"Cough, cough, cough …" A burst of intense and suppressed coughing sounded. On the bed, an old man with a pale face was covering his mouth with a handkerchief. The sweet taste in his mouth made him know that he had vomited blood again without looking.
"Father …" The girl by the bed hurriedly put down the teacup and went forward to gently massage his back. Her eyes were filled with tears and worry.
The man finally stopped coughing and quickly hid the handkerchief in his hand under his body, not wanting the girl to see the glaring scarlet on it.
He pulled the corners of his mouth and forced a smile. "Father is fine. Don't cry. Be careful not to hurt your eyes."
As soon as his voice fell, the tears in the girl's eyes fell. With her palm-sized face, it was very pitiful.
The man's heart ached so much that he almost cried as well, but he suppressed his sadness and said, "Don't cry. Listen carefully to Father. I'm afraid that Father's time is in the next few days … "
"Father, if Daughter doesn't want you, Daughter will die …" The girl's tears fell even harder. "Mother has already left Daughter. Now even Father wants to abandon Daughter?"
"Yu 'er, Father has let you down, let you down …" The man choked. "Father is useless. I can't shelter you from the wind and rain anymore. My poor Yu 'er, you have no parents to rely on and no brothers to support you. In the future, in the future, you can only rely on yourself. "
The girl couldn't hold it in anymore. She threw herself into the man's arms and cried bitterly.
The man gently stroked his beloved daughter's hair, his eyes full of reluctance. "Our Lin family is not prosperous. We only have a few distant relatives who don't interact often. I don't know what their temperament is like. Father also doesn't dare to entrust you to them."
At this point, he coughed again. "Fortunately, there is still your grandmother's family. You have been living at your grandmother's house these past few years. Old Madam dotes on you and your sisters are harmonious and friendly. After Father leaves, you have them to take care of you. Father can rest assured. There is also one more thing … Father has already discussed with your grandmother and second uncle. We have set a marriage contract for you and Baoyu. When you become adults, we will hold the wedding for you. I heard that Baoyu's temperament is very good. He should be good to you. If you marry into another family, Father is worried that you will be bullied by your husband's family. If it was your maternal grandmother's house, the old lady would take care of you. "
Lin Ruhai watched this scene from afar, his heart filled with panic.
He remembered that he had just taken the medicine and fell asleep. Unknowingly, he appeared here in a hazy state.
The man on the sickbed was clearly him, who was much older and terminally ill. The young girl who was crying uncontrollably was his daughter, Lin Daiyu, whom he had not seen for a year. However, Daiyu was only seven years old now, while the Daiyu in front of him was eleven or twelve years old. His appearance was even thinner than when he left.
Listening to their conversation, Lin Ruhai wished that he could give himself a good beating for being so sick.
He actually entrusted Daiyu to Rongguo Manor without any worries. Was there something wrong with his head? Why didn't he think more thoroughly? Why didn't he make more appropriate arrangements? Why didn't he investigate Daiyu's real life in Rongguo Province all these years?
Lin Ruhai suddenly realized that if Jia Xie hadn't told him the truth, he really wouldn't have investigated or made more arrangements. This was because he wholeheartedly believed that Rongguo Province would treat Daiyu well.
Jia Xie said that the old lady and the second branch had hidden almost all the gifts he had sent over the past year. What about the dowry he had prepared for Daiyu? He would definitely leave Jia Min's dowry and the wealth accumulated by the Lin family for several generations to Daiyu as dowry. But would they return it to Daiyu?
The scene changed. The dim candlelight in the inner room turned into a bright main hall. Jia Mu sat at the head of the table with a solemn face. Below her sat Jia Zheng and his wife. The Jia Lian and a beauty with almond-shaped eyes stood below.
"Is there not enough money to build a villa for visiting relatives?" Jia Mu asked in a low voice.
