Beauties in Simulation Cross over into Reality

”Father...” Qin Siyao pursed her lips, unsure how to comfort him.

”I’m fine.” Qin Shengtian smiled and patted the back of his daughter’s hand. ”Come, let’s just stroll a while longer.”

”Yes.”

Qin Siyao nodded, wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, and took one last look at the palace where her eldest and second brothers once lived.

Qin Shengtian continued to walk with his daughter.

The places they walked past were all courtyards that Qin Siyao and her two brothers had frequented as children.

There was the meadow of Spring Swallow Garden, where Qin Shengtian would bring his wife and children to play. Back then, Qin Jingsu and Qin Jingyuan would be reciting their texts, while Qin Siyao happily chased butterflies to the side.

And the lotus pond of Summer Lotus Garden. Siyao had been trailing after her older brothers when she accidentally fell into the water. A Maid had pulled her out in time, but when Qin Shengtian heard what happened, he still gave Qin Jingsu and Qin Jingyuan a harsh scolding.

And the woods of Qiuyue Garden. Every autumn, Qin Shengtian would bring Empress Shi and his children there to admire the scenery. He would quiz his sons on their studies, and Siyao loved watching her brothers’ flustered, anxious faces when they couldn’t answer their father’s questions. She always found it so amusing.

Before they knew it, they had walked until noon.

”Father, we should head back. It’s time for the midday meal,” Qin Siyao said.

”Not yet. Your mother’s former residence, Hongxiu Palace, is just ahead. I’m feeling a bit tired. Let’s go there to sit for a while before we head back,” Qin Shengtian said.

”Alright.” Qin Siyao nodded, not thinking much of it.

The two of them finally arrived at Hongxiu Palace.

Hongxiu Palace was now devoid of any Palace Maids, appearing utterly desolate.

Qin Siyao cleared the snow off a stone bench in the courtyard, helped her father sit down, and then sat beside him.

At that moment, a light snow began to fall again, as if the white clouds hanging in the sky were crumbling to pieces.

”I remember back then... when your grandfather passed away and I had just taken the throne, all the great clans and families sent the women of their households over.”

A nostalgic look flashed in Qin Shengtian’s eyes, along with a flicker of rare tenderness.

”How could I not have known what those Noble Families were thinking?

They were all simply thinking that since I wasn’t yet married, they hoped a woman from their own clan would become the Empress of the Qin Kingdom.

At worst, she would still be a Consort.

But my position on the throne wasn’t even stable back then. If I had married a woman from one of the Noble Families, I might not have been able to control the Imperial Court as effectively.

Besides, my mind was completely focused on the Imperial Court. I could barely get through the memorials each day, so how could I have the mind for matters between men and women?

But some things, it seems, you can’t avoid just because you don’t want to do them.

One day, after finishing the memorials, I went for a walk to clear my head and ended up here.

At that time, your mother was sitting right where I am now, eating peach blossom pastries one bite at a time.

She had stuffed her cheeks full, just like a little hamster.

But what I found most amusing was what happened when she saw me. I was clearly wearing the yellow imperial robe, yet the first thing your mother did wasn’t bow. Instead, she frantically stuffed the rest of the pastries from the Jade Plate into her mouth, as if she was afraid I was going to take them...

I remember thinking at the time, ’How could there be such a gluttonous woman? And yet, so beautiful.’

But it was this very woman who made me, whenever I had a spare moment, bring pastries to Hongxiu Palace to chat with her.

For your mother, it seemed the pastries held more allure than I did.”

As he spoke, the Sovereign of Qin let out a small laugh.

”Later, once I had completely stabilized the Imperial Court, I formally married your mother.

After your mother became the Empress, she didn’t know what to do at first. But she constantly studied how to manage the inner palace, often reading the classics of the Hundred Schools of Thought and thinking about how to be a good Empress.

When it came to her own clan, your mother never showed favoritism. Whenever any disciple of the Shi family wanted to become an official in the court, their biggest obstacle wasn’t me, but her.

Gradually, those Noble Families and aristocrats who had originally opposed her becoming Empress all fell silent.

Even among the common people, your mother’s reputation grew and grew, and the people of the Qin Kingdom came to call her the Virtuous Empress.

And the student has surpassed the master.

