Ming Peizi was startled with his daughter's words. He, better than anyone, knew that his wife wouldn't ask for her Father's help. Besides if she was the one who asked Ming Shu to ask for help, she wouldn't be desperate looking for her.
Not betraying his thoughts, his face didn't change the slightest. He realized that he couldn't underestimate the little girl in front of him. At the age of 10, she was capable of analyzing the problem and put the right resources to work for a solution. Not even older brother was capable of such a feat.
'However she is still a kid. The excuse she gave can easy be debunked without even asking her mom'
"Is it? Maybe your mom has forgotten that she send you to deliver the message then right?"
Alarm riggings set off on Ming Shu's head. Shit, how could she be so careless? She should have change the script after learning that her mom was worried. She has become rather negligent since being reborn. First she underestimated Lady Ye and now she was even caught in the most simple lie. She's wrong in thinking that everything is easy just because she has her previous life knowledge. In truth, although it can certainly facilitate many things, it also create many dangers that were inexistent previously. She now has to trade with care so that she doesn't overestimate herself and don't underestimate anyone. Calming down. She quickly thought on a feasible lie.
Even though she went through a lot in her mind, it barely passed a second and the panic only made a glimpse in her eyes and faded fast. Seeing her compose side, Ming Peizi nos in approval in his head.
"How could be possible that she forgot something so stupid Father? No. It was because she said to deliver tomorrow since it wasn't really early when she came for me, I hope you don't blame her since it was honest mistake. I-I thought that it would be better if I contacted Grandpa as fast as possible"
Looking at his daughter pitiful appearance, Peizi couldn't help shake his head and chuckle a bit. Besides saving her first explanation from the easiest loophole, she also appealed for his understanding by putting a meek and feeble act, that even when he knew that she was just acting made him feel pity for her.
"Truly my daughter. Come here"
After having her close enough, he picked her up and put in his lap.
"Now tell me, where did you learn about Lady Ye? Don't say your mother, since she still has to discuss with me, and I'm pretty confident that I know my wife well enough that I can affirm that she wouldn't tell such a dangerous thing to you. Also don't worry, I'm not reprimanding you. Spite the fact that I like quiet women, I appreciate your wits, since you won't survive in any Household courtyard without it and I wouldn't want you getting hurt or shaming our family"
Ming Shu didn't panicked this time. It was obvious that her lie was spotted in the beginning and only if her Father was an idiot he would have believed her excuse. Well it didn't hurt to have tried anyway. Shrugging, she told what she knew about Lady Ye and the measures she took against her plots. Of course, instead of saying: 'I came from the future that is why I know' she explained that her knowledge was gathered by eavesdropping the maid's conversations.
Ming Peizi looked astonish at his daughter. Was she the daughter that he knew, who had martial arts as her favorite subject and was always laughing foolish? How come he didn't know that she had such a scheming personality? But it's understandable her change of one took in account that she was almost murdered by her own sister, who was order by her father's concubine. This would for sure bring changes in anyone, and Peizi was grateful that it brought positive ones in his daughter. Patting her head, he tried to soothe her obvious fear.
"You did well Xiao Shu. It seems that I gave too much of a leeway to Ye, which made her think that she could do things like this and escape unscathed. I'm proud that you tried hard to protect your brother and even chose to forgive Yunning"
Ming Shu shakes her head at her Father's words.
"It was not her fault. If someone kept telling me that an individual was the cause for all my mother sorrows and that we could lead a better life if she was gone, I'm sure I would have made the same as Yunning"
"Well, I am relieved that you made up with her. She looks happier now than when she was by herself, so do you"
"Of course, I get to spend time with all my family and we don't have many conflicts. I couldn't ask for more"
Such a humble and down to earth child, he couldn't help but soft his gaze and wonder how truly blessed to be her Father. Ming Peizi didn't realized, but he started to change how he viewed family. Before he wouldn't thing he was blessed, but it was his child obligation to be so. The gaze he was looking at Ming Shu would also never be so soft.
It wasn't his fault. He was raise to have always the well fare of the Household in first place in the list of his priorities. He wasn't close to neither his Mother or his brothers while he grew up. Although he respected them, it was more like a duty because of the blood that flew in his veins than family love. Through the daily interactions with his children and the improvement in his relationship with his main wife, Ming Peizi for the first time experiences the love and warm that a close family could provide.
Because of this change, instead of limiting her talents to be enough to be a good wife, Ming Peizi started to think about how to cultivate her as much as he could. He was even thinking in having her do the Imperial Exams like Peng'er. Although it was not common to have female officers, they existed and were very valued by the Emperor, since they were all genius in their specific field. Confirming his resolve, Peizi swore that he would do what he could not only for his daughter future, but to all his family members. But first he needed to pluck the weed that was trying to kill his flowers.