She mistakenly got into the bridal sedan chair and married a sickly but powerful minister, becoming

Chapter 136 Brother, I want to go home

Zhao Yi's unexpected remark stunned Shen Qingtan.

Was he not in the manor today because he went to investigate the Princess Consort of the Prince of Zhenbei?

Based on the information she had previously obtained from Gu Zongci and the clues brought by Zhao Yi, she could basically deduce her background.

Although the result was expected, she still felt a mix of emotions when it was finally confirmed.

In that instant, it seemed like I was thinking about a lot of things, yet it also seemed like I wasn't thinking about anything at all.

She never imagined that she would have such a noble background.

Shen Qingtan said softly, "I always thought I came from an ordinary background, that my parents were just merchants."

So when she mistakenly believed that Gu Zongci was very likely her father, she naturally accepted it.

Now that she knows she is the daughter of the Prince of Zhenbei, she feels a sense of emptiness inside.

There's a sense of unreality to it.

"No matter who your parents are, they are the icing on the cake for you. It's good to have more family to love you." Zhao Yi said gently as she took out a handkerchief to wipe her hands. "On the contrary, I thought we were a good match, but now it seems that I am the one who married above my station."

Shen Qingtan looked at Zhao Yi speechlessly; this man's way of comforting people was always so unique.

All the emotions welling up inside her were scattered by his words.

“You’re right. No matter how noble my parents’ status is, they are just ordinary parents in front of their children.” Shen Qingtan pondered, “Shall we go see Boss Gu after we leave the palace tomorrow?”

At this point, she frowned slightly: "I wonder if the people of the Marquis of Chengen's mansion know about my relationship with the Gu family. If we have close ties, it might attract their attention. If it brings disaster to the Gu family, that would be troublesome."

“Now is a critical time, and it’s better to be careful to avoid making mistakes,” Zhao Yi suggested. “You have a good relationship with Boss Qin, so ask him to deliver an invitation to Boss Gu. You two can meet at the Qin family’s residence. That shouldn’t attract the attention of the Marquis of Cheng’en’s mansion.”

“That’s what I think too.” Shen Qingtan picked up a bath bean and placed it in Zhao Yi’s hand. “I have some things to do next. Let’s meet and talk things over. Otherwise, he might worry about me and do something in secret that is supposed to be good for me, which could backfire and ruin my plans.”

Zhao Yi looked at the bath beans in his hand, then at Shen Qingtan who was lost in thought, and a hint of helplessness appeared in his eyes.

She had been searching for her relatives, and now that she had found out who they were, even the most composed person could not calm down.

Zhao Yi knew Shen Qingtan well; no matter what happened, she was always calm and composed, never changing her expression.

Moreover, she had enough patience to wait for the fish to bite the bait she had laid out.

It is precisely because of sufficient rationality that they will not easily act impulsively.

Now that I know my loved ones are right beside me, but because of some external influences, I can't have a proper reunion with them. Instead, I have to be hesitant and cautious. I'm sure I'm feeling terrible.

She secretly wanted to see Gu Zongci again, but reason told her she couldn't. So she found an excuse that she absolutely had to see Gu Zongci again to convince herself.

Zhao Yi put the bath powder aside, washed his hands again, then took her hand and led her to the octagonal table.

"Have dinner first. Later, write a letter to Boss Qin and ask him to arrange a meeting for you."

"it is good."

Shen Qingtan nodded and picked up her chopsticks to eat.

Zhao Yi took a sip of soup, and as he looked up, he saw her eat two bites of water chestnut.

Normally, she wouldn't touch this dish at all.

Zhao Yi sighed, picked up the serving chopsticks, and served her food.

She ate whatever he picked out for her.

Before she knew it, she had eaten a bowl of rice and half a bowl of soup.

Shen Qingtan felt a fullness in her stomach and only then came to her senses, staring blankly at the last mouthful of soup in the bowl.

"Your appetite is too small." Zhao Yi didn't give her much food, increasing it little by little to avoid her stomach being unable to digest too much at once: "What you ate just now was a normal amount."

"I should eat less at night, and I ate more than usual just now, so I'm a bit stuffed."

Shen Qingtan put down her chopsticks and looked at him with a resentful gaze: "I have something on my mind, so I sleep lightly. Now, I'm afraid I won't be able to sleep at all tonight."

Zhao Yi looked down at her drooping head, raised her hand and touched her head: "Shall I go for a walk with you to help you digest your food?"

Shen Qingtan really didn't want to move, feeling weak all over: "I'm too tired, I want to lie down and rest for a while."

"Then you should rest on the couch for a while," Zhao Yi said gently, going along with her wishes. "I'll have Tingxue go to the kitchen and tell the cook to make you a bowl of digestive soup."

Shen Qingtan nodded, got up and went to her desk, wrote a letter and handed it to Liu Yue, then lazily sat on the daybed.

Zhao Yi watched her lean against the couch, a soft pillow in her arms, her eyes fixed on the oil lamp on the table, lost in thought.

It's probably still because of the Gu family.

No matter how mature and composed she is, she is still just a girl who is not yet eighteen years old.

How can one not think of their own parents?

Zhao Yi instructed Tingxue to find the physician in the manor to get a prescription for a soup to aid digestion and relieve stagnation. He then lit some calming incense in the room.

He then sent Jiang Mu to the study to fetch official documents, and Jiang Mu sat next to Shen Qingtan to handle them.

When he finished processing the official documents and looked back at her again, he found that she had unknowingly fallen asleep.

Even when asleep, his brow was furrowed, and he didn't sleep very soundly.

Zhao Yi brought a thin blanket and covered her with it, but a hand grabbed her sleeve.

He paused, meeting her half-open eyes.

Just as Zhao Yi was about to speak, she said softly, "Brother, I want to go home."

-

As dawn broke, Shen Qingtan woke up in bed, looking somewhat dazed.

I thought I wouldn't be able to sleep last night, but to my surprise, she not only slept but also had a dream all night long.

She dreamt that she was locked in a dark room, and no matter how much she cried or shouted, no one came to open the door.

Just when she was in despair, a boy appeared in the house.

He said, "Don't be afraid, your brother is here to save you."

She couldn't see the boy's face clearly, but it felt like she had been waiting for him for a very long time. She gripped his sleeve tightly, as if grasping at her only hope, wanting to escape that room filled with boundless darkness, a room that terrified, oppressed, and suffocated her.

She said helplessly, "Brother, I want to go home."

The dreams that followed were too chaotic.

The only thing that left a deep impression was this dream.

"woke up?"

A clear, gentle voice sounded from the side.

Shen Qingtan turned her gaze and saw Zhao Yi standing by the bed, looking at her with a gentle smile.

"Hmm." Shen Qingtan sat up, still wrapped in the blanket, and glanced at the sky outside the window. "We're going to the palace today. You're up, why didn't you wake me?"

Zhao Yi leaned down to look at her face: "I was just about to wake you up when you woke up."