Chapter 9 Night Rain I Don’t Want to Delay You Any Longer

For some reason, Shen Lianxiu's heart tightened for no reason, as if someone had grabbed it hard.

She was afraid of disturbing Zhou Linjin who was sleeping soundly, so she opened the door very quietly. She hadn't walked in yet, and outside there was the overwhelming sound of rain, which drowned out all the slightest movement, so Zhou Linjin didn't notice Chen Lianxiu at all.

He was completely in the dark, with only a very faint outline, and the night rain added a bit of desolation and loneliness to the figure.

Shen Lianxiu didn't dare to think about the expression on his face at this moment.

Ever since Zhou Linjin became blind, the Zhou family had invited many doctors to treat him, even the imperial physician had come, but there had been no progress. Today, the famous doctor that Zhou Chang had specially invited from outside almost made a final judgment on his eyesight once again.

No matter how much his parents and relatives feel sorry for him, it is not as hard as he is.

Chen Lianxiu lowered her head. In fact, she should have been relieved to hear that it would be difficult for Zhou Linjin to see again. He would be blind for his whole life, and perhaps he would never find out that she was not Chen Wuyu. However, Chen Lianxiu could not be happy no matter what.

She did not go in again, but closed the door again and went to the living room to eat.

After Shen Lianxiu finished his meal, there was still no sound in the inner room. Shen Lianxiu thought about it and asked the small kitchen to prepare some delicious food again.

It was not until the end of the hour of Hai that Chen Lianxiu went to the small kitchen and took out the porridge that had been cooked until it was fragrant, soft and glutinous, and a few plates of refreshing side dishes.

This time she went into the bedroom.

Hearing the sound, Zhou Linjin asked, "What time is it?"

He couldn't see, and didn't know whether it was day or night, or what others were doing. Perhaps it was time for dinner, but he didn't want to go out. No one came to call him, so he suspected that he had judged the time wrong.

Ever since I lost my sight, the passage of time seems to be stagnant.

Since no one is coming in, it would be nice to just sit there quietly for a while.

I have to get used to this. After all, I will be blind for a long time and I may not be able to see for the rest of my life.

Zhou Linjin didn't pay attention to what he was thinking. He felt like he was in a dark wilderness, his thoughts running aimlessly until he was exhausted and could no longer get up.

But someone interrupted him.

Chen Lianxiu answered honestly: "It's almost midnight."

The maid followed her in and placed a candlestick with only one candle on it, enough for Shen Lianxiu to use alone, and then went out again.

The door was closed, and only Zhou Linjin and Shen Lianxiu were inside.

By candlelight, Shen Lianxiu opened the food box and placed it on the small table next to Zhou Linjin.

"It's so late now. Why didn't you come to call me?" Zhou Linjin smelled the food and, as he got closer, the faint sandalwood scent on her body. He asked again, "What did you bring?"

Chen Lianxiu said, "I thought you were still asleep, so I didn't come in to disturb you."

As she spoke, she carefully held the freshly cooked porridge and brought it to Zhou Linjin. Today's porridge was cooked very well. Every grain of rice was cooked until it bloomed. The porridge was clear in color, neither too thin nor too thick, and there was a layer of rice oil floating on the surface. Unfortunately, Zhou Linjin couldn't see it.

"Is it fragrant?" Chen Lianxiu said softly, "It's past mealtime. If I eat too much now, I'll feel uncomfortable. This porridge is just right."

She didn't wait for Zhou Linjin to reach out to catch it, but scooped a spoonful and put it to Zhou Linjin's mouth. Zhou Linjin was not prepared for something warm to be so close to him, but after he reacted, he still didn't open his mouth.

"I can eat by myself." He turned his head slightly.

But Chen Lianxiu took advantage of his blindness and moved faster than him. As soon as he turned his head away, he took the opportunity to stuff the porridge into his mouth while he was talking.

Zhou Linjin almost choked, but luckily the porridge in his mouth was of the right temperature and easy to swallow, so he swallowed it in one gulp.

A long time had passed from the afternoon to now, but Zhou Linjin actually didn't feel hungry at all. However, after drinking a mouthful of porridge, he suddenly felt hungry.

This porridge smells good and tastes delicious.

Before he could come to his senses, Shen Lianxiu fed him the second mouthful of porridge, not giving him any chance to refuse.

After several mouthfuls of this, Zhou Linjin finally grabbed her hand and successfully took the bowl away, saying, "You shouldn't do this."

He has hands and feet, and he is not so old or sick that he cannot get out of bed or eat. How can he ask his wife to feed him?

Chen Lianxiu didn't care at all. When she first saw Zhou Linjin's appearance, she was worried that he didn't want to eat. She thought that if he could just stuff a few bites in, he would probably be fine after a night's sleep. So it was fine as long as she let him eat a few bites.

