Chapter 78: Sincere Love

  Four thousand big chapters sent up!

  Sorry about that, I've had a relapse of a cold recently, yesterday I went to the hospital for an IV and forgot my computer, so I didn't update, catching up today, sorry again.

  It's getting cold, everyone should pay attention to keeping warm! Don't catch a cold like Xiao An did, it doesn't feel good at all!

  The news of Lin Zhaoyan being found had already spread into the imperial palace.

  The empress dowager was overjoyed and ordered the palace maid, "Quickly go boil water! Zhao'er must have received quite a shock, wait for her to come and serve her in bathing and cleaning up, then brew a cup of calming tea for her."

  The emperor was dissatisfied. "Once found, it's done, why bother with so many people? Shen Zhongling has just been treated by the imperial physician and is in need of care at this time."

  "It was an affair in the imperial palace, you don't handle it well and really want Lin Chen to rush into the palace to seek justice?"

  His Majesty caught the Empress Dowager's implicit tone and was suddenly choked up.

  After a while, he hummed and instructed the palace maid: "Is there anyone still waiting outside the Jian'an Marquis's residence? Go and inform them that the person has been found."

  Gong Bi said: "The people around Princess Wan have already gone to inform them, and it was also the people of Princess Wan who helped find Miss Lin Si."

  The emperor's face changed, "She? What is she doing getting involved in this?"

  It's because of Lin Chen's persistence in remembering, so he can't bear to see him heartbroken and wants to help him find his daughter!

  The empress dowager also had some dissatisfaction.

  Although what happened back then was indeed their fault, since she has already entered the palace, she should be content and not think about the past anymore; her heart can only be tied to the Emperor.

  What's going on with people from the palace helping find the daughter of an old lover?

  The emperor saw the empress dowager's gloomy face and was also angry in his heart. He was even more afraid that the empress dowager would use this as an excuse to punish Consort Wan, and secondly, he had promised to investigate the person who pushed Rui'er into the water last time but ended up doing nothing, so he still felt guilty towards her.

  He suppressed his anger and calmly said, "Forget it, she did this in private. But it's also a meritorious act, I'll have Lin Si go thank her later, and that will balance out the pros and cons."

  "No way!" The empress dowager hastily refused, feeling the emperor's suspicious gaze, and continued: "Why should she be thanked? If it were really like that, she would think she had done the right thing. What this palace abhors most is being unscrupulous and not knowing one's place."

  How could she let Lin Zhao Yan meet with Wan Fei?

  Lin Zhaoyan's temperament and aura were exactly like hers. If she discovered any clues, who knows what kind of storm would be stirred up.

  The Emperor had no choice. He could only give up and said to the Empress Dowager: "Since that's the case, I'll take my leave first."

  The Empress Dowager knew he was going to find Consort Wan and did not raise any objections.

  At this time, Ma received the notice and hurried over. After respectfully greeting the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, he asked: "How is Zhao Yan?"

  The empress gave her a smile, indicating that she should calm down, "He hasn't returned yet. But he will be back soon."

  Ma sighed in relief and solemnly thanked the Empress Dowager again.

  "Are you Lin Kun's daughter-in-law?" The emperor looked at her a few more times, seeing that she was acting properly and in accordance with etiquette.

  Ma bowed his head and respectfully said: "In response to Your Majesty's words, it is indeed so."

  His Majesty nodded in satisfaction, "He's indeed a man who knows what's important."

  Lin Si didn't find it before and was waiting quietly outside. Now Lin Si has found it and also knows to thank you.

  "It's said that she is the granddaughter of Ma Bozhong, a former imperial physician." The empress dowager was also very pleased with Madam Ma. She spoke in a very affectionate manner: "Your grandfather used to be the most prominent one in the Imperial Hospital, although he retired and returned to his hometown later, but there are still many of his students left in the hospital!"

  Ma smiled awkwardly and said, "Grandfather often talks about his experiences at Tai Hospital with my wife."

  "Are you skilled in medicine?" The emperor suddenly became curious and said, "Ma Tiandian's medical skills were top-notch back then. No one in the entire Imperial Hospital could match his abilities. As Ma Tiandian's eldest granddaughter, I suppose you must have inherited some of his medical skills?"

  The empress dowager glared at the emperor and said, "The Ma family has only produced one capable person in generations - Ma Tiandian. What does she know as a woman?"

  Ma Bozhong's medical skills were excellent, but unfortunately none of his sons and grandsons were interested in medicine, so he had no choice but to widely recruit talented students and teach all his medical skills to apprentices from other families.

  The emperor shook his head, "That's not necessarily true."

  As expected, Ma said: "Although my wife has never formally studied medicine with her grandfather, she has been influenced by him since childhood and knows a thing or two."

  Ma's intention was not to show off, but rather he didn't want the Ma family to be looked down upon.

  That year, her grandfather retired from the imperial hospital and returned to his hometown, but no one in the Ma family could replace him in the palace. How many white eyes did she receive? Those who had come to curry favor with them all fell out of favor, and even the young girl deeply felt what was meant by "the world is a cold place".

