She closed her eyes, trying to cheer up but she felt even more tired. Not only was her situation unhelpful, it would also delay the business.

"I'm fine..." She endured the discomfort in her throat and forced out a hoarse voice, "Go and do your work."

She originally thought he would put her down and leave without looking back, but unexpectedly, not only did he not put her down, but his hand around her waist tightened.

Her heart trembled, and she raised her head to look at him. She saw worry in his eyes, but more vulnerability and fear. She had never seen him cowardly before, and she suddenly had the urge to cry. She put her hand on his and said, "I'm sorry."

He lowered his head and buried it in her neck. His grandfather's death made him discover the fear of loss buried deep in his heart. This fear was his weakness, and he subconsciously wanted to escape.

Zhao Xiaoya became the one he most wanted to stay by his side, but also the one he most wanted to stay away from.

He was really afraid. When he saw her lying motionless in the carriage, the fear of losing her gripped his heart.

Zhao Xiaoya felt Zhou Yitian's body trembling slightly, and his warm tears soaked her neck. Her heart felt like being pricked by needles again and again, with a dull pain, and she quietly let him cry silently.

She knew that regardless of past or present life, his vulnerability would only appear in front of her because of his pride.

She didn't know how he had gone through the pain of losing a loved one alone in his previous life, but now she was with him.

Her eyes sparkled with tears, and hope rekindled in her withered heart.

Even if the outcome is destined by God, she will live well for him, without fear.

Chapter 10 Dark Night Attack (2)

Zhou Yitian buried Gu Qiaocheng next to his grandmother's tomb in Zhuangzi on the outskirts of Beijing.

This small Zhuangzi was originally the old residence of the Gu family. Gu Qiaocheng took Zhuangzi as a dowry when his daughter got married and entered the prince's mansion. However, after her death, Zhou Tangyao returned the Gu family's dowry in full.

On the day when Gu Qiaocheng was laid to rest, Zhao Xiaoya was wrapped up tightly, with only a pair of eyes exposed. She leaned against Zhou Yitian and insisted on observing the etiquette.

After she came back, she really started to have a fever, and Zhou Yitian tormented the doctor again. He didn't let her go back until her fever subsided and she felt better.

Zhao Xiaoya looked out the window, it was dark and it seemed like heavy snow was about to fall.

This Zhuangzi occupies a small area, just a three-bedroom house, but it is Gu Qiaocheng's life's work.

Zhao Xiaoya stroked the window lattice gently. The original paint had faded and it no longer looked as fresh as before. However, the window lattice was made of high-quality wood, which showed that Gu Qiaocheng had put a lot of thought into it.

"Girl, you haven't recovered yet, so don't stand in front of the window, lest you get cold." The speaker was Grandma Xia, the steward of Zhuangzi who had brought medicine.

Behind her was a girl about the same age as Zhao Xiaoya, Xing'er, who was her granddaughter.

When her daughter died, her son-in-law was in a hurry to welcome a new man. Grandma Xia couldn't bear to leave the little baby who was still nursing, so she took him back to Zhuangzi and raised the little girl until she was sixteen years old, and they were engaged.

Zhao Xiaoya left the window obediently, sat on the couch, took the medicine from Nanny Xia's hand, and drank it without frowning.

Her health has actually improved a lot, but Zhou Yitian is worried. If he hadn't seen that she really couldn't bear it, he would have let her stay in bed and not get up.

Zhou Yitian's selfishness made everyone in Zhuangzi fix their eyes on Zhao Xiaoya. Zhao Xiaoya was really not used to it.

Aunt Xia looked at her kindly and prepared some candy for her.

Zhao Xiaoya took a piece of candy and stuffed it into her mouth, and couldn't help but smile. She felt like she was living more and more, like a child.

"The girl's complexion looks much better today." Aunt Xia said.

The total number of slaves in Zhuangzi was more than 20, all of whom were old slaves of the Gu family at that time. When Gu Qiaocheng left the capital, he had already confessed that everything in the Gu family belonged to Zhou Yitian, so over the years, the slaves also regarded Zhou Yitian as their master.

"It's all the trouble that Auntie took." Zhao Xiaoya learned from Zhou Yue that Auntie Xia had been working as an errand in the Gu Mansion since she was a child and was trusted by Gu Qiaocheng, so she felt a little closer to her.

"I don't dare, old slave." Looking at Zhao Xiaoya's smile, Grandma Xia couldn't help but raise her lips.

Zhou Yitian committed a crime when he was ten years old, and was sent to Zhuangzi by Zhou Tangyao on the grounds of shutting himself up and thinking about his mistakes. He lived in the Zhuangzi for these years.

