Joyful Motherhood in a Rural Family-Chapter 1083 - 1082: Peers

"Them?"

Zhao Yuanlang raised his eyebrows in surprise.

"Yes, them. They are my subordinates. You should know that they have always been urging me to return to the country,"

Lin Xiner spoke in an exceptionally indifferent tone, looking up at Zhao Yuanlang.

"Yes, I’ve always known. They kept in touch with you, wanting you to leave."

Zhao Yuanlang forced a smile. How could he not know?

Back then, no matter how much he guarded against and schemed, he still couldn’t stop her subordinates from making her want to return.

"Do you have any other questions?"

The corners of Lin Xiner’s mouth lifted slightly as she asked softly.

With clenched teeth, Zhao Yuanlang asked the question he had always wanted to ask, "Who was it that took action that year? Was it Zhao Dun or your people?"

Although he didn’t specify when, Lin Xiner naturally understood what time he was referring to.

"It was my people who took action. At the time, I didn’t want to leave and fled. Afterwards... Haha! Thinking back now, it seems like it was all just a dream."

Wasn’t it just a dream?

Decades passed, all spent in a dream.

Suddenly, Zhao Yuanlang’s hand reached out and grasped hers, carefully caressing it, "Xiner, my heart has always held only you. Even back then, when you rejected me, my feelings for you never changed. Xiner, do you understand?"

Lin Xiner was startled, looking at him for a while before slowly withdrawing her hand from his and placing it by her side.

"I know, how could I not? But however important I am in your heart, it wasn’t even one ten-thousandth as important as the imperial throne. I understood that too late..."

Zhao Yuanlang was getting anxious!

"Xiner, you must understand that I had no other choice. You’ve always known that, haven’t you?"

She suddenly laughed, "When it comes down to it, you and I are the same. Both had no other choice."

Living in this world, there are many things one has no choice in!

Then countless people take this excuse to do many things against their will, only to look back later and say it was out of necessity.

But no amount of necessity can exchange for one’s own life.

Lin Xiner turned to look outside the window where, once, her favorite plum blossom tree now gradually wilted, the sparse petals barely clinging to the branches, not as lush as before.

Elsewhere, Liu Sisi sat in the courtyard, also gazing at that same withering plum tree. The small, unripe plum fruits filled the branches, swaying gently with the breeze, stretching out.

"What are you watching so intently?"

By her side, Di Yelei nudged her gently, asking curiously.

Liu Sisi didn’t turn back, instead letting out a soft sigh, "Remember how the carefree Elder once stood before that particularly lush plum grove, staring at my face as if he was looking through me at another woman. Almost every day he would pick a plum branch to place in front of that woman’s grave..."

Di Yelei remained silent for a moment before gently patting Liu Sisi on the back.

"Though he was mad, his feelings for her were real."

"Indeed! But such love is too heavy. It’s unbearable."

Liu Sisi squinted her eyes and lifted her head to look at the sky.

The sky was beautifully clear, with tufts of white clouds drifting by, the white clouds against the blue sky, everything so lovely.

The room door that had been tightly closed for quite some time finally made a sound, slowly opening from inside.

Zhao Yuanlang and Lin Xiner exited the house one after the other, both of them wearing especially calm expressions, making it difficult for onlookers to guess how their conversation had actually unfolded.

Zhao Yuanlang’s gaze swept over everyone present and lingered a moment longer on Di Yelei and Liu Sisi before he turned back to look at Lin Xiner.

"Princess, tonight I have arranged a banquet at the hostel and will warmly welcome the Princess. I hope you will honor us with your presence, so we can all spend time together. After all, there may not be many opportunities to meet again in the future."

His words were filled with a sense of lament.

Lin Xiner also glanced at Liu Sisi, then nodded, "Alright! I will definitely be there on time tonight."

She then approached Liu Sisi, scrutinizing her up and down, "Seeing that you are unharmed, I too can let go of the heavy stone in my heart."

Liu Sisi bowed lightly and didn’t say much, "Thank you for your concern."

"You child! Your nature is very much like mine. With nothing to do at present, why not accompany Mom for a walk outside?"

Lin Xiner’s face held a twinge of helplessness and a tinge of regret.

Liu Sisi instinctively turned her head to look at Di Yelei.

Before she could answer, Lin Xiner had already taken her hand and was leading her outside.

"I am your birth mother! Even a tigress does not eat her cubs; do you still worry that your mom will sell you off?" ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com

Believe it or not, she really was a bit worried!

Di Yelei watched their departing backs, fists unconsciously clenched.

Liu Sisi thought to herself, but her feet seemed to move on their own, following Lin Xiner’s steps onto the carriage.

It was only after the carriage had left the city and was heading in the direction of Heilong Mountain that Liu Sisi realized their destination was Heilong Mountain.

"I hear that the academy up ahead was established by you? I wouldn’t have guessed, your dreams are so unique."

"There’s nothing unique about it. I just hope for a bit more freedom to do what I want and live the life I desire."

Liu Sisi lifted the carriage curtain, watching as the carriage gradually sped towards the academy. When they were about to pass the academy, she suddenly called out to the coachman.

"Stop! Let’s pause here for a moment."

"What’s the matter?"

Lin Xiner seemed somewhat surprised.

"You deliberately mentioned the academy in front of me; isn’t it because you wanted to see what’s inside? Come on down."

Liu Sisi replied coolly, punctuating her words with a jump off the carriage.

Embarrassment flickered in Lin Xiner’s eyes, but she offered no retort and followed her down from the carriage."

The last time I was here, it was to send Elder Mr. Xu, no! Now he should be referred to as the Vice Dean. I had visited the academy back then. It seemed as if everything in front of me was so familiar, yet so unfamiliar.

"You’ve been in Zhao Country for these years, so you must understand its state affairs without my explanation. This statue here is of Confucius, and the students pay their respects to it as they come and go each day. Further on is a mountain spring pool, with its water flowing down from the springs above, perpetually clear and sweet throughout the years. Beyond that is the playground where the students engage in activities..."

Without caring whether Lin Xiner behind her wanted to listen or not, Liu Sisi walked ahead, casually describing the scenery she saw along the way.

Every plant and tree here was designed by her, naturally making her all the more familiar with it.

She had lived here for two and a half years and held a special affection for this place.

As she continued down the shaded boulevard, lifting her gaze to the small house’s fourth-floor windowsill, she was suddenly rooted to the spot.