Mistakenly recognized as a cousin, thousands of pampered

After a while, a maid came hurriedly and reported: "The princess has summoned you.

"Wait outside for a moment, we'll be out soon."

Tao Jiuxi and Tao Qingwan exchanged a glance, each seeing worry in the other's eyes. Zhong Yunxi's expression grew serious. The three of them left the room in silence, feeling uneasy.

As soon as I stepped out of the door, Tao Hongyuan came into view. He had already changed his clothes and was wearing a neat robe, the hem of his robe fluttering gently in the wind. The slightly disheveled look from falling into the water had long disappeared.

"Father, are you okay?" Tao Qingwan hurried forward, her eyes full of concern and her words filled with deep worry.

"Ah."

Tao Hongyuan responded softly, looking at his two daughters gently with a look full of comfort in his eyes. As for Zhong Yunxi, his gaze never lingered for the slightest, as if she didn't exist at all.

Seeing this, Zhong Yunxi took a few steps forward and knelt before Tao Hongyuan. Tears welled up in her eyes, streaming down her cheeks. She cried, "Master Tao, thank you so much for saving my life! If it weren't for you, I'd probably be dead by now."

Tao Hongyuan was a gentleman to begin with. Seeing her like this, he simply waved his hand and said, "Miss, there's no need to thank me. It's not my fault to watch someone die without helping. However, your actions today were truly reckless. Doing so not only endangers yourself, but may also implicate others."

"You shouldn't use today's events to achieve your own goals. This is ungentlemanly."

Seeing this, Tao Jiuxi thought to himself, if he could see through such a clumsy trick, how could his father not see through it?

When Zhong Yunxi heard the scolding, her body trembled slightly and she was extremely panicked, but she had no other choice at the moment. She knew very well that if Tao Hongyuan was unwilling to take her away, she would be in trouble if she stayed in the Princess's Mansion after the banquet.

Since the two girls of the Tao family are not right, as long as Tao Hongyuan can be more soft-hearted, she will be successful.

Thinking of this, she hardened her heart and immediately grasped Tao Hongyuan's legs tightly, her eyes full of despair and pleading: "Sir, please take me in. I really have nowhere else to go. The princess will not let me go after what I did today. I know that my behavior today disgusts you, but I really have no other choice. I have no one to rely on in this world. If you don't take me in, I will die."

Her tears fell like beads from a broken string, wetting Tao Hongyuan's clothes.

The air around them seemed to freeze. Tao Jiuxi and Tao Qingwan looked at each other, wondering what decision their father would make.

Tao Hongyuan frowned, looking at the pitiful and annoying woman in front of him, and fell into deep thought.

Although he was annoyed by her scheming, he couldn't bear to put her in a desperate situation. After all, she was also a miserable person.

"How can I take you in?" Tao Hongyuan frowned, looking troubled.

"Master Tao, please take me back to your mansion. If you don't like me... you can even let me be a maid or a female historian. Although I'm not very good at studying, I can recognize a few words and can definitely serve your mansion. I only ask that you have mercy on me and take me back to your mansion." Zhong Yunxi was very emotional, her eyes full of pleading.

Although she was extremely anxious, she knew that Tao Hongyuan was angry, so she did not express her thoughts directly.

"You are a daughter of a wealthy family, and the Tao Mansion is just a small place. I'm afraid it can't accommodate a big Buddha like you." Tao Hongyuan's tone revealed a hint of hesitation, and his eyes moved away from Zhong Yunxi and looked into the distance.

After hearing the emperor's naked hint and thinking about his daughter's wedding at home with no one to take care of it, he had already thought about remarrying. However, he sympathized with Zhong Yunxi's experience, but was also worried about her calculations today. He was even more worried that bringing her back to the mansion would cause a series of unknown troubles.

After Tao Hongyuan finished speaking, he turned his gaze to his two daughters.

The two daughters were seen standing aside, neither speaking out against nor coming forward to plead for Zhong Yunxi. They must have let him make his own decision.

"The girl is still young, please take care of yourself." After saying that, Tao Hongyuan sighed lightly, then walked away quickly.

Seeing this, Tao Jiuxi hurried forward to help Zhong Yunxi, who was still kneeling on the ground, and said softly, "You... you should go and reply to the princess first."

Zhong Yunxi wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and nodded helplessly. After all, she saw that Tao Hongyuan's attitude had softened a little, so she would go and beg him later.

So the three of them quickly followed in the direction where Tao Hongyuan disappeared.

Everyone came to where the eldest princess was, and as soon as they stepped in, they felt the atmosphere was a little solemn.

Shen Zhiyi was also there. Although this seemed to be a family affair of the Tao family, he did not consider himself an outsider and insisted on staying here. Seeing that he was so persistent, the princess did not want to drive him away by force, so she let him go.

"Greetings, Princess." Everyone bowed respectfully in unison.

"I just heard that Lord Tao fell into the water. I was really scared. Lord Tao, how are you feeling now? Are you injured or feeling unwell?"

Tao Hongyuan hurried forward and responded respectfully, "My Lord, I am truly grateful for your kindness. I am in good health and nothing serious is wrong with me. Thank you for your concern."

The princess breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this, nodded slightly and said, "That's good, Lord Tao is safe. The court is in great need of talents right now, and a virtuous minister like Lord Tao cannot afford to make any mistakes. All right, stop standing here and sit down."

Tao Hongyuan and the Tao sisters took their seats as instructed, and the room was silent.

Only Zhong Yunxi didn't dare to sit down. She took two steps back awkwardly, trying to stand quietly at the back like she did when she served tea to the princess in the past.

"Zhong Yunxi."

"I'm here." Zhong Yunxi immediately stepped forward and knelt on the ground with a plop, her head lowered deeply, not daring to look up.

"What happened to you today? Why did you fall into the water for no reason?" The eldest princess sat upright on the main seat, her voice extremely majestic, and her anger suppressed in her cold tone.