Chapter 162 - 3.58

From that point, several things happened. Xie Yongrui became braver with his thoughts and wouldn't hesitate to say what was on his mind concerning Xu Jiaqi and other matters as well.

Their diplomatic relations with the Land of Xi was strengthened. This time, Xu Jiaqi didn't need to stay there as a guarantor. Xian Ruo was able to contend with the Land of Xi in terms of respect, although they were still nowhere near the size of the powerful kingdom.

Using the cumulative authority, they raked in people from the other kingdoms as well, successfully creating an alliance while still keeping everything under control and out of the Empire's sights.

They certainly got busier as time went, since the work that they had to accomplish increased with each day. Everything took time. Time flowed so fast for them. Every single day, they would feel like they didn't have a lot of time. 

One day, there were sitting inside a room, working as always. Xie Yongrui found it hard to separate from her and loved to watch her do literally anything, so he indulged in this fact by staying  beside her.

Then, as they were discussing important matters about their plans, an interruption came.

There was a knock on the door. Several knocks, almost like banging.

It was loud and out of rhythm, completely unlike the subordinates that they had trained.

"..Enter." Xu Jiaqi frowned, not knowing that she was in for a surprise.

"Lady Xu.. I think we have just found out who your real father is!" A man said with an exasperated tone after being allowed into Xu Jiaqi's current room.

Xu Jiaqi stopped whatever she was doing at the moment and put all of her focus on the intruding man. Xie Yongrui, who was accompanying her by the side also looked upwards, glaring at the man.

"...Are you speaking the truth? If you're spreading misinformation, then I won't be as kind as to forgive you easily, you know?" Xu Jiaqi was visibly shaken by the news. Her gaze hardened.

The news bringer was visibly terrified by the sheer aura that these two emitted, and immediately fell down to the ground. "Yes, I am sure that this is what you are looking for."

The man then brought out a letter and placed it right in front of him, keeping his humble standing.

Xu Jiaqi bit her lip lightly. "Bring that letter to me. I give you permission to get closer."

The man did as such, and soon the letter was right in Xu Jiaqi's hands. Xu Jiaqi opened it carefully, tearing apart the seal that bound the letter together and revealing the insides of it.

Since this matter related to her mission, the System was rendered unable to help her much because he was barricaded by the laws. She used the maximum amount of effort to stretch her influence and conduct a search on that person, but even after five years had passed, she couldn't find any leads.

But now, a lead appeared?

Xu Jiaqi opened the letter with a heavy heart, not knowing what to expect out of the content.

The letter read as follows.

-Xu Jiaqi, my daughter, I am your blood-related father.

First of all, I would like to apologize for all the grievance that I must have caused you by not being a proper father. I am a coward, and I acknowledge this fact. I can't possibly atone for all my sins towards you two unless I die. I've always feared facing the truth, but I have decided to finally confess everything, and what happened that time.

I ran away because I had to protect myself. I only have one life, and when I was faced with the question on whether to pick love or my life.. I chose my life. To this day, I still regret it. The day I ran away.. It was an impulsive decision, but it made me realize that I wasn't on a point where I could take care of another person's life on top of mine just yet. I love Xu Yan, and I still love her until this day. I'm sure that if I have any one chance to meet you in the future, my baby daughter, I will love you just as much.

But I am way too selfish, I don't deserve to be alongside the two of you. Once again, I am deeply sorry for not being able to be a part of your life. I am deeply sorry that I couldn't take responsibility for anything, and I know that it's too late to fix everything. I have ran away. I don't expect you to forgive me, but I reckon that this clarification was necessary for my own sanity. The guilt eats my heart day and night. Not a single day has passed where the thought of the family I left behind crossed.

I am not meant to be a father, nor a lover.-

That was the end of it.

Xu Jiaqi subconsciously wanted to clench the paper inside her hands tightly until it crumpled up.

"Tell me in detail. Who gave you this lead?" Xu Jiaqi gritted her teeth. How could there be someone like this in the world?

"It's.. your own mother, Miss Xu."

"...Huh? My mother.. Xu Yan? She brought this paper here?" Xu Jiaqi thought that the one to deliver this would be someone who was hired by her father to stay anonymous, but that outrageous man actually dared to send it to Xu Yan?

"Yes, Lady. Your mother.. she also wanted me to inform you that after reading this, the decision is entirely up in your hands.. And that she too doesn't know why this message suddenly came around, and why it fell in her hands." The man told, slightly trembling at Xu Jiaqi's increased anger.

Xu Jiaqi narrowed her eyes as she digested the situation.

'System, verify the information.'

[On it, Host! It's completely true. Since it's not done under my help, the System was able to process the data. It's really from your father. I saw that your mission progress bars are starting to fill up.] The System acknowledged.

'So it's really the clue we've been looking for? This shitty man....'