Siyao, your father believes in you, too. As long as it’s something you want to do and put your mind to, you can achieve it.”

Qin Shengtian turned his head and looked at his daughter with a smile, his expression filled with pride.

”Siyao, for nearly three years now, you have grown very skilled in handling all sorts of political affairs. Whether it’s military matters, agriculture, or the people’s livelihood and education, you have developed many of your own insights.

Yesterday, I showed the memorials you reviewed to Prime Minister Li and the others. They were full of praise.”

”That is only because Father taught me well.” Qin Siyao shook her head. ”Besides, when I encounter things I don’t understand, I not only have you, Father, but also my husband to explain them to me.”

”No. What Xiao Mo and I can teach you is limited.”

Qin Shengtian shook his head, his voice full of gratification.

”You truly are gifted. In truth, I have long known that you are more intelligent than most people.

Whether in cultivation, politics, or other matters, you are more talented than both Jingsu and Jingyuan.

You might not even realize it yourself, but you are far more outstanding than many Monarchs and Princes.

It’s just that in the past, Siyao, you were always a little lazy.

However, Siyao, you are still too kind.

It’s not that you don’t understand what those court officials are thinking. It’s that you always assume they can’t possibly be as wicked as you imagine.

But most of the time, those officials are exactly as wicked as you think.”

Qin Shengtian continued, as if giving his daughter one final lecture.

”Siyao, you must remember: do not be afraid to assume the worst of others.

Siyao, you must also remember: do not treat everyone as a villain. The world is not without idealists.

Siyao, you must remember this above all: water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. No matter what, you must never let the common people lose hope, or their means of survival...”

”Father...” Qin Siyao’s eyes wavered, and the rims of her eyes couldn’t help but turn red.

”Silly girl. I’m just talking with you. Why do you look like you’re about to cry?”

Qin Shengtian chuckled.

”Alright, alright, enough of that. The Imperial Kitchen seems to be quite close to Hongxiu Palace. Why don’t you go and whip up a couple of dishes? We can have lunch right here. What do you say?”

”Yes, Father.” Qin Siyao wiped the tears from her eyes. ”I’ll go right now. Please wait for a moment, Father.”

”Mm, alright.” Qin Shengtian nodded.

Qin Siyao gathered her skirts and ran out of Hongxiu Palace.

In the empty front courtyard, Qin Shengtian removed the Jade Pendant from his waist.

Without the concealment of the Magical Treasure, Qin Shengtian’s Life Fire was exposed to the heavy snow, like a spark that could be extinguished at any moment.

”Xin’Er, soon, I will be coming to see you.”

Qin Shengtian gazed beyond the courtyard gate and murmured to himself.

’But after I’m gone, Siyao will truly be all alone.

Will that boy Xiao Mo bully her?

Can she really handle it all by herself?

Was I wrong to give her this heavy burden?

She’s just a girl, a daughter we’ve always doted on...

I’m so selfish... I’m really not a competent father...’

Qin Shengtian’s consciousness grew heavy, and his vision blurred. Gradually, he could no longer hear the sounds around him, nor could he feel the cold.

’Siyao, forgive your father for leaving everything to you...’

’Siyao, forgive your father for not being able to stay with you...’

’Siyao... Dad... is leaving now...’

The man’s hands rested on his knees, his back perfectly straight as he sat on the stone bench. His eyes slowly closed, never to open again.

”Father, I made some dishes. Please see if they’re to your liking.”

A little less than an hour later, Qin Siyao came jogging into Hongxiu Palace, carrying a food box.

But as Qin Siyao entered Hongxiu Palace and saw her father sitting on the stone bench with his eyes closed, her expression froze like a winter lake.

Her steps slowed involuntarily, and her fingers tightened around the handle of the food box.

The young woman pressed her lips together tightly, walking toward her father one step at a time.

”Father, I made three dishes. One is braised spicy chicken, another is steamed moon-snow fish, and there’s also a warming pig heart soup...”

Her voice trembled.

Even though her father gave no response.

She continued to name the dishes as she took them out of the food box, placed them on the table, and ladled a bowl of rice for her father.

”Father... it’s time to eat...”

Tears streamed from the young woman’s eyes, dripping onto the steaming rice.

”It’s time to eat... Father...”