Chapter 349 Blood ties are important, but family ties are more important
Lin Xingyao could only bury this love deep in her heart. As long as she could accompany him silently, she would be content.
"You've lost weight." Lin Xingyao said softly, her fingertips carefully touching the scar on her brother's cheek.
Lin Jingchuan held her hand and comforted her, "It's okay, it's just a minor injury."
Princess Yong walked out of the inner room and saw this scene with tears in her eyes.
She walked forward quickly, wiping the corners of her eyes with trembling hands: "Jingchuan, you are finally back."
"Mother, I'm sorry to have worried you."
Princess Yong stepped forward and hugged Lin Jingchuan, "It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back!"
Lin Jingchuan felt the warmth, and the ice in his heart gradually melted.
During his captivity, he had doubted countless times whether he could ever return to this home.
Now, everything is the same as before, as if I had finally woken up from a long nightmare.
"Where's the father?"
Lin Jingchuan looked around but did not see King Yong.
Princess Yong wiped away her tears, her expression complicated. "Your father is in the palace, handling state affairs. Since the Third Prince ascended the throne, the court has been overwhelmed with affairs, so he has been in the palace these past few days."
Lin Jingchuan nodded, having gained some understanding of the new dynasty's situation.
He was not in a hurry to inquire about the affairs of the court. At this moment, he just wanted to enjoy the long-awaited family reunion.
"Let's go. I asked the kitchen to prepare your favorite dishes. You must be hungry."
Princess Yong held Lin Jingchuan's hand like a child.
Lin Xingyao also held her brother's other hand, fearing that he would leave again.
The three of them walked towards the inner courtyard, their backs blending into the afterglow of the setting sun.
During dinner, Prince Yong's Mansion became unusually lively.
Lin Jingchuan sat in his familiar seat, looking at the sumptuous meal on the table.
Prince Yong has not returned home yet, but this does not affect the atmosphere of family reunion at all.
"Try this, it's your favorite osmanthus cake." Princess Yong picked up a piece of cake and put it in Lin Jingchuan's bowl.
Lin Jingchuan took a bite and nodded with satisfaction: "My mother's cooking is still the best."
Lin Xingyao sat next to her brother, staring at him without blinking, afraid that he would disappear again.
She carefully poured tea for her brother, her movements gentle and skillful.
"Brother, did they abuse you?" Lin Xingyao couldn't help but ask.
Lin Jingchuan shook his head, unwilling to talk about that experience: "It's all in the past, no need to mention it again."
Princess Yong noticed that the atmosphere was a bit heavy and quickly changed the subject: "By the way, Jingchuan, a lot has happened recently, don't you know?"
Lin Jingchuan put down his chopsticks and listened carefully.
Princess Yong recounted what had happened during this period, from the death of the previous emperor to the ascension of the third prince to the various changes in the court.
"Gu Junze was appointed the Great General of the Nation, commanding the three armies. He made great contributions in the Pingzhou War and exposed Prince Su's rebellion. Now he is the most trusted minister of the emperor." Princess Yong said.
Lin Jingchuan seemed to be thinking: "It seems that the political situation has changed a lot."
Lin Xingyao asked softly, "Brother, will you go to war again?" This was what she was most worried about.
Lin Jingchuan looked at his sister's worried eyes and smiled: "Not for the time being. I need some time to recuperate and understand the new dynasty."
Upon hearing this, Lin Xingyao was obviously relieved, with the corners of her mouth slightly raised.
It was late at night and everyone went back to their rooms to rest.
Lin Jingchuan pushed open the door of the room he hadn't returned to for a long time, and everything was the same as before.
He lit the candle and looked at the familiar bed and desk, a feeling of fatigue coming over him.
Outside the window, the night is as dark as ink and dotted with stars.
Lin Jingchuan opened the window and took a deep breath of the air from his hometown. At this moment, there was a gentle knock on the door.
"It's me." A deep and familiar voice came from outside the door.
Lin Jingchuan quickly opened the door and saw his father, Prince Yong, standing outside with a serious look on his face.
"Father, you're back." Lin Jingchuan made way and invited his father into the house.
Prince Yong stepped into the room and looked around with a complicated expression.
Under the candlelight, his face looked even more haggard, and the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes were more obvious.
"Sit down, Jingchuan. I have something to talk to you about." Prince Yong sat down on the chair next to the desk, his voice low and solemn.
Lin Jingchuan's heart tightened, and he sat down respectfully opposite his father: "What do you want, father?"
Prince Yong was silent for a moment, his eyes swept across the candlelight, and he spoke softly, "While you were captured, I sent people to investigate some things."
Lin Jingchuan's heart trembled, and his intuition told him that this was not good news.
"Xingyao...is not my biological daughter."
Prince Yong finally spoke out this heavy secret, with pain that was hard to conceal in his voice.
Lin Jingchuan looked up suddenly, unable to believe his ears: "Father, what did you say?"
"The people I sent out have already investigated everything. Back then, your mother had a difficult labor, and the baby girl died of suffocation. The midwife secretly replaced the baby with another newborn girl."
The prince's voice was low and hoarse. "The midwife thought that after her death, the secret would be forgotten, but there are always some people in the neighborhood who know the inside story."
Lin Jingchuan was speechless for a moment, his heart filled with turmoil. Was Xingyao not Prince Yong's biological daughter?
So the sister he grew up with was actually someone else's daughter?
"Father, does Xingyao know about this?" Lin Jingchuan frowned deeply.
Prince Yong sighed softly, "I suspect she already knows."
"Father, what are you going to do?"
King Yong sighed, his eyes revealing deep fatigue.
"I don't know. For so many years, I have loved her as if she were my own daughter. Now that I know she is not my biological daughter, I am naturally sad. But after all, I have doted on her for so many years..."
Lin Jingchuan was silent.
"No matter what the truth is, it's all in the past. The dead can't live again, so why not just pretend you didn't know!"
King Yong looked at his son in surprise. He didn't expect him to say that.
"Father, blood ties are important, but family ties are more important."
King Yong fell into deep thought.
He recalled every detail of Xingyao's life from childhood to adulthood:
The sweet smile on her face when she first called him father, the trust she showed in his arms when she was sick, and every proud moment of her growth.
"You are right." King Yong finally nodded.
"Xingyao is my daughter after all. The feelings we have had for so many years cannot be erased by just one truth."
"Father is wise." Lin Jingchuan breathed a sigh of relief. "I just don't know what Xingyao is thinking. If she really knew about this, she would definitely be in great pain."
King Yong stood up, walked to the window, and stared at the pear tree in the yard in a daze.
The tree was planted by Xingyao herself when she was a child, and now it has grown tall and majestic.
"She is a smart child, and her mind is more delicate than that of ordinary people."
Prince Yong said softly, "If she knew the truth but chose to remain silent, perhaps she didn't want to hurt your mother and me."
Lin Jingchuan nodded in agreement: "Xingyao has always been considerate. Father, why don't we just let this matter go?"
"Whether she is your biological daughter or not, she will always be Xingyao of our family."
Prince Yong turned around, his eyes looking particularly gentle in the candlelight: "Jingchuan, you have grown up. This experience of being captured has made you more mature."
Lin Jingchuan smiled bitterly: "After experiencing life and death, I look at many things differently. I just hope my family is safe."
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