Chapter 25: Adopting a Daughter

Chapter 25: Adopting a Daughter

"Did you compose this piece yourself?"

Upon confirming that the music was played by Xue Ya herself, Tang Yuehua was pleasantly surprised and eagerly took the young girl's hand.

"Xue Ya," was the current alias of Qian Rensue, who was now Wang Si's maid.

When Tang Yuehua grasped her hand and asked her a question, Qian Rensue's first reaction was to look at Wang Si guiltily because this piece was something he had played for her.

"What are you looking at me for? Do I look like a terrible person? Would I steal a piece of music from you?"

Hearing this, Qian RenSue felt a bit guilty and started glancing around nervously. This piece of music wasn't really hers.

Hearing Wang Si's affirmation, Tang Yuehua's gaze towards Xue Ya became even more satisfied.

"Prince Wang, did you bring her here to learn noble etiquette?"

Wang Si looked at Tang Yuehua, who was appraising Qian Rensue as if she were a precious object, and nodded.

"Mhm, Xue'er seems to have a great interest in music, and your place here in Tiandou City is known for teaching it the best. So, I brought her here, intending to have you instruct her and also teach her some noble etiquette."

Tang Yuehua had sensed that Qian Rensue had no prior exposure to noble etiquette, and upon hearing that her primary reason for coming was to learn music, Tang Yuehua's eyes lit up.

"Rest assured, as long as it's something I know, I will definitely teach her, and as long as she's willing to learn, I'll be happy to instruct her."

As Tang Yuehua said this, she also took hold of Qian RenSue's hands and examined them closely.

"Such beautiful hands, they must be perfect for playing the piano."

This was the first time Qian RenSue had been held like this by a mature woman. To be honest, she actually felt a sense of... familiarity from Tang Yuehua, something she hadn't experienced in a long time.

Seeing Qian RenSue's awkwardness and the way Tang Yuehua doted on her, Wang Si had an idea.

"Aunt Yuehua, I heard from Brother Xue that you've always wanted a child. How about adopting Xue'er as your goddaughter? After all, you seem to like her a lot."

Upon hearing Wang Si's suggestion, both Tang Yuehua and Qian Rensue froze.

Almost simultaneously, they turned their heads and looked at Wang Si with puzzled expressions.

Wang Si blinked innocently.

If he remembered correctly, Tang Yuehua had always wanted a child, which was why she had taken such good care of Tang San when she met him.

And as for Qian Rensue, there was no doubt that at the age of nine, she was in need of love and attention.

As for the grudge between the Spirit Hall and the Haotian Sect, it wasn't something a child of her age should be burdened with.

And what if they developed genuine affection for each other after spending time together? Wouldn't it be normal for a ninth-level Spirit Master like Tang Yuehua to meet with an unexpected accident?

Tang Yuehua withdrew her gaze, reached out to ruffle Qian RenSue's hair, bent down, and looked at her with a doting expression.

"I do want a child. Xue'er, would you like to be my daughter?"

Qian Rensue felt her eyes well up under Tang Yuehua's intense and hopeful gaze. She wanted to refuse, but she couldn't bring herself to say the words.

She wanted to agree, but...

"Xue'er, call me 'Mom.'"

Wang Si walked up behind Qian Rensue and placed his hand on her shoulder.

"Mom~"

With Wang Si's pat on her shoulder, Qian Rensue almost instinctively called out, but as soon as she did, her eyes reddened.

Hearing Qian RenSue call her "Mom," Tang Yuehua trembled and immediately pulled "Xue Ya" into her arms.

"My daughter..."

Watching the two embrace, Wang Si quietly withdrew from the room, which was originally his.

Stepping outside, Wang Si glanced at the curious gazes of the young nobles looking in his direction and smiled faintly.

Without paying any attention to the young masters, Wang Si went directly to find the person in charge of the other affairs of the Yue Xuan, the steward, Ode.

He explained Tang Yuehua's condition to Ode, who was well aware that Wang Si was a member of Prince Xue Qinghua's faction.

Ode, who had access to an even more secretive intelligence network, was also aware that Wang Si had been gaining quite a bit of fame lately.

Although there was some suspicion of hype, the fact that he was being promoted in such a way also indicated Wang Si's current value to certain people.

"Fellow students, your teacher Tang has some personal matters to attend to and requires a quiet environment.

Therefore, there will be no etiquette or music lessons at Yue Xuan today, and you are all free to go home.

If today's sudden change has caused any direct or indirect losses, you may find me tomorrow..."

