Mistakenly recognized as a cousin, thousands of pampered

Watching Shen Zhiyi and his mother gradually disappear from his sight, Tao Jiuxi took a deep breath and tried to calm his inner turmoil.

Then he turned to look at his father, who was shaking with anger, and asked, "Father, are you serious about what you said today?"

"Marriage is a serious matter, not a joke. Do you think a father would say anything careless?" Tao Hongyuan frowned, his face so gloomy that it seemed as if water could drip out.

When Tao Jiuxi heard this, she felt as if a huge rock was blocking her chest. This sudden marriage caught her off guard.

"Your grandfather's family has replied to the letter earlier. Qingyi has already gone to Beijing. He should arrive in the next few days." Tao Hongyuan's tone softened a little, but the determination in his eyes did not diminish at all.

"Even if he comes, I will never get engaged to him." Tao Jiuxi responded firmly.

"You are really becoming more and more ignorant now."

Tao Hongyuan pointed at Tao Jiuxi angrily, his fingers trembling slightly.

Tao Jiuxi was not worried that his father would faint from anger. After all, his father was only in his early forties and looked quite healthy.

She raised her head, looked straight into her father's eyes, and said, "Father, don't you think you are being too much? You have decided my marriage without even asking for my opinion."

"What do you know? Parents' orders and matchmaker's words have always been the case since ancient times. This marriage has been decided long ago, how can you regret it at will?" Tao Hongyuan said sternly.

"Father, although it is said that 'parents' orders and matchmaker's words', which family that loves their children would not ask the child's feelings in private? I don't know Ji Qingyi at all." Tao Jiuxi was very dissatisfied with this father who did not love his children.

"You will understand when he comes. Ji Qingyi is a good boy and will treat you well." Tao Hongyuan stopped and looked at Tao Jiuxi, trying to persuade her to accept this arrangement.

Tao Jiuxi remained silent.

Tao Hongyuan sighed deeply and said, "Xi'er, your father is doing this for your own good. The Ji family is our relative, and we know them well. You won't suffer if you marry into their family. Besides, this marriage was arranged by your grandfather, and we can't go against his wishes."

"Father, you never mentioned this before. Now that you suddenly bring it up, it's understandable that Jiuxi finds it hard to accept it for a while." Tao Qingwan stepped forward and tried to ease the tension between the father and daughter.

"Do I need to report everything my father does to you?" Tao Hongyuan said in a bad tone.

"Wan'er didn't mean that. Don't be angry, father." Tao Qingwan hurriedly explained.

Seeing that Tao Hongyuan had a bad attitude towards Tao Qingwan, Tao Jiuxi immediately pulled his sister behind him, not wanting her to be scolded.

"Shen Zhiyi and I are in love, and I hope my father will approve of our marriage."

"Don't say that. You are already engaged. Even if you are not, there is no possibility for you and Duke Shen to be together!" Tao Hongyuan said firmly.

"Why?" Tao Jiuxi was full of confusion. She really couldn't understand why her father was so determined when Shen Zhiyi had clearly saved her father.

"Duke Shen holds a high position, and countless eyes are watching him. Do you understand?" Tao Hongyuan frowned slightly, his tone growing heavier. "He is a Duke, a highly respected figure, one of the most cherished by the current Emperor. My father was originally only a seventh-rank county magistrate, and although he has been reinstated by the Emperor's grace, he is only a fourth-rank official. The gap between our status and his is enormous."

"Father, since he is a duke, if he marries the daughter of a wealthy family, he may arouse more suspicion in the future. Finding a daughter from a small family like me can balance it out." Tao Jiuxi tried to refute his father's point of view.

"How can a family of small officials like us afford the struggles in the imperial court? If we make a slight mistake, we may fall into an irretrievable situation. Do you think marriage is just a matter between two people? The family and interest relations involved behind it are intricate and complicated. Duke Shen is at the center of power, and his every move is closely watched. If we are involved with him, we will undoubtedly become the target of public criticism. As a father, I cannot let you put yourself in such a dangerous situation. This is for your own good and for the sake of our entire family." Tao Hongyuan explained earnestly, his face full of worry.

"What's wrong with being stared at? Who among those in high positions isn't stared at?"

Tao Jiuxi still refused to accept her father's statement. She thought, wasn't her father also being watched when he was in Shuzhou?

Now that he is a fourth-rank official with a stubborn personality, there may be more people staring at him than at Shen Zhiyi.

Tao Hongyuan sighed and continued, "Recently, your uncle has suddenly become extremely attentive to me. Do you know why? It's because you acted so recklessly that he mistakenly believed that my reinstatement and promotion were the result of Duke Shen's covert manipulation. Tell me, how can your father work with his colleagues in the court? How will others view him? How can he face his colleagues with an open mind? Can't you be more considerate of him?"

Tao Hongyuan's face showed helplessness and irritation, with a hint of blame in his eyes.

"Father's promotion was due to his sacrifice in the Shouwang case."

Tao Jiuxi said this seriously, trying to make her father understand that his promotion was due to his own efforts and responsibility, hoping that her father would change his view of her and Shen Zhiyi's relationship.

"Does that mean other people know this?" Tao Hongyuan frowned, a hint of impatience in his tone, "No matter what, you stay away from Duke Shen."

Tao Jiuxi hurriedly asked, "Father, do you have any objections to Shen Zhiyi because of your attitude?"

"As a father, I am grateful for his previous rescue, but these are two different matters." Tao Hongyuan waved his hand with a serious expression.

"Father was dismissed from office before because of some misunderstanding. Shen Zhiyi can come and explain it to you." Tao Jiuxi said anxiously, hoping that her father would listen to her.

"There's no need to mention this matter again. I'm not bothered by that matter, but now that I'm in the capital, I have to consider everything carefully."

"Father, I was shocked earlier and have forgotten many things, but my sister said that you love the people like your own children and are a competent and good official."

"What do you want to say?" Tao Hongyuan asked with a frown. He didn't quite understand what his daughter meant.

"Father, when I was a low-ranking official, I didn't have to worry about so much. Why do I have to think about all this now that I have the opportunity to do more for the people?"

Tao Jiuxi mustered up the courage to say that she wanted to ask her father, if the greater the power, the more likely one would forget his original intention because of caring about the power in his hands?

Forget your original intention?

"What do you mean?" Tao Hongyuan raised his voice a few notches. He looked at his daughter angrily, feeling that her words were incomprehensible.

"Father, don't forget your original intention. When you left my sister and me in Shuzhou and headed for the capital alone, we never blamed you. You did it to protect more people. But, father, you had your heart set on righteousness back then, but now it seems..."

Tao Jiuxi didn't continue speaking. Although she didn't feel wronged, she felt wronged for the original owner and Tao Qingwan.

When Tao Hongyuan heard his daughter's words, his eyes fell on his daughter in front of him. At that moment, he felt that his daughter was so unfamiliar.

It was as if the person standing in front of him was not the daughter he had always been familiar with, but a complete stranger, which made him feel a complex emotion.

After a long moment, he slowly waved his hand and said, "You may withdraw. The marriage is settled, and there is no room for regret."

"Qingyi didn't propose marriage in the past because you were young. This time he comes, you should arrange the marriage first, and then get married after your mother's mourning period is over."