TNIBFT -Chapter 194 You Are the Most Important Person

“Go with you?”

“Why should I go with you?” Ye Shuangxue’s little face was full of anger and confusion, her dark, bright eyes fixed on Shangguan Ning.

Ye Tian casually pulled his daughter into his arms and looked at Shangguan Ning, waiting quietly to hear what she had to say.

At this moment, Shangguan Ning fell silent, her mind racing.

That scoundrel Ye Tian… if he finds out the children’s biological mother is the Empress, he’ll definitely cling to her relentlessly. He might even take the three children and disappear just to gain leverage over Her Majesty.

Revealing the children’s identities would be harmful to Her Majesty… and to Great Zhou.

Besides, Her Majesty already instructed in her letter not to expose their identities. She must also be wary of Ye Tian…

“Actually… actually… I really was sent by your mother to take you. She’ll be coming during this time as well. When she arrives, you’ll know I’m not lying,” Shangguan Ning said in one breath.

The father and daughter reacted differently.

“Mother?”

Ye Tian was surprised.

Fang Shenghu had clearly told him that the children’s mother was already dead.

So who exactly was this Shangguan?

Before Ye Tian could speak, Ye Shuangxue frowned and said, “Impossible!”

“You’re lying. My mother is already dead. She couldn’t have sent you to take us.”

The moment his daughter said that, not only Shangguan Ning, but even Ye Tian was stunned. He had clearly told the three children that their mother was temporarily unable to return—so how did his daughter know?

“Ye Tian, is this how you teach your children?” Shangguan Ning glared at him.

Her Majesty was only unconscious, yet Ye Tian told the children she was dead, cutting off their longing for their mother without considering their feelings at all. He was shameless—despicable.

Ye Tian let out a long breath. Despite Shangguan Ning’s fury, he remained unusually calm.

“I don’t care what your intentions are, but I’m warning you—give up on this idea. No matter who comes, no one is taking my children away! And my children don’t need your concern. Once you recover, leave immediately!”

With that, Ye Tian picked up his daughter and prepared to leave.

Was that an order to leave?

Watching his retreating figure, Shangguan Ning clenched her teeth in anger. No matter Ye Tian’s attitude now, at the critical moment, as long as she could ensure the safety of the three princes, even death wouldn’t make her leave.

Everything could wait until Her Majesty arrived.

“Wait!”

“Ye Tian, wait!”

Shangguan Ning quickly caught up with him, pulling out a golden token from her robes. As Ye Tian turned around, she threw it to him and said coldly: “The Grand Eunuch is called Gao Defu. This is a gold token bestowed upon him by the Emperor of Great Liang. With this token, it’s as if one is facing the Emperor himself. Not just in Sifang City—officials across all of Great Liang must obey him!”

Ye Tian held the heavy token and examined it carefully. A five-clawed golden dragon was engraved on it, majestic and lifelike, and on the back was a large character: “Liang.”

Judging by the texture, it was pure gold.

But how did something so important end up in Shangguan Ning’s hands?

Seeing Ye Tian’s scrutinizing gaze, Shangguan Ning said, “No need to doubt me. I stole it. I followed Gao Defu for several days and risked my life to steal this token. And I’ll use my life to protect the three children—you don’t need to question that.”

Ye Tian glanced at the token in his hand. After a long pause, he looked up at her.

“Thank you.”

Even if Shangguan Ning had ulterior motives, she didn’t have the ability to act on them. In the shop, there was Sun Wuji; by his side, Duan Qingshan; and also Old Yang. Any one of them would be more than enough to deal with her—far beyond what she could handle.

As for the matter of the children’s mother, Fang Shenghu would be returning to Sifang City in the next couple of days.

When that time came, the truth would naturally come to light.

“And one more thing!”

Just as Ye Tian was about to turn and leave, Shangguan Ning suddenly spoke again. After a brief pause, she continued, “In a few days, a secret envoy from the Great Zhou will arrive in Sifang City. Gao Defu came here this time specifically to meet him. His scheme is to have Tao Lichun invite your whole family to the welcoming banquet… and take you all out in one fell swoop. Make your preparations. The three children must not go. Do you understand?”

Shangguan Ning’s gaze was sincere. Ye Tian nodded. “I understand.”

With that, he left.

Lying on Ye Tian’s shoulder, Ye Shuangxue stared at Shangguan Ning with her dark, ink-like eyes, her little head filled with thoughts no one could guess.

She felt that Shangguan Ning wasn’t a bad person.

Even though she was young, she could feel when someone treated her well.

Ye Tian carried his daughter back to the backyard. Looking at the bare pagoda tree in the courtyard, he didn’t know what to say for a moment. Ye Shuangxue’s arms were soft as she wrapped them around his neck, drawing closer to him. Her small face pressed against his neck as she spoke in a muffled voice: “I know she misunderstood you. You were afraid we’d find out that Mother is already dead… afraid we’d be sad. That’s why you lied and said she wasn’t in Great Liang, that she’d come back when we grow up. But when you said it, we already knew it was a lie. We don’t have a mother… but we have you, Father. So you’re more important. You’re both mother and father. You’re the most important person in the world.”

Her voice was soft and childlike.

Yet the words from this five-year-old made Ye Tian’s nose sting, his eyes nearly filling with tears.

Every sentence made him feel that all his efforts were nothing compared to the deep love his children had for him.

He hadn’t really done anything… yet in this unfamiliar world, it was his three children who kept giving him such profound love.

“Mm!” Ye Tian held his daughter tightly and nodded.

“I’ll love you even more,” he said, his voice choked, burying his face in her padded coat, afraid of being seen crying.

Ye Shuangxue kissed the top of his head. “I want to eat ten buns! I want to grow up quickly so I can protect you! And then, if anyone dares look down on you, I’ll kill them!”

Ye Tian froze.

What the—!

As expected of someone with a villain’s disposition—why can’t she shake this love for killing?

The warmth from just moments ago instantly vanished. Ye Tian put on a serious expression and looked at his daughter.

“What’s with all this fighting and killing? Wouldn’t it be better to be a well-behaved little girl?”

“Hehe…” Ye Shuangxue shrank her neck and giggled.

…

Meanwhile—

Inside a residence somewhere in Sifang City.

“Has Tao Lichun arrived?”

Gao Defu lounged sideways on a chair, gently stroking the long nails on his left hand, not even bothering to lift his head as he spoke.

A servant standing nearby replied, “He has already reached the front hall. Shall you go over now, sir?”

“Or let that old man wait a bit longer?”

Gao Defu let out a faint sigh and shifted slightly, glancing at the servant who spoke. A smile curled on his lips.

“Tao Lichun was once the foremost scholar under heaven. In his prime, students from all over rushed to visit him. Even His Majesty had to humbly seek his advice to win over the scholars of the realm.”

“How could we possibly make him wait?”

Though he said this, Gao Defu remained seated, as steady as a mountain, showing no intention of getting up.

The servant understood immediately and replied with a flattering smile, “So what if he was?”

“He’s just a stubborn old fool. If you want him dead, my lord, he’ll have to die this very moment!”