Mistakenly recognized as a cousin, thousands of pampered

"Miss Tao..." When Zhong Yunxi saw Tao Jiuxi, she looked as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.

"Xier, since you two know each other, you should take this girl to change into clean clothes first." Tao Hongyuan took a deep look at Zhong Yunxi who was kneeling on the ground, and then followed the attendant who led the way.

Just at this moment, Tao Qingwan also hurried over.

She and Tao Jiuxi stood on either side, supporting Zhong Yunxi who was kneeling on the ground, and quickly followed.

"Ayi, don't follow me." Tao Jiuxi said to Shen Zhiyi.

After all, there are many people outside, and she hopes that Shen Zhiyi can stay here, so that the guests coming and going will not talk too much.

The two sisters asked the maidservant who accompanied them to guard outside the door.

The two of them waited in the house. Soon, Zhong Yunxi had changed into the new clothes brought by the maid, and her hair was half dry.

Zhong Yunxi walked out from behind the screen and saw the Tao sisters. She immediately knelt down and said, "Thank you, Miss Tao's father, for saving my life."

Tao Jiuxi glanced helplessly at the embarrassed woman in front of him, with a hint of complicated emotions in his eyes, and slowly said: "Miss Zhong, you want to marry my father, right?"

Zhong Yunxi, who was kneeling on the ground, couldn't help but tremble slightly when she heard this. She said with apologetic words, "I'm sorry, Miss Tao. You treated me sincerely, but I schemed against you like this. I... I'm really sorry for you."

"But your plan is too stupid. Anyone with a discerning eye can see through it. Stop kneeling and stand up to talk." Tao Jiuxi sighed softly. Although there was complaint in his tone, there was also a hint of reluctance.

Zhong Yunxi knew her methods were inferior, but she was completely cornered. With no distinguished family background to rely on, and no extraordinary abilities to change her fate, she had no other options except to exploit public opinion to secure a glimmer of hope.

The three of them sat around a round table. Tao Qingwan didn't know the origins of the woman in front of her, but when she saw her current appearance, she felt a little pity in her heart and couldn't help but pour her a cup of tea.

Tao Qingwan placed the teacup in front of Zhong Yunxi.

"Girl, please have some tea."

"Thank you, Miss Tao." Zhong Yunxi looked at Tao Qingwan with gratitude, feeling mixed emotions.

The two girls in front of her knew about her despicable methods, but they still treated her like this, which made her feel ashamed and moved.

"After your house was ransacked, didn't the emperor keep you in the palace because of your meritorious denunciation, saving you from the suffering of displacement?" Tao Jiuxi asked with a burning gaze, a hint of doubt in his eyes.

"I was originally a lady-in-waiting in the palace. Later, the Empress saw me and asked me to serve her. The Majesty did not agree, so she sent me to the Princess's residence." Zhong Yunxi recounted her experience calmly.

She originally just wanted to be a female official serving the emperor. After all, her family had suffered such a misfortune that the men were thrown into prison and the women were either sold or reduced to slavery.

For her, being able to stay in the palace and stay by the emperor's side is already a great gift from God.

During her time in the palace, she was always careful in her words and actions and never did anything out of line.

Even so, the Empress still refused to allow her to stay with His Majesty. She told His Majesty that she had taken a liking to her and wanted to take her with her. However, His Majesty had previously promised Duke Shen that he would give her a good home, so she was sent to the Princess's residence.

"The princess has started looking for a husband for me in accordance with His Majesty's wishes." Zhong Yunxi continued, with a hint of helplessness in her eyes.

Tao Jiuxi pressed on, "Isn't it good that the family the princess found is good?"

Zhong Yunxi shook her head slightly and replied with a gloomy expression, "The Princess always seeks out sons from wealthy families in the capital or from lower-ranking families. Considering my current dire situation, there's really nothing wrong with the Princess's arrangement."

Tao Jiuxi frowned even more tightly, his eyes full of confusion. He looked at Zhong Yunxi and asked hesitantly, "Then why did you..."