He didn't care about Zhuangzi's affairs, he was not young, and the Marquis Mansion didn't mention his marriage. Aunt Xia was an old woman who was anxious, but there was nothing she could do.

Unexpectedly, Zhou Yitian finally brought back a girl with great difficulty, but also brought back Gu Qiaocheng's coffin. She felt so mixed with joy and sorrow that she couldn't sleep well for several days.

She could tell from her behavior that although this girl was gentle and kind-hearted, she was not from a high family background. With her status, she selfishly did not think she was worthy of Zhou Yitian. But as soon as she heard that Gu Qiaocheng was interested in her, her thoughts of being unworthy disappeared.

The master always has an accurate eye for seeing people. If he likes her, she must be a good girl. As for the advancement and retreat of her behavior, she can just learn it slowly.

Aunt Xia glanced at Xing'er behind her. Xing'er immediately stepped forward and put all the account books in her hands on the table.

Zhao Xiaoya couldn't help but raise her eyebrows.

"I told the old slave to give it to the girl for review."

Zhao Xiaoya knew that this meant asking her to take care of the house. Although she was literate, she had never taken care of the house.

She reached out her hand and flipped through it, and found that Aunt Xia was very capable. She managed Zhuangzi very well, and the account book she sent was also clearly written.

If she didn't understand something, she would ask. Aunt Xia explained it carefully without any arrogance.

Zhao Xiaoya was always a quick learner, and Grandma Xia couldn't help but really admire her.

"Girl, take a break." Nanny Xia said to Zhao Xiaoya who was attentive: "This account can't be read in one day."

Only then did Zhao Xiaoya notice that time had passed and heavy snow had fallen outside. She closed her account book.

Xing'er immediately stepped forward to take care of it.

Zhao Xiaoya liked this smart girl very much, and Zhou Yitian wanted her to take Xing'er with her.

She has been waiting on others since she was a child, and she never thought that one day she would be waited on. She wanted to refuse, but when her eyes looked at Zhou Yitian's tired and haggard look, she did not bother him with such trivial matters.

"Girl, there is something I don't know whether to say or not..."

Zhao Xiaoya looked directly at Aunt Xia, smiled slightly and said, "Mom, please tell me."

Aunt Xia hesitated, thinking that this was a child younger than Xing'er, and finally she shook her head, "It's okay, it's just that it's cold. Girls, drink more hot tea, and your health will get better faster."

"Thank you, mama, I know."

Looking at Zhao Xiaoya's innocent look, Aunt Xia felt helpless. Zhao Xiaoya was ill before and was arranged by Zhou Yitian to live in her own room in the main courtyard. Although she felt it was inappropriate, seeing that Zhou Yitian was interested in her, she couldn't say anything.

Nowadays, since people are so good, it is natural for them to move to other places.Rather than caring about Zhou Yitian's reputation, she cares about Zhao Xiaoya. This unknown person has not yet been married. If the relationship is not managed well, Zhao Xiaoya will always suffer.

It seems that Zhou Yitian's attitude is that ethics and education are nothing, but after spending a few days together, Grandma Xia's heart unconsciously tilted towards Zhao Xiaoya, and she wanted to make a few remarks, but as soon as she saw her expression, she knew that it was Zhou Yitian who made the decision. Even if she wanted to move, she would still have to nod her head.

"It's getting late." Aunt Xia stood up thoughtfully, thinking about finding an opportunity to mention to X, "Old slave, let someone prepare a meal."

White snow was falling from the sky, but Zhou Yitian, who was standing in front of the stone monument, was completely unaware that his shoulders were already covered with snowflakes.

Zhou Yue and Gu Liang stood not far away with their guards, no one dared to step forward.

Zhao Xiaoya held an umbrella and walked with Xing'er in the snow.

When passing by Gu Liang and his party, she saw their worried expressions and smiled at them. It was obvious that they were relieved because of her arrival.

She asked Xing'er to stay where she was, and walked towards Zhou Yitian, who was standing in front of the grave, dressed in all white.

In the snow, only the black cloak on her body became the only color.

"It's snowing." Zhao Xiaoya said softly.

Zhou Yitian frowned slightly when he heard her voice and turned to look at her.

She gave him a flattering smile and said, "If you don't go out for a walk, you will become too lazy."

Zhou Yitian didn't say anything, just stretched out his hand to hold her hand. He noticed that her fingers were slightly cold and his brows furrowed deeper and deeper.

"It's not cold." Zhao Xiaoya spoke softly, glanced at the tombstone, and suddenly pulled out the animal tooth bracelet from her wrist.

Zhou Yitian looked at her sudden behavior without knowing why.

She took his hand and tried to put the animal tooth bracelet on his wrist, but his frame was too big and she tried several times to no avail. She couldn't help but chuckle, "It seems that I need to string the red thread on my brother again."