people treated him as if it were a given that he should protect them.Zongyu's reputation was that he looked intimidating, but after getting to know him these past few days, she realized he was actual...King Jing saw Fang Jinxiu walking over with her younger siblings. His task was now complete. After saying this, he turned and went to the back yard.

He's not interested in getting involved with their family affairs. Let them sort it out themselves.

Rather than listening to them argue here, I'd rather go play with Yuanbao in the backyard.

King Jing's carefree departure left Zong Pingchuan still bewildered, unable to understand the meaning behind his two previous sentences.

He is Mu Yunhe's husband and the father of Zong Bai and Yu Lian. Could they possibly dare to do anything to him

Even if he made some mistakes, he believed that as long as he handled things carefully, the children and the Mu family would understand him.

"I didn't know until now that you were A-Yu's wife. These years, I admire your hard work in running this family."

Fang Jinshu ignored Zong Pingchuan standing at the door. She walked straight past him while he was still talking, entered the side hall and sat in the main seat reserved for the head of the family.

Zong Bai and Yu Lian both stood beside her.

Zong Pingchuan's face darkened for a moment as he carried the three people on his back.

But he quickly adjusted, turning around and walking up to the three of them as if nothing had happened.

"Alright, Zong Pingchuan, you don't need to put on a facade in front of us."

"Today's events were indeed planned by me, I did it on purpose."

Zong Pingchuan almost couldn't hold back his anger, but when he thought of Jinshi Mountain Villa and the Mu family's face, he endured it with gritted teeth.

What he was best at in his life was forbearance. Before achieving his goal, no matter what kind of grievance or humiliation he had endured, it wasn't a big deal for him to endure these few words.

"Father knows that these years, you have suffered a lot and endured much hardship."

"I understand that you want to seek justice for Yunhe and give her a chance to get even."

Zongpingchuan smiled wryly, looking at his two children.

But Zongbei, Yulian, Father truly had no choice but to do this.

"That year, I came to the capital alone to take the Qiu Wei examination. After passing the exam, I was overjoyed and wanted to immediately write a letter to tell you all this good news."

But then she was taken notice of by Yuan Xiangli, the daughter of a high official. Even though I told her that I already had a wife and children in the countryside, she refused to give up on me.

"This matter caused a huge stir in the capital city that year. If you go and ask people now, there should still be some who remember it. Every word I said is true."

She wouldn't let me go home, and after I was ennobled, I happened to meet a fellow villager from Black Earth Town. He told me that my hometown had been struck by famine and many people had died of starvation.

"The villagers of Nomura who got trapped in the mountains were the first to suffer, an entire village was wiped out."

"When I heard the news, it was like a bolt from the blue. I was dazed for days. I had planned to go back myself to verify the news of your death. If you were alive, I wanted to see you. If you were dead, I wanted to see your body."

But when Yuan Xiangli heard the news, she immediately rushed over to stop me. She insisted on returning home with me.

"I got drunk on the road, and for some reason, I destroyed her innocence. It was me."

When it came to this point, Zongpingchuan's face was full of self-blame and regret, his eyes red.

If Fang Jinshi hadn't done a lot of research and homework before coming here, and learned enough about this stepfather, she would have been deceived.

Yu Lian and Zong Bai wore dark faces, unlike Fang Jinxiu who was so calm.

"So you gave up on coming back to us and turned around to go back with Yuan Xiangli and become the daughter-in-law of a high-ranking official!"

Zong Pingchuan glanced at Yulian. He didn't take his daughter's question to heart, instead focusing his gaze on Zong Bai.

"Ber, Father truly never intended to marry her. But back then, I was just a scholar. Even with a bit of fame, I couldn't stand against the Chancellor's overwhelming power. I had no way to refuse him."

Zong Bai sneered, "How could I possibly refuse"

"If you truly have a mother in your heart, and we are here, you can die with peace of mind."

"Can the prime minister's daughter still be forcibly married to a dead man"

Listening to the words, Zong Bo truly hated his biological father. He had actually said something as extreme as wanting to die to prove his loyalty.

Zong Pingchuan was also taken aback.

"You."

"What Am I wrong"

"Do you know what life was like for Mother and elder brother when they were at the family home with you newborn sister and me during your trip to Beijing for the Imperial Examination"

"Do you know what happened to the four of us because of you We were bullied by your grandparents and uncles."

"Even so, my heart never stops thinking about you!"

"If it weren't for my sister-in-law's medical skills, mother would have been gone long ago!"

She waited for you her whole life, thinking of you her whole life. We were oppressed by your family for over ten years because of you. You refused power to death to protect us, how could this be"

"Aren't you supposed to think we are all dead Then what are you still alive for"

Zong Bai's words were like pearls strung together, expressing years of grievances. Zong Pingchuan weakly refuted, his head bowed silently.

He opened his mouth after a while.

"Is that what you think"

"Would you rather your own father die"ngly on Zong Yu."Come on, hurry up."She never dared to tell anyone about being bitten by a venomous snake, waiting until Fang Jinshu arrived before she finally mustered the courage to speak in a tremb...