She didn't ask why she shouldn't, but just put a chopstick of small dish into his bowl and said, "Okay, then you can help yourself."

Zhou Linjin did not refuse.

Perhaps it was because the porridge was warm and sweet. As Zhou Linjin ate it mouthful by mouthful, the confusion that had been lingering in his heart seemed to dissipate a little.

There is still the sound of rain outside the window.

Chen Lianxiu watched Zhou Linjin drink porridge, and his thoughts began to wander for a moment.

If he was not blind, then it would definitely not be her sitting here.

Zhou Linjin's eyebrows and eyes are particularly delicate. If these eyes could still be seen, I wonder how beautiful they would be.

What a pity.

Chen Lianxiu thought about this and couldn't help but sigh. Just then, Zhou Linjin finished the last mouthful of porridge. After he put down the bowl, he said, "Why are you sighing?"

Shen Lianxiu subconsciously wanted to deny it, but her thoughts turned a few corners, and she couldn't help but ask, "My dear, why did your eyes become like this?"

Last time, Yang had told Shen Lianxiu something about his eyes, but it was not very clear. There was only the consequences but no cause. All they knew was that he was harmed because of a disaster relief matter.

Chen Lianxiu didn't know whether she should ask this, but she asked it anyway. Zhou Linjin looked sad enough anyway, and the worst that could happen was that he wouldn't answer her.

Hearing this, Zhou Linjin fell silent.

After a long while, he took a sip of tea, pursed his lips, and then began to speak, "At that time, the Sino-Agricultural Ministry arrived in Shouzhou first and was responsible for transporting disaster relief grain. However, the day before I and the Ministry of Revenue arrived in Shouzhou, an official from the Sino-Agricultural Ministry in Shouzhou suddenly fell into the water and died. By then, the disaster was clearly under control. I noticed something was amiss and secretly investigated. Sure enough, I discovered that someone had embezzled disaster relief funds. The Ministry of Revenue official who was traveling with me knew I was investigating the matter but had not been involved until I made a discovery. He then hinted at me not to meddle in other people's business. But after returning to Beijing, I still reported the matter to the emperor. Who knew that all the people involved had been silenced, and I was also blinded by the poison."

Shen Lianxiu took a breath and couldn't help but ask again: "Then aren't you still in danger now?"

"My father, Duke Cheng," Zhou Linjin said with a faint bitter smile, "he has suppressed rebellions and defended the border over the years, making great contributions to the Great Xia Dynasty. I am his only son. If I really lost my life, I am afraid my father would not let it go."

Chen Lianxiu thought of Zhou Chang's beating of Zhou Linjin last night, and for a moment she was overwhelmed with mixed feelings.

Suppressing the inexplicable sadness in her heart, Shen Lianxiu gently lifted the candlestick. The flame drew a fleeting light in the darkness, and then stopped in front of Zhou Linjin.

In the candlelight, she looked into his eyes again.

She only saw a dull silence like a pool of stagnant water.

Chen Lianxiu was afraid that Zhou Linjin would feel the heat from the fire, so she quickly moved the candlestick away.

She thought about it and finally said, "The doctor we saw this morning didn't say it was completely hopeless. Let's just treat it this way first and then slowly look for other doctors. There's always hope."

Zhou Linjin's face grew colder, but his words remained gentle as he faced the person before him: "If it doesn't work out, then it's my fate. But I don't regret it. No matter what the outcome of Shouzhou is, I've done what I should do and have a clear conscience. I've only wronged you."

"I..." Shen Lianxiu choked slightly, "I can't..."

He felt sorry for Shen Wuyu, not her.

All his sincerity and affection were directed towards Shen Wuyu, and she was just an eavesdropper, or rather, a thief.

In a dark room, there was a blind man and a thief.

If it weren't for him and Shen Wuyu, she would have married that wealthy businessman in his forties as a concubine, sandwiched between a bunch of concubines, living a hopeless life.

And here, at least there is an imaginary life where she can temporarily live.

Just as Shen Lianxiu was feeling hurt and stunned, a hand with slightly cold fingertips tentatively touched her hand. Shen Lianxiu shrank back, and he did not move any further. After a moment, seeing that she no longer resisted, he wrapped her hand in his.

His palms were warm.

Zhou Linjin lowered his voice and spoke to her word by word, "After a while, if my eyes still haven't healed, you can leave if you want. We can divorce. I don't want to keep you here any longer."

Shen Lianxiu didn't say anything this time.

Zhou Linjin thought she agreed, but in fact, Shen Lianxiu couldn't say anything.

He was so good, so good that he could willingly divorce her and let her go when he was blind. But if he could see again, would he let her go?

"Don't think about it." Chen Lianxiu finally murmured this sentence, not knowing whether he was talking to himself or to Zhou Linjin.

The rain kept falling at night, as if it wanted to soak the sky and the earth.