You were taken hostage, why pursue the Enemy's Empress?
Chapter 50 – Translate, translate, what is surprise?

As the sun set in the west, a carriage rattled by, casting a long shadow in the evening sun. The carriage eventually stopped at the entrance of Minister's Mansion, and Luo Ming obsequiously opened the door curtain, "Sis! We're home!"

A graceful figure emerged from the carriage and looked at the plaque hanging on the mansion gate with the words "Luo Mansion" written on it. She pursed her lips and looked hesitant.

In the meantime, two nobly dressed young scholars passed by and were surprised to see Hua Chao. "Isn't this Miss Hua Chao? She's been missing for so long. Why is she appearing at Minister's Mansion? Many literati have been waiting for her and crying out for her in these days."

"Shh... keep your voice down! I heard a rumor about Miss Hua Chao's background..."

The two scholars whispered to each other and quickly left the mansion gate.

Luo Ming cursed, "Those two are so shameless. What are they talking about behind our backs?"

Hua Chao remained indifferent, "Isn't it natural for a singer to be talked about? Lead the way."

"Sure!"

Luo Ming made a gesture of invitation and led Hua Chao into the mansion. Although the courtyard did not look luxurious, it was extremely elegant, and every plant was carefully designed and trimmed.

It was not until they arrived at the courtyard that Luo Yan, who had been waiting at the door, was seen by Hua Chao. Luo Yan greeted her excitedly, "Hua Chao, you finally decided to see Dad!"

Hua Chao's face showed no expression, and she just nodded slightly, "Minister Luo is very resourceful. How could I not come to see him?"

Luo Yan looked a little embarrassed and pointed to the table full of food, "Come on, let's eat. The dishes are getting cold!"

If someone else spoke to him like that, he would not even know how to react. But Hua Chao was different, and he dared not show any unhappiness because she was capable of doing anything in front of him!

Otherwise, he would not have missed his daughter for so many years but still could not bring Hua Chao to his side.

"Thank you!"

Hua Chao nodded and sat down in a seat. Luo Ming's heart sank as he and Hua Chao had agreed to first please Luo Yan no matter what. However, he did not expect that Hua Chao would be so resentful.

He glanced at Luo Yan cautiously, afraid that Luo Yan would scold him.

But Luo Yan did not even have the idea of glaring at him. He just sat next to Hua Chao with a smile and said, "Hua Chao! This is the osmanthus cake that your mother loved the most before she passed away. Dad specially brought it from Quwo. Try it and see if it's delicious."

Hua Chao lowered her eyebrows and eyes, "Since I can remember, I have never seen my mother eat osmanthus cake. Minister Luo, are you mistaken?"

Luo Yan's breathing became stagnant, and his relaxed face even trembled slightly. His old face was full of embarrassment.

Hua Chao felt a hint of mockery in her heart. She had not only never seen her mother eat osmanthus cake, but even if she bought it secretly, she would be scolded severely, and then the two of them would cry together.

She had never known why until that rainy night when her mother had a high fever and talked nonsense. She learned that before this unfaithful man went to the capital, he spent a lot of money to buy her a box of osmanthus cakes and promised that after he was promoted to a high position, she could eat them every day.

Ironically, the money was earned by her singing for him.

However, Hua Chao did not show her anger and took a bite of the cake as instructed.

Luo Yan finally smiled, "And this one..."

Hua Chao took another bite as instructed.From beginning to end, it was Luo Yan who urged everyone to eat, Hua Chao moved her chopsticks, and Luo Ming sat beside them, looking at his father and sister, shrinking his neck and not saying a word.

Finally, Hua Chao put down her chopsticks: "Minister, it's time for us to talk about serious matters."

Luo Yan smiled: "This is a family feast, no serious matters to discuss!"

Hua Chao's eyes narrowed: "Fine! Since the family feast is over, I'll take my leave!"

"Wait!"

Luo Yan sighed: "You want to talk about Shang Mo Bookstore, don't you?"