"Miss Tao, my family was plundered and now we have nothing. If I were to marry, I wouldn't have a generous dowry, and I wouldn't have my parents' support. In my situation, I'd definitely face harassment and abuse from my mother-in-law. If my future husband can protect me, perhaps life will be somewhat easier. But if he doesn't, my future life will probably be just as difficult as it was back home, or even worse."

As she spoke, Zhong Yunxi knelt on the ground again, her eyes full of earnestness: "Miss Tao, when Duke Shen came to plead with the Princess that day, I was serving her tea. I heard them mention your father's second marriage. Duke Shen said that your father was a good official who was dedicated to serving the people, and that he only had two daughters in his family. When I heard this, I..."

As he spoke, Zhong Yunxi lowered his head.

How could Tao Jiuxi and Tao Qingwan not understand the deep meaning of her words.

Although my father is already forty years old, he is still handsome and he only has a daughter and no son.

For Zhong Yunxi, if she could marry and give birth to a son or daughter for her father in the future, she would naturally have a foothold in this mansion. After all, in this world where offspring are the most important, having a child is equivalent to having someone to rely on.

Furthermore, Tao Hongyuan had always been a man of good character and had no preoccupation with women. He was completely absorbed in government affairs and had no time for numerous concubines. Thus, Zhong Yunxi would not have to worry about anyone competing for her favor, nor would she be drawn into the jealous intrigues of the inner court.

More importantly, there is no mother-in-law in the house, and there will not be a strict and harsh mother-in-law who will find fault with her and make things difficult for her all day long.

Tao Jiuxi thought about this silently, and actually felt that if he ignored the age difference, his father's conditions might not be bad for Zhong Yunxi.

In this complicated world, such a destination may be what many women dream of.

However, Zhong Yunxi used the wrong method, which made this originally beautiful thing become so complicated and embarrassing.

"You have just seen my father. He is a very upright man. Although we have the idea of ​​letting father remarry, we cannot influence his own wishes." Tao Jiuxi said seriously, looking at Zhong Yunxi sincerely.

Zhong Yunxi was immediately surprised when she heard this, with a glint of disbelief in her eyes. She looked at the two girls in front of her and said, "You... don't you think my methods are despicable?"

She thought that she would not be forgiven by anyone.

Tao Jiuxi glanced at Tao Qingwan with a questioning look in his eyes, and Tao Qingwan shook her head slightly.

"To be honest, you are plotting against my father, which I naturally disagree with. But since you can tell us the truth, we can understand your difficulties. Who in this world doesn't want to live a better life and make more plans for their future?" Tao Jiuxi frowned slightly, with a complicated emotion in his tone.

And if her father really agrees, they will be a family in the future, so he can't say anything too harsh to her.

"In my life, I have never been blessed by God many times. I have to fight for everything on my own. I thought at the time that you would be angry when you knew, but I really had no other choice. If I could not get married, I would be willing to spend the rest of my life alone. It's just that this world doesn't give me many choices." Tears welled up in Zhong Yunxi's eyes and her voice was choked.

"Miss Zhong, now that you've met my father, have you made up your mind?"

Zhong Yunxi heard this, a trace of shame flashed across his face, and he lowered his eyes and whispered: "Master Tao has a noble character and noble personality, which is rare in the world."

"If you can convince my father, I have no objection." Tao Jiuxi could only say this. She had very complicated feelings about this matter. She was worried about her father's lifelong affairs, but also felt a little sympathy for Zhong Yunxi.

"I feel the same way. Miss Zhong, we don't object, but we can't help you convince your father." Tao Qingwan said.

When Zhong Yunxi heard this, his eyes were filled with gratitude.

She originally thought that if no one saw through her thoughts, she would use the scene of her close contact with Tao Hongyuan in the water to ask Tao Hongyuan to take her in.

If the two Miss Tao objected, she would kneel down and remain there until they nodded in agreement.

If this path is still blocked, she will go up the mountain to become a nun, and live with the Buddha and the green lamp by her side from then on.