"Will the old gentleman come this time?"
Old Mr. Zhao shook his head.
"I don't know."
Everyone in the Zhao family knew exactly who the "old gentleman" Zhao Xue was referring to.
Over the years,
Every time it came to this time, the Zhao family would receive sacrificial gifts from all directions.
Almost every time,
They would receive a small jade flute with a green tassel pendant.
They all feared the spiritual power hidden in the tassel.
"Logically speaking, although the old gentleman has a noble status, he was engaged to Shuning in our presence back then. Anyway, he is the son - in - law of our Zhao family, Father—"
"Stop talking."
The old man's deep and stern voice sounded.
He hit the ground hard with his walking stick, making a clattering sound.
Zhao Chao shut his mouth and stood aside.
Old Mr. Zhao said, "It's not easy for the old gentleman in this matter."
Although they didn't know why the Emperor Venerable had never shown up for so many years and had never even come to the Zhao family to pay respects,
For a figure like that,
Maybe his union with Shuning back then was just an accident.
Now that Shuning was dead,
The fact that he could send a gift to Shuning on the anniversary of her death was already very good. They couldn't expect the Emperor Venerable, Yan Ruyu, to feel the same way as them.
The atmosphere was a bit gloomy.
Everyone present kept silent.
Among them, Zhao Zheng probably had the ugliest expression.
"Father, if there's nothing else, Min'er and I will go back to our room first. It's time to change the medicine on my leg."
Old Mr. Zhao nodded.
"Zheng'er, be careful on the way."
Zhao Zheng nodded and left the main mansion of the Zhao family with Lin Min'er.
Since the accident of Zhao Shuning,
Zhao Zheng, who was already seriously injured, had been living in fear in the mansion all day long. He would prick up his ears every day to listen to news about his only daughter, Zhao Shuning.
As days passed by,
His condition not only didn't improve at all,
It even got worse.
Seeing this,
Old Mr. Zhao discussed with the clan members and bought a small courtyard for Zhao Zheng in the suburbs away from the hustle and bustle of Linjiang. The environment there was quiet and undisturbed by the world. He let Zhao Zheng and Lin Min'er take some servants from the mansion there to recuperate.
After that,
There was some improvement.
Because Zhao Zheng had a head injury, although he had been nourished by spiritual medicines for a long time, his whole body was in a state of paralysis.
Later, in the small courtyard,
Without the interference of the outside world,
And with Lin Min'er's careful care, his body gradually recovered.
At that time,
Zhao Zheng couldn't speak clearly.
Once he opened his mouth,
He would drool like a fool.
It was Lin Min'er's unwavering support that made him slowly accept his embarrassing self and gradually get out of such an adverse situation.
Now,
So much time had passed.
He returned to the Zhao family again,
In order to attend the sacrificial ceremony for his daughter on the Divine Mountain in the Eastern Continent. This was also the reason why he had been working hard on rehabilitation for such a long time.
On the way back to the small courtyard in the suburbs,
Zhao Zheng and Lin Min'er were sitting in the carriage together.
He looked back at Lin Min'er. Lin Min'er, who had a worried look on her face at first, immediately softened her expression when she noticed Zhao Zheng's gaze. She asked anxiously, "Brother Zheng, what's wrong? Are you not feeling well? Does your leg hurt again?"
"Min'er, I'm fine."
Zhao Zheng tightened his grip on Lin Min'er's hand.
After a long silence,
He finally said only one sentence.
"Thank you for your hard work all these years."
Lin Min'er shook her head.
"It's not hard. It's all worth it as long as I'm with Brother Zheng."
A bitter smile appeared on Zhao Zheng's face. He lifted the curtain of the carriage and pretended to look at the scenery outside, but there was a glint of moisture in his eyes.
He, Zhao Zheng, was a failure as a father and a husband.
Eighteen years ago,
He had regained consciousness.
But his body was like a dead man, unable to move, and speaking was also a problem. He ate, drank, and relieved himself all in bed. At that time, he gave up on himself. After learning that he had lost his only daughter,
He had only one thought.
That was to seek death. In this way, he could go to the underworld to accompany his daughter and also free himself from being a burden to Min'er.
However,
Seeing Min'er taking care of him day and night, she put away all her coquettishness as a little woman and took care of him whole - heartedly.
She used to cry easily.
But in order not to worry him,
Every time he looked at her, no matter how uncomfortable she was, she would put on a smile and gently ask about his injury.
So Zhao Zheng was selfish.
He chose to stay.
Min'er was also Shuning's mother. She had already lost her daughter and had no support from the Lin family. If he died at this time,
According to Min'er's personality, she would surely not be able to live on.
Zhao Zheng survived,
But he felt that he was living a very humiliating life.
"Brother Zheng, Father said today about your leg injury?"
"It's okay. After changing two more doses of medicine, it will recover completely."
Lin Min'er knew Zhao Zheng's persistence and stubbornness.
She said, "Brother Zheng, do you really want to go to the Eastern Continent?"
Zhao Zheng nodded.
He had to go.
"I'm worried about your health."
"Min'er, I'll be fine. You'll go with me then."
"Although you say so." But Lin Min'er was still worried.
She was worried that Zhao Zheng's condition, which had finally stabilized over the years, would recur due to the long - distance journey.
And when they got to the Divine Mountain in the Eastern Continent,
Could Zhao Zheng control his emotions?
As if seeing through Lin Min'er's worry,
Zhao Zheng reached out his hand.
Lin Min'er was stunned for a moment.
Then she leaned into his arms.
Since Zhao Zheng was injured, he had had a deep sense of inferiority, and his contact with Lin Min'er had become more and more distant. Now that he reached out actively,
Although Lin Min'er was a bit uncomfortable, her heart was filled with endless joy.
"Thank you for your hard work all these years."
Lin Min'er's eyes were filled with tears.
Afraid that her tears would affect Zhao Zheng's injury if he noticed them, she quickly wiped them away.
She held back her tears.
"It's not hard. I know Brother Zheng has suffered the most."
Zhao Zheng was a man.
Lin Min'er knew that he was a bit of a male chauvinist at heart.
His love for his daughter was not as obvious as hers. He was more reserved.
A long time ago, their daughter disappeared once.
At that time, she was heart - broken. Zhao Zheng was also extremely sad inside, but he still tried his best to suppress his emotions.
In the previous years,
His body was almost paralyzed.
He had already lost the courage to live.
Lin Min'er understood.
The only reason Zhao Zheng could survive that extremely difficult time was because of her.
He was afraid that if he left,
She wouldn't be able to live on either.
The two had been relying on each other for many years and knew exactly what was on each other's minds.
Now,
The fact that Brother Zheng could hug her again,
For Lin Min'er,
The heavy stone that had been weighing on her heart for many years was finally lightened a lot.
She timidly raised her head.
Zhao Zheng was just looking at her.
The two looked at each other and smiled.
This time, both of their smiles came from the bottom of their hearts.
If only,
If Shuning were still alive, how wonderful that would be!
They were not qualified parents. They hadn't accompanied her much during her growth.
"Shall we go and see her together?"
Lin Min'er nodded, her eyes filled with tears.
"Okay."
She wanted to tell Shuning that although her father needed a walking stick, he could already stand up. She and Brother Zheng would live a good life, work hard to live.
Try their best,
To live a happy life.
Maybe?
They can.