Chapter 111 The Disappearing Divorce Letter
Zhao Yi paused, responded respectfully, and left the palace with Duke Zhao.
The grandfather and grandson got on the carriage. Zhao Yi looked at Duke Zhao, only to see that his expression was gloomy. It seemed that he had been in this expression since Emperor Jing'an mentioned Empress Yuanrong.
Zhao Yi thought for a moment, and finally asked, "Are you thinking about your aunt?"
Duke Zhao's expression faded, his cloudy eyes fixed on Zhao Yi's face. After a long pause, he sighed softly, "I was just thinking that since our deceased loved ones have been gone for so many years, there's no need to prepare extravagant memorial services every year on their anniversary. Doing so will only deepen the grief of the living."
Zhao Yi frowned slightly and did not respond to Duke Zhao because this was the arrangement of Emperor Jing'an.
Duke Zhao realized that he had lost his composure and said to himself, "I am old now, so I tend to be sentimental."
Zhao Yi smiled and said, "You are still strong despite your age."
Duke Zhao waved his hand and said, "No, I have to accept my old age. In a year or two, I will retire and return home."
Zhao Yi looked at the Duke of Zhao's graying hair. He remembered that it was black just two years ago, but now it was almost completely white. His usually straight back was now slightly hunched.
After attending the morning court today and then discussing matters in the imperial study, his eyes and brows showed fatigue, as if he was physically exhausted.
It was not until this moment that Zhao Yi realized that Duke Zhao was really old.
He whispered, "Grandfather, I want to take back the divorce papers that I left with you."
Duke Zhao asked in surprise, "You want to take it back?" Unsure of what he was thinking, he frowned and asked, "Are you not getting along with the Shen couple?"
Zhao Yi was stunned. Before he could speak, Duke Zhao spoke earnestly, "Yier, a man shouldn't act rashly, let alone impulsively. You've studied for so many years, you should know the ways of a gentleman. If you destroy the escape route you previously laid for the Shen family just because of a minor problem between you and your wife, how can you be so ruthless?"
Zhao Yi: “…”
"Grandfather, I just thought that as Shen and I are husband and wife, she should have the right to know everything I do for her. She has been convinced that I am her husband since she entered our house. And I wrote this divorce letter without telling her. It is too disrespectful to her."
Zhao Yi said helplessly, "I want to take back this divorce letter and destroy it. Even if my illness can't be cured in the future, I should personally discuss her future whereabouts and arrangements with her."
Duke Zhao looked at Zhao Yi intently for a long while, and saw a hint of humanity in him.
At this moment, Duke Zhao felt that forcing Zhao Yi to marry was the best decision he had ever made.
Although Zhao Yi married Shen Qingtan by accident, it is undeniable that the two of them are a good match.
Duke Zhao said lovingly, "I've left my wife's book in the study. Come with me to get it later."
Zhao Yi felt a little relieved. He always believed that he would feel at ease only when things were in his own hands. Otherwise, accidents would easily happen.
The carriage stopped at the gate of Duke Zhao's mansion, and Zhao Yi went to the study with Duke Zhao.
As soon as he entered the front yard, he found that the yard was full of books. Zhao Yi saw the servant using a feather duster to brush away the dust on the books.
"The books are a little damp and have insects. I saw that the weather is good today, so I asked the servant to move the books out to dry in the sun." Duke Zhao explained, stepped into the study, took out the key to unlock the drawer, and went to get his wife's book.
Zhao Yi stood by the table waiting.
"Huh?" Duke Zhao rummaged through boxes and drawers, his brows furrowed. "I clearly remember putting the divorce letter in the drawer. How come it's gone?"
Zhao Yi couldn't help but change his expression: "Grandfather, think carefully, is the divorce letter kept in the drawer?"
Duke Zhao pondered for a moment, then suddenly remembered, "I originally put it in a drawer. Didn't you marry the wrong bride? Then you asked for a reply, and I wrote another one. It seems there was a problem with the military rations at the time, so I slipped it into a book and left the house to deal with it."
He went to the right side of the desk to get a book, but found nothing. Then he realized that all the books had been taken out to dry by the servants.
Zhao Yi saw Duke Zhao's hand pause, then he stared at the empty desk with a bitter and resentful expression.
He suddenly had a bad feeling in his heart.
"Grandfather, do you know which book it is in?"
Duke Zhao's expression froze, and he said unnaturally, "I'm old, and I tend to forget things..." He paused, then walked out, saying, "The servant moved out, he should know. I'll go ask someone."
Zhao Yi rubbed his brows and walked out of the study. He heard the servant reply: "Master, I can't read. I don't know what books are on the desk."
His heart sank.
When Duke Zhao saw Zhao Yi coming out, he said with some guilt, "Yier, should I ask the servant to look for it in the book?"
Zhao Yi took a deep breath and said, "No need, I'll find it myself."
The fewer people who know about this, the better.
There are at least hundreds of books drying outside.
Seeing that Zhao Yi was weak, Duke Zhao knew that it was his negligence that led to the current situation, so he went with Zhao Yi to find a letter of divorce.
"Grandfather, please go and rest." Zhao Yi stopped Duke Zhao and said firmly, "I'm just looking through books and letters. It won't tire me out."
Seeing this, Duke Zhao had no choice but to stand aside and watch. If Zhao Yi felt uncomfortable, he could stop him in time and then ask someone for help.
Zhao Yi glanced at the books that were densely packed and covered half the yard, and flipped through them one by one under the scorching sun.
Duke Zhao felt bad. After all, it was he who messed up. How could he just sit there and wait?
The grandfather and grandson searched for nearly half an hour and looked through everything, but there was no sign of the divorce letter.
Duke Zhao was a little nervous. If this letter fell into the hands of someone else and was used to make a big fuss about it, at the very least it would affect the relationship between the couple, and at worst it would make Shen Qingtan the center of discussion.
Naturally, it’s not a good topic.
Zhao Yi's face darkened. He suspected that the divorce letter had fallen out during the transportation process. If someone had picked it up...
Thinking of this, he couldn't calm down. Just as he was about to call for help in looking for it, he heard the Duke of Zhao say happily, "Yier, I remember now. The letter was placed in the family precepts."
Zhao Yi frowned and said, "There is no family motto in the courtyard."
"It's not here?" Duke Zhao's eyelids jumped, and he immediately went into the study and searched everywhere, but still couldn't find the family precepts. He came out of the study and asked the servant with a stern face, "Who moved the books in the study?"
The servant said quickly, "Master, the master came to the study to see you today. He saw me moving books and took two away."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Yi immediately walked towards Jingde Hall.
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