But saying that aloud would be asking for a scolding. As long as it could be established that the child belonged to their family, the rest was an internal family matter. Still, she offered a reminder: "For the sake of accuracy, it would be best to have the child's father do the test himself as well."

"Very well, very well—by all means, do mine first. That... whatever-it-is DNA test." Old Master Tang nodded.

The results came back just as quickly this time, and now it could be settled beyond all doubt: there was a high degree of similarity between Bing Tang's DNA and the old man Tang's. In other words, Bing Tang belonged to the Hidden Tang family. Although the maternal-side test had left room for some lingering possibility, the paternal-side results had now come in as well—Bing Tang was a member of the Hidden Tang family without question, and whatever possibilities had remained before no longer mattered.

"Tangtang! It really is you!" Seeing the test results, Xiao Ming clasped Bing Tang in her arms, overcome with emotion.

But in her heart, Bing Tang did not feel the excitement she had imagined upon finally seeing her own mother. Instead, she was filled with bitterness. She did not know how she was to face what came next—acknowledging Xiao Ming as her mother was one thing, but what of the Hidden Tang family?

"Palace Master... might Tang be so bold as to call you granddaughter..." Old Master Tang was beaming from ear to ear. It was true—the Palace Master of the Ice Palace was the Hidden Tang family's granddaughter! This was the most wonderful news imaginable.

"I need some time alone..." Bing Tang waved her hand dismissively and walked out of the hospital on her own.

Watching Bing Tang's retreating figure, Xiao Qing sighed and turned to Old Master Tang and Xiao Ming. "Why don't you go back to the inn and rest? Once the Palace Master has thought things through, she will come to you."

Because Bing Tang's stance remained unclear, Xiao Qing was uncertain how she ultimately intended to deal with the Tang family—and so she maintained an impeccably courteous tone toward Old Master Tang and Xiao Ming.

"Good... very good!" Old Master Tang thought to himself that there was a solid chance this would work out after all. Just from Xiao Qing's attitude, he could tell that she treated the Hidden Tang family very differently now!

So Old Master Tang did not rush or press the matter. He simply returned to the inn with Tang Yu and Xiao Ming, waiting patiently for word from the Ice Palace.

Bing Tang's heart was in turmoil. She had not seen her parents in nearly twenty years, and now they had suddenly appeared before her—to acknowledge them or not? Judging by how she had dealt with the Hidden Tang family, she should have been glad simply not to make trouble for them, let alone acknowledge any kinship!

But whenever she thought of Xiao Ming, Bing Tang's heart softened. Her mother was innocent in all this—every bit of it had been the doing of that black-hearted father of hers! So if the kinship was to be acknowledged, Bing Tang wanted to acknowledge her mother alone. As for any relationship with the Hidden Tang family, she could let bygones be bygones for her mother's sake. But that First Young Madam—wherever she had come from, she could go right back where she came from. From now on, Xiao Ming would be the First Young Madam!

That was the only right Bing Tang could win for her mother! It was the old truth that even the most upright official finds it hard to settle matters of the household. However deep her resentment, with her mother caught in the middle, there was nothing she could do to the Hidden Tang family—and so the best she could manage was to secure some advantage for her mother.

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?"