CHAPTER 90: CHAPTER 90: THE GRAND PRINCESS HAS TAKEN A LIKING TO YOU

Although Meng Yao spent quite a bit of effort, Zhao Dahe finally understood that his mother had nothing to do with the County Magistrate.

As for Zi’an, why this boy insisted on recognizing her as his mother, he couldn’t figure it out.

Zhao Dahe chuckled awkwardly, "This misunderstanding really got out of hand. It’s all that boy’s fault. Mother, don’t be angry."

"Now you’re not calling him your brother affectionately anymore?" Meng Yao rolled her eyes.

"It’s not impossible. After all, he is the son of the County Magistrate. The County Magistrate seems like a decent person. With this boy as a mediator, building a good relationship would be beneficial for us," Zhao Dahe said.

It wasn’t that he was flattering, but the opportunity was right in front of him, and it would be foolish not to seize it.

It wasn’t as if they were the ones clinging on for kinship; it was Zi’an who wouldn’t let go of them.

"Alright, let’s consider our home as an inn. The County Magistrate has given silver, so we’ll let Brother An stay. Besides, this child is quite pitiful. He’s never even seen his own mother since he was little." Meng Yao sighed.

"Alright, Mother, whatever you want," Zhao Dahe responded straightforwardly, "Zi’an is well-mannered and should not cause much trouble if he’s around."

"Enough, you don’t need to worry about anything," Meng Yao chided. "You just need to take care of your exam matters."

Zhao Dahe chuckled softly.

"You are responsible for explaining this matter clearly to your elder brother and sister-in-law. I don’t want to waste more words on it," Meng Yao said.

"Got it," Zhao Dahe readily agreed.

His mother had no entanglement with the County Magistrate, so if that man was indeed his father, at least he could ensure his mother was taken care of for him.

Of course, if his father turned out to be unreliable, he definitely wouldn’t let his mother suffer.

Far away in the Capital City, Zhao Ting was talking to the elderly lady in Songhe Hall when suddenly his nose itched, and he sneezed several times.

The elderly lady was so anxious that she insisted on calling the physician.

Zhao Ting quickly said, "Mother, I’m fine, it’s just my nose itching suddenly, I couldn’t hold it back."

"My child, you shouldn’t ignore illnesses," the elderly lady said with a worried expression.

"I’ve learned some medicine. If I really felt unwell, I wouldn’t tough it out," Zhao Ting replied.

"A physician cannot treat himself, and didn’t you learn your medical skills halfway through?" the elderly lady was still not reassured.

"When I meet Imperial Physician Li someday, I’ll have him check my pulse," Zhao Ting said.

"Imperial Physician Li is highly skilled; it would be best if you could get him to diagnose you," the elderly lady said. "But fundamentally, you should get married. A woman is attentive and can take care of someone. If you have a person by your side who understands warmth and cold, I can rest assured even if I were to close my eyes now."

"At my age, if I marry someone much younger, I’d have to pamper her. Who I am, others might not know, but Mother should. I’m the kind who doesn’t have patience for pampering; it’s too troublesome," Zhao Ting said.

Before the elderly lady could speak, Zhao Ting continued, "As for women in their twenties, who knows what hidden issues they might have? And if I marry a widow, it wouldn’t sit well with my heart."

In any case, he closed off all avenues for the elderly lady.

"If you don’t marry, at least take in a few concubines to continue the Zhao Family’s lineage?" the elderly lady sighed, "Without descendants, I wouldn’t have the face to meet the Zhao Family ancestors when I pass."

"What if after taking concubines, I end up finding someone I like?" Zhao Ting countered.

He truly had no interest in women.

Besides, the original Zhao Ting had a wife and children.

The Zhao Family’s lineage wasn’t exactly broken.

These days, he remembered in fragments the memories that Zhao Ting had lost, although somewhat blurry, he was sure he had a wife and children.

About whether to bring them to the Capital City, he was still hesitating.

Firstly, the memory was not clear enough. Secondly, if he really brought them over, he was afraid he wouldn’t be able to handle it.

After all, in his memories, Zhao Ting seemed quite affectionate with that blurry woman. He might be able to hide it from the people at the General Mansion, but he wasn’t confident he could deceive Zhao Ting’s bed partner.

"How about this, Mother, give me another two years. If within these two years, I still don’t meet someone I like, I’ll follow your arrangements. Whomever you want me to marry, I’ll marry," Zhao Ting said.

Two years wasn’t exactly short, but it at least gave a deadline. Although Zhao’s elderly lady was somewhat unwilling, she accepted it. "When the time comes, you can’t use excuses then."

"A gentleman’s word is his bond," Zhao Ting said.

"Alright, as your mother, I’ll hold you to a gentleman’s agreement," the elderly lady said.

Zhao Ting kept her company for a while longer. Noticing she looked fatigued, he personally helped her lie down and only then quietly left.

Zhao Ting returned to the study, took a book from the top of the bookshelf, and began writing down the thoughts that flashed through his mind in the elderly lady’s courtyard.

They were all scenes of the original Zhao Ting living with a woman.

It’s pitiful. Zhao Ting didn’t remember his wife or child until the moment he died.

He had consulted many ancient medical texts. Simple amnesia was recorded, but amnesia like Zhao Ting’s, where he acquired a new life after losing memory, then regained memory only to forget the new life again, was unprecedented.

Regarding his own spirit inhabiting Zhao Ting’s body after death and gradually recalling Zhao Ting’s lost memories, this kind of thing was even more unheard of.

It was truly perplexing.

"General, Eunuch Shuangxi is here," Zhao Ting’s trusted aide announced from outside the study.

Zhao Ting squinted his eyes. "Understood."

Shuangxi, he was well acquainted. He was his dear royal brother’s most trusted man.

When he died, it was even Shuangxi who personally brought the poisoned wine.

Only at the moment of death did he realize that even though he remained solitary to put his royal brother at ease, the royal brother still wasn’t comfortable with him being alive. Only if he was dead would the royal brother be at ease.

Ironically, although he was poisoned to death, the royal decree announced nationwide that he died of a sudden illness, and the royal brother was grief-stricken, unable to attend court for three days.

Using his death, his good royal brother earned himself a wave of good reputation.

He felt so aggrieved.

To avoid letting him make his journey alone, the royal brother decreed that everyone in the Prince Mansion was to be buried with him.

There went his wet nurse, milk brothers, and the old servants who once took care of him around his mother concubine.

All those he regarded as family died.

Only he, living by borrowing the body of a military general highly trusted by the royal brother, survived.

Could this be heaven granting him a chance for revenge?

Zhao Ting straightened his clothes and left the study, making his way to the reception hall.

The servants had already served tea, and Eunuch Shuangxi was savoring it.

"Why has Eunuch come personally? You could have sent someone if there was something," Zhao Ting smoothly spoke. "Is there some new development in the matter regarding the Qin Family?"

"Congratulations, General. Felicitations, General," Eunuch Shuangxi’s eyes formed a line as he spoke in the characteristic sharp tone of a eunuch. "The Grand Princess has taken a liking to the General and pleaded before His Majesty. His Majesty, out of regard for the General, did not directly give an answer to the Grand Princess, instead dispatching this old servant to inquire about the General’s intentions."