When the two returned outside, they saw Yu Ling squatting at the end of the path, holding a dogtail grass in her hand, and drawing something on the ground out of boredom.

When he saw her, Zhao Yuyan's eyes flashed with reluctance, but more of it was relief.

It would be good if I could go out, it would be good if I could be free, it would be good if I don't have to carry the burden of the daughter of a guilty minister, it would be good if she is no longer around, it would be good if I could live a good life alone.

Hearing the noise, Yu Ling looked towards them, quickly dropped the dogtail grass, and ran over, shouting, "Mom~"

Because of running, the curtains bounced up and down, which was very cute.

"Hey~" Zhao Yuyan opened her mouth silently in response, her eyes looking at Yu Ling greedily, as if she wanted to remember her appearance firmly.

Xiaoguo stood aside, her nose feeling sore again. Then she walked away without disturbing anyone or saying a word.

Yu Ling ran over and saw her leaving. She asked curiously, "Mother, why did the Madam leave?"

Zhao Yuyan did not answer her, but just touched her face and body, and then said softly, "Let's go back."

When Yuling heard her mother's gentle tone, she was stunned for a moment. It was a feeling that was so familiar and yet so strange. It made her feel as if she had returned to a few years ago. Her mother was like this at that time. She always had a smile on her face, always caressing her gently, and patiently comforting her when she was wronged.

Her mother...is finally back!

After Yu Ling came to her senses, she smiled sweetly with tears in her eyes, nodded heavily and said, "Let's go back."

It was late at night, and everything was quiet. Yu Ling, who had just finished her busy work, dragged her tired body anxiously towards her residence, thinking happily about her mother who was waiting for her.

At that time, her mother told her to come back as soon as she finished her work because she would give her a gift.

From a distance away, she saw a house emitting warm light. Yu Ling was delighted and quickened her pace to go home.

"Mother~"

Yuling opened the door and called Zhao Yuyan happily. Because of her excitement, her voice was louder than usual. Under normal circumstances, this would definitely not be allowed.

But today, Zhao Yuyan was particularly gentle and tolerant towards Yuling, which made Yuling regain the feeling she had a few years ago.

Although life was hard at that time, with not enough to eat three times a day, sleeping in the open air, wearing shackles around the neck every day, and walking dozens of miles, she never felt it was hard because her mother was by her side. On the contrary, here, although she had food, drink and shelter, her mother stopped kissing her at some point, which made her feel more uncomfortable than swallowing nails.

Zhao Yuyan turned around and looked at Yu Ling, then waved at her a few times, "Come here."

Although Yuling was sensible at an early age, she was still young after all. Although she felt that her mother's change was a bit strange, she did not think about it in other ways. She just thought that she had behaved well recently and her mother was very satisfied, so she was so gentle to her.

Yuling sat obediently at Zhao Yuyan's feet, eyes full of admiration.

Zhao Yuyan caressed her child reluctantly. The injustice in her heart seemed to burst through the sky. Even when her family was broken up, she had never felt so strong.

Seeing the child who had grown up unknowingly, she felt happy and sad. Why didn't God give her a few more years to live, so that she could just watch Yu Ling and come of age? Such a small wish could never be fulfilled...

"Yuling, from now on you have to live well and be more steady in your work. You should also have the judgment to decide what to say and what not to say. People's hearts are hidden in their stomachs, so be cautious when speaking. Don't blindly trust others just because they seem like good people. Don't judge people by their appearance, but by their hearts. And in the future..."

At this point, Zhao Yuyan choked up a bit, then tried to hold back the sweet taste in her throat, and continued, "Live a good life in the future, keep your eyes brighter, I don't ask for great wealth and honor in the future, I just ask for a peaceful and smooth life, remember?"

Yu Ling did not answer. She felt inexplicably sad, an inexplicable sadness that made her speechless, as if she would lose her mother if she nodded.

Zhao Yuyan didn't care whether she nodded or not, but continued to speak to herself, "I made this bag of clothes a long time ago. Although the fabrics are not very good, they are the best fabrics I can take out at the moment. Please don't reject them. There are more..."

Yu Ling took the bag tremblingly, and looked at her chattering, tears streaming down her eyes uncontrollably.

I always felt that she was explaining her last wishes. This guess made Yu Ling feel uneasy. She pleaded, "Mom, please stop talking, okay?"

Zhao Yuyan shook her head gently and continued to explain in a low voice, from how to be a good person to how to look at things, as well as things to do after reaching the age of 15, she spoke of everything in detail, fearing that there would be any omissions.

These were all the things she could think of that had not happened or might happen. She used her own failed life experiences as negative examples, fearing that Yuling would follow in her footsteps and her child would be left without a mother. She would have to walk the rest of the way on her own.

Zhao Yuyan seemed to have endless things to say. No matter how Yuling cried or made a fuss, it didn't affect her at all. She explained everything over and over again, but she still didn't feel at ease. She always felt that it was not enough. After all, who can predict the future for sure? No matter how well prepared you are, there will still be regrets.

In the dim morning light, Zhao Yuyan finally stopped licking her dry lips, and a sudden feeling of fatigue surged through her body.

"Yuling, I'm a little tired and want to rest for a while..."

"Mother? Mother! Mother!"

Yu Ling's heart started to panic and she rushed over suddenly. Only when she heard the faint breathing sound did her heart settle down. She knelt on the ground, shaking uncontrollably.

She didn't know why, but at that moment, she suddenly felt that her mother would die.

Before she could think about the origin of this feeling, she saw the bundle that she had just accidentally thrown on the ground. She first glanced at her sleeping mother, then Yu Ling got up, picked up the bundle from the ground and opened it. Inside was a bunch of neatly stacked and brand new colorful skirts.

Yu Ling's nose felt sore. She wiped the sweat from her palms first, then carefully picked up one of them, spread it out on herself to compare it, and found that the size was almost the same. Then she put it back carefully. The colorful skirt was a style she had never dared to think of.

As far as she can remember, her mother never allowed her to wear brightly colored clothes, let alone skirts. She was always forced to wear bulky, ill-fitting clothes and trousers, which were men's in style and color. The trousers would roll up when her legs got longer, and she has been wearing them until now.

Once, when Yuling was younger than she is now, she was beaten badly by her mother because she tried on a skirt that someone was about to throw away out of curiosity. After the beating, her mother hugged her and cried and apologized, but later, she still ordered her not to dress up and wear skirts.

At that time, she did not understand her mother's heart. Later, as she grew up, she seemed to understand it, but after experiencing one incident, she completely understood her mother's good intentions.

I still remember when I was ten years old, a little sister who was close to her was suddenly dragged away by seven or eight people in military uniforms.

When we met again, I saw her thrown into the barn, with not a single spot on her body intact. She was covered in blood, some of which was coagulated and some was still flowing. Her once beautiful skirt was now draped over her body like rags, and her exposed skin was covered with criss-crossing scars and large bruises.

Everyone around tried to avoid her, but she walked over and gave her a sip of water. A tear of blood flowed from her bloody face, and she used all her strength to say a word, and then she died completely.

Yu Ling has never forgotten that sentence, which is, never wear a skirt.

The young lady at that time should have been only thirteen years old...