Zhao Shouzhen returned to his residence and summoned everyone to the front hall to announce his resignation.
The news was like a bombshell, immediately causing a stir within the mansion.
Surprisingly, the first person to lose control of her emotions was Zhao Yun, who was usually dignified and composed.
"Father, why did you resign from your post? If you resign, what will happen to me?"
After her father resigned from his official post, she was no longer the legitimate daughter of the Grand Secretary, but merely the eldest legitimate daughter of a former Grand Secretary. The difference of one word made a world of difference in their status.
Zhao Shouzhen looked at his daughter, his eyes filled with tenderness and reluctance.
He gently comforted her, "Yun'er, don't worry. His Majesty has specially granted me permission to wait until after you and Huai'an get married in the autumn before leaving Lingyang."
Zhao Yun's tears flowed like a burst dam, and she screamed, "Father, you're still leaving Lingyang?!"
"Yes. Your mother and I have made up our minds. Once I resign from my official post and retire, we will settle in Chaoyang County. That's your mother's hometown—"
"No, Father, Mother, you can't do this to me!" Zhao Yun cried out, somewhat out of control.
Upon seeing this, Baozhu quickly ordered the servants who were watching to disperse.
“Yun’er, you’ve grown up. You’ll soon be a wife. I think you’ll understand how I feel,” Zhao Shouzhen said, rubbing his temples.
"I don't understand!" Zhao Yun cried out. "Father, Mother, you can't do this to me! You can't abandon me and Rou'er!" She looked frantically at Zhao Rou beside her, but Zhao Rou looked away. She shouted, "Third sister, come here! Come and beg Father!"
Le Kui helped Zhao Rou slowly forward.
This was Zhao Rou's first time leaving the hospital since her miscarriage. Her complexion was rosy, and she looked even better than before.
Zhao Rou looked timidly at Zhao Yun and said, "Big sister, I will stay with you."
Zhao Yun looked at her and shook her head in disappointment.
"And what about Zhizhi? Dad, you and Mom love Zhizhi the most, aren't you going to neglect her too?"
Zhao Yun suddenly remembered that there was still one last straw.
Zhao Zhigang and Chaoyan went to the Medical Bureau to buy medicinal materials for making dried ginger, ginseng and pinellia pills.
She's been experiencing severe morning sickness lately and needs to take some Banxia pills to relieve it.
As soon as she circled the screen wall, she heard Zhao Yun's cries.
Upon hearing this, she asked in confusion, "What's wrong, sister? Mother, Father, why are you all in the yard?"
Zhao Yun quickly answered, "Zhizhi, Father resigned from his post at the morning court session today. They plan to settle in Chaoyang County. Zhizhi, you certainly don't want Father to resign and leave Lingyang, do you?"
Zhao Yi had mentioned Zhao Shouzheng's intention to resign to Zhao Zhi.
Therefore, she was not surprised when she heard from Zhao Yun that Zhao Shouzhen had resigned from his official post.
"Father is getting old and is very busy with cabinet affairs. It's a good thing he's resigning."
"Zhizhi, did you hear me clearly? Your father is leaving Lingyang! He's going to settle in Chaoyang County!"
Zhao Yun cried out in a fit of rage.
Chaoyang County was his fiefdom. For Zhao Zhi, it was not a bad thing that Zhao Shouzhen and his wife could settle there and take care of each other.
So she said happily, "Sister, Chaoyang County has a simple and honest folk culture and abundant resources. It's a wonderful place! I like it there very much too!"
Zhao Yun glared at her with hatred and said fiercely, "Zhizhi, was this your idea? Did you all plan to leave me alone in Lingyang?"
"Sister, how could we abandon you?" Zhao Zhi gestured for Chao Yan to take the medicinal herbs back to the courtyard first.
She walked towards Zhao Yun, took her hand, and said, "Sister, Chaoyang County is Mother's hometown. Mother has been gone for so long, and Grandfather's health has not been good in recent years. Naturally, Mother wants to take this opportunity to go back and fulfill her filial duties. Sister, you are not alone. If you miss us, just have your husband bring you to see us."
As she spoke, Zhao Zhi looked at Zhao Rou and said, "I heard from Mother that Third Sister will marry into the Duke's Mansion with you. That way, you can take care of each other. Mother and Father can rest assured."
Zhao Yun shoved Zhao Zhi and shouted, "Zhao Zhi! Stop pretending!"
Zhang Wan exclaimed in surprise and rushed towards Zhao Zhi.
She shielded Zhao Zhi's belly, glared at Zhao Yun, and scolded, "Yun'er! What are you doing?!"
Zhao Zhi signaled to Zhang Wan that she was alright.
Zhao Yun, tears streaming down her face, roared, "Mother, you ask me what I'm doing? From childhood to adulthood, you and Father have always favored my second sister. Everything she does is right, and everything I do is wrong! I have to be a role model for my two sisters at all times, and I dare not make a single wrong step. But what have I gotten in return?"
Zhao Shouzhen was surprised by Zhao Yun's sudden emotional breakdown. He slowly walked over, held her shoulders, and said softly, "Yun'er, you and Zhizhi are both your father's daughters. How could your father not care about you? Even though we will settle in Chaoyang County in the future, we will come back to see you often. You will always be your father's daughter."
As Zhao Rou listened to Zhao Shouzhen calling out to his daughters repeatedly, but never mentioning her, her heart slowly grew cold.
Her gaze shifted from Cong Zhi and Zhang Wan to Zhao Shouzhen and Zhao Yun, a poignant mix of motherly love and touching paternal affection.
She was the only one who was neither loved by her father nor by her mother.
No, she no longer has a father and mother.
She didn't even know who her father was.
An overwhelming sense of desolation swept over me in that instant.
Zhao Rou's eyes welled up with tears. She gave Le Kui a wink, and the two quietly left.
With Zhao Shouzhen's comforting words, Zhao Yun gradually stopped crying. After this commotion, she also realized a reality: her father and mother were determined to leave Lingyang.
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