Chapter 72: The Hope of the Zhong Family

  Liu Rong fell ill, and her illness came on suddenly and quickly.

  But this illness was also within Liu Rong's expectations.

  So before this, Liu Rong moved out of Liu Jie's residence. Although Liu Jie cried and made a fuss, refusing to let her go, in the end she couldn't twist her elder sister's arm, and Liu Rong returned to her own residence.

  Zhong lived in the Buddhist hall, but during the day he would stay in Liu Rong's room, still not liking to talk, but would sit by her bedside, holding a needle and thread to keep her company. Occasionally, he would mention a few interesting things about Liu Rong's childhood.

  After that, there will be a period of silence.

  Liu Rong was also lazy, if it were usual for Zhong Shi to be silent, she would definitely say something interesting to make Zhong Shi happy. But in the past few days, Liu Rong has also been mostly silent. Probably because of that day when she confronted Liu Dà Niáng, she said too much and exhausted her mind.

  However, she heard Zhong say that when she was younger, she would become very spirited.

  The Zhong family saw it with their own eyes and said more words than they had in the past month combined, but even so, it was not many.

  People who are used to being silent often prefer to use actions for many things.

  But Liu Rong was very satisfied, staying by Zhong's side made her feel an additional sense of peace, a feeling called coming home.

  Not delirious, mild, harmless and no danger at all.

  Peace and quiet is true happiness.

  These days, she's really been feeling tired.

  Dong Er was delighted when Liu Rong came back, but after discovering that Liu Rong was ill, he became unhappy and couldn't help but complain every day.

  Liu Rong didn't care about her own safety and health, knowing that the disease was contagious, but still insisted on treating Lian'er, eventually exhausting herself to the point of falling ill in bed.

  Lotus son and Autumn son are ungrateful, having received such kindness, yet they repay it with enmity.

  A person who is bent on harming himself, what's the point of saving him?

  So every time Lian'er and Qiuer came to visit, they were blocked outside by her.

  Liu Rong knew that Dong Er was worried about her, but she didn't want to listen.

  "Miss, I have some good news." Dong Er walked into the house with an unexpectedly good mood today, and habitually went to the table first to pour a glass of water for Liu Rong before continuing: "Lian Er and Qiu Er were both sent out of the mansion. Such wicked maidservants should be severely punished like this. They made you suffer so much and almost caused trouble. How could they still be living comfortably?"

  Liu Rong was slightly stunned, while Zhong Shi on the side shook her head slightly, it's unclear whether she disapproved or felt sorry.

  It is said that it was the order of Tai Furen, saying that these two people had corrupted the Fourth Miss, and even designed to deceive Dainai, so they were directly expelled from the house.

  "Dong Er pouted: 'Not a word was said about Miss being wronged, the old lady is too biased. From now on, we won't save people like that, lest we get nothing but trouble and a bad reputation.'"

  Liu Rong didn't say a word, leaning against the headrest with her eyes slightly closed. Her expression was blank, and no one knew what she was thinking.

  Zhong Shi reached out and grasped Liu Rong's hand: "You're tired, take a rest. The things outside aren't worth listening to."

  "Mm." Liu Rong nodded.

  Zhong Shi saw Liu Rong fall asleep, then led Dong Er out of the house: "From now on, don't say these unpleasant things in front of Third Miss again,"

  Dong Er looked puzzled and immediately lowered his head: "I just don't want Miss to suffer these grievances in vain, the whole thing is over. Obviously, it was Miss who was harmed, but in the end..."

  Dong Er grew more and more indignant. Unable to hold back, he clenched his fists, wishing he could go and punch those who had hurt Liu Rong a few times.

  Zhong sighed slightly: "Some things have nothing to do with whether or not she is humiliated, it's her life, the meaning of living, she must do."

  Zhong said and walked back into the house, leaving Dong Er standing alone outside, thinking about Zhong's words.

  Zhong took out the cut fabric and compared it with Liu Rong, who was lying down, seeing that the size was about right, and then started sewing again.

  Liu Rong suddenly opened her eyes and looked at Zhong Shi.

  "Not asleep?" Zhong Shi didn't raise his head, but knew that Liu Rong had opened her eyes.

  "Uh, although I'm a bit tired, I don't want to sleep." Liu Rong turned her body and looked at Zhong Shi carefully. Zhong Shi's face was as calm as ever, without any fluctuation in expression: "Mother, aren't you tired of staying in this mansion? Don't you hope that one day you can leave here and fly freely outside?"

  "After all..."

  Zhong's needlework continued steadily, its rhythm uninterrupted by Liu Rong's words: "The outside world may be good, but it is not home."

  "But the people in the Wen Dinghou Mansion, except for being jealous of us and playing tricks on us, I didn't feel a bit of kinship."

  Zhong Shi tied a knot at the end of the thread he had just sewn, then lowered his head and bit it off with his teeth: "Although this place is not good, it is still a shelter for us. Just like birds will fly far away, but eventually there will be a time to return to their nest, even if this root is not good, it cannot be broken."

  "Even if they persecuted you, framed you, and made you restless for a day?" Liu Rong couldn't help but raise her body and look at Zhong Shi.

  "But she also raised you and provided for your food and clothing." Zhong Shi took out a new thread, but after several attempts, it still couldn't be threaded.

  Liu Rong sat up and took over the needle and thread, and in an instant, she had sewn it through.

  "Ah, I'm old. In the past, this needle and thread were like you now, passing through in one go. Now it's not possible anymore."

  "My daughter is still young, where has she gotten old?" At this age in modern times, that's still considered the golden years.

  "Before, when the Zhong family was still around, I wished it would just disappear. But after the Zhong family left, my heart felt empty."

  Liu Rong listened quietly to what Zhong Shi had to say, and Zhong Shi rarely mentioned the Zhong family. Whenever he did, it was always with great caution, and it was rare for him to be willing to bring it up on his own initiative.

  "At that time, your paternal grandmother passed away early, and your paternal grandfather married a stepmother. My stepmother treated me well on the surface, but in reality, she only cared about her own biological children." Zhong Shi sewed clothes: "Later, when it came to marriage, I was proposed to by the Emperor's nephew, while my stepsister was proposed to by the Wen Ding Hou Fu..."

  However, it turned out that Zhong's marriage was actually a substitution. Although Zhong described it as plain and dull, Liu Rong could sense the unspoken resentment and anger in her tone from back then.

  Later, Zhong's stepmother and daughter rebelled together, implicating the entire Zhong clan in their treason and leading to their downfall. Only Zhong survived, but was demoted to concubine status.

  "If the Zhong family were still around, you wouldn't be treated so coldly. No matter how much they don't welcome you, you are still the legitimate daughter of the Wending Marquis's manor." Madam Zhong said as she looked up at Liu Rong: "Only with a mother's family can one stand firm in their husband's household."

  "Nowadays, Ren's hardships will eventually come to an end and turn into happiness." Zhong Shi looked at Liu Rong with determination.

  Liu Rong saw a glimmer of hope in Zhong's eyes for the first time, and after a long silence, he nodded heavily.

  PS：

  Looking for pink tickets... Looking for another pink ticket, so this book will have a chance to be on the homepage, thank you.