Chapter 1628 — Calm Down
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 3
Of course, Bing Tang believed that if she truly acknowledged the kinship, that First Young Madam would have to pack her bags even without being told. When it came to backing power, no matter how formidable the hidden clan behind that woman might be, it was all mere drifting clouds before the Ice Palace!
The hidden tier and the ancient tier were simply not in the same weight class.
Bing Tang let out a long, wistful sigh. "Aunt Qing, what should I do? Acknowledge them, or not?"
At this point, although a DNA test with Tang Lingtou was still outstanding, every indication now pointed to the same conclusion: Bing Tang was a member of the Hidden Tang family. It was already an indisputable fact.
"Palace Master, this may not necessarily be a bad thing—as long as you approach it with the right mindset." Xiao Qing mused for a moment before continuing. "The Hidden Tang family bore you, that much is true, but it was the Ice Palace that raised you. So there is no need to struggle with this. Acknowledging the kinship merely means accepting a title—and that title means nothing in itself. As far as I know, many ancient sects and ancient clans quietly cultivate hidden families and minor sects as their eyes, ears, and representatives. So there is no reason the Hidden Tang family cannot be developed into the Ice Palace's eyes and ears! Besides, your mother is clearly a kind-hearted woman—when the time comes, simply bring her to live in the Ice Palace, and she need not suffer under the Hidden Tang family any longer."
"That's true..." Xiao Qing's words opened Bing Tang's mind in an instant. Indeed—so what if she acknowledged the kinship? It would amount to no more than a title. She would owe the Hidden Tang family no promises; on the contrary, the Hidden Tang family could become the Ice Palace's eyes and ears!
Even if she did acknowledge the kinship, the Hidden Tang family would never dare order her about. It would be nothing more than a piece of capital for them to show off with—and that was something Bing Tang could tolerate.
"See? Hehe—one more set of eyes and ears is always a good thing." Xiao Qing said with a smile.
"Very well, then. Let's acknowledge it. Have that... Tang Lingtou come here and take the DNA test." Bing Tang still could not bring herself to utter the word "father"—after all, what Tang Lingtou had done back then was worse than any sin!
"Very well, I will tell them." Xiao Qing nodded. This sort of small matter required no further effort from Bing Tang—Xiao Qing could handle it entirely on her behalf.
Old Master Tang had not expected news to come so quickly. Seeing Xiao Qing at his door, he dared not slight her and bowed respectfully. "Tang pays his respects to Elder Qing. May Elder Qing tell me—how does the Palace Master stand on the matter?"
"The Palace Master says that the Tang family's eldest young master is to come here for another DNA comparison. If the result is confirmed, then this connection of kinship can be acknowledged." Xiao Qing said evenly. "But do not read too much into this, Old Master Tang. The Palace Master of the Ice Palace may be of your Hidden Tang family, but she is no one your Hidden Tang family can presume to command."
"Naturally, Tang understands!" Old Master Tang was no fool—how could the Ice Palace ever take orders from the Hidden Tang family? His only purpose in coming was to establish the kinship. With this connection in place, if the Ice Palace merely looked after the Hidden Tang family in passing, the family's rise to fortune would be a matter of days. He would never presume to ask the Ice Palace to do anything—that was entirely unrealistic, the act of a fool.
"As long as you understand." These were words Bing Tang could not easily say herself—but there was no problem at all with Xiao Qing saying them. "One more thing—that so-called First Young Madam. The Palace Master has made it clear she finds her highly displeasing. As for Xiao Ming's standing... you know what to do, I trust?"