The Jia Lian lowered his head and replied, "Now, some of the wealthy concubines' maternal families are building villas. All kinds of craftsmen, gold, silver, copper, tin, earth, wood, bricks, and tiles are in high demand. The price is much higher than usual. We've just started digging, and the money has already been spent. "
Lady Wang twirled the prayer beads and said with a bitter face, "Now everyone in the capital knows that our concubine is going to visit relatives. The soil has already been dug. If we don't build a villa for visiting relatives, I'm afraid the whole capital will see us as a joke. We can endure it, but what about the concubines in the palace? It's already difficult for the concubines in the palace. After Imperial Concubine Zhou and Imperial Concubine Wu visit relatives, I'm afraid their lives will be even more difficult. "
The Jia Lian said, "Old lady, why don't we discuss with Brother Zhen and see if the families can raise more money?"
"No." Although Jia Zheng's brows were tightly furrowed, he resolutely refused, "They've already paid a sum of money. If we go look for it now, I'm afraid that we'll lose all our face. At that time, Your Highness will also lose face."
Lady Wang raised her eyelids, "My younger sister is very enthusiastic about the concubine's visit, and she supports it wholeheartedly. She wanted to give me two hundred thousand taels of silver before, but I declined. She's already given me two hundred thousand taels of silver. How can I ask for more? If there's really no other way, I'll just throw away my old face and ask her for help. "
Jia Mu glanced at Lady Wang. After a moment of silence, she said, "It's fine if it's between relatives, but … Daiyu will eventually marry into our family … let's just use it for now and make it up to her in the future." She sighed deeply, "Zheng 'er, you must remember to treat her well in the future. Otherwise, this old lady won't be satisfied."
Jia Zheng hurriedly nodded in agreement. Lady Wang lowered her head and didn't say anything, hiding the smile on her face.
Lin Ruhai saw everything clearly from the side. His chest heaved up and down with anger.
They used Daiyu's dowry without asking. He was afraid that Daiyu didn't know anything about the dowry. If Daiyu was penniless, how would those snobbish slaves in Rongguo Province view her? Lin Ruhai didn't dare to imagine.
What shocked him even more was that Rongguo Province actually had a concubine. He remembered that Jia Zheng's eldest daughter was called Yuan Chun, and she was indeed a court lady in the palace. Could it be that she was the concubine? Also, when the Wang Clan mentioned her younger sister, the Old Madam gave him a strange look, and the Wang Clan's strange smiles …
Lin Ruhai only felt that Rongguo Province was really complicated. Daiyu, with her simple personality, would have a hard time surviving in this kind of place.
The scene changed again. Lin Daiyu was lying on her side on the bed, coughing violently. Suddenly, she spat out a mouthful of blood, which landed on the bed. It was dark red like cinnabar.
Lin Ruhai's heart ached, but he couldn't move at all. He could only watch as Lin Daiyu fell back onto the bed. Her face was pale, and she was barely breathing.
At this time, Daiyu looked a little older. She was about fifteen or sixteen years old, but she was as thin as a matchstick and too weak to wear.
"Miss, Miss, wake up." A young girl cried in front of Lin Daiyu's bed. She held her hand and shouted, "Sister Zi Yuan has already gone to find the Old Madam and the others. The doctor will be here soon. Miss, you must hang in there!"
Lin Ruhai recognized that girl. She was the Lin family's maid, Xue Yan. The Zi Yuan she spoke of should be the maid that the Old Madam gave to Daiyu.
The door was opened, and an older girl walked in, her face full of tears.
Xue Yan turned her head in surprise. Seeing that there was no one behind the girl, she couldn't help but ask anxiously, "Sister Zi Yuan, where's the doctor?"
Zi Yuan covered her face and turned her head away. She was choked with sobs and couldn't speak.
"How could they do this!?" Xue Yan said angrily, "Then let's not go beg them. Let's go find the doctor ourselves to treat Miss."
"There's no need to go." Lin Daiyu suddenly opened her eyes. Her gaze was unfocused. "Today is Baoyu's big day to marry Second Young Mistress. Wouldn't it be bad luck to call a doctor at this time?"