Hua Chao turned around, gritted her teeth and bowed slightly: "Please, Minister, have mercy and let Shang Mo Bookstore go. If this matter gets out, it won't be good for your reputation either."

Luo Yan helplessly shook his head: "You're doing this for Ying Wuji, aren't you!"

Hua Chao neither confirmed nor denied: "Shang Mo Bookstore is the fruit of our hard work, and he is also a very good person. No matter what, I can't bear to see Shang Mo Bookstore fall."

Luo Yan sighed: "Now Ying Wuque is thriving in the Kingdom Qian, and Ying Wuji is just a powerless hostage. Even though I've always advocated against Qian, there's no need for me to argue with him. But he shouldn't have provoked you. Hua Chao, do you know how worried your father is?"

She had heard these words countless times.

Hua Chao gritted her teeth: "What can I do for Minister to let Shang Mo Bookstore go?"

Luo Yan looked at his daughter: "Leave Ying Wuji and move back to the Minister's Mansion. As long as you do that, I won't make things difficult for Ying Wuji in the future, and I might even help him a little."

"Really?"

"Really!"

Luo Yan nodded. In recent years, he increasingly felt that the Kingdom Qian was a threat. If he could support Ying Wuji's faction to grow stronger and find an opportunity to send him back to Qian, he would definitely be able to compete with Ying Wuque with the support of his mother's family. It would be a good thing for the Kingdom Li if the two princes of Qian fought each other.

Of course, all of this was for later. Now he just wanted his daughter to come home.

Looking at Hua Chao's current state, it was clear that she was somewhat shaken.

Hua Chao was indeed struggling in her heart. If she did this, it would be great for Ying Wuji, but the image of her mother's tear-streaked face flashed through her mind, causing her heartache.

Luo Yan seized the opportunity to strike while the iron was hot: "There's a courtyard in the Minister's Mansion that I prepared for you and your mother. No one has lived there until now. When you move in, no one can disturb you without your consent, including me. You can come and go as you please, as long as you return to stay at night!"

So she wouldn't have to see Luo Yan?

Hua Chao hesitated, feeling moved for the first time, mainly because she didn't want to see Ying Wuji's hard work go up in smoke.

But the shadow of the past twenty-seven years was too heavy. She bit her lip tightly and didn't speak.

Luo Yan quickly said: "By the way! I've prepared a surprise for you. Do you want to see it?"

Luo Ming had already told her about this so-called surprise on the carriage.

She asked Luo Ming, but he said he didn't know either, only saying that this thing could prove Luo Yan's feelings for her mother.

Hua Chao nodded: "Hmm..."

Luo Yan breathed a sigh of relief and finally showed a smile: "Wan Qiu, come out!"

Hearing this name, Hua Chao's body trembled.

Because Wan Qiu was her mother's name!

"Okay!"

A gentle female voice sounded, and a figure emerged from behind the screen.

Long hair like satin, skin as white as snow, a delicate face like a young girl's, but with a touch of gentle wisdom that didn't belong to her age, she should be in her early twenties.

Most importantly, this woman looked about sixty percent similar to Hua Chao and exactly like her mother in her memory.

Hua Chao was stunned for a moment, her face growing uglier: "Who is she?"

"She, she..."

Luo Yan was actually a little nervous, organizing his words before saying: "I met her when I was out investigating the people's livelihood a few days ago. From the moment I saw her, I was convinced that she must be your mother's reincarnation! Hua Chao, come home, and our family of three can live together again."

Hua Chao: "???"

Luo Yan: "Hua..."

Hua Chao was trembling with anger: "Luo Yan! Have you no shame? My mother has only been dead for a few years, and this woman is already so old. You say she's my mother's reincarnation?"

Luo Yan: "..."

Luo Ming: "..."

His face was ashen.

What the hell is a surprise?

What the hell is a surprise?

My father!

Are you sure this isn't a shock?