Hearing that there would be no classes today, the students of Yue Xuan looked at each other in surprise, and then they were about to burst into cheers.

But with Steward Ode standing there, they didn't dare to make a fuss and simply left Yue Xuan, pushing each other playfully.

"Steward Ode, thank you for your help. Since there's no one here at Yue Xuan today, why don't you take the day off as well?"

Wang Si took out the jade pendant Ning Fengzhi had given him and prepared to hand it to Steward Ode.

Having only previously guessed at Wang Si's identity, Steward Ode was now certain upon seeing the jade pendant.

However, faced with the jade pendant that would implicate him, Steward Ode dared not accept it.

While Wang Si may not have understood the weight of the pendant, Steward Ode certainly did.

"Prince Wang, what do you mean by this? I serve Yue Xuan, and with no students here today, it's only right that I take the day off."

Making up an excuse, Steward Ode didn't bother considering whether it was appropriate and quickly took his leave.

It wasn't until Steward Ode had left that Yue Xuan was truly empty.

Wang Si sat down in a relatively secluded corner, pouring himself a cup of tea while also filling a cup for an imaginary guest across from him.

A figure soon appeared in front of Wang Si, and it was none other than the Porcupine Douluo.

Qian Rensue always had a Title Douluo by her side, and the other one acted as a messenger between Qian Rensue and Qian Daoliu.

"Senior, will I displease that Great Temple Master by doing this?" Wang Si asked tentatively.

Hearing Wang Si's question, the Porcupine Douluo glanced at the room that originally belonged to Wang Si.

At that moment, his young master was hugging Tang Yuehua and sobbing.

"It's hard to say," the Porcupine Douluo replied with a frown. "The Spirit Hall and the Haotian Sect have a grudge. The previous Pope was injured by Tang Hao of the Haotian Sect.

Although Tang Yuehua has left the Haotian Sect, she still has the blood of the Haotian Sect flowing in her veins."

"The hatred between the Haotian Sect and the Spirit Hall is something our young master doesn't know about. The Great Temple Master hasn't told her.

However, given her intelligence, it's only a matter of time before she finds out.

Also, there are some in the Spirit Hall who are indifferent to the feud between the two sects. They only pledge allegiance to the Spirit Hall.

It seems that only the previous Pope's subordinates care about the enmity between the Haotian Sect and the Spirit Hall."

Without explicitly stating it, the Porcupine Douluo's willingness to protect Qian Rensue, who was secretly residing in Tiandou City, indicated that he was one of the previous Pope's subordinates.

He wasn't too fond of his young master being too involved with Tang Yuehua.

However, as much as he disliked it, he couldn't bring himself to hate the idea, considering how difficult life had been for his young master since childhood.

While his young master might be unaware of the grudge between the Haotian Sect and the Spirit Hall, Wang Si certainly knew.

As for why Wang Si would do such a thing, the only explanation the Porcupine Douluo could think of was that Wang Si wanted to gain control over Tang Yuehua.

Of course, the Porcupine Douluo was delighted with this development.

However, seeing his young master hugging Tang Yuehua, the Porcupine Douluo genuinely wished for his young master's happiness.

"Do you think that compared to the enmity between the Spirit Hall and the Haotian Sect, the Great Temple Master would rather see Xue'er happier?" Wang Si probed further, seeking clarification on the Porcupine Douluo's stance.

Hearing this, the Porcupine Douluo merely glanced at Wang Si and then left.

Wang Si wanted to press further, but at that moment, he heard the "creak" of a door opening.

Tang Yuehua, who had just emerged from the room, had intended to introduce her newly adopted goddaughter to her students.

But seeing the empty Yue Xuan, she was perplexed. Shouldn't the students be having their lessons now?

"Aunt Yuehua, I thought you and Xue'er would want to chat longer, so I asked Steward Ode to send the students home. Now, it's just us here in Yue Xuan," Wang Si explained.

Was she still thinking about teaching today?

That was wishful thinking. Today was about spending time with Xue'er and chatting, and while lessons could be made up later, moments like these were precious and rare for Xue'er.

Hearing that there would be no classes today, Tang Yuehua hesitated, torn between her responsibilities and her newfound family.

But Qian Rensue, understanding Wang Si's intentions, hugged Tang Yuehua's arm.

"Mom, since there are no students today and we can't have our lesson, let's go shopping! You said you wanted to buy me clothes and gifts, didn't you?"

Hearing Qian Rensue call her "Mom," Tang Yuehua's heart melted, and she immediately softened.

"Alright, alright, today I'll take you shopping..."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end