"Sigh..."
Hearing Daiyu finally admit it, Jia Zheng let out a long sigh. Though he had expected it, he still couldn't help himself.
But that sigh carried far too many emotions.
He wanted to go inside and comfort Daiyu, but decided it wouldn't be appropriate. So he drew back his foot and slowly sat down in his chair. Then, in a slightly hoarse voice, he said with feeling:
"Yu'er, don't worry. Your uncle doesn't blame you."
"You're a young woman, and you've accomplished so much. That's already an incredible feat!"
"And I, as your uncle..."
As he spoke, his voice caught in his throat, and tears welled in his eyes.
"Your mother was my own younger sister..."
"She and your father died with regrets, and all I could do was watch. I couldn't do anything."
"I..."
"What right do I have to blame you?"
He spoke with shame, covering his face with his sleeve and turning away. He secretly wiped the corners of his eyes, too embarrassed to look at Daiyu behind the beaded curtain.
"That's right..."
Seeing this, Yuanchun, too, couldn't help but be overcome with emotion.
She tightened her grip on Daiyu's hand, her eyes full of sympathy and admiration.
"Little Sister Lin, you're truly remarkable!"
"To accomplish what a great man would do while being a woman, to avenge your father and rid the country of traitors—your courage, your talent, your ability... I fear even most of the immortal officials in the Heavenly Court couldn't match a fraction of it!"
She paused, looking toward Jia Zheng beyond the beaded curtain. A complicated expression passed through her eyes, and her voice lowered.
"Come to think of it, our Jia Residence is the one that wronged you."
"As your maternal family, we couldn't stand up for the Lin Family.