As Zhao Rou walked out of Zhao Yun's house, she saw the shocking bloodstains in the yard and her heart tightened.
She then saw Du Heng standing outside the main house, and a sense of foreboding washed over her. Thinking that something might have happened to Zhang Wan, she was about to rush into the main house to check on the situation.
Just then, she heard footsteps behind her. She quickly turned around and saw Zhang Wan standing there. Overjoyed, she blurted out, "Mother, when did you get back?"
"Just got home," Zhang Wan replied casually, then glanced at her eldest daughter's room and asked with concern, "How is your sister's health?"
“Mother.” Zhao Rou quickly stepped forward, took her arm, and recounted in detail to Zhang Wan the harrowing experience of the previous night and the hardships of Zhao Yun’s childbirth.
She added, "Thanks to my father and Li Afu for keeping watch outside, otherwise, Madam Bai and I would have been scared to death."
Upon hearing that Zhao Yun had given birth safely and that Bai Wei had taken care of her throughout, Zhang Wan felt a surge of gratitude. She nodded in thanks, saying, "Thanks to Bai Wei this time. Now that your sister is alright, I'll go check on the master. This...this bloodstains are truly terrifying to look at."
Zhao Rou took over from Su Mu and helped her mother into the main house, only to find that not only her father was lying on the bed, but also her second sister, Zhao Zhi, whom she hadn't seen for a long time, Prince Rui Shen Hanshan, and the medical sage Zhang Jing.
Zhao Rou was somewhat surprised, but still greeted them politely.
"I have met Prince Rui, my maternal grandfather, and—" Zhao Rou greeted them one by one.
Shen Hanshan frowned and impatiently interrupted her, "Let's skip these formalities."
Zhao Rou was slightly taken aback, then nodded.
At this moment, Zhang Wan finally recovered from her shock and asked in a trembling voice, "Father, Shouzheng... how is Shouzheng?"
She walked shakily to the bedside, and Zhao Zhi had already gotten up. She helped her to sit down in front of the bed and gently comforted her, "Mother, don't worry, Grandfather has already checked on Father, and there's nothing serious."
Zhang Jing nodded in agreement, adding, "Shouzheng is a real man. He fought alongside the guards against those Yunluo people all night. He's not a young lad anymore!" His tone was filled with pride, but also a hint of heartache. "His stamina isn't what it used to be."
Hearing her father's words, Zhang Wan couldn't help but laugh, but as she laughed, her eyes reddened.
"Yeah, he still thinks he's a greenhorn!"
Seeing this, Shen Hanshan gestured for Du Heng, Zhang Jing, and the others to leave together.
Give them space to have some private conversations with their family.
He also had something to discuss with Zhang Jing.
Inside the house, Zhang Wan held Zhao Zhi's hand and saw bloodstains on her body, and tears welled up in her eyes. "Mother, don't worry, this blood isn't mine, it's someone else's." Zhao Zhi then remembered that she had been so busy taking care of her father that she hadn't taken off her silver armor, and she quickly got up to remove it.
Seeing this, Zhao Rou stepped forward and took the silver armor, stroking the hard, cold armor with great envy, feeling a surge of admiration.
"Second sister, when did you become a female general?!" Zhao Rou exclaimed in surprise.
Zhao Zhi and Zhang Wan exchanged a glance, and finally Zhao Zhi spoke up to explain her identity: "Rou'er, I am not actually my mother's biological daughter."
Upon hearing her words, Zhao Rou's heart skipped a beat. She subconsciously looked at Zhang Wan, her eyes filled with disbelief. She thought Zhang Wan had betrayed Zhao Shouzhen.
Zhao Zhi gently shook her head, indicating to Zhao Rou not to misunderstand, then took Zhao Rou's hand and whispered, "Rou'er, my birth mother is someone else. I am Zhao Zhi, and also Princess Zhao Chunhua."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Rou trembled violently, her eyes filled with astonishment and confusion.
Zhao Zhi clearly explained her identity to Zhao Rou, and Zhao Rou then realized that it was all a misunderstanding.
“What…” Zhao Rou murmured to herself, somewhat unable to believe what was happening before her eyes.
Seeing Zhao Rou's shocked expression, Zhao Zhi said softly, "Rou'er, I didn't want you to know these things, but now that things have come to this, I have no choice but to tell you the truth."
Zhao Rou stared blankly at Zhao Zhi, a complex mix of emotions welling up inside her—surprise, doubt, and a touch of bewilderment.
Zhao Zhi continued, "Rou'er, I hope you can understand that this is not to hide anything from you, but to protect everyone."
Zhao Rou bit her lip and nodded, indicating that she understood Zhao Zhi's predicament.
Just then, Zhao Rou suddenly remembered something, her legs went weak, and she was about to kneel down to pay her respects.
Zhao Zhi quickly reached out to support her, saying, "Third sister, there's no need for that. We're still family, there's no need for such formalities."
Zhao Rou stubbornly bowed and said, "Your Highness, please accept my bow."
Zhao Zhi smiled helplessly, gently helped Zhao Rou up, and said, "Rou'er, just call me Second Sister from now on, don't call me Princess anymore."
Zhao Rou wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, nodded, and said, "Okay, Second Sister."
Zhao Zhi quickly pulled her back and said with a smile, "That's more like it. Third sister, you are gentle and kind-hearted, which is why I told you such an important matter. But this matter is of great importance, so my mother and I will keep it from eldest sister for the time being. I hope you will not let the news leak out."
"Definitely!" Zhao Rou said happily. Having grown up with Zhao Yun and Zhao Zhi over the years, she knew Zhao Yun's temperament all too well.
She is highly competitive and jealous, and cannot stand seeing Zhao Zhi doing better than herself. If she knew that Zhao Zhi was actually Princess Zhao Chunhua, who knows what kind of trouble she would cause.
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