  It's just that now his mother-in-law, wasn't it also because she looked down on her identity back then that she would hinder them even more?

  His Majesty smiled, "Our Great Yan still doesn't have a female doctor, and it's inconvenient for the imperial concubines to receive medical treatment when they're ill. If possible, I'll summon you to the palace when needed."

  Ma was taken aback.

  "Nonsense!" The empress dowager frowned immediately, "She is the eldest daughter-in-law of a noble family, and she should learn to manage the household every day. How can she have time to enter the palace to treat illnesses for those consorts?"

  The empress dowager felt a little uneasy in her heart, she didn't know what the emperor was thinking, why would he suddenly say such things?

  Ma also felt surprised.

  Although she had been following her grandfather since childhood and helping many people get cured, after marrying into the Jian'an Marquis's household, she was afraid of not meeting her mother-in-law's expectations, so she had always been careful and never practiced medicine except for occasionally helping Lin Ju and the maidservants with minor illnesses.

  How can she bear the heavy responsibility of helping the empress treat her illness?

  The emperor is also too fond of her.

  "I'm just a rough-skinned woman, unskilled in the arts, and I fear that if I were to attend to Your Majesties' medical needs, I would only hinder their treatment. I beg your pardon, Your Majesty."

  Fortunately, the emperor did not press the matter further and smiled, saying: "Very well, let it be."

  As she watched the emperor's back disappear, Madam Ma secretly let out a sigh of relief. Just now, although the emperor was smiling, she felt an overwhelming sense of oppression that left her breathless.

  The empress dowager also breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that the emperor was just momentarily excited and casually mentioned it when he left, so she didn't think much of it.

  Lin Zhaoyan was soon brought over, except for a few disheveled hairs, he looked like he hadn't suffered any major injuries.

  Ma immediately went up and tightly grasped her hand, "Zhaoyan. You scared us to death, fortunately you're fine." His voice was somewhat choked with emotion.

  Lin Zhaoyan felt warm and held onto Ma's hand, smiling at her, "Elder sister-in-law, don't worry, I just accidentally fell into the mountain ditch, nothing serious happened."

  She had already heard the palace maids talk about Lin Chen's disturbance on the road. She was originally very anxious, but then she heard that Lin Chen was persuaded to leave by Madam Ma, and only then did she let out a sigh of relief.

  Ma will handle this unexpected situation properly and thoroughly.

  She didn't want her own negligence to harm Lin Chen and the Jian'an Marquis Manor.

  The empress dowager also came forward and took her hand, looking left and right, seeing that she was not injured. Only then did she put down her mind, "Don't say anything else. I have already ordered someone to prepare hot water for you, go take a bath first and dispel the cold air."

  Lin Zhaoyan nodded slightly.

  After bathing and drinking a calming tea, the Empress Dowager finally asked: "Tell me, what exactly happened? Why did you suddenly fall into the beast-catching cave?"

  Lin Zhaoyan knew she couldn't avoid it, fortunately, she had already thought of a way to deal with it. "Reporting back to the Empress Dowager, it's because this humble girl was on her way back when she heard someone calling for help. She followed the sound and searched, but unfortunately fell into a cave."

  She learned from the palace maid that Shen Zhongling, the orphan of General Shen of the previous dynasty, was unfortunately shot by an arrow. The location where he was shot was in the direction she fell to the north, and it just so happened that she also went north into the forest from the road, so she wasn't afraid of being pierced through.

  "What you heard must have been Zhong Ling's cry for help." The Empress Dowager indeed believed it, and her expression also turned gloomy, "You are a kind-hearted child. Unfortunately, Zhong Ling was unable to repay your kindness, she had lost too much blood when she was found, fortunately, the imperial physician managed to save her life after desperate rescue efforts, but this body will be greatly damaged." A body like this can no longer marry Qi Er again.

  Lin Zhaoyan didn't say a word, she had no sense of empathy or compassion.

  "Never mind, let's just drop it. As long as you're fine, that's all that matters." The empress waved her hand and sighed, "Otherwise, this pleasant hunting trip would have turned into a life-or-death situation."

  Ma and Lin Zhaoyan comforted each other for a while before taking their leave.

  The night was cool and refreshing, with a bright moon and clear wind. The gentle moonlight swept across the land, calming down the imperial palace that had been in turmoil all day.

  Ma took Lin Zhaoyan onto the Hou Mansion's carriage, her soft and warm hands tightly grasping hers, making her feel a hint of warmth in this cool night.

  Lin Zhaoyan spoke softly, "Sister-in-law, thank you."

  Ma turned back and smiled at her with pursed lips, "We're all family, what's there to thank? As long as you're fine, that's all that matters."

  Lin Zhaoyan smiled and replied, "Eldest sister, when we return to the manor later, don't tell Father that I almost got into trouble. Just say that I simply got lost."

  "Alright, I understand, don't worry!"