"Are we just going to let Miss suffer like this?" Xue Yan was so angry that she burst into tears. "You're the Old Madam's only granddaughter. How could they be so cruel!"
Lin Daiyu closed her eyes. Tears fell from the corners of her eyes. "I've been abandoned a long time ago."
"Since Miss knows, then all the more you should live. Live a better life than them." Zi Yuan walked over and said hatefully, "They're heartless people. In the past, when Miss was sick, not only did they come to see you, but they also sent people to ask about you every day. During this time, no one in the Jia Mansion came to ask about you! How could Miss Xue compare to you!? So Miss, you must be well. Make them regret it in the future! "
"I can't. I'm afraid I can't." Lin Daiyu grabbed Zi Yuan's hand and said, "This is not my home. My body is also clean. Sister Zi Yuan, after I leave, ask them to send me back. Go home. I want … to go home … "
"Yu 'er —" Lin Ruhai shouted. He suddenly sat up in bed and gasped for breath.
"Master! What's wrong? "Lin Bo heard the sound and hurried in.
Lin Ruhai stared at him for a long time, then suddenly grabbed his arm and asked, "What time is it now? How old is Yu 'er now? Where is she?"
"You mean Miss?" Although Lin Bo was puzzled, he answered honestly, "Miss is seven years old. I received a letter the day before yesterday. She's already on her way back."
Lin Ruhai thought for a long time. "Go investigate whether the younger sister of the Wang Clan's second branch in Rongguo Province, who married into Zi Wei's Xue family, has a daughter. Go quickly. You must investigate carefully. "
Shuijing heard that Lin Ruhai was having a nightmare, so she sent Wen Dongyan to ask after him.
Lin Ruhai still seemed to be in a daze. His face was very pale, and his forehead was covered in sweat.
Wen Dongyan couldn't help but worry. "Brother Ruhai, I heard that you were having a nightmare. Did you dream of something unclean?"
"That's not it." Lin Ruhai smiled weakly. "To tell you the truth, I dreamed that something happened to my daughter. You know that I only have one child now. If something happened to her, I don't want to live in this world anymore. "
Wen Dongyan sighed softly. "Although I don't have a child, I can understand how you feel. But Miss Lin is on her way back, and Second Master Lian is accompanying her. She shouldn't be in any big trouble. I know that you're heartbroken about the grievances she suffered in Rongguo Province. When she comes back, you can make it up to her. "
Lin Ruhai nodded. "I'm the one who let her down." Especially Daiyu in the dream.
"As long as you live well, who can wrong her in the future?" Wen Dongyan advised. "Doctor Wan, who came to treat you, is the disciple of Miracle Medical Valley's Valley Master. Although he's young, his medical skills are very good. With him treating you, you'll definitely be cured. "
"I've been feeling much better recently. It's all thanks to Prince's kindness. Brother Dongyan must have put in a good word for me in front of Prince." Lin Ruhai was well aware. Even if he was a high-ranking official of the imperial court, he couldn't invite the disciple of Miracle Medical Valley's Valley Master to treat him.
"You and I are schoolmates. Why are you being polite?" Wen Dongyan smiled. "I heard that Miss Lin also has a deficiency. When the time comes, we can ask him to treat you. It should be possible."
"Is that true?!" Lin Ruhai was overjoyed. Lin Daiyu's sickly body had always been his sore point. "If that's the case, Ruhai will be willing to sacrifice his life for her in the future."
"Brother Ruhai is exaggerating. It's just a small matter."
Lin Ruhai sighed. "Brother Dongyan, you don't know. My daughter was born in her mother's womb and has a weak body. She has been taking medicine since she could eat. I don't know how many famous doctors she's been to, but she hasn't improved. Even you and I feel disgusted when we drink medicine, let alone a little girl like her. When my daughter was three years old, a scabby-headed monk came … "
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