Long Tianmo didnât understand everything when he looked at Han Yunxi, but he wouldnât refuse to help. Although Imperial Father had already bestowed rewards, he owed Han Yunxi for saving his life. He wanted to pay her back anyways, and a general amnesty was an excellent excuse. Itâd win him hearts among the populace after such a long seclusion from the public. His reappearance had to have a big impact!
Long Tianmo nodded. âMy prolonged illness has been cured, so this general amnesty is a good idea. Imperial Aunt can go on back first. When Imperial Father returns tonight, Iâll bring this up.â
Though she knew Long Tianmo would agree, she didnât expect things to go so smoothly. Han Yunxi rejoiced and viewed the crown prince in an even more favorable light.
Before she left, Long Tianmo called her back. âImperial Qin Aunt, please give greetings on my behalf to Imperial Qin Uncle. When Iâm completely recovered, Iâll pay him a visit.â
Han Yunxi nodded. From what she knew, Long Feiye wasnât close with the crown prince or any of the imperial sons. Long Tianmoâs current step was an obvious ploy to improve relations with Long Feiye.
But Long Feiye had never visited him while he was ill, leaving him bitterly disappointed.
Of course, Han Yunxi had no time to worry about all this when she was fully preoccupied with Han Congan. After returning to the Duke of Qinâs house, she didnât leave at all while waiting for news. Occasionally, sheâd even send Chen Xiang outside to search for rumors.
By the afternoon of the second day, the big posters in the streets were still there, and the comments were as lively as before. Apparently various people of the Han household had visited the prisons, but had no way to see Han Congan. After going home, they had even started fighting with each other over the family properties.\nThough Long Tianmoâs intervention had a high chance of success, Han Yunxi was still nervous without seeing actual results. After all, time was tight.
During the night, she stood by the window, looking over the night sights of the capital with furrowed brows. Tomorrow was the last day, so what is the situation on Long Tianmoâs side? And what is the truth behind Lady Tianxinâs fatal labor? What kind of secrets did Lady Tianxin and Han Congan keep between them? She tossed and turned that evening, finding it hard to sleep.
But good news came early in the morning of the next day.
Little Cheng Xiang knocked on the door as she shouted, âMistress, mistress! The emperor proclaimed a general amnesty this morning! Besides criminals who plotted rebellion against the state, all death convicts have been pardoned to lifetime imprisonment! They say the crown prince personally pleaded on their behalf!â
Han Yunxi practically leapt off the bed, washing her face and getting dressed before running to the imperial prisons. She didnât even bother eating breakfast. As soon as the general amnesty was issued, the fastest news reached the imperial prisons. From a distance, Han Congan heard many discussions and saw a few death convicts being sent back to jail.
âI heard the crown prince brought up general amnesty for the population. Hehe, this time we owe all our good luck to the crown prince!â
âExactly, weâll be able to leave soon, right?â
âLook, all those death convicts were taken away. I reckon theyâre being released! Hehe, itâll be our turn soon enough!â
âŚâŚ
The talk filled the entire prison as Han Congan listened by the bars of his cell. His muddled eyes brightened significantly as he marveled at the sight. Why did he never realize Han Yunxi was so clever? She didnât plead with Emperor Tianhui but the crown prince. She actually thought of something like general amnesty for the population!\nWas this really the same Han Yunxi as before?
He always thought that this daughter couldnât compare to her mother. But now his belief was shaken. Soon, Han Yunxi arrived, and even Han Conganâs gazes shifted as he looked at her.
âDaughter, youâre very smart.â
âLooks like youâve heard of the emperorâs general amnesty,â Han Yunxi wasnât in a good mood.
âYou should take your father out of the death convictsâ jail, right?â Han Conganâs state of mind was much better than before. Although he was in a difficult position, he stood perfectly upright, filled with proper bearing.
Han Yunxiâs stare turned mocking as her tone grew icy. âThen, when do you plan on telling me the truth?â
âAt the very least, allow father to leave here first,â Han Congan was insistent. Doctors were obsessed with cleanliness and he hated the smell of decay and death that permeated these prisons.
Han Yunxiâs lips turned even more mocking. If Han Congan thought he could reach for a yard after getting an inch here, then he was very wrong. She narrowed her eyes and warned, âHan Congan, you wonât die now, but do you believe that I can make your every day worse than death?â
She wasnât afraid to step in her shoes before the light. Though Han Conganâs death had been waived, he was no bare-footed youth man anymore. Would he fear Han Yunxiâs threat? Seeing her dangerous expression, Han Congan was slightly displeased, but held himself back. He pointed at the base of the wall, indicating that Han Yunxi should sit down to talk. Just like last time, she leaned against the far wall as she sat, her chilly eyes staring straight at Han Congan.
He could sense her guard rise as he sat and exhaled. âBe at ease. Weâre already at this point, so I wonât trick you.â\nâStop the useless chatter! Answer my question, how did my mother die?â Han Yunxi was frosty.
Han Congan didnât answer her question, but his words made Han Yunxiâs heart stop completely. It was too unexpected!
He said, Han Yunxi, I can clearly tell you that I, Han Congan, am not your father!
What?!
Han Yunxi couldnât believe her ears. She was shocked as her eyes unconsciously widened.