  Lin Zhaoyan's smile became even warmer.

  Although Madam Hou and Liu's relationship made Ma stay away from the three houses, this elder sister-in-law had always been quietly caring for them.

  She likes this sister-in-law very much.

  The carriage drove all the way to the Jian'an Marquis's mansion on Baling Alley, and as soon as they got off the carriage, Lin Chen, who had been waiting at the gate, rushed over without any image, hugging her with all his might. "Zhaoyang, do you know how scared your father was? If something unexpected happened to you, what would your father do?"

  His voice was trembling slightly, with obvious fear and lingering fright.

  Lin Zhaoyan's nose was sour and astringent, she gently pushed Lin Chen, tilted her head and smiled at him, "Father, I'm fine, you see, I'm very good." She pulled his hand again, "But what about you? How can you rush into the palace for me? If the emperor blames us, even if Zhaoyan is safe and sound, we will still regret it."

  "You're nowhere to be found in his palace, can't I go look for you?" Lin Chen said with a cold face, somewhat petulantly, "Pitiful parents of the world, what's wrong with me doing this?"

  Lin Zhaoyan couldn't help but laugh.

  However, she found it strange that Lin Chen, an ordinary citizen, had the ability to break into the palace and return unscathed.

  It seems that Lin Chen has always had this kind of magic power, whether it is Old Lady Lin or Jian An Hou, they all have more indulgence towards him.

  She didn't think much and took Lin Chen towards the inner courtyard.

  Mrs. Lin also received the news of Lin Zhao's safe return, and she told her maid to inform everyone not to come and pay their respects to her anymore, letting Lin Zhao rest well. However, in her heart, there was an inexplicable feeling, a mix of relief and annoyance, relieved that Lin Chen wouldn't cause any more trouble, yet annoyed that the hot potato that was Lin Zhao had been thrown into her hands once again.

  In fact, if Lin Zhaoyan had died in the palace, it would have solved her worries about the future.

  But now it's all over, there's no use saying anything.

  Lin Zhao Yan and Lin Chen arrived at Miao Yu Tang.

  Liu, Lin Ruoyan, Man Shuang and Man Hua were all waiting for her. When they saw her appear, a look of joy flashed across their faces.

  Man Shuang and Man Hua didn't need to be told, they rushed forward and hugged her, bursting into tears.

  She comforted them for a good while before they stopped crying.

  Man Shuang said firmly: "From now on, I will never let the girl go out alone again!"

  Liu was relatively calm, just holding her hand and saying: "It's okay as long as nothing happened, it's okay as long as nothing happened."

  Lin Ruo Yan stared at her, with a hint of resentment in his eyes. "I told you to be careful, but you ended up causing such a big mess! Have you thought about Father and Mother? Have you thought about what I should do?" As he spoke, tears fell uncontrollably. "Zi Su is gone, Wen Xuan's older brother is also gone... if something happens to you again, what am I supposed to do?"

  She became more and more heartbroken as she spoke, completely disregarding the surrounding gazes, and burst into loud sobs.

  Lin Zhaoyan was at a loss for words for a moment.

  Lin Ruoyan's tone was harsh, but her words were full of concern. She had no idea how important she was in Lin Ruoyan's heart.

  Isn't she always unwilling to see her?

  "Fifth sister, don't cry anymore, fortunately nothing has happened to you!" Even Man Shuang, who had just cried the loudest, couldn't bear it and spoke out to comfort her.

  Lin Ruoyan wiped away a tear and said fiercely, "Who's worried about her! I just don't want to feel guilty because of her!" After that, she ignored them and rushed into the courtyard.

  Lin Zhaoyan looked at her back and shook his head helplessly. This girl was indeed sharp-tongued but soft-hearted.

  Ma returned to Xue Song Tang, and Lin Jue, the eldest young master of the Lin family, was standing under the corridor waiting for her.

  Several crystal lanterns hung under the eaves, casting a warm yellow glow on his face, soft and overflowing with light.

  The wind blows up a sea of wooden flowers in the courtyard, welcoming the fragrance of the scent.

  Ma's smile flashed across the long corridor, and the palace lanterns held by the maids lost their color.

  It's as if they've gone back to the time when they first met.

  The flowers are blooming like brocade, and the fragrance of osmanthus and orchid is overflowing. The young men and women glance back at each other with a smile.

  At that time, she didn't think that such a beautiful young man like a gentle breeze and a flower tree would one day wear thin clothes, with his hair tied up, waiting for her return, handing over warm and thick palms, putting his arm around her shoulders, and softly saying "You're back."

  Who says life is like first sight?

  Xiao An himself really really likes Da Ge and Da Sao, previously had few scenes, later will slowly add more~

  Also, I saw some small excitement in the book review area because of who is the male lead. I think it's too early to conclude who the male lead is, which is not conducive to reading the article. Everyone should look at the development of the plot without the emotional color of who is the male lead, and whoever is most suitable for Zhaoyan will be the male lead.