There was no doubt about this. After all, they were biological father and daughter, and it had been more than a year since they last saw each other. It was only natural for He Zhiran to take this opportunity when Mo Jiuye was traveling to the capital on business to come along and visit her father.
However, there were some things Fei Nanyu had to remind them about.
"Minister Hao's situation is not very good at the moment. The Empress Dowager's faction is trying to win him over through soft and hard tactics. Minister Hao is an upright man and does not want to become embroiled with these people.
Fortunately, he has not joined the Empress Dowager's faction or sided with Prince Qi and Prince Rui's camps. As a result, the Empress Dowager's faction has not taken action against him yet.
But this is only the current situation. Once the Empress Dowager's faction gains the upper hand and firmly establishes themselves in court, a man of Minister Hao's character will certainly not be useful to them.
At that point, the Empress Dowager will undoubtedly eliminate her opponents to consolidate her power, and Minister Hao will be in danger."
"That's natural. My father-in-law is my wife's biological father. We will certainly not stand by and let him be harmed," Mo Jiuye said, afraid that He Zhiran would worry. Although he was speaking to Fei Nanyu, his gaze remained fixed on his wife.
In fact, even if Fei Nanyu had not mentioned it, He Zhiran could have guessed the general situation.
Especially since she knew her father's upright character. If the day came when he could no longer avoid it, he would choose death over compromise, even if it meant his life.
It was precisely because of this consideration that He Zhiran insisted on coming to the capital with Mo Jiuye, against Madam He's advice.
There was already a certain understanding between her and Fei Nanyu. Even if many things were not said in detail, they would understand each other.
With the situation already roughly clear, Mo Jiuye took He Zhiran's hand and stood up.
"It's getting late. My wife and I will not disturb you further. At most, I'll come to see you again in three days, Sir Fei."
"Very well, I'll await news from the ninth young master," Fei Nanyu said as he saw them out through the side gate they had entered, watching their backs disappear before turning back himself.
Mo Jiuye and He Zhiran left the Fei Residence, making their way around the patrolling soldiers and toward the back courtyard of Minister Hao's residence.
Mo Jiuye was familiar with the Fei Residence's layout, while He Zhiran was intimately acquainted with her family's residence.
They both made their way to the back courtyard, where He Zhiran pointed to a spot, and Mo Jiuye helped her over the wall.
This was the back courtyard of Minister Hao's residence. Since Minister Hao had no concubines, this used to be He Zhiran's maiden quarters and the courtyard where he and his late wife resided.
Perhaps due to the absence of both He Zhiran and Madam He, the back courtyard was pitch-black, giving off a desolate feeling.
He Zhiran knew her father's habits. Normally, even if he was still busy with official matters in his study, there would be servants keeping the lamps lit in his living quarters.
However, as she and Mo Jiuye wandered around the courtyard, they did not see a single servant's shadow, let alone any lamps.
After just a few steps, He Zhiran stepped on a small pebble.
This was an unusual occurrence in such a prominent household. Even if the servants did not thoroughly clean other areas, they would never neglect the area around the master's courtyard.
The fact that He Zhiran could step on a pebble here was undoubtedly because no one had swept the area.
Not seeing her father in the courtyard where her parents lived made He Zhiran increasingly puzzled.
Nevertheless, she did not linger but instead led Mo Jiuye toward her father's study in the front courtyard.
If her father was not in his own courtyard, he would likely be in the study.
To her relief, as soon as they entered the front courtyard, she saw light coming from the study. Her pounding heart finally settled somewhat.
However, she was still surprised. Although her father had always been incorruptible, their household had never lacked in provisions.
Minister Hao's residence did not have as many servants as other noble households, but there were usually a few around.
Especially tonight, in the twenty minutes or so since she entered Minister Hao's residence, she had not seen a single guard or night watchman, let alone any servants.
What was going on?
With doubts in her mind, the couple entered what seemed like a deserted area, encountering no obstacles or need to hide from anyone, and went straight to the entrance of the study.
Seeing the person standing guard at the door, He Zhiran finally breathed a sigh of relief.
It was her father's attendant, whom she had called Uncle Feng since childhood.
Uncle Feng was around the same age as Minister Hao and had been attending to him for years, one of the few people Minister Hao truly trusted.
He Zhiran and Mo Jiuye looked around before approaching the study door.
Although Uncle Feng had no martial arts skills, he was a diligent man.
Hearing the footsteps, he called out loudly, "Who's there?"
"It's me, Uncle Feng," He Zhiran quickly replied.
"Young Miss?" Uncle Feng's voice was all too familiar - the Young Miss was someone he had watched grow up.
"Uncle Feng, is my father in the study?"
The conversation outside the study was loud enough for Minister Hao inside to hear. Not knowing if he was imagining things, he thought he heard his daughter's voice.
Before Uncle Feng could answer, Minister Hao had already pushed open the study door.
When he saw the two figures by the moonlight, he froze.
The voice was indeed his daughter Ran Ran's, but the figures were clearly two men.
"Who are you? Why are you impersonating my daughter?" he demanded.
He Zhiran could tell that her father's tone was not as calm as usual.
"Father, it's me, Ran Ran. My husband and I disguised ourselves to enter the city," she explained.
As she spoke, He Zhiran took advantage of the dark night and pulled out a wet cloth from her spatial pouch, quickly wiping away her makeup and letting her hair down, fully revealing her true appearance.
By this time, Uncle Feng had also brought a lantern over.
In the lantern's light, Minister Hao finally recognized the person before him.
His voice was choked with emotion, losing the authority He Zhiran remembered.
"It really is Ran Ran. I thought I would never see you again in this life..."
Seeing her father like this, tears welled up in He Zhiran's eyes as well.
She stepped forward and took her father's arm. "Father, be careful of eavesdroppers. Let's go inside and talk."
Minister Hao had become so overwhelmed upon seeing his daughter that he had forgotten they were still outside.
Following Minister Hao into the study, Uncle Feng dutifully stood guard outside.
Everything here was familiar to He Zhiran, as she had inherited the original owner's memories and feelings.
The study looked just as she remembered, except that the desk, which would normally be piled high with official documents, was empty today.
As she wondered about this, Mo Jiuye had already bowed to Minister Hao.
"Greetings, Father-in-law."
Minister Hao realized that the person accompanying his daughter must be his son-in-law. Earlier, his attention had been solely focused on He Zhiran, so he had not paid close attention to Mo Jiuye.
Now that Mo Jiuye had taken the initiative to greet him, he studied him carefully.
Mo Jiuye had not removed his disguise, so He Zhiran quickly explained, "Father, my husband and I disguised ourselves like this to enter the city more easily."
Even if she had not said anything, Minister Hao would have recognized Mo Jiuye's voice.
