and chaos.

But the reality is, many are swayed by superstitions.

Although Cheng Mingyu didn't agree, he could see that this nightmare had caused his daughter too much distress.

He felt utterly powerless now.

Today she took Jin'e Duan. If he refused, what else would she do?

This upset him more than if she'd poisoned him.

He couldn't just tie her up, could he?

Cheng Mingyu, mentally drained, still argued,

"An An, if Dad doesn't go, it will be Lu Xusheng who goes, and I am more capable than him..."

Cheng Yian was already in tears,

"So, choosing between you two is hard enough. Do you have to make it even harder for me?"

Cheng Mingyu was suddenly stunned.

What had she called him?

Daddy...

Yixin was bright but a late talker. While others could call their parents before they were one, she didn't call out "Daddy" until she was one and a half. Cheng Mingyu would always remember that day when she suddenly threw herself into his arms, chewing on candy, and without warning, called out to him.

He was overjoyed, holding his daughter for a long time, unwilling to let go.

As for Cheng Yiqiao, the little girl was very articulate, always calling "Daddy" and following him around. No matter how busy he was, he always made time to be with her, teaching her to read and play the piano.

Only Cheng Yian... went to great lengths to see her once, and her calling him "Uncle" struck him like a blow to the forehead. Even these three words were uttered haltingly, and every time she called him "Uncle," it felt like a knife twisting in his heart. Once, he overheard her chasing after Cheng Mingyou and calling him "Father," which felt like a thousand arrows piercing his heart.

Her single word "Daddy" became his lifelong obsession.

And now, she finally spoke.

The chill of winter transformed into syrup, laced with a hint of bitterness that filled his heart.

With just that one word "Daddy," he would agree to anything she asked.

"Alright." Since he had already made up his mind, Cheng Mingyu was not one to hesitate. He instructed the old servant by the door,

"Have Lu Xusheng come over."