Seeing Han Yunxiâs astonishment, Han Conganâs eyes couldnât help but flicker in grief. Everyone knew that he had never done a fatherâs duty to his daughter, but no one knew how much heâd hoped that this daughter was his flesh and blood. It wasnât because Han Yunxi had suddenly gained fame and power. Long before, when Han Yunxi was still in her motherâs womb, he had the same wish.
Too badâŚhe wasnât worthy of that woman.
The stunned Han Yunxi finally recovered to lose her temper. âHan Congan, youâre lying!â
Lady Tianxin was a legend, brimming with talent as a kind, benevolent doctor. How could she be a wanton woman? How could she have an illicit daughter? Han Yunxi was even less inclined to believe that a mind like Han Conganâs would tolerate an improper woman, much less raise someone elseâs child!
âIâm not lying to you, I have proof,â Han Congan was very calm.
It wasnât just Han Yunxi. Anyone in Tianningâs capital would refuse to believe him after hearing such a thing. Yet this was the absolute truth; otherwise, why wouldnât he treat Han Yunxiâs poisonous facial scar when she was a daughter of the Han household and the Duke of Qinâs promised wife?
âWhat kind of proof?â Han Yunxi asked hastily.
âPromise me one thing and Iâll tell you everything,â Han Congan was very serious. This wasnât a threat, but a guarantee. Yet the agitated Han Yunxi completely missed his intended meaning and abruptly stood up.\nâYou wish! Iâve already preserved your life, so what right do you have to make demands of me?â
No matter what, Han Yunxi wouldnât believe that Lady Tianxin would do something so improper. If she really was an illicit daughter, then it had to be because Han Congan did a disservice to Lady Tianxin. Han Yunxi was already very angry, and Han Conganâs demands had just provoked her further.
Yet Han Congan was very calm as he faced the fiery Han Yunxi. âHan Yunxi, listen to what I have to say first before answering. It wonât be too late.â As he spoke, he withdrew a key from his sleeve and presented it to Han Yunxi between the bars.
Han Yunxi was a little startled. She recognized this key as the storehouse key, the symbol of the head of house. The Han storehouse not only contained the Han family properties, but two very important items: the Han familyâs collection of rare medicinal ingredients and the ăHan Clan Medical Canonă. Every medical family had its own medical canon that recorded secret prescriptions and rare historical records, passed down generation after generation. It was only given to the successor or heir to the clan. The ăHan Clan Medical Canonă was the treasure of the Han Clan.
Owning the key equated to owning the entire Han family. Even though Han Congan was in jail and the Han name had long been thrown in disorder, its foundation was still intact. All that aside, simply the ăHan Clan Medical Canonăand its record of medical techniques was enough to raise a new generation of famous doctors to success. Han Yunxi didnât move as she stared at the storehouse key. Why had Han Congan decided to give it to her?
That was a little impossible. Leaving aside the fact that she wasnât of Han family blood, she was already a daughter married off to another family. She had no right to inherit the position as the Han Family Head.\nWhat kind of demand was Han Congan making?
She backed up a step and kept her distance from the key. âWhatâs the meaning of this?â
âPromise me to do your best to help the new head of house. Help the Han Family rise and place its well-being as the foremost importance,â Han Congan said word by word, his red, resentful eyes glimmering with steadfast light.
Help the Han Family rise?
Han Yunxi was thrown off. She originally thought that Han Congan was going to ask her to help him get out of jail, not make demands like this.
Not for himself, but for the Han Family.
Han Yunxi had felt disappointment and disdain for this âfatherâ of hers. In her impressions, this old thing was both selfish and covetous, but now she saw his righteous principles. Yet Han Yunxi didnât understand why his principles relied on her to make the effort to help the Han Family start anew. What had the Han family ever done for her? Had they ever done anything? That place was filled with nothing but memories of pain and suffering. Why beg her to sacrifice and risk herself for the Han Family? Furthermore, according to Han Conganâs words, she and the Han family had no blood relations at all.
Seeing Han Conganâs determination, Han Yunxiâs lips curled into a sneer. âYou seem very confident that Iâll agree.â
âBecause no one else besides myself knows the truth about your mother. Including your real father!â Han Congan said steadily.
âIâve already said this. Your life is mine, so you have no leeway to discuss terms with me,â Han Yunxi was cold.
Han Congan laughed. âIf the Han Family falls to ruin by this old manâs hands, what do I need this life for? I can only take my own life to apologize to generations of my ancestors!â\nHan Yunxi didnât take this to heart. As she saw it, Han Congan didnât have to guts to kill himself. But who knew that as soon as Han Congan finished, heâd turn and abruptly slam his head against a wall!
Shocked, Han Yunxi cried out, âDonât!â
If Han Congan really died, all her efforts wouldâve been for nothing. Where was she supposed to find the truth then? But Han Yunxiâs âdonâtâ didnât stop Han Congan at all. He was serious. A single slam into the wall had already drawn blood from his skull, but he was planning to keep going!
Alarmed, Han Yunxi realized sheâd misjudged this old thing. The fate of the clan was deeply ingrained in his heart.
âAll right, I promise!â Han Yunxi said loudly.\n