Chapter 187: Chapter 187: What If I Told You I Had Feelings for You?
Zhao Ting gazed intently at Meng Yao.
She was asking in such detail, was she intending to go back with him?
"You probably don’t remember very well, but back then, Zhao Ting was married into the Meng Family." Meng Yao said, "So, no matter what happens with us, you should go to the Meng Family, not me going back with you to the Zhao Family."
Married into the family?
He really didn’t know.
Or rather, he couldn’t recall that part.
"I’m not lying to you. People in the village all know this, and oh, it’s written in the marriage certificate too. So, the question now is what you’re going to do, not what I’m going to do! A Great General certainly can’t marry into the family, right? Then I can only consider giving you a divorce document." Meng Yao said seriously, "As for the children, they are not young anymore and have their own judgment skills. Whether they want to follow you or me, let them choose themselves."
"You..." Zhao Ting looked at Meng Yao, his gaze dark and unclear.
"You want to ask me if I’m not moved by your status?"
Zhao Ting neither admitted nor denied it.
In such a situation, it could be directly considered as admitting.
"A third-rank Great General, indeed quite imposing. But as you said, you’re a Military General, and with wars, you have to comply with the Court’s arrangements. I highly respect the soldiers who defend the country, but that doesn’t mean I want my man to be like that." Meng Yao said, "On the battlefield, it’s a matter of life and death."
"Moreover, Dahe has a talent for studying, and he’s not rigid in nature. I have confidence that he can become an official, and his endpoint may not merely be third-rank. By then, I would have official recognition." Meng Yao said, "And I would be the head of the family."
Every single sentence sounded rebellious.
But upon careful analysis, it made perfect sense.
He wanted to ask, then do you not like me?
Yet, he dismissed that thought, admitting that he was not Zhao Ting, likely Meng Yao liked Zhao Ting.
"What if I was willing to follow you?" Zhao Ting pondered and said.
"A Great General marrying into the family, aren’t you afraid people will laugh their heads off? Also, how would you explain to the Zhao Family?" Meng Yao countered.
"I couldn’t care less if people laugh. Anyway, I am always the subject of gossip. Explaining to the Zhao Family, that’s a problem. Mainly the old lady, during the years Zhao Ting was missing, she cried until her sight was nearly gone. I can disregard others, but I can’t disregard her," Zhao Ting said.
"I’m Zhao Ting’s wife, and you’re not Zhao Ting. You can completely choose a new life, a new beginning." Meng Yao persuaded earnestly.
She no longer had any feelings when looking at He Yan’s face.
Just a fake face, not even considered paper-thin.
As for Zhao Ting, he indeed was a handsome man. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have fathered several children with not bad appearances.
Although the essence was not the original Zhao Ting, the face was still the same. She thought she would have psychological pressure.
"What if I said, I have feelings for you?" Zhao Ting admitted bluntly.
Meng Yao was a bit surprised.
"Before we met, I really didn’t take you seriously. To me, you were just Zhao Ting’s wife and children. I took over his body, and it’s my duty to care for you. Moreover, in Zhao Ting’s memory, you didn’t have anything that could attract me."
"But after interacting with you, I feel that you are completely different from the person in Zhao Ting’s memories."
Meng Yao pursed her lips, her face tense.
Nonsense, they are two different people. It’s right to be different; if they were the same, that would be scary.
"I heard what you said earlier, if I hadn’t appeared, you surely would find someone else later. So, why not consider me?" As Zhao Ting spoke, he stared at Meng Yao, memory flashed of Zhao Ting having a pair of charming eyes, with slightly curled corners. Even when he wasn’t smiling, his eyes seemed filled with laughter.
To put it bluntly, just a pair of captivating eyes.
Unfortunately, now, he was stuck with Xiong Da’s appearance.
In this context, it just didn’t fit.
Meng Yao almost couldn’t hold back her laughter.
Zhao Ting, realizing belatedly... his current appearance...
Meng Yao hesitated for a moment, he had been honest, should she be honest too?
Ultimately, she held it back.
His honesty is his business; she had no need to reveal her secrets to him. The main thing being, coming from the future, compared to local, there was still quite a gap.
"Putting appearances aside, you are a complete stranger to me. You should at least give me time to consider, right?" Meng Yao thought and said.
"You’re right." Zhao Ting agreed.
"You currently have a mission, so it’s not suitable to consider this issue, right?" Meng Yao added.
"You’ve made a good point. So once the Heaven and Earth Sect affair is resolved, we’ll discuss it further?"
"For now, that seems the way to go. Also, regarding the children, what do you say? You must explain it, right?" Meng Yao asked.
"I’ll follow your lead, whatever you say!" Zhao Ting responded without hesitation.
"I forgot to tell you, Dahe has always believed you were alive and even guessed you were in the Capital City." Meng Yao said.
Zhao Ting looked shocked.
"Previously, you went to Fengyang Town, and he bumped into you and fell." Meng Yao said.
Zhao Ting tried to recall, indeed there was such an incident, but he didn’t take a close look at the one who bumped into him.
"Why did you go to Fengyang Town back then?" Meng Yao asked.
"On assignment. At that time, I hadn’t regained my memory, just simply doing my job. The Qin Family was exiled, Fengyang Town had people from the Qin Family." Zhao Ting said, "Originally inconsequential, but His Majesty wanted me to clear my mind, so he sent me there."
So, was Zhao Ting the one who ransacked Qin Zheng’s home?
Was it really that coincidental?
"The charges against the Qin Family?" Meng Yao asked instinctively.
"Unjust charges can always find an excuse," Zhao Ting said, carrying implications, "Of course, this doesn’t mean the Qin Family is completely innocent. But the fault wasn’t severe enough for exile. Why exile? Isn’t it because Prime Minister Qin refused to bow down?"
"So you mean, the Qin Family might be pardoned?" Meng Yao asked, a bit agitated.
"There’s a good chance, but there’s also a saying, ’the heart of the Emperor is hard to predict.’ Even if they could pardon them, it won’t happen soon, as it would make His Majesty seem inconsistent, lacking face," Zhao Ting said, "Why are you so concerned about the Qin Family? Do you know anyone from the Qin Family?"
"I’m not acquainted, Dahe is. He mentioned them a few times, so I remembered." Meng Yao replied.
"So, should I make some connections, look after them a bit? Of course, it needs a legitimate reason. Otherwise, my dear royal brother might think I’m colluding with the Qin Family, then it’d be unwise to get myself into trouble." Zhao Ting stated.
"What if I told His Majesty that the Qin Family from Fengyang Town took care of my wife and children, then lending a hand would be reasonable, wouldn’t it?" Zhao Ting said, half-jokingly.
Meng Yao glared at him, "I’m not familiar with the Qin Family. If I want to curry favor, it’s for Zhao Dahe’s sake."
"Then you still haven’t said, how should I explain to the children? Only tell them about the amnesia or tell them the fuller truth?" Zhao Ting asked.