Chapter 214 - 214. Emperor Fu Qing
Had just stepped inside the inn hall, someone headed in the direction Emperor Fu Qing was.
For a moment the middle-aged man stopped his steps, waiting for the figure.
While the commander-in-chief who followed him from the side stood frozen in place, glaring as if he couldn't believe what he had just seen.
The same thing happened with some of the bodyguards who followed behind. Everyone froze, gawking as if they were seeing a ghost.
"H-how come?" stammered the commander in chief, subconsciously taking a step back when he saw a figure so close from him.
"How are you now, Daddy?" asked Fu Xie Lan first when her steps just reached the middle-aged man.
The emperor looked confused. Daddy?
"If I may ask, who are you?" asked the middle-aged man then turned to the commander in chief who was standing next to him, giving him a questioning look.
Now and then his brow furrowed as if he was contemplating something. The face of the figure in front of him felt so familiar.
"It's me, Daddy, Fu Xie Lan," said Fu Xie Lan.
In that instant, Emperor Fu Qing froze on the spot. His hands were shaking violently, looking like he wanted to speak but didn't know what to say. His last memory of his eldest daughter was only when the princess was only ten years old. Still very small compared to the figure standing right in front of him right now.
"Fu-Fu Xie Lan?" the middle-aged man stuttered.
Currently, they were in the hall of the arcadia inn, those who were guests at the inn heard and witnessed everything.
"Is it you?" asked the emperor again with a hand that seemed to want to touch the girl's arm but seemed hesitant.
His eyes glazed over, immediately a feeling of tightness filled his chest. Feelings of anger and longing filled the middle-aged man.
"Right, Daddy. It's me, Fu Xie Lan. Father's daughter," said Fu Xie Lan again, immediately catching her father's hand which was hanging in the air.
Immediately at that moment the Emperor knelt and prostrated in front of the girl making anyone who saw it surprised.
"I AM SO SORRY."
"SORRY FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO PROTECT YOU."
"SORRY FOR EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED TO YOU."
"S-SORRY FOR MY INABILITY TO BE A GOOD DAD TO YOU."
"SORRY FOR EVERYTHING. YOU CAN CURSE OR HATE ME. YOU CAN DO ANYTHING TO ME," the middle-aged man sobbed.
Earlier, when the commander-in-chief told him that Fu Xie Lan's sister had died, his heart ached so much. But when he saw that his eldest daughter was still alive, a deep sense of guilt swelled in his chest. Shortness of breath, anger, longing, and feelings of helplessness mixed into one.
"Like a..."
"I'M SORRY PRINCESS," now the commander in chief knelt and prostrated in front of the girl.
"I AM SO SORRY," shouted another warrior doing the same thing.
"SORRY ABOUT OUR MISTAKE." Finally, one by one the people around the inn knelt and apologized. Even those from other kingdoms did the same.
"SORRY, PRINCESS," the voice that came from several people sounded again. No one knows since when the Arcadia Inn yard has been filled with people. They all knelt to apologize to Fu Xie Lan.
Including Qiao and Lim who were right behind the royal commander in chief.
Everyone's memory is still very clear, how they behaved badly to that girl. Especially when the previous queen was about to be sentenced to death. They all insulted and cursed the girl without knowing the truth and without knowing that those who entered the palace were affected by mind magic.
Wan Lie, Ju Xian, Xue Ying, and Xue Ning's steps stopped at the stairs, standing still there watching everyone kneel and prostrate around Fu Xie Lan.
Only Gu Yi and Fu Xie Lan still standing on the spot.
"What are you doing?" said Fu Xie Lan with a frown.
"Daddy, wake up!" asked Fu Xie Lan trying to wake the middle-aged man from his position.
No, until you forgive this weak man," the emperor refused, still sobbing. The man didn't care about his position as leader of the Zu kingdom, nor did he care about all the things people would say to him later.
"What did you say? There's nothing wrong here."
"And you don't have to apologize to me, now wake up, Daddy," said Fu Xie Lan again.
"No, until you forgive me."
A rough sigh rang out from Fu Xie Lan's mouth.
"All right, Dad. Now get up," the girl asked again.
"Is it true that you forgive me?" asked the middle-aged man again trying to get up from his position.
"Yes, I am, Daddy."
Hearing Fu Xie Lan's words, for some reason he still felt that the burden within him had not completely disappeared. The guilt is still there. All of this happened because of his inability to be both Father and King of the Zu Kingdom.
Someone who should be able to protect all of his people, also the ones he cares about.
Fu Qing's current attitude was truly far from the behavior of a King of a prosperous kingdom.
Even so, everyone was silent, touched, and happy to see the meeting of Son and Father.
"All of you also wake up. We are victims here, and it doesn't require an apology at all, the only people who should be responsible here are them, those black witches," said Fu Xie Lan at length, asking everyone to get back up from their positions.
"O-okay, thank you, Princess," said the Commander in chief and then followed by the others.
"Daddy, you'd better go in first," the girl said to the Emperor.
"Erm okay," the middle-aged man nodded weakly.
Soon the commander-in-chief moved quickly to guide the emperor to one of the rooms that Gu Yi had previously prepared on the second floor. Right next to Fu Xie Lan's room.
Previously, no one would have known that the arcadia inn would receive such a glory guest. If the innkeeper had known, he might prepare before the emperor arrived.
Walked up to the stairs, with Fu Xie Lan and Gu Yi by his side.
While on the other hand, Xue Ying, Xue Ning, and Ju Xian were shocked to learn that Emperor Fu Qing was still alive. Because they had not heard about it before from Fu Xie Lan.
While Wan Lie, when the man heard Fu Xie Lan speak to Emperor Fu Qing, his body froze on the spot.
And at this time the young man seemed to be staring fixedly at the old man who was walking towards him. Does that mean that the old man is his Grandfather?
Fu Xie Lan grasped the arm of Emperor Fu Qing and breaking Wan Lie's focus.
Turning his gaze towards Gu Yi, and at that very moment, Wan Lie wanted to laugh at his father's expression.
However, in the end, he chose to take Fu Xie Lan's place.
"Let me help you, Grandpa."