Chapter 3: A Sturdy Stance

Tang Wu regretted his words the moment they left his mouth. He had truly been driven to the brink of irrationality by this brat. However, since a servant had already brought over his long spear, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and take it.

Tang Chaochao looked at her biological father, took the spear, and spun it with a graceful, skillful flourish. She raised an eyebrow.

"The spearwork is decent, but I wonder how it fares in actual combat. Today, let your daughter teach you a thing or two."

Truth be told, there was resentment in Tang Chaochao’s heart. Although the old Taoist priest had treated her well, anyone would struggle to understand the motives of parents who tossed their child into the mountains to forage for herbs for sixteen years. Theirs was a General’s estate; would one extra mouth to feed have truly bankrupted them? Whenever she asked the old priest, the stubborn old man would only evade her questions, claiming that once she returned home at sixteen, she would understand everything.

Tang Chaochao did not care what hidden hardships existed; if she was unhappy, she would vent it. Seeing her "cheap" father raise his spear, she struck the back of the hand holding her sword. With a surge of internal energy, the scabbard flew off the blade, embedding itself straight into a nearby tree trunk.

Tang Wu’s eyes lit up at the sight, but before he could dwell on it, a cold, gleaming sword was already thrusting toward him.

Father and daughter soon clashed. Song Rongzhi stood with her hands clasped tightly over her heart, her beautiful face filled with worry for them both.

Tang Wu was forced back several steps after Tang Chaochao kicked the shaft of his spear. He couldn't help but feel a tremor of shock; the girl’s martial arts were formidable. Still, this was exactly what he would expect from his own flesh and blood. His eldest daughter, Tang Mumu, was more like her mother, but this younger daughter was a reflection of himself—a pity she was a girl.

Tang Wu had only one wife, Song Rongzhi, and no concubines. Sixteen years ago, Song Rongzhi had nearly died giving birth to their twin daughters, leaving her with chronic health issues. Even the imperial physicians had warned that, given her condition, she would likely never conceive again. Yet, Tang Wu did not care. In the end, a noble family without a son was exactly what made the man on the throne feel more at ease.

Noticing that her father was distracted during their spar, Tang Chaochao decided to stop holding back. With a graceful backward arch, she dodged the incoming spear, spun around, and landed a kick squarely on her father’s backside. She infused the blow with internal energy, and Tang Wu nearly face-planted into the dirt.

Tang Chaochao raised an eyebrow. "Old Man Tang, your foundation is quite sturdy!"

Tang Wu had lost face completely today. Heaven knows he had used every ounce of his strength just to avoid looking pathetic in front of his servants. But for a daughter to kick her own father's rear? If word got out, his reputation would be in tatters.

Tang Chaochao gave him no chance to recover. As Tang Wu struggled to regain his footing, Tang Chaochao tapped the tip of her sword against the snow. She leaped into the air, landing directly behind him. Just as Tang Wu raised his spear, Tang Chaochao grinned.

"Hey!"

She struck his wrists twice—*snap, snap*. Tang Wu felt his wrists go numb, and the spear slipped from his grip onto the snow. A moment later, the icy tip of her sword was pressed against his throat.

Seeing this, Song Rongzhi could no longer remain still and rushed forward. "Chaochao, no!"

Reluctantly, Tang Chaochao flipped her sword and flung it toward the tree trunk behind her with a flick of her wrist. To the astonishment of everyone present, the sword flew like a hidden weapon and slid perfectly back into the scabbard embedded in the wood. The Second Miss’s skills had instantly won over the household servants.

Tang Wu’s emotions were complex. He felt proud to have a daughter with such prowess, yet humiliated to have been defeated by her. If this spread, how could he, the Unrivaled General, ever show his face again? Just as he was pondering how to keep everyone quiet, Tang Chaochao stood with her hands on her hips, acting brazenly.

"Old Man Tang, you lost. A bet is a bet, or else I’ll tear down this General’s estate!"

Tang Wu pinched the bridge of his nose hard. Finally, he could only offer one sentence: "As you wish!" He then turned and hurried away.

Tang Chaochao watched his angry retreating figure, feeling a strange sense of satisfaction. *That’s for dumping me in the mountains for sixteen years, you old man.*

Song Rongzhi sighed helplessly. She took Tang Chaochao’s hand and said softly, "Chaochao, let Mother take you to freshen up. You must be exhausted from your journey."

Tang Chaochao shook her head. "No hurry. It can wait until I uncover the truth behind my sister’s death."

At the mention of her eldest daughter, Song Rongzhi’s eyes reddened again. Yet, she suppressed her grief and led Tang Chaochao toward the back courtyard. As they walked, she said, "Mother knows I cannot stop you, but before you open the coffin, there are some things you must know. If you still insist on investigating afterward, Mother will not stop you again."

Tang Chaochao knew that both her sixteen years in the mountains and her sister’s death were shrouded in mystery. Since her mother was willing to talk, she was more than happy to listen. She stopped resisting and followed Song Rongzhi to the back courtyard.

Once inside their quarters, Song Rongzhi ordered the maids to boil water and bring fresh clothes. Tang Chaochao sat quietly, watching her mother bustle about. Song Rongzhi’s affection for her was clearly genuine. Though they were meeting for the first time, she seemed desperate to shower her with everything good. Looking at the chests of clothes and sets of jewelry, it was clear these had not been prepared overnight. If she cared so much, why had she been willing to send her away all those years ago?

Tang Chaochao nibbled on a snack; it was soft, sweet, and far better than the bland fare in the mountains. Seeing her daughter with crumbs on her mouth, Song Rongzhi’s eyes overflowed with maternal love. She felt both heartache and guilt. But what of her eldest daughter? How could she have failed her so? Thinking of the past, tears welled in her eyes again. Fearing her daughter would notice, she bowed her head and wiped them away.

A maid entered and reported, "My Lady, the hot water is ready. The Second Miss may bathe."

Song Rongzhi’s voice was hoarse from her suppressed emotions. "Understood."

Tang Chaochao pretended not to notice. After all, this was her biological mother, even if she couldn't bring herself to call her that yet. Comforting people was not her forte, so she simply acted as if she knew nothing. Without waiting for Song Rongzhi to ask, she stood up to change. Before leaving, she asked, "Has the bundle from my horse been brought in?"

The maid nodded. "It is already in the dressing room, Second Miss."

Tang Chaochao nodded in satisfaction. Honestly, she had intended to go straight to the coffin to investigate her sister’s death, but faced with the truth she so desperately wanted, she had found herself following her mother to the back courtyard. Once she started compromising, it became a habit. Facing her frail, gentle mother, Tang Chaochao found she couldn't use the same tactics she used on her father.

She shed her clothes; the charcoal fire in the room made it warm. As she submerged herself in the perfectly tempered water, Tang Chaochao let out a long, comfortable sigh.

Just then, the door was pushed open. Tang Chaochao warily sank into the water, leaving only her head exposed, her eyes fixed on the entrance.

When Song Rongzhi walked in, she saw this scene and smiled tenderly. "Mother heard you sent the maids away, and I was afraid you might find it inconvenient alone. So, Mother has come to scrub your back."

*Scrub my back?*

For the first time in her life, Tang Chaochao’s face turned bright red. Even though they were both women—and her own mother at that—she felt an overwhelming sense of shame.