Chapter 128: The Regent's Paternal Love

Reflecting on the various hardships the original owner of this body had endured in the Yan household for so many years, Yan Heru suddenly felt a wave of resentment. They shared the same parents, yet their lives had turned out so vastly different.

The father and daughter, caught up in their own warmth, had not yet noticed that Yan Heru had suddenly grown despondent.

"Daughter, who have you brought here this time? Is this another servant you’ve just purchased?" the Prince Regent asked with a kindly tone.

Although the remark was unintentional and Yan Heru knew the Prince Regent was unaware of her identity, hearing those words caused a sudden, sharp ache in her heart, leaving her with an urge to weep.

"Oh! Father! How can you say such things!" Qi Shengsheng, realizing that even if the Prince Regent spoke out of ignorance, his words would inevitably hurt Yan Heru, quickly interjected.

Deciding not to keep him in suspense any longer, she reached out and pulled the hood of Yan Heru’s cloak back. As her face was revealed, the Prince Regent froze.

"You... you are..." The Prince Regent stammered, unable to form a complete sentence.

Feeling a sting of irritation at his earlier remark and his current stuttering, Yan Heru replied with a touch of coldness, "Lord Regent, are you truly so surprised to see me?"

Sensing the atmosphere between them shifting, Qi Shengsheng stepped in to smooth things over. "Father, when you saw her, did you realize something? Your instincts are correct—she is my sister, Yan Heru!"

At these words, the Prince Regent stiffened. He reached out as if to touch her face, but his hands halted in mid-air, eventually retracting slowly. He did not know how to face her.

"I..." The Prince Regent began, but fell silent, at a loss for words.

Qi Shengsheng watched him with a sense of helplessness, never imagining that the father she held in such high esteem would be so shaken when faced with his own biological daughter. Unable to bear the silence, she prompted him again, "Father! This is my sister..."

Realizing his own awkwardness, the Prince Regent cleared his throat and regained his composure. "Child, forgive me. I have let you suffer for all these years."

Hearing that apology, Yan Heru could no longer hold back her emotions. She felt an instinctive, blood-deep certainty that the man before her was indeed the father of the original owner. She felt an overwhelming impulse to throw herself into his arms and cry.

"Father..." After a brief hesitation, she whispered the word.

At that, the Prince Regent pulled her into a tight embrace. "I am sorry, truly sorry. For all these years, I have not been able to be by your side, leaving you alone in the Yan family..."

Though she was being held by a man who was essentially a stranger, Yan Heru felt an unexpected sense of safety.

"It wasn't entirely lonely," she replied. "My younger brother was always by my side."

The Prince Regent pulled away slightly and asked, "And your brother... is he well?" He asked with hesitation, feeling as though he had no standing to inquire about his son, having failed to fulfill his duties as a father for so many years. Yet, he worried deeply, fearing that his daughter might not wish to share news of her brother.

But his concerns were unnecessary. Hearing him ask after Yan Hecheng, all of Yan Heru’s resentment vanished. Regardless of the circumstances, this man still cared for them. She understood that he had not abandoned them by choice, but due to circumstances beyond his control. If he hadn't cared, Qi Shengsheng would not have spoken so warmly of their connection after rescuing her.

"Yes, he is doing very well. He has grown into a fine man and is currently serving in the army of the Northern Jade Kingdom," Yan Heru answered.

The Prince Regent nodded. Seeing her father and sister reconciled and the barriers between them seemingly dissolved, Qi Shengsheng felt a surge of joy.

"Alright, alright! Now that Sister and Father are reunited, we should focus on how to deal with that foolish Fourth Prince."

Seeing them lost in the moment, Qi Shengsheng reminded them of their precarious situation. Although the Prince Regent held great power, his manor was still crawling with spies from the royal family. Because Qi Shengsheng often tormented the staff, most people—spies and servants alike—tended to avoid her. However, the spies remained diligent in their mission and would eventually return to monitor the Prince Regent.

Heeding her warning, the Prince Regent glanced around and led his two daughters to a secret chamber. Inside his study, he twisted a book on the shelf, causing the bookcase to slide open, revealing a hidden passage.

Yan Heru was not surprised; a man of the Prince Regent’s stature would naturally have such a room. Once inside, the Prince Regent recounted the events of the past years. Yan Heru finally understood why she had been left in the Yan household, why she had been so neglected, and the history of her parents’ youth. While they were not her biological parents, she had stepped into the original owner’s life, and she accepted them as her own.

"For all these years, I wanted to bring you here, but the chaos within the Nanyang royal family made it too dangerous. Now, the time is right. It is time to officially overthrow the Nanyang monarchy," the Prince Regent declared.

Yan Heru agreed, but added, "Do we have a plan?"