The Paternal Paradox 2 - (Fateverse, MC becomes 'the' Dad)

Warning! Charisma of the Empress is OP if used in the right situations. And Zhao may be trying to restore the Tang Dynasty (to give her papa a lavish life).

It's been two days since I did the 'thing'. It's been two days since it blew up on my face. It's been two days since my expenses 'almost doubled' due to the arrival of 'Zhao'.

Her true-true name is Wu Zetian. Google was a blessing as it gave me a lengthy description of 'why' I should not be too 'forward' around this particular 'Daughter'. Zhao's story was bloody long (both figuratively and literally). She died in her 80s, was the only female Emperor China had, and she was also a cunning and brutal politician that killed lots of people to get where she got.

And while the rather unflattering historical narration gave Zhao a terrible impression for me to digest, that didn't mean that Zhao was... well, the vicious Wu Zetian. Not in this form, at least.

While I had my many many doubts on how the fuck I messed up this badly, Rin's analysis was helpful in what I found out about 'Servant' or whatever I was dealing with: a Command Seal did appear, but it was a single tally-mark on my palm; I didn't need to rely on my own energy to sustain Zhao's existence as she could rely on food (and that created a new set of expenses'. She could sweat, get dirty- thus she had to also bathe and require other elements meant for humans.

So yes, not only did I get a half-baked Servant deal, but I now had to deal with greater expenses to keep her around.

And this wasn't the only grievance I had to dread about.

"Father, this place sucks!"

The 'Brat' class was not given without reason.

The first impression Zhao had on her 'new home' was one of disdain. Perhaps reminiscing over her rich childhood in Ancient China, the girl found herself sneering over most of the home. It was one of the few things I got left from my parents and... I should have gotten angry. Very angry. I should have lashed out, like I would usually do but...

I couldn't get that going. I was just spent, emotionally and physically. I just gave up on the couch after the summoning and... Zhao 'claimed' my bed as hers until I found a way to fix her own room.

Not exactly a worrisome thing since there were enough bedrooms for a few other people, but I was losing my shit when Zhao started to boss about wanting 'better clothes' than those I bought for her. I had to get her a new outfit to Zhao because like hell I had her wander around with that revealing dress- I liked to not go to jail for allowing my 'daughter' to wander around so indecently.

Then she whined about the cheap food I served her. Then about the quality of her new room and-

"Enough!" I finally 'found' the rage button. "Look, I get it! This isn't fancy-looking Imperial China with its cool palaces and all. But things have changed- it is tougher to make a living with a single income, prices are up, rich people are pricks and so on. No, I can't get you what you want because I tried to get what I wanted but I didn't get it. I tried for almost a decade, but nothing. You're disappointed after a day of modern life? Try to be born in it!"

I just... I felt my mind go blank. This wasn't ideal. This wasn't what I wanted. I could just tell that what I touched in my efforts just turned into a bigger mess that lowered that huge Sword of Damocles that pended by the ceiling over my head.

Zhao's eyes went wide open, and she opened her mouth only for no noise to come out. I just held a hand up.

"And I am not... I am not dealing with this. I will go to bed, I will do nothing, and I will leave this whole mess for tomorrow's me to deal with it."

I turned and left for my room. I closed the door, changed into my sleepwear and was already asleep around after lunchtime. I don't know how I managed to fall asleep and remain as such until the next day but I woke up at the noises of... people in the house. Lots of people.

I swiftly changed out of my sleepwear and marched to see what was up. There was indeed a large group of people moving around the house, fixing things, redecorating it and... and they were all dressed in old Chinese clothes.

Mostly men with a handful of women, they just stopped to bow at me and calling me 'Honorable Father'. I felt my eyes narrow as this was a sign of worrisome developments after I just 'gave up' on solving things by yesterday.

I strolled around, stopping only by the living room where I found Zhao chatting boisterously with a bunch of tough looking men that were chuckling at her words. And I felt a hint of dread as they all soon turned to look at me.

"Father! Good morning!"

"...Zhao? What's going on?"

