Lin Qingqing threw herself into her father's arms and choked up, saying, "I thought you didn't want me anymore."

Minister Lin's eyes were red. He reached out and patted Lin Qingqing on the back, and said softly, "What nonsense are you talking about? You will always be my daughter. How could I not want you?"

Lin Qingqing cried for a long time before she stood up again, wiped the tears from her face, and looked at Minister Lin with red eyes.

"Last night, you refused to come see me. You didn't even want to look at the maid I sent to invite you. That's why I thought..."

Lin Qingqing didn't continue talking.

Last night, she went through a torture from heaven to hell. The truth was revealed, Mo Xiao held her responsible, and she was abandoned by her own father. She thought the whole world was going to abandon her.

Minister Lin's eyelashes trembled slightly, and he didn't know what to say for a moment, but he could only reach out and gently pat Lin Qingqing's back to comfort her.

After a long while, Minister Lin called out softly, "Qingqing."

Lin Qingqing was stunned and looked at Minister Lin helplessly.

Ever since she entered the palace, her father had never called her by her name. Every time he would politely call her Imperial Concubine according to the rules. Now, when she suddenly heard this title, the first feeling she had was not affection, but a little panic.

Minister Lin held Lin Qingqing's hand and said very seriously: "Do you... want to leave the palace?"

Lin Qingqing's eyes widened in an instant: "What?"

"Leave here and go to a place where no one knows you. Your father will prepare a beautiful house for you, and everything will be decorated according to your preferences. When the time is right, you can find a husband that suits your heart. With your father and brother around, they won't dare to bully you. Just like this, you can live the rest of your life happily and freely. How about that?"

Lin Qingqing shook her head subconsciously and took a step back.

However, Minister Lin held her hand tightly, with no intention of letting go, and continued, "Father knows that you have His Majesty in your heart, and you will not be willing to not have him. Apart from him, you cannot accept anyone else, you cannot lower your head, and you cannot give in."

"But Qingqing, the man you like is not an ordinary man, he is the ruler of the world! He is not like other monarchs, with many wives and concubines and a harem full of them. He has ambitions, aspirations, and abilities. Most importantly, he values ​​love. He values ​​love so much that his heart can only accommodate that one person, and no one else can even have a corner."

"Qingqing, if you continue to stay here, you will only suffer and gain nothing."

Minister Lin took a deep breath and held Lin Qingqing's hand tightly: "Father has worked hard for Your Majesty. I believe that with this old face, I can still find a way out for you, as long as you nod your head."

After saying this, he looked expectantly at his beloved daughter.

He understood what His Majesty meant, but he could not completely let go of the apple of his eye whom he had loved for many years. He still wanted to give it a try and let Lin Qingqing have a good ending.

Lin Qingqing took a step back, shook off Lin Shangshu's hand, and said in a trembling voice: "Father, do you know what you are talking about?"

"I, I am now His Majesty's concubine. Can I go back to live an ordinary life? The royal family will never allow such a thing to happen."

She lowered her head, not daring to look into Minister Lin's eyes.

Minister Lin looked at his daughter, his tone heavy: "After all, you are still unwilling to give up."

Lin Qingqing was silent for a moment, then suddenly raised her head with a stubborn look: "Yes, I don't want to give up."