"Oh, I forgot to have a message written to you but... yesterday's speech was quite important," She said, shifting out of her chair and walking up to me, bowing her head low. "For my indecent behavior, I am sorry. For I didn't know that it was so bad. I don't fault you, but this living condition is... indecent."

"...So?"

She pulled her head up and revealed a toothy smile. "So I decided it was high time for us to acquire loyal servants. And allies."

I don't like this at all.

"And... I suppose those kind-looking gentlemen are our 'allies'?"

"That would be correct, Boss Aiden," One of the heavily-scarred man admitted standing up and then... kneeling in front of me. "My name is Cheng Kun, I was once the leader of the Triads in Manchester, but then I met the Honorable Lady Wu, and I pledged my allegiance to her."

I blinked flatly. "Just like that? She just came by and-"

"And she fixed our accountants!" Kun interrupted strongly. "We had been struggling to fish out who was a rat and who wasn't, but the Young Lady just showed her great ability and picked out those that deserved to be punished. And also told us how to organize our rackets in a better shape."

Another man nodded. "Yeah, the Young Lady showed us the way. So, in return, we decided to give her the chance to raise us to a greater level."

"We are no longer a mere triad, Honorable Father, we are now the resurgent Tang Dynasty! No more we shall accept dictators, the Mandate of Heaven shall be restored!"

...I have no fucking clue of what bullshit I just heard. But I was told a few things tainted by worrisome details:
1) The 'rent issue' was taken care of as the landlord was 'compliant' to lower it to an 'acceptable level for the future empress';

2) A new stable source of income (a royal allowance) was now pouring into our coffers and it was all 'legally handled' by reliable accountants;
3) We had bodyguards keeping any intruders away from the home.

"-And by the next month, I bet we will have most of the Northern England's cliques under Lady Wu's control, Boss Aiden."

Oh and 4) I just became the father of a young gang lady.

"I see... can I just... speak alone with Lady Wu?"

The girl perked up. "You may, father!"

We moved away from any potential eavesdroppers and-

"Do they know?"

"Hm?"

"About... how you came around?"

She shook her head. "Of course not. I just told them that you adopted me out of kindness of your heart."

That was relieving but...

"Still Zhao... why did you go out of your way for... this? I understand I told you those things, but to actually reach out the Triads is... risky."

"All gambles are risky, father. You said it yourself, you can easily lose so much but... I would never accept a loss. I will fight until that is turned in a victory and- and you are my father, of course I want us to live together the best life worthy of people like us."

I felt a bit touched by this. I never had a similar situation were someone would go out of their way to 'lift us both'. It was familiar to how things were when my parents were alive and... and then the opposite of the bleak time I was a young orphan.

I felt my shoulders less burdened, but I felt also a bit mortified that someone that was supposed to be 'my daughter' had gone out of her way, risking her own life, to get this sort of win. And I... felt a bit moved by this entire situation.

"You... You did good, Zhao."

The plum-haired girl frowned in annoyance. "Only good?"

"It can backfire."

My words warranted a huff from the girl, but I wasn't done.

"And I still think you did things wonderfully. So... what would you like as a reward?"

"Your happiness-"

"No, I mean for you, Zhao."

She paused, then frowned again and... looked away. "There's... one thing. Actually."

"Sure?"

I expected a demand for expensive clothes, quality food, or maybe a bigger home but-

"Can I call you 'Dad'?"

That was it. She didn't ask for the world or the moon, she asked for... a single act of recognition. And one that was less formal between us. Days ago, I would have been against latching myself to someone to this level of closeness, regardless of how little worrisome it truly was but...

I offered a tiny smile and I crouched down a little. "Sure thing, Zhao."

She perked up at this, realizing why I had lowered myself like this as she didn't miss the chance to walk up to me to give me a hug. Caressing behind her head, I heard the girl sigh happily at the embrace. Despite her brattiness and rich girl attitude, 'Little Zhao' was still adorable.

And someone looking at this situation from another plane of existence was amused by this turn of events.

AN

Something I need to mention is that this is set in a post-Heaven's Feel timeline. The reason why this is important will be made known in the next two chapters in regard to 'who' is behind this